Dog of Hell: 4

Title: All Star and Stripe (2)

*Munch*

*Hummbh*

*Munch*

*Srrrp*

*Srrrrrrrrrppppppp*

... *Munch*

With their feet dangling off the edge of a 30-storied building as not a single gust of wind managed to knock off the wrappers of their snack or said snack itself, she stares at the puppy youth awkwardly as he strives to eat not only his share of an admittedly large serving of 7 burgers and fries but even her larger serving of 15 burgers and fries.

Oh, and did she add the youth did all that with a casual, unapologetic approach even without glancing at her once as if sitting on the edge of a tall building and eating a feast filled with so much cholesterol that if the height of their seat doesn't give him a heart attack then the food surely will— is normal.

'No,' she muses, 'It's not normal. Even I cannot just gulp down an entire burger, choke on it, and then sweep away while slurping on Koke... well, Diet Koke to the last bits. And... damn it! I wanted to eat the fries...'

Holding back her silent tears to see him sweep through it all— in munches and slurps. In sloppy licks of his fingers to get the remaining liquid cheese. In happy munches that cause leftovers to stick to his mouth. With a smile comparable to a child having his birthday feast!

'Exactly... like a child... a deprived one,' She narrows her eyes and settles down internally. She did not know the youth's story but from her short experience... those who smile the brightest often hide pain and hurt beyond one's imagination.

Finally, seeing him chug the last drop of Diet Koke... as if the 'Diet' would have any meaning except the name, she questions, "Full yet?"

Making her speechless, the youth pouts and looks around to see empty wrappers, cups, and containers and replies with an almost heartbroken tone if his crestfallen expression wasn't already an indication of how he feels, "Oh... it's already finished?"

Then looking up, he frowns before lowering his head, "Uh... sorry. I thought it was a feast so... I don't know. I expected a bit more. Certainly enough for both of us. I... I'll pay for it, no problem... uh—"

"Alright, alright, give it a rest. I'm glad you enjoyed yourself," She huffs and throws him a glance while her feet wave through the air, "So?" she questions, "What's your story? At a glance, your quirk seems like an ordinary transformation one but I saw what you did there. And given your ears and tail, I'd wager that you get some physical boost, too. Why would someone like you risk being a vigilante?"

Giving a huff of his own as he picks up a tissue from a stack of it set aside, he cleans the corner of his lips and replies, "I wasn't trying to be a vigilante," pointing at his ears as they twitch, he adds, "I heard that lady's whimpers so I helped her... wait..."

Looking at her, Jackal questions with a suspicious expression, "I know you. You're the new super rookie, right? Star and Strip? Why didn't you help the woman?"

"I was going to," 'Star and Stripe' smiles, "But someone bit the assaulter's sack and then peed on him. Given how you managed to track him... you have a heightened sense of scent, too, right? Is that why you peed on him? Canines mark their territories with such tactics, after all."

Jackal now couldn't admit he just wanted to pee on a rapist, could he? So, grinning, he takes the credit with a candid expression, "Yep!"

"But..." he adds, "Why isn't there any wind? Why don't you have a scent... and why can't I hear things at the moment?"

It's true.

Wind should be whipping about around them but it is found lacking. And Jackal can barely pick on any conversation at the moment so he looks at the well-built woman, "Your quirk?"

"Something like that. Unfortunately, I'm not allowed to explain it so I'll leave it to your imagination," she smiles and starts to put all the wrappers back into the paper bags from which the food came.

Helping her out, Jackal states simply, "Well, there you go, I'm not a vigilante... just a citizen. Name's Jackal."

"Uh... like a street name?" She questions with a curious expression but seeing his deadpan, she laughs, "Oh, well, sorry about that. I didn't think about any parent naming their kid Jackal. Ever. They must be interesting."

But seeing his increasingly unamused expression, she smiles sheepishly, "So... 2 for 2, huh..."

"Don't worry," Jackal's shoulders slump down and while he could try and keep his expression stoic, his body is now more honest than ever as his triangular furry ears bend on their halves and fold inwardly slightly while his tail droops low listlessly, "My name may sound stupid and all... but I like it. I gave it to myself, after all."

With a bright smile, Star chuckles, "Well, there you go. I was a bit annoyed at myself for being tactless but as long as you like it, nobody else's opinion should matter. And honestly, Jackal would go as a good hero name, too. So? Are you a student?"

Instead of replying anymore, Jackal questions curiously, "Don't you have... people to save?"

"That assaulter was the last arrest for the night," Star admits, "The 20th one, to be exact. Usually, I'm flying all over the country to meet my daily quota but this country never lets me down! I'm usually home by 10."

Jackal, meanwhile, observes her.

Not all rookies are well-known but none easily compare to this Super Rookie who appeared out of nowhere last year and took the world by surprise. As she said, 20 reports every day. Without any gaps.

With her long golden hair fashioned into 8 distinct tufts swept back and a caped costume consisting of the nation's stars and stripes, she is considered the most American... American. But what attracts Jackal as a youth is her fair features despite her bold disposition and bodily structure. Sharp nose, distinct yet somehow feminine jawline, and eyes so blue you'd mistake them for the sky.

"So... you're off duty now, huh," Jackal shrugs, "But why invite me here for the 'feast'?"

"Dunno," Star chuckles, "Well, to be honest, I was interested. You just made a criminal pee... after peeing on him. You don't see this every day even in my profession. So, call this treat a favor for my curiosity. Besides," tapping the comm in her left ear, she adds, "I am waiting for the finalization of his arrest. It's taking longer than I expected."

"Oh... alright," Jackal nods and then stares at her silently but less than unnerved, she speaks in a forthright matter, "So, humor me, will you? Are you in some hero course?"

"No, I'm a dropout," Jackal sighs, "But don't let this make an impression! I... I want to experience High School! College, too. It's just that..."

'My old body was a high-functioning sociopath.'

"It's alright. Again... being a dropout isn't all that bad when you consider all the hero or supplementary courses nowadays. But what about heroes?" She questions.

"What about them?" Jackal blinks.

True, it took him the better half of the evening to get used to the idea that Heroes are a thing and that, too... heroes without secret identities, but he took it in great stride. He has dog ears, for god's sake!

With a glimmer in her eyes that caught Jackal by surprise, she questions, "Don't you think they are cool?!"

"I mean, you are," Jackal points at the BFC bags, "I've never met a hero so generous. Thanks again."

"Bah, don't mind it!" She laughs, "Oh, and another thing I wanted to ask personally. Do you want me to credit you for the arrest? I'm no police and I don't like treating things in a formal manner so, I didn't want to be a hassle and pull you into something you may not like."

"Nah, it's fine," Jackal smiles, feeling more comfortable around this hero as he questions with an earnest look, "You have many stories, right? What's your best story about... hmm, saving someone?"

"Story? As in damsel in distress kind of thing?"

"No, no," Jackal shakes his head, "As in Rapunzel."

Observing his eager expression, Star's thoughts grow heavier momentarily but she smiles and replies, "Actually, how about I keep it damsel in distress where I'm the damsel?"

"You?" Jackal gives her a side-eyed look, "You won the rookie poll and have a ridiculous quirk that is known to no one. Even now..." Sniffing loudly, he remarks, "It's like everything around us is still... and quiet."

"Well, there was a time when I was a damsel," Star smiles, "My whole family, actually. A villain was going to cause our accident but imagine my surprise when the very definition of a hero saved us!"

With an almost revering look, she claims, "His golden hair was fashioned like a 'V'. Maybe a symbol of his ability to achieve victory every time. He was quick and strong. He still IS quick and strong! Man, Jackal, when I say strong... I mean his punches can part the clouds!"

"All... Might..." Jackal mutters.

"All Might saved me at my weakest," Star nods, "Ever since then... he inspired me. He didn't need to be there for me. I just knew that I have to do something with my strength. He used his strength to save my life. My life, thus, is the fruit of his effort and if he spends his entire life making the lives of strangers remotely better... so will I!"

Grinning, she looks at Jackal, "So, you can say, like your name, my motivation is pretty lame, too."

But staring at her for a few seconds, Jackal chooses not to reply to her and turns to look at the city stretching in front of his eyes.

"My name isn't lame..." he snorts, "And your motivation, too, ain't lame. All Might didn't just share his half of burgers and fries with me. You did. And... a hero told me not long ago, if you like it, another's opinion shouldn't matter."

"Sounds like a wise hero," Star replies without a hint of shame.

"... Thanks," Jackal mutters after a while.

"You already thanked me for the food. No problem."

"No... I can guess why you said all that. You, heroes, have senses off the charts. The kind ones, at least."

Star sighs and looks at the city, too, "I just don't want to see others become villains just because someone was too busy being an asshole. And like I said, you're pretty interesting. So, if we meet again, I'd rather see you a bum, worker, employee, student, hero, vigilante, or anything else. Anything but a villain."

Lowering his head as his tail begins to wag slightly, Jackal whispers, "You have no idea how much this means to me."

Chuckling softly, Star replies, "It's fine. A hero doesn't need gratitude for lip service. Especially a hero who's gonna surpass All Might."

"I don't see that happening."

Deadpanning, Star glares at the youth whose ears and tail are lively once again as she questions, "Excuse me?"

"Well," Jackal grins, "While you're paying lip service here, All Might is known for not taking a second of a break! So, I guess, you make for a better hero for me even if All Might is gonna remain number 1 for a while."

"Cheeky bugger," she scoffs and smiles, "Come on, let's get you down. The finalization of the arrest still didn't reach me so I might as well go and check myself."

Jackal nods as she holds him by his waist while he carries the paper bags with all the leftover wrappers.

The two don't try to hold each other off for something more sentimental despite the seemingly obvious 'click' as she waves at him and flies away. Meanwhile, Jackal finds the nearest trash bin now that he can smell again and disposes of the carry bags responsibly with a sense of wonder ignited within him.

Unknowingly, Star and Stripe left a mark on him that Roberta couldn't even after years of conversation. And... Jackal slowly starts to slip out of his Rapunzel arc into Chad Disney Horse arc.

On the other hand, things are equally surprising for Star and Stripe.

"He confessed?" She questions the comm that roused to life not long after she set Jackal off.

"He's a real piece of shit, that one. Assault, rape, pedophilia, that bastard's done it all!" The angry voice from the other side barks, "But he's a bawling mess now. Saying that he is going to die and he will never be forgiven. Stuff like his sins won't let him sleep. Did you do something to him with your Quirk, Stripe?"

Star, initially angry at the criminal's record, comes to a slow stop. Instead of answering her public 'manager', he whispers after standing atop a roof, "Cathleene Bate. Cathleene Bate will have enhanced vision."

Her gaze takes some time to locate the back of a familiar youth who is crouching in front of a street dog near a trash can with a wide smile and chattering something.

"What is it? A villain?" The voice questions.

"No... nothing at all," she smiles as her vision becomes normal, "I didn't do anything to that man. Maybe his sins really did get to him. Isn't that the better scenario?"

"I hope that is the case. Well, you shouldn't be out for long either. If yoh're going to loiter around then it's better to rest and eat a nutritious meal. Don't think I don't know how you've been stuffing your face with burgers!"

"How rude!" Star and Stripe pouts!

***

Alternate Title: Borgors!; The Rapunzel and the Damsel; Fabled Horse Arc!; A Hero's Will; All it takes is Kindness; Mysterious Quirk!; Munch—Slurp, Words A Hentai Artist/Writer Live By!