Dog of Hell: 3

Title: All Star and Stripe (1)

One doesn't get cornered in Buffs City by a villain. In fact, being a legacy of a hero who sacrificed himself for this city a few years ago, it is a relatively 'new' hero city and thus has many young and old hero veterans flooding in to make a name for themselves.

After all, a veteran villain once said—

There is nothing more annoying to me than a large number of upstart villains. But the larger number of heroes makes me swallow my words.—

So, imagine Linda's surprise when she was cornered in a particularly desolate alley near one of the many residential areas of the city. She is yet to make out the assaulter in front of her but her instincts kick in and she screams for help!

"Save me— eeep!" A scared yowl soon escapes her throat as she feels something sharp and cold settle against her neck. In the barely lit alley, she finally manages to observe the 'villain' with a shaken expression.

He was no villain.

"As you can see," He grins wickedly while pressing the knife in his hand a little further against her neck, "I'm just a civilian so no 'Hero' is going to bother us and well, OUR heroes in Blue take their time~! If you don't wanna end up as another victim left unsolved on a shelf... I suggest you empty your purse."

The man in front of Linda looks nothing like a crook. Wearing a three-piece suit that looks expensive at a glance, the well-groomed and handsome man shares no sense of compassion. He looks like any regular, nay, a dependable guy from his outfit but... Linda will claim anything but that.

Scared witless, she fumble to open her purse but before she can unload everything on the ground while trying to hold back her tears and not escalate the situation in any way, the man clicks his tongue and grins, "No, my dear miss. Not on the ground."

Attracting Linda's attention, the man brings up a small backpack with his other hand that is already unzipped and wide open.

"Thank you for your patronage~!" The man hints with a cold and captivating smile.

Still shivering and not the least bit comforted by the disturbing smile, Linda quickly turns her purse upside down and unloads the contents into the man's bag.

"Good," he smiles gently, "Don't worry, I won't hurt you, dear customer."

"C-Customer?" Linda shivers unknowingly as the man brings his face closer to an uncomfortable gap. His hot, heavy breath hits her face and only now Linda realizes the look in his eyes.

"There's just something about scared women and girls that gets me going," He breathes out huskily, "Something about your fear," he presses his knife a bit more, finally drawing a trail of blood, "Something about your blood. Don't worry," he coos, "It won't hurt. After all, you just paid me." He shakes his bag to emphasize the fact, "And then... you won't even have to remember me. I know it is traumatizing so I will free you from it."

Tears begin to spill out of Linda's eyes. She is too scared to speak. Weak, fearful whimpers escape her lips as her legs threaten to give out.

*Crunch*

A gruesome sound echoes in the dark alleyway. Both Linda and the man were too focused yet the man's expression soon whitens and he looks down to see a small, black-furred puppy biting on his crotch.

"Ugh!" Sheer, unadulterous pain shoots up his spine and almost jolts his brain shut as his hold on the knife weakens which promptly falls on the ground.

"Aaaaaahhhhhh!" All the bottled-up fear within Linda releases into a loud shriek that will surely attract nearby attention as she shoves the man away hard and rushes out.

Stumbling off balance, the man falls back on his head and his lights go out quickly.

Meanwhile, the skull-sized small black pup sporting sharp triangular ears and a pair of golden red eyes, and a well-groomed tail lets go of the man's balls and looks at him curiously. After a moment, the puppy raises one of its hind limbs and lets out a small stream of pee on the man's thigh. As if satisfied, the puppy struts away with a distinctly proud expression, and as the darkness of the alley consumes the puppy, his short, cheerfully wagging tail is all that can be seen.

---

There is a reason why Finn chases his 'passion' in a three-piece suit— Those easy to the eye are generally more trustworthy. In this day and age where beauty will attract various monetary gains such as sponsors and whatnot, this trait can be used as a commodity.

As expected, with neither his 'beloved' around nor any reports to his records... yet, Finn goes scot-free after a few patrolling heroes catch wind of the scream.

This is the thing about most heroes. They often lack the necessary paperwork and work ethic of police officers but it's not like it wouldn't have worked on Police officers either.

As for the bag filled with various items ranging from a woman's lipstick to the id of someone named Linda? The answer is simple.

"Ah," putting on a sheepish act, Finn rubs the back of his head, "I heard a scream and came running in but someone hit the back of my head. If you'd like, I am happy to bring this bag to the police."

The hero in front of him— Frozone— chuckles, "No worries about that. Get on with your life and leave all these troublesome matters to your bro, Frozone! And be safe out there, dear citizen!"

Finn nods and takes his leave soon after. There is still a risk that the woman would bring back the cops so...

'I need to skip country again.'

That's what he does. He isn't even from the USA. In his line of work... there are times when he slips up. For instance, right now, he can predict that his victim must be filing a report. His face is known and surgery is too expensive, not to mention, it leaves a trail because that's what the whole underground network is— one big weak link waiting to be unraveled.

With these thoughts, Finn decides to call it a day and return to his apartment.

He needs to pack up...

'And take a bath. Fuck, it feels gross on my leg. That little bitch actually peed on my trousers! Sigh... my balls are sore, too. I need to get myself a shot for the bite, too.'

*Yip*

*Yip*

A series of 'cute' yipping attracts Finn's attention and he turns to look at the nearby dumpster alley with an irritated look only to find a familiar puppy.

Finn still doesn't remember too much about the puppy but his golden red eyes stuck out too much!

And there it stood on its four, yipping for attention and then turning around to wag its tail.

'This little shit!' Veins bulge around his temple and as if now finally afraid, the puppy quickly scampers deeper into the alley.

'Tch!' Finn chases after the puppy.

'I've killed women and girls so kicking a puppy to death won't make me any better!' He grits his jaw and enters the alley with bold, measured steps. His hardened knuckles feel the familiar itch to beat something... or someone again. He usually settles for the soft flesh of his scared victims... but a puppy would suffice.

"Huh? Where the fuck did that bitch hide?" Far from society's eyes, Finn releases his true self. The closed end of the alley is without his target and he growls in anger.

*Yip*

Finn turns around to see and grins broadly. The puppy crouches not far from him in the center of the alley as if blocking his path but...

"This isn't even funny but you've pissed me off! And you followed me!" He barks in laughter as he clenches his fist and causes a series of popping sounds to echo from his knuckles.

*Yip?*

The puppy cocks his head sideways and Finn frowns, "Wait... you can actually understand me? Do puppies get a quirk, too?"

The puppy shakes his head and yips loudly while jumping slightly yet, before reaching the ground, the puppy's body inflates at a speed visible to the naked eye. Muscles expand and tense under the glossy black coat of fur. His muzzle elongates like a wolf. His tail grows thicker and furrier, too. His short, stubby legs, now proclaim the grace of dog gods, and his claws are sharper than an ordinary beast's.

But...

Finn's eyes widen in fear slightly. Disregarding how the species of dog looks familiar to certain myths of an ancient civilization known to mankind...

The 'puppy,' nay, the dog is the size of a human despite being on all fours. Instead of a cute little yip, a threatening growl leaks, and Finn catches sight of sharp fangs that reflect what little light that illuminates this alley.

"W-what?" Finn gulps and steps back a little, "Hey! Using quirk without a license is illegal! If you're a pro, reveal your identity and show evidence for why I'm being threatened in this manner!"

The dog, no the beast silently sets its left forelimb forward that sends Finn against the wall with cold sweat dripping down his forehead!

"I— I am innocent!" Finn shouts! "Someone! Help me! There's a villain!"

*Heh*

Finn's eyes widen as the beast's lips stretch in a smile but all it does is display the sharp meat grinder jutting out from his jaws! But what truly scares Finn is the sheer apathy in the eyes of this beast. The Beast won't even communicate. He is silent. Deadly. And from what Finn can gather from experience... this beast fears nothing.

Or at the very least, this beast still hasn't come across something that can elicit fear.

*Grrrrr*

The beast takes another step forward as a beastly and guttural growl builds in his throat.

"P-Please... just tell me what you want!"

But the beast takes another step forward silently.

"I'll do anything!" Finn claims in a hurry, "Just tell me, please!"

Time seems to still for Finn as the beast finally gets too close. His hot, threatening breath hits Finn's face. The sheer lack of emotion in the beast's glowing gold-red eyes scares Finn to an extreme level.

Others may not fear such a gaze. It lacks everything. Be it anger or even the intent to kill.

It is fully blank.

But as someone who is part of the malice born in this world... somehow, Finn feels his body seize under the stare.

"I..." Finn's lips quiver as the bright gold-red pupils seem to reflect Finn's entire life to him!

Every sin he committed knowingly came rushing back!

Every injury he caused seems to imprint on his being!

Every bit of pain he caused seems to be wreaking havoc on his mind! He is too scared to move. He is, somehow, too much in pain to speak.

His vision swims. It is too much.

The weight of his sins is too damn much!

It's crushing him. His breath is caught in his choking gasps and he suddenly falls to his knees while clutching his chest.

The beast, equally surprised, pulls back and Finn can finally breathe... but he is unconscious.

"Uh... you alright?" The beast gently taps Finn's head with his paws, "Buddy, if I knew you were this much of a pussy, I would have just dragged you to the police... sigh... now you're peeing yourself."

Jackal holds back a groan and muses, "Welp, gonna go get my clothes and then turn him in. I wonder if I can get a reward or something..."

"So, you CAN talk!" A boisterous voice claimes loudly, "Had me worried that it'd be hard to communicate but that was a mighty fine intimidation! Even I can learn some stuff from you!"

Surprised because he heard nothing and didn't smell anyone else, Jackal turns back to look at the intruder but as if aware of his thoughts, the woman with one of the most striking frames he has ever seen tosses a plastic baggy to him.

His clothes.

"Don't worry! I'm not here to get you but that piece of shit behind you! So? What are you waiting for? Quickly change up. That guy was going to be my last arrest for the day. Oh, do you like burgers? My treat!"

Jackal blinks and looks around, "Uh... can I get some privacy?"

"Ah, sure, well, change up. I'll drop him at the nearby station by then," the woman practically disappears with a firm whip of air booming in the small alley, and just as Jackal looks back... Finn is no longer there.

But the pool of piss in that location asserts that... this isn't a dream!

"Uh," Jackal groans as his nose twitches because of the smell and he quickly reigns in his senses.

'I think I have seen here somewhere... oh, the new rookie.'

Jackal's body visibly shifts once again as fur recedes into his skin. His muzzle shapes itself into his slightly broader jaw and the fur on his head grows into spiky and short black hair.

Butt naked, Jackal quickly pulls his clothes from the bag and gets dressed all the while moving towards the exit.

'Nope! No way I am spending my first day in some interrogation... but burgers... I want to try burgers of this world!'

Jackal grins but his smile soon drops as he sees the familiar figure standing at the entrance of the alley.

"Yo! I was waiting for some time now! Come on, my treat!"

Her piercing blue eyes glimmer with vibrant glee as she stares into his gold-red pupils.

"Aw," seeing his unwilling expression, she sweetens the deal as it would work magically, "You can all the burgers you want!"

It worked.

Jackal's drooping ears perk up and his faltering tail straightens to attention, "Son of a bitch, I'm in!"

***

Alternate Title: The Puppy Be Scary; Crushing Weight of Sins; Strikingly Mythical; Son of a Bitch! Borgors!; The Scentless?; A Weak Man's Turn to Bully?