Third Person
Rasmus had felt like he aged an extra ten years just looking at One Eye.

His bodyguard was lucky to still be alive, or maybe Rasmus was lucky she was- he wasn't sure. But unfortunately, she wasn't in good shape. A day and a half had passed already and she still hadn't woken up. Instead of her usual armor, she wore a light blue patient's gown, with heavy bandaging in her stomach where the wound was, and an IV in her arm.

Just looking at her, something stirred in Rasmus. He almost wanted to call her fragile, but that wasn't quite the word for it. She had muscles after all, much more than Rasmus himself. If anything, she could kill him in her sleep, but still, seeing her like this made him feel... Anxious? That seemed about right. He wasn't used to her being hurt, after all, One Eye always seemed so invincible.

His feelings only got worse when he was faced with another delema: Getting a new bodyguard. The papers alone made him sick but he knew he had to start searching. One Eye would kill him if she knew he wasn't going to find one and leave himself unprotected in a trying time.

Name after name popped up, until he narrowed it down to the ones in the area. People who could come within a day or less, he needed a bodyguard and fast.

Then, he looked at the profiles and sighed. He barely even looked their names of some of them, just glancing at the picture before moving on. All he could think of was One Eye and that he just wanted her by his side. She had been for so long that doing this felt so very wrong.

Rasmus ended up with just one in left that he hadn't glanced at and determined that after this one, he'd be done for the day and just make a choice tomorrow, he didn't want to deal with this. But, as he opened it up, he saw a difference between them and the others. One that normally wouldn't matter, but the thing was, Rasmus was emotional. Too emotional for his liking, but he couldn't help it. He'd been picking up a hefty amount of Cody's work to give the king a break and now found himself much more vulnerable than before.

He paused and read over it, even though he already made his choice in his mind. They'd only take half a day to get there too. He dialed the number before he even processed picked up the phone.

---------

Professor Pikalus told himself he had it together.

He was lying of course, but it seemed to convince some part of him. He could feel himself losing control, and chemicals fill his mind and muscles. He was a foot taller now and had bulked up, but still barely in control.

It was the guilt that was killing him. The way KrakenKid was screaming at Cody how he wanted to go home, and the indescribable look of anguish on Cody's face that filled his mind. Repeating over and over again like a glitching projector and making it hard to breathe.

Nobody was around to notice. As soon as Pikalus got back from escorting Cody and KrakenKid back to somewhere safe, he locked himself away. In his house first, where Pikalus managed to hold firm. He took a day off, focusing on mental health and using the fluffy feline that gladly purred as she rubbed her head against him to make sure he didn't hold together.

Pikalus could normally do this. He had been taking anger management classes for ages now, anything to get the Hulk under control. It was working for so long too. He learned breathing techniques, venting sources, even bought a cat when his therapist recommended it.

All had worked for so long. Though his mind was still scrambled, he could control himself when he deliberately transformed. He took controlled breathes and now was much more powerful. Pikalus held himself back from turning at trivial things by walking away and doing something else.

Even then on his day off, Fluffles soft fur and calming purr that he could feel as she settled in his hold kept him from remembering what tormented him. "You work magic, girl." He told the cat. She just mrrow-ed in response, the calico cat snuggling further with him. He laughed quietly. He now understood why so many people spoke to their pets.

But it was his ambition that doomed him in the end. Professor should've known, it always was. After two days, he headed back to work. He should've taken the week off, Jerold would let him. He should've made sure he was ready to come back instead of forcing himself to.

Now, deep in Sector Zero, with Susan above him and completely isolating himself, his mind spun. Keeping control was like trying to grab falling sand and keep it in his hands. It kept finding cracks and now, he slowly transformed in little ways. Height, muscles- he was losing it. Soon enough, he wouldn't have anything at all.

"I'm afraid every time I go to sleep, it'll be my last."

"JUST LET ME GO HOME!"

Kraken's words threw him off first. But then came Cody. After they got the Tide Changer back, Cody mumbled was quiet for a while, and then whispered something.

"We're not the good guys here, are we?"

Pikalus couldn't remember what he said. Maybe it was protest, shouting how they didn't know what would happen or that they attacked first. Maybe, he didn't say anything at all.

All Pikalus could remember was the fact that the Penguin's attitude didn't change. Whatever he did or didn't say, Cody didn't feel differently because of it.

The twisted and broken feeling deep inside consumed him. Pikalus could only think about all the people he hurt, and what he did. It wasn't Cody's fault. It wasn't Kraken's. In the end, it only felt like his, and that was the most suffocating.

The last of the sand slipped out of his grip, and Pikalus was gone before he even noticed his blue skin and glowing, white eyes.

—————

Cody wasn't sure where the instinct came from, but the moment he heard the collapsing buildings, slowly turning into a domino effect and the screams of civilians and guards trying to get orders out, he ran right to KrakenKid.

The kraken was still in bed but was surprised when the door busted open and a panting breath filled the room.

KrakenKid presses his back against the nearest wall of his bed, and uncertainty called out. "Penguin? That you?"

"Y-yeah, I..." Cody trailed off, sucking breath in trying to speak coherently. "Something's wrong. You gotta get out of here, c'mon!"

KrakenKid hesitated for a beat, but soon got up and made a beeline. Cody was a little impressed how well he know the layout of his house and he didn't so much as accidentally brush against anything. He shook it off and quickly grabbed his hand and led him out.

The streets were clearing as everyone moved away from the path of destruction. When a guard passed by, Cody caught his attention, then blinked when he recognized him to be Damion. He had seen him before.

Cody focused back again, he had to focus on what was important. "What's going on? Something's wrong- what is it?"

The guard sputtered but eventually found his words. "Professor Pikalus! He's rampaging! He's- he's turned!"

Cody's breath catches in his throat as soon as he hears it. Like ice filling his veins and freezing his heart with pure panic and a sick realization.

Pikalus hadn't turned in a long time. He was doing well keeping it under control, and if something did get to him, it had to be big. Cody knew what it was. He just didn't realize Pikalus was taking it so hard.

Between wondering how he could've stopped it and blaming himself, Cody made a choice. He handed the kraken over to Damian, then signaling a few other guards over and made a choice. "Get him to the palace, I'm going to him. I can fix this, I'm-!"

"I'm not sure that's a good idea!" Damian yelped, clinging to KrakenKid's arm and staring behind him.

Cody frowned, then whipped around and a startled gasp escaped him.

The trail of destruction was going right towards the palace.

"RASMUS!"

—————————

Rasmus let the woman look around the palace for a while. She had never been to Atlantis, let alone the palace. People always reacted like this, though the foreigner's interest in the Nexus was more than most did.

"It's... It's absolutely breathtaking!" She gawked at it. Her blue eyes shined with curiosity, circling it over and over again.

"Indeed it is. Ready for the interview?" Rasmus asked.

She straightened up and nodded. Her face turned a little more serious, acting professional now. "Of course. Thanks for having me, Rasmus. I understand I'll be your bodyguard if I get the position?"

Rasmus nodded. "Yes, Miss Tanith, wasn't it? Your profile mentioned that was in your field of work. There also wasn't a last name."

Tanith laughed slightly, brushing her blonde hair over her shoulder. "Don't have one. Not anymore at least. A cultural thing. What should I expect from this job? How busy?"

Rasmus started to walk towards the stairs. Tanith started to follow, her snake tail swishing back and forth rhythmically. "Well, it's been a little busy as of late but I'll be staying away from the battlefield from now on so doubtful you'll have much to do but make sure I stay safe from anything else that'll happen. Though I doubt anything will for a w-!"

Then the wall broke down across from them.

Both flinched but none of the debis hit them. Jaws dropped at the sight of the muscle, blue creature, growing at them with glowing eyes. His head twitched slightly, lips forming into a nasty snarl.

Tanith blinked, confused beyond all belief and gesturing towards him. "Are they... One of yours?"

"You could say that, but if he looks like this then that means we're in big trouble." Rasmus responded, taking a step back.

Hulk didn't seem to like his actions and lunged forward. Rasmus feels himself go pale, but Tanith is just slightly faster.

She's suddenly in front of him, a blue dome covering the two of them. Hulk crashes right into it, and to his surprise, it holds firm.

The monster roars with wrath and starts to bash against it. Tanith flinches when he does, cracks starting to form but she holds. Rasmus isn't even sure he can speak, merely watching in amazement.

Before another hit can come from the monster, Cody bursts in, out of breath and screaming things that Rasmus can barely comprehend. Pikalus growls and goes for him, with Cody turning and running out the other way. He leads him away.

After a few beats, Tanith lowers the shield. She sweats and is breathing erratically, but otherwise is fine. Rasmus takes a moment to find the words. "Force field?" Tanith nods. "You mentioned it could stop bullets on your resume but that... You didn't say it could do that."

"Well it helps that I'm at full power but yeah, it is possible for me to-" Tanith started to explain, but Rasmus cut her off and left her speechless with one simple word.

"Hired."

——————-

KrakenKid was plunged into unfamiliar territory as they got further and further away from his home. He clutched the arm of the nearest guard as they rushed to get away from the palace. He knew they were going through the marketplace- the guards had told him- but it was so quiet he could barely tell. Nobody else was around.

"Where are we going?"

"Away from the Hulk." One responded. "Doesn't matter where, just away from here. Most have already evacuated, luckily this isn't our first attack, we're all prepared. Hopefully we'll be able to-!"

He never finished as a crash stopped them all in their tracks. The guards went deathly still as a soft groan came from where the crash did. Someone was thrown into something? A wall maybe?

A strangled cry followed- someone trying to say 'Run' but was soon overshadowed by something big crashing down and growling at them. Hulk. KrakenKid gulped.

The guards started to usher him away but then he heard it. Or rather, he heard him.

"Pikalus, please! Calm down!"

Cody's voice. It stopped his heart and slowed down time. He's attacking Cody. He's lost all control- he already threw him! He's gonna kill him!

He could hear Hulk's heavy steps, lumbering towards around where Cody's voice came from. KrakenKid's mind races as they tried to drag him away but he shook the guards off. He had to do something.

"Pickles- Pikalus!" The stomping suddenly stopped and KrakenKid could only assume he was now staring at him. Fear coursed through him but he was still standing in the end, refusing to fall.

"Kraken! Get out of here!" Cody hissed at him, though he heard the strain in his voice. Cody was injured and trying not to show the pain in his voice. He could hear it plain as day, though he wasn't sure why he was so tuned into hearing the Penguin's voice.

Swallowing, KrakenKid found the courage to speak again. "Pikalus, whatever it was, it's not worth all of this. Calm down, you don't have to destroy to feel better."

A beat passed, then two. The Tide Changer was left with no sound other than the blood roaring in his ears from his adrenaline kicking in. Then, it came. A gruff voice that could stop people's hearts from terror.

"Don't understand."

THAT THING CAN SPEAK? KrakenKid screamed in his head but kept it together. "Excuses! Nothing is worth this! Nothing!"

"Not you?" He said again.

KrakenKid frowned for a moment, thinking, then it struck him like lightning, electrifying ever part of his body. He suddenly knew what he meant, but he stood tall. Even if he now wasn't so sure. "Not even me."

"My fault." Pure anguish was in his voice now, so much that it actually hurt.

"No. Not your fault. You were a soldier taking orders, you didn't mean for this to happen."

KrakenKid hesitated for a moment before sighing deeply. He took all of his resentment, rage, fear and everything else that built up inside of him and chucked it out the window. "No one did. It's not really any of our faults, is it?"

Though he couldn't see to prove it, he could feel Cody's gaze on him, looking at him with his mouth wide open. KrakenKid just let all of his hatred go in that moment, feeling lighter. "Because we all made mistakes. There's no set person to blame. As much as I want a scapegoat, there isn't one. Let go, Pikalus. Come back to us."

KrakenKid held his breath, but heard a slight shift before someone fell to the ground. Cody seemed to get up, displacing the rumble he was in and walking over to him.

"You... You did it." Cody whispered softly.

KrakenKid let out a long, relieved sigh. "Good... I think I'm due for a long nap now, I'm beyond exhausted."

***********************
Guess who's back? Bet you didn't see THIS update coming, huh?

A shorter chapter but not too bad! A few notes:
-Pikalus has a cat and you can't stop me. Both adorable and efficient

-KrakenKid is getting attached~

-Yes, I included her for a reason, don't worry, Tanith will act of a catalyst (No not the character, the scientific thing) for a certain relationship

-Remember Damian? Probably not but he's the same guard who's a spy for the Tide Changers

Anyways, I hope you guys liked this! Be sure to comment what you think, for it fuels me greatly and even a simple 'Good job' goes a long way, because remember, reading and commenting can take minutes while writing can take days. See ya!

—JustAnAtlantisWriter