After a day of boring classes, bland conversation, and droopy pedestrians a girl can't help but want to sleep in her bed. The analog read three o'clock in the afternoon. With a bubblegum pink backpack over her shoulder, she rushed through the workers and toward a hidden door. Before she could get away a gruff voice chimed, "How was school today?"

She turned to her guardian, hanging on the door frame, "Eh." A bit of black hair fell into her face as she pretended to care about his question.

He turned around with a knife in his hand. His apron read, 'Kiss the Bull' but the word kiss was written over a crossed-out 'Kick'. He stood so high that his head nearly reached the ceiling. He towered over the teenager. His massive golden nose ring reflected a bit of light from the dim bulbs above, "I told you to call me when you're on your way home."

She blew a bubble and fixed her purple jacket, "Oh yeah. I forgot."

He carefully put the knife on a nearby table. A few workers rushed by with dirty plates in hand, "Bibi. You know..." He looked around making sure no one was listening. He leaned in to say, "Brawlers are still disappearing."

Bibi felt her frustrations ignite. She mumbled out, "Crow's not missing."

He huffed at her defiance. She still hadn't accepted it despite the news reaching every Brawler in town. In her eyes, Crow was off on a mission just like the posters kept saying. He didn't want to be the one that forced her to rush through her grief. She'll come to her senses with time. Instead, he shooed Bibi into the small compartment.

The two of them had to squeeze to fit inside. Bibi opted to make her way partially up the stairs so that he could try to fit in the small flooring at the base. The young oriental always found it hilarious watching him try to fit his gargantuan butt into normal-sized spaces. When he was finally comfortable he continued, "I know you miss him. I do too." He presented the girl with her phone. She was shocked and started patting her pants pocket. When did his massive fingers get ahold of her phone without her knowing? She snatched it back with a pout as he continued, "But until we get more news, we have to assume that all Brawlers are being targeted."

Bibi blew an angry raspberry, "I'm not some little kid, Bull. I can protect myself."

"I'm sure you can. But whoever is doing this got Crow. Do you really want to fight someone like that?"

She found her voice catching on her tongue. The bird was the best fighter she knew. Even if she thought she could take him in a fight, there's no telling how tough this kidnapper might be. Bull mentioned that it might not be one person, it could be a team. They can't take any chances. He added, "I already lost Crow. Do you know what I'd do if I lost you both?"

Bibi rolled her eyes, "You'd bulldoze this town."

He patted her pudgy cheek, "Atta girl." Bull pointed upstairs, "Alright go ahead, I'll have lunch ready soon. Got some orders to fill." With that, her violet jacket rushed up the steps to their apartment above the shop. Before she could vanish, Bull made one final call, "Bibi. I love you."

Bibi's body froze for a second. It was so embarrassing whenever he did this. His obsession with being a father was constantly projected onto her. She turned around and muttered, "...love you too..."

"I didn't hear that." Bull's parental taunts made her crack.

She yelled down, "I love you too!" and slammed the door shut. She seriously needed to find him a girlfriend. She made her way to her tiny room. No more than twenty-five square feet of space, less than a college dorm. Her bed barely fit her torso and the neon blue and black color palette turned the small square into a mini disco. She had a little desk against the southern wall but it didn't have anything on it besides space for her laptop and dinner.

As she kicked off her shoes and jumped into bed she was immediately interrupted by a knocking sound. It didn't come from her door so it couldn't have been Bull coming to bother her. She looked to the window by her bedpost. A black and blue boy was currently resting on her fire escape. She put on some fuzzy pink slippers to join him, "I don't like you not having the bells." He turned around to ask why she'd want him to cover up such fashionable hair. She deadpanned, "You can't sneak up on me with the bells on."

It was a muggy day with Retropolis falling under a deep bog. The sound of passing cars mixed pleasantly with the hundreds of people screaming about the monotony that had plagued Starr Park. Bibi sat down on the stairs while Chester stood against the rail. "What's new, clown boy?"

Chester snickered with the familiar jab, "Well... I still can't get into Pam's junkyard. Starr Park is making me the town's number one villain." A toy plane flew past their heads. Chester instinctually hid his face by turning away. She took in the poor blending of white and cobalt face paint. Its purpose was to shelter his mug from hidden cameras and spying eyes. The vehicle soaring past them could either be a survelience drone or an enthusiast's hobby. When it passed he turned back to her with a smile, "But on the bright side, I have a roof over my head again."

Bibi pushed away a bang from her eyes, "Oh you made a tent?"

"Yeah... much better than choosing a different bridge to sleep under each night."

Bibi nodded along with his assertion, "I'm sure it's better than being homeless."

"Well... I do miss the changes in scenery." The two sat on that positive note for a while. A bit of stagnant vapor rushed through their lungs.

That is until Bibi dropped the ever-so-pertinent question, "Have you seen Crow?"

Chester wasn't shaken, "Still nothing."

"Not even-"

"Not even a robot clone." Chester finished her sentence with a downtrodden murmur.

Bibi's stomach churned hearing the news or lack thereof. She tugged on her pink crop top to pull it further down, "Well that's good." She walked up to the rail with him. The two rested their elbows on the cheaply painted fire escape, "She must be done."

Chester pulled on his blue scalp, "I don't know." He turned to look at the younger girl. She was probably no more than three years his junior. Yet somehow, he got a position as a main attraction in Starr Entertainment. Meanwhile, though she's been working under Bull for years, she was still seen as a supporting member of the Retropolis Trio. "I really don't know."

Bibi wasn't much for comforting others. It was part of the reason why she bullied Jessie so much. She didn't like how Jessie was so closed off to others. She and Crow concluded that the best way to break that shell was with brute bullying force. That way all other interactions would seem twenty times better. It seemed to work rather well, that and the helpful nature of Leon combined rather nicely. However, before her was a problem that bullying could not solve. She didn't know of any gentle solutions to seeing him so broken. So she chose the most physical option she could think of.

She hugged him.

No further words were exchanged. They stood together in the evening's bliss just enjoying the other's company. After an untraceable embrace, Chester decided to take his leave. Bibi wouldn't let him go without further questioning. She asked if she could join him and take Crow's spot until he was found. Chester was quick to shoot this down. The precautions if she got hurt did not outweigh the benefits of her addition. Bibi tried to convince him that Bull wouldn't find out, but Chester was referring to how Crow would react if they even did save him. Most importantly if something were to happen to her, he'd never forgive himself.

She then thought about dropping all the information he'd sent her way to the police. Crow had already been keeping her informed on all his patrols. She'd even helped Gray get some pictures in the past. He unfortunately shot down this hope once more. Not only would anything she brings be considered hearsay but it would be coming from the words of a condemned criminal. Even if they took her seriously they would probably arrest her for aiding and abaiting a known felon. Her part in this mission was over.

She then dropped all her pretenses. She was tired of getting sidelined by others. She's not a little kid like Bonnie or Meg. Penny's the same age as her and she's the captain of a pirate crew. Chester explains that the Penny Pirates are just for show. They aren't really putting themselves in danger on their adventures. An opinion that Bibi strongly disagreed with.

She decided to further her point by bringing up Jessie's involvement. It didn't seem fair that a girl years her junior got to be a main player while she was left on the benches. Chester then added that Jessie didn't even know she was involved in this and she never will.

Bibi crossed her arms defiantly, "Oh yeah, Little Miss Junk Princess gets everything she wants." Chester stopped his exit to look at her. He asked her to elaborate on her mocking phrases. "You just can't get enough of her, can you? The crybaby follows each step you take and swoons over your every word." Bibi stuck her tongue out, "I bet you love having a cute little groupie for you to play with."

Groupie? Play with? Chester wasn't prepared for this level of jealousy over not being allowed to risk her life. He wanted to calm her down but she made an additional comment that left him speechless.

"Pervert!"

PERVERT?!

Chester didn't bother overanalyzing a frustrated girl's grumblings. Despite her abrasive personality it was nice to have someone on his side. However, he couldn't risk losing anyone else. He'll figure this out alone. It's all he has left. Before he left he decided that this ending was a little too dreadful. He couldn't leave a girl frowning, "Jessie was my little trooper before you. So don't get upset just because your new big brother Chester isn't giving you any attention." She pouted at his verbal jabs. Bibi tried to challenge this claim but it was Chester's turn not to give her an inch, "Besides, at least your girlfriend is safe."

Bibi's pursed lips shifted to a stuttering frown. A cherry blush formed along her cheeks, "Wh-WHAT?!"

Chester played the ignorant fool, "Well you wouldn't want your little sweetheart to go missing would you?"

Bibi unclipped the metal bat from her hip, "Amber's not my girlfriend!"

Chester stuck his tongue out as he climbed on the railing, "I never said Amber."

Bibi's embarrassment could light a fire. She swung her bat leaving a heavy dent in the thin metal. She cursed back with shut eyes, "I'm not into girls!"

A voice from behind asked, "You're not?"

She turned around to a massive bear in her room. Bull's bright white apron had a bit of grease staining the edges. He held in his hand a plate with mashed potatoes, collard greens, and a ten-ounce steak topped with butter. Bibi responded by hiding her bat behind her back. She couldn't even muster the strength to move her lips from their gaping state.

Bull moved a bit closer. He looked out the window that his torso could barely fit through, "Who were you talking to?"

"NOBODY!" She covered her mouth before calmly adding, "I mean... I was just... thinking... out loud."

Bull looked around the terrace. He came to a head-nodding conclusion as he cooed, "Oh~ I understand." He placed the heavy lunch on her desk. He took a seat on her tiny bed, bending the frame under his weight. "You're having those thoughts."

Bibi's body couldn't handle this. It was one embarrassing event after the other, "Please don't."

Bull calmly removed his apron, "It's perfectly natural for a girl your age to have these thoughts."

"...oh my god..."

"And of course, it's totally normal for you to be interested in other ladies."

"Oh... my god."

Bull took a deep breath. His own heart roared twice as loud as the cars below. He blew out with enough force to fill and then pop a balloon, "In fact, I wanted to talk with you about my boyfriend, Brock."

"Oh my... boyfriend?"

~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~

"Yes. Yes, finally!" Pam made her way to the front of the capsule. She put a hand to the glass. It was eerily warm. The bubbles that rushed up to the surface were doing more than waking the mass inside. Her ears caught the painful squeals of bolts flying off their nuts. Above were rushing miscellaneous liquids from inside the hanger. She turned around, looking past Nani at the pods she furnished into holding cells. The robots inside were in stasis as their energy was funneled into the grand finale.

Nani audibly gasped as she pointed forward. Her little bracelet dangled about on her shaking wrists. Never had she felt fear in her programming. But something about this made her coils quiver.

The sound of flesh smacking the glass snagged Pam's attention. A hand was resting on the inside. Pam couldn't help but smile at its response. She laughed like the mad scientist she was screaming, "It's alive. It's finally alive!"

She squished her eyes against the warm barrier. She stared deep inside as she whispered, "You're perfect."