#Missingarm!AU

[realfuurikuuri]

Chapters: 20/? Fandom: Mao Mao: Heroes of Pure Heart (Cartoon) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: Mao Mao/Tanya Keys, Mao mao/badgerclops

A/N: Finally managed to get out chapter 20, so alls of y’alls should go read it.

Direct Link to Ao3 Chapter 20

Chapter under the cut:

 The day was ending. The setting sun lit the sky on fire with orange and deep blue. On better days, Mao Mao might have been able to take a second and enjoy it. Instead, there was this      ...feeling    overwhelming his insides. He could feel it in his fingers and in his toes. Maybe it would be better to say he couldn’t feel it. Like he’d completely burned it would out every emotion he could possibly feel and was left with nothing.

       When was the last time he had a “better day”?

 Maybe when he was sitting in his mother’s lap at barely five years old.  They were vaguely remembered moments. The two of them sitting in the garden at dusk as he fidgeted with childish energy. Unsure of what they were doing, yet enjoying the moment so much he was unable to stop. Of course, those moments had to end. Childhood gives way to adolescence and then finally adulthood.

 There were the times he spent with Tanya. It was nice. Free from most of his shackles. The shadow of the Mao-clan wasn’t constantly looming behind him when he had a family of his own in front of him. Then all of that had to come crashing down around him, leaving him only with that damnable shadow.

 Then there were the first few days he was in the Pure Heart Valley. It was a land unsullied and untouched by the outside world. Literally a blank canvas for him to try and make something worthwhile. No tragedy, no family, no burdens existed here. However, all those things had to follow him into even the most remote places and eventually dominate his life again.

 Mao Mao covered his face with his hands, like he could shield himself from the shame attacking him from all sides.

 He pulled his hands away and looked around. He was on the outskirts of everything. The city out of sight, his HQ which was already far from civilization a dot on the horizon, so small, he might be mistaking the tears in his eyes for it. He wiped them away, and then again. He looked at his one remaining hand wondering if he was somehow missing before he realized that he was crying.

 That was the final straw that broke him. Or maybe that was what made him aware he was already broken.

 Maybe it was that realization that hit him harder than anything else. It knocked the wind out of him, and made his knees buckle until he was in the grass. He clawed at the dirt, trying to grasp something to help him at least sit up, but everything slipped right through his fingers.

 * * *

 Badgerclops sat down, his back against a tree. The cicadas had quieted down by now. It really was getting late. He was thankful to finally get off his feet, if only for a short, small, and quick break. It didn’t just give him time to rest, it gave him  to think. He thought about his acing feet, the growing hunger in his stomach, but those thoughts were transient and inconsequential.

       The thought that really weighed on his mind was that of his friend, of his partner. When they met, there was this sort of unspoken agreement between the two of them. That their lives started the second they met, and don’t you dare ask about      anything    that came before. A proposition Badgerclops was eager to agree to. He had baggage he’d much rather throw away than unpack. He never imagined he meet someone with enough to rival him, or even out do by a country mile.

       Two entire lives he never mentioned. One surrounding a family (if you could call it that) who didn’t know what reciprocal love was. And a relationship crushed into a fine dust by his own hands, well, just hand. He never would’ve imagined he’d have a child. Seemed like too much of a straight shooter to have one.

       That was the most difficult part of working with him.

       The calamities that’d walk through your front door demanding to be fixed by a man who could never fix himself. He was sure that’d when he finally managed to push Tanya and her son out of the valley. What’s next? A mountain sized monster coming after the Ruby? The rest of his family showing up to debate inheritance? Wibbildy wobbly time-shenanigans? He didn’t really put anything past fate? Or misfortune? Or whatever was in control of his mess of a life.

       It certainly wasn’t him.

       Badgerclops stood up with a groan. He rested his feet a bit, but they were still sore, and his knees were now staring to feel funky, too. He wasn’t even that old. Maybe the saying “stress ages you” is actually true. In that case, the past month probably yanked years off his life.

       He looked up. The day was getting old and the night wa just being born. His search started late in the day; there wans’t much time anyway. He stood up resolved to continue tomorrow, if he could find him at all.

 * * *

       Mao Mao sat there on the hillock. The tears had dried up, the ground felt steady beneath his feet, and he had nothing else to give. That was probably the worst part of it. When you come back down from those emotional extremes, you find that birds still sing, that grass is still green, and the world keeps turning. These all consuming problems are small, inconsequential, and yet they consume you all the same.

       If his problems were small, yet still consumed him, how small was he?

       He cringed and looked away, trying to push that realization out of his mind, but it stuck to him like a mosquito. He slapped it away a thousand times, ignore it like it wasn’t there, but it buzzed around in his own head. He absently scratched the back of his head, his frustration growing and mounting. It was only natural that he’d throw his head back and let out a groan of frustration, but when he looked back down there was something staring back.

       Staring back wasn’t the right word, for it had a featureless pink face.

       Mao Mao’s first instinct was to lurch back, tumbling over himself, barely escaping to his feet. A smooch as h’ed like to say that his hardened reflexes as a warrior were the cause, his quivering knees were undeniable. His dry tongue. The sweat creeping down his back. This was ruthless fear.

 Where did it come from? He didn’t hear it approach, didn’t even smell it. What was this creature? It shambled towards with long gangly limbs, and an unnatural uneven stride. He didn’t recognize this from his families Monster Manual. He didn’t recognize it from his personal travels… or, maybe he did.

 This fear he was feeling wasn’t the fresh kind. It was the kind thrown back in your face when dredged up from childhood memories… no. The fear was potent, but it wasn’t aged like wine. It was like a fresh soda all shaken up. So filled with bubling energy that it was about to burst.

 He wrapped his tail around his scabbard and pulled out his sword. He held his sword up high, edge facing the sky, the tip pointing at the monstrosity. He didn’t notice that he’d taken a more defensive form than unusual until he’d pushed away to quick strikes.

 Their was a sickening shriek as the creatures claws ran down his blade.

 They say many things can bring back memories. Smell is the usual subject. Smelling a dish in a restaurant that reminds you of mother’s homecooked meal. Personally, Mao Mao had alays been much more sensitive to sound. Maybe itwas his big ears or just a more personal quirk. Something as simple as falling into the mud while a bird chirps would forever taint the dove’s song to him.

 Right now, hearing claws rake across his blade like nails on a chalkboard, forced memories back up like vomit. Memories literally tinged with the flavor. There was something else with them. The stink of alcohol. A woozy haze. Explosive fear. He’d seen this creature before. Where? When?

 The realization hit him like the claks scouring his chest.

 He backed away, defensive posture still going strong. The wound wans’t deep enough to do more than draw blood, but the pain sung with every movmeent. The apin wasn’t enough to send him reeling, it was the word etched into his vague memories with clarity.

 Demon.

       He couldn’t believe he forgotten any of it. His sword began to shake and his knees began to buckle. Whatever stalwart resolve he usually had was falling away. He barely had time to retaliate when the demon lunged at him. He moved forward, pus the grasping hands with a strong thrust. Most things would die witha  sword throught he head, but the demon just pulled itself off. Frayed bits of its heads sewing itself up as it stumbled around.

       Thar’s right… He coldn’t kill this thing.

       Escape was his only option. His eyes flicked to the forest. His first mistake. When they flicked back to the action, he nearly had his eyes taken out. HE pulled his head out the way as claws scraped his cheek. His form was broken. It was a buried and sloppy mess of parries or slashes. No, not even that. He was swinging his sword, guiding the attacks away from himself.

       He was retreating. Each step back to gain space meant lost ground. How long could he keep this up? His arms were sore and his hands hurt. His movements were getting slower ad slower until he knew he’d reached his breaking point. He pulled back, catching the demons’ left hand, and pushed forward to catch the right, but his reactions were just a hair too slow.

       The claws slipped right on past and were homing in. Probably would be the end to his adventures if the demon hadn’t made a simple mistake. Something so innocent as shambling too far and losing its balance, throwing the attack wide and nearly taking half his face.

        The demon fell face forward into the dirt. Someone with honor or pirde may have let it stand back up, but there was only fear to be found here. Mao Mao stuck his sword and the ground and pushed it forward. One quick swing, to split his enemy in half. He hated to let luck decide a duel, but if it decided to be on his side for once than he’d accept her offer.

       He let the sword hang limp in his hands. It was done, mostly over, when he saw the threads writhing like worms. They moved of their own accord wth no pattern, rhyme or reason. No wound -no matter how egregious- id more than bother it.

 That wasn’t right.

 That wasn’t fair!

       He picked his sword back upw ith a haphazard grip. Slammign it down over and over, chopping, ripping and tearing, sending thread into the air like they were guts until eh could do no more. And it still wasn’t enough. There were bits and pieces left. A part of its head, maybe its hip, a forearm, and somethign else. Just lumps of thread, and yet they all seemed to defy every bit of reason.

 When would it stop?

 Could it be stopped?

       What to do? What to do? Even if there were anything in the Mao family handbook for killing immortals there wasn’t any way he’d remember it. His eyes searched the remains as they slowly stitched themselves back together. Was there some sort of core he needed to destory? Some weakness he could exploit? All he could do was pikc up the pieces. One after the other and throw them as hard as he could.

       It wasn’t very far. Barely enough to toss them out of the clearing and into the shrubbery before he fianlly took one part from himself.

       Even if it couldn’t stop the inevitable, it just might delay it.

 * * *

       Issues compounded on each other. He’d wasted most daylight looking for a fool, and did month’s worth of walking in hours. Exhaustion only got Badgerclops to come home even later. Jǐngti and Tanya were still at HQ. Either that, or they didn’t tun off the lights. Even the short steps up the porch were a pain in the ass, and when he checked the front door it was locked.

       The first thought that floated through his mind was that Mao Mao was home. He never locked the door. Why would he, when their closest nieghbor was miles away? It might have ben a problem if there wasn’t a spare key under the mat. Sure t was a generic post anyone could find, but again, who would break into their house?

       He opened the door and didn’t lock it behind him. He didn’t notice Tanya sitting on the couch until he was halfway across the room. Jǐngti was in her lap while she storked him behind the ears.

       “Did you find him,” she asked.

       “No,” he answered.

       Their conversation stopped there.

       Badgerclospd decided he’d just go to bed for today. He had a logn day of searching tomorrow, or that’s what he thought until he heard a sound at the door.

       Frantic footsteps up the porch and the sound of the door being thrown open was enough to get Jǐngti to sit up.

       In came Mao Mao, sweat and blood soaked his fur. He was covered in more fresh wounds and had a dazed, distant look in his eyes. He’d probably be more worried about that if it was the first time he’s done it.

       “There you are wHAT THE FUCK DO YOU HAVE?”

       At first, he thought Mao Mao was carrying… he didn’t really know anything about what he was carrying other than that it was pink and long, but upon close inspection it became clear it was a forearm. Did a Sweetipie catch Mao Mao at the wrong time? No. He had this dazed look in his eyes, and bloody wounds. There wasn’t any Sweetipie that could do that.

       Tanya and Jǐngti crowded around him, getting a look at Mao Mao and the thing he was carrying. It didn’t look like it came from any animal. It looked like it was sewn from thread. A macabre piece of patchwork that was still moving. Tanya moved to cover her child’s eyes.

       “What is that?” he asked again.

       Mao Mao stared down at it for a minute, like he wasn’t too sure himself. “An arm.”

       “      Whose    arm?”

       “...the Demon’s.”

       Badgerclops stewed on his information for a bit before he sighed. “Well, Mao Mao’s finally lost his goddamn mind.”

       “You say it like he didn’t lose it a long time ago,” Tanya added.

       “Hey!” Mao Mao waved the severed arm at them, “I’m being honest here! I really mean it! I was attacked by a demon and-”

       As Mao Mao waved it around it continued to move and writhe with a mind of its own, eventually slipping from Mao Mao’s grasp, and finding a place of its own. The thread moved, worked by deft, invisible fingers, suturing itself up to flesh until it was as snug as a bug in a rug. Everyone stopped to watch Mao Mao, lift his new arm and bend the fingers.

       The Demon’s arm had attached itself to Mao Mao’s severed stump, and now become his own.

[dumbbitch2-0]

Art Request: MissingArm!AU Mao Mao being sad and angsty, if you please.

I GOTCHU👌👌 I fucking love this so much thanks

Me: draws soft hurt\comfort badgermao

Everyone:

Give his stump a lil kiss to surprise him in the bedroom!

Hold ya b while he’s having a ptsd attack

He’s not very tactful...

[randomshitsavedonmycomputer]

OK 2 MORE PEOPLE GAVE IT KUDOS AND ONE OF THEM WAS THE GUY WHO DID THE MISSINGARM!AU FIC

WHAT IS THIS TIMELINE

[realfuurikuuri]

Chapters: 19/? Fandom: Mao Mao: Heroes of Pure Heart (Cartoon) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: Mao Mao/Tanya Keys, Mao mao/badgerclops Series: Part 1 of Mao Mao: The Hero Without an Arm

AN: We're finally back with a new chapter, and it's got some of that delicious, sweet, sweet angst, and some of that Tanya and Mao Mao family drama y'all seem to like. I don't really have much to say, so uh....wonderful weather we're having? Unless you live somewhere with awful weather, I suppose. Today's song recommendation is Fences - Destroy Boys. A great modern punk song that's up for you to interpret.

Direct Link to Chapter: XXX

[realfuurikuuri]

Chapters: 17/? Fandom: Mao Mao: Heroes of Pure Heart (Cartoon) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Summary: MissingArm!AU: When escaping the cave, it wasn't his tail that got crushed. In exchange for his innocence, he gained a sordid past. The Pure Heart Valley seemed like a good place to escape. To start a new life with a new family to forge a new identity. However, when the past rears its ugly head Mao Mao's forced to step up or be put down.

direct link to chapter 17 on Ao3: 

Chapter Below the Cut

“Jǐngti,” Badgerclops shouted as he wandered through the forest with Adorabat resting on his head.

“Jǐngtì,” shouted Adorabat soon after.

Badgerclops suppressed a sigh, wondering how much longer this would take. He’s been walking through the forest that surrounds the hills since early this morning. His fur was covered in a thin veneer of sweat, and his knees were starting to hurt. Would Jǐngtì even come out if he heard them? Was he even in the forest? He could be in the junkyard, in the town something or who knows how many other places. There was an entire kingdom to sift through! This hasn’t been a waste of time from the start, has it?

Badgerclops kicked a rock in the mud with the realization that this was all pointless. But what else could he do? Not looking for a child who had run away in the night? Badgerclops picked up the pebble he kicked, reeled back his arm, and threw it into the procession of trees. He half expected to hear Jǐngtì say “ow” as the rock hit on the head, but he heard nothing but the vast emptiness of the forest.

There weren't any fortuitous accidents to be had here. Just misery.

“What are you doing,” Adorabat asked.

Oh damn. He forgot she was there.  

“It's nothing,” he said.

Acrobat didn’t seem convinced. She settled back down on Badgerclops head with a noncommittal grunt. Badgerclops kept walking, and Adorbat kept making sounds. Usually grunts or maybe a whispered word. Was she thinking? First time he’s seen her try so hard at it. He wouldn’t wish her any luck though. There’s no reason a child should be trying to put together such a macabre puzzle. She probably wouldn’t be able to anyway. She was asleep for most of last night, so her puzzle was missing a few pieces. Even if she had all the pieces there wouldn’t be any way a child’s mind could get the full grasp of what was going on, right? “What’s that mean?”

Badgerclops looked up at Adorabat with an eyebrow raised.

“You said something about a child’s puzzle?”

It appeared that he was just as lost in thought as Adorabat. Badgerclops wiped the sweat from his brow. This Sisyphean task had gone on too long. Although, Badgerclops wasn’t sure he needed to. Jǐngtì had his father’s blood coursing through his veins; he was bound to show up with another problem on his heels. It was time for Sisyphus to get a break and go back to HQ. Mao Mao would probably still be curled up on the couch, but he could never be too sure about that man.

Badgerclops looked around. There was grass at his feet and a crowd of trees in every direction. He was lost as fuck. It had to be this damn forest. And all this damn walking! Exercise has never done him well. What to do? Badgerclops tapped his finger until he had a lightbulb that promptly went out. He has a GPs system in the works but he never actually got around to setting it up. Damn you procrastination. Time to the bust out old reliable: climbing to a high place and hoping for the best!

What high place, was now the question. Badgerclops looked up at the pine trees that pierced the sky. He could climb those… but that was exercise and got a hard pass. What other pieces of geography could he take advantage of?  Hmm, there were a series of hills that rose above the canopy, HQ was built on one, so maybe he’d be able to see it from one of those. He just needed to find one.

“Hey, Adorabat. Fly up and tell me if you see any hills, okay.”

“Okay!”

Badgerclops watched her fly above the treetops into the sky when it hit him. “Did I forget she could fly?”

“Hey, Badgerclops! I see something… shiny .”

Badgerclops could see Adorabat’s pupils dilate and chomp her teeth as base instincts take over. She began to fly off at frightful speeds.

Badgerclops threw his head back and let out a loud groan. “It always exercises with you people,” he told no one in particular as he ran after her.

He followed her to where the ground slanted, forcing Badgerclops to trudge up slowly with his knees. The slope went higher and higher until he broke past the tops of the conifers to the top of the ridge. An endless green sea stretched into the horizon. He could see the town in the East, HQ to the north, and Adorabat off to the side.

He picked up the weird stick she was chewing on and pried Adorbat off like a leech. “We have got to get you a teething toy,” he said.

Badgerclops was about to throw the weird stick away when he realized it wasn't a stick. It was already marked with teeth marks, red with a golden tip, and hollow. This wasn’t a stick. It was Mao Mao’s sheath. Why was it out here? Was this where Mao Mao was last night?

What was that cat bastard doing?

* * *

Mao Mao ignored his grumbling stomach. He wasn’t in any mood to eat. He'd rather stay here, curled up on the couch, until the end of time. It was a good place. Soft. Warm. It was genuinely a good place, yet, why did he feel so miserable? His head was filled with fog, his body ached and every time he convinced himself to get up he suddenly felt everything escape him. His strength fled, his courage escaped, and will to keep going receded further back than it already had. He didn’t have Tanya. He didn't have Badgerclops. He didn’t have his son. He didn’t even have self-respect. How horrifying to know he could lose what little he had left. At least he still had the couch.

Mao Mao was getting very comfortable with it too when there was a knock at the door. First, he thought it was Badgerclops, but he has a key. And if he forgot it he’d just spend a second to make one. It couldn’t be Adorabat. She’d sooner crash through the window than knock.

“Hello? Is this the police,” said the voice. On any other day, Mao Mao might’ve answered the door, but right now he just rolled over.

Mao Mao covered his ear best he could with one arm.

“Excuse me? Is anyone there?”

Mao Mao snuggled himself deeper into the cushions.

“Please. My daughter is missing.”

Mao Mao finally pried himself away from the cushions. Not out of concern or sympathy, he just couldn’t stand hearing this stranger bang against his door or his stupid, whiny, nasaly voice. His legs felt heavy from lack of use, or maybe that was hunger. He couldn’t tell. The floor seemed uneven making him stumble as he approached the door. He tripped, falling to his knees. He would’ve hit his face if he hadn’t stabbed Geraldine into the floorboards. Badgerclops wasn’t going to like that.

Even then, he was forced to lean against it to catch his breath.

“Hello,” said the other side.

God! This dude’s voice made him want to tear his ears off. Mao Mao threw open the door, heaving for breath, leaning against the side of it to stand. He only says the usual expanse. The hill HQ rests on, the forest beneath the hills, and the town in the distance. Was he hearing voices? Sure, he wasn’t exactly taking care of himself, but he didn’t think he reached that point yet.

“Are you the sheriff?”

Mao Mao pointed his gaze down in the direction of the voice. He almost asked Adorabat what the hell she was doing when he squinted and took a closer look. It wasn’t Adorabat. Looked a lot like her though. A bat barely over a foot tall with a strange blue hue. A sweetiepie definitely, but one he’s never seen before. How strange.

“Who are you, no, what are you here for,” Mao Mao asked.

“My name is Eugene. I’m looking for my daughter-” Mao Mao tuned out after that. No need listening to him when he’s speaking a mile a minute. Eugene, huh. Weird name for a Sweetipie. He thought his name would be something weird like Gumball, or Flapjack, or even Parker. No, not Parker. That’d be too weird. Does he have a surname? Is it as weird as his first name? Mao Mao was going to ask when he realized Eugene was still talking.

“-can you help me?”

“No,” he said flatly.

Eugene deflated with a pathetic sigh of defeat until Mao Mao spoke up again”-but Badgerclops, might.”

“Where is Badgerclops,” Eugene stammered.

“Out.”

“Oh...Do you know when he’ll be back?”  

“No. Guess you gotta wait.”

Mao Mao spun on his heels ready to crawl back on the couch and lie there for eternity, when he noticed the tiny little man walking past him. Strange, he didn’t remember inviting him in. The tiny little bastard sat down on the loveseat with the infuriating awkwardness of patience.

Should he kick him? Probably?

Will he ignore Eugene and just crawl back onto the couch? Definitely.

And crawl onto the couch he did. He climbed onto the couch, wrapping himself in his cape. He kicked Eugene to the side , earning a nasally whine from the fool, to create space and once he had it he curled up and went back to his misery. This misery was different from the benign wasting away he was doing before. It was something more embarrassing. He was being watched. It made him want to hide under the covers and be mistaken for a rock. Maybe if he was mistaken enough, he’d actually become one.

“What's your name,” asked Eugene.

Of course, this fool wanted to talk. Mao Mao released a heavy sigh,” Mao Mao.”

“That’s a weird name.”

Yesterday, Mao Mao probably would’ve kicked him in the face. Now, he didn’t have enough pride to do that. He should’ve expected that’d be a name in a place like this.

“So, what do you do here?”

Mao Mao’s first instinct was to say sheriff, but that wasn’t really accurate anymore. “I make things worse,” he said.

Eugene nodded and shifted unfortunately before settling into a comfortable silence. Unfortunately, it didn’t last too long.

“You wouldn't have happened to see my daughter, would you?”

Mao Mao let out a non-committal grunt.

“She’s about a foot tall, blue, takes after her father that way, and cute as a button, but if I’m being totally honest, she scares me.”

Mao Mao stiffened. He knew a certain child that he’d describe the exact same way… He sat up, turning to face Eugene. “Your daughter wouldn’t happen to also be kinda naive, have a taste for adventure, and be extremely loud?”

“Yeah, she’s exactly like that.”

Mao Mao sat there. Mouth hanging wide open as the horrible reality dawned on him. He thought Adorabat was an orphan or something. He thought she was a ward of the state. An orphan! This was like accidentally adopting someone’s pet except a thousand times worse! Eugene was Adorabat’s dad. Mao Mao hyperventilated as he thought. How would he explain this? Summer camp? No, summer’s coming to an end. An internship? No, she’s eight! They’d have to give her back. He couldn’t just keep the child here. It's not like he was fit to be a parent.

Mao Mao stopped thinking, shocked by his own realization.

He wasn’t fit to be a hero, let alone someone else’s caregiver. He couldn't even be a parent to his own child, god forbid anyone else’s. He was a mistake. A failure. He ruined everything he got his hands on. Like a lumbering beast that just  How long would it be until he broke her too? Mao Mao took a deep breath. He wasn’t happy with what he had to do, but he was prepared to do what he must.

“Are you okay,” Eugene asked.

He wished people would just stop asking him that.

Both of them looked up when they heard something thump outside.

“Ow, you’ve got to be careful with that.”

That was Badgerclops. Was he and Adorabat back already? Oh geez, he hadn’t even had time to think what to say.

And he would get no time. Badgerclops strolled in like nothing was wrong, but when Adorabat caught sight of Eugene it looked like she ate something sour.

Immediately, Eugene rushed to his child

“I am so glad you’re safe,” Eugene said,” let’s go home.”

“What? No. Let me go,” Adorabat said, pushing herself away.

Badgerclops interviewed. Prying the two of them apart with ease. “What on earth is going on here,” Badgerclops asked.

“Wha- what’s going on here? Have you two ruffians kidnapped my daughter?”

“Wait- that’s not--”

“That’s it. I’m calling the authorities.”

Eugene pulled out his phone and dialed 911 only for the cell in Mao Mao’s pocket to go off.

“Alright, before we call the cops on the cops, I need to know what the hells going on.”

“That’s… Adorabat’s dad,” Mao Mao told him.

“I thought she was my conscious.”

Weird thing to say, but Mao Mao set it aside for now. However, Eugene did not. “You’re conscious?” Eugene wriggled free with his daughter in tow. “That’s it. We’re leaving these crazies.” He said, carrying while Adorabat kicked and screamed. Eventually, Adorabat won. Shaking free from his grasp and continuing her tantrum with renewed vitriol and vigor.

This wasn’t going well at all. He somehow accidentally kidnapped a kid, and he had just about called the cops on them. He’d be in jail if the justice system wasn’t so wack. Hell, he had half the mind to arrest himself. Why’d this have to happen? Why’d he ever get up from the couch to answer the door? He knew he should've stayed like that forever.

Badgerclops turned him around without warning. A grim expression on his face. “What are we going to do?”

What? Why are you asking him? You’re the one who made good decisions. He should be asking you!. Mao Mao began to hyperventilate. Sheer terror had him in its grasp and it was beginning to squeeze his throat. What to do? What to do? What could he do? He’s the one who never did anything right. Words escaped him, actions failed him. It's not like he could ignore Eugene and keep his kid.  What could he do?

He could only do what he thought was right.

Mao Mao got up and marched towards Adorabat and Eugene. “What- what are you doing?” The words passed right over Mao Mao’s ears. He pushed Adorabat and her father right out the door and slammed it shut behind him, locking the locks, bolting the bolts, and putting his back against it. He could hear Adorabat scream and shout from the other side. It gradually grew quieter and quieter as her father pulled her away.

So that was that. The problem had been fixed. He’d done the right thing. So why did Mao Mao feel so… awful? He fell down to his knees and wrapped himself in his cape. Did the world really hate him that much? He’d give up doing anything, and the world literally brought a problem to his doorstep. He didn’t even do anything? Why did he deserve this?

“Are you okay over there,” Badgerclops asked?

Would people stop asking that! He felt Badgerclops pick him up and lay him back down on the couch where Mao Mao promptly curled back up. Badgerclops stroked his ears, soothing Mao Mao like it would help anything.

[realfuurikuuri]

Chapters: 16/? Fandom: Mao Mao: Heroes of Pure Heart (Cartoon) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: Mao Mao/Tanya Keys, Mao mao/badgerclops

MissingArm!AU: When escaping the cave, it wasn't his tail that got crushed. In exchange for his innocence, he gained a sordid past. The Pure Heart Valley seemed like a good place to escape. To start a new life with a new family to forge a new identity. However, when the past rears its ugly head Mao Mao's forced to step up or be put down.

Direct AO3 Link: XXX

The chilly wind rolled over the grass and blew through Mao Mao’s fur. Maybe living out in the middle of these hills wasn’t the best idea. The lack of vegetation meant no heat was locked in making night terribly cold. Mao Mao didn’t mind. It was like the cold chill of eating a mint wrapped around his entire body. He could focus on that instead of the thoughts swimming in his head.

Mao Mao sat himself down on a grassy knoll, far, far from home. From here, he could see the entire kingdom. The forest stretched on like an endless sea of trees. The junkyard was dark and quiet as his enemies slept.  HQ was just a tiny yellow dot he could barely see. The city slept quietly with the sweetipies. The Ruby Pure Heart itself, sat atop the spire emanating a perverse pink glow.

Strange. It didn’t always do that, did it? He scratched his chin wondering if it was also glowing during the day. Regardless, it was certainly bright as shit tonight. Speaking of light pollution Mao Mao looked up. It was easy to forget that the night sky was not actually black. It sang in hues of deep purple and blue. It was beautiful. Just not beautiful enough.

Terrible thoughts kept intruding on his peace. They whispered in his ear how much everyone hates him. How he hurt Tanya and Jǐngtì: his own family. How he was irresponsible and irredeemable. Given enough time he was sure he’d hurt Adorabat too. It's not like he can do anything else.

Maybe it was time to move on. He could pack his things and hit the road again, leave his problems here and see what else he could screw up in other parts of the world. He couldn’t stay here. The guilt was just too much to bear; it was physically painful. He clutched the severed stump of his arm from the fiery pain, pulling his hand black to see if it was bleeding despite it long being healed. The fresh wound in his stomach hurt with a nauseating pain that felt like it was bleeding again.

Maybe he deserved the pain. No. He definitely deserved the pain. It didn’t compare to half of the things he’s inflicted on others. Mao Mao fell back, lying in the grass as he pondered. What is justice? If he hazard a guess he would say wrong actions being punished . But what is wrong? Stealing is wrong, and thus deserves to be punished, but what is punishment? It's apparently not straightforward. Stealing is wrong, but you can’t apply the same punishment to two different people, otherwise, justice becomes wrong, and… what then? Who or what becomes justice?

Maybe his father was right not to keep him out of it. He couldn’t even wrap his mind around the basic concepts, let alone do his job well, although it's not like he has the skills to do anything else. Maybe that’s why everything he does goes wrong. Because he is wrong.

It was a sobering thought. It felt kind of like a cold splash of water, or maybe a punch to the face he didn’t stop. He was wrong; he was the Villain of this story, but if that were the case, then who's the Hero?

There was something hovering in front of his face, or maybe it was someone. It was a face, but it was blank and featureless, masterfully crocheted out of pink string or twine. Despite this, Mao Mao never moved. Was this sleep paralysis? He hadn’t had it happen to him since childhood, but it would be disgustingly on brand for it to show up now, and he supposed that this was his sleep paralysis demon. To give credit to his own mind, it was rather unsettling. The stings shifted as it pulled back its arm and brandished its claws, five fingers that ended in needle fine points.

The claw came rushing at him, judging from the trajectory, it was going for his neck. The masochist in him welcomed this, he folded his arms over his chest and waited for the hallucination to be over. The claw came rushing at him, judging from the trajectory, it was going for his neck. Sleep paralysis rarely lasts more than a second, after all, but Mao Mao noticed something odd.

How’d he move his arms?

This was supposed to be sleep Paralysis . He wiggled his ears just to be sure, and yep, he could still move. If he could move then that means that this wasn’t sleep paralysis and if this wasn’t sleep paralysis then that thing wasn’t a hallucination, and the claw coming at his neck was very real.

The claws cleaved the dirt where once was. He had rolled to the side, springing to his feet with a sword in his only hand. It was only a graze, but he could feel blood dripping down his neck. The monster followed him with its eyeless face, it cocked its head to the sides, as if confused, before standing up on the spindly spikes it called legs.

It stepped forward to take another swipe. Mao Mao pulled at Geraldine, finding her stuck in her sheath. He neglected to take care of her, and now he was paying for it. The demon swiped again, but Mao Mao stabbed Geraldine into the ground and tugged with a step forward. Geraldine cleaved a golden arc across the monster’s chest.

Instead of being sprayed with blood, Mao Mao was met with strings like he cut into a pillow. The monster stumbled back, but the string moved of its own accord. They moved like worms, knotting themselves together and wrapping themselves back up. The monster fell forward, whatever damage he’d done was already gone.  Was the wound too shallow?

The monster kept swinging, Mao Mao blocked high, he blocked low. He parried at his midsection and stabbed forward. His sword went straight through, he could see the frayed string, but something was wrong. There wasn’t a change in feel. He didn’t break the skin, bite into muscle, pierce through organs, and back out the other side.

It was just more string.

The frayed bits of string began to mend. It was healing around the sword! Mao Mao jostled his sword, wiggling it free, and falling back. He scrambled back to his feet away from the claws that raked the dirt. It was hard to move. So hard. His fur stood on end, Geraldine shook in his hands, and there was a searing pain in his side. He’d heard that rain could aggravate old wounds, but the stars were almost as bright as the Ruby Pure Heart. The only other reason an old wound would be aching was if the one who gave it was nearby, but that… might not be totally impossible.

Mao Mao squinted, trying to get a good look. He might’ve seen it before. The only things that came to mind were vague half-drunken memories. He’s been blackout drunk many times, but the fact the aching hole in his side did give Mao Mao a clue. Badgerclops did hint at something else happening that day. First, he fought Jǐngtì. After that, he fought Shin Mao. Finally, he fought this… thing.

What was standing in front of him now was an indescribable existence. What was he supposed to do? Every time the strings would sew themselves together like God was stitching it himself. The monster stepped forward and Mao Mao stepped back. What else was he supposed to do? His hero training had no advice, and even if it did Mao Mao was sure he’d fuck it up like everything else. He kept backing away, stumbling over his own tail. What was wrong with him. Sweat pooled inside his gloves, he could hear his heart thundering in his head, and it was getting hard to breathe. Was this a stroke? Was his wish coming at the worst possible time?

No. This was a primal childish urge that made his teeth chatter, his pulse rise to the heavens, and heart sink to the depths.

It was fear.

Mao Mao was used to soldiering through things with balls bursting with bravado, and if that couldn’t work then anger usually sufficed but this... He couldn’t do this. He couldn’t fight this. This featureless creature shambling towards him wasn’t a monster. It was something out of those scary stories he read under the blanket at night. It was something out of a Mr. Din Danalin horror movie. It was an unkillable demon that belonged in nightmares. He wanted to lash out. To strike this thing down, but he could barely stand.

All he could do was hold his sword in his mouth, get down on all fours, and run.

* * *

Badgerclops sat on the couch. There was nothing odd about that; what was odd was what he was doing. He didn’t have the controller in his hands. The TV wasn’t even on. He leaned forward, elbows on his knees, resting his chin on clasped together hands. He was thinking about what to do. Jǐngtì was sleeping in the other room and he didn’t know what to do with the boy next. Probably wait for Tanya to get him, but getting him to stay one night was a task and a half. Then there’ Mao Mao. Badgerclops rubbed his temples and groaned. What to do with that dumpster-fire? Jǐngtì wouldn’t tolerate being under the same roof as him, so Mao Mao couldn’t stay at HQ. On the other hand, Badgerclops really didn’t want to let him out of his sight. That was a problem waiting to happen.

The front door slammed shut. Badgerclops looked up to see Mao Mao scurrying into the bedroom. Badgerclops extended his arm with a sigh, picking the cat up and holding him out in front of him.

“You certainly took your sweet-”

Badgerclops stopped himself short. There was something off about Mao Mao.  More off than usual, at least. His fur was puffed up, he stank of sweat, and his chest was still heaving. His arms were clutched close to his chest. He held his sword in one hand, but the sheath wasn’t at his hip.

“What happened,” Badgerclops asked.

“There’s a demon outside,” he croaked.

Color him surprised, Mao Mao came across a monster he couldn’t kill. It would’ve been funny if the idea of something like that wasn’t so viscerally terrifying. Badgerclops got up from the couch to peek through the curtains. It was oddly pink outside, which was weird, but there was nothing there. He checked the window near the door and the checked backyard kitchen window. At that point Badgerclops was confident enough to step onto the porch and look around.

Still pink. Still nothing.

“I don’t see any monster,” he said.

“Not a monster. A demon,” Mao Mao corrected.

Badgerclops folded his arms. “I know that you know there’s no such thing as a demon.”

“What? Demons exist. There was literally one outside.”

Badgerclops huffed a sigh. He knew the cat was a lot of things: depressed, violent, traumatized, horrible for starters. Might as well add superstitious to that list.  He leaned closer to Mao Mao, looking at the side of his sclera. There were frazzled red veins poking out from the side.

“I think you just had a nightmare,” Badgerclops said,” don’t sleep outside, dude.”

“What? I didn’t have a nightmare-”

Badgerclops thrust a finger to his lips. “Shhh, your son is sleeping in the other room.”

Mao Mao slowed to a stop, quickly diverting his eyes to the floor. Badgerclops pulled away only to reach for Mao Mao when he tried to poke his head into the bedroom. “Don’t go back there! I barely got him to go to bed.”

“He’s not there.”

Badgerclops head snapped up. “What?”

“He’s not there,” Mao Mao repeated.

“What do you mean he’s not there.”

“Jǐngtì… he’s… not here.”

Badgerclops pushed Mao Mao out of the way. The blankets on the bottom bunk had been thrown aside; a cold draft blew through the open window. Badgerclops slammed it shut with a loud Slam! . A mistake. He forgot Adorabat was still sleeping. He could hear the child mumble, but Mao Mao scratched her behind the ears and lulled her back to sleep.

Badgerclops pinched the bridge of his nose. It was late, he was tired, and he was letting frustration win. He looked up when Mao Mao placed a supportive hand on his shoulder.

“Don’t worry. I’m sure he’ll be fine.”

Badgerclops slowly turned to face him. The frustration he just forced down was boiling back up. He stood up, took a deep breath, and was this close to yelling before he caught himself. He grabbed Mao Mao and dragged him out of the bedroom, into the living room, and into the kitchen where he was sure he wouldn’t disturb Adorabat.

“What’s going-”

He cut Mao Mao off. “What the hell is wrong with you,” he hissed,” it doesn’t matter how capable you think he is! He’s still a child! You don’t just let them do what they want! You don’t let him room with criminals, you don’t let him wander off on his own, and you don’t put him in jail. He’s barely old enough to play outside without adult supervision. You can be as weird and fucked up as you want, but don’t push the same shit onto your kid.”

Mao Mao stepped back, finding himself trapped in between a corner and an angry badger. Badgerclops didn’t know what to expect from Mao Mao. It certainly wasn’t for Mao Mao’s emotions to boil over and leak out in the form of tears. Immediately, Badgerclops felt like shit.

“Listen, Mao Mao,” he started, but couldn’t finish.

“No. No. It's fine… I’m… I’m…”

Mao Mao stepped past Badgclops. He trudged his way to the couch and listlessly fell onto it. He grabbed his cape and pulled it over his head like it was a blanket. Mao Mao stayed there, a little curled up dough ball, quietly crying itself to sleep.

Badgerclops sat at the kitchen table and put his hands on his face.

What to do? What to do?

[realfuurikuuri]

Chapters: 12/? Fandom: Mao Mao: Heroes of Pure Heart (Cartoon) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: Mao Mao/Tanya Keys, Mao mao/badgerclops AN:  We are here again my undoubted friends. You know how these things go, the personal updates are that I finished SMT IV and started SMT IV: Apocalypse which is good 'cause Atlas RPGs are always fun. I've noticed we've gone a bit of time without an action set piece, so I threw one in here for good measure. Also for those that left comments on my NSFW fanfic, it turns out I turned on manually approve comments, so... whoops. As always follow @spookylovesboba on Tumblr and enjoy the chapter.

Direct Link: XXXX

Chapter Below the cut

Mao Mao dug through the closet, looking for the white suit that he was certain he put somewhere. It shouldn’t have been that hard to find. It was pure white, dammit! He tossed capes and sashes to the ground, digging through the endless pile of junk. He tossed Badgerclops’ tools out the way, pushed aside some of Adorabat’s toys, and wondered where the bathrobe that belonged to none of them even came from.

“Badgerclops! Are you sure my suit was in here,” he yelled to the other room.

“Yeah, I’m sure I saw it in there.”

“Well, it's not here.”

“I don’t know why you’re stressin’ about it. The plays’ not ‘till tonight I’m sure you’ll find it.”

“I’m not stressing about it. I want to iron it first.”

“I don’t know how long you think it takes to iron things, but it definitely doesn’t take 7 hours.”

“You don’t know that.”

“I’m pretty sure I do.”

Ding-Dong!

“Mao Mao, someone's at the door.”

“And you’re in the living room. Answer it.”

Mao screamed his frustrations into the bathrobe before throwing it aside. He didn’t understand how Badgerclops could be so lax about this. She’d already been dropped off, and the silence her absence left made Mao Mao feel anxious. Adorabat’s play was in seven hours, and a lot could go wrong in seven hours. The house could burn down, the Sky Pirates could attack or-

“Hey, Mao Mao you’re gonna wanna come here.”

“I’m busy. Who is it?”

“I don’t know. He’s pretty tall, wearing gold… says he’s your dad.”

-his dad could make a surprise visit again. What could he want? He wanted the finger back, obviously, but what else? His next thought was that he wanted to apologize. Mao Mao quickly dismissed that thought, but he slowly brought it back around. Everything he thought he knew about his father had been turned around. Maybe he actually did want to apologize. Mao Mao rose to his feet, huffed, and slammed the closet shut. If papa wanted to apologize then the only question to ask was how would he fuck it up this time?

It was then that a thought struck Mao Mao like a bolt from the blue. Why should I forgive him even if he doesn’t fuck it up? His first instinct was to come up with an argument against it but found nothing of any worth, yet he still pushed the idea aside.

He stepped in the living room, finding his papa standing just outside the door frame, lest he breaks it again. The first thing Mao Mao noticed was his armor. Normally kept pristine and shining had scratches and dents marring its facade. It wasn’t even waxed. Had hadn’t returned home, had he?

Mao Mao fought back the urge to ask what he was doing here. Mao Mao pushed past Badgerclops, stepping onto his porch, and closing the door behind him.

“Son,” Shin Mao said.

Mao Mao ignored the question. He reached into his sash flicking the broken finger towards his father. “This is what you came for, right?”

“Part of it, yes.”

“Of course it was,” Mao Mao spat.

“That’s not-,” papa took a deep breath to get control of his voice,” that’s not what I meant.”

“Then what did you mean? ‘Cause everything you say and does tell me that you don’t!”

“I came here to apologize!”

“Oh my god! We literally had this exact conversation a week ago. I bring up all your problems and you deny and deny and deny!”

“Well, I’m trying to own up to it now!”

“And it still doesn’t mean shit!”

The door was thrown open. “And that is enough of you two,” Badgerclops yelled.

Neither of them heard Badgerclops. They kept arguing.

“I get it,” papa screamed,” I get that I’ve made mistakes! What do you want me to do to make it up to you.”

“I don’t know and I don’t care,” he yelled back.

Their voices rising higher and higher, so high that it wasn’t even words anymore. Just pointless screaming. Again, a thought wiggled its way into his head. Why should I forgive him? It stood above papa’s voice and even his own. It was just an infuriating mess of noise inside and out. At first, he gave in to his rage and grasped for the hilt of Geraldine before thinking better of it. He ignored the shouting, got onto the aerocycle, and left.

* * *

Despite taking his leave Mao Mao felt no calmer. His knuckles ached,

He could hardly drive straight, so he landed at a small clearing in the forest. Everything irritated him. The bird’s singing, the cool breeze, the fragrance of the pine forest. He sat on a large boulder to gather himself. His father would leave sooner or later. Then he would go back home and- Dammit! Adorabat still had her play and he still hadn’t ironed his clothes or even find them. Mao Mao sighed. Whatever. Badgerclops was right, there was still time to waste.

The maddening chain of thoughts kept going. His mind turned from one problem to another, from one mistake to another. The terrible thoughts shared no connecting theme. Sometimes it was how he embarrassed himself as an adult, other times it was the mistakes he made as a child. It made his throat feel rather dry rather quickly. Maybe it was the devil’s luck that he had nothing to drink. However, he did have Geraldine.

Mao Mao took his sword and swung at the nearest tree. The tree crashed down to the floor with a single slice. Mao Mao examined the stump with displeasure. Despite only taking one slash the cut wasn’t very clean. The wood was jagged and frayed at the edges. Not sure what he expected considering he let proper maintenance fall to the wayside.  When was the last time he took his care of his sword? It was nearly two months; around the time Jǐngtì first showed up if he remembered right. That was when his life really turned into an entire pile of shit, wasn’t it?

Mao Mao took to running his sword along the edge of the boulder he once sat on. To his surprise, the rock worked rather well as a sharpening stone. It had a nice grain that matched his sword well. Maybe he should remember this spot, or better yet take a piece of the rock for himself.

Mao Mao held his sword backhanded and swung it through the tip of the boulder, taking a nice chunk of it. That was when the ground began to shake. Mao Mao struggled to gain footing as the dirt cracked and exploded out as the boulder grew larger and larger and larger, towering over him in a wispy mass of shadow.

That was no boulder! It was a monster.

The monster was utterly massive, even by monster standards. Its loose shape only contained in the bony protrusions that he thought were rocks. Mao Mao barely shook off his shock in time to dodge a swipe from its wings. He stared at the terrible gash in the ground where he once stood. How many hits could he take before dying? If he hadn’t just gotten out of the hospital he might actually be able to tank a hit. Like this, a glancing hit might kill him.

A beast with strength like that could only be dodged. And dodge he did. He ducked under swipes and leaped over attacks, holding a half-sharp Geraldine in his only hand. He stepped out the way of another attack and retaliated with a quick slash. It chipped the stone-like edges of its wings.

There was no point in striking its exterior. He’d have to go for the shadowy flesh.  He rolled over one of the slashes, using the momentum to toss himself towards the monster. He left a nasty gash across the beast, but something was wrong. It felt like he was cutting through a thick cloud of smoke. He landed and immediately jumped away from another attack. He clung to a tree watching the gash get filled in by more shadowy mass. Did he do any real damage? How many more hits would it take?

Mao Mao leaped back into action. He slashed and slashed, taking entire chunks of the monster, but it was always right as rain in seconds. He, on the other hand, couldn’t keep this up forever. He was a cat, not a monkey, and he couldn’t keep running around like one forever. His entire body felt weak and it was hard to find balance. The sheer pressure of knowing that a single hit would bring him just shy of death was taxing.

Mao Mao remembered a piece of advice he hated. He who runs away lives to run another day. He was ready to leave when he heard a thunderous crash that seemed to shake the world. He hesitated to look over his shoulder, regretting that hesitation immediately. He should’ve just said fuck it and run away.

Amongst the kicked up dirt and dust, amongst the black shadows fading in the wind, was the glorious glint of gold. Papa had found him. Badgerclops was there, too. He watched them argue from the trees. He considered still listening to the hated advice but ignored better judgment, like always.

He sprang from the tree with a stumbling stop, falling to his knees to catch his breath.

Papa, to his credit, rushed to help him to his feet, but Mao Mao forcefully pushed him off. “I don’t need your help,” he spat at his father.

“What were you doing,” Papa asked. “You’re in no shape to be fighting monsters.”

“And you’re in no shape to be acting like a parent.”

“I think we should get him to a hospital,” Papa Badgerclops.

“Hey, fuck you. Don’t talk like I’m not here.”

“Calm down, son.”

“No. I won’t calm down! Every time you’re around you always make me feel… small . You ignored my existence and when you don’t you ignore my feelings and blow them off like they don’t matter. I don’t love you. I don’t care what happens to you, and I don’t want to see you, Shin , ever again.”

“You need to take a minute. You’re obviously delirious. You probably have a concussion.”

“Who cares! Who cares what you think! I’m done caring about what you think,” Mao Mao poured his entire heart into those words, screaming his throat hoarse and raw. “I think you’re a self-serving asshole too obsessed with your ego to realize your mistakes! I think you're so selfish that you honestly think you can suddenly realize your mistake and suddenly expect forgiveness!”

“I think-,” Mao Mao licked his numb lips, stumbling forward as his vision grew blurry, “ -I’m having a stroke.”

Everything went dark as the ground came rushing towards him.

* * *

Mao Mao woke up in a regrettably familiar setting. It was cold, reeked of sterile antiseptic, and home to the closest thing the valley had to a doctor.

“Hey, why am I at Camille’s Tower this time,” he said to no one.

Badgerclops rushed to his side. “You had a stroke, dude.”

“Right… wasn’t that a side-effect of Camille’s medication.”

“If you didn’t watch your blood pressure.”

“Yeah. Yeah, that sounds familiar… hey, it might be the stroke messin’ with my memory, but wasn’t I doin’ somethin’ before I got here.”

“You were getting ready to attend Adorabat’s play.”

Mao Mao nodded along. “Was that before- no, that’s not important. He’s not important.”

Mao Mao stumbled over his words trying to push off the fatigue. “What I mean to ask is if you can tell me the time.”

Badgerclops placed a hand on his chest to keep him from getting up. “Oh no. I know that wide-eyed look. It means you either got the zoomies or about to do something stupid. Same difference really.”  

“I’m fine.”

“You literally had a stroke.”

“That doesn’t mean I’m not find.”

“Actually, it does mean you aren’t fine,” Camille corrected from the back.

“I don’t remember asking for the peanut-gallerie's opinion.”

“But the peanut gallery has a point. You can stay here and get better, while I can go attend Adorabat’s play.”

Mao Mao searched the room. There was a window on the far side, but he probably wouldn’t be able to reach it, and he certainly didn’t have an idea what to do once he jumped through it. He sighed, realizing how little options he had left. He gestured for Badgerclops to lean in as he whispered into his ear.

“I know I don’t talk about my childhood for obvious reasons, but did you know that I actually was in a school play. I tried out for the leading role, but ended up playing a bush and -don’t laugh- and I actually handed an invitation to my father to make sure he knew it was happening. You can guess what happened on opening night.

“He wasn’t there,” Badgerclops said.

“Don’t say it out loud. Point is: Going to this play is a very important thing to me. I don’t want to be like Papa… Shin, I mean.”

Badgerclops stood up. He drummed his fingers against the patient’s bed while he thought. “We’ll go to the play.”

Mao Mao swung out of bed to have Badgerclops put his hand on his shoulder. “But, you’re coming back here when we’re done, alright?”

Mao Mao nodded along. He would’ve nodded to anything you said at this point. He was just happy to go.

* * *

Were theatres required to markup ticket prices on showing days? Mao Mao and Badgerclops took their seats as the curtain was drawn. Mao Mao kept his eyes on the stage the entire time, but couldn't remember anything about it. He remembered yawning, leaning against Badgerclops, the ruby pure heart was mentioned somewhere. It was a huddled mess, a confusing blur of time that got lost in his endeavor to just stay awake. Suddenly, everyone started clapping and Mao Mao tried clapping too, alas he forgot he only has one. Adorabat found them soon after the play ended.

“Did you see me,” she asked.

“Yeah, I saw you,” he answered.

[realfuurikuuri]

do you happen to have a drawing of your tanya x mao fan child? I have trouble visualizing when I read and I couldnt find anything on your blog. thank you!

Despite not being an art-blog there actually is a visual, however, there is an issue. The AU and Jingti were actually created by @spookylovesboba and there is yet another problem. 

A while back Spooky’s Tumblr got nuked for no reason and another account was made. Unfortunatnatley that sent all the old drawings and stuff about the MissingArm!AU to the ether. 

I’m not sure if she has backups, but you’d have to ask her. 

[realfuurikuuri]

MissingArm!AU Chapter 4: I Would Give You Until The Count of Ten, but I Can Only Count To Five

Side note: I’m bad at basic math and it turns out the last chapter was mislabeled for Tumblr. Whoops.  ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Alright, back with a new chapter. A little later than before, but hey what the heck can you do. Regardless, I think this one is pretty fun. I’ve figured out how to put that banner at the top of things (turns out you hit share on Ao3, who woulda thought) which makes these post look way smoother than before. The song rec this time is A Left Foot Trapped in A Sensual Seduction (which the weebs among us will remember being Alucard’s theme from Hellsing). As always check out @spookylovesboba she’s great, and enjoy the chapter. 

Direct Link to chapter 4 on AO3: XXXX

Chapter below the cut

Badgerclops ran through town tired and short of breath, wondering where that feral cat bastard went. Sweetipies turned their heads when they saw Badgerclops him.

“Does Mao Mao have the hose again,”  one asked.

“Is Muffin giving out free samples, again,” asked another.

Assholes.

Badgerclops stood on top of a park bench, turning his hand into a megaphone. “Mao Mao,” he called out. “Mao Mao! Mao Mao!”

God, he felt like a green plumber looking for his brother in a haunted mansion. Badgerclops chuckled a bit at his own joke. Maybe he should have said hotel instead of a mansion to make it more current. Badgerclops stopped examining the intricacies of his own comedy when he noticed Pinky waking up to the table with a suspicious jar of mayo in his hands.

“Goss,” Badgerclops said.

“Me or the mayo?”

 “Both. Get out of here, Pinky.”

“What are you doin?”

“None of your business.”.

“Are you looking for Mao Mao?”

“Have you seen him?”

“No.”

Badgerclops shot the jar of mayo with his arm cannon. Seeing Pinky mourn did brighten his day a little. Not enough. He still needed to find Mao Mao.

“Hey! Get off of me!”

The noise snapped Badgerclops out of his thoughts. He panicked. Was it too late? Had Mao Mao already done something he’d regret? Badgerclops hurried in the voice's direction, already making plans for a quick exit. He'd already made their packs. Even a third one for Adorabat in case she was brought along, although he doubted they’d keep her. Maybe they’d ditch her at the castle? Badgerclops slapped his face and shook his head. Now wasn’t the time to be stressing about that. Now was the time to find Mao Mao.

Badgerclops rounded the corner and breathed a sigh of relief. It wasn’t Mao Mao. It was just Rufus getting harassed by some dog. Why was Rufus still here? He should’ve skipped town ages ago.

“Hey!” he called out nearly making Rufus jump out of his own skin.

Rufus pushed the dog away from the bouquet and snacks that the dog was after. “What do you want,” he sneered.

“Okay, one: rude. Two: don’t be so rude to the guy who can throw you in jail, Three: you don’t ask me what I’m doing; I ask you what you’re so what are you doing?”

Rufus pushed Badgerclops' finger away. “I’m visiting my friend that the blasted sheriff put in the hospital!”

Oh right, the raccoon. Kind of cute that he was still waiting for his friend.

Not cute enough to keep Badgerclops from picking the fox up and shaking him like a can of soda.

“I don’t care about your friend! I’m looking for Mao Mao!  Have you seen him?”

“Mao Mao? You mean the black cat?”

“Yes!”

“The one wearing the red cape?”

“Yes!”

“Carrying the golden sword?”

“Yes! Yes! For the love of God, yes! Just tell me where he is!”

“Alas, I haven’t seen him anywhere,” Rufus said with the smarmiest of smiles.

“Okay, you know what,” Badgerclops said, setting the fox back down. "I’m trying to keep someone from being murdered and ya'll are being, like, super ungrateful.”

The dog barked in protest.

“Yeah, that includes you.”

Badgerclops picked the dog up to pet it while he thought. The dog was a milky brown Shiba-Inu. Nothing notable aside from the fact that it had a sword on its back and a necklace. No. It was an amulet around its neck. Badgerclops didn’t pick the dog up just to look at it, he wanted to know who it belonged to. Where in the hell would a sweetipie get a dog and why hadn’t he seen it before? To Badgerclops’ dismay, there wasn’t any address stamped on the collar, but there was a name: Bao Bao .

Badgerclops rubbed his eyes and read the collar again. It still said Bao Bao.

He grabbed Rufus by the collar and used his jacket to wipe at the collar until it shined. Surely enough, it still read Bao Bao.

What? What? This dog was Bao Bao! A dog! A fucking dog! What the shit? Mao Mao described him as an evil barbarian with enough guile to pose as a hero and the psychopathy to abandon a kid whose arm was crushed by a rock! Not a dog! Not a fucking dog!

Badgerclops rubbed his temples, taking deep breaths to calm his racing heart. He should have expected this. He was the most overdramatic motherfucker to ever motherfuck, but damn dude. Whatever he resolved to accept that Mao Mao’s worst enemy was literally an animal. He just needed to kick the dog out of the valley and wait for Mao Mao to calm his tits. No, that wouldn’t do. If no one caught Mao Mao he’d definitely kill someone.

Badgerclops pushed the dog into Rufus’ hands. “Take this dog and get him out of the valley. I don’t care how it gets done. Just do it,” he ordered.

“What? I’m going to visit my friend and besides I don’t have to do anything you say.”

Badgerclops pointed his arm at Rufus, letting it shift into the high powered cannon. “C’mon just take the dog away, you know, before someone gets hurt.”

“Alright just don’t shoot me! I don’t wanna be shot!”

“There we go. Now get out of here before someone -and by someone I mean you- gets messed up.”

 Badgerclops watched Rufus turn away to finish his task.

Thump!  

Badgerclops stopped.

He turned around just in time to see a black blur with a streak of gold.

It was Mao Mao!

Badgerclops swung around brandishing his arm, opening his eye, taking careful aim. The window was more narrow than a pinhole. He watched and waited. He watched Rufus see the sword and scream in terror. He waited for Mao Mao to swing his sword with all his might.

Now!

Badgerclops let loose a net. The wound-up ball slowly spread out, snagging Mao Mao out of the air, pinning him against the wall. Badgerclops ignored Mao Mao to put his fingers to Rufus’ neck. The fox's eyes had rolled back, and foam had gathered in the corners of his mouth;The look made Badgerclops’ fur stand on end. He breathed a sigh of relief and wiped the sweat from his brow when he finally felt a pulse. The fox was definitely not fine, but he wouldn't die anytime soon. Although, the scare shaved years off his life.

Once was done with Rufus; he had to deal with Mao Mao.

Mao Mao strained against the net fruitlessly. Bao Bao looked up at his old friend, shivering, ears folded back with tail between its legs. Mao Mao probably couldn’t even hear the dog’s whimpers. He screamed at the top of his lungs. It was had no expletives. It had no threats. It only had a long, grueling explanation of his pain.

Badgerclops reached over, petting Mao Mao behind the ears. “Alright dude, let’s just chill and- “

Mao Mao quickly snapped at Badgerclops’ hand. His teeth clanging against the steel.  “C’mon dude, don’t do that. I don’t want to schedule a trip to the dentist.”

He let go of Badgerclops’ hand with a huff, but he still had that dark flame burning in his eyes.

“Badgerclops,” Tanya said, dropping down from the rooftops,” Is everything alright?”

“I’ve got things all tied up,” he said pointing to Mao Mao who didn’t find his joke amusing.

Tanya faced Mao Mao with a sullen look in her eyes. She reached out her paw to wipe a tear from his eye. Mao Mao shook her comfort away with an angry grunt. “Oh, Mittens,” she quietly cried. Tears began to fall down the Tanuki’s face, but Mao Mao didn’t notice or didn’t care.

“You should probably take Bao Bao and go before-”

Badgerclops was interrupted by a screeching roar echoed throughout the kingdom. Badgerclops facepalmed his own stupidity. He was so focused on the Bao Bao part of the message that they completely forgot about the monster. He could see the smoke, hear the screams as it rampaged.

“Tanya." He gave a slight nod of his head," where's Adorabat?"

“I left her at the house.”

Damn the fact that she was a responsible adult. She shouldn’t have to see this, but he did wish she was here. He and Tanya were the only ones who could fight; the dog was a maybe, and Mao Mao was still in the net.

“You think we can take it?”

“I… don’t know. Maybe?”

Fantastic. The moment he thought he had things under control they go right back to shit.

Badgerclops didn’t know how he knew to turn around. It was instinct. He saw the wall behind Mao Mao began to crack and crumble as the monster charged through. The beast was  large, green and scaly, like a snake with four legs. It moved like one too. Delicately turning on a dime, clinging to the side of a building while it stared them down.

His small hope that the beast would leave them alone was squashed when the monster saw the amulet around Bao Bao’s neck.

It lunged forward. Mouth open to show a wide maw. In a narrow alley like this, there was nowhere to run. It could probably get them all in one quick gulp. Badgerclops supposed such a terrible end fit such a terrible day.

A naïve thought.

Mao Mao stepped in front of the beast, sword on his back to block the teeth, heels digging into the ground as he forced the charging beast to a slow stop. Tanya, Bao Bao, Badgerclops, and the Mao Mao stopped in sheer confusion and awe. The monster didn’t hesitate. Its tail lashed at Mao Mao from the left, ripping at his skin like a whip. The tail lashed Mao Mao from the right, forcing him to stagger.

The third strike whistled through the air, barely blocked by Mao Mao’s sword. The next lash came with enough force to knock Mao Mao of balance despite blocking it. He parried the next strike, yet it still sent him cartwheeling through the air.

The second his feet touched the ground he was off. A black blur with a streak of gold. The gold cut the tip of the beast tail causing the monster to howl in pain before being silenced with a plunging attack through its skull. Badgerclops hates to admit it, but the bastard cat carried the sheriff's department.

He pulled his sword out of the monster and hopped down off the corpse. He dragged his sword on the ground behind him as he walked forward. His movements were smooth, flowing like a steady stream. Despite wearing an inviting smile, the dark flames in his eyes were raging like a wildfire.

Tanya stepped in front of him before he could get any closer. “Stop. Just… for the love of god stop, and let the dog go.”

“You’re right. I just want to... apologize to Bao Bao. Wish him well,” Mao Mao said with an almost cartoonishly large and toothy smile.

“Do I look some fucking clown to you? I know you’re lying! Just put the  sword down and let the dog go.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I just want to say apologize to my childhood friend-”

SMACK!

Tanya interrupted Mao Mao with a strong slap across the face.

When he turned back the smile was gone; the dark flames still burning.

“Move,” he commanded.

“Why do you have to be like this,” she asked, her voice rising in pitch. “Can’t you just let things go? Whatever Bao Bao -this dog- did to you is in the past. It already happened and you can’t change it!”

“I know nothing can change it. I don’t expect it to. I’m not trying to change anything. I’m just trying to do some justice,” he said with a voice as cold as stone, “so, I’ll tell you once again: move.”

“No!”

Mao Mao didn’t hesitate to push past her, knocking her to the ground while he brought his sword down. Bao Bao quickly hopped out the way. Mao Mao followed the dog close behind, stabbing down over and over again, the calm facade splitting at the seams as his frustration grew.

“I’ll kill you,” he screamed, finally cornering the dog. He raised his sword up as Bao Bao looked up in terror.

Badgerclops grabbed his arm before he could finish. “Calm down! He’s just a dog-”

Mao Mao spun around, dropping the sword, tears welling in his eyes. “That dog ruined my life !”

“He did this! ” He pulled back the cape to reveal the stub of his left arm.

He picked the sword back up, raising it high over his head. “And I’m going to do it to him!”

Tanya was quick.

In a puff of smoke one, Bao Bao turned into thirty. In the second that Mao Mao stopped in confusion, she dashed forward, snatching the real one away before Mao Mao cut the horde into bits.

“Bao Bao,” he screamed,” get back here!”

Badgerclops tackled him to the ground before he could give chase. “Bao Bao! Bao Bao!” he screamed and screamed until his voice went hoarse.

* * *

Mao Mao lay in bed at HQ with his blanket tucked over his head. He felt like shit. Stopping the monster’s charge wore down the flesh on his feet to the bone, despite the monster's teeth stabbed seven holes into his back, one dangerously close to his spine, but the physical pain didn’t matter much. It was his feeling that were tearing him apart. It was one part burning rage; another part nauseating shame.

He heard footsteps approach. It couldn’t have been Adorabat cause she liked to fly (where did she go); they were too heavy to be Tanya’s (not like she wanted to speak to him anyway), so it had to be Badgerclops.

“How ya feeling,” he asked.

Mao Mao let out a small grunt.

“Camille said you should be fine. Just take it easy. Don’t try to jump around or anything.”

He made another small grunt.

“You feeling okay?”

Mao Mao nodded from under the blankets.

“Good to hear. Just get some rest, man.”

“What about Bao Bao,” he grumbled out. His throat was still raw and sore from all the shouting.

“Tanya took him with her.”

Mao Mao let out a shuddering sigh.

“Are you sure you’re feeling okay?”

Mao Mao nodded more forcefully this time.

Badgerclops scooped Mao Mao up into his arms. Cradling the bundle of blankets and clutching him close. “Listen, I know we all have our issues and hangups, and I know this day has been hard for you-”

“You don’t.”

“Hm?”

“You don’t know how hard it's been for me! I hate-  hate - that dog. He’s everything wrong with me! I wanna wring his stupid little head from his silly little body!” Mao Mao choked on his words,” I wanna- I wanna…”

Badgerclops pet him behind the ears,” what do you want?”

“...I want to be alone for a bit.”

“How about this,” Badgerclops said,” I can take Adorabat camping for the weekend? We’d be back Sunday. You’d have the house to yourself. How does that sound?”

“Yeah,” Mao Mao slowly nodded,” Yeah, that sounds nice.”

[realfuurikuuri]

Chapters: 8/? Fandom: Mao Mao: Heroes of Pure Heart (Cartoon) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

MissingArm!AU: When escaping the cave, it wasn't his tail that got crushed. In exchange for his innocence, he gained a sordid past. The Pure Heart Valley seemed like a good place to escape. To start a new life with a new family to forge a new identity. However, when the past rears its ugly head Mao Mao's forced to step up or be put down.

AN:  Ho boy, this chapter was longer than I expected (again) so this is again going to be split into two parts. So, the title won't make the most sense. I've been putting off uploading it for.... reasons. Regardless, this chapter has very little Mao Mao in it, instead I focused a bit more on comedy. I feel that we need some light-hearted fun after Mao Mao's nonsense. The song recommendation here is Queens of The Stone Age - Go With The Flow. As always, follow @spookylovesboba on Tumblr/twitter/youtube, and enjoy the chapter.

Direct Link to chapter 8 on AO3: XXXXX

What happened?

That was the only question in Badgerclops mind as he picked up the broken pieces of wood. Headquarters was a wreck. The front door had been smashed to pieces, along with a large part of the wall. The TV was broken, which sucks. What doubly sucked was that their couch, Sofia they called it, had fluff flowing like blood. The destruction went through the entire HQ. Not even the dojo was spared. Axes, maces, spears, swords, knives, and arrows sticking out of the walls and floors like the spines on a porcupine.  

And it was all on Badgerclops to clean it up. He didn’t even have Adorabat to help him. She wouldn’t leave Mao Mao’s side, besides, he didn’t want to bring a hyperactive 5-year-old to this tetanus factory. At least his metal hand couldn’t get splinters. It made gathering all the broken pieces of wood much easier. What wouldn’t be so easy was the repairs. The windows were broken, and duct tape might fix the sofa. Duct tape wouldn’t fix the broken equipment in the garage. He couldn’t even salvage any tapes because those were torn apart, too!

What the hell happened?

Badgerclops didn't have time to wonder because the monster alarm began blaring throughout the house. Fine by him, he hated cleaning up. He slid down the pole to the garage, hopping onto the aerocycle. It roared to life despite the damage. Riding the adrocycle alone, Badgerclops couldn’t help but think that it seemed… bigger. He ignored the feeling. Badgerclops revved the engines and slammed right into the garage. His face left a nice imprint on the metal shutters.

“Oh, come on! How did you manage to break the fucking garage, too!” he screamed, clutching his bloody nose.

He blasted a hole in the garage with his laser-cannon (he was going to need to fix the garage anyway) and rocketed towards the valley.

* * *

Badgerclops landed in the valley plaza. Sweetipies were in a panic, running around like chickens with no heads. Muffins was hiding in her bakery, Pinky was throwing bricks through the windows of said bakery. Pinky may be worse than smallpox, but he couldn’t cause this much chaos. At least, not often.

Badgerclops thoughts were cut short, quickly stepping out the way of a laser bolt that left a black stain on the ground.

“Fear me!” Orangusnake yelled, firing a laser tool at the valley. “The Ruby Pure Heart belongs to the Sky Pirates.”

Where’d he even get a piece of heavy artillery?

The entire group stood on one of the roofs with their laser cannon. While the piece of artillery was concerning what was sitting next to it made him open his right eye. The cybernetics zoomed-in, identifying Jǐngtì with a yellow danger outline. If he was half as strong as his father he’d be trouble. More worrisome was that fighting Jǐngtì could anger Mao Mao, and that man had earned his red danger outline.

Badgerclops didn’t think he’d be trouble. Jǐngtì looked less than thrilled. He sat down with his feet dangling over the edge, the purple bandana over his face as he looked off into the distance. Badgerclops hoped it stayed that way.

Badgerclops turned his hand into a megaphone. “Attention all Sky Pirates under the authority of the Pure Hart Sheriff, please kick yourselves out before we do it for you!”

“Like you have that authority! You aren’t the sheriff,” Orangusnake yelled back.

“What! Of course, I do. I’m the sheriff!”

“No. Mao Mao’s the sheriff. You’re just a… cop, I guess.”

“I can be the sheriff, too!”

“I don’t think you can.”

“Listen, I’m not gonna take this from someone who can’t tie their own shoes.”

“Actually,” Jǐngtì spoke up from the sidelines,” Orangusnake’s right. There is only one sheriff per county, which considering Mao Mao’s head law officer of this entire kingdom it would make more sense to call him police commissioner or maybe chief of police. While he is right in saying there can only be one sheriff, it doesn’t make sense to call Mao Mao a sheriff.”

Orangusnake raised an eyebrow,” where’d you even learn that?”

“Learned a lot of law stuff in prison, but fun facts about law enforcement doesn’t matter. We’re here to take the Ruby Pure Heart not shoot the shit with a cop,” said with a roll of his eyes.  

“Right, and their precious, little sheriff isn’t here to stop us!”

“That’s because he’s in the hospital,” Badgerclops answered.

“Oh, is he going to be okay?”

“Camille said he should be out in a week.”

“Tell him I wish him well.”

“You do know that your villains and he’s the sheriff, right?”

Orangusnake squinted his eyes. The gears in his head slowly turning as he realized the problem. “Uh… I hope he stays in the hospital?”

“Wow, going to say that you hope he stays in the hospital when his son is right there? That’s so mean. I think you owe him an apology,” Badgerclops said, exaggerating every expression with a thespian flare.

“Oh… I’m sorry.”

Jǐngtì rubbed his temples. “Orangusanke, for the love of God, don’t listen to the cop.”

“Okay, geez… don’t have to be so mean about it.”

While messing with them was fun Badgerclops figured it was time to move on. He charged his arm cannon and pointed it at the group. “Hey, Jǐngtì can you move to the right.”

“Fuck off.”

“...Hey Sky Pirates, can you move to the left?”

“Okay,” they said in unison.

As soon as they moved away from Jǐngtì Badgerclops took the shot. The blue energy blast taking them -and a sizeable chunk of the roof- flying over the horizon.

“What did I just say,” Jǐngtì screamed at the speck flying over the horizon.

“Give it a rest Daddy-Issues.”

“Yeah, I know. Banging my head against a brick wall," Jǐngtì muttered, "why aren’t they in prison?"

"They are surprisingly stubborn,"

“We’re okay,” was heard echoing over hills, right one cue.

Badgerclops gestured for Jǐngtì to come down. Jǐngtì simply gave him the middle finger. Badgerclops crossed his arms and gestured again. Jǐngtì turned away, refusing to look him in the eye, but Badgerlcops kept staring at him. The silence stretched on for five minutes before Jǐngtì relented with an exasperated sigh. He pushed himself off the roof, dropping to the ground with deceptive grace. He certainly was more dexterous than his mother, perhaps his father, too. Badgerclops’ cybernetics made note of that.

“What do you want,” he spat.

“Nothing, I just wanna check on you,” Badgerclops said in a white-lie.

Jǐngtì seemed to notice something was up. He cocked his head to the side and looked Badgerclops up and down, ear twitching while he thought, his paw dangerously close to that golden dagger. Was he going to attack?

Badgerclops jumped when Jǐngtì suddenly crossed his arms. “Why,” he asked.

“Cause your father would be devastated if anything happened to you.”

Another half-truth.

“Fine. What do you want to ask?”

“Nothing, just come with me,” Badgerclops said.

Jǐngtì gave him a dismissive wave of the paw but followed behind Badgerclops anyway.

First, Badgerclops had to do the normal formalities and procedures. He normally the official nonsense to Mao Mao. Shame the bootlicking stickler wasn’t here. First was the piece of artillery. Badgerclops could tell it was old and those idiots probably couldn’t modify any cannons the airship had. Could they?

“Hey, Daddy-Issues! Know where they got this?”

“In one of the trash piles at the junkyard.”

What the hell was this doing in the junkyard? Questions for later. Right now, he should take a page out of the SKy Pirates book and salvage the trash. Badgerclops went to work with his metal arm, disassembling it, quickly packing it up, and then tossing it all the way back to HQ. With any luck, he could use the parts to fix the garage.

Next was examining the damages. There was the torn roof which he’d blame the Sky Pirates, and that was about it for damages. Oh! And that soot mark on the ground. Badgerclops turned his hand into a hose to wash it off but stopped when he noticed something was off. The black spot wasn’t a scorch mark. It was a hole.

Badgerlcops kneeled down and peered into it. The hole was deep, dark, and dangerous. A hollow space under the plaza was a massive sinkhole risk. He was also sure that some sweetiepie would fall in sooner or later. He was fine with Pinky disappearing into the abyss, but God forbid anything happens to Muffins.

Badgerclops went to patch the hole when he heard Jǐngtì call out,” Hey, fat man.”

“Call me Badgerclops.” You rude little bastard.

“I refuse to believe that’s your actual name, but whatever. You know what this pink, disgusting thing is?”

“That’s just Pinky. Ignore him and he’ll go bother someone else.”

“It’s not the rhino. It's another pink, disgusting thing.”

“Please don’t describe our King like that?”

“I’m not talking about the lion, although he is also pink and disgusting.”

“Then what are you talking about?”

“Just see look over your shoulder.”

“What do you want me to… see..,” Badgerclops words droned off when he turned around.

A blob the size of a house sat in front of them. At least Jǐngtì was right to call it pink and disgusting.

“You know what this is?” Badgerclops asked.

“Why would I know? I got here last month, and I’ve spent most of that hanging with a group of idiots.”

“Just don’t mess with it,” Badgerclops said, taking a few steps to get a full picture of the creature.

It was pink, a semi-liquid, Newtonian fluid… What was Jǐngtì doing?

Jǐngtì stood next to the blob, staring back at Badgerlcops with petty defiance in his eyes. He reared back and kicked the blob as hard as he could. Badgerclops tensed up, expecting something to happen. The blob did nothing except shake like a mound of jello.

“Be careful! If you get hurt your father’s going to hold me responsible.”

“It’s always about my father-”

The blob lashed out. Landing a swift strike to the stomach that sent the boy sprawling across the pavement.

“Jǐngtì!”  

Badgerlcops rushed to Jǐngtì’s side, holding him in his arms. Is he okay? Badgerclops didn't know what to do. The kid made a strange hrrrk, hrrk, noise from the back of his throat. What was it? It couldn’t be good, right? Suddenly, Jǐngtì pushed away from Badgerclops. He stumbled to a stop before emptying the contents of his stomach all over the ground. When he was done vomiting Jǐngtì stumbled back, almost falling until Badgerclops caught him.

“Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” Jǐngtì said even though the lie was as plain as the nose on his face.

Badgerclops lead Jǐngtì to a nearby bench for him to catch his breath. “How does this feel,” he said, kneeling down to gently touch the bruise on Jǐngtì’s stomach.

Jǐngtì winced in pain, which was enough of an answer. Badgerclops robotic eye revealed that the kid didn’t have any ruptured organs, but they were definitely bruised. He made a mental note to take him to Camille before remembering Mao Mao was there. What to do? What to do? He wasn’t going to leave without making sure Jǐngtì would be okay.

“Hey, Jǐngtì…,” Badgerclops said, looking up to see Jǐngtì wiping tears from his eyes.“You know, I don’t care if you cry, right?”

Jǐngtì waved Badgerclops away, making Badgerclops chuckled before he cleared his throat. “Hey, Jǐngtì uhh… do you need a place to stay? Cause your dad’s not going to be home, and I figure you need a place to stay.”

“Don’t you need to do something about the blob?”

“I’ll set up some tape around it and maybe it won’t hurt too many sweetipies.”

“It already ate the pink rhino thing.”

Badgerclops looked up to see that Jǐngtì was right. Pinky was floating in the mucus. Unfortunately, he wasn’t suffocating.

“Well, I’ll also give it a medal or something.”

“You can stand, right,” Badgerclops said, helping Jǐngtì to his feet.

Things have really gotten out of hand haven’t they, he thought to himself. Badgerclops wearily eyed Jǐngtì. He was a criminal; there was no dispute about that, but Jǐngtì needed someone to watch him, not arrest him. For the time being, at least.

[realfuurikuuri]

Chapters: 6/? Fandom: Mao Mao: Heroes of Pure Heart (Cartoon) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: Mao Mao/Tanya Keys, Mao mao/badgerclops

MissingArm!AU: When escaping the cave, it wasn't his tail that got crushed. In exchange for his innocence, he gained a sordid past. The Pure Heart Valley seemed like a good place to escape. To start a new life with a new family to forge a new identity. However, when the past rears its ugly head Mao Mao's forced to step up or be put down.

MissingArm!AU Chapter 6: The Torment of A Son

CW: Graphic Depiction of Injury and Body Horror

This one took some time to put out. Finals are a bitch (I say that, but the lowest grade I got on any of them was a C) and I've been busy playing games during winter break. I'm going to need to edit some tags after putting this up. This chapter is a perfect 10 pages which I really do like and is the second of the 3-part set, so there's that. If it's been too long since you read the last chapter and you don't exactly remember it I would recommend going to read that again since the set is a single story split into 3 parts. The song recommendation here is You're Insane - Escape the Fate. Heads up, if you followed @spookylovesboba on Tumblr you're going to want to do that again because their account got nuked for some reason.

Direct Link to Chapter 6 on AO3: XXXX

Chapter Below the Cut

Mao Mao struggled to look at his father. He’d like to say it was the sun, shining off his armor like a flashbang, but something in his chest hurt more than his eyes. Mao Mao licked his lips and rolled his tongue. There was something he wanted to say, however, he did need time to figure out what it was. He nearly bit his tongue when Papa slapped him on the back again.

“So, you gonna invite me in or are we just gonna chill outside.”

“Right, right, right…” Mao Mao droned off, shaking the handle when it didn’t open.

Did he drop his keys, or did Jǐngtì take them? He’d have to make a copy when Badgerclops got back.

“You lost your keys? Tsk, tsk, tsk, you gotta learn how to be more responsible to take care and be aware of things.” Shin simply walked through the door, doorframe, and wall, smashing the front of the house.

Mao Mao barely caught himself from calling the hypocrite out, but he bit his tongue and swallowed his anger. He looked at the sky making a mental note to do something with the hole before it stormed tonight.

Mao Mao carefully stepped over the broken wood while Shin looked around. He watched his father prowl around the room, finger to his chin, lips moving as he mumbled. If he tried he could probably understand the mumbles, but he let the words gloss over his ears. It was the best way to be near his father. Mao Mao would rather not listen to this jackasses’ bullshit.

“Hey, Mao Mao,” Shin said, making Mao Mao turn up his head. “You’ve set a solid little place here. I’ve got to hand that to you.”

Papa laughed and walked into the kitchen. Mao Mao balled his hand into a fist and followed him.

Papa was making himself quite at home. Mao Mao watched him search through cabinets and drawers from the doorway. He could tell his father wasn’t moving aimlessly; he was looking for something. Mao Mao was going to ask when Shin glossed over the fridge and then doubled back. Mao Mao wondered if the idiot was looking for a bite to eat when Papa pulled off one of Adorabat’s drawings. He stared down at it intently: brow creased, rubbing his chin with a “hmm” sound.

“What’s this?” he asked.

“A drawing.”

“Of course, but…”

He handed the drawing to Mao Mao. It was crude and done in crayon, but there were a few unmistakable things about it. Lined up on a grassy hill was Adorabat, him, Tanya, Jǐngtì, and Badgerclops. He had to wonder how long it was up there. He never noticed it. The picture had a distinct family photo-like quality to it. He had to find some way to spin this.

He handed the picture back. “It’s a picture from an admirer. A small child called Adorabat. She’s the blue one.”

“Odd color… who names their child Adorabat,” Shin mumbled.

Who names their child Mao Mao Mao?

“Who are the other people?”

He blinked a few times. “Those are just… some people I know. The one with the eyepatch -the black spot on his face- is Badgerclops. My partner. The brown one is Tanya Keys: a bounty hunter who was here a little bit ago.”

“What about this one?” Papa pointed at the brown cat.

Mao Mao took a deep breath. “That’s Tanya’s son.”

“Feel like I’ve seen his face before,” Papa snapped his fingers with a clang,” yeah. I’ve seen his face on wanted posters… in Queen’s Putland.”

“He’s... been headed down the wrong path,” he said.

Mao Mao didn’t notice himself drifting off. He only snapped back when Papa cleared his throat. “Well, I’m sure his mother can get a handle on him,” he said.

“I hope she can.”

Papa picked up the magnet and stuck it back on the fridge.

He didn’t ask about the other pictures.

Papa moved on, sifting through drawers before he sighed and scratched his head,” Hey, do you know where you keep your fist aid kit?”

“Yeah, it's in the bathroom. Under the sink," Mao Mao continued,” why? You cut yourself or something?”

Papa gave him a look of utter confusion. An eyebrow raised, lips parted slightly, like he Mao Mao wasn’t speaking the same language. “What? No. I’m getting it for you. You’re trackin’ blood all over the place. You look like you gave someone an arm and a leg,” he chuckled uncomfortably.

Mao Mao looked behind himself at the splotches of blood he’s tracked all over the house. His first thought was how hard the blood would be to get out of his nice hardwood floors. Then the dull pain reminded him of his wounds. He felt some kind of concern; a need to drop everything and call for help. It was the dying gasp of whatever self-preservation instinct he had left. All that just seemed so exhausting. He didn’t come home to start stitching wounds or deal with his father. He just wanted to rest.  

“I’ll clean it up,” Mao Mao said, already walking to get the mop when Papa grabbed him by the shoulder.  

“I’ll get the first-aid kit,” Papa said,” Why don’t you just... go have a seat.”

Mao Mao did as he was told. He limped his way to the living room couch and waited. He could hear his father rummaging around in the bathroom before coming back with the first-aid kit between his massive metal fingers and washbasin under his other arm. Everything always looked so small compared to him.

Mao Mao took the kit without hesitation. Papa sat down and watched him work. Only having one arm made things harder, his tail did help, but some things were more difficult than before. He started with his feet first, washing them in the basic, applying ointment to the worn away paw-pads, and then wrapping them in gauze.

The shard of glass in his side was next.  A foreign object lodged in his lower right side below the kidneys and above the intestines. He supposed it was similar to a gunshot wound (although the shard of glass was larger and jagged), so he treated the procedure much of the same. He wrapped the gauze tightly around his torso seat-belt style to staunch the blood before getting a pair of tweezers to play a game of operation. He reached in, tightly grabbing the shard of glass. He ignored the fatigue burning in his only arm as he did his best to slowly and carefully pull it out.

Mao Mao did his best to focus on what he was doing, yet his mind naturally wandered. It bounced from fleeting topic to fleeting topic, although a few questions liked to show up. Jǐngtì was one of them. More specifically, why did Jǐngtì hate him? The question was like a hot stove. Every time Mao Mao got close he was burned by a stinging well of emotions. He turned his attention away from the stove but cattish curiosity always dared him to put his fingers to the burner.

Curiosity killed the cat, as they say.

It didn't help that the next thing curiosity would lead him to was his father which was arguably worse. He watched Papa out the corner of his eye. He intently watched his son work without being direct, sneaking glances or watching him in the reflection of the stupid golden armor. He leaned forward, dominant hand folded over the other. He wanted to do something; he wanted to help.

Papa did nothing. Of course, he did nothing. He never does anything. The only thing Papa ever taught him was to do everything on his own.  If Papa really wanted to help he’d explain why Jǐngtì hated him.

A sharp pain yanked Mao Mao out of his thoughts. It's what he gets for not paying attention. He quickly set aside the freed shard of glass, parting the wound with his hand to get a good look.

It was a fountain of blood. Deep breaths. A racing heart won’t help.

Be calm and quick, he reminded himself. The first step was dabbing most of the blood away and cleaning it with water, check to make sure no debris is in the wound, then grab a needle and thread. There was a prick of pain as it pierced his skin, and the sting as the thread was pulled through.

Mao Mao didn’t let his missing arm stop him from doing things; his tail could work as a replacement more often than not, but there were some things best done with two hands. He held the needle in between his claws trying over and over to get the needle the other side. He grimaced at the painful pricks that were too shallow to pull the needle through. The bleeding hadn’t stopped; he was beginning to feel woozy. The tips of his fingers were numb. Was his anxiety from blood loss or knowing that he was having this much trouble just trying to finish one suture?

The needle fell from Mao Mao’s paws that were slick in his blood. Mao Mao scrambled to pick up the needle. He was so busy that he didn’t notice anything around him. It was only when Papa placed his paw over his son’s did Mao Mao stop.

“I’ll do it,” he said,” just be still.”

He didn’t have to tell him to be still; Mao Mao already was. He didn’t worry about blood loss either, because he was sure his heart had stopped.

Papa was out of his armor. Papa was out of his armor. He didn’t know anyone who’d seen him out of it. Not even his sisters had seen that. He was sure of it. He’d asked Brunhilde about the armor and she said it’d been grafted to his skin in a battle with a fire demon. Minori said that the armor was cursed by magic so he couldn’t take it off. Each of his sisters had a different story. All of them agreed on one thing: that Papa couldn’t take his armor off

There he was. A small shriveled up mockery of a man dressed in a weird-looking jumpsuit. And he was helping him. Was this Papa an imposter? Was it some stroke of luck? Did he fall into some strange alternate universe where Papactually cared about his son?

“What happened?”

“Huh?”

“How’d you end up like,” Shin gestured vaguely,” this?”

“I got into a fight.”

“Did you win?”

Mao Mao stiffened at the question. Whether he won, wasn’t important.

“Why’d you visit,” Mao Mao asked, quickly shifting the topic.

“You didn’t visit for the summer. We had to celebrate Tanabata without you.”

Mao Mao sank back into the sofa. He’d completely forgotten Tanabata was last week. This was the first time he’d missed Tanabata since he lost his arm.

“How’s the family,” he asked flatly.

“They’re fine. Nothing really, although everyone was asking about you. News that you’d settled down as a sheriff traveled fast. Funny, I always thought you’d stay a vagabond.”

Mao Mao felt something. It was a warm feeling that nearly made him cry. It reminded him of a hug from his mom. Had Papa finally grown a heart?

“Is that why you’re here?”

“Yeah, you're mother asked me to check on you.”

Of course, he didn’t.

“Turn around so I can stitch up the wounds on your back,” he said,” Moo Moo. Moo Moo.”

Mao Mao didn’t move.

“Turn around, Mee Mee.”

“No.”

“What?”

“No,” Mao Mao shouted as he stood up,” and get out!”

“Wha- no! I’m not leaving you in… this shack.

“That! What is that? You suddenly walk into my home and you give me the vaguest hope that your not terrible, but every other second you act like the biggest asshole I’ve ever met.”

“What? What are you talking about?”

“You break down my goddamn door, you openly admit that you came here because my mother sent you instead of giving a shit yourself, and you ask if I’ve won the fight when you should be asking if we’re going to a goddamn hospital, you even call my house a shack. It's not a shack! It’s where I live!”

Mao Mao could hear his thumping in his ears. “All you do is antagonize me at every chance you get.”

“That’s no way to talk to your father.”

“You barely even count as my father. You treat every single one of my sisters better than me. I play sixth fiddle to every one of my sisters.”

“Now that’s just preposterous. Give me one example of how I treat your sisters better.”

“You know what to call my sisters, so I’ll ask this.” Mao Mao loomed over his father,” what is my name?”

“I-, uh-,” Shin stumbled over his words.

“I’ll give you a hint: it's yours too.”

“...Shin junior?”

Mao Mao didn’t know what came over him. All of the cold pain and sorrow that had built up suddenly burned red hot. He lashed out at his father. He only missed his father’s neck because Papa was as quick as he was short. He tossed the basin at his father’s head, flipped the table, and threw anything he could as he chased after him. He chased Papa through the kitchen, through the bedroom through the dojo, knocking, breaking, destroying anything and everything.

Eventually, the fire burned out. The chase ended where it started. Mao Mao slowed down, climbed on the couch, huddled himself into a little ball, and cried. He just felt so tired.

“Hey, don’t cry,” Papa said, tentatively taking a step forward.

“You,” Mao Mao sobbed,” you are why I’m always the last to show up on the holidays and the first to leave. You always manage to get under my skin....the reason I blew up this time is that...I just thought… you might have changed, or at least learned your lesson.”

Something clicked in Mao Mao’s head.”So that’s why he hates me,” Mao Mao said under his breath.

He’d heard those words earlier today. From the son to the father, and again from the son to the father. The tears had stopped; the sadness was replaced by an immense, deadening sorrow. He had become the thing he hated, the thing he detested with every fiber of his being without even trying.

“Did you know your grandfather?” Mao Mao blurted out.

Papa seemed genuinely shocked by this. His eyes went saucer-wide, and he stumbled back. “I’m what?”

“I have a son. He did this to me.  I tried to keep him from suffering from the stuff you did to me, but it turns out that I did it to him anyway. Probably worse.”

Mao Mao let out a chuckle,” God, what is this shit? Genetic?”

Papa stayed quiet.

“You should go,” he told Papa.

Quietly, Shin slipped back into his armor, turning to face the door. “Goodbye,” he said.

Mao Mao stayed quiet.

He stayed huddled up on the sofa. He didn’t know how long it was, but by the time he started moving the sky was black and thunder howled. He got up and went to the kitchen. I the fridge he grabbed every can of beer he could find; in the cabinet, he grabbed every bottle that was and wasn’t covered in a layer of dust. He sat on the floor, cracked open the first of a long set, ready for the trip down memory lane.

[realfuurikuuri]

Chapters: 7/? Fandom: Mao Mao: Heroes of Pure Heart (Cartoon) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

MissingArm!AU: When escaping the cave, it wasn't his tail that got crushed. In exchange for his innocence, he gained a sordid past. The Pure Heart Valley seemed like a good place to escape. To start a new life with a new family to forge a new identity. However, when the past rears its ugly head Mao Mao's forced to step up or be put down.

AN:  This chapter took a while to come out. Mostly because it's kind of long and I had to reorganize and outline it twice before actually getting into it. I had to cut two big scenes out, otherwise, the chapter would be like 20 pages, and I'm saving all of us that trouble. This chapter is definitely the most morose. I'm probably going to need to add the depression and alcoholism tags after putting this chapter up, aren't I? Let's celebrate reaching a major milestone in the series! YAY!!!!! As always follow @spookylovesboba​, and enjoy the chapter.

Direct link to chapter 7 on AO3: XXXXXX

MissingArm!AU Chapter 7: In Death Life Flashes Before My Eyes 

Mao Mao sat alone. Drinking and thinking. Thinking and drinking. Something about today had brought out his masochistic side. He placed his hand on one stove hot memory after the next. Some were arguably good ones. Some were practically nightmares. He was sifting through his own memories like a gold crazed idiot panning a riverbed.

However, Mao Mao was looking for anything but gold. He needed to know what went wrong.

Maybe he shouldn't have gotten with Tanya in the first place, or maybe he shouldn't have had a child in the first place. He had just turned 18, Tanya was only a year older than him. They were still kids. They were too young, too immature. An 18-year-old teenager isn’t ready for the kind of responsibility it takes to raise a child. He knew that then and he definitely knew that now… yet he did it anyway.

Why did he get with Tanya in the first place?

Mao Mao took a bottle of brandy to his lips, disappointed to find it empty as he began to remember.

* * *

It was after he had already lost his arm and began dressing in red. They were somewhere in the kingdom of Queen’s Putland.  He and Tanya were active in that area for quite some time. Tanya was hurting for money and found a contract she desperately needed, but on the way, it started to rain. Instead of spending his birthday camping, Tanya led him to a shady pub hidden in the trunk of a tree. It wasn’t the kind of place he'd like to spend his 18th birthday, but the kind gesture did make him blush.

Despite being hidden the place was buzzing with activity. Every seat at the tables was filled and a sea of people surrounded that. Someone sat down as soon as another got up. Strangers talked freely like everyone was a friend. It was strange. He didn’t know people could be this friendly. Tanya dragged him out of his thoughts, pulling him to the empty stools at the bar.

“Whaddya want,” the Bartender Baboon asked.

“Gimme a vodka buck and- ,” Tanya turned to her side,” Mao Mao what are you getting?”

“What do they have to eat?”

“Its’ no fun to drink on a full stomach.”

“I’m not thirsty, I’m hungry. I don’t even like the taste of alcohol.”

Tanya rolled her eyes before her eyes lit up with an idea. “And virgin will have hard cider.”

“Hey!”  

“And wings,” she added.

“I was objecting to the virgin part,” he said.

“If you don’t like being called a virgin, well… I can help you with that.”

“What,” Mao Mao rebuffed,” no, what’re you-, that’s just-, no.”

Tanya just laughed at Mao Mao, pinching his rosy, red cheeks. “You’re adorable, virgin.”

The bar baboon came back with the drinks and wings. Tanya didn’t hesitate to start drinking; Mao Mao pulled the plate of wings of closer.

“For the love of god don’t eat wings with your gloves on,” Tanya said.

“Don’t tell me what to do,” he snarked back.  

“You’re so weird about your gloves,” she said.

“They’re just gloves.”

“That you never take off.”

“I do take them off.”

“Oh yeah? When?”

“When I get in the shower. When I take a bath-”

“You only take them off when you need to get nakey, is that right?”

“Well, I guess…”

“Does that include sex? Or do you wear them during that too?”

“Well... I mean I guess I’d take them off for canoodling.”

Tanya looked at him, stunned, almost confused before the corners of her mouth turned up in a smile. “Oh my god you call it canoodling,” she said in between laughs.

“It’s not funny!”

“Oh don’t worry, Virgin. It was… cute. Calm down and get drunk with me.”

Mao Mao grumbled and took a sip of the cider. It wasn’t as bad as he thought it’d be. The cider was thick and tasted of autumn apples, instead of alcohol. Although, he could still feel it burn the back of his throat.

The bar baboon had watched all of that take place with some interest. “Did your parents really name you Virgin,” he asked.

“...They had a habit of screwing me over,” Mao Mao said. He didn’t like lying, but what he said wasn’t exactly a lie.

Mao Mao and the bartender continued to talk, eventually, Tanya joined in too. It was odd. Maybe it was the jovial atmosphere of the pub, maybe it was the alcohol, but the walls people put up just broke down. There was no such thing as oversharing. He, Tanya, and the bartender just became part of the crowd. Before he knew it Mao Mao had counted 4 pints of cider. He learned that the Bartender came from a small family and that he was bartending as a way to get money. He hoped to become a musician later.  Despite learning all that about him Mao Mao never actually got to ask him his name.

He could have kept talking, but Tanya had already hit her limit on booze. The glass of water was proof that it was time to leave. Where did he put his wallet? He stopped searching when Tanya placed what little money she had left to cover the bill.

“You didn’t have to do that,” he said.

“Come on it's your birthday. I can’t get you a cake, so at least let me treat you. Happy Birthday, Virgin.”

That simple gesture made something click into place in Mao Mao’s head. H liked Tany; he cared for her too. He just wasn't sure if she cared for him. That gesture proved she did. Mao Mao blinked a few tears out of his eyes, struggling to process the well of emotions.

“You alright, Virgin?”

Mao Mao didn't say anything. He leaned over and gave Tanya a small kiss on the cheek.

The bartender let out a long whistle.

A slow smile formed across her face and she let out a small bark of laughter. “What was that? I could’ve sworn you thought PDA was illegal.”

Mao Mao fiddled with his tail between his fingers. “We… never really celebrated my birthday back home. Thank you for… caring about me.”

“Hey, Mao Mao,” Tanya spoke up,” do you wanna make more of this?”

“Sure.”

Tanya picked Mao Mao up by the arm and pulled him to the bathroom in the back of the pub. She stopped calling him virgin after that. Once she saw him without gloves she gave him a new nickname: Mittens.

* * *

And that’s how Jǐngtì was made. Needless to say, it wasn’t how he imagined his first time would be. It wasn’t romantic. It wasn’t started under the ever blossoms, or started with some grand and fancy gestures. Instead, it was done in the bathroom of a bar that almost definitely didn’t have an alcohol license. He didn’t think it’d be the start of anything. It was supposed to be a one-time thing. They were supposed to stay friends, maybe friends with benefits, not parents.

Jǐngtì...

Mao Mao let out a slight huff in amazement. It's not a thing he should say, but Jǐngtì shouldn’t exist. He wasn’t being mean it was just how biology worked. Mao Mao’s a cat. Tanya’s a tanuki. Their species weren’t even apart of the same phylum or genus. They shouldn’t even be able to have a kid by scientific standards, but Tanya wasn’t scientific. The OB-GYN said it was due to Tanya’s magical nature that the pregnancy was even possible. Her magic was more than skin deep. It was the incredible magic stored in every cell that made the pregnancy possible, even then, the odds of pregnancy were less than 10/1. He only exists due to magic.

Mao Mao never liked magic.

Badgerclops didn’t like magic tricks; Mao Mao didn’t magic tricks either, but genuine magic was something he disliked far more. Magic could be unwieldy at best and a monkey’s paw at worst. At first, he thought Jǐngtì leaned towards being the former, but he was very much the latter. The child did permanently tie Tanya and him together, but it was also the reason they’d permanently split apart.

The reason he and Tanya split apart was an “irreconcilable difference” as marriage counselors would like to call it. Ignoring the fact that they never got married, It wasn’t anything so disgustingly formal, just two people realizing that they’d never see eye to eye, and it was best to split apart. There was no yelling; only mutual understanding. It was an adult’s hell.

Mao Mao rolled away empty cans of beer down the empty hall as the memories came back to him.

* * *

Mao Mao waited in the lobby of an abandoned hotel. It reeked of mildew and mold. The boards had more than rotted through. He sat in an old lounge chair filled with holes and leaking cotton, waiting for Tanya to get back. He bided his time by chewing his claws off, wincing in pain when he went too far. Patience was never his virtue.

Get back from where?

Jǐngtì’s preliminary hearing.

The child had taken the worst qualities of both parents. Tanyas tendency to overlook laws, and Mao Mao’s incessant need to go above and beyond. From the way Jǐngtì told it, he was looking to make quick cash, and instead of asking his parents or even doing something kind of shady, he turned his eyes to glittering jewels and gold on the monarchs’ crown. Even Jǐngtì’s half-baked magic would be more than enough to succeed at his heist. He should have known something was up when Jǐngtì started hurrying them out of the city. Perhaps he should have listened to his child… too late for any of that now. Justice had already caught up and was doing its thing.

He shifted his head up when he heard thumping on the floor above him, following the sound who leaped down the broken staircase to the lobby. She dusted cobwebs out of her fur, muttering something so fast Mao Mao couldn’t understand. He watched her pace in large circles around the lobby.

He waited for the small gap when she took a breath to ask his first question. “How did the hearing go?”

“Did you hear anything I said?”

“You muttered.”

Tanya pinched the bridge of her nose. “Jǐngtì clearly lost.”

“Well, yeah. He admitted it to us, and there's a written confession.”

“Are you trying to help or make feel like shit?”

He placed a hand on Tanya’s shoulder,” I know the penal code requires bail be set before the final trial.”

She brushed his hand off,” the bail doesn’t matter.”

“Why? What’s wrong with the bail?”

“It’s 300-million fucking dollars.”

Now the way Tanya was acting made sense. He pursed his lips and began to think. What to do? What to do? $300,000,000 was more than a king’s ransom. He was sure it was worth more than some countries. He’d say they were probably overreacting, but it was probably low-balling the price of the crown. That was more money than he even considered bringing with him when he left home.

Home… His family certainly had that kind of money to throw around.  

No. Mao Mao pushed the thought from his mind. He’ll make the compulsory visits for the holidays, but he’ll be the last to arrive and the first to leave. He wasn’t going to ask for their help. He hated them. He wasn’t going to explain his new family to them. Not Tanya, and certainly not Jǐngtì. This was not the Mao clan’s problem. He’d become a hero and make his legend without them.

He had hoped that bail would give him an out. Unfortunately, his hopes were pointless. He had something to tell Tanya. He hoped he wouldn’t, but...what else is there to do?

“What are we going to do? What are we going to do?” Tanya asked herself, pacing around the room again. “What are we going to do?”

 “Should we even do anything,” he asked.

Tanya stopped, slowly turning to face Mao Mao. “What?”

“I don’t think there is much we can -should- do,” he clarified.

“Explain.”

“Well… Jǐngtì did steal the crown. Putland has every right to be mad and prosecute-”

“So, we’re supposed to let them do whatever they want with him?”

“I know the penal code. He’s too young to be executed and besides they couldn’t do an execution until after the crown was found. We would still be able to visit him in jail-”

“Stop!” Tanya snapped before softening,” Mittens, just stop.”

Mao Mao waited while Tanya put her face in her hands before looking up. “I’m going to need you to make a choice. Are you siding with Putland, or Jǐngtì. Do you care more about your principals or your son?”

“What? How can you ask that?”

“I’m going to need your answer.”

Mao Mao hesitated. “A hero… can’t ignore the law.”

“Then,” she pointed to the two of them,” isn’t going to work. We aren’t going to work.”

Her voice was flat and stern. Something she used on her bounty’s not him.

“Tanya...” he was about to reach out, but couldn't bring himself to.

“I wish you well or whatever. I have things to do,” he said, looking him in the eye,” goodbye Mao Mao.”

She hadn’t called him Mao Mao in years. He was still numb when he packed his things and left. All he could think about was how much he needed a drink.

* * *

Mao Mao writhed on the kitchen floor. He felt sad for himself. He regretted his actions. He was angry at the world. The torrent, swirl, and monsoon of emotion threatened to tear him apart. He could feel it all mixing up inside of him with a scorching intensity.

He needed a drink.

He felt around the bottles and cans surrounding him. All empty. Mao Mao turned his attention upwards, toward where the alcohol was shelved. He climbed onto the counter, reaching into the depths. He gripped the last bottle by the neck. He tried to pull back but tripped over his own feet. Instead of trying to break the fall he hit the floor, holding his saving grace up and out of harm's way.

He crawled his way to the living room. He climbed onto the couch to take a breath. The saving grace in his hands was an emerald green bottle of saké: Japanese rice wine. It was a gift he got from Papa a while back. How disgustingly vapid. He didn’t like alcohol, and he certainly didn’t like his father.

Mao Mao uncorked the bottle and began to drink. It reeked painfully flowers that poorly covered the burning in the back of his throat. It hurt. Everything hurt. How’d he get here? How’d he become such a mess? He was a stupid disgusting mess. Full of mistakes. Full of regrets. He sacrificed everything else to try and become a hero, only to have that last thing run away from him too. He only tried to do what’s right. He was supposed to be building a legend, becoming a hero worth remembering, worth loving.

It was all his fault.

“I wish there was someone else to do it,” he slurred, “I was I didn't have to do any of this.  I wish there was someone else to try and be justice. I wish that there was someone out there to be fighting evil! I don’t want to be the one always trying to do what's right!”

He finished screaming and felt nothing, but embarrassment. “What am I doing? Yelling at nobody, but still... I’d give my heart and soul for that.”

Mao Mao lied down on the couch, barely able to stomach alcohol, and stomach himself even less. Eventually, he blacked out.

* * *

Badgerclops sat in Camille's tower. Adorabat was sleeping in his lap. He wanted to be sleeping too, but worry kept him awake.  

Mao Mao laid on a bed in the center of the room. IV-tubes went in and out of his arms and he was wearing an oxygen mask. Camille and Honey worked quickly, concocting potion after potion, doing something magical. He’d be impressed if he wasn’t so tired. He needed sleep. Worry was the only thing keeping him awake. He watched Mao Mao for any signs of movement, any signs of life.

When Mao Mao opened his eyes, Badgerclops jumped to his feet, startling Adorabat awake.

“Are you alright,” he asked, realizing the answer to that was a pretty obvious no.

“Where- Where am I,” he asked, stumbling through every word.

“Camille's tower, man. We came back. You weren’t breathing. Adorabat was really scared.”

“Oh...I’m sorry.”

“Don’t apologize, just… why? What were you thinking?”

“I was just… thinking it’d be nice to be loved, for once.”

“I love you, Mao Mao.”

Mao Mao stopped and looked at Adorabat. He stopped to process what she said before sniffling. He tried to blink the tears out of his eyes, but it didn’t work. He threw his arm around Adorabat, tears falling down his face. “Thank you,” he said, over and over again. He had never seen Mao Mao cry before. It was a steady, light, and quiet stream. Badgerclops joined the group hug, scooping them up in his arms. It was a warm and soft hug that all three of them were slow to break.

------

AN:  While angst is fun, its time to delve into lighter tones as we enter the next arc. How long will the happiness last? ...well I can't spoil that now can I? Next Chapters Tile: What I Missed Be sure to leave a Kudos if you enjoyed, feedback is always appreciated and bookmark to stay updated with the series.

[realfuurikuuri]

For Fox Sake

MMHOPH Missing Arm! AU fic Chapter 2

WC: 2,888

AN: Again, made using the MissingArm!AU created by @spookylovesboba And it’s now on Ao3 if any of y’alls want so read it there. I reccomend you do becuase chapter 1 had some editing issues that were fixed. Writing this chapter was fun. I like Rufus and Reggie. They force things to be less about fights and more about words. A song rec for this chapter would be Won’t Get Fooled Again - The Who (the cultured among you will notice that it’s also the theme song to CSI: Miami). Will tamble in tags some more. AO3 Link

Mao Mao sat on a bench, nursing a cup of coffee that had started to become tepid. Adorabat and Badgerclops were there with him. They weren’t doing much either. They tapped away on their games without a care in the world. He thinks it was called Mini-mons, or something. Mao Mao would have reminded them that they were on patrol if the day wasn’t so slow. The only thing he did was give Pigguns another driving ticket, which he does every day, so it wasn’t anything but routine at this point.

In his boredom, Mao Mao’s mind began to wander. The first of which being Jǐngtì. He probably went back to meet up with Tanya. Hopefully, she could give the kid the talk Mao Mao couldn’t. The next thought that passed his mind was the valley itself. It was a strange place. He knew that it was guarded by the Ruby Pure Heart. Did the thing have to do with the sweetipies? They were strange creatures. Despite their age, they all seemed like children. Destructive, naive, gullible, children. Even the ones who he assumed were older were still flagrantly immature. Snugglemane and Camille being prime examples.

“Hey, Badgerclops,” he said.

“What do you want Daddy Issues I’m doing -Oh C’mon not Dirtmon,” he said, tapping buttons on the game even harder.

“You think the Ruby Pure Heart has something to do with the sweetipies?”

“Elaborate.”

“I mean do you think it has to do with why they’re all so… immature… and feral?”

“Nah, dude I think that was just the barrier thingy. No problems; no need to learn, right?”

“I suppose that makes sense.”

“You need to find something to do. You always get so questiony when you’re antsy.”

“I would if there was something to do.”

“Play Mini-mons with us?”

“No.”

“Then go find some sweetiepies or something. All they do is commit crimes, to be honest. Shouldn’t Puggin’s be speeding around now?”

He couldn’t say Badgerclops was wrong about that. Mao Mao got up and threw away his coffee. “No he gets his daily ticket at 4:00, but you have a point. I’ll see you around.”

“Okay dude I’ll be… losing to this child. Get me a pie if you’re going to the bakery.”

Mao Mao almost told him to go get it himself when he sighed and decided to go along with it.

* * *

Rufus could barely believe his luck. He sat at the table watching Muffin stack all sorts of valuables on the table. Golden coins, priceless gems, paintings, and a menagerie of riches that would fit a king. He was eyeing a golden watch on this ugly little mouse’s wrist, searching his head for a con, when the thing walked up to him. He was eyeing a golden watch on this ugly little mouse’s wrist, searching his head for a con, when the thing walked up to him. Somehow Reggie managed to pull a scam out of nowhere that the creature actually believed.

Just an hour ago he was looking for yet another town to go to where his face was unknown to run another scam, only to find a surprise kingdom that wasn’t on any maps. Even better than that was that everyone here was dumb as bricks! Rufus kicked back to watch more savings be put on the table when a strange cat walked in. To be fair, the black cat only looked strange relative to the technicolor weirdos.

“Can I get another Everyberry...” The cat’s voice died out as it caught sight of Rufus Regg and the stack of treasures.

He pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed,” Muffins, what are you doing?”

“Well, I was making some pies when these two nice gentlemen come in. They looked like the wanted to talk to me, so I go up to them and it turns out their distant relatives who are looking to set up a branch of the company here. They just need some investment to set up shop, and well you don’t say no to family,” Muffin said.

“You're savings,” he did a double-take looking at the stack of treasures before shaking it off,” that… comes later. Muffin, right now you need to stop giving them their money.”

Rufus began to wonder if things were starting to sour.

“Why not help family?”

“Muffins you are a yellow mouse. That is a raccoon and fox.”

“And?”

The cat looked like he was about to strangle the mouse when he took a deep breath,” listen, they aren’t your family. They’re scam artists taking your money.”

“A preposterous claim, under what authority do you have to make those allegations,” Rufus asked with all the feigned bravado he could muster.

“The crown’s.”

“I beg your pardon?”

“I’m the sheriff.”

* * *

Mao Mao watched the fox’s eyes go wide as he forced himself to wear a smile. “Ahhh, I see. Well, you must be a busy person, as are we, so you must understand if we have to cut this engagement short. We have places to be you know.”

“You’re both under arrest.”

“Run!”

Rufus quickly grabbed his companion and bolted out the door.

Mao Mao checked his watch. It was 3:50. If he did this quick he should be able to give Pigguns his ticket. After giving them a fair head start before he crashed through the storefront to give chase. It was pretty disappointing, to be honest. The grifters weren’t particularly fast or smart. They made the horrible choice to run right to the kingdom gates. Mao Mao knew twenty different shortcuts that could have put him ahead of them, but he didn’t need to use any of them. He checked his watch; It was 3:58. Mao Mao picked up the pace, closing in on them at blinding speed.

He drew his sword and leaped forward. He screeched to a halt at the last intersection. Instead of giving chase, he rested his arm on Geraldine, and began to write on his notepad.

“Ha-Ha! Yes! We did it Regg. We’re free! We’re-”

Rufus learned why the sheriff stopped when Slim-Pigguns careened down the road. Mao Mao calmy stuck yet another ticket onto Pigguns’ car as it zoomed by, and waited. When the smoke cleared the fox was kneeling next to his roadkill companion. Unfortunate that it didn’t hit both.

What a great day! He captured the scammers and gave Pigguns his ticket all at once. Whoever said a “ bird in the hand is worth two in the bush”could go get fucked. For once in his life, Mao Mao was feeling proud of himself. That and his little joke must’ve been why he laughed. He laughed, and he did it quite loudly.

Slowly, Sweetipies began to crowd around, murmuring amongst themselves.

The sweetipies pushed past Mao Mao, crowding around the raccoon. “Poor thing, who did this to you?”

A wicked glint ignited in the foxe’s eye,” it was the sheriff. He did this.”

“Oh my god, you think anyone is actually going to believe... that.”

The mob turned to face Mao Mao, moving like a single angry creature.

“What a monster,” a sweetiepie said

“I knew he’d lose it eventually,” said another.

“Oh, come on! You can’t actually believe him!”

“What a horrid man.”

The crowd began to close in on Mao Mao.

“That’s preposterous. I would never do something like that… without reason, at least. Either way, you can’t just believe a couple of strangers right?”

“I knew we shouldn’t have made him sheriff.”

“Woah, woah, woah, that’s enough,” Badgerclops said over is police siren hand to get through the crowd.

“What on earth happened here?”

“The sheriff attacked this innocent man.”

He and Adorabat looked over to the Reggie then back to Mao Mao.

“You seriously can’t believe them,” he said.

Adorabat sucked air in through her teeth,” Badgerclops, should I tell him?”

“Now. Now let’s not make assumptions,” Badgerclops said before immediately huddling down and speaking in a whisper. “What the fuck, dude? I know I already have bags packed, but geez.”

“I didn't do it! It was Slim Pigguns who did this!”

“Can you prove it,” the fox choked out.

“Prove it?” Mao Mao marched through the crowd, grabbing, shoving and tossing Sweetipies out of the way, grabbing the fox by the collar. “Of course, I can prove it. Its what happened!”

“Could you prove it in a court of law?”

“Sure!”

“Then we will. I sue the Pure Heart Valley Sheriff’s Department.”

“What,” Mao Mao, Badgerclops and Adorabat screamed in unison.

“No. In fact, we’ll sue the Pure Heart Valley itself. We’ll sure for everything it owns.”

Mao Mao and the three of them quickly formed a team-planning hug. “He can’t actually sue the entire valley for everything it owns, can he,” Adorabat asked.

“Don’t ask me. Ask Mao Mao.”

“Well… they might. The article that relates to suits against the kingdom doesn’t exactly put a limit on what can be demanded.”

“Don’t worry Daddy Issues. I already got our bags packed and-”

“We are not running!”

“Why not, I don’t really wanna be here when you lose the case.”

“I won’t lose the case because I didn’t hurt him.”

“You sure,” they asked.

“Yes, I’m sure. He got run over by Slim Pigguns. I didn't hurt him. Why is that so hard to believe?”

“Because that would be ridiculously on-brand for you. It's not an ‘if’ but ‘when’. I already have bags packed for when it happens.”

“You have what now?”

“Nothing. Anyways, if you want to challenge them then we go to court,” Badgerclops said.

“I’ll handle the case and you... try not to be yourself. Or at least don’t be yourself in front of the sweetipies.”

“What?”

“Oh! Oh! Oh! What do I do,” Adorabat asked.

“You’ll be his PR,” Badgerclops explained.

“Yay!”

Mao Mao began to consider if it was time to use those emergency packs.

* * *

Mao Mao didn’t know if the sweetipies had any foresight or common sense. Rufus could literally sue the valley for everything it owns, and for some reason, the sweetipies were taking Rufus’ side. The fact that Snugglemane was in control of the proceedings was the shit icing on top of the shit cake. Mao Mao tapped his fingers against the table. The court was taking too long to start. The jury was seated and the spectators mumbled amongst themselves. Snugglemane fiddled with the white wig he was wearing over his usual one. Rufus and Reggie weren’t here yet. Badgerclops wasn’t present either. Only Adorabat was here, which wouldn’t be much help since she’s his “PR” and a child.

Everyone turned when the doors opened. Rufus rolled his friend in on a stretcher. Despite the obvious greed in his eyes, Mao Mao could see genuine concern for his friend. Granted, that didn't stop him from wanting to see the fox on a stretcher as well.

“Oh good, the prosecution is finally here. Let's get this thing started,” the king said banging his gavel.

“But my defense isn’t here yet,” Mao Mao objected.

Adorabat took the stage. “Don’t worry,” she said,” I got this.”

“Aren’t you like... Six?”

“Seven, actually.”

Snugglemane considered it for a moment before banging his gavel. “Good enough for me. The Prosecution has the stand.”

Rufus stepped up. Mao Mao thought it was weird for Rufus to be speaking for himself, then again it's not like the valley has any lawyers.

Rufus cleared his throat, speaking in a pained voice,” Thank you, your… Honor? Majesty?”

“Call me both.”

“Alright, you're Honorific Majesty.”

The king giggled; the sheriff rolled his eyes.

“As you all know,” he began,” I had come to the Pure Heart Valley to visit a relative. Muffin, a distant cousin of mine-”

“Oh, c’mon. You are a fox. Muffin is literally a yellow mouse,” Mao Mao interrupted.

“Silence,” the king demanded with his gavel. “The prosecution has the floor.”

“As I was saying. I came to the valley because I’d come across some financial troubles. I’ve been trying to start a business of mine. A newspaper in fact. Everything was going smoothly till that brigand appeared.”

The crowd hissed and booed at Mao Mao. The king didn’t bother to stop that interruption.

“This foul creature chased me all the way through town. When he finally caught up with me. He proceeded to do… this to my friend.”

The crowd winced and ooed in sympathy for that awful fox.

“A heartbreaking tale,” the King sniffled. “Does the defense have anything they want to say?”

“Yes,” Adorabat said.

“Really?”

“Yes.”

“Then speak your piece.”

“Um.. line?”

Mao Mao pinched the bridge of his nose.

* * *

Mao Mao did not expect much from a defense set up by a seven-year-old, but by god, it was somehow worse. Adorabat was naive and easy to manipulate. Rufus found it easy to set up leading questions.

“Do you think the sheriff is responsible for his actions?”

“Ehm… yes?”

“Is he one of those hateful people willing to attack others?”

“I suppose.”

“Does his tendency to attack first without asking questions often bring others to harm?”

“King, I object,” Mao Mao interrupted.

“Say the full titles.”

Mao Mao swallowed his fury. “I object to his questions, your Honorific Majesty.”

“On what grounds?”

“Well, the fact that they’re all loaded questions and Adorabat actually being a seven-year-old toddler.”

“That’s no grounds for an objection. You elected her to be your defense of your own accord. It conflicts with no rules or laws.”

“Laws here make no sense, though. The fact that you’re suing an entire county for everything it owns is proof enough.”

Rufus and Mao Mao began to argue more and more. Snugglemane pounded his gavel demanding order, but no one listened. Things just got louder and louder, wilder and wilder until Rufus and Mao Mao were grappling on the floor of the courtroom.

“I’ll tear your eye out you armless bastard,” Rufus yelled.

“I’d like to see a corpse try,” he responded.

They only calmed down when the guards pried them apart When the guards finally pried them apart they were both left beaten and bloody. Mao Mao punched Rufus in the stomach; Rufus bashed him in the nose, along with the countless bumps and bruises they shared. Although, Rufus was definitely worse for wear. His left arm was twisted in all the wrong ways. Mao Mao couldn’t even feel proud of that. His head was throbbing and there was this awful hum.

No the hum wasn’t in his head. More heads began to turn when the noise got louder and louder. It was a hum, that grew into a rumble; a rumble so loud he courtroom began to shake. It sounded like a car… no, it was a car. Mao Mao quickly shook himself free of the guards, grabbing Adorabat as the wall caved in with a mighty crash.

Mao Mao waved the smoke away, clutching Adorabat to his chest. “You alright,” he asked.

“I’m fine,” she coughed out.

Despite the damage, no one seemed to be hurt. Pinky was laughing maniacally, so the sweetipies were fine, the king peeked his head from behind the podium, and unfortunately, the grifters were still alive. Despite the car belonging to Slim Pigguns Badgerclops stepped out first. He took a few tentative steps before he threw up his lunch. Slim Pigguns stepped out more concerned for his car than anything else.

“What is the meaning of this,” the king growled.

“Well… god damn… that was horrifying,” Badgerclops heaved in between breaths,” I have proof that… Mao Mao didn’t… do it.”

“What’s the proof?”

“Witness... testimony. I call to the stand… Slim Pigguns!”

The fox’s eyes went wide.

“Hm?” Pigguns poked his head up, not even paying attention to the court.

“Mr.Pigguns, could you tell us what happened when you ran over the raccoon?”

“Yeah. I was going for my daily drive, when I got near the gate I felt a bump.”

“And you didn’t stop?”

Pigguns just shrugged,” it happens.”

“This is just testimony! Can you prove he was even there,” Rufus objected.

“I still have the sticker Mao Mao gave me.”

“That’s a speeding ticket,” Mao Mao added from the back.

Rufus began to sweat. Nm “Do you have any physical evidence?”

“Does the fender with your face still dented into it count?”

“I’ve been meaning to buff that out,” Pigguns mumbled.

Everyone turned to face Rufus. He pulled at his collar. His calm, collected demeanor beginning to give way to panic.

“Does the prosecution have anything to say,” the king asked.

Rufus balled his hands into fist before sinking low,”... no, your honor.”

“Say it right.”

“Just give us the verdict, already.”

“So rude,” the King banged his gavel,” I deem the defendants not guilty of assault and declare that the prosecution be jailed upon charges false accusations and wasting the courts time. The defendant's punishment shall be to clean up this mess.”

“What, why?”

“Because you’re all rude. So very rude.”

“Could you at least take me to jail first,” Rufus asked.

“I’m not going to put you in jail,” Mao Mao said.

“What?”

“I am, however, going to put you in the hospital.”

Mao Mao pounced at him when Bagderclops grabbed him out the air,” as I said. It's not a matter of ‘if’ but ‘when’.”

[realfuurikuuri]

Chapters: 18/? Fandom: Mao Mao: Heroes of Pure Heart (Cartoon) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Series: Part 1 of Mao Mao: The Hero Without an Arm Summary:

MissingArm!AU: When escaping the cave, it wasn't his tail that got crushed. In exchange for his innocence, he gained a sordid past. The Pure Heart Valley seemed like a good place to escape. To start a new life with a new family to forge a new identity. However, when the past rears its ugly head Mao Mao's forced to step up or be put down.

 Jǐngti didn’t know what to do. Mom would be coming soon; he should be stayed back at his dad’s, so she could find him. It was the right thing to do. Maybe that was why he wasn’t doing it. The infinitely tall pines loomed overhead, blanketing the sky with green needles as they did the same to the floor. He wandered, unsure of what to do, or where to go. Its said that felines have some sort of homing instinct, canine too, out of all the things he could have inherited from either of his parents why wasn't it something useful? I would be more useful than his magic that was (just like everything else about him) half-baked.

 What was he going to do?

 Jǐngti stopped walking. He pulled back, crouching down low. Like a spring he shot into the air, latching onto the tree’s thick bark. He didn’t need to use his claws.The tiny crevices fit his fingers snugly. It was easy, almost second nature, to start climbing up and up and up. The pine brush above wasn’t as soft as the carpet below.

 He crashed through the green shroud, his eyes stinging more than usual at the bright light. The sky was dark with hues of deep purple and orange painting the sun half-hidden over the horizon. Was it night? No, the air was too cold. The night was ending, and now it was warming thanks to the dawn.

 At least it made it easy to tell directions. The sun rises in the east, so the distant town would be in the west, and the mountain where his father lived would be past that in the mountains. He knew where he was, now he just needed to know where to go. He waited, and waited, and waited, expecting the answer to come to him naturally, but everything seemed to flee.

 All this freedom and no idea what to do with it.

 He sighed. A deep disheartening feeling enclosed around his chest. He shoulda just sucked it up and stayed, or maybe he should’ve headed back to the junkyard. He grabbed onto the trunk and slid back down the upper brush of pines, siting on a thick branch. Moving over he grabbed onto the truck again, but when he looked towards the forest floor he realized that it was actually pretty far. Climbing up was easy enough, but who’s to say he wouldn’t make a mistake on the way down? Always landing on your feet didn’t matter when you'd break your legs anyway.

 He sat back down on the branch, unable to find the will to try and get down.

 Time blended together until the sun was dead overhead. It was now noon And there was no way to get back down. Until he heard something. It was weird. Kind of like a fwoosh-like thing. It kind of sounded like an aero-vehicle nearby. His first thought was it was his dad on the stupid motorcycle thing. Instead, he shielded his eyes from something flying overhead.

 His eyes stung from the flyby alone, and it only got worse when it doubled back around. He shielded his eyes again and looked away from the break in the canopy; he didn’t notice the thing flying down towards him until it was right in his face. Despite looking right at it, it took a second for his vision to come back. His first reaction was to move back down the branch, pressing his back against the tree’s trunk.

 The first though to run through his mind was what was his father doing here? Then, he realized his mistake. It wasn’t his father. His face was a bit more angular, lies and wrinkles a bit sharper, and his fur greyed with age. Donning a suit of armor that was golden as his eyes, was a cat Jǐngti didn’t recognize. He looked down at him with the same way one might a pitiable, albeit disgusting stray.

 Which, to be fair, Jǐngti was.

 “Are you okay?” The stranger’s voice was deep and familiar like he heard it somewhere before.

 Jǐngti kept quiet.

 The stranger didn’t repeat his question. He titled his head, looking at him quizzically. “How old are you,” he asked.

 Jǐngti still said nothing.

 “Are you stuck,” he asked.

 Jǐngti looked up and away from him.

 The stranger didn’t ask another question. He grabbed onto Jǐngti and slowly descended to the forest floor where he let him go. Jǐngti knew he probably should have said thank you, instead he avoided looking at the stranger’s face some more. There was something wrong with this guy. Something he didn’t like. Sure, the golden armor was gauche, his voice sounded like a magistrate with infinitely better things to do that extend a child’s sentence, but there was something more he knew he just didn’t fucking like.

 “Excuse me, but are you lost?”

 Could he tell how old he was? Jǐngti shook his head.

 “So you know your way around here?”

 Jǐngti nodded his head.

 “You wouldn’t happen to know where someone named Mao Mao lives, would you?”

 His head snapped up, and he looked at the stranger again. Who was this? Who on earth would want to speak with      him?    “Who are you,” he asked.

 “Me?” The stranger put his hands on his hips, striking a confident pose.”I’m Shin Mao.”

 Jǐngti felt like he got punched in the stomach. He had to put his hands on his knees as he coughed and gasped for breath.

 “Are you okay,” Shin Mao asked, although Jǐngti barely heard it.

 “Okay, so you wouldn’t happen to be related to Mao Mao, right,” he asked.

 “I am.”

 “How!” Jǐngti cleared his throat and repeated in a more measured tone. “How?”

 “I’m his father.”

 Another punch to the gut. This was his grandfather! How weird was that? He couldn’t ever remember his dad speaking about. He kind of assumed Mao Mao was an orphan, but this… he could work with. He stood up and straightened himself out, running his hands across his face to wipe away his expression and put on something a bit more clean, appealing even. Something he imagined that fox Rufus would use when pulling a scam.

 “You needed help finding Mao Mao, yes?”

 “Yes,” Shin Mao said, despite the obvious apprehension.

 “I was heading there anyway. You can come with me if you like.” It was phrased like a question, but Jǐngti had grabbed his grandfather’s hand to lead him away.

 * * *

       Evidently, Shin Mao could fly, but he didn’t. He walked behind with heavy, thumping, metallic footsteps. It wasn’t hard to find his way back to the town. A little before noon, and they were already at the fountain plaza. Despite the Sweetipies usual aloofness(maybe it would be better to say vapid) selves they took interest. They crowded in corners and shadows. There was a strange and unnatural silence to everything. They were looking a little too high for it to be him. They were looking at Shin Mao.

       Even if they weren’t looking at him, he didn’t like it. Not one bit. Ominous eyes, watching them from the seemingly vacant streets. Staring. They were all just staring. It's why he stuck to the back roads and far away from the main streets. The way they so garish showed the whites of their eyes at him made him feel...

       He just didn’t like the stares, even if he should be used to them.

       Shin Mao leaned down over to him as they walked. “Are they uh… citizens okay?”

       “They’re always fucking weird so...” Jǐngti shrugged to finish his sentence.

       They continued walking for some time. Jǐngti pretended that he simply got turned around on the way (which ironically did happen halfway through) as he mulled a certain question over. Should he ask Shin about his father? He’d never even thought about his family past his parents. There were vague memories of questions. A curious child’s poking and prodding at his mother and his father. His mother glossed over the question telling him about the family in details he could no longer remember. He couldn’t remember what his father said either, but he distinctly remembered his reaction.

       He was young, little more than a kitten who even Mao Mao managed to tower over, barely used to speaking in a voice he had no confidence with. They were by a river. His father was doing something while he splashed away in the river like a child. Inevitably, he got wet, cold, and worst of all, bored.  He stopped splashing moving back to the bank where his father was washing clothes.

       Maybe it was because he was washing clothes that he didn’t mind it when he hopped into his lap despite being soaking wet. He watched him do chores before getting bored of that, too. Eventually, he flipped over and looked his father in the eye before asking a single question.

       “Do you have any family?” He wasn’t used to speaking. The words tumbled out, tripping over his lips.

       “I have you and your mother,” he said.

       “What about like, brothers, sisters, fathers?”

       Jǐngti won’t forget the way his father stopped. Rigid, like a stone, he stared off into space without blinking. He watched  a piece of clothing slipped from his hands and down the river. Still, his father didn’t move. He stayed like that for what seemed like forever, and right when Jǐngti was getting worried his father snapped back to reality.

       “What was that,” he asked like the conversation didn’t grind to a halt.

       “Nothing,” Jǐngti said.

       He never asked his father that question again. Why would he when that was how he reacted? It made it oh so tempting to just go ahead and ask about it now. Jǐngti turned to Shin Mao who was still walking beside him.

       “So, uh, you’re Mao Mao’s dad, right?”

       Shin eyed him weirdly. “Yeah.”

       “What was he like,” he added for clarification,” when he was younger, I mean.”

       Shin frowned, eyes turning up, and he scratched his chin. “Well, he was… very quiet. One of those kids that was almost always seen and never heard. He was super reserved, too. Well together and composed. I don’t think he ever made a scene, not even a tantrum when he was a toddler.”

       Jǐngti surprised the urge to laugh. The thought of Mao Mao -the walking, talking shit show of a person- not causing trouble seems like a bad joke. It wouldn’t have even been so funny if Shin wasn’t saying it with his whole chest. Jǐngti swallowed the laughter down, listening to Shin go on and on about someone Jǐngti had never met. It was funny at first, but quickly became significantly less so. Shin Mao described someone who was clam and levelheaded. An apathetic isolationist who you could forget even existed.

       Jǐngti was able to entertain the idea that his father had somehow changed since he left home. It was a perfectly natural thing for people to do. However, as they crossed the crest of the foothill, Shin Mao said something that made him trip.

       “I never expected him to leave home when he did,” Shin Mao said,” I remember when I heard nearly spitting out my drink when I heard Mao Mao left to be an adventurer He never partook in family trainings or anything. I never would’ve thought he wanted to become a hero.”

       It reached a point where Jǐngti had to say something. “I think we might’ve gotten our wires crossed.”

       “What do you mean?”

       “I think we’re talking about two different people.      I’m    talking about Mao Mao. Short black cat, one arm, wears a stupid cape all the time.”

       “So am I -wait, stupid cape, what does that- you know, what? Never mind. We’re talking about the same Mao Mao, and you’re still leading me to his home, right?”

       Jǐngti didn’t know what would happen when Shin and Mao Mao finally met. Maybe they’d hug. Maybe they’d fight. Regardless, he knew it would be a shitshow.

 * * *

       They crossed the crest of the hill and home was right in front of him. The sky was gray and clouding over. He could smell the rain on his nose and feel the lightning in his fur. He’d have to find someplace to stay after this was over He stood back and watched Shin Mao clomp up to the building in that heavy metal suit. He stopped just short of the porch before turning around.

       “I can’t do this,” he said.

       “What?” Jǐngti protested,” Why not? You’re already here, so just go ahead and knock.”

       “I can’t do that.”

       “Yeah you can. Just make a fist, and punch the door.”

       “You know damn well that’s not what I meant.”

       “Then what did you mean?”

       Shin welled up, bringing up his shoulders and his chest, like he was going to shout something. Instead, the tension left him like someone had pulled the plug. H breathed out a heavy sigh and sat on the steps to his son’s home.

       “It isn’t that simple,” he said.

       “Why isn’t it?”

       Shin was about to say something, but a pained sigh came out, instead of words. “It’s… we… aren’t exactly on the best terms. It's like every time we meet it just devolves into arguing.”

       Jǐngti crossed his arms. “Why?”

       “I don’t know!” Shin’s voice carried over the rolling hills. An echo that fell into the silence. He crumpled back down, holding his face in his hands. “I just don’t know. Things just go to shit every single time.”

       “He doesn’t even want me to visit him in the hospital. Did you know he even attacked me once?”

       “Did he ever tell you why he did that?”

       “He said it was something like, not paying attention to him. That I knew nothing about my own son, but-”

       “You don’t.”

       Shin turned to Jǐngti. “What are you-”

       “You don’t. You know nothing about him.”

       “Yes I do!”

       “You really don’t. The Mao Mao you described to me is nothing like the real one. Do you even know he’s missing an arm?”

       “Of course.”

       “Did you know that before or after you visited him the first time in his adult life?”

       Shin Mao went quiet at that. Jǐngti threw his hands up in the air and turned around. Things were beginning to sound familiar. Too familiar for Jǐngti’s taste. Like it was a giant fucking joke. Puzzle pieces fit together to from one grotesque family picture.

 He turned back around when he heard the door open. Not surprising considering they were yelling on the front porch. Badgerclops stood there. He had an uncharacteristic frown on his face that only deepened when saw Shin. Jǐngti thought he could hear someone ask,” what’s going on?” from inside but Badgeclops slammed the door shut behind him.

       “What the hell are you doing here,” he asked.

       “Me or him,” Jǐngti asked in return

       “Both of you.”

       “I don’t know about the gold motherfucker over there, but I was going to bring I’m to meet Mao Mao and enjoy the chaos, but goddamn even I’m above      this    .” Jǐngti turned around and started walking. “I wash my hands of this shit because I am fucking done.”

       “Hang on.” Badgerclops hurried from the porch to scoop Jǐngti into his arms.

       “Nope. Stop.” Jǐngti wiggled and wiggled but couldn’t break free.

       “Relax,” Badgerclps said,” I’m only holding onto you until your mom comes to pick you up. Besides, you’re way too young to be on your own.”

       “And you.” He turned to Shin,” you’re not welcome here. Leave before I arrest you for trespassing.” Badgerclops didn’t wait for Shin to say anything. He just slammed the door behind them.

       Inside was dark enough for Jǐngti to see without light blinding him. The TV  dimly glowed with some meaningless program. His father lied on the couch like an equally meaningless thing.

       “What was that,” he asked.

       “It was nothing,” Badgerclops said,” no one at all.”

[realfuurikuuri]

Chapters: 15/? Relationships: Mao Mao/Tanya Keys, Mao mao/badgerclops

MissingArm!AU: When escaping the cave, it wasn't his tail that got crushed. In exchange for his innocence, he gained a sordid past. The Pure Heart Valley seemed like a good place to escape. To start a new life with a new family to forge a new identity. However, when the past rears its ugly head Mao Mao's forced to step up or be put down.

AN:  I don't know what chapter I'll post next. I want to do another one of these, but I also need to write another chapter for my NSFW fanfic. On a personal note, I've started Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey. I've been trying to an Oni in the first dungeon, but Demon Negotiations are dumb and I hate them. Per the usual credits to Spookylovesboba and enjoy the chapter.

He and Jǐngtì stared at each other for a long moment. Mao Mao stood on the porch, his mouth gaping open like a fish, wondering if the world stopped spinning or was it just him. First, Jǐngtì raised his eyebrows in confusion, then he grit his teeth in anger. He didn’t hesitate to slam the door in his father’s face. Mao Mao was too stunned to stop it. It probably would have slammed if Badgerclops didn’t catch it.

“Don’t do that. The hinges don’t fit- oh,” his words dropped off when he noticed Mao Mao. “Hey, can you stir the pot, so the food doesn’t burn?”

Jǐngtì looked up to Badgerclops then to Mao Mao before turning around with a sneer. Mao Mao watched him disappear into the kitchen. What was he doing here? Jǐngtì held too much spite to make an innocent visit. Another thing Jǐngtì got from his father.

“Mao Mao.”

“Huh?”

“Are you going to come inside,” Badgerclops asked.

“Yeah, sure.”

Mao Mao took the first step. His paw hit the ground, but it didn’t hold any weight. He would’ve smashed his nose against the ground if Badgerclops hadn’t caught him. Even then, it was still a second before Mao Mao realized he wasn’t standing upright.

“You good?”

“Yeah, I’m just… sinkhole stuff, you know?”

“No.”

“Oh. I guess you had to be there to get it.”

“Are you okay?”

“No, but I’m fine.”

Badgerclops gave an unconvinced nod as he followed Mao Mao inside. Mao Mao immediately went about making sure everything was okay. There wasn’t a net hidden in the rafters, no pressure plate waiting on the floor, no tripwires tied to the walls. Just the smell of spices wafting from the kitchen. Was that a ploy to cover up the smell of something else? He slowly peeked over the couch to find Adorabat watching cartoons. The cartoon wasn’t even something odd, it was just normal. As normal as a talking crab running on a treadmill could be.

“Hey Mao Mao,” she said,” what are you doing?”

“Oh, just, making sure everything’s fine.”

“Everything’s not fine.”

Mao Mao leaped over the couch. “What’s wrong?”

“The remote’s batteries are dead.”

Mao Mao sighed and moved his hand away from Geraldine. “Hey, Badgerclops, you got any spare batteries?”

“Hold on. They're around here somewhere.”

Badgerclops went away to sift through the new shelf he made, leaving Mao Mao and Adorabat at the couch. Mao Mao knew she could get pretty engrossed in cartoons, but Adorabat had been unusually quiet. She was looking at the TV, but she fidgeted and he could hear mumbles slip out.

“Are you okay,” he asked.

“Oh, it's just… I mean he’s here… you can get kinda…”

Mao Mao was about to tell her to use her words until he realized two things. One: she did use words, albeit poorly. Two: this wasn’t the time to be patronizing. She kicked her feet and twiddled her wings. What was bothering her? She said ‘he’s here’ so what did she mean? Badgerclops the only other guy here, and his relationship with Mao Mao was complicated, but fine. Unless she was referring to...

Mao Mao rolled his eyes at himself for not realizing it sooner. He sighed and sat down next to Adorabat, putting a reassuring arm over her shoulder. “I know that Jǐngtì and I fight sometimes, but things will be fine.”

“But-,” she started before Mao Mao stopped her.

He calmly held her wing. “Everything will be fine, trust me.”

Adorabat still seemed unsure, but it was enough to make her give Mao Mao a hug before she went back to cartoons. The gears in Mao Mao’s head were turning once again. The elusive answer was just inches away. Badgerclops and Adorabat listened to him because

“I found the batteries.”

Like that the answer was gone. And he’d been so close to it too!

 “Thank you, Badgerclops,” he said, taking the batteries, slapping them into the remote and handing it to Adorabat.

“You're welcome,” Badgerclops said.

Did he not get the sarcasm?

“Hey,” Jǐngtì called from the kitchen,” can I stop stirring this now?”

“Oh dear,” Badgerclops said as he headed into the kitchen with Mao Mao on his heels.

The kitchen looked a little different thanks to Badgerclops redecorating. A new utensil rack, new dishwasher, and a new stove that Jǐngtì was only able to reach thanks to Mao Mao’s step stool. He stirred the pot with a large wooden spoon. Mao Mao could tell from the tomato smell that they were having garden soup tonight.

“When do I stop stirring,” Jǐngtì asked.

“When it looks done,” Badgerclops answered.

“And when is that?”

Badgerclops stopped chopping vegetables and went over to him. “You never learned how to cook?”

“Prison, remember. Food was given, not made.”

Badgerclops eyebrows creased uncomfortably, but Jǐngtì didn’t notice. He kept speaking with casual indifference.

“They’d always just put a bowl of something. Once a day, every day.”

“They only fed you once a day?”

“Yeah. I still eat once a day, still.  Eating three meals a day seems kind of excessive  to me, I mean-”

He finally stopped when Badgerclops put a hand on his shoulder. He looked up at Badgerclops, unable to see a problem.

“You can stop stirring it's done now,” Badgerclops sighed.

“I’ll get the bowls then.”

* * *

Despite Badgerclops’ expectations, it wasn’t a quiet dinner. The soup was a little thin, but it was good. It was late so there was an entire day to talk about. Everyone spoke their fair share. Although, there was one issue: Jǐngtì refused to talk to his father. No matter how enthusiastic Jǐngtì was in the conversation, no matter how much Jǐngtì twiddled his thumbs, he would never speak to Mao Mao. He’d direct no comments or answer any questions.

By the time everyone had finished their food he still had yet to say a word.

“So Orangusnake is two people,” Badgerclops asked.

Mao Mao nodded.

“And they’re dating?”

Mao Mao nodded again.

“Were they were fused in, like, some sort of freak accident.”

“Nope. Coby just sits on Tanner’s shoulders.”

Badgerclops leaned back in his chair, processing the information before he let out a bemused “huh”.  “Did you know Orangusnake was two people?”

Jǐngtì made a so-so gesture. “I guessed, but I wasn’t sure. I do my best to ignore them all when I’m in the junkyard. I still can’t tell you the giraffe’s name. “

“It’s Ramaraffe,” Adorabat yawned.

Mao Mao scratched her behind the ears before picking her up. “That’s enough. Time to go to bed for you.”

Mao Mao headed off with Adorbat in his arm, leaving Jǐngtì and Badgerclops alone. Jǐngtì usual expression softened when his father left. The straight line that was a blend of contempt and apathy fell apart to something softer. There Beeps! and Boops! as Jǐngtì started to play on with the Ducky-Gatchi.

“You really like that don’t you,” Badgerclops said.

“Eh, it's alright. It gives me something to do. Would be better if I didn’t have to pick up from someone else’s save.”

“That’s Mao Mao’s. He spent all morning playing on it.”

“I thought this was Adorabat’s.”

“It is, but Mao Mao got into it. Did you know he’s a fan of Lucky Ducky? He actually bought the Ducky-Gatchi that's boxed over there.”

“I was wondering what that was for.”

“Your father’s a really big fan. He spent a grand to get the thing.”

Jǐngtì grimaced. “He’ll spend 1K for that, and nothing for me,” he mumbled.

Badgerclops kicked himself for being too careless. Things fell into an awkward silence. The only sound other than the Ducky-Gatchi was Badgerclops drumming his fingers on the table.The awkwardness wouldn’t go away until they loosened up and Badgerclops had just the thing in mind. He got up from his chair and went into the kitchen. He searched through the fridge until he found the 6-pack of beers. Badgerclops pulled out on for himself, one for Jǐngtì, he hesitated, but figured it’d be okay, and pulled one for Mao Mao.

He went back to the table to find that Mao Mao was back. Jǐngtì scowled at his father, who stood over his chair unsure. “How’s Adorabat,” Badgerclops asked.

“Hm, oh she’s asleep,” he said.

“Good. Here.”

Badgerclops placed the can of beer in front of Mao Mao and slid the other can to Jǐngtì. Badgerclops had turned his hand into a can opener and was about to drink when he noticed Mao Mao and Jǐngtì raising their eyebrows at him.

“What?”

“Did you just give me beer,” Jǐngtì asked.

“Yeah?”

“You know I’m underage, right?”

“Nah, the drinking age in the Valley is 18.”

“Do- do you know how old I am?”

“Like 18, right?” Badgerclops said.

“Mao Mao was 18 when I was born. He’s 31 now. How old am I?”

Badgerclops knew the answer immediately. It was simple subtraction, yet he still set the beer down to count on his fingers. He did the math once, and then did it again. He pulled up the calculator app and did the math there. HE got the right answer, but it couldn’t be right.

“There’s no way you’re 13.”

“But I am.”

“But you’re voice is deep and you’re almost as tall as Mao Mao.”

“I’m just tall I guess, and my voice is… another thing.”

“Is he 13,” Badgerclops asked Mao Mao.

Mao Mao slowly nodded.

“Holy-fucking-shit,  you’re 13,” he said quietly, stumbling from the realization.

The pieces of the puzzle fit together to form a horrifying picture. Everything made sense. Why Tanya was so mad. Why Mao Mao never talked about it. Why Jǐngtì was so aloof. He was a kid. He still is a kid! He was an emotionally stunted kid! Ths shock gave way to something much worse with the next realization. He and Tanya split up after Jǐngtì went to jail. That was 5 years ago.  Mao Mao abandoned his 8-year-old kid.  No wonder Tanya despised Mao Mao, Badgerclops was beginning to despise him too.

“Are you okay,” Mao Mao asked.

Badgerclops felt the inclination to turn it back to him and ask Are you okay! but set it aside. He couldn’t set it aside completely. He must have been wearing his anger on his face. Mao Mao stared at the ground unable to look Badgerclops in the eye. It was very convenient that the phone began to ring. Badgerclops had nothing to say to that man.

* * *

Despite what you may expect Mao Mao believed in a God. There had to be some sort of higher power in control of everything. How else could happiness be snatched away from his so quickly?  Mao Mao was sure that there was a higher power; He was even more sure that it hated him.  Mao Mao slowly walked into the office. The ringing grew thunderously loud as he approached. Mao Mao knew it was all in his head. He just didn’t want to answer it. Why would he? There isn’t a single person in this world who wants to talk to him. No family, no friends. If he had either of those things anymore.

Mao Mao shook his head. He was stalling. The phone had already rung four times. It’d only be three, maybe four more, until it went voicemail. He wouldn’t have to do anything. Just stand here. Against his better judgment, he picked it up anyway.

“Hello,” he asked.

“Mao Mao?”

It was Tanya.

Oh shit. He felt woozy and queasy. Was he having another stroke? He firmly planted his feet, but the ground didn’t come rushing at him. God couldn’t even give him a stroke when he needed one.

“Mao Mao,” she asked again.

“Yeah, how was-”

“I can’t find Jǐngtì.”

“You can’t find-?”

“I’ve looked everywhere. He’s not at any of old hideouts putland didn’t capture him, I can’t find-”

“I know where he is.”

There was a pause. He could hear Bao Bao bark on the other end. He couldn’t even muster the energy to be mad.

“Where is he?”

“Here’s here.”

“He ‘s still in the valley?”

“No, I mean he’s literally in the other room.”

There was another pause.

“Put him on the phone,” she said

Mao Mao wanted to say he was fine or something like that, but he couldn’t find the words to argue. No point in telling a transparent lie. “Hold on.”

Mao Mao set the phone on the desk. He took a shaky breath. What was his problem? It's just a mother wanting to talk to her son. So why was he so terrified? He trudged his way to the kitchen. Jǐngtì and Badgerclops were still sitting there, but it was obvious neither had said a word. Badgerclops spared him a glance; Jǐngtì didn’t even do that.

“Your mother’s on the phone,” he said.

That got Jǐngtì’s head to turn. “What,” he asked.

“Your mother’s on the phone,” he repeated.

Jǐngtì kept staring at him. He seemed stuck.

“You should talk to her,” Badgerclops chimed in.

Jǐngtì considered this before getting out of his chair. He didn’t say anything. He just followed Mao Mao to the office. He picked up the phone, but his eyes lingered on him.

Mao Mao left at his silent behest. He sat just outside the door with his back to the wall. The torrent of emotions raged inside him. He could feel overwhelming sadness, chilling fear, burning anger, and deepest regret.

“Hi mom,” Jǐngtì croaked.

It felt like all the wind had been knocked out of him. No matter how much he strained his ears he could only make out bits and pieces of what Jǐngtì said, let alone anything on the other line. He could make out a few things like “Yeah”, “Okay” and - ”fine”. What Mao Mao wouldn’t give to hear the rest.

Mao Mao was so lost in thought he didn’t know Jǐngtì was done until he was walking past him. Mao Mao jumped to his feet. Jǐngtì’s eyes looked red and puffy. He didn't even have the usual look on his face. Instead, it was something sullen and dejected.

Mao Mao knew he should have said something, but he second-guessed. He’d just make things worse like always.

Jǐngtì walked right back into the kitchen with Mao Mao on his heels.

Bagderclops from his beer. “What’d she say?”

“She said she’s picking me up next week.”

“Oh.. you can stay here for the time being.”

Jǐngtì shook his head. “I’ll… figure something out.”

Badgerclops got out of his chair. “Are you sure? Do you have a place to stay? Food to eat?”

“Why are you suddenly treating me like a child?”

“You are a child.”

Mao Mao stood off to the side, watching Badgerclops parent his kid. What was he supposed to do? The only thing he was good at was fighting monsters, and he wasn’t even particularly good at that. He needed something to do but had nothing to do, so instinct took over. He grabbed Geraldine and headed to the dojo for mindless training when he realized he didn’t even want to do that. He found himself heading to the door.

“Where are you going,” Badgerclops asked.

Mao Mao paused, deciding honesty was the best policy. “...I don’t know,” he said, closing the door behind him.

[realfuurikuuri]

Chapters: 12/? Fandom: Mao Mao: Heroes of Pure Heart (Cartoon) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: Mao Mao/Tanya Keys, Mao mao/badgerclops

MissingArm!AU: When escaping the cave, it wasn't his tail that got crushed. In exchange for his innocence, he gained a sordid past. The Pure Heart Valley seemed like a good place to escape. To start a new life with a new family to forge a new identity. However, when the past rears its ugly head Mao Mao's forced to step up or be put down.

AN:  We're back after a brief interlude, but here is the next chapter. The biggest deliberation writing this one was the ending. I was wondering if I should make it a new chapter, instead, I decided to include it in this one. Enjoy. The song of the day is RUn the Jewels #4. RTJ is a rap duo that released the new album for free on their website. Give it a download. Not that it has anything to do with the chapter I just love it. As always credits to @Spookylovesboba and enjoy the chapter.

Direct Link to chapter 13: XXXXX

Mao Mao sat on the couch. He had a book in his hands, but his eyes glazed over the words. Occasionally, he stole glances at the door, realized his mistake, and went back to the book he wasn’t reading. He considered looking up from the book, maybe time would go faster if he watched cartoons with Adorabat. He quickly realized that watching What’s New Lucky Ducky would only make him more impatient. Maybe he should try seeing what Badgerclops was up to? Granted, if it was anything technical, which it always was, he wouldn’t be able to help.

Ding-Dong!

Mao Mao looked to the monster alarm before remembering that Badgerclops installed a doorbell. He leaped to his feet and swung open the door, swiftly swiping the package from Mail-Mole’s hands. He set it down on the table and unsheathed a single claw.

“Hey, Mao Mao.”

He swung around to find Adorbat standing behind him.

“What’s in the package,” she asked, flying up to his shoulder.

“Oh. Its-,” Mao Mao hesitated, he was about to say nothing off of pure reflex, but he looked down at the package. He wasn’t at home anymore, he wasn’t bound by family either. There was no reason to hide it.

“It’s a… how to say this… a Rubber Ducky toy.”

“A toy! I wanna see! I wanna see!”

Mao Mao quickly snatched the contents from the box, holding it high in the air out of Adorabat’s reach.

“This isn’t just a toy. It was expensive. Be careful with it, okay?”  

“Fine,” she groaned.

Inside the package was another package. A box that was one of those hard, plastic clamshell things with a small egg-shaped thing sealed inside. He brought it down to Adorabat’s eye level as she began to read it over.

“Virtual Pet? Hey, I have one of these.”

“No, no, no. You may have one of the gatchis, maybe a rerelease, but this is different. Check this out,” Mao Mao pointed to a small worn sticker on the back. “See 1988. A sealed, first-generation, blue egg Ducky-Gatchi.”

“Wow. 1988… that’s almost as old as you,” she said.

“Yeah- wait, how old do you think I am?”

His question never got answered as their attention was pulled away by Badgerclops. “Hey, Mao, someone used one of your pointy things as a screwdriver and broke it,” he called out as he came up the stairs.

“You did what!”

Mao Mao inhaled sharply. He’d learned his lesson after yesterday’s stroke, besides he didn’t have health insurance.

“Watcha’ got there?”  Badgerclops leaned in for a closer look.”You buy Adorabat a new toy?”

“No, I didn’t buy it for Adorabat,” Mao Mao said in a small voice,” I bought it for myself.”

“Aren’t you a little too old to be playing with toys?”

“What? Are you crazy? I’m not playing with this! I spent $1000 on this!”

Oops.

Badgerclops slowly turned to Mao Mao. “Does this have anything to do with your Lucky Ducky obsession?”

“What? I don’t have a- haha, is it getting hot in here? I’m going to step out to get some air.”

Mao Mao was almost out the door when Badgerclops’ robotic arm grabbed him by the cape and pulled him back to the table.  “Why did you spend $1000 on a Ducky-Gatchi?”

“It’s not just a Ducky-Gatchi. It's from the first run of the product. The Ducky-Gatchis were released in eight colors with eight shapes. There’s supposed to be roughly a 6435 chance of any specific combination, but a manufacturer’s error made blue eggs even rarer than that. This blue egg gatchi is still sealed in the plastic, and it's been taken care of really well. The clamshell packaging hasn’t even started to yellow.”

Badgerclops frowned and crossed his arms. He held it for a few seconds before relenting with a heavy sigh. “Fine,” he groaned,” just don’t spend so much money on this stuff.”

“Hot dog! I knew you’d come around,” Mao Mao slapped Badgerclops on the back before going back to the Ducky-Gatchi,” still have to find a place to display this, though.”

“Hey Adorabat. Don't you--,” Mao Mao looked around to find Adorabat nowhere in sight.

“Where’d she go?”

“I don’t know She was here a moment ago,” Badgerclops.

“Hey, Mao Mao,” her voice called from the other room,” I told you I had one.”

* * *

Badgerclops watched Mao Mao head off into the bedroom. He picked up the Ducky-Gatchi he left on the table. This thing was definitely not worth $1000. He would have been madder if Mao Mao hadn’t looked so happy. The smile was different from the normal ones; it didn’t have any boastful pride, reckless ambition, or ego-saving denial. Badgerclops had traveled with Mao Mao for years yet this is the first time he’s seen a smile of indulgent joy. It was a good look on him and Badgerclops knew he ought to do what he can to make it more common. Although, Mao Mao could stand to learn some moderation.

He held the Duck-Gatchi up and did his best to see why he’d spend $1000 on it. Value is a subjective thing, so what value did this have to Mao Mao? It likely had something to do with his childhood (every odd thing about him did) so how did this relate back? Badgerclops first thought was Mao Mao’s father. He wasn’t like how Mao Mao described him. Badgerclops mind began to wander back to the night when Mao Mao had a stroke. And the night he met the root of Mao Mao’s problems.

* * *

Again, Badgerclops was spending the night in Camille’s tower. Again, he sat off to the side to watch Honey and Camille work. Again, he found himself powerless. The only thing different this time was that he did his best to ignore the infuriating metallic tap! tap! tap! from Mao Mao’s dad who crossed his arms and wouldn't stop tapping his finger. Badgerclops stole a glance  at him.

He could sort of see the resemblance between Mao Mao and his father. Shin had a more angled face and grayer fur, not to mention those golden eyes. First time he’s heard of a cat having eyes like that. There was little resemblance between him and his grandson. Granted, there wasn’t that much resemblance between Jǐngtì and his own father. The black and brown patterned fur, tufted arms, white stomach, and blue eyes were certainly from Jǐngtì’s mother. He only shared the round face and pointy ears with his father’s side. Shin was impressively tall. Neither Jǐngtì nor Mao Mao had that. Shin’s made Mao Mao look downright pathetic compared to him. Then again he would look pathetic compared to anyone when he was lying on a table.

Tap! Tap! Tap!

It’s a good thing that Adorabat wasn’t here, although he wasn’t sure if they’d make the play. Should he take her home after the play, or stop by with her in tow. Should he leave Mao Mao to attend the play alone and leave Mao Mao here, or should he wait here? It’d hurt to not have either of them show up for the play, but she would understand, right? Maybe he could

Tap! Tap! Tap!

Maybe he could talk to the teacher and pull Adorabat out of the play. This is an emergency.

Tap! Tap! Tap!

Could he not be so fucking annoying?  Badgerclops sighed, trying to resume the line of thought, but found it fleeting. He was racking his brain until he was just trying to block Shin out, yet he kept tap! tap! tapping! away.

Eventually, it was too much. Badgerclops turned to Shin,” could you possibly be quiet for one second,” he snapped.

Shin seemed almost confused for a second, then he seemed indignant. “Excuse me for being worried about my son,” he shot back.

“For the first time,” Badgerclops mumbled.

“What was that, boy? I can’t hear you from down there.”

“I said that its a funny time to suddenly start caring about him!”

Shin stumbled back like he’d been hit in the chest. “That’s… that’s preposterous. Where would you even get that idea?” His words were shaky, lacking that artificial confident inflection that his son copied.

“I don’t know, maybe I’ve actually paid attention to anything he says for more than five minutes?”

"You're talking like you my son better than I do."

Before they could get any louder, they were interrupted by a loud “ahem” that turned their heads. Honey was pointing at the door with that placid look on her face; The mute’s message was heard loud in clear. Shin held the door open for Badgerclops as they took it into the hall outside. They didn’t start arguing again. The rising tension gave way to a sickening sense of shame. They both retreated to their own corners, to their own minds.

“What do you know about us,” Shin mumbled under his breath.

“Enough,” Badgerclops answered back.

Shin looked up, confused before he realized he was thinking out loud. He didn’t say anything back, instead, he dismissed Badgerclops with a grumble.

“Why did you do that?”

“Do what?”

“You saw him back there? Why’d you attack your son?”

“What are you talking about? I never attacked him. He attacked me!”

“How do you explain the broken bones, the bleeding, the bruising, the three-inch hole in his side?”

Shin didn’t snap back. His face went pale and it looked like he was about to vomit. “I.. have done no such thing.”

“Then who did? You were the only person at the house after that.”

“I don’t know. That’s not what happened?”

“Then what did happen?”

Shin reared up like he was going to say something back before his shoulders slumped as his gaze went to the floor. “I.. my wife said that I should visit, so I did. When I did show up Mao Mao was bleeding all over the place. I didn’t know what happened. He.. had some glass in his side. I got it out and then… I don’t know.”

“What happened?”

“We… got into an argument. A bad one. He chased me around the house, told me I was a grandfather, and then told me he didn’t want to see me again.”

“Is that it?”

“Yes! That’s what happened! I learned that my own son hates me more than anything in the world. There! Are you happy?”

Badgerclops examine Shin. His flicked back ears, averted gaze, thee closed hands, and receding posture.  It didn’t seem like he was lying. Which begs the question, what happened next? The timeline he had down states that he met Jǐngtì , which is where the glass came from. After that, he met Shin, who removed the glass, so how did he get the 3-inch hole in his side? Who else could have possibly visited?

“I think I should be going.”

“I don't think I’m the first thing my son wants to see when he wakes up,” Shin justified. It was aimed at Badgerclops but he could tell Shin was talking to himself.

Badgerclops was felt the urge to stop him. Not because he thought Shin was wrong, but because Shin was the only lead he had. He looked to Shin’s hands. They found the missing finger, so Shin was certainly there, but those claw marks didn’t fit those. They didn’t fit Mao Mao or Jǐngtì’s, so those claw marks belonged to someone else?

He had to rule out Shin, so Badgerclops let him go, watching him trudge down the hall.

Ironic, he thought becoming working in the Pure Heart valley would be tedious work, but here he is doing it of his own violation. Maybe Mao Mao would remember something when he woke up. He had to find out who. Who did this?

Badgerclops set the question aside, returning to the present. He’s dwelled on that question for hours already, and he’d dwell on it some more but right now he set the box back on the table. He titled his head to the other room to get a better look. Mao Mao and Adorabat have been in there a while. Long enough for him to dwell at least.

* * *

“Mao Mao,” he heard Badgerclops call out.

“Yeah,” he answered back, not taking his eyes off the screen.

He had a well-worn ducky-gatchi in his hands. The plastic had begun to chip, there was a scratch on the screen, and the sound chip or speakers must’ve broken cause it made no sound. Adorabat quietly watched Mao Mao over his shoulder. Mao Mao could hear Badgerclops’ heavy footsteps as he approached.

“What’re you doing,” he asked.

Mao Mao shook the ducky-gatchi in his hands. “She actually had one. Though it's out of package and heavily used so it’d be $300 at most.”

“I’d hate to interrupt you having fun, but we gotta make lunch.”

Mao Mao was going to disagree. It should be noon maybe a little after, but the pit in his stomach said otherwise. He might've played this longer than he thought. He passed it to Adorabat to follow Badgerclops to the Kitchen.

“What are we making,” he asked.

“Actually, I wanted to ask you something.”

Mao Mao paused. “What’s up,” he asked.

“Relax,” Badgerclops said,” you’re not in trouble or anything. I just want to make sure everything’s okay.”

“Why would anything not be okay,” he deflected.

"I just want to know why you bought the ducky-gatchi."

"Oh, that was just... something I've always wanted, but never actually got."

"Does it have to with your dad?"

"Yeah," he sighed," papa -er, Shin- never really approved of my... Lucky Ducky thing, so now I'm not involved with him anymore I thought-"

Badgerclops placed a hand on his shoulder," don't worry I'm not mad at you. Just try to be more careful with money."

Ring! Ring! Ring! The monster alarm blared on the wall.

“Yeah, thanks” Mao Mao,” Adorabat c’mon we got work to do.”

* * *

Mao Mao rode into the Valley Plaza only to be stricken with a bit of disappointment when he saw what it was. “You know you shoulda installed a second alarm during renovations.”

“Do we really need one though?”

“Well, one of us could be halfway done making lunch instead of dealing with this mess.”

Mao Mao pointed his thumb at the huddled, shouting mass of limbs that were the Sky Pirates' regular arguments. It got to the point they were actually kicking up a cloud of dust like this was a cartoon. Although… someone was missing.

He patted Badgerclops’ shoulder. “Hey, have you seen-”

“2nd store window. Three houses left.”

Mao Mao followed the instructions to find his son, lounging on windowsill, looking down on everything dispassionately. Almost everything. When he caught his eye he turned away. To think today started so well.

“That’s enough!”

Mao Mao turned to Orangusnake right in time to keep himself from being cleaved in two. He caught the strike with Geraldine locking blades for a second as the fight began, but something was different this time. Orangusnake’s blows were quicker, heavier. Each hit shook his sword like a bell. What was wrong? What was different?

Mao Mao blocked a strike that sent him crashing through police barriers. When did he set these up? He didn’t have time to think about it. Orangusnake was silhouetted in the sun with a war-ax brandished. Mao Mao stepped back to get out the way but stumbled. His foot was caught in something. A hole? What was a- oh no.

Clang!

Mao Mao had blocked the strike perfectly yet it sent tremors down his body and forced a web of cracks to snake across the ground. The police barriers were there for a reason. A reason he needed to address before someone got caught in it. The ground shook and shuddered as it began to give way, plunging Mao Mao and Orangusnake into the dark depths of the sinkhole.