Catboy Unleashed

“WA-HOO!” Riley whooped as he launched off the building, wind blasting past his ears, buzzing like a hive. He tucked his knees, tail flicking to stabilize, and-

THUD!

He cratered onto the getaway van’s roof, knees bending with the impact. His tail swished behind him like a metronome, balancing him perfectly.

“Cats always land on their feet!” he grinned, triumphant...

Until a rifle poked out the driver’s window.

“Aw, crap.”

Riley reflexively backflipped just as the gunner squeezed the trigger, the magazine rattling empty into the night. Bullets whizzed by as Riley landed back on the van soft, perched, eyes narrowed.

“Nine lives.” He quipped, before extending his hands, razor-claws shooting out of his glove with a SNKT! The rifle split in two, the thug screaming as Riley casually yanked him out of the van and tossed him to the curb.

Without missing a beat, Riley scuttled across the roof, claws screeching against the metal, then swung himself through the passenger side window like an Olympic gymnast. The poor driver barely had time to scream after Riley crashed through his window, landing on his lap and launching a brutal punch right to his nose, instantly knocking the goon out cold

“Nice!” Riley cheered to himself. Victory dance pending.

Then he looked out the windshield.

The truck was barreling straight toward a building.

“SHIT! TURN TURN TURN!” he yanked at the wheel. “WHY THE HELL AREN’T YOU—” He glanced at the **** driver. “...Right. My bad.”

He peeled himself out of the guy’s lap, muttering, “Smooth, Ry. Real smooth.”

Thinking fast, he dove through the windshield, glass shattering around him. He tumbled, landed in a crouch, and spun to see the runaway van careening forward.

“MOVE MOVE MOVE!” he yelled, sprinting in front of it, hands flapping wildly like that’d help.

Then he heard it.

“CATBOY! MY BABY!”

Riley’s head whipped left- eyes locking on a stroller. Right in the truck’s path.

“...Oh, COME ON.”

With no time left, Riley spun around and sprinted right to raging truck. Just before it looked like they were going to collide, Riley dropped into a slide, his claws scraping sparks from the asphalt. He zipped under the truck like Jackie Robinson stealing home, claws shredded four tires in perfect sync.

The van buckled, collapsing with a banshee wail of twisting metal. Riley exploded out the far side, sprinted past, and vaulted clear over the wreckage, landing between the stroller and certain ****.

The ruined truck slammed into his arms, sparks lighting up his suit neon blue as he gritted his teeth, claws gouging deep cracks into the asphalt. His whole body screamed in protest.

He held.

Then- silence. The truck stilled.

Panting, Riley peeked at the stroller. The baby sat there giggling, clapping its tiny hands like this was the best show in town.

“Hey there, little guy.” Riley cooed, lifting him up carefully. “Mind not telling your mom I almost pancaked us both?”

“CATBOY! That’s my baby!” the mother shrieked, sprinting over, sobbing as she hugged her child—and Riley.

From the sidewalks, a voice cut through the shock:

“YEAH! CATBOY!”

The cheer snowballed into a chant, the whole street roaring his name. Riley, dazed and sore, spun in a slow circle, taking it in.

Sure, being Catboy meant busted ribs, sleepless nights, and constantly ticking off the cops.

But standing there, tail twitching as the city chanted his name... that's what made it all worth it.

"I don't know how I could possibly thank you, Catboy!" The woman cried suddenly, insistently tugging at Riley's arm. Riley turned around to look into the incredibly beautiful woman's iridescent eyes, shining with potentially unshed tears.

"Not a problem, Ma'am. Just keep being wonderful!" Riley exclaimed, before cringing inwardly. Keep being wonderful?

"N-no, Mr. Catboy! I insist on thanking you!" The woman announced, though her tone was different. Rather than pleading, it was almost... hungry?

"Ma'am, I assure you that won't be..." The 'necessary' died down in Riley throat as he looked back down to the woman, who hand one hand splayed across Riley's chestplate, her eyes looking up into Riley's visor with a strange look and biting her lip.

"Whenever you're free... I'd love to repay you for you efforts! I live at-"

"CATBOY! GETON YOUR KNEES, HANDS UP!"