Straight Cougar
From Asaction
| Age | 29 |
|---|---|
| Physical Characteristics | Tall, lanky; orange hair with white stripes |
| Occupation | Former HOLY member; currently in an unspecified position within the military |
| Powers and Abilities | Alter power - Radical Good Speed |
| Family Members | None known |
| Significant Friends | Landon Blaken; Eric Ominae; Hikki Follet; Lucille "Cille" Compton; Scheris; Urizane; Elian |
| Show of Origin | s-CRY-ed |
| VA | Crispin Freeman |
| Theme Song | For Cille and Cougar:
"Long Trip Alone" by Dierks Bentley |
| Affiliation | Formerly Actonia Military; The Blacken Syndicate |
Contents |
Bio
Cougar is an Alter user whose power, Radical Good Speed, makes him incredibly fast. He is a former member of the military's HOLY unit for Alter users, which he founded along with his military academy classmate Ryuho. Ozzal disbanded HOLY a year ago after she came to power and began eliminating potential threats to her rule. Cougar still works independently within the military, and since he doesn't report to any one department, he has a lot of freedom to pursue his own aims.
Cougar befriended Landon Blaken when they were both students at the military academy. When Landon was putting together the Syndicate, he got back in touch with Cougar and asked him to join. Cougar preferred to stay unaffiliated, since he was still with HOLY, but he offered his help if Landon should need it. Since then he has been providing intel to the Syndicate and assisting them more actively as he feels moved to do so.
When Landon left Cille and Raef to revamp the Syndicate, he asked Cougar to watch over Cille and give her any aid she might need. In the weeks following Raef's kidnapping, Cougar keeps Cille safe by leaving her notes that lead her away from danger and guide her to him and the Syndicate. After the mass Echelon arrests, Cougar blames himself for allowing Ryuho to capture Cille, and after she is murdered in prison he summons his great speed and turns back time to rescue her. Afterward as they both recover from their injuries, he trains Cille in basic combat and shooting in preparation for their return to the Syndicate. He realizes that there is little chance that he will be able to stay with the military after infiltrating Comdot to help Cille escape, and so he resolves to devote himself to the Syndicate (and to continuing to protect Cille).
Although he still regards Cille as Landon's fiancee, he can't help feeling drawn to her, especially after their escape from Comdot brings them closer together. His feelings for her mostly manifest themselves as a strong desire to protect her. When Landon's evilness is revealed and the Syndicate battles the Cool Mexicanos, Cougar fights to keep Cille from being harmed, and in the aftermath he comforts her as she tries to deal with her grief and conflicting emotions.
With Landon out of the way, Cougar no longer has to worry about Cille "belonging" to someone else, but he respects her need for emotional space and doesn't want to make any moves until he knows she would be receptive to them. Unfortunately, since she keeps her feelings entirely to herself, he can't be sure of where she stands or how she would react to an overture from him. During a close moment he finally works up the nerve to ask her if she is happy with him, and her response encourages him to (almost) admit how he feels about her. Fortunately she is brave enough to follow through with the kiss that he almost sort of initiates, and in the giddy aftermath they are able to finally tell each other everything they've been thinking and feeling for each other during their time together.
During the war he joins in the ground combat and also provides ground support to command central, which is headed by Cille. He notices the toll that her position is taking on her and encourages her to take it easy, but she resists his suggestions and feels that she needs to remain at her post as much as possible. During the retreat he remains outside with the enemy troops so that his teammates can make it inside safely, and only at the last minute zips through the closing door. Once the battle is ultimately over, Cougar comforts Cille as she finally breaks down.
Chapter Guide
Cougar leaves Cille a note in a bouquet of tiger lilies, and then stands her up while her apartment is trashed. After she strikes out on her own, he leaves her another note that leads her to him. After a lively car ride and a confrontation in which they test each other's loyalties, Cougar brings Cille to a Syndicate meeting and introduces her to the group. At the end of the meeting he reveals Ozzal's plan for handing Actonia over to Comedia as part of her diabolical world-domination scheme.
Cougar is confronted by his old comrade Ryuho, who thrashes him and arrests Cille.
Cougar, full of grief and remorse over his inability to protect Cille's life, uses his tremendous speed to literally "shorten the world" and turn back time so that he can come to her aid. The two of them manage to fight off Spice, and escape with the help of some of Cougar's former HOLY comrades. The experience brings the two of them closer together, but Cougar can't help but wonder if what he is beginning to feel for Cille is a betrayal of his old friend Landon.
Cougar comforts Cille, who is upset by the news story of her death.
Cougar trains Cille in shooting and hand-to-hand combat. He also tells her about his history with Landon and what happened to HOLY.
Cougar gets a message from Hikki informing him of the imminent Syndicate meeting to question Landon, and he brings Cille along to reunite with the group. He is furious when he learns of Landon's betrayal, and fights him and Greed when they go after Cille. After Landon is mortally wounded, he once again asks Cougar to promise to protect Cille and to let her go on thinking that he's a bastard, suggesting that she will be happier if she forgets him. Cougar agrees. After the Syndicate's escape Cille tends to Cougar's wounds, and he offers her whatever emotional support she may need.
Cougar attends the funeral of Landon Blaken and the other deceased Syndicate members.
Chapter 35: Say What You Need to Say
Cougar is still worried about Cille, who has cut herself off from him and the rest of her friends in an attempt to hide her perceived weakness. Finally she begins to reach out to him for support. The two of them join their comrades fixing up the new Syndicate bunker. Cougar prepares a room for Cille and surprises her with some of her things from her old apartment, which he has retrieved after they were taken by the government. He accepts her invitation to stay with her for the night, feeling that being with her is worth the discomfort of sleeping in a blanket on the floor.
Cougar invites Cille to join him for a walk through the woods after she has been cooped up studying all morning. They catch up on their recent activities, and Cougar tells Cille what he has learned from Sadar about one of Cille's old friends. A quiet moment in a snowy clearing leads him to try to bring up the subject of their potential feelings for each other, and he is overjoyed when she responds in kind and they share both their first kiss and the thoughts that have been on their minds and hearts.
Cougar joins his Syndicate comrades in planning and then carrying out their confrontation with Ozzal's army. He is wounded on the battlefield, but Kaia heals him, and he tries to help her cope with Sadar's death after the priest comes to their aid.
Cougar participates in the meeting after the first day of battle.
Cougar brings his old HOLY comrades to the base to help with the war effort and encourages Cille, who will be working with Elian in command central. Later he searches for the missing Hikki and identifies Dr. Kenzou Tenma, who has brought Hikki in.
Cougar has informed Scheris about the death of their friend Urizane.
Cougar wakes up Cille, inadvertently triggering a panic attack with his rapid-fire door-knocking, and then tries to help her feel better. Unfortunately she gets kind of crabby when she finds out that battle has already started and nobody told her, so he has to convince her that she needs to rest to do her job well. Their quiet time is interrupted by the news that a new mech has become operational. Cougar works with Cille and Eric to develop a plan to use the mech to combat the army's tanks and surveillance vehicles. Cougar, acting as Cille's messenger boy to allow Elian to rest, gives Clarice the news that Samson has woken up. During the retreat, Cougar is part of the rear flanks protecting the rest of the troops until they can get into the bunker. Greatly outnumbered by the enemy soldiers, Cougar is the last one to stay outside, using Radical Good Speed Wheels Unlimited to keep the army soldiers at bay until the others are safe. He waits until the last moment to speed inside, causing distress to Cille until she sees that he's okay. Later, while Hikki gives his inspirational speech over the loudspeakers, Cougar comforts Cille as she cries.
Theme Song Lyrics
A song for Cougar and Cille. Awwwww.
"Long Trip Alone" by Dierks Bentley
It's a long trip alone
Over sand and stones
That lie along the road
That we all must travel down
So maybe you could walk with me a while
And maybe I could rest beneath your smile
Everybody stumbles sometimes and needs a hand to hold
'Cause it's a long trip alone
It's a short piece of time
But just enough to find
A little peace of mind
Under the sun somewhere
So maybe you could walk with me a while
And maybe I could rest beneath your smile
You know we can't afford to let one moment pass us by
'Cause it's a short piece of time
And I don't know where I'd be without you here
'Cause I'm not really me without you there
So maybe you could walk with me a while
Maybe I could rest beneath your smile
Everybody stumbles sometimes and needs a hand to hold
So maybe you could walk with me a while
Maybe I could rest beneath your smile
Maybe I could feel you right beside me 'til I'm home
'Cause it's a long trip alone
Pictures
Cille and Straight Cougar (by Kohikki)
Cille being weirded out by Cougar (by Kohikki)
Cougar and Cille in costume (by Kohikki)
