The white-haired Ghoul smiled cheerily as his customer exited the boutique, calling out a 'Have a Nice Day,' as they left. His English had greatly improved ever since moving to the States, though he still had a slight accent. Nevertheless, he had made great progress in his speech much to the enjoyment of his companions. Today, they had a small party planned to celebrate Kaneki's official One Year Anniversary of moving away from Japan. His smile only increased as his co-worker strolled through the door and announced that his shift was over, and she was taken quite by surprise when the usually stoic teen darted past her, almost knocking her over in the process. Outside the little flower shop, a small, bashed up, vintage BMW was parked directly beside the exit to the Hybrid's workplace. Two familiar faces were beaming at him from inside the vehicle, cheering for him to join them. Laughing for the first time in a long time, he opened the back seat door and climbed inside, Davies shuffling over so as to allow him entry.

"Well I wasn't expecting this. I thought I'd meet up with you at the house." Remarked the albino in amusement as he looked over at the two. In the Drivers seat up front, Hari's laughter increased and the ghoul caught the scent of salty tears leaking from his eyes. Beside him, Davies grinned even wider. The burly man was rather cramped in the back of Hari's tiny, trashed BMW, and ducked his head just to fit. After all, he did reach an impressive Seven feet Two inches in height. Running a rough, calloused hand through his scruffy, curly brown hair, he too finally gave in and joined the younger of the Ghoul's companions in laughter.

"D-Davies over there i-insisted, h-he wouldn't give me the key unless-s I came to p-pick you up," Hari wheezed through his laughter, tears of amusement freely running down his cheeks as he tried his best to calm himself. His dark blonde, almost tawny hair shook as he did, and he gazed into the mirror to meet eyes with the half-ghoul. His dark blue eyes shone with mirth at the ghoul's barely concealed confusion and amusement at all that was happening.

"That reminds me, why do you have a key to my apartment?" And immediately the bellowing laughter returned, Davies' being quieter than before, clearly sheepish. A sure sign of guilt. Silver eyes met with embarrassed green, and the elder turned away in slight shame.

"I had a copy made so I could work on your home while you were at work... Also, the coffee is greatly appreciated." He excused himself, quietening as Kaneki's furious gaze was turned to him at the mention of his favourite treat. Coffee. But before he could protest, Hari cut him off.

"Now now children, let's not fight!" -Hari

"I'm a decade older than you, kid!" -Davies

"I'm two years older than you too, Hari." -Kaneki

The youngest's laughter echoed throughout the vehicle again, and finally they came to a stop in front of Kaneki's house. The weary grey brick walls welcomed them as the trio abandoned the vehicle. Inside, the elevator was broken, yellow warning tape creating a barrier around the doors. Beginning the long, hazardous trek up to floor five, the blonde's cheers finally quietened and were replaced with over-dramatic sighs and wails of frustration and fatigue. Kaneki of course, was unphased, and did his best to warn them when a stair was about to snap. Davies was also used to the trip, though he was clearly frustrated by the condition the building was in.

They finally reached their room, 5E. It wasn't much, but it was probably in the best condition of anything in the whole block. The highlight to the entire area was probably the living room, which had an impressive view of the Stark Tower.

"Aaaand now! The moment we've all been waiting for!" Called Davies in excitement as he pulled out an expensive bottle of wine from his bag. "The drinks!"

"Dude. We're underage." Sighed Hari in disappointment. His blonde bangs covering his face as his joy seeped away.

"So? Just stay here for the night with 'neki here." The elder smirked, popping the cork from the beautiful green bottle. "You know you want it~"

Kaneki simply sighed in amusement. In Japan, the legal drinking age was twenty. He was nineteen, and had been eighteen when he first left Japan. That meant he'd never been legally allowed to have alcoholic beverages, then again he'd never legally been allowed to join Aorgiri Tree and kill humans and ghouls alike. Lets just say he knew how to hold his liquor.*

Sighing in dismissal, the scruffy blonde reached towards the bottle and sniffed the alcohol inside. Wincing away from the smell, he turned to see Davies' excited eyes staring him down, and Kaneki pretending he didn't even exist as he read one of his novels. Shooting Kaneki an annoyed look (Hari had been planning to use the albino as an excuse not to drink), he cautiously raised the bottle to his lips and took a sip. Immediately his eyes bulged, his pupils narrowed and his body trembled in complete and utter repulsion of the taste. Gagging into his hand, Hari sent a furious look towards Davies who was bellowing at his apparent suffering. It was almost unnoticeable, but even Kaneki was laughing at the blonde's over-the-top reaction, his shoulders shaking slightly and giving him away.

Throughout the night, Davies proceeded to get wasted, Hari took it upon himself to nearly burn the house down in a poor attempt of cooking, and Kaneki did his best to ignore the both of them; rising only to put out the fast-spreading flames.

Finally, at 1:57am, the energy of the blonde and raven finally caved in- as did their legs. Hari asleep before he hit the ground and Davies too tired to realise he had fallen.

Chuckling quietly to himself, secretly relieved the two had finally passed out, Kaneki put down his book and looked over at the two. Eventually giving in to his fate, Kaneki gently lifted the two by their ankles, certain that neither would remember in the morning, and laid them both on his bed. Smirking in a certain mischief the hybrid didn't often partake in, he wondered what their reactions would be upon waking. The apartment was quiet for the first time in a while, and Kaneki smiled happily to himself. Silence, the greatest gift man could give. Retaking his seat in his ratty, old, twenty second-hand recliner, he reached for another book, the final in the trilogy the teen was reading. It had been a long night, and Kaneki had been lucky enough to finish the first two in the same sitting, if you didn't count his brief help in averting a catastrophe.

The book he was reading was quite the page-turner, or at least it was for all that the albino cared. It was a written documentary of the 'heroes' of this particular city. Their strengths, powers, and even full short-stories of the various fights these people had won and lost. It was like a comic-book with no pictures, but instead with words that made pictures appear in the reader's head. Descriptions so detailed that Kaneki could practically see the heroes flying past him, his home reduced to rubble as they fought to protect their home. It was noble, if somewhat selfish. After all, they fought to protect the city because it was where they lived. Never once did they remain to clean up the messes caused by their wars unless it was on their own property.

For a hour, the albino simply relaxed in his chair, content to catch up on the world that had so quickly left him behind. That was, until exactly 03:00am. The devil's hour.

A knock on his door garnered his attention, and irritation flashed upon his face. Having finished his book only a minute prior, the hybrid was finally ready to turn in for the night. Idly wondering who on Earth could be at his door at this hour, he reached for the handle, the tender touch of fatigue dulling any sense of trepidation the albino might've felt had he had the energy.

Stood in the hallway was a young woman, he would guess her age to be around _. Calculating, cold, cobalt blue eyes disappeared behind a cheerful, excitable mask before Kaneki could even study her gaze. Locks of brownish-red hair fell just past her shoulders, curling naturally at the tips and the scent of her primrose-perfume wafted to his nose. She adorned an all-black attire, skin tight jeans and a leather jacket.

Smiling softly, her eyes twinkled as she gazed down on him. He would place her height at around 5'8, while his was still a measly 4'9. Glassy-eyed, her smile became a grin as the mask he'd seen her put on began to seem less and less like a fake personality.

"Hello, my name is Natasha Romanoff. Sorry to call in so late, I'm a neighbour who recently moved in, and I saw your light was on from outside. I figured I may as well come in and introduce myself." The woman chirped in such an optimistic tone that Kaneki found himself bothered, confused on how someone could be so happy at such an ungodly hour.

"Kaneki Ken." he replied awkwardly, after realising she was prompting a reply.

"Nice to meet you! Sorry for the intrusion, but do you mind if I let myself in?" The question caught the tired Ghoul in surprise, jolting him from his attempts at falling asleep while stood up.

"Has moving truck not arrived with furniture?" Answering her question with his own question was the best way of evading the situation he could think of. The last thing he wanted was for her to still be around when Davies- or Kami forbid, Hari, awoke. Turning to his window to check his theory, there was no unloading vehicle in sight.

A smirk played its way onto her lips as she followed his gaze, not that Kaneki realised as his eyes were fixated outside of the window. "Nah, that old thing won't be here until tomorrow morning." Came the redhead's reply, her eyes shining with humour to some joke he didn't quite understand. "Anyway, thanks for the hospitality. That's what they say in Japan, right?" Her smirk developed from mischievous to victorious.

Meanwhile, a cold feeling had struck the hybrid, who felt a shiver of panic rush through his spine. She knew about Tokyo. She knew about Tokyo! The question now was how much did she know. Was she a threat? Would taking her out cause upset in the city, or alert someone stronger of his presence here?

"Don't worry. We don't know too much," 'Natasha' assured, if that was even her true name. "What we do know, is that Japan shut down all entrance and exit of their country for unknown reasons and that you recently arrived from Japan on a private jet. We're also aware that you aren't exactly 100% human. The airport scanners and cameras picked up high, and I mean high, RC cell levels. Levels on the same level as the Hulk.

"We've also noticed your monthly trips to the red-zone of the city, and that each time you return, your bag always looks a little... suspicious. Bulging with red markings smearing the sides doesn't exactly paint a pretty picture. Further inspection was required. Have to say, I was expecting a lot of shit, but I wasn't expecting a child cannibal. That was a shock. Now lucky for you, cannibalism isn't technically against the law here, but it'll definitely warrant a few months- no. Make that years of rehab.

"Seeing as your cute little friends in the other room obviously don't know about your little secret, I'm guessing you want to keep this quiet. Who wouldn't, eh, Hannibal?" Her eyes had slowly became more and more malicious, basking in a morbid, sadistic pleasure of dealing with the hybrid, who had been rendered unresponsive with shock. Throat feeling hoarse, he couldn't make a sound, let alone move or even blink! Completely and utterly amused by his situation the spy was, he could tell. The thick, choking scent of pride wafted from her, almost making Kaneki gag in disgust.

Coming out of his shocked trance, the albino adopted a frosty glare, his own eyes glassing over as he hid his emotions. Having become used to people and ghouls like this back in Japan, Kaneki knew enough to be able to hold his own. Even then, he had never encountered a spy who not only had so much information, but had him in such a precarious situation.

"So here's the deal, Hannibal. We're going to be bringing you down to a small, secluded lab. Just to run a few tests. We've never seen anything like you. Don't worry, they're all entirely painless." Despite Kaneki's slight falter of the mask when she mentioned 'tests,' as he knew what that probably meant from Jason, he hid well. "Of course," Continued the woman, "It isn't like you have much of a choice. Either you come with us, we kill you, you aren't human after all. Or, if you want, we could shove you in rehab. The cuckoo's nest. One with high security. Of course, then those young gentlemen in the bedroom would have to be made aware of why you just... disappeared."

Mulling over his options in silence, Kaneki broke each choice down in his head. Death, experimentation, or Hari and Davies knowing, and being stuck in rehab. Probably forever.

Death sounded tempting.

He rose his head to meet Romanoff's gaze, "I happen to notice you been said 'we' quite much, never refer to you as a singular you. There are more of you?" It had been bugging him for a while now, ever since she revealed herself, in fact.

"Well duh. Shit kid. Haven't you heard of the Avengers? You really live under a rock, eh Hannibal?" Mocked the woman, leaning on the back of the chair, completely relaxed in the lion's den. In danger, yet believing herself to be completely safe.

Yet, he had heard of the Avengers. They were the heroes he had been reading about only minutes ago. "The Avengers? And you bitch about freaks? What about Green Guy? Or so-called 'God' ? Or even Guy who got stuck in ice!" Came the immediate retaliation of the ghoul. Whether or not he truly believed it. There was a fourth option, but first he had to manipulate the manipulator.

"They don't fucking eat people!" Shot back the spy, annoyed at his continued arguing. "Don't you feel bad for the families of the dead? It's bad enough their kid or some shit killed themselves, and then they get this?"

"Too bad, so sad." Dismissed the hybrid, only to look back on his words. "Too sad, so bad? I don't know phrase."

"What, so you don't care?"

"Cats eat mice, cats kill the mice. I eat humans, I don't kill the humans!"

Biting back her tongue, the redhead sighed in clear frustration. Obviously she wasn't going to get anywhere here. This freaky kid just didn't understand! "Look Hannibal, you don't seem to get the situation you're in here." She fixed an almost predatory glare at the young boy, well-hidden fury beginning to slip out from under her mask. "You either come with me to S.H.I.E.L.D, or you come with me to a mental hospital. Your choice."

"And if I choose neither?"

"You don't have that option."

His gaze was emotionless, he calmly evaluated his situation and his choices. Watching him vaguely warily, Natasha stood upright once more, muscles tensing in case she needed to engage in combat. He noticed, and took it into account as he considered his options.

After several minutes, he seemed to come to his conclusion. Foggy eyes clearing as he awoke from whichever trance had once held him, the albino stared at her, oddly serene for one in such a precarious position.

"You'll have to kill me first."

With that, he burst from the crappy apartment, shattering the already cracked glass in his escape. Ignoring a furious roar from the woman, Kaneki focused his attention on evading the bullets being fired at him from the surrounding cannon-fodder. Of course, it wouldn't leave a scratch, but he didn't was this... S.H.I.E.L.D place knowing all of his assets, especially now he was on the run. Finally breaking free of the surrounding force, the teen cast his eyes behind him as he continued to run, only to be surprised at the sight of the ginger woman giving chase. She'd boarded a motorcycle and was now zipping after him and irritatingly decent speeds.

Growling in frustration, the ghoul headed into well-known territory, the slums. The buildings here were cast high into the sky, glass from the windows lying forgotten on the floor and graffiti coating the walls. Kaneki didn't like coming here too much, it stank. Smelt of garbage, sewage, drugs, alcohol and urine. The streets were almost abandoned, the people either hiding in their homes or lying await in a dark alleyway. Behind him, the albino could hear the motor of the bike roaring like a wild beast, matching its rider in ferocity. Risking a glance behind him, he growled in frustration. Natasha was still on his tail, gaining on him now. Sharp turns didn't do anything to deter her, and there was no way he was going to reveal his kagune just yet. Damn! Clicking his teeth in annoyance, the ghoul listened to everything around him, forgetting the chase as he searched.

To Natasha, it was becoming easier to follow the cannibal boy, he was becoming predictable, following a pattern. As he made his next turn, she felt a stab to her pride as she realised his eyes were closed. It was almost as though he was taunting her! Feeling a snarl tear from her throat, she increased her speed. There was no way she was getting shown up by some damn kid!

"This is Black Widow, calling for backup, I repeat, Black Widow requesting backup support, over!"

The boy had begun taking sharp turns, leading his pursuer into 'L' shaped alleys and slowing down, before rocketing off in the other direction. After nearly crashing straight into an apartment once, the woman learned her lesson rather quickly, and always took notice if the albino slowed, bracing for any tricks or traps she felt he might pull. Despite her complete and utter fury that she was unable to catch the teen, Natasha couldn't help but marvel at his speed. Kaneki was outrunning a motorcycle, a S.H.I.E.L.D motorcycle at that! They could use him, she knew they could. Sadly, based from his desperate escape-attempt, he wasn't interested. A pity, really.

Around fifteen minutes of pointless cat and mouse, the boy seemed to realise he wouldn't be able to outrun her. Outright snarling in resentment, the ghoul spun around, slightly startling the redheaded woman at his sudden change in direction. Grinning sadistically, she took out her batons, preparing for battle.

Abandoning the motorcycle once she believed he would be unable to dodge, Romanoff was vaguely surprised when the albino used it as a stepping-stone, before continuing his path to her. Throwing a left hook, she defended with one of her batons, deciding not to use the electricity inside unless necessary. However, she was once again astonished by the pure amount of force he put into his attack. This kid was stronger than he looked, and as they locked eyes with him, she could vaguely see the masked eyes of a warrior on his face. Kaneki was holding back.

She wasn't sure whether to be relieved or frustrated.

On one hand, he was underestimating her. He wasn't coming at her with full force. It was an insult, she'd rather have her opponent dance on her grave than treat her as though she wasn't worth the hassle. On the other hand, she wasn't certain she could beat him at full strength.

...Aaaand! I shall leave it up to you to decipher the rest.

I really am, so SO sorry. I was trying, I was really trying so freaking hard. I wanted to finish this for you guys, there's so many of you and I didn't want to let you down, but I can't finish this.

I have NO motivation to write this. It isn't fun, it isn't inspiring. All it does is make me think 'Is this the best you can do' because to me, it seems so damn terrible. Aside from my own nihilism, I'm also going into heavy tests at school and I need to get my ass into gear focus. Study.

This fic is being abandoned.

I wanted to continue, I forced myself to write this chapter out. Edit it, check for mistakes, study abilities, but the entire time I just couldn't enjoy it like I used to. It doesn't help that I haven't seen either Tokyo Ghoul or the Avengers for quite a long time.

You guys are free to continue this, but ONLY IF YOU NOTIFY ME and GIVE CREDIT WHERE DUE.

One of the reasons I'm ditching it would actually be because of the whole 'stolen fic' issue a while back. I was infuriated with my friend. All our 'Hard Work' was just something that they'd stolen from someone else. People didn't like our writing, they liked the original writer's writing. My confidence plummeted. Don't go bugging the original author by the way. They have no part in my quitting the story.

I'm so sorry.

Signing off,

-TGnat.