A/N: Reviews are being a little weird; they show up in our inboxes an' all, but not on the site. No worries, I can still reply to them.
So by all means, review away! Looking forward to chatting with ya'll! Hope this chapter puts a smile on your face.
Well, the latest Boys episode really got me jazzed up! So...bloody...cathartic! Two more episodes left!
Bonus! It gave me the kick I needed to update this early.
Once more, we're sticking with the "Embers" rule for this story...and others. If folks don't like this, it won't be continued. Meaning that if the story itself ain't popular? POOF! I'm working two jobs with ever increasing hours so I barely have time to write; as such, I cannot afford to write something folks don't enjoy. So by all means, speak up! Your voice matters! Make yourself heard! As ever, reviews are the fuel that sustain me. Without them I cannot write a single word. Simple as that.
Now for your questions, comments, and concerns!
Q: Naruto better not be dying! John needs him! To say nothing of Maeve!
A: I wouldn't say dying. Just...getting old. Vought injected him with a LOT of Compound V and its had its effects.
Different power every day, some stay, some go; his hair slowly trning white, body aches, persistent scars, that sort of thing.
But his "kids" are growing too. This chapter serves to illustrate that once and for all.
Q: Sooo...is Stormfront gone, or did Kurama just shatter her mind?
A: Read and see.
Q: Naruto and Edgar meeting when?
A: I really hate having to say this. Read and see.
Q: Wait, whose left to even challenge Naruto at this point?
A: Oh, there's a few out there. I've done my research. A handful together could give him trouble...for maybe a minute. Consider this, the Boys might never form in this iteration, not as we know them. But we might get something far more dangerous.
Q: How old are the kiddos at this point?
A: You'll see...
Alright, then! I think I've kept you all waiting long enough, no?
As ever, I own no references, themes, or memes. Not a wit, not a one!
This is probably going to be rated a hard "M" later on, but for now its only T...for now.
I've said this a million times, and I'll say it a million more. They're tributes to legends far, far greater than I.
Minor verbatim here and there from the Boys.
"Remarkable, isn't it? What a bit of love and affection can do; why, it works wonders.
Without a father that boy would've grown up to be a monster.
But just look at him now."
~?
Like Father Like Son
"Defend yourself."
Against her better judgement, young Maeve heeded His singular command. She planted her feet, grit her teeth, and hunkered down behind her shield. Her eyes peered over the rim, trained upon her adversary, watching. Waiting. She just had to observe him, time it right, wait until he moved and then she'd be able to parry-
CLANG!
Clenched knuckles slammed into the circular surface. Her arm held. Her feet didn't.
At the end of the day, momentum was king; Naruto's punch ripped Marve right off her feet and sent her sprawling in the grass. It was as ungraceful a landing as they came; she came down on her hindquarters, bounced once, flipped over, then cushioned her fall with...her face. She lay there for a long moment, arms and legs spread to either side, unwilling to raise her face.
She wanted to sink into the mud and die.
John would've laughed if he saw her like this. Would have, if he wasn't eating mud only a few feet away.
"Maeve, Maeve, Maeve." she heard her mentor sigh. "When I said defend yourself, I didn't mean stand there and take the hit. You need to fight back."
"Now you tell me?!"
She raised her head, blew a strand of hair out her eyes and glared at her shield, wondering why it had failed her. Dad wasn't the sort to skimp on equipment; damn thing was forged from pure chromium and his swipe had still rung her like a bell. He wasn't even trying!
Sixteen years of age and she was still getting smacked about like some helpless child. She hated it.
"C'mon," he chided. "Look at me."
She did. She could see the silver in his hair, shining in the sun. There seemed to be more every year. Still, his smile never faded. Even with age.
"You'd do so much better if you stopped using that."
A fiery flash of heat blazed through her face. Easy for him to say! He and John could tank a ballistic missile point blank and shrug it off. She didn't know her limits yet; in part because she was afraid to test them. Better safer and slower than a pretty red smear on the sidewalk.
"C'mon, up and at 'em. You too, John! I know you're faking it!"
Maeve burst back to her feet. In the same instant the superman rocketed up and slammed into his father in a streak of blue-on-gold. Naruto took his charge head on; slid back half a pace, raised both hands over his head, locked them together, and brought them crashing down. John ate dirt again. Even as he dis she swept in and struck out at his back with her sword. Naruto lazily reached over his back and caught it with one hand.
"Stop using the standard attacks." he chided, batting her away. "You too, John! You're better than a brawler. Remember what I taught ya."
John made a truculent noise, but complied, whirling a kick at his torso. Naruto accepted it with a grunt, caught his leg and launched him away. His son kicked off a tree -shattering it!- and hurtled back his way. Then he was past. An awful crack filled the air as the older blond stumbled to the side, clutched at his bloody nose...and laughed?
"Good, good! You actually made me bleed! Keep trying!" He whirled, striking at his lower torso.
John caught his fist and wrenched it down, only to receive a jarring headbutt in return.
"Ow, shit!" he grunted. "Cheap shot!"
"Life is a cheap shot!" His old man grinned, uncaring of his nose. He reached up and snapped it back into place "Your enemies won't play fair! Don't hold back! Show me what you can do!"
Heat speared forth from his son's eyes, but rather than dodge like any sane individual would, Naruto stepped in to meet it with a merrycackle. His gaze burned in return and a lance of azure light collided with John's heat vision own. The air erupted, sparks flying between them. Maeve flung up an arm to shield her face; thankfully the clash lasted all of an instant before John banked back, eyes wide.
"Since when can you do that?"
"Since a week ago." Naruto dusted off his jacket and crooked a scarred hand his way. "Let your old man have a few secrets. NOW HIT ME!"
John reared back, still airborne. Naruto stepped in to meet him.
Red clashed with blue as father and son smirked at one another. Both broke off and lunged at each other.
Credit where it was due, Maeve knew better than to get between that. Tree hurtled through the air. The very earth cratered beneath their feet, cracks -whole fissures!- tearing through the ground. She didn't dare try to interfere. There was no room for her in such a clash. They were a hurricane, raging back and forth like two gods. What was she compared to-
"Maeve! A little help?!"
John's cry snapped her out of of her daze.
Funny how four little words can reactivate You snatched up her sword and shield and raced in, sweeping low for Naruto's legs as they clashed anew. He jumped it and slammed an ax kick at her head, only to find himself blocked by John's broad shoulders. His son weathered the blow for her and when Naruto threw a devastating right hook his way, he caught his wrist. Opportunity knocked.
Maeve answered.
Casting aside her sword and shield, she dove at him and seized his other limb. John realized her intention a heartbeat later and shifted his grip.
As one, they pushed.
Naruto pitched back with a startled squawk. "Oi!"
Together they wrestled him down to the ground and pinned him there by the arms. Their mentor had the good grace to know when he was beaten. Or to at least pretend he was. Maeve didn't know if he could escape a hold like this. In truth, she didn't want to. John's dad was a wily old bastard like that. In the end she never had her answer.
"Alright, alright." he kicked at the ground with a petulant sigh. "I give. Ya got me."
John leaned back with a frown. "You were holding back.
Blue eyes twinkled. "Was I?"
The distant sound of an engine revved in the distance, cutting him off.
John looked up. Frowned. Maeve joined him.
There was a black limo waiting coming down the worn dirt road to their cabin; its slender form barely visible through the trees. It approached at a sedate pace, but not for long. As they looked on it came to a halt and a man emerged from within. They opened the rear passenger door and stood beside it with intent. They made no attempt to approach. Wise of them. They were still finding bits of the last one who tried.
"Dad?"
"Well, damn." Naruto hoisted himself up, heedless of John's concern. "Seems he finally wants to talk." Quick as a flash, he drew them both into a crushing hug. "Don't worry. I'll be back by dinner. Have fun while I'm gone, yeah? This won't take long."
She could see the anxiety writ across John's face. Still, he nodded. "...alright. I'll see you tonight."
Naruto kissed their foreheads, gave them one last brisk embrace, then he was off. Together they watched the limo reverse and grind its way back down the dirt road. In merely a minute it was all but gone from sight, the faint plume of dust the only sign that it had ever been at all.
...wanna hit up Hawaii while he's away?"
Maeve cast John a sympathetic look, "You don't have to to put on a brave front for my sake."
"I'm not." He grinned and offered her his hand. "Do you trust me, Maeve?"
Maeve sputtered, her face flushing. "You're cracked, you know that?"
He kept grinning, the silly boy. "Didn't sound like a no to me."
Screw it. Her hand curled around his. "Yes. I trust you."
...then don't let go."
He leaped and she shrieked, a shriek that became a laugh as they hurtled up into the air.
This was her life. Her happiness.
She would kill to keep it.
A/N: Stan Edgar next chapter. Its going to be one hell of a doooooooozy, lemme tell ya.
Just think how dangerous Homelander would be if he bothered to train.
This? Right here? Bloody dangerous.
And there we be.
As ever, we're following the Embers Rule here. That's no joke. Really, it isn't. If folks don't like this...well, it won't be continued. Every bit of feedback helps. Reviews are the fuel which keeps me writing in these crazy times. With my tight schedule -two jobs!- I simply don't have time to write a story folks don't like. Without them, my inspiration cannot take wing and I can't write a word. So by all means, speak up!
So in the Immortal Words of Atlas...Review, Would You Kindly?
Not many previews this time around.
(Previews)
"Happy Birthday to you~!"
"Oi! I'm not that old, John. That's way too many candles!"
Dad was a softie. He'd seen him tear a man's face off before, but and smile in the next moment.
We aren't gods, John. Never forget that. We bleed, just like anyone else.
Now go out there and the man you were always meant to be.
I'm proud of ya. Always have been."
Their yard was a sundry of uprooted trees and other equipment, most of which made for handy missiles.
Poor bastards never stood a chance.
"Think you can take my spot, do you?"
"Please," John rolled his eyes. "I don't want it. You're just a little man with your little dreams. You couldn't possibly fathom what I want."
"They're calling you the american superman."
"I feel like I live in a world of cardboard!"
John tilted his head. "I'm sorry, was that supposed to do something? Really, all you did was ruin my cape."
His adversary stepped back. He could hear their heart hammering. Smell their fear. "Aw, hell."
"No, not hell." his eyes blazed with heat. "Not yet. You'll be going there shortly."
Naruto forced himself upright. "I can do this all day, lads. Can you?"
"My boy's falling in love! Ha!" he clapped him on the back. "Ain't nothing wrong with that. Tell her how you feel."
"But what if I break her?"
"Oi! None of that defeatist talk. If I haven't broken your mother, I won't break you."
R&R~!