"We have to go now," Naruto had no choice but to pull Miranda backdown the stairs, quickly leading her into a nearby office.
She fired in a moment of silence and it was likely they no longer remained undetected. Naruto was surprised she had actually gone through in taken a life with little argument, though her regret was immediately apparent.
"I killed her," Miranda muttered.
"I know," Naruto peeked back around from where they came, listening closely for anyone but silence reigned. "But we have to keep moving because there'll be more ahead. Are you able to keep going?"
"Yes," Miranda agreed but her eyes remained unfocused.
"Miranda," Naruto gently shook her in an attempt to bring her out of her mind. "They had to have noticed that shot came from behind them. They know we're here now and they'll be ready. I need to know you are too."
Miranda steadied her breath and wiped away a stray tear and nodded, looking into his eyes to make a point. "Yes, let's go."
"Stay behind me and stick to cover, especially if they start shooting at us. I'll take it from here," Naruto said.
They advanced upstairs, past the dead woman. Miranda tried not to look at the woman's face, who would have been beautiful if not for the hard life she must have lived, but failed in her attempt. She found solace in knowing her death was instantaneous and her suffering had ended.
This did nothing to quell the guilt which twisted her heart, pulling it into the depths of her sinking stomach.
Naruto cleared the next to rooms, unaware of the inner turmoil which plagued Miranda. He was focused on keeping them both alive because she didn't react quick enough to so much as fire her weapon, forcing him to eliminate all three in the first room, and missed both of the men who occupied the second despite taking a few shots.
He wondered in maybe Miranda missed her targets on purpose. Naruto certainly wouldn't blame her. His first kill was handled in a much worse manner and embarrassingly enough, with much more tears. He could only hope she would come to accept her new reality soon. His reflexes allowed him the confidence to conduct close quarters combat but he knew he wouldn't be able to protect them both under open field fire.
"I'm sorry."
Naruto stopped his rummaging of one of the fallen to regard the woman in question. He had an inclination of what she was leading to and though they were far from in the clear, he decided to let her speak.
"About what?" He said, playing along.
"I wasn't any help," Miranda said while looking at the gun in her hand. "I'm only getting in your way. I understand that now."
"I froze completely when I took my first life," Naruto said, standing and moving to address her quietly. "If it wasn't for my master, I would have died."
Miranda was searching his eyes for a way to rid herself of the horrid sensation in her heart. "How do you do it? H-How can you kill so easily?" She instantly regretted the way she worded her question and just how accusatory it sounded.
"It gets easier," Naruto admitted. "You don't think it will, or maybe even that it should, but it does."
That only made Miranda feel worse.
Naruto noticed this and ran a hand through his greasy hair in exasperation, lamenting not knowing when he bathed last. To think people used to praise him for his way with words. "It also helps to have a reason," he continued awkwardly. "Until it does get easier. So yes, you're taking lives but it's to protect your daughter. If you die then who'll save and protect her?"
"You would," Miranda answered immediately.
Naruto blinked and, momentarily confused by her words. "I would?"
"Would you?" Miranda asked.
He wanted to look away but her eyes were large, shimmering and searching. "I uh, yeah. Of course I would."
Despite her feelings, Miranda smiled seeing his nervousness, thinking the expression made him look very young. She proceeded to do something that shocked them both.
"Thank you," she whispered, hugging him tightly.
"Yeah," Naruto muttered but did not return the gesture.
Miranda sniffed and released him after a few awkward moments, following after Naruto further up the next flight of stairs, only to walk into his back once they'd reached the top.
"Hold it right there!"
She peeked over Naruto's shoulder to see a man dressed oddly in revolutionary era clothing. He had a strange rifle aimed straight at them from a doorway at the peak of the next stairway. Miranda reacted by lifting her gun, only to immediately encounter resistance.
Naruto pushed Miranda behind him, his hand pressed to her belly should he have push her away if things came to that. "We're not with them. We're here to help," he stated calmly.
Recognition flashed through the man's eyes. "You're that man from before? But how? I saw them shoot you and then you just kind of… well, you just kind of vanished."
Miranda looked at Naruto inquisitively and then to his hand pressed firmly against her.
"I moved," Naruto answered simply.
"Right," he lowered his rifle down and motioned them forward. "Well I'm not gonna look a gift horse in the mouth. The name's Preston Garvey, and I thank you both for your help."
Miranda knew Naruto wouldn't make a great ambassador for them, so she moved around him. "I'm Miranda Fawks and Mr. personality here's name is Naruto. Glad we could help."
The three exchanged handshakes, Naruto giving Miranda the side eye for her introduction of him and the fact she'd suddenly taken charge.
"If that's true then your continued help would be much appreciated," Preston stated hopefully.
"We'll do what we can, but who are these people?" Miranda asked as she looked over the ragtag group of survivors regarding them nervously, all with the exception of a kindly looking old woman, who merely smiled at her. She was saddened to find no infant among them.
"Just good folks trying to survive. We've been together for a while now," he paused. "A month ago there used to be twenty of us. Now we're five. It's me, Sturges, Mercy Long and her husband, Jim, and old Mama June."
"I'm sorry to hear that," Miranda offered her condolence and turned to regard the others in the room. "It's nice to meed you all."
"Thank you but back to what we were discussing earlier," Preston said, the pain of his loss evident for a brief moment.
"Of course, what do you have in mind?" Miranda asked.
Naruto listened in silence. If he were unaccompanied he would have questioned the group on all they knew and would be on his way but he decided to allow Miranda to take the lead for the time being. She was currently experiencing a form of guilt and the only way to right her perceived wrong was to help the group.
He knew this because he'd done something very similar himself at one point and just like Jiraiya before him, he would go along with it so long as it didn't place them in danger. Beyond that, a temporary alliance with the survivors would be very beneficial to their survival. They had to escape the museum somehow and as he was in that moment, they needed the advantage of numbers.
"Sturges, you tell them," Preston said.
Sturges slicked back his pompadour with a smirk and presented his hand. "It'll be my pleasure conversing with such a beautiful young lady," he said flirtatiously and with hints of a southern drawl.
Miranda accepted his hand with great reluctance and was not amused when he kissed the back of hers.
"Anyways," Sturges cleared his throat when it became apparent his attempt had failed. "There's a sweet T-45 power armor suit sitting up on the roof next to the downed Verti-bird. I'm sure you seen it coming in."
She actually hadn't but decided he didn't need to know that. Naruto for his part, did see the contraption but thought nothing of it at the time.
"I'm guessing you want us to get that suit for you?" Miranda assumed.
"Half correct. You see, I'm a pacifist at heart, alright. I'm happiest when I'm fixing things, not killin. As much as I'd love takin that baby for a spin, that piece of machinery just ain't for me."
"Call me me old fashioned but for all the protection all that metal offers, I don't much like the idea of lumbering around. But, seeing as how you two seem to know how to handle yourselves, figured it would be of much better use in your hands," Preston added. "All I want to do is get my people out of here so if you two want to keep that armor, it's all yours. Just please help us fend off the Raiders out there."
"Naruto?" Miranda gave him a wondering look. She'd all but forgotten to take his opinion into consideration and in the face of possible conflict, he was her sword and shield. She could accept their request for help but couldn't actually carry through without him.
"This power armor," Naruto turned to address Preston. "How much protection does it offer?"
"Near unlimited, provided the limb pieces are in working order. Most models, including the one up there, are sealed tight and have built in rebreathers. Gives you that extra protection against radiation, as well as from bullets," Sturges provided instead.
"What he said," Preston confirmed.
Impressive and very much useful in protecting Miranda in ways he would be unable to until and if he fully recovered.
"We'll do it," Naruto confirmed.
"Great! Thank you so much, " Preston said gratefully.
"There's also a mini gun on that bird's side," Sturges continued. "There's no telling if it's got any ammo or if even the damn thing works anymore, but assuming it does, well then those boys out there won't be much trouble to ya."
"Thing is," Preston joined in. "That suit takes a special power source. A portable nuclear power source, to be exact, and we know where to find one."
"Problem being its down stairs and locked away behind a thick steel cage. Like I said before, I'm a mechanic, not a computer tech and the only way through is the terminal, which of course, is password protected," Sturges finished presenting their objective.
"So that's what we're faced with. Will you still help us?" Preston asked.
"We'll see what we can do," Miranda answered. She didn't know much about computers and doubted Naruto was much more knowledgeable in that regard considering where he came from.
All she could hope for was to somehow find the password scribbled down somewhere.
"That's all we have the right to ask for. Thank you, the both of you," Preston said.
"Come on, Naruto," Miranda motioned for him to follow and he did, truly surprising her by chuckling quietly. A sound so very foreign coming from him. "What?"
"Nothing, you just lead on."
His tone of voice was telling and Miranda flushed slightly. "Sorry, I guess I really didn't really ask for your opinion before agreeing to help them," she acknowledged once they were alone.
"No, it's fine," Naruto shook his head at her concerns. "They asked you for help and you decided to offer it. Just stay alert."
She didn't have to know his main motivation for helping Preston's group was morso for their convenience, and now to secure the armor above.
"I will. Now, they said the basement, right?" Miranda asked.
"Yes," Naruto confirmed.
"Do you," she stopped in her tracks. "Do you think there's another way down?"
They'd left quite a trail of recently deceased bodies on their way up.
"There's one way but you might not like it. Otherwise we really don't have the time to look for another way," Naruto said.
Miranda held herself nervously. "What may that be?"
"You get on my back and we jump down to the bottom. I can cushion landing so neither of us'll get hurt," Naruto offered.
That wasn't necessarily what worried her. Miranda shuddered at the very recent memory of what happened the last time she was on his back.
"Is there really no other option outside of looking for another way down or me climbing on your back?" Miranda asked. "I uh, well, I felt like I almost fell last time and I'd really rather not repeat that."
"I guess I could hold you a different way," Naruto looked away. "Ya'know, in my arms."
She couldn't go back through the trail of dead. Not so soon. A small bout of embarrassment didn't sound so bad.
"Let's just get this done," Miranda sighed.
Naruto couldn't deny the pleasantness of holding a woman in his arms after a long time and he briefly flashed back to when he would carry Hinata around in such a way, every chance he could.
"Now are you sure you won't drop me?" Miranda questioned. She quickly looked away when she realized just how close their faces were.
"I'm sure, just make sure you hold on," Naruto said as he approached the edge of the walkway.
Miranda looked down to their coming jump and immediately buried her face into his chest and did her best to ignore the warmth and pleasant odor radiating off him. Such thoughts were not allowed to simmer as she suddenly felt her stomach launch into her throat at the accelerated fall.
She screamed.
Even after they landed down safely, Naruto had to lightly shake the panicking woman.
"It's okay, we're safe now."
Miranda opened her eyes to confirm they indeed were at the bottom foyer.
"Oh."
Naruto se there down but was unable to pull away or stand straight with her continued hold of his neck. She realized this too quickly and let go.
"Sorry," she muttered.
There was a heavy air between them.
"Let's find that power core," Naruto said, moving on.
The two traversed down the stairs further, one floor until they reached the museum's generator. As expected, the contraption was locked behind a metal door.
"I'll see if I can get this opened," Miranda said.
She opened the command prompt on the terminal and then the password recovery execution, where she was presented with multiple passwords. One of which the owner of the terminal was to recognize, though unfortunately she had only three attempts and far too many choices.
"So it's a glorified guessing game," Naruto commented behind her.
"Seems that way," Miranda said from over her shoulder and motioned him over with a nod of her head. "Mind helping me guess?"
"Why not?" Naruto moved beside her and scanned over the words. "I don't know, maybe try revolution. This is the Museum of the American Revolution, after all."
Miranda attempted the word and was met with failure. "Well that's the only one that possibly made sense. Too bad 'password' or '1234' aren't choices. Oh wait, I see patriot."
Another failed attempt.
"Oh gosh darn it!" Miranda huffed.
The corner of Naruto's mouth twitched in amusement, a sentiment Miranda seemed to have sensed and she shot him a glare.
"Sorry?" Naruto apologized, not really know why.
Miranda huffed and turned back to the screen, scanning every column of words. "One more try. What do you think, Naruto?"
He gave the screen once over and found no distinct word in the bunch. "It's your guess," he relented.
"Sure, sure, put the responsibility on me if it's wrong," Miranda groused. She finally chose the word 'batter' and it was also wrong. "I give up!" She shouted and crossed her arms.
"Yeah well it's not like you have a — " He paused seeing the look she directed at him and suddenly wondered why he decided now of all times to make joke. "I'll figure something out."
Miranda huffed again. "Yeah, you do that."
Naruto began considering his options. He could break the hinges off the door with a Rasengan, but that would bee too draining on his dangerously low reserves. There was also the option to strengthen himself with chakra, resulting in minimal losses as one's body instinctively recycled its own energy. Unfortunately even that was too much of a risk.
That's when it hit him.
"What're you doing?" Miranda asked as she watched him dig around his backpack.
"I'm going to blow the door down," Naruto answered.
Miranda took an involuntary step back, wondering if she'd heard him correctly for how casually he spoke. "Excuse me?"
Naruto found the paper he was looking for and unsealed his ink. "I'm going to draw an explosive seal on the hinges," he explained.
"Isn't that a little dangerous inside a small room, with a nuclear core right there?" Miranda questioned incredulously.
"It's a small and controlled charge. We used this all the time to breach doors without killing whoever was inside," Naruto said as he began drawing the rather basic seal.
That didn't quell her worry.
"If you're sure."
"I am but if you don't feel safe you can wait…" Naruto trailed off seeing Miranda at the top of the stairs, seated on the top step, looking down on him. "Up there."
"I thought so too!" She called down to him.
"Yeah," Naruto muttered.
Miranda watched with bated breath as Naruto set two pieces of paper on the hinges took too few steps back for comfort, making a strange hand motion. She quickly covered her ears with her fingers but was unable to look away. As stated, the explosion was minimal. In fact, she barely even heard it go off and all she witnessed was a brief flash and the door was hanging off the locking mechanism alone.
"That wasn't so bad," she commented with a smile.
"You can come down now," Naruto said as he gestured towards the opened door with a hint of something in his inflection.
"Shut up," Miranda muttered as she bounded down.
Naruto finished pulling at the door until it snapped off and set it aside. He and Miranda studied the glowing orange core with shared trepidation.
"So do we just carry it around like a normal battery or…" She trailed off, looking to him.
"I don't know. I could seal it away to be safe," Naruto suggested returning her look of uncertainty.
"I'd feel better if you did," Miranda agreed.
Naruto used the last of his real sealing paper to draw up a sturdier and more complex storage seal. Once done, he nodded at Miranda. She understood and pressed the large ejection button and the lights immediately flickered until they shut off entirely, engulfing the basement in complete darkness.
"Naruto!"
In the dark, he felt her grip his arm tightly.
"It's okay. It looks like that was the museum's power source so we'll be in the dark. Just stay close and I'll lead us out," Naruto said.
Naruto activated his eyes and lead Miranda along out of the basement. The force she used to grip his hand had him wondering if she was afraid of the dark, or what lurked within considering the monstrosities they'd encountered so far.
Finally they made to the ground level where enough sunlight permeated to allow them to see. Miranda removed herself from Naruto and stared at him in embarrassment.
Instead of making fun of her, he looked up above them. "We need to get to the top as quickly as possible. I imagine the ones outside will have noticed there's no more fighting in here. Seeing as how they weren't signaled in, they'll know their people were killed."
It was still rather difficult for Miranda to come to terms with the fact Naruto was a soldier from his world and had the mentality of one. It also reminded her that, if not for his help, she likely wouldn't have made it too far on her own considering there was much she failed consider when fighting for survival.
Miranda found she could only nod in acknowledgment, though she wasn't looking forward to walking past the dead. Something about his sudden nervous expression gave her pause.
"I uh, I'd like to jump back up there but to do that… well, y'know," Naruto said.
"Yeah," Miranda realized what he was implying. "Ok."
Naruto slowly walked to her and both looked away from one another as he took her in his arms again.
"Hold on tight."
Naruto leapt from one floor to the next, prompting excited gasps from Miranda. Four more leaps had them at the top level. That time she braved keeping her eyes opened and found the experience was exhilarating.
"That was amazing!" Miranda exclaimed.
Given her previous reactions to his rides, Naruto wasn't expecting such a positive response.
"Better than running or falling?" He asked.
Miranda smiled sheepishly. "Much better."
They returned back to the room with the survivors.
"Seeing as how everything went dark, I'm gonna assume you two managed to get the power core," Preston said in greeting.
"Yeah but how'd you do it?" Sturges asked before either could get a word in. He smirked at Miranda. "Bet you were able to crack the code there, huh, gorgeous?"
"Actually Naruto figured it out," Miranda said, almost sighing before she did so at his continued attempts. She glanced at Naruto, only to find him staring at Sturges with his default stoicism, though his blues seemed different in a way she couldn't place.
"Did'ja now?" Sturges looked at Naruto with a different intrigue. "How so?"
"We'll get the suit now. Make sure your people are ready cover us until we can get it up and going. Don't engage them until we're ready or else we'll give ourselves away. Though they probably already know we've taken out their forces by now," Naruto said, completely ignoring the man to address Preston.
"Yeah, that's what I figured," Preston said with a sigh. "We're mighty low on ammo as it is but we'll try our best."
"In that case," Naruto removed his backpack and emptied his spare bullets onto the table, along with the corresponding guns he retrieved from the dead. He pocketed a couple of handfuls, as well as the two magazines, and motioned towards the rest. "Use these. Just keep in mind we'll be taking back anything you don't use."
"Na-ru-to," Miranda reprimanded him in a whisper and through her teeth, elbowing him lightly when he showed no remorse.
"That's more than fine and fair with us," Preston through a chuckle as he looked between the two.
"Let's go then," Naruto motioned Miranda along, once again ignoring the other survivors who all regarded him with varying expressions.
"The stairs down the hallway will lead you to the roof," Preston called after him. "On your mark, we'll shoot from the balcony."
Naruto nodded but didn't respond to him as he once again led them upstairs. They found the downed Verti-bird along with the towering power armor on immediately and he had to admit it was one impressive piece of machinery.
"Are you ready?" Naruto asked as he unsealed the power core and pressed it into the armor. Following a metallic whir, the armor bloomed open to reveal the interior.
"I don't know about this, Naruto," Miranda began nervously. "What if I don't fit and it crushes me?"
Naruto studied her from the top of her head, down to her feet. She wasn't necessarily short, but neither was she particularly tall. If her memories still remained accurate within his own, she was five foot five.
She did, however, have rather nice proportions. Wide hips atop a pair of healthy thighs and average but plump breasts, all of which were well accentuated by the vault suit in a way he couldn't help but take notice of on more than one occasion, especially when he walked behind her.
Miranda glanced away. "You're staring."
"If it makes you feel better, I can try it out first," Naruto offered, trying to rid himself of such thoughts.
"It would," she said, sounding relieved.
Naruto approached the suit with no rightful idea on how to actually enter or activate the armor. Without anything to go on, he simply tried stepping into it, placing his feet on the elevated platforms of the armor's legs and then slipped his hands into the gloves. This activated the armor, which closed around him promptly.
He felt himself get pressed into the suit gently on all sides. Down to all of his limbs, the hands of the suit tightening around his hands to fit like an actual glove. Soon after he felt a cooling breeze on his face, his crotch, and on his chest. It was almost as if the suit molded itself around him for a tight fit.
This all happened within the span of a few moments and in that time, all was dark before a clear video display appeared before him. Immediately after the suit began to buzz in warning, his vitals displayed what he'd already known. The geiger counter in his field of vision projected his grim reality, the needle was in the red, dangerously close to its maximum reading. Alongside this, there was a warning informing him of a missing Pip-boy.
Ignoring his reality briefly, Naruto turned to find Miranda gawking at him. "See, not so bad. If didn't crush me, it won't hurt you," Naruto said, his voice projecting from the suit with an electric tinge.
"That's so cool!" Miranda was now inches from him, trying to see through the suit's dark visor to see if she could see him. "Alright, get out, I wanna try!"
Inside the suit, Naruto almost smiled and tried to do just that. However he quickly realized he hand't the slightest idea on exactly how he was supposed to exit the suit. "I don't know how to."
"What do you mean you don't know how to?" Miranda asked.
"I mean I don't know how to get out," Naruto repeated. "All I can see in here is a display showing some information about the suit."
"What're we supposed to do then?" Miranda asked.
"I don't — " Naruto remembered the turn dial on his back. "Try to turn the knob on my back."
"Got it," Miranda approached the back of the suit and gripped the metal.
Inside his suit a proximity alarm sounded off and his screen presented a message, front and center.
Open T—45
Yes
No
Naruto had no way of choosing. "Yes?" He tried.
"Yes what?" Miranda asked as she continued to try and force the know. She let out of squeak of surprise at the sudden sound of decompressing air.
"You should get back," Naruto warned.
The suit opened back up and Naruto stepped out.
"Was it voice activated?" Miranda guessed.
"Only after you tried to open it," Naruto said. "Though it might work better for you since it was asking me for a Pip-boy."
"Why would it — " Miranda's question was cut short by the ricochet of a bullet splattered the gravel on the roof.
Naruto quickly pulled her bag off and pushed Miranda towards the armor. "Get in! Make sure you plant both feet on the platforms and set your hands inside the gloves!" He instructed, grabbing her by the waist to hoist her into the suit.
"I'm in!" Miranda announced as the armor closed around her.
"Grab your gun and shoot at them until I can cover me while I get the mini gun!" Naruto said as he handed her a handgun to fire.
"Naruto, I… I don't think I can do this!" Miranda's reluctance was clear, even through the modulated voice.
"Just fire in their general direction while I get the gun!" Naruto shouted.
Miranda reluctantly did so. The suit reverberated violently and almost in a constant as it deflected multiple shots. She could only hope her readings were accurate as the power armor seemed to be holding up well under the unrelenting gunfire.
She flinched as a particular round bounced off her head, making her take a step back.
Naruto shifted around Miranda and leapt into the Verti-bird. He idly acknowledged the skeletal remains in the pilots seat as he reached for the mini gun. Using his natural strength, he was able to pull the gun from its mount, bringing with it its munitions box.
He was immensely frustrated to find the gun did not work. He followed a trail of wires from the mini gun to the Verti-bird, realizing it required a source of power to operate and he'd just torn it. Naruto dropped it and turned back to Miranda, seeing her stumbling beneath the sustained fire.
He could hear Preston and his group returning fire but from the sound of it, the only one's firing were likely only Preston himself, and potentially Sturges. They would not be enough to push back the enemy and he didn't know how much longer Miranda's armor would hold.
If he didn't act soon, they would lose. Considering the sheer amount of bullets raining down on them, along with his many ailments, the possibility he would die was very much real. Naruto could only hope Preston and his group would care for Miranda in his absence should the worse come to pass.
"Get back with the others!" Naruto shouted as he ran for the edge. "I'll finish this!"
"Wait!" Miranda reached out to him, watching hopelessly as he leapt across to the next rooftop where he began to fire at the ones below. She felt frustration burn at her own fear. Naruto was fighting desperately for all of their lives while she watched on from the safety of her power armor.
Her gun trembled in her hand. She really did want to help Naruto but ultimately, she could not overcome her fear. All Miranda could do was what he asked of her, running back inside with the personal promise of being of more help in the future.
"Shit," Naruto said as he ducked behind a rooftop entry way. They quickly wisened up to his high ground and had sent reinforcements up to neighboring rooftops just as he'd used the last of his ammunition, the barrel of his gun steaming in its locked position.
There were far more of the enemy than he could have ever suspected; a small army, truly. With his ranged advantage spent and his chakra just as low, Naruto had little choice but to engage them closely.
"Fucking Synth! Come out so I can kill you!"
Naruto created an illusionary clone and sent it out in the opposite direction to the one he'd taken. As expected, they focused their fire on the illusion while he moved into to the nearest man stationed on was once an apothecary.
He quickly killed the man, taking his knife back as well as ammunition for the shoddy rifle, quickly dispatching the other two which had taken to neighboring rooftops with well aimed knife throws.
But now even the most basic of movements was growing difficult. His entire body ached but no part more than his throbbing head, and he could feel the wounds beneath his suit had opened, the warmth of his own blood spreading in his chest. Naruto knew a prolonged fight would be just as dangerous as taking them on equal ground. Fighting them head on wasn't the best option for him physically but what little ammunition he found wouldn't be enough to end the remaining forces.
"What the fuck is he?" A voice broke through the trifle.
Naruto dropped down in an alley way, taking two steps before an overwhelming sickening sensation flooded his belly. He wretched what little they'd eaten that morning and was worried seeing streaks of red streaking his regurgitation.
"Fuck," Naruto wiped his mouth on his sleeve.
Hearing the something clink behind him, Naruto's eyes widened when he saw a grenade rolling on the ground. He quickly performed a Shunshin a short distance outside of the alley just as the ordinance exploded.
Before he could regain composure, a bullet tore through his shoulder, knocking him off balance. He was able to quickly ascertain the direction in which the pullet was fired and unloaded the last of his bullets into the rifleman hidden in the second story of a print shop, three of his five shots hitting their mark.
Two particularly menacing men stepped out from within what was once a deli, out of the line of sight of his support, leaving Naruto exposed in the middle of the street. Naruto cursed his recent luck as he realized they'd somehow repositioned themselves too far for him to reach in a single bound considering his reserves were now only enough to keep him alive.
"You," one of the men stepped forward. He was tall and heavily armored. "You killed them all. You goddamned monster."
Naruto decided he needed to end them now or they would do the same to him. He also knew that if he were to stop now he wasn't sure he would be able to continue.
His eyes flared to life, causing the two men to take a step back in surprise. He knew as he currently was he would be unable to out maneuver a speeding bullet, but he could map out a general direction in which the men were going to fire by focusing in on their weapons and trigger fingers.
Running as quickly as he was physically able, Naruto moved his body sporadically to avoid getting hit. In exerting himself, he began to see black splotches painting the edges of his vision.
Knowing his limits were reached, Naruto used a Shunshin to cover the remaining distance. He landed between the two men and grabbed both their necks, snapping them while also bringing them down to the ground with a sickening crunch.
They died instantly and Naruto proceeded to double over again, regurgitating a mixture of yellow and a deeper shade of red bile. His entire body burning in pain.
He tried to walk towards the nearest building but ended up falling. He had no way of knowing if the two he'd just killed were the final two so he crawled when he could no longer walk.
Naruto found himself in an old furniture store where he dragged himself to the nearest sofa and laid on it. From within a seal he retrieved his backpack and drew a water bottle and a box containing his sole remaining pill. He quickly downed both and leaned his head back with a tired sigh. The cool dark shadows soothed him and he closed his heavy eyes, feeling incredibly tired, almost as if he'd never slept before in his life.
"I used too much chakra," Naruto realized. He was suffering from complete chakra exhaustion, something he'd done only twice and was subsequently scolded by both Sakura and Tsunade. The only difference being now, he had neither to heal him, nor Kurama to resupply him with chakra.
He began to fade in and out of awareness and his thoughts began to scramble and it almost sounded like someone was calling his name but he was too comfortable to care. Unaware of the blood leaking from the corner of his mouth, Naruto decided he was going to sleep, his only regret was having failed another person.
That was until the voice began to sound familiar.
"Hinata?"
Naruto felt himself being lifted just as everything faded away.
In a reversal of roles, Miranda held Naruto in her arms as she frantically followed Preston back to the Museum of freedom. Uncaring of the bodies she stepped over, she could focus on little else than Naruto's still form.
"Set him down," Preston instructed.
Miranda did so and lumbered back to allow the man to inspect Naruto. Meanwhile she fiddled with her Pip-boy through the display on her left arm until she found the section that controlled the power armors settings. She was back at Naruto's side as soon as the armor opened.
"Is he shot?" She asked.
"I can't tell. His wounds are bleeding but I think he may have been hit on the shoulder," Preston said. "Sturges, get the med-kit!"
Sturges returned with a bag and a gallon of water.
"Here ya go."
Preston poured the water over the bleeding wraps and cut them off with the same knife he used to cut the vault suit open. All present flinched seeing the wounds oozing blood slowly and unfortunately, steadily.
"The poor boy. He's suffering from radiation poisoning," Mama Murphy stated grimly.
"Shit, she's right," Sturges agreed lowly.
"It explains the profuse bleeding in his more shallow wounds," Preston added as he continued to hold pressure.
"What the hell are you saying?" Miranda demanded through tears she hadn't realized she was sheding. "He's just hurt! He isn't sick, he would have told me if he was sick!"
"I'm sorry Miranda, but he displays all of the symptoms. Pale skin, dark under eyes, his wounds won't clot properly," Preston said. "I thought I noticed it earlier but I didn't want to mention it because I wasn't sure. Has he been throwing up recently or, you know, the alternative?"
Miranda felt her desperation growing with every word. "No, he killed this huge monster and that's why he's hurt!"
Preston and Sturges shared a look between them.
"You have a Pip-boy. Take it off and put it on him. It'll show us just how much radiation he's sick with," Sturges suggested.
Her shaking hands made it difficult to unbuckle the device from her arm but when she did, she gently clasped it around Naruto's. As soon as she did so, the radiation counter shot into the red and a warning appeared on the Pip-Boy. The cartoonish depiction of her person, now male, looked sick, his entire torso indicated a grievous injury.
"No," Miranda whispered. "No. He's going to be okay. He has to be. He promised he'd help me find my daughter. He can't… he promised."
"Sturges, get the Rad-Away," Preston ordered. He looked to Miranda with a look of determination she didn't see. "I won't let him break that promise. We'll save him."
Miranda didn't seem to take notice of what he said, instead her hand was reaching for Naruto, mere inches from his face but unable to touch him.
"Do you know how rare and expensive that shit is?" Mercy interjected loudly. "Why should we waste it on him? It's obvious he's dying."
Sturges was of a like mind, showing so by standing in place, uncertainty playing on his features.
"We're doing this because he risked his life to save ours. Now get the fucking Rad-Away right now!" Preston demanded this time around, visibly surprising the survivors he traveled with. In all their time together, they'd never heard him curse.
Knowing he was given an order, Sturges disappeared from sight.
"It'll be a waste on him!" Mercy continued her rant. "Just look at him! He's been shot, he's torn to shit, and he's bleeding out! I say we let him die or else — "
Miranda was on her feet and in another first, struck Mercy across the face with her fist, sending her sprawling. "You shut your mouth right now!" She stepped forward as the downed woman crawled back. "I'm not going to lose him too so if you try and get in the way, I'll kill you myself!"
"Now that's quite enough, dear," Momma Murphy interjected calmly. "Your young friend is stronger than you know. Do not leave his side and all will be okay."
Mercy's husband, Jun tried to help his wife to her feet, but was downtrodden when she ripped herself free of his grip and stormed away.
"Actually, Momma Murphy, if you'll take Miranda with you while Sturges and I work on him," Preston glanced at the woman in question. "You may not want to see this."
"I'm staying," Miranda announced firmly as she returned to Naruto's side. She held his hand from behind the sofa so as to be out of their way.
"Yes ma'am," Preston almost smiled at the display. He turned to Sturges, who'd returned in time to witness the scuffle. "You ready?"
"I never am," Sturges lamented following a sigh. "But yeah, let's do this."
Miranda's focus remained on Naruto's face throughout the ordeal and just how young he looked when he was sleeping. She'd even braved touching the whisker-like marks on his cheeks, something she'd been curious about but never had the courage to outright ask him about considering he'd come from a world constantly at war.
His rosy cheeks were soft to the touch, if a bit rough from the beginnings of a beard. The marks themselves felt slightly indented but also pliable and just as soft. They seemed perfectly symmetrical, making her wonder if they were scars or actual birth marks. Whatever the case, his whiskers, combined with his bright blond hair and beautiful blue eyes, made him look rather adorable.
But he was also very handsome.
Unaware of where her thoughts were straying, Miranda's fingers traced his strong jaw, a positive reminder of his strength, and then up to his burning forehead beneath his hairline. She palmed it, now not so much surprised by how hot he ran, but just as concerned. For the rest of the makeshift operation she was actively ignoring, she focused on his forehead, from palming it to moving to touch it with the back of her hand, trying redundantly to somehow cool him off by absorbing some of his heat.
"It's done," Preston announced, breaking Miranda from her odd trance.
She glanced down to find both Preston and Sturges both bloodied and sweaty. Though their appearances was a mere acknowledgment as she focused on the full bodied bandages wrapped around Naruto's chest, quickly darkening with blood. From his free arm was an intravenous line leading up to an IV bag hanging from an old hat rack.
"Will he be okay?" Miranda asked Preston after he'd returned from washing himself.
"We can only hope so, if I'm being honest. Usually radiation levels so high require a lengthy hospital visit and more Rad-away than we have. Well, from what I'm told, anyway," Preston seemed to add as a response to Miranda's own visible worry. "You'll have to keep him hydrated while he rests. Other than that, we're just gonna have to wait and see how he reacts."
"The hell we are!" Mercy began again. "We can't stay here! What if more of those fucking raiders show up? Tell them, Jun!"
Beside her, the man seemed to shrink into himself.
"Well, t-they did save us."
"Ugh, why did I even marry you?" Mercy groaned.
"He's right," Preston said with full authority in his voice. "They've helped us tremendously when they had no need to. They saved us and so now, we'll be returning the favor in staying put until he recovers. That's final."
Mercy muttered a curse beneath her breath before storming away.
"I'm sorry bout that," Preston apologized to Miranda. "We really do appreciate the help and I'm sorry Naruto's in this position. But Momma Murphy did say he would be okay and I reckon I believe her. She has amazing visions, you know."
His words scarcely reached Miranda, who'd taken to moving Naruto's head into her lap. One of her hands palmed his head through the mess that was his hair, while the other continued absorbing the heat radiating from his forehead.
Preston once again smiled seeing this and turned to Momma Murphy. "Can I leave them in your care for now? I need to help Sturges secure the parameter, just in case."
"Of course, dear," she answered simply.
"Thank you," Preston said in parting.
"Idiot, you absolutely stupid selfish dummy," Miranda scolded him beneath her breath. "How could you have kept this from me? You were so sick and I was nothing but trouble for you. But just you wait, after you get better I'll do better. That is after I slap the whiskers off your stupid face for lying to me," she continued ranting through tears which fell periodically, landing on his cheeks.
Momma Murphy was left with a smile as she watched the two young souls interact, the girl lovingly stroking the boy's hair as she fretted over him.
Momma Murphy could see the slightest hints of their future together. Their very souls were tightly interconnected on a journey that would take them through many trails and tribulations, as well as times of both joy and anguish. The only thing that worried the old seer was her inability to determine their end or any inklings of it.
Nothing more came of her vision, only a deep craving.
She really needed more jet.
I want to thank everyone who's left a review so far.
Also, for those who are upset Naruto's not One Punch Man, he's well on his way to getting better. But just as a reminder, he won't have God mode in this because honestly, that's kind of boring to read sometimes because honestly there would be little to nothing that could challenge him in the Fallout world short of a nuke.
That said, he'll still be incredibly powerful. Just have to build back up to that.
Until next time!