A/N: Read this note, would you kindly? Got some important info.
Big changes are coming to this site.
I'll say it plain, if this email opt-in business with the site doesn't get resolved soon, I'm probably going to retire.
It HURTS to say that, but with this new system, reviews and readers have dropped to an all time low, many authors are leaving the site in droves.
If you're not already aware, ever since the 16th of November, you now have to turn ON your email alerts in account settings-MAKE SURE YOU CLICK SAVE SETTINGS!-else you won't be notified when anyone updates. No alerts, no email, no nothing. Apparently that's a thing we all have to do every ninety days or so, now. Alas, not many are aware of it...which is a problem. As things stand this new "fix" as it were, has cut everyone's viewership/reviewers in half because most folks don't know about it. Authors are leaving/quitting in droves because of this.
Sometimes opting in works. Sometimes it doesn't. Really depends. Hopefully the devs can fix tweak/update this system.
As ever the Embers rule persists, reviews are my fuel, my fire, my life. Without them, I lose all inspiration, all hope, all ability to write. That's no joke. I have so little time to write these days with two jobs, and silence hurts. So by all means, speak up! Make yourselves heard! Every bit of feedback, no matter how small or large, matters! Really, it helps a lot. Its a joy to talk with you all and bandy ideas back and forth; it really is. Sorry if this seems shorter than usual, working on a tight schedule here.
No questions to answer this time, for many spoiiers lie ahead. With that said here we go. I've kept you waiting long enough.
As ever, I own no references, quotes, themes or memes! They're merely tributes.
Not a wit or a one. They're merely tributes to legends far greater than I.
And finally, a warning. Spoilers. Goes without saying, I suppose.
Heeeeeere we go~!
"All it takes is one spark to ignite change. But he is far more than a spark, now. Don't you see?"
He has become an inferno! And there's no sweeping this one under the rug! Not anymore!
He's going to burn right through this rotten system! Just you wait!"
~?
Just a Proposal
"Are you sure what was wise?"
"She wasn't faking, Kurama." Naruto heaved a sigh as he opened the window. "Those were real tears. She's all torn up inside."
"Ain't the tears I'm doubting. You just let her walk away. No consequences."
"I let Nagan go, sure," he grinned. "But I never said where she was going. Two guesses where.
"Hrrmmm? Wait. Oh. Ohh. Ohhh. That's actually clever. Does she know you're using her as bait?"
"Probably."
"Since when did you start using your brain?"
He scoffed and created a shadow clone. "Since I had a family to protect."
Said doppelganger didn't resist as he began to disguise it, tugging up its hood and wrapping a dark mask round the lower half of its face. In the end, it was a matter of perspective. How did the saying go? One man's trash is another's treasure. Lady Nagant's organization might try to silence her for her failure here today, scrap her for failing their so-called "ideals". Unacceptable. He wouldn't allow it. Not after she'd bawled like that.
"Follow her." he commanded it. "Make sure she gets where she needs to go safely."
A blink. "And if she's threatened?"
She likely would be. "Do what needs to be done and help her return safely."
His clone saluted and shot out the window in a streak of gold.
Naruto closed it behind him with a grim nod.
...time to check in on Rei.
(.0.0.0.)
"You let her go? Just like that?"
"Yup." Naruto bobbed his head in agreement and flung himself down onto the couch beside her with a hearty sigh. His smile was telling. "Just like that."
Rei Todoroki found herself somewhat...concerned by the nature of his smile. It was the same one he'd worn when he thrashed Endeavor within an inch of his life and left her husband a beaten, broken man; that said smile was currently directed at the ceiling of their humble little hideaway worried her to no end.
The children were all abed at last, and they were alone. It was just the two of them down here in the den.
She should've been excited by such; finally, a chance to speak with him in privacy without prying eyes or little ones running around underfoot. No distractions. No one to interfere.
And yet. Rei worried.
She worried a great deal.
Why on earth wasn't he concerned?
She could hear the wind howling outside; rattling against the trees, causing the house to creak. Yet for all that the room was warm, lit by a warm, insulated hearth. Firelight cast flickering images about the room, causing their shadows to shrink and grow. His seemed so much larger compared to hers, so strong and determined, while hers flickered and faded.
"Don't worry." He smiled at her. "I'm here; I'm not going anywhere."
Rei wasn't sure if it was quiet confidence or actual arrogance on his part that compelled him to say those words. Either way, his suddenly blase attitude concerned her. He'd been downright determined earlier. Fierce, even. Why would he let a potential enemy go their own way, unless...her eyes widened and sure enough his eyes danced with mirth. Ah. She should have known. In the brief time she'd known him, Naruto had proven himself a man of many talents and facets, but stupidity wasn't one of them.
She at a little straighter on the sofa, regarding him anew. "You converted her, didn't you?"
A wry smile touched the corner of his mouth. "Not so much converted as...convinced."
Rei pursed her lips. "Naruto."
"Miss Rei"~! he sang back, teasing her.
"Don't." she held up a hand with a wince. "Please don't call me that. You'll make me feel old."
Among other things. For better or worse, the chapter of her life, the time she'd spent with Enji, that was over now. Maybe things could've been better. Maybe she could've stuck it out. Maybe there was light at the end of the tunnel. Maybe their fractured family would've become whole by the end. She'd never know now.
Naruto tilted his head. "Just Rei, then?"
A faint hint of pink hit her cheeks and she felt her quirk slip away from her for a moment; manifesting in tiny tendrils of hoarfrost beneath her fingertips. She curled her hands into fists to hide the slip. It was too much to hope he wouldn't notice. Mercifully, he didn't remark upon it.
...I would prefer that, yes." when he didn't challenge her request, opportunity knocked. She seized it. "May I call you by your given name as well?"
"Sure." the baffling blond shrugged. "Go right ahead."
So informal! No, no, focus. She had another concern to address. "That woman...Lady Nagant. She knows where we're hiding-
"Nope."
Rei blinked. "Nope?"
His smile gained an impish quality. "Means no. Used an old shinobi trick."
...you blindfolded her, didn't you."
"OI!" he recoiled with a laugh. "You make it sound like I'm some kinda kidnapper!"
She smiled softly. All this banter made her feel young again. "You can kidnap me anytime."
Naruto's brow shot into his hair. "Eh?"
"...?!"
Rei whined and buried her head in her hands. If her face had been pink before, she was certain it was gone scarlet now. No! No, no, no! She'd said that aloud, hadn't she?! She hadn't meant to! Accursed tongue! This was what she got for running her mouth. She was still coming down off an adrenaline high. She'd be kicking herself come morning. Too late to stop now. Might as well go through with it.
"Lady Nagant," she peeked through splayed fingers, not trusting herself to look at him fully. what is she to you? A tool?"
"No." he shook his head and her heart hurt to hear those words. "She'll never be a tool for anyone again." his brow furrowed, darkened by some distant thought. "She's done being their gun."
A blink on her part. Her fingers fell. "Gun?"
He steepled his fingers and laid his chin atop them. "Its her quirk."
"Sounds frightening...and what of me?" she looked up at him through her lashes and tucked a stray strand of pale hair behind her ear, "What am I to you? What happens now? What comes next?"
He'd freed her from a dying marriage and spirited her away to safety. For that, she would always be grateful.
But she had to know what followed. Did he expect her to bind herself to him? Did she want to?
"M'not sure." he shrugged, and for a moment she wondered if he'd read her thoughts. "I don't really know you. I'd like to think we're friends.
Friends. Ha! Friends didn't do what he'd done for her!
But they weren't more than that either now, were they? She didn't know how to define their relationship, or if there even was one. She didn't know what she felt for him yet. Her heard was scarred but he just might heal it. Things had been good with Enji too, in the beginning. Before he had gone sour. Before she'd made mistakes. Before they'd ruined one another. She wasn't sure she could ever trust someone like that again; even if she wanted to. Her duty was to her four children. She would bear these regrets and guilt in her heart. They would be her burden. Hers and hers alone, so that her children might never suffer them.
And yet a voice in her heart bleated. Its not fair! Where's my joy in all this? Don't I deserve to be happy? To be held? To be loved?
In hindsight, Rei wasn't being fair, she knew. Naruto's focus -his heart! was fixed firmly on his son and only recently now, on Toya. In time he'd surely get to know Fuyumi, Natsuo, and even little Shoto. He'd likely come to care for them as he did these two. He'd make such a wonderful father to them. Even if he could never love her. She...she could be content with that, even if hurt...
"Tenko seems to like ya."
Rei's head snapped up with a jolt. She fumbled.. Recovered quickly. "And I, him. He's a good boy."
"He is. Naruto bobbed his head in a glum nod. "He's been through a lot."
"Has he?" she blinked, "And his mother...?"
She'd never considered it. Tenko didn't look a thing like his father. She might assume he'd inherited his mother's appearance, but she'd seen neither hide nor hair of any such person since coming here. It wasn't hard to put two and two together. The conclusion she came to wasn't a pleasant one. They were either separated, his mother was dead, or perhaps...
"Tenko ain't mine by blood." Naruto seemed almost chagrined to admit it, judging by the way he scratched at the back of his head. "I adopted him...after a certain incident." Blue eyes rose to met her and there was a shift in the air. "It took me a while to tease it out of him, to figure out what happened." his eyes met hers again. "What I'm about to tell you doesn't leave this room." his voice gained an edge that hadn't been there before, the warning rumble of a protective father. "Can I trust you?"
She touched a hand to her bosom. "Until the day I die."
Naruto told her. Slowly at first, haltingly, but tell her he did. She immediately wished he hadn't.
Tenko. That boy. That poor, poor boy. How was he even sane?
"Do you have any idea how hard it is for him to open up to people?" Naruto's gaze was cold as ice, colder than anything her Quirk could ever hope to conjure. "It took me ages to win his trust. And yet he willing befriended Toya. And you." his eyes regained their lively luster. "I hope you understand the level of trust that implies-
"He called me mother!" The words burst out of her before she could think to hold them back. "I would never harm him!"
Naruto didn't recoil. He was too strong for that. But he did pause. A rueful smile touched his lips. "Did he now?"
"Don't you think that boy deserves a mother?"
"He does." A grim nod. "He definitely does, but I really haven't had the time to look for...oh." his eyes met hers widened. His face went red. Aha! Not so dense after all. Naruto, she realized, wasn't one to listen to logic, but emotion was another matter. Appeal to his heart and he'd hear you out. "Oh." he said again, looking away. "Never really thought about that."
Rei found herself perking up. He hadn't? Good. There was hope then. Maybe not now, maybe not for a few years, but hope.
Doubt whispered in her ear. He'll betray you. Just Enji. Once he's squeezed a few children out of you...
She tossed her head and shook it away with a growl. No. It wasn't like that. There had been extenuating circumstances with Enji, mistakes neither of them had been willing to face. Naruto would never go down that path. He wasn't afraid to discipline any children under his roof. She'd seen him with the boys. He was good with them. If there was a problem, he'd face it head on.
He rose from the sofa now, no doubt looking to flee after that admission. "Guess we should be getting to bed-
"Wait." Rei tugged at his sleeve before h could. "Might I...have a moment of your time?"
He dithered. "What for?"
She guided him down into the seat beside her. Felt his hip brush hers. He didn't resist. Firelight flashed over his face again, casting half of it into shadow. His face was wholly unreadable.
"I have a proposal for you." Rei looked down, twiddling her thumbs for a moment to muster her resolve. "If we're going to hide, don't send me away." she found it and raised her gaze; trying her best not to tremble as she might his eyes. "Let me stay. Let me be Tenko's mother. Let me...
She swallowed, hiccuping a little. Oh gods, she couldn't say the rest. She didn't care what he did with Lady Nagant or whomever. This was her chance. Her moment.
Even if it wasn't love yet, it could be. Hopefully. Maybe. Someday. Feelings could flourish given time. Somehow, she knew if she let him out of her sight now she'd never have a chance. Nagant -and any others who might follow- would leap past her. The stars had aligned in this instant. If she let it slip...
...let me be your wife."
Naruto's jaw popped open with an audible click. "Ha?"
"Don't make me say it again!" Rei felt herself wilt a little beneath his baffled stare. "I don't think I can.
"You already have four kids to look after. Are you really willing to take on a fifth.
She pouted. "You said yourself you'd help with Toya."
"I did, didn't I?" he granted her a rueful smile. "But are you sure? I know jack all about romance...
"There needn't be any at first." Neither did she apparently, having already ruined one marriage through her own inaction. "We could give it time." His eyes flitted to her right hand. She willed herself to be bold and lay it over his. "Won't you at least consider it?"
His fingers squeezed hers. Rei took the plunge.
"We mentioned hiding earlier, until this mess with Endeavor blows over." she ran a hand through her pale hair thoughtfully. "I'd like to suggest disguises as well. I'd considered growing my hair out, maybe dying it blue, wearing different clothes...
That got a blink from him. "Well, with your ice power you'd certainly be unrecognizable...if you want to, go for it."
"I certainly intend to be by the end of this." She scooted a little closer. "Speaking of recognition...
Oh gods, her heart was beating so fast. Take the plunge again!
'Banzai~!'
"I never had a chance to thank you for what you did." She hummed softly. "That was sweet of you. Here. Let me express my gratitude again.
Naruto made no move to escape her. Warm lips graced his. Soft, slow, and lingering. He didn't respond even when she tilted her head to deepen the kiss; she could tell he was too shocked to react meaningfully. That was just fine. Shock was good. Better than rejection at any rate. She took wicked pleasure in his stupefied expression as she pulled away.
"There." she touched two fingers to her lips and licked them once, silently savoring the taste of him. "I hope that expresses my gratitude properly."
Naruto flushed. "...you really did. And I can hear you two up there!" He called toward the staircase. "Tenko! Toya! Bed! Now!"
Little feet scampered up the steps.
A/N: Aaaand scene.
Well? Whaddya think? Should this continue? Should it be a story? I await your feedback.
As ever, the Embers rule remains. If folks don't like this story...well...I'll not be able to continue it. With two jobs and rent to pay, my free time is...at an all time low. I can't afford to write stories that no one enjoys. So by all means, speak up! Every bit of feedback matters here! Truly, it does! That's no joke!
So in the Immortal Words of Atlas...
...Review, Would You Kindly?
Here, have some juicy previews.
Well, future ones at least.
Potential ones, too..
(Preview(s)
"Go on then." they smiled at him as he dragged himself upright. "Pretend to be everything you are not. Teacher. Husband. Father. You cannot change. "I see the real you, the beast inside." that soulless smile became a mad grin now as they stabbed a finger his way. "You act all high and mighty, but you're not! You're just an animal. Passing on your cruelty and rage. You will never change. You will always be a monster.
...then you don't know me."
"I know enough. You weaken yourself with this "family" of yours.
"And who are you to say that? Everything I do, I do for my family. For those I swore to protect."
"Yo." a low, feral growl echoed behind him in the dark. "So you're the schmuck that messed with Lady Nagant's head."
They froze. "Lady Nagant? I haven't the foggiest idea who you mean. Why would I be interested in a failed-
Gold light flashed Blood spattered the walls. A squealing shriek followed.
"Her name was Kaina." Red eyes blazed in the gloom. "And she's not here to stop me right now. I ain't in the mood for your brand of bullshit...
"You fiend! You won't get away with this! You won't win!"
...I already have."
Long way from home, aren't you?"
"Surrender. Society demands it.
...no."
"Anger is a weapon if you can control it, Toya. But you can get lost in it."
"Don't be sorry. Be better."
"Thatta boy, Tenko!" He swept him up into his arms with a grin. "I knew you could do it!"
"We will be the people we choose to be. Not heroes. Not villains. Us. Ourselves!"
"There are consequences to killing!"
"So you're the one who's been making fools of heroes and villains? Fascinating! How fascinating! What would you say to an interview?"
"Giant mommy!"
"Eh?!"
"We seem to share the same goals. What would you say to an alliance?"
...what kind of alliance?"
"Daddy, look!"
"My quirk is gone...?"
"LEAVE! MY! HOME!"
"Tch. Shitty old man."
"Language, boy."
"I've had enough of your meddling."
"You do not want this fight.
"Ohhh, I think I do."
EDIT: Hey, you made it! Congrats! Thanks for taking the time to read this!
As ever, the Embers rule remains. If folks don't like this story...well...I'll not be able to continue it. With two jobs and rent to pay, my free time is...at an all time low. I can't afford to write stories that no one enjoys. So by all means, speak up! Every bit of feedback, big or small, matters here! Truly, it does! That's no joke!
Looking forward to chatting with you all when I get back from work~!
~Nz.
R&R~!