A/N: EDIT: Expanded a certain scene by popular demand.
The new season is out?! With how many episodes?! Why did no one tell me?!
*head meets desk* This is what I get for not having Amazon...
Seems I've got some streaming to do.
EDIT: Alright! Caught up!
As ever, we're following the Ember's 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! As ever, The fate of this story depends on you, the reader.
Q: Update schedule! Give us something besides RWBY and Elden Ring!
A: Doctor of Demons, Just a Shinobi, Set Your Heart Ablaze and Everybody/Wants to Be My Enemy are coming along nicely. Archon is going to be a MASSIVE chapter. Probably near 10K at that.
Q: Will Naruto have a pairing?
A: Yes, though I'll not say who. John/Homelander will have a gal of his own, naturally.
Q: Stormfront?! No. Ugh, just no. Kill the witch.
A: Read and see~!
Q:...mighta asked this before, but how f***ed is Vought?
A: Right in the down under~! It really wasn't clear before, but this chapter makes it to so. Vought's been thrown down a hole and they're still trying to dig their way to daylight. Naruto and Edgar will meet down the line of course, man's too legendary too ignore. Jeez, even the chap who plays his younger self is one hell of an actor.
Poor Black Noir, though. That looked paaaaiiinful...
Q: We getting a timeskip soon?
A: A minor one, though I'll let you guess how long. Young John's been a busy boy, hopping from place to place, helping whoever he can. Helps when you have a proper parental figure to anchor yourself against; moreso when said parent pushes you to be your very best self. And if said parental figure could annihilate anyone who dared harm you at the drop of a hat...well, surely that's a's a bonus, no?
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!
I'll warn you again; you should brace yourself. These chapters reeeaaally don't pull any punches.
If you get Butcher/Homelander vibes from Naruto's chapter, that's intentional. He's very much a papa bear when it comes to his family.
"I haven't had this much fun in ages! What did you say your name was...?
~?
A Coin Toss
John loved the snow.
There was just...something special about it, you know?
It softened his landings like nothing else, was ever cool against face when he overused his heat vision, and it just looked so damn nice. Reminded him of his first Christmas with Dad. What a day that had been. Plenty of snow that day. Presents galore. The fun they'd had...just thinking of it put a smile on his face. Life was good. Even way up here in the cold, with the wind raging and chill biting at his exposed face, John couldn't help but grin as he gazed up into the teeming pine forest above.
Summer could go suck a nut. Winter was the best.
A pair of tiny, shivering arms tightened around his neck. Oops. Almost forgot about his passenger.
Little acts like these did his heart good; flying around the world, finding people in trouble, lending a helping hand. That sort of thing. Today was no different.
"You'll be alright now, miss." he looked back, glimpsing at a mess of chestnut hair buried against the back of his shoulder. "I'll have you home in a second. Just hang on."
"...No...!"
The girl gave a muffled squeak and clung tight. He paused, legs still tense. "I'm sorry?"
...not there...!" her voice was muffled, the reediest of whispers. "Don't take me back...to Vought...
Well, well, well. Seemed there was a story there. Curiosity reared its ugly head and his temper alongside it, but John stamped the latter down. The cold never bothered him anyway, but he could feel the poor girl shivering against him. He'd need to get her out the cold and fast. Another day, another life to save. Dad would know what to do. He always did. Really, the answer was obvious.
"Alright. You're coming with me."
"Wait, whaaaaaaaaaa?!"
With a whoop -and a yelp from the girl clinging to his back!- he gathered his legs beneath him and leaped; not enough to take flight, but enough to hurtle himself forward all the same. The forest shrank to a pinpoint of green brilliance below, but his keen eyes held true despite their destination; a distant town. He could find clothes for her there. Surely someone would have something. After that, a quick flight would see him -them!- back home once more.
He heard a beast bray in the distance as they landed.
Craning his neck, John tugged down his hood and glared toward the sound. Another search party? No...even from here could see them; a series of shadowy shapes weaving their way through the trees. Dark shapes. Armed shapes. Shapes with guns and leashed and were those...
He clicked his tongue in mild disapproval. "Dogs, really?"
Being a hero was hard. It felt like no matter where he went, there was always someone chasing him. Or maybe they were after the girl clinging to him.
He thought about killing them for a moment; those mangy mutts and their hardy handlers. They might even deserve it. His fists balled at his sides. Bloody bastards. Thought they could hunt him, did they? It would be so easy to make it seem like that had a little...accident. Five seconds. He'd be in and out before they knew what hit them. They wouldn't be able to stop him. By the time anyone found their bodies, he'd be back in the states. Yes, no one would miss them.
A memory whispered in the back of his mind and with it a baseball landed in an open mitt, spitting scarlet sparks.
"Listen, John." Dad hefted the burnt ball with a sigh. "Just because you can kill, doesn't mean you should."
The baseball whizzed back. "You do, though."
"You're right, I do." he caught and whipped the singed sphere at him. It landed in his open palms, sending him sliding back half a foot. "But only when I have to."
"To protect me." the reminder had him hanging his head, even if he hadn't mean it that way. "I know." he raised his gaze. "But I'm getting stronger!
He launched it at his mentor, full speed. A golden hand caught with ease. "You are. I actually felt that."
Pride kicked in his heart. With it came fear. "What if I have no choice but TO kill?"
"Then do what you have to do. Do you want to hurt others?"
"Well...no, its not something I enjoy...
"Good." Dad's smile warmed him even now as he slammed through the drifts. "That's the difference between a hero and a bully. "You'll be a hero alright, but on your terms. Not theirs. You thought of a good name yet? Maybe something to use when you're older?"
"I was thinking...Homelander?"
A hand clapped his shoulder. "Bit cheesy, but it works."
Reality snapped back like a rubber band.
"You want a chase?" he grinned. "Fine. I'll give you a chase...
This time, John didn't jump. He gathered his legs beneath him and soared.
(.0.0.0.)
There was a stranger at his door.
Naruto could see her out there, standing on the balcony, arms clasped behind her back, smokey eyes gazing at him through the glass. His mind flicked through a quick checklist as he set his bottle down. Not a normal one, this woman. Clad in fashionable dark red and black, dressed to kill, flowing cape behind her back...yup. Another would-be Super. Was that supposed to be intimidating?
"Dad?"
"No, its fine." he paused for a moment, realizing he was still on the phone. "That's fine. Bring her in. I'll see what I can do. How far out are you?"
...a few minutes, maybe?"
"Great."
He snapped the flip phone shut and pivoted to face the intruder with a grim look.
In hindsight he'd expected Vought to send someone else after them eventually. Wasn't a surprise. It was in their nature. While that so-called company loved the idea of being deified by the ignorant masses they claimed to serve, they simply couldn't bear the thought of being defied by them. Didn't matter if it was one man, or an army. They just couldn't crack it. So they'd sent...whoever this was. She looked prim and proper in that uniform of hers out there, professional even. Just like a Supe should.
He wasn't fooled for an instant. Her heart was blacker than tar.
"Say the word and I'll have her head on a spike."
"Now, now, Kurama." the blond hummed, gliding toward the door. "Its nearly Christmas. Where's your holiday spirit?"
...hohoho, off with her head?"
"Spoilsport."
He clicked open the door and poked his head out into the biting winds. The woman didn't bat an eyelash. Must've been freezing out there in that thin leotard, but still, she did budge. He'd give her credit for that if nothing else. Most would have run by now. Was it arrogance that made her stand her ground, or just simple stupidity. Her eyes flicked to his bare chest for a fleeting moment.
"Bit of a voyeur, aren't you?" he quirked a brow at her. "Expecting a strip tease or something?"
The woman tilted her head, dark hair falling across one eye. "Can I come in?"
"Dunno." he smacked his lips with an audible pop. "Can you?"
She granted him a flat state. "May I?"
"Its your funeral." he shrugged and stepped back for her with a sweeping bow. "Try not to get any blood on the carpet. Its hell to clean, ya know."
The nameless woman stalked past him. Her eyes raked across the living room, searching for something, and finding nothing. Silly girl. If she was looking for John she wouldn't find him here. Even so, he pivoted, taking a hand out his pocket. If she thought to catch him off guard, she'd be sorely dissapointed.
Emphasis on sore.
She wasn't the first Supe sent after him. Probably wouldn't be the last.
Which was precisely why her words caught him off guard.
"I have come to apologize."
"Have you now?" a blue eye sought her out over his shoulder. "That implies guilt. Got something to confess?"
"Lets not beat around the bush." She pursed her lips. "You have something that belongs to us. You've had him for quite some time now. What are your terms?"
Naruto plonked down into the couch and cracked open another beer.
"No idea what you're on about...
(.0.0.0.)
This was not going to plan.
It should have been simple in theory; at least, Stormfront felt so. Feign kindness, get her foot in the door, apply some pressure, find out what he wanted. And if he wouldn't yield, then she'd make him yield. As she had done with countless others before. He would break. Just like the rest.
She'd lived for so long now, all for the sake of her dream. She wasn't about to let some stupid asian prick undo her work.
"That boy, is company property." she kept both hands clasped behind his back. "You may think you're doing him some small measure of kindness with this...farce," a gloved hand gestured, "But in truth, you aren't. Return him to us, and we'll see him raised properly, with all the tools he needs to excel."
"Hmm? What's this?" Naruto spread his arms. "Boy? I see no boy here."
"Enough!" her temper sparked. "We know you have him. The sooner you admit it, the sooner we can be done with this."
"Prove it, bitch." he grinned at her, teeth bared. "Oh, would you look at that! I cursed. Again! Been doing an awful lot of that since I found myself in this world of yours. Wanna know why?"
Stormfront opened her mouth to interject.
"Ah, ah, ah!" a finger pressed against her lips and she realized, quite suddenly, that he was standing, towering over her. "My turn to talk now. You see, it wasn't all the needles or the drugs you bastards filled me with that made me this way, though that certainly gave me a...nudge." he took a step forward, forcing her back against the wall. "It wasn't even the pointless cruelty, although this too, played a part. No, it was the moment you took it into your fuckin' heads to experiment on a damn kid."
Silence stretched between them. She tried to speak again. "Everything we did was for the good of-
"Then, when the world called you on the carpet for it," his voice overrode hers, a gravely growl that stilled her bones, "you feigned ignorance. Do you have any idea how badly you messed him up? I'm still working on him, even after all this time. And now you want that kid back? No. Nope. Negatory. Not on my life."
"Are you quite done?"
"Lady, I'm just getting started." In a flash he stepped into her personal, forcing her to hop back or risk being run down entirely. "See, that's the thing about the powerful." another step. Another retreat on her part. "They're so used to having their way, running roughshod over the powerless, getting whatever they want, whenever they want it." her back hit a wall. His forehead slammed against hers, breath hot on her face. "Did it ever occur to you that someone with enough power to crack your world in half, someone who once was powerless himself, might take issue with that?"
Damn him. He wasn't letting her catch her breath, much less set the pace.
"No?" a tilt of said head sent sparks shooting down her fingers. "Didn't think so. Don't worry. You're gonna learn today...but before we start this little shindig, you mind if I do a bit of light reading?" without giving her a chance to protest, he paced past her to the kitchen island and snatched a cookbook off the counter. "Always helps calm my mind when I'm dealing a powerdrunk witch."
"This from the man who stinks of rum." she muttered under her breath.
"There's a good reason for that, little missy." Naruto's smile told her she'd blundered. "Because I'm rather fond of Ramen. And rum." he flung an arm back at the rack behind him. "Helps with the pain, you see." when he turned the light played off his back, revealing a latticework of scars there. "The pain from all those drugs you lot shoved into me."
Stormfront's blood ran colder than ice. He'd understood her just now. "...you speak German?"
"Yup." He turned another page, still not looking at her. "But we're getting off topic, aren't we? You people, your company, your men, hunted my boy. With dogs. Through the snow." a chill shivered through the air as his eyes rose to meet hers; the smile that touched his lips was sharp as ice. "But today is for forgiveness, isn't it? You said so yourself." his eyes flitted back down to the pages anew, paying her no more heed than one might an annoying housefly. "Now sit your pretty little ass down and listen."
She'd thought that a good idea in the beginning. Not so Bad idea now!
...and if I refuse?"
He smiled. "Then you meet Kurama. You wanted my terms, didn't you?"
She dared a nod. They were going to be exacting. She just knew it. And they were.
"I want to meet with whoever the hell runs Vought. Personally." the blond bastard pulled out a skillet as she looked on and began to rummage around in the cupboard for ingredients. "Those are my terms. Refuse, and I'll tear your company down brick by bitter brick. Are we clear?"
Her blood boiled. Who was he to make such demands of her? "That's out of the question."
"Is is, though?" She heard the stove click on, saw the fire flare as he drew out his spice rack. "I like to think I'm being quite reasonable-
Strike! Now! While his back was turned! Her fist slammed down at his head!
It landed in his open palm instead.
"Poor choice."
Agony ground up her arm. Her prey laughed, a low throaty sound that had no business coming from a human mouth.
Then he took her the head and shoved her face into the fire.
If there had been pain before, this was agony. Slow. Heat licked at her cheek, stabbing into her right eye. She thrashed backward as her hair began to smolder. Still he held her closer to the flame. She daren't use her powers here, not for fear of blowing them both to kingdom come.
"Do you smell that?" his voice was colder than arctic ocean. "That would be your skin peeling. If I hold you there much longer, you're gonna have some nasty burns. Why, you might even lose that eye! Doesn't feel so nice when the shoe's on the other foot now, does it?"
She grit her teeth. She wouldn't scream. She refused to scream...damnit!
"Bastard...!"
"That's right. I am. Truth be told, I would prefer to be loved," her tormentor continued amicably, plucking her out of the flames, uncaring of her cry. "I want to be a good influence to John. Really, I would. But if you take that away from me." his hand twisted further, forcing her to a knee with a cry of purest pain, "Well, you know that they say. Love and fear? They're two sides of the same coin." she felt the joints in her wrist pop and twist "...if I can't have anything else, I'll settle for fear. Maybe that'll knock some sense into you idiots. So go ahead, missy." baleful blue eyes leered down at her. "Do it. See what happens. Because you see, it begs the question. If you're the strongest Vought has to offer...
He let her go then, the fool. She wouldn't give him a chance like that again.
...who do they send after you?"
Clutching her face, Stormfront stumbled to her feet. "No one. You'll die here tonight."
"Look, lady. You reeeaaally don't want to do this. I'm warning you."
Stormfront tilted her head. "And how sure are you?"
...sure enough." Naruto exhaled in a long suffering out a soft sigh. "Tell you what." he touched a finger to his chin. "I'm in a good mood. I'll give you a free shot for your trouble. But I'm warning you, if you waste it...
Clenched knuckles barreled into his face. His chin snapped to the side, then swung back, eyes alight.
"...you're gonna regret it."
Stormfront swung again. Her fist folded him in half. The third left him gasping for air. A fourth snapped his head to the side, effectively breaking his neck.
"Yes, excellent! I haven't had this much fun in ages!" he doubled over with a snicker, clutching at his sides. Not in pain...but laughter. "I actually felt that!" When he raised his gaze, his hands moved, took hold of his head and popped his neck back into place. Baleful red eyes blazed at her, the eyes of a beast lurking within a man. "What did you say your name was?"
Stormfront recoiled, eyes bulging fit to burst in her head. Oh gods...he wasn't a man at all. This was a monster!
"Suppose it doesn't matter." Golden fingers closed around her startled face. "My turn~!"
She didn't even have time to scream.
(.0.0.0.)
John landed soundlessly on the balcony.
Odd. Dad usually didn't leave that door unlocked at night...
Dread mounted in his heart. What if he was...? No. Don't think about that.
"Dad?" He edged it open with a grimace. "Its me! I'm home? Are you...alright?"
"C'mon in!" he heard his voice from the living room as they crept in. "I'm just tidying up."
Sure enough his mentor found him within, vigorously running a mop over the kitchen floor. If that wasn't telling, he didn't know what was.
"Don't mind the mess." he pivoted. Was that blood on his face? He saw the girl holding his hand a moment later and a smile flashed forth. "John, m'boy! So this is your friend? She's adorable!"
John gave her a nudge, spurring her forward. "Say hello, Maeve."
She ducked her head brushed prettily. "...Hello."
Dad only grinned all the more.
"My boy's growing up...!"
Heat his cheeks.
"Daaaaaad!"
A/N: Don't mess with papa bear. I'll let you guess at Stormfront's fate.
Like I said, major changes are hitting all around here. Vought still has plenty of power, but Naruto and John's little revolution has already altered events substantially.
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)
"Do you trust me?"
Maeve sputtered. "You're cracked."
He kept grinning, the silly boy. "
...then don't let go."
He leaped and she shrieked, a shriek that became a laugh as they hurtled into the air.
"You must be Edgar. Its so nice to finally meet you. Mind if I take a seat?"
Credit where it was due, he didn't flinch.
...by all means."
"Not a bad cape." Naruto thumbed his chin and nodded once. "I say go with it. I mean, its your costume after all."
John pivoted in place. "You think so? Stars and stripes aren't too much?"
"Naaaah."
Vought would have a conniption over this.
R&R~!