Naruto sat in the darkness, wondering what to do with his boredom. He didn't need to sleep, eat or drink for that matter – he didn't even need to breathe. It was just habit. His covered ears twitched at the sound of shifting fabric to his right. The heartbeat was fast still, it had been for the past while. "Can't get to sleep Steve?" he asked quietly, making Steve jump slightly.
"How did you know I was awake?" he whispered back, sitting up slightly if the sound of the creaking mattress was anything to go by.
Naruto kept his eyes closed, seeing as they glowed like cat's eyes in the dark. "My ninja senses," he said jokingly before smiling slightly. "No. I could just hear your breathing. You breathe slower when you are asleep Steve. You haven't fallen asleep all night. What is on your mind?"
"My best friend Bucky," Steve said quietly. "He's on the front line. What if he…" Naruto pursed his lips as Steve faltered.
"A lot of good men die in war Steve," Naruto murmured softly. "A lot more than many think. Each of them has someone special to them somewhere in their life who will feel pain with losing them. But trust me when I say that no matter what happens to your friend, he will continue to keep living so long as you have faith in his abilities, even if that means living through you."
Steve was quiet before a quiet, "Thank you," was mumbled.
"Go to sleep Steve," Naruto continued softly, opening his eyes slightly so that Steve could just see his glowing blue irises. "You will need your strength for tomorrow." Thankfully, Steve took his advice.
"Take your time Steve," Naruto said as he sat on the top of the web rope, dangling his feet over the edge. Steve was panting as he tried to climb up the top, failing badly.
"Come on Monkey boy," Hodge taunted. "You too tired to carry on?"
"No I just prefer the view," Naruto said as he lounged, ignoring Hodge's attempt to get him to fight. He was a sore loser that boy. "That's it Steve," he encouraged as the boy climbed. Steve had a determined look on his face through his sweat but his hand slipped and he just stopped himself from falling down by catching himself with his legs.
Naruto sweat dropped. "Good try." He swung his legs over and helped the boy back up.
"Get back in the game soldier!" Phillips roared as he spotted Naruto. "No dillydallying!"
Naruto rolled his eyes but otherwise ignored him talking to Steve. "Okay see here. You've got to use the strength in your legs instead of your arms. See?" As Steve was doing following his example, Naruto felt a gaze on his back and looked up to see Erskine looking at him curiously. Naruto raised an eyebrow before shrugging and catching Steve before he fell head over heels off and broke his neck.
Naruto stared at the gun before back at Phillips. "No," he said simply. "I'm not using it."
The Colonel glared. "Listen soldier, you can use this or you can do fifty press ups. Choose one."
Naruto looked at him before back at the gun before dropping to the ground and beginning. Phillips muttered obscenities before passing a gun to the curious Steve. "Why aren't you using the gun?" he asked as he gestured to the unused weapon.
"Too loud," he answered simply. "I prefer knives."
"Knives aren't going to be good enough in a war," Hodge pointed out arrogantly. Naruto rose an eyebrow before pulling out a knife and looking at the targets they were shooting.
He flicked his wrist and it embedded itself in the head. "Seems good enough for me," he said innocently and Steve coughed to cover his laugh.
"Crawl, crawl, crawl!" Peggy ordered. "Come on ladies! Get to it!"
Naruto just looked at the ground with distaste. "I'll ruin my clothes," he complained.
Peggy's lips twitched in amusement but she tried to frown. "That's your problem for refusing to use the uniform, soldier. Now get to the ground!"
Naruto let out a dramatic sigh before dropping to the ground. Peggy blinked suddenly as she spotted his bare feet. "Where are your shoes?"
"I don't wear shoes," Naruto reminded her. "They are far too uncomfortable." Peggy sighed before waving her hand and making him crawl through the mud.
"You like being difficult don't you?" Jordan said with a roll of his eyes as Naruto joined them.
"Of course," Naruto said with a look of 'are you serious' on his face. "What's life like if you always follow the rules? A good soldier is well and good but they should never forget who they are inside." Steve next to him blinked several times at this but he didn't get a chance to speak before Peggy ordered them to do star jumps. Naruto's covered fox ears twitched as he picked up a conversation.
"Stick a needle in that kids arm and it's gonna go right through him."
"I am looking for qualities beyond the physical."
"Do you know how long it took to set up this project?"
"Yes, I know."
"And all the grovelling I had to do in front of senator what's his name."
"I know. I am well aware of your efforts."
"Then throw me a bone. Hodge passed every test we gave him. He's big, he's fast, he obeys orders. He's a soldier. I would tell Suzaku to do it if it weren't for the fact he's an insufferable man who doesn't listen to a thing I say."
"Hodge is a bully. And Suzaku is a good candidate but I doubt he would agree. Which is why I have chosen Rogers."
"Bully? You don't win games by niceness. You win it with guts."
There was a pause before something was thrown down at them.
"Grenade!"
Naruto watched as the small metal object landed near him. He tilted his head to the side as everyone else jumped away, Jordan dragging him with him. Steve ran and threw himself on the ground, curling up over the grenade yelling at people to stay back. As the seconds passed Naruto rolled his eyes. "It's a dummy grenade people." Steve slowly unravelled and Naruto dragged Jordan to his feet before bounding over to Steve.
Peggy was walking over as well, looking at Naruto. "Stupid things?" she repeated and Naruto smiled knowingly as he helped Steve to his feet.
"Red!" Stark's voice came to him. Naruto waved a hand in greeting from the place he was lounging. "I can't believe you drank all my scotch! Maria and I were going to do some celebrating," Stark said as his face appeared in view, moustache twitching with amusement. "At least, that was what I would say if you actually drunk alcohol." Howard looked at him curiously before asking, "What were you thinking, putting yourself up for the army like you did? You know there is only a small chance it will actually work on the kid. I know I said I trust your judgement but your gambling ways are starting to worry me."
Naruto could actually hear true worry in his voice and his stomach clenched. His tattoo was so far not even glowing but he knew he would end up leaving soon. He only hoped that he could leave without hurting anyone. Naruto blinked as a hand was waved in front of his head. "Howard," Naruto said softly. "You know as a nomad I will end up leaving one day." Stark froze at the use of his first name before processing what he said.
"You aren't staying permanently?" he asked slowly. "I mean, it's not just money is it? Or are there some people after you or something?"
Naruto shook his head. "No. I have to go. It will probably be the last time you'll ever see me when I leave. When I leave I tend to disappear of the face of the earth." He smiled dryly at how true that was.
"You'll keep in touch though?" Stark continued confidently.
Naruto looked away, over at the camp. "You won't be able to contact me or I you, wherever I end up. Believe me when I say it won't be from lack of trying." He sighed and looked down at his left arm. "Look, I'll give you as much warning as I get Howard. Just please, believe me when I say I truly do enjoy my time with you." He got to his feet and rubbed his arm. "Come on Howard. Let's go to the lab. Procedure starts in a few hours. We've got to drive back."
"Hey buddy," Naruto greeted as he walked next to Howard into the lab. Steve blinked in surprise.
"Naruto? What're you doing here?"
"He's my bodyguard," Howard answered as he looked over the switches making sure everything was right. "He sucks by the way. Couldn't hurt a fly."
Naruto rolled his eyes at Steve's incredulous look. "He's kidding. I'm neither his bodyguard nor harmless. Just a friendly nomad."
"You shouldn't be in here," Erskine said with a sigh. "Phillips will have my head for even allowing you to know of this place's existence."
Naruto shrugged and flipped a couple switches that Howard hadn't got around to doing yet. "I'm sure it will be fine. Microphone?" Erskine took the proffered mic with a sigh before he began to speak.
"Ladies and gentlemen, today we take not another step towards annihilation, but the first step on the path to peace. We begin with a series of micro injections into the subjects major muscle groups. The serum infusion will cause immediate cellular change. And then to stimulate growth, the subject will be saturated with vita rays."
A nurse brushed past Naruto to inject Steve with a numbing agent. He winced. "That wasn't so bad," he admitted.
Naruto rolled his eyes. "That was penicillin kid." He went forward and flipped a switch at Howard's nod, making the bed Steve was on tilt upwards and lock in place.
"Steven can you hear me?" Erskine asked as he tapped on the front window.
"It's probably too late to go to the bathroom, right?" Steve's voice came, muffled slightly from being inside capsule.
Naruto chuckled lightly. "I think that time was a long time ago Rogers."
"Begin the procedure Mr Stark," Erskine ordered.
"Righty-o," Howard mumbled as he slid down his glasses and began turning the wheel of power. "Ten percent." Naruto's eyes quickly adjusted to the brightening light as he stared at the glowing capsule. "Thirty percent," Howard yelled loudly. "Fourty…Fifty…Sixty…Seven-" The last number was cut off as Steve's scream sounded.
Naruto clenched his fists on board as it pierced through the air. Howard jumped when the side board cracked beneath his hands, leaving indents of where his fingers were. Peggy ran out, a frightened look on her face. "Shut it down!" Peggy yelled at Erskine.
The scientist was knocking frantically on the window. "Steven!" he called in distress.
"Shut it down!" Peggy repeated and Erskine seemed to hear her this time, turning around with a determined expression on his face.
"Kill the reactor, Mr Stark! Kill the reactor!" Howard reached for the wheel but Naruto held a hand out, staring at the capsule. Howard blinked as he blocked the road and tried to get past. "Mr Suzaku!" Erskine yelled. "What are you doing!? SHUT IT DOWN STARK!"
"NO!" Steve's cry penetrated their conversation. "DON'T! I CAN DO THIS!"
Howard looked at Naruto as he calmly stepped to the side, his face devoid of all emotion. Inside Naruto was practically jumping up in down with tension. This reminded him a lot of his fusion with the Kyuubi. It was far too close to comfort. Howard glanced at Naruto again before turning the wheel to full power. "One hundred percent!"
The light shined brightly and Howard's eyes widened as he caught sight of Naruto's eyes flashing gold momentarily before going back to their usual blue. Naruto hissed slightly as his left arm heated up. He clutched his arm in pain before glancing up as the procedure finished.
"Open it Mr Stark," Erskine said tiredly and Howard blinked slightly before doing so and it opened to reveal a buff Steve Rogers.
Naruto and Howard aided him out of the capsule. "My God you've done it," Howard said as he marvelled the new Steve.
"Nice and easy Steve," Naruto said soothingly. "You've had a big day. You need some rest and get used to your new form, trust me."
"You sound like you have experience," Steve mumbled as he staggered forward.
Naruto smiled darkly. "Trust me. I have more experience than you think."
The people from the top box came down to get a closer look at the new Steve. Naruto stepped back to give them room as he leaned against the cracked sideboard, clutching his left arm tightly. He blinked when Howard suddenly appeared right in front of him and began peering at his eyes closely.
"They were gold before," he muttered and Naruto put in on a poker face as he cursed inwardly. "And you broke the dashboard with your bare hands," Howard continued. He looked up at Naruto, straight in the eyes. "You aren't human are you?" Naruto didn't get a chance to answer the genius as a bomb just happened to go off.
He winced slightly as the loud noise hit his ears and pressed down on his hat to muffle the noise slightly. Sometimes he wished his hearing wasn't so sensitive. While he was still recovering from the unexpected explosion three bangs were heard. Naruto felt something collide with his head and felt himself lose consciousness.
Naruto groaned as he got back to his feet, rubbing his forehead. Howard was standing over him, back to him, holding something in his hands. "You know, not only did you survive a bullet to the skull," Howard muttered as he flicked the flattened bullet away. "But you did it without injury. You don't even have a bruise."
Naruto scoffed slightly at the thought of having a bruise from a mere bullet. "Of course, that made me wonder if I really saw you get hit by the bullet at all but I've always been right before," Howard continued as he spun around, an unimpressed look on his face. "So what are you, an alien? Because I really don't think we'll stand a chance against guys like you." Naruto rolled his eyes at the alien comment. He pulled off his hat revealing the twitching fox ears.
Howard blinked at the sight. "Half-demon," Naruto said with a wry smile. "Also the heir of Death. Yes that's right. I'll be taking over his job one day." Howard leaned closer and softly touched Naruto's ears. They twitched at the touch and Naruto scowled slightly.
"My God they're real," Howard breathed. "And your eyes, they're like that because of your demon blood right?"
"Yes," Naruto confirmed. "As well as my strength and why I don't wear shoes. My feet are too sensitive."
"So demons actually exist?" Howard said in wonder.
Naruto shrugged. "I don't know if they do in this world but in my world they do."
Howard frowned at that. "Wait, so you are an alien? How come you speak English?"
Naruto hesitated before shrugging. "What the hell," he muttered before pulling up his left sleeve revealing the glowing Phoenix tattoo.
"Oh my God…" Howard said as he touched it and his eyes lit up as he felt the hum of power beneath it.
"This is my clock," Naruto said dryly. "Once all the stones light up I travel to a different dimension, or time, or world. It changes. So far I've managed to control myself enough to stay on Earth for a while but I always end up coming to alternate universes of it. The last time I had a friend who could travel through a well and back five hundred years."
Howard just stared at him incredulously. "So this is the first time we've met?"
"Yes," Naruto confirmed. "There was no such thing as Stark Industries in any other time I've come. I believe there was one called Oscorp once but I don't really pay attention to companies that much."
Howard looked at him in shock. "Wow," he muttered. "A place where I don't exist…" Then he sat up suddenly. "Hang on you said through time?" Howard said, eyes alight.
"Only forward in time," Naruto said with a small smile. "I can't go backwards." Howard however, didn't look disappointed.
"You could jump forward in time and meet me in the future! That way I don't have to lose a friend," Howard said, pleased with himself for coming up with the idea. Naruto was touched that Howard thought of him as a friend before his face turned thoughtful as he thought about what Howard said.
"It's possible," he admitted. "Though it would be terribly hard. I only get a few seconds of warning sometimes before I'm off to my next 'vacation'. I still haven't even managed to get back to my home world yet." Howard blinked as he realised how alone Naruto must feel.
"So how many years have we got?" Howard asked.
"No clue," Naruto said with a shrug. "It's random. One of the reasons I try not to get too close to people," Naruto said softly. "But I think I should have a six years at most."
"That's ages," Howard said confidently.
Naruto smiled wryly. "I'm over five hundred years old Howard. It's not as long as you think."
Howard blinked. "You're immortal too?" Naruto nodded.
Howard shrugged. "Eh. Might as well be ultimate. I'll need a bit of your blood to analyse your problem." Howard pulled out a long needle and attempted to jab it into Naruto's arm. It bent. "Huh, you'd think I'd realise that after the bullet," Howard said thoughtfully before he looked at Naruto for guidance.
Naruto sighed. "Get me a bottle." Soon Howard had a full bottle of blood to analyse.
He held it up curiously. "Huh, you have red blood," he said curiously.
Naruto rolled his eyes. "What did you expect, green?"
"Well no. And did you have to bite your tongue? What if you choke and die?"
Naruto stared at him dully. "Howard. Immortal means you can't die. I don't even need to breathe."
"I guess that makes sense," Howard admitted as he stored the vial in his pocket. "Now there is one question you haven't answered."
Naruto blinked. "What one?"
"How you can speak English." Naruto tapped the collar around his neck.
Howard looked at it incredulously. "Really? A collar?"
Naruto shrugged. "Eh. I didn't make it. Tell Death that it's weird."
Howard shook his head and they got to their feet. "Who else was shot?" Naruto asked as they walked.
"Well, Steve and Doctor Erskine were shot by the undercover HYDRA agent but Steve is fine because of the super serum. Abraham…he wasn't so lucky." Howard looked down.
"Sorry Howard," Naruto said comfortingly.
Howard sighed. "Yeah well, its war right? Anyway, we lost all of the super serum except what's in Steve's blood. Personally, I think it's better not to have anymore supersoldiers. No one can keep them inline. Well, except you I suppose," Howard tacked on the end and Naruto rolled his eyes.
They entered a room to see Steve was donating his blood. "I've got to go back and Analyse the Hydra pod," Howard said as he disappeared, sending a warning glance at Naruto.
The Hanyou huffed in annoyance. He wasn't going to run away just because Howard had figured out he wasn't human. "Hey Steve, Peggy," Naruto greeted as he stepped in the room.
"Naruto!" Peggy cried, obviously relieved. She started checking his him for any sign of bullet holes.
Naruto brushed her off. "I'm fine Peggy," he reassured her before turning to Steve. "So Steve," he said as he plopped down beside the blonde, amused to find he was still taller. "What're you going to do now?" Steve looked startled by this sudden question.
"Fight in the war of course," Steve answered, as if it were obvious. Naruto was suddenly in his face, pulling back his eyelids and looking inside his mouth.
"Wah ah eu oing?" Steve asked as his mouth was held open. Naruto nodded his head and let Steve close his mouth. He flexed his jaw, eyeing Naruto warily.
"You took my advice and stayed yourself, not the perfect soldier," Naruto said confidently.
Steve gaped. "You can tell that by looking in my mouth?"
"Underneath the underneath," Naruto said wisely to the confusion of the others before getting to his feet. "Right. Nurse, you take any more blood and he's going to fall over. Come one Peggy, Steve, let's go see if Howard's found out anything about that submarine."
"Hydra is the Nazi deep science division. It's led by Johann Schmidt. But he has much bigger ambitions," Peggy began to explain. Naruto wondered what the hell anyone would want to follow a scientist in the middle of a war. But then he realised that Orochimaru had done the same thing and face palmed at his stupidity. Thankfully, no one noticed.
"Hydra's practically a cult. They worship Schmidt, they think he's invincible," Phillips growled.
"So what are you gonna do about it?" The Senator asked.
"Spoke to the president this morning. As of today the SSR is being re-tasked," Phillips began.
"Colonel?" Peggy asked with a slight frown.
"We are taking the fight to Hydra. Pack your bags Agent Carter. You too, Stark. You're flying to London tonight." He turned and spotted Naruto leaning against the wall. "And you too if you want…Master Naruto," he said reluctantly. Naruto snickered slightly but nodded his head. "Sir, if you're going after Schmidt, I want in," Steve said confidently.
"You're an experiment. You're going to Alamogordo," Phillips said resolutely.
"The serum worked," Steve argued.
"I asked for an army and all I got was you. You are not enough," Phillips said before he stalked off.
Howard winced. "Harsh," he mumbled to Naruto who raised an eyebrow.
"I do not understand the Colonel's reasoning," Naruto said with a frown. "A war is started by one man and can be won by one man," he murmured quietly. His eyes scanned the area constantly and Howard picked up on this.
"What jobs have you had in your past lives?" Howard asked quietly. Naruto snorted at the 'lives' comment. "Many. I'm an assassin, a Captain, a technician, a plumber, a doctor, a priest, a monk, a bartender, a waiter, a cook, a guard, a police captain, a pilot, a musician, a taxi-driver… the list goes on and on. But the one I think of as my real job is a ninja, and being a nomad," Naruto added thoughtfully.
Howard's eyes had been lighting up with every new job. "You know, I could use an extra technician," he said happily before gaping.
"Wait, you are a ninja?" Naruto looked at him amusedly before disappearing from in front of Howard and reappearing behind him, knife up to his neck. "Holy Shit," Howard breathed as Naruto took the knife away. "Red…you've got to be one of the coolest men alive, behind me of course."
I don't own CA or N.
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