Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to Marvel or Naruto.

Alex (if that was even still his name) found himself in an unfamiliar place. He could sense that he was being carried in what appeared to be a basket or a baby carrier. Despite his efforts, his eyelids felt too heavy to lift, and his attempts to move his limbs proved futile. Frustration filled his thoughts.

"At least with chakra, I'll develop faster than an average baby," he contemplated, trying to find a silver lining. A yawn escaped his tiny mouth. Little did he know that being a baby with the mind of an adult would prove to be more challenging than he had anticipated.

"Don't worry, baby, we're almost there," said a soothing female voice. This must be his new mother. He didn't know why, but hearing her voice warmed his heart. As he listened, he could hear her panting, indicating that something had happened. She seemed to be moving sluggishly as well.

"Almost there. I can see the light in that house on. You'll be okay," she reassured him between pants. Concern started to fill his thoughts. He hadn't even had a chance to see his mother's face. After a few more minutes, the woman stopped walking. She gently rested the basket carrying him down and began placing things inside it. He tried to will his limbs to touch them, but his body didn't respond as he wanted it to.

"Don't fuss, little one. Mommy is so sorry," she said, her tears falling onto his face. "Mommy won't be here to raise you. Hopefully, this nice family can take you in or get help. These scrolls belonged to Grampa. So make sure to take care of them. They are all you have left from us. Grow up and become strong, selfless, wise, and, most of all, kind."

She kissed his forehead tenderly. "Mommy loves you, Khalid!"

Khalid, that was his name. He didn't understand why his mom was leaving. It worried him greatly. He would have loved to have her around. Whatever was going on had her in a state of panic. Suddenly, he heard the sound of a door unlocking and swinging open.

"Ma'am, are you alright?" the voice asked, filled with panic. Khalid's mind raced with worry.

"Please... I... don't... ha-" Khalid heard his mother's voice falter.

Suddenly, he heard the sound of his mother's body crashing onto the floor. He wanted to shout, but instead, all that came out was the cries of an infant. Tears streamed down his face.

"This is Coulson. I need an ambulance to my house now. A young woman appeared at my door. It appears she's been shot in the abdomen. She also has a young baby with her. Hurry!" Coulson urgently relayed the information, his voice filled with concern.

"Coulson, there was nothing you could have done. She had already lost too much blood," Nick Fury explained, his voice filled with a mix of sympathy and resignation. "We had a team trace her steps. She walked over a mile to get to your house. The place she came from was burnt to a crisp."

Fury's gaze shifted to his rookie partner, who now held the woman's sleeping baby in his arms. After everything they had endured over the past year, with Danvers and the Skrull, this mysterious lady and her baby had become their new responsibility.

"Do you... do you think they will let me keep him?" Coulson asked, his voice filled with a mix of hope and uncertainty.

Fury looked at Coulson, his expression serious. "You really want to keep the kid? It's going to hinder your work," he stated bluntly.

"I know!" Coulson practically shouted, his voice filled with determination. "I'm sorry, sir. I didn't mean to get loud, but look at this."

Coulson quickly glanced around to ensure no one was watching, then reached into his pocket and pulled out a letter. He handed it to his boss, Fury, who took a moment to read its contents.

"Protect my son, Khalid, please! The Dawn is coming!" the letter read.

Fury furrowed his brow, puzzled by the mention of "the Dawn." "What does she mean by the Dawn?" he asked, seeking clarification.

"I'll look into this," Fury said, his tone serious. "In the meantime, you can keep the kid. I'll arrange for the necessary documents and give him your last name. However, I expect you to continue fulfilling your duties and complete your work on time. Additionally, I want a monthly report on the kid's progress."

Fury turned and addressed the SHIELD agents who were present. "Alright, pack it up. We're done here."

The agents in the yard swiftly began clearing out, gathering their equipment and preparing to leave. As they packed up, Fury cast one more glance at Coulson, his expression unreadable.

"That's everything that came with the kid, right, Coulson?" Fury asked, his gaze fixed on his agent.

"Yes, sir," Coulson replied, his voice steady. Fury continued to watch him, a nagging feeling in his gut telling him that there was more to the story.

"Alright, you can have the week off. Get settled in with the baby. I want you back bright and early next Monday," Fury instructed, his tone firm. He closed the door and made his way to his car. Once inside, he took another look at the note. Whoever or whatever this "Dawn" was, he needed to figure it out quickly. A storm seemed to be brewing, and Fury was determined to stay one step ahead of it.

As soon as he heard Fury's car start to leave, Coulson let out a sigh of relief. He pulled out the other part of the note and read it once again.

"These scrolls are my family's greatest treasures. They have been passed down for hundreds of years. Please give these to my son when he is five. For it is his birthright to have these."

Coulson pondered the contents of the letter, reading it a few more times before making his way to the bedroom with the baby in his arms. He couldn't fully comprehend the reasons behind his own lies, but his instincts had guided him. The baby squirmed in his arms, as if seeking warmth and comfort. Coulson gently laid the sleeping infant on the side of his bed. This child couldn't be more than a month old. What kind of people were after his mother? The mystery surrounding the situation only deepened.

Coulson shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts. He needed to get some rest while the baby slept. Coulson lay there, contemplating how drastically his life had changed in just a few hours. He had hoped to be more than just a protector for the child; he wanted to be a father, someone who would guide and support him through life.

With so much weighing on his mind, Coulson didn't even notice when exhaustion finally overtook his tired body, lulling him into a deep sleep. His hand instinctively wrapped around the new addition to his home, a symbol of the responsibility and love that now filled his life.

Khalid POV

Who would have thought? Phil Coulson became my adoptive father, and it was an incredible experience. The first few months were challenging for me. Whenever I was hungry or needed a diaper change, I had to cry to communicate my needs. But after the first week, Coulson established a feeding schedule to reduce the crying sessions. It was also strange to watch another man taking care of me, washing me and tending to my needs. In those early weeks, it was just me and him. I caught glimpses of Fury a few times, but they always left the room when they started talking.

After those initial weeks, Coulson hired a nanny so that he could focus on his job. I didn't mind, though. Since I wasn't a fussy baby, nobody bothered me unless my diapers needed changing. This gave me time to meditate and explore my chakra. To the nanny, it probably looked like I was just taking a nap, but I was actually connecting with the little flame inside my core. It was as small as a match flame, but I knew it would grow from there.

As I continued to grow, I focused on improving my mobility. It took a considerable amount of time and effort to get my body to move the way I wanted it to. Each limb required extensive practice. I started with my hands, working on strengthening them so that I could hold onto things. Then I moved on to kicking my legs, building up the muscles in them. It took me two months of consistent effort to reach an acceptable level of mobility.

By my fifth month of living with Coulson, I had progressed enough to start holding onto the table for support and balance. Coulson, always supportive, pulled out his camera and started recording my achievements. He cheered me on as if I had won the Olympics. I was overjoyed, and it earned me my first taste of ice cream. In my excitement, I couldn't contain myself and jumped around in Coulson's arms, which only resulted in more mouthfuls of ice cream being offered to me. It was a moment of pure joy and celebration.

By the time I reached seven months, I was already walking on my own without any support. I even incorporated minor workouts into my routine to strengthen my baby body, such as squats and running around the house in nothing but my diapers. This newfound energy drove the nanny crazy, as I went from being a relatively calm baby to one filled with boundless energy. Eventually, she asked Coulson to hire a replacement as she couldn't keep up with me.

As I continued to grow and explore my abilities, my chakra reserves began to slowly expand. The flame inside me, which had started as small as a match, now resembled the size of a small burner on a portable stove. However, I hadn't yet attempted to use it. I was still young and didn't want to draw too much attention to myself. After all, who would think it strange for an eight-month-old baby to be learning to walk early? I bided my time, waiting for the right moment to fully embrace and harness my growing power.

Coulson sighed heavily, feeling the weight of his responsibilities pressing down on him. Finding a replacement nanny for Khalid had proven to be a challenge, and it was taking a toll on his work. He was falling behind on his paperwork, and he had to leave the office early to take care of Khalid.

"What's the matter, Coulson? Is the kid finally getting to you?" Fury's voice cut through the air, and Coulson looked up to see his boss standing in front of his desk.

"No, sir," Coulson replied, his voice tinged with exhaustion. "Just trying to find a new nanny for him."

Fury's gaze hardened as he leaned against the desk. "And what about your investigation into The Dawn?" he asked, his tone demanding an answer.

Coulson sighed, frustration evident in his voice. "I still have no clue who they are. Every suspect I corner tells me the same thing - that they receive a call, get assigned a job, and are paid well for it. It's as if they're deliberately trying to throw us off."

"We have to find out who these guys are, Coulson! I can't have my top agent babysitting for the rest of his life," Fury exclaimed, his tone filled with urgency, before walking away.

Coulson couldn't ignore the sinking feeling in his stomach at those words. Over the past few months, Khalid had grown on him. He had even considered cutting back on his hours to spend more time with the child. Technically, he was Khalid's legal guardian, and he hadn't planned on giving up the kid. The thought of losing him now was unsettling. Coulson knew he had to find a way to balance his responsibilities as an agent and as a father figure to Khalid.

It had been almost a year since Coulson had taken Khalid in, and every day the little guy grew on him more. Coulson took out his phone and looked at the picture of Khalid eating ice cream for the first time. The image brought a smile to his face. Khalid was slightly bigger than other kids his age, but otherwise, he appeared to be a normal child. With his curly black hair and piercing onyx-colored eyes, Khalid had a unique charm that Coulson couldn't resist.

"I think I'll head out early today to spend time with Khalid," Coulson thought to himself. He packed up his belongings, taking a few papers with him to complete later that night.

"I'm heading out," Coulson informed Sitwell, who peeked from behind his computer.

"When are you coming back?" Sitwell asked, curious.

"I won't be back until tomorrow. I have something I need to look into," Coulson replied as he opened the door to leave the office. Perhaps he should stop and get Khalid a treat on his way home.