A/N: Sorry for the delay, holidays are killing me.
EDIT: Flames will be flames, I suppose...made some edits too...not that anyone noticed...
In other news, I'm out of Isolation, which means there's so much to do! Store wasn't run properly while I was gone, which means I need to have a...chat with my staff. Fun times.
We've got more of a focused chapter this time around, sorry for that.
As ever, we're following the Ember's Rule here. That's no joke. Really, it isn't.
If folks don't like this, it'll be deleted. Poof! Gone! Every bit of feedback helps. Reviews are the fuel which keeps me writing in these crazy times. With my tight schedule, 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!
Now, onto your questions comments and concerns!
Q: What's the pairing?!
A: Already stated it. Read and see. Its a bit of a slow burn at first...
Q: Oi! Don't go giving everyone chakra! That would be boring!
A: *sigh* I feel the need to reiterate what I said toward the end of the last chapter. Naruto's NOT going to go around empowering everyone. Chaotic as that would be, he's not so foolish as to grant chakra to the whole of Zaun. He did so with Powder because she impressed him; because she, out of dozens of people, actually stopped to help him. More than that she took him right to Vander, who also proved himself a good person. Did Naruto give him chakra? No.
But he's damn well gonna be nice to him.
As we all know, our boy keeps his promises and pays his debts.
And remember, if he deems someone unworthy he can take their chakra right back.
Q: Where are we in Arcane as far as the timeline goes?
A: Its been hinted, but I'll state it outright to avoid confusion. At this point, the kids haven't gone on that "job" that changed everything.
Meaning some things are still static for the time being. Silco hasn't made a move against Vaster, Sevika is still loyal TO Vander at this time, Jayce is still experimenting with Hextech, so on and so forth...
Q: Someone's a Silco fan!
A: I admit, his character intrigues me. Villain though he was, he undoubtedly had a softer side and reasons for doing what he did. Make no mistake, he was no saint, but he did have some redeeming qualities, even at the end.
Talk about complicated...
For instance! Naruto likely can and will empathize with Vander's desire to maintain peace between Piltover and Zaun. Meanwhile, he might also agree with what Silco WANTS, but not necessarily his methods... *double checks* nope, definitely not his methods.
Q: Well, Piltover's buggered. If those Enforcers come a' knockin...?
A: Blondie would send them a' packing, yes.
Alright then, I've kept you long enough. Lets get into the meat of the matter and have some fun!
Once more, I own no quotes, references, or memes.
Not a wit or a one. NOT! A! THING!
"With great power comes great responsibility, Powder."
"What, you're telling me this new power has rules?!"
"Only three. Follow those and you'll be fine."
~?
Spare the Sympathy
In the weeks that followed, Naruto gradually settled into something of a routine.
Naybe not so much a routine as a series of habits, rather; a number of repeated daily actions to help anchor himself in this baffling new realm. Even a world apart, a ninja was still a ninja, and he couldn't bear to sit still for very long. Powder helped in that regard -if only because he enjoyed training her- but he simply couldn't dedicate every second to teaching the little scamp.
Thus came the routine.
Every morning he woke at nine sharp. Vander's loft was nice and he was grateful for a place to rest his head, but it lacked anything beyond the most basic of necessities, which meant stumbling down a set of rickety steps for breakfast, munching on whatever the man happened to have on hand at the time, then finding the bathroom and praying there was still enough hot water for a shower. More often than not, there wasn't. Cold showers sucked - but hey, at least they woke you up.
From there he would dodge the questions of a certain sister -Violet!- and find Powder waiting by the bar, eager for the next leg of her training.
Except today, she wasn't there.
According to Vander, his apprentice had gotten the fool idea to best her personal speed-run record around Zaun. Naruto felt something eerily akin to pride at that. She'd gotten an early start. Clever. Points for taking the initiative, he supposed. He wouldn't be seeing her for a few hours, then. The morning was his to with as he pleased. So like any upstanding citizen, he went for a walk.
To be fair, he hadn't been looking for trouble at the time...
"Oi!" A crude knife poked him in the throat, shattering his reverie. "You deaf? Hand over the cloak and your money already, cripple." Its owner's leer left him wrinkling his nose against noxious breath. "Do that, an' nobody gets hurt."
...sadly, trouble had a way of finding him, these days.
"You want to say it, or should I?" Kurama put in blackly. "Because they're grinding on my last nerve."
A faint smile plucked at the corner of the blond's mouth as he tugged back his hood. Said smile was all teeth. In hindsight, he really had meant what he said earlier; he couldn't spending every second of the day training Powder. But while she was off improving, so too was he working to improve the lives of others.
Be it building houses, cleaning up muck, or simply knocking a few heads together, he'd found purpose in helping the impoverished folk down here.
Unfortunately, you just couldn't help some people.
Case in point, this lot.
Blue eyes took them in at a glance once more, assessing the odd quintet. Rough sort. Three boys, two girls, each wearing ragged clothing with even more tattered weapons. Decent odds. Still there was a small part of him that wanted to avoid the coming violence.
"Sentimental sop."
'Ferocious furball.' he quipped back.
"Deckard, was it?" Naruto began outwardly, raising both hands to show himself unarmed and now alarm these...individuals anymore than need be. "You don't want to do this." squinting didn't much help; the kid's face was dirty and bruised brute's face, which made him somewhat difficult to read. "Really, you don't. Why don't we put the knife down and talk this out like adults-
He lunged forward mid sentence, catching the poor excuse for a knife in chakra-enhanced teeth and ripping it away.
Deckard stumbled.
Naruto bit down hard, shattering it.
"There." he spat the metal shards at the startled boy's feet. "Now, just calm down." A sigh trickled through the air as Deckard landed hard on his rear. "If its food you need, I can help."
Rather than accept his charity, the boy scowled and slapped his hand away. "Get 'em, boys!"
Kurama channeled fresh chakra to him as a shadow loomed over his shoulder.
BANG!
Naruto's head snapped to the right as a tattooed boy unloaded a round point blank into the back of his head. The round flattered against his glowing skull and struck the street of the alley with a soft pink. He felt no pain, or even discomfort, only brief sensation of movement. With it came a vague sense of disappointment, followed by chagrin. Kids these days. They never learned. The blond sighed, frowned, rubbed at the sore spot, then shook his head to clear the ringing out of his ears. Not a scratch.
Alas, the same couldn't be said for the gun.
Even now the pistol was all but bent in the brute's hand; its once rigid barrel bent near in half. As he looked on, his assailant began to pale. Piggish eyes looked to him. Back to the barrel. Back to him once again. Naruto quirked a brow. The braggart stumbled away. He could have slugged him then and there, could have finished things, but that wouldn't have got his point across. Instead he stood his ground as the fool boy babbled.
"W-W-What are you?!"
"Now, now," he wagged a finger with a smile. "That was uncalled for, don't you think?"
The rest lunged. "Get him!"
They were still trying to rob him.
Really? Really?! This was actually happening?
"Fine." A sigh trickled into the air. "Have it your own way. Kurama? Hand over the cloak."
Pearly white teeth flashed in the dark of his mind as his partner hoisted himself upright. "Copy."
Deckard hard the wherewithal to lean back. "What the hell-
Naruto's body blazed gold as he blurred forward. Light flashed in the alley. Limbs snapped like twigs. His would-be robbers screamed. Sharp and shrill and short. Calling it a fight would've been generous. It was a beating, plain and simple. Not thirty seconds later he walked over their stunned forms, divesting them of their weapons. His hands flicked out, leaving some coins and directions to the Last Drop in his wake. Maybe Vander could straighten these kids out.
Definitely. Maybe. Hopefully.
On a whim Naruto left a stack of golden coins near Deckard's prone face. There. Wouldn't do for the lot of them to starve now, would it?
His peace done, he turned to go.
...huh." a rough voice caught him out before he could. "Not a bad show. You know how to handle yourself."
Movement flickered in his peripheral vision, near the mouth of the alley. Not quite in the dark, but neither in the light at that. There was someone leaning against a nearby wall, arms folded across their chest. For an awful moment he thought it was Vi, shadowing him again. But no, her voice was all wrong. Sharper. Sterner.
He straightened, turning to face them fully. "Thanks, I guess."
Definitely a woman, and a dangerous-looking one at that. All dark skin, dark eyes, and darker hair, her body wrapped up in worn combat leathers. Yet despite that she held herself with confidence. Her eyes met his for a long moment; when he didn't budge she granted him a crooked grin.
"You're that kid, aren't you?" she planted one hand on her hip as she assessed him with a keen eye. "Heard about you. You've been running around the Lanes, cracking skulls."
...more often then he cared to admit, but Naruto knew he couldn't deny the kernel of truth in her words. You could help all you wanted down here, but sometimes the people in the undercity needed a good smack to knock some sense into them. Deckard and his crew weren't the first, and they certainly wouldn't be the last. Which begged the question.
...and you are?"
"Sevika." she offered him a hand.
"Naruto." He clasped her palm, unable to conceal his frown. "And I ain't a kid."
Apparently this "Sevikia" took that as a challenge, because she absolutely crushed his palm in hers.
.
..
...or rather, she tried.
Naruto squeezed right back, grinding her fingers together, gnashing bone against bone until her hand popped open and was forced to release him. Even then he didn't let go of her. Was it wrong for him to relish the look of surprise on her face, the brief gasp that followed? Yes? No? Maybe so? Just a little?
"So?" he released her with a low drawl. "Still think I'm a kid?"
"Not with a grip like that." The woman smiled. "You're not weak. Good. Zaun could use someone like you."
A brow quirked. "That a compliment?
"Maybe." she clasped his shoulder, drew back, and walked the way she'd come." Her hand rose in a lazy wave. See you around."
Naruto found himself frowning a little as he watched her retreating form recede into the distance.
"Huh." he muttered softly to himself. "Wonder what her deal is...?"
(.0.0.0.)
This was power.
Powder felt chakra pulse through her veins with every step; heard it sing in her blood witch each leap she made that carried her through. She tasted it on her tongue as she hurtled the through murky undercity of Zaun, grinning from ear to ear. It was a humid afternoon, and she'd never felt more alive.
"Wooooooo!"
A great guffaw tore past her lips as she caught a flagpole in midair, spun once, then used her newfound momentum to swing herself upright and continue her short-lived flight. Wind whistled across her body, lashing at her face to send her hair flying, yet her vision had never been clearer. She hurtled through the air in spite of all, heedless of the shouts below, of her own fears, of even gravity itself trying to drag her down to the miserable word below. She wouldn't let it.
Her feet hit a dirty rooftop and she immediately launched herself into the air anew.
A girl could get drunk on this.
Only a month in, and she'd already improved by leaps and bounds. One month, and she could run faster, hit harder, last longer than most kids twice her age. Because at the end of the day, chakra was power. Not just any power, but real power; the kind adults would kill for. And it was all hers. She swore she'd do her best to prove worthy of the gift she'd been granted. Hell, maybe she ought to show Ekko one of these days. He'd get a kick out of this. Surely Naruto wouldn't mind? Maybe he could even give-
A sharp whistle pierced the fog of her thoughts from the streets, drawing a silly little smile to her lips.
"Oi!" a familiar voice boomed up at her. "Powder!"
She spied a flash of gold below and found her mentor looking up at her. She also saw the twitching bodies sprawled out at his feet and a dark-skinned woman walking away from the lot of them. He dropped the cloak but kept his false arm going, using it to wave her way. A golden finger crooked at her, beckoning once, his intent clear. Powder's smirk became an outright grin as she realized what must have transpired below. Heh. Someone had tried to mug him again. They never learned.
But who was the scary lady?
Looking at her made Powder's heart twitch and not at all in a pleasant manner. The newcomer didn't deign to look her way. It was like...like she didn't even exist to her. Weird. Scowling, she shoved the awful feeling aside and vaulted down to meet her mentor.
"Well?" He asked. "How did you do?" I
She alighted in a pointed crouch, wincing only a little at the impact. Eager blue eyes rose to meet his. "Beat my record by three seconds~!"
"Well done." his smile was immediate, the grin a delighted teacher might impart unto their puple. "You're getting faster." a rough hand descended to tousle her hair. "I'm proud of you, Powder."
Five little words, yet they made her shiver. Most people called her a jinx. Even those who didn't -Vi, Vander, Ekko!- rarely said that to her. And yet for all that Naruto gave his praise freely, doling out compliments left and right when she surpassed his expectations -and she often did!- left right and center. He had no idea just how much those words meant to child.
"Could," she swallowed once, to steady herself and marshalled her courage. "Could you say that again?"
"Hmm?" a confused blink, but he granted her request. "Sure. I'm proud of you. Why wouldn't I be?""
"Heh." Glee howled to life in her heart and she pumped a clenched fist in the air. "Thanks." "Told you I could do it!"
"No problem." His hand fell away and his golden claw vanished into motes of dust. "Never doubted ya." "You really are a natural at this.
Silence stretched between the two of them as she leaned into his hand. Even then it wasn't enough. She shifted restlessly, knees twisting to and fro.
"Soooo," she stretched out the word, "Can you teach me a jutsu, now?"
It was like flicking a switch; Naruto's face closed down at once. "Powder...no."
"Aw, c'mon!" she grit her teeth. "I already know how to walk on walls! You taught me how to hit hard and run really fast!"
"True," he allowed, "But can you walk on water?"
Powder fell back, blinked, then perked up, all in the same moment. Was he actually serious?"
"Nuh-uh." she scowled at him. "No way that's a thing. You're pulling my leg."
Naruto's smirk was nothing short of sly. "Tell ya what, lets make a bet...
(.0.0.0.)
"Someone's making mincemeat of our boys, boss."
Silco looked up from his glass. "Is that so...?"
It wasn't any of his concern.
None of it was.
Not yet.
(.0.0.0.)
"Cold!"
Powder yelped as she lost her footing for the umpteenth and plunged beneath the surface of the river. She flailed to the surface, snarling and spitting. Credit where it was due, she tried. She really did. She just wasn't able to get a proper foothold on the water. She managed one foot, lost her balance, and splashed into the water again.
"Remind you of someone?"
Naruto coughed into a fist to hide his embarrassment. Even so, he gave Powder another ten seconds before he took pity on his poor pupil and plucked her up by the scruff of the neck. She glared at him, looking about as dangerous as a kitten. A sopping wet kitten.
"This isn't something you can learn in one day, kiddo." he laughed a little when she flailed a leg at him. "Don't rush it."
"Can too!" she coughed. "Ack! Hack!"
"C'mon." a wry smile tugged at his whiskered cheeks. "Lets get you dried off. Its been hours, now...
Powder sagged in his grasp. "But I wanna keep trying!" she said in a weak, fawning voice.
"No buts!"
Naruto chortled a little as he waded back to the shore, dragging the kicking girl with him. The water of Lanes wasn't the cleanest, but it suited his purpose. Theoretically Powder would be fine so long as she wasn't cut or bleeding when she went in. He'd made certain of that.
A quick application of heated air on the banks had her right as rain again; though no less pleased.
"You're bigger than me!" she flung a pebble his way. "No fair!"
"Oi." Naruto flicked her forehead gently, not to hurt or harm, just enough to catch her attention; something a mentor might do to their student. "Remember rule number one?"
She huffed and crossed both arms before her chest. "Ninja don't fight fair...
"Bingo." he sat down, tugged a scroll from his pouch, and unfolded it before her. "At your age, I was a runt too; even shorter than you are now."
Her eyes widened. "No way!"
"Yes, way." he wrinkled his nose at her, recalling just how short he'd been at her age. "Its not something I'm proud of."
"But you're freaking tall now! How?!"
He stuck out his tongue. "I drank lots of milk."
"Bah!" She gave an angry huff. "Fine, don't tell me. I hate being little."
"Don't be in such a hurry to grow up, Powder." He could see where she was coming from, but felt the need to warn her regardless. "Enjoy being a kid while you can."
"Yeah, no shit."
"I mean it." a flick of his wrist and he reached out to tweak her nose, earning a baleful look from her. "You're gonna grow up before you know it." Just like he had. "And once you do. You'll have responsibilities. Even now, you're stronger than you know."
How little she knew. His words had her squinting at him regardless. "You sound like Violet."
"Then she gives good advice." Naruto craned his head a millimetre to the right as a faint noise caught his ear. "And she should really stop eavesdropping!"
...!"
A faint curse and the rapid sound of retreating feet scampered away.
"Again?" Powder made a face in that direction. "That's like the third time this week."
"Don't be too hard on her." Naruto patted her still-damp head, drawing a pleased hum from her. "She's just worried about you, like any good sister should be. Don't fault her for it."
"Ugggh!" At that, she squirmed away with a groan. "Now you sound like Vander! Less talk, more training!"
Kurama chortled softly. "Isn't she an eager one?"
Still, something in her face gave them pause.
"What's wrong?"
Powder tucked her knees into her chest and buried her head there. She muttered something incomprehensible.
A blond brow rose. "Wanna run that by me again?"
Tentatively, she raised he gaze. "Are you gonna give her chakra, too?"
"Eh?" Naruto found himself blinking at that. "Where in blazes did that come from?"
"Its just...!" she looked down, worrying her lower lip between her teeth. "She's strong. Real strong. Stronger than me. Faster, too. She's tough."
He scoffed. "And you're not?"
"I didn't say that!" she snapped back. "Its just...she keeps trying to talk to you, and you chose me." She grit her teeth. "Its not fair. She has so much already, and now she's trying to mess with the one thing that's...!" she bit her tongue to cut herself off, but not before he heard her words. "She should stay away...
Kurama offered a low rumble of amusement. "Aw. Someone's jealous."
Was she? Naruto couldn't be sure. Truth be told, he barely even knew Violet. Certainly not enough to trust her with something like this. She seemed keen to watch over Powder, and while that was certainly a quality to cultivate, she'd also proven herself doggedly persistent her where family was concerned. Unbidden, one such inquiry floated up from the depths of his mind.
"What do you want with my sister?" she'd asked him.
"I'm just keeping a promise," he'd replied.
"If you hurt her, you'll regret it."
It was that very same persistence that made him wonder. Could he teach Vi? Should he? Would it make Powder happy? Sad? Mad? It might even be something for the sisters to bond over. But he didn't like the look there in Powder's eyes. She was eyeing him with an air of trepidation, as though she were afraid of something. But what? Suddenly he didn't feel so good about offering an olive branch to Violet. Not yet, at least. She was clearly a brawler like him, and while there was plenty he could impart to her, Powder's expression genuinely concerned him.
If he said the wrong thing here, this fragile little girl might snap.
Who knew what might happen then? The gift of foresight often eluded him, but something told him not to dismiss Powder's fears out of hand. She wouldn't take kindly to it.
No, best not risk it. Just appease her for now.
In the end he settle for a shrug. "Can't say. Don't know her well enough. I'm plenty busy with you."
Apparently, it was the right thing to say. Powder slumped with a relieved sigh. All the tension bled out of her.
"R-Right." she stammered out a nervous laugh. "Forget I said anything. So!" Quick as a flash, she grinned again. "Train~ing~! What's next?"
"Alright, alright." Naruto relented with a selfsame smile as she clamored to her feet. "Have it your way." If she wanted to learn things...well, he supposed he could move onto something a little more advanced. Sage knew he had enough knowledge crammed into his head at the moment. "Lets see...
Powder squirmed with anticipation. Her smile soured into a frown as he held up a finger.
"Today, we're going to learn about elemental affinities." a brow quirked at the home-made grenades on her belt. "Though something tells me yours is going to lean toward fire." a thought occurred to him and he grimaced. "Or lightning. Maybe both. You might even develop a bloodline I'm not aware of." a shrug. "Time will tell, I guess...
There was a silence. And then:
Powder's smile returned tenfold. "Sweet~!"
Their lessons would continue long into the night.
A/N: Had to cut some bits for next chapter~!
Arcane's just a blast to write~!
Next time: Real Power.
As ever, we're following the Ember's Rule here. That's no joke. Really, it isn't.
If folks don't like this, it'll be deleted. Poof! Gone! Every bit of feedback helps. Reviews are the fuel which keeps me writing in these crazy times. With my tight schedule, 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!
Reviews are my lifeblood. Without them, I cannot write.
So In the Immortal Words of Atlas...
...Revieeeeew, Would You Kindly?
They keeps an old man alive.
And enjoy the previews.
As ever:
SPOILER! SPOILER! SPOILER!
PLOT DETAILS AHOY!
YE BE WARNED!
Get ready to smile~!
Obvious references are obvious~!
(POTENTIAL!) Previews! What can I say? I've been busy.
"Powder, watch it!
Deckard lunged with a snarl. "Gimme the loot, you little shit!"
Violet surged forward after him, fearing the worst. She needn't have worried. Powder swayed back with deceptive grace, weaving left and right like water, leaving his knife to sweep harmlessly past. Then her eyes flashed and she SLAMMED a fist into Deckard's stomach with all her might. The larger boy folded over her outstretched limb with a grunt, retching for air. He was still gasping when a rousing uppercut caught him in the chin. The impact launched him into a wall. The boy slid down it and dropped like a sack of potatoes; wheezing softly.
Claggor gaped. "Wow."
Mylo whistled. "Daaaaamn...
Vi found herself frowning. "Since when can you do that?"
Powder gripped her wrist, hiding her hand behind her back. "Since...um...awhile ago?"
"You can't learn this. Absolutely not. The Rasenshuriken is too dangerous."
"But you said you teach me!" He could feel the thorns in her voice. "You promised!" Just like that she changed gears. "Please, please, please? Can I at least learn the Rasengan?"
...fine. I'll teach you that, at least."
Vander was silent for a long moment. And then.
"Seems I've gotten rusty. Whaddya say to a spar? Need to get back in shape."
Naruto blanched and tried to hush him, but it was already too late.
The kids went mad. "Yes, yes, yes! Fight! Fight!"
He didn't feel a thing. No, wait. He told a lie. Pity. Today was a rare exception. He was starting to enjoy those. It had taken him the better part of three minutes to find someone willing to pounce on his bait.
But now that they had...
...you." A finger jabbed Marcus in the nose. "I don't like your tone. Take that back.
The enforcer looked up at him. "And if I don't?"
Naruto smiled. "Smack."
"The hell does that-
An uppercut SLAMMED into the enforcer's glass chin and sent him spinning away, mask-over-ass-over-elbows. He struck a table. Drink and food flew, spattering more than a few patrons. Silence descended over the bar as everyone, to a man, climbed to their feet. In the background, Sevika gave a wolfish grin and whistled sharply.
The enforcers never stood a chance.
"You don't seem to understand." Naruto growled, a low rumble that had Powder ducking for cover behind him "They're not going anywhere. And I. Am not. Putting up with this anymore!"
His hand rose. Light leaped from his palm.
And the sky erupted.
"NOW BEHAVE."
"He humiliated me! I want revenge!"
"You want to cross the bridge?! Look, that won't end well."
"It will if I do it alone."
"I'd like to let in you in a very important secret I learned when I was about your age, boy." Silco tapped his cheek with the knife. "You see, power, real power, doesn't come to those who are born strongest, or fastest, or smartest. No, it comes to those who will do anything to achieve it.
Naruto pursed his lips. "On that I agree...and disagree.
"Have something to say, do you? Go on. Enlighten me."
"Look, Silco, I worked hard to get where I am, sure, but I only made it this far because I had help. Because people believed in me. You? You'd sacrifice everything that you are for your dream; throw yourself on the pyre of your own ambition to see it actualized. You might realize your goal, sure, but is it even your dream anymore if you can't recognize it? Or your people are left cowering in fear of the very man who saved them? That's not a good dream at all. Its a nightmare."
...just who are you?"
R&R~!