-AN-

Someone mentioned the Dendrobium and gotta hand it to ya, I've been inspired. Sure Tony built the Hulk Buster, but Boruto might be onto something just as cool. No, you aren't getting a Gundam. Let's not go crazy now. Considering how much I love the various Gundam series, I'm surprised I haven't written a fic about it yet. Huh. Food for later I suppose.

-Story Start-

Nestled safely away from prying eyes in a windowless work area, Boruto was grinning as he stood over his acquisitions. The two dozen or so scrapped Hammer drones were neatly placed out around the dull white room, all but maybe one in varying states of destruction and it was now that Boruto sighed and wished he hadn't been so gung ho about destroying them. Sure he was centering this project on the massive suit formerly owned by Vanko, but having a few more complete smaller units wouldn't have hurt. Plus Boruto hadn't liked the clean up that had required, Vanko was a large dude, but the end result was a set of armor that Boruto could modify and use for himself. Score.

Next to him and watching the boy work through the suits and mutter to himself, Tony rubbed at the bridge of his nose as he considered what was happening. Boruto had kept his word, he wasn't trying to steal his tech. But the thought of the kid reverse engineering Vanko's drones for his own use was worrying. He considered shelving it along with the host of other issues Tony had decided wasn't worth putting brain power towards. These kids were beyond Earth normal but apparently to them this was just another day. Something that wasn't Tony's responsibility to change. "Sooo, what're you doing with all these drones? Cause I have to warn you, the US gov't will not take kindly to you trying to take over the world."

Grunting as he returned to standing over the empty war suit of Vanko's, Boruto had his hands on his hips. "I'd need like, at least a hundred of these to attempt that. But that sounds like too much work. All those people to order around and paperwork. Ew. Not my thing. No. I wanna build something cool." He could see it now, the idea was beginning to build in his mind. Why limit yourself to one option like Tony had, when you could have all of them?

Something Tony wasn't privy to just yet, "Okay, I'll bite. What's the idea?"

Grinning and turning back to the older inventor, Boruto pointed at the center suit, "Well first, I'm going to fix that one."

"Which I guess you're gonna ask for my help on that."

"Bingo. But after the first one I'll have the rough idea of it. I'll blend chakra and seals into the other drones for two different schools of thought." Boruto turned back to the suit, hands out to point at the various broken drones, "I want two, no three working drones as support units. Something to follow me around and assist me. Don't worry, I have something for the intelligence, I won't ask for help on that."

Mentally breathing a small sigh of relief, Tony gave thanks he wasn't going to have to say no to cloning Jarvis. "Okay, I'm starting to get the picture."

Oh he thought so did he? Well then. "The rest I'm going to break down into their parts and reconfigure them into a large support unit for my personal suit."

There is was, Tony knew there was going to be something weird about it. "Support unit?"

"Yeah. Imagine. Like a mobile fortress that links up with your suit, with larger more powerful weapons at your disposal. Ammo racks for resupply. Repair functions. Maybe upgrade canisters or tools for on the fly situational adaptation. Have a heavy tank that needs blowing apart? The support unit has a huge main gun. Have a large mass that needs picking up? Extra boosters break free to attach to your main suit for temporary use. Maybe you have a bunch of enemies surrounding you? Maybe a shield to protect you." The list could go on and on depending on what you wanted to do. Heck, maybe he could build different support units for different uses. Combat. Humanitarian aid. Rescue. The sky was the limit here!

Just behind him, Tony's eyes were wide as he was thinking much the same. The idea of a support unit to allow multiple configurations of the Iron Man suit to change out on the fly was genius. Sure multiple suits could work, but there was only one him. It would take time to change out suits on the fly, but to change load outs? That could be accomplished easily enough. Maybe he could fudge it a bit, use Boruto as a test bed? "Okay, I think I'm seeing the vision now."

"Knew you would. Controlling multiple suits and support units is going to be hard, but I think my family's seals can manage." Boruto would have to build a Komainu mask from scratch, unless his father would be okay with his asking for one from home. No, making one would be a good test for himself, plus it would make auntie Karin super happy.

Humming and thinking about the problem, Tony admitted to thinking about it himself. "I'm actually looking into it as well. Jarvis is good, but the computational power needed to control multiple suits is magnitudes higher than what he can pull off just yet."

"I'm sure you will upgrade me soon enough sir." Jarvis's voice echoed out in the space, and Boruto turned back to eye the inventor.

"Does he ever turn off?"

"Never."

"Trust me young Boruto, you would not want me to."

Tony shrugged, "He isn't wrong. He runs a lot around here."

"Ah." Boruto crossed his arms as he once again turned back to his soon to be personal suit of armor, "Back home my auntie can create automated golem. They aren't smart, but they can complete simple tasks and follow instructions. I'm thinking about blending that with these drones." He would still have to blend chakra with electricity and then give each of the suits rechargeable chakra cores. But that was a list of work for later.

"Automated golem huh? I wouldn't mind taking a look at that." Tony was still interested in this chakra and its applications. Though that did remind him of something else. "You busy in a few days? I wanna move the ARC reactor to the basement."

Shrugging, Boruto didn't mind that ask at all, "Sure sure, just let me know and we can get it done in a day." Seals were always so useful.

Eyeing the multitudes of drones and broken hardware, Tony sighed and asked the question he didn't really want an answer to. If he didn't though, one day he just knew he was going to get another visit from his new buddies at SHIELD, "Just how big is this support unit of yours going to be?"

Pausing and thinking about it, Boruto wasn't sure how to relate that. How big did he want to make it? How big was too big? "Maybe...I don't know. As big as a bus?"

That wasn't so bad. The kid wasn't going to far overboard, "Just…keep the weapons light. Or try to at least." The creepy laugh that left Boruto's lips was not doing the kid any favors. "Yeah see, now I know I should be turning around and walking away."

"Aw you'll love it, don't be a spoil sport." Boruto reached into a pouch, unsealing a scroll and unrolling it to reveal several meters of technical drawings and schematics that he began to pour over while Tony looked on over his shoulder. Eyebrows raising further and further into his hairline as the minutes tracked on.

"This is…less a support unit and more a weapons platform." Yup. Tony just knew he was going to be hearing from Rhodes when this thing saw the light of day. It wasn't even a question of if either. Boruto had set his mind and making this happen, so it was going to happen.

"Maybe. But it'll all be in the name of good and helping people. I'll even let you use it if you need." Boruto already had a pencil out, making new notes and adjusting a few decisions as he physically looked over the drones.

Looking over the schematic, Tony sighed and shook his head, "If I even need something like this, Earth better be at war with someone." It was overkill, to say the least. Preparation was one thing but this might be overdoing it. Watching Boruto begin to sink into his work, Tony considered the other news he had meant to bring up with the boy before now. "Oh. I might have a lead on someone who can help you puzzle out your way home."

Pausing in his writing, Boruto turned back to Tony, "Who on Earth could have any idea about dimensional travel?"

Smirking and waving a hand, Tony got ready to leave the boy to his work. "Just a rather talented physicist and his crew. A man by the name Erik Selvig. I think you'll like him."

Thinking about it before shrugging, Boruto wasn't about to say no to some help. He had hit a wall so to speak anyway. "Sure thing. I'm up for some help, just let me know when."

Turning away fully, Tony started to walk away, "Will do kiddo. Just don't blow up the tower in the meantime."

"No promises!"

Sighing as the door opened in front of him, Tony turned down a well lit hall and considered himself lucky. The boy was talented and had a good head on his shoulders. Now if only he wasn't so explosion happy. Tony would check in with Himawari, make sure she made sure her brother didn't go overboard. Now to go find Fury. The man was asking for his assistance on some thruster designs for a carrier. Neat stuff really, just wished he had more time in the day.

-b-

On the other side of town and rather pleased with herself at the moment, Cammy was grinning as she weaved her way through hallways full of teenagers her age. Midtown School of Science and Technology was certainly a ritzy place, but unlike what their name implied they really needed to step up with information security. Either that or they needed to employ a ninja or two. A temporary badge on her neck, it had been easy enough to fool the administration that she was a prospective transfer student. Given free reign to walk around a get a feel for the school before actually starting, the name of the game today was recon. She wanted information and the subject was a certain brown haired boy who seemed like a nice enough guy, but really lonely. Considering that he had this world's equivalent of super powers and was apparently very willing to put himself in dangerous situations before others, it didn't add up. She wanted to know why. Why was someone willing to swing from the rooftops in funny underwear, so sad? Ignoring the looks of other teens passing her by, Cammy continued her trek to where she could feel her quarry. Double doors wide open in front of her, the words Cafeteria spelled it out easily enough. Lunchtime huh? Well, she could always eat. Pausing at the doors to scan the room and doing her best to ignore the noise, she spotted her prey. Only a few people around him, perfect.

Having just put his tray down to eat next to Leed, Peter sighed and tried to shake his mood free from the previous night. It was jarring to be so easily found out by anyone. Now there were two people who knew he was Spiderman? Granted they were just as off the wall as he was, but that didn't completely make him feel better. The blonde boy didn't seem to care about him one way or another, but Cammy? She was focused on him for some reason. Sure Peter didn't think she was some super villain now, but the unease just refused to leave him. She had been correct that it was nice to talk about his problems with someone who could at least understand. Or maybe just partially. But it was the first time he had opened up like that to anyone. He wasn't sure if he could get used to it.

"Hey hey, Peter, have you heard the new story?" Leed was already leaning over, phone out and showing a video Peter couldn't focus on right away. "They say Spiderman's either got a new nemesis or a partner. The jury is out on that so far." Grinning and thrusting the phone in Peter's face, the boy was nearly crossed eyed trying to see the screen.

It was hard to miss the bright auburn hair trailing behind that equally bright blue surfboard, but thankfully you couldn't make out the face from that far away, "Uh, what now? There's more weirdos in New York?"

"No more weird than a dude swinging around on webs and calling himself Spiderman. Com'on, some other hero is out there now. Maybe they're working together on some big case." Leed could see it, Spiderman taking on something big, he realizes he needs help, and teams up with another hero. "You think superhero's have a union? How do they get a hold of one another?"

"We all have cell phones don't we?" Feeling snarky, Peter began to dig into his food. Chicken and rice with a assortment of vegetables today. Oh goodie.

"You know what I mean Pete." Pausing as he was about to launch into a tirade about the other boy refusing to pay attention to pop culture, Leed spied a new face walking down the main thoroughfare. "Yo, Pete. Major hottie at six o'clock."

Raising his head to swallow his food, Peter turned his head slightly and spotted the one headache he thought he had gotten away from yesterday. Should he even bother to ask why she was here today? At his school? Just what the heck did she want with him? "Oh."

Almost offended on the beautiful girl's behalf, Leed leaned over the table to smack Peter, "Oh? That's it? That's grade A hotness there. Transfer by the looks of it, which only means one thing."

"That she might not even decide to stay here?"

"That she doesn't know that we're complete losers. Com'on, we gotta make a good first impression." Leed cautiously tried to straighten his clothes, shaking himself once to make sure nothing was on him. That a few crumbs of something hit the floor said a lot.

Something Peter tried to ignore as he went back to his food, "You do know, she'll probably get the idea after a few seconds of talking to us. If she talks to us at all." Not like he had any doubt about just where she was going. What was it she said? He was her hyper-fixation for the moment.

"Well yeah, but you can't blame a guy for trying." Leed noted that the girl's eyes were on them. Really focused on them, "She's coming this way man. Is it me? You think she's diggin' the Leedster?"

Rolling his eyes and tucking back into his food, Peter just knew his day was about to get weird. "Sure sure, she must have a thing for hefty nerds and has fallen madly in love with you Leed. It's love at first sight." Laying the sarcasm on thick, Peter decided to downgrade today from good to coming disaster.

Smirking as Peter barely even flinched as she slid into the seat next to him, Cammy was all grins as she bumped shoulders with the boy while leaning on a hand, "You know, I never would have guessed you went to such a preppy school Petey. I figured you were smart, but this smart? I'm impressed." Turning eyes to the other speechless boy at the long table, Cammy extended a hand his way, "Cammy Uzumaki at your service, you a friend of Peter's?"

Taking the hand and nodding quickly, Leed decided then and there to never wash said hand again, "I, uh. Friend. Peter friend. Friend of Peter me."

Giggling and shaking her head, Cammy poked Peter in the shoulder, "You're friend is so funny, you've got good taste in people. Guess it takes a real genius doesn't it?"

Chuckling and trying to calm his nerves, Peter nodded along, "Yeah uh. Yeah. Leed's great, been a good friend of mine for ages."

"Uh huh. So what, you at the top of your class around here? Considering…" Trailing off and wiggling her eyebrows, Cammy was enjoying this. Seeing the boy sweat while his friend looked seconds away from having a meltdown was perfect. Entertainment of the highest order. To bad she couldn't convince Hima-chan to tag along. Maybe next time.

"Nah. I'm good but not that good, this place is full of genius kids." Waving his hand as he paused in eating, he tried not to stare as Cammy reached out and snagged a piece of his broccoli. It disappeared behind plump lips and It took a lot of self control not to shudder at the moan that left Cammy's throat.

Shimmying in place, Cammy hammed it up, "Even the food here is good. Not great, but I wouldn't mind it on the daily. I should take you back home some time, my mom makes some of the best unagi donburi you've ever had. You'll never want to leave." Another vegetable was stolen and quickly eaten, but something told the Uzumaki girl that Peter nor his friend cared.

Coughing into a fist, Peter tried not to imagine what an older Cammy might look like, "Uh…yeah. We'll do that sometime. Uh huh."

Winking and pointing at him, Cammy's grin grew even more, "That's a promise then and you better keep it. Girl's don't forgive so easily." Turning to include the still seconds away from hyperventilating Leed, the girl tried to drag him into a conversation, "Sooo, what's fun to do around here? Got any after school clubs?" The least she could do was play the part right? Make an effort.

"We have…activities. To do. Together." Brain still in meltdown mode, Leed was of no use to anyone for the immediate future.

Something Cammy was realizing as she turned back to Peter, "Is he always like this?"

"Just around pretty girls."

Smirk back in place, Cammy leaned into Peter's personal space, "Awww, you think I'm pretty Petey? That's so sweet." The blush on his face was impressive and why did the tables around them seem quieter than before? Well she could feel several eyes on them, must just be new kid syndrome. Either that or they were in awe of her awesome. She casually flipped her hair as that had to be it.

Ready to launch into a slew of denials and frantic hand waving, Peter is again derailed from his thoughts as another body slid into view. Sliding neatly into the seat across from him and next to Leed, Flash Thompson was all smiles and easy going demeanor as he not so subtly eyed the girl of the group up and down. "Hey there Peter. You didn't warn us you had a new friend transferring in this year? So remiss of you." Holding out a hand, Flash stared directly at the gorgeous woman before him, "Flash Thompson."

Blinking and trying to think of as many responses as she could without being outright rude right away, Cammy did finally nod and reach out to shake the other guy's hand, "Cammy. Nice to meet you." She didn't need Daddy's emotion sensing to get the idea that this guy was a bit of a sleazeball. She'd met enough of them in her life already. Old men could be so gross.

Nodding and leaning back, Flash crossed his arms. "So like, just to give you a heads up, I don't know what Parker's told you about us, but he's actually pretty far down on the social ladder around here." Making a show of looking around, Flash hooked a thumb over his shoulder and back to the table where he had been sitting at before, full of people. "You should come with us, get the lay of the land from people who actually know it."

Good to know her mental radar was still good, Cammy made a show of leaning over and looking at the other students behind Flash. They didn't look outright mocking, but they certainly looked about as interested in Flash as she did at the moment. Shrugging and writing him off, Cammy was already plucking another vegetable from Peter's plate, "No thanks. I think Peter can show me around just fine. Thanks for the offer though. Maybe next time." Bored eyes turned back to the quickly becoming frustrated boy, "I prefer my friends to have some actual talent. Brains are sexy don't ya know?"

Smirk dipping slightly, Flash leaned forward a bit, "I think you've misheard me. See, Peter and Leed? Losers. Fully. Completely. One hundred percent. Stickin around them is going to get you labeled a loser by association."

Making another show of looking the boy up and down, Cammy sighed and considered using a low powered genjutsu to make him go away. Of course, that wouldn't be very fair and it would get her a scolding from Himawari later. Oh well, guess it was time to break some egos. "You know, for a genius school, it sure is lacking in the quality here. Take the hint buddy, I'm not interested in what you're offering."

Sniffing with some disdain in his voice, Flash puts both hands on the table, ready to leave in a moment, "Of course some air headed Californian valley girl wouldn't know quality when it was staring her in the face. Think the only one missing the hint is you."

Only a little confused, Cammy had to reason with herself that this is what normal teenagers concerned themselves with. Sure she had fun following the latest trends and keeping up with fashion and the like, but in the end she was still a ninja. A child of world leaders and having grown up much faster than anyone else in this room short of maybe one. The thought of actually taking social hierarchies and cliches seriously? Not her thing. Because if she did, everyone in this room would be at her beck and call within the day. But, he had insulted not only her, but Peter. Time to play. "It's Flash, right?" Pointing at him, Cammy turned her full attention to him finally.

"Yeah, that's right." Flash noted that the area around them had gotten rather quiet, enough to be noticeable.

Humming and making a show of thinking about it, Cammy finally snaps a finger, "Wait. That's not right. Isn't your actual name Eugene? That's a good name isn't it? Are you ashamed of your name?"

"My. My name is Flash." Someone behind him giggled and Flash turned to look. They quit before he could figure it out.

Shaking her head, Cammy relished in the look of awe on Peter's face, "No no. I'm pretty sure I had it right. Eugene Thompson. But I guess in the end it doesn't matter does it? You're just an insecure little boy looking for attention. Picking on the quiet ones because your inadequacies can't handle someone else getting some attention. Go away, before you actually piss me off."

Face beginning to darken in his anger, Flash was ready to start screaming before something dark moved behind Cammy's eyes. "You-"

"Keep talking. I'm pretty sure I can turn you inside out before you can think up something new to say." Satisfaction filling her as Flash did as he was told, the area around them erupted into muttering and quick conversation as she turned back to Peter. "So, how'd I do?"

Coughing once, it turned into laughter as Peter couldn't believe what he just saw. Someone actually left Flash speechless. It was a first, a miracle really. "That, was, awesome."

Winking again, Cammy raised her nose a bit, "That's me, praise me properly." Giggling as Peter turned to watch Flash storm away, the girl sighed and relaxed completely, "So I've got the whole day free. Care to show me around?"

Leed raised a hand instantly, "We'll show you around, we'll show you everything!"

"Ooooh, a complete sentence, finally you're back huh?" Cammy giggled as she gave Leed a thumbs up, before turning back to Peter. "So, show me around?"

Peter took it back. Today was turning out to be pretty awesome. Nodding once, he decided he could put up with this outgoing girl. "Yeah, sure. Whatever you say."

-b-

While Himawari had accepted the job from Fury to watch over Tony, she had taken it to heart and gotten rather used to the billionaire inventor. She was not running with the idea that it was Tony who employed her, not SHIELD. That said, when Fury had come asking for a favor, Tony had given her the option to refuse. She wasn't even a citizen of Earth in the end. But, Himawari was the loyal type. Fury had done her a favor and helped her and her siblings when they had first arrived. So she would hear what he had to say. So here they were walking through a well lit facility near the center of New York. Fury led the way while next to her a man introduced as Clint Barton walked next to her. She did her best to ignore that he was giving her strange looks from time to time, but he wasn't hostile. Plus, if Fury was willing to trust him, she could also give him the benefit of the doubt.

Pulling free a folder from his jacket, Fury started to explain the job, "SHIELD got a hold of an asset of some vital importance, both to us and to America at large. Not that that is a big thing for you. But what I'm asking is if you'll watch over him for a while now that Tony is no longer dying and doesn't need a babysitter."

Himawari decided she needed to make business cards proclaiming herself the world's best babysitter at this rate. "Please tell me this isn't another man with a huge ego that needs babysitting."

Snorting off to her side, Clint filed that away for later, "I'm so going to hold that over Stark's head."

Fury sighed as the rounded a corner, the group edging past another group of technicians who nearly flattened themselves against the wall to allow the three to pass. "This is a different. I think you'll actually like him."

Well, she could at least meet the man she supposed. "I don't really like it. But you did forgive me and mine for tearing apart your forces when we first arrived."

Fury held up two fingers, "And our headquarters, plus a lot of very expensive equipment."

Hearing it out loud did make her feel a bit bad about the situation. "Right. Well. So long as I can return home to my siblings often, I don't mind taking the job." Boruto needed supervision. Left alone long enough and things would start getting explody. Experience told her that Tony would not reign him in either. Once those two started working and brainstorming together, all bets were off on who caused the most damage first.

Sighing and holding up a hand, Barton had to say his peace, "I don't like this. Kids shouldn't be getting involved with us. Some of this is getting into some dangerous territory."

Estimation of the man going up, Himawari giggled, "Have they shown you any of the video from when we arrived?" She had a feeling he knew nothing about her or her siblings. That he was concerned for her safety was a big plus.

Blinking as Fury sighed and led them into a closed room, Clint shook his head, "Uh, no. Why?"

Fury held up a hand, "Because you should watch it, it's very enlightening." Fury turned back to the pair as they entered the sparse room and closed the door behind them. It was a small meeting room, complete with a short round table and one window that overlooked the busy streets below. "Trust me. By our standards, she's no kid." More like a walking bomb in the making. If she had been from this world, he would have assumed Japan had experimented with the super soldier serum as well. Hell he had considered it at one point until the kids opened up about their origins.

Himawari turned to Clint as Fury took a seat, opening and spreading the contents of the folder in front of himself. "Please, your concern is appreciated, but I will be okay. I'm looking to experience new things here, and if I wasn't truly willing to take this mission, then I wouldn't."

Fury looks up and eyes the girl carefully, "Why would you consider refusing the mission?"

"Besides wanting to keep an eye on my brother and make sure we can return home soon? Well, Father doesn't like you." Himawari didn't understand why and her father hadn't explained it in so many words either, but they could all tell. Naruto did not like the SHIELD director. "For father not to like someone, he usually has a reason."

"Your father just needs the chance to get to know me." Fury wanted to grumble that it wasn't like he was trying to take the guy's kids away or anything. They were powerful individuals that could help out around here, he would be remiss if he didn't try to receive their help.

Shrugging as Clint moves to stand at the window, Himawari turns fully to the dark skinned man, "Maybe. But father's intuition usually isn't wrong."

Rolling his eye, Fury turns to the inner wall where a tv hangs quietly. Pulling the remote from a slot in the table, he powers it on to a preset camera set to a room custom made on the lower level. "Well, to why I called you here. Meet Steve Rogers. Freshly thawed from the arctic tundra and looking no worse for wear. Doctors say he'll regain consciousness within a day or so."

That had Himawari raising her eyebrows as she watched the light skinned man breath deeply and soundly on the tv screen. "He survived being frozen? For how long?"

"Little over sixty years, though his survival is probably due to the super soldier serum flowing through his veins." Fury pushed the complete folder over to Himawari, who began to read through it quietly. "There's a lot this guy has been through, but if his psych profile is correct, he'll be ready to meet this new world soon enough. SHIELD could use a guy like him, badly."

Reading quickly, Himawari didn't look up to address Fury, "One would think to ask before inducting someone into their service." If there was something Himawari and the others had gotten used to in this country, it was that they valued their freedom, sometimes above everything else. That this man, Rogers, would be assumed to join SHIELD right away? It stunk and put a point towards her father being correct about Fury.

Shaking his head, Fury points at the folder, "Steve is the poster boy of military service. Man jumped on a grenade before his little power-up. Believes fully in the American dream, our way of life. He's a military man through and through. When he comes to terms with the fact that he hasn't died, he'll continue to serve. It's in his blood."

Humming and indeed seeing such mannerisms in Roger's file, Himawari had to say it out loud regardless, "I think I'm beginning to see why father might not like you." For that matter, she was starting to not like Fury.

"It's for the greater good. You'll see that one day if you stick around long enough." Turning his eye to Barton, Fury produced another folder, "There's a new project starting up in New Mexico with a recently employed physicist. I figured since you are familiar with the area and the people, that you wouldn't mind returning. I just wanted you here today to keep you abreast of other situations you might have to get involved with."

Barton walked over, picking up the folder but not really needing to read it right away, "Sure, all this noise is starting to get to me anyway." New York was a busy place and all the noise was starting to get to him. He preferred somewhere calm and quiet. Like back home.

Fury nodded and stood, "Good. I wanted you to be aware of the situation here, but this shouldn't be your concern. Keep Selvig and his assistants safe. You might have a couple of visitors in a few days on top of that, so keep your eyes open." Seeing Barton nod, Fury turned to Himawari, "If you have any problems, you know how to reach me."

"I do." Himawari watched as Fury considered them both for a moment before turning and walking away, back out through the door to leave the two alone in the office. Behind them the door closed, leaving them with the noise wafting up from the city streets and the machines beeping and keeping Roger's sedated.

Barton did not like this, but it wasn't his place to make decisions for other people's kids. The itch was still there though as he turned to the girl quietly, "Some advice, if you'd be willing to listen."

Seeing the naked concern on his face, Himawari relaxed her stance and waved a hand, "Sure."

"If you can get away from this. You should. This world is no place for kids." Not innocent ones like her anyway, but Barton wouldn't say that out loud. That was a one way ticket to making her dig her heels in. Kids could be stubborn, especially kids with some training.

Not that that was really a worry for Himawari. This was just another mission to her, barely a C-rank back home. But her estimation of the man rose once more and she turned to bow deeply to him. "Thank you for your concern, it is nice to see some members of SHIELD are in fact good people. But I will be fine. Where I am from this sort of work is low level and well within my ability." Here she smiled and chuckled as she closed the folder holding Roger's information. "After watching over Stark-san, I'm pretty sure this will be easy."

Sighing and knowing he wasn't going to change her mind, Barton walked back towards the door and passed Himawari. Patting her on the shoulder, he paused for a moment, "Natasha said you were made of sterner stuff, but I wasn't sure if I could believe her or not." Considering what to say, Barton finally shrugged, "She says you're trustworthy. I hope that's true. We could go on a trip one of these days."

Smiling and offering the man a similar pat on the hand, Himawari noted her shoulder felt warm as he retreated and opened the door, "Thank you. I'm sure a trip could be some fun. I did not know you knew Natasha as well."

"Oh yeah, we go…waaay back." Barton shuddered as some of the memories they had surfaced. They were not all fun.

"I sense some good stories."

"Good isn't the word I would use." Turning to leave, Barton waved over his shoulder, "Take care of yourself kid. Watch your back." Then he was gone, leaving Himawari alone to seal the folder away into a pouch at her lower back.

"You as well, Barton-san." Well, at least this job seemed simple and straight forward. Steve Rogers? Hopefully she could keep him calm and not have him fly off the handle right away. It was sure to be a shock, being nearly sixty years ahead of your own time. She couldn't imagine it, waking up one day to her family old, some members probably long gone, her entire world changed? No. She shuddered and rubbed her arms as she left to go hunt down her latest case. She didn't like the idea at all. She'd make sure to be extra nice to this one.

-b-

Naruto was in his element, breath hard and labored, Kubikiri clinched hard in his right hand, as a wide bloodthirsty grin on his face as his blade tore the very air to reach his target. "You're something else Thor!" That blasted hammer came down once more, stopping his blade in its tracks and sending out a shock-wave of sound and force that toppled another tree at the end of their little clearing. Jumping backwards and avoided Thor's next downward strike, Naruto watched the crater that was formed toss several rocks in the air. "You gotta be faster than that!" He and Thor had been talking about a spar earlier, where Sif and the others had overheard them. Some bets were made, Thor began to boast, and once more Naruto found himself a really good sparring partner. Even better, he could nearly go all out with him!

Watching Naruto fall back to the ground and dash his way, there was a breath where they were separated by a dozen meters, and the next were Naruto was in his face. Mjolnir swung around in a sideways strike, but that sturdy sword was one more in the way. Holding up and resonating from the hit, Thor was caught flat footed by a boot to the chest. Launched backwards and sent to tumble end over end, Thor didn't mind because it gave him room. "My mother hits harder than that!"

Smiling from the edge of the clearing, Sif sat between her friends and held her hands to her mouth, "It's true! Lady Frigga has a mean right hook!"

Rolling his eyes, Naruto lowered his stance and brought Kubikiri behind his back, chakra beginning to cycle through his legs, "Oh ho. Maybe call her out here then so I can get a good fight!"

Electricity arcing along his arms, Thor smirked as the clouds above them began to darken, "I think you'll find I'm more than enough of a match for you Naruto!" Raising Mjolnir, Thor's heart sang as thunder rolled in the distance.

Well that didn't look good, Naruto switched gears, dashing forward while his Rennigan snapped to life. A subtle chakra barrier built around him as his feet cratered the ground with his run. "You're a little slow there Thor!"

"Hah! You think you can outrun lightning!" Bringing his hammer down, Thor could feel the electric charge in the air as Naruto came within a few paces of him.

Seeing the lightning bolt headed his way, Naruto just knew this was going to hurt. There was no chakra there, so nothing for him to absorb or redirect. Great. "I've done it before!" Kubikiri arced up while coated in a thick layer of chakra, but it wasn't enough. Electricity connected, rooting Naruto to the ground as liquid fire coarse through him for all of a second, before Mjolnir struck him in the chest to send him now rolling in the dirt much as Thor had. "Ooooh that smarts."

Spinning his hammer quickly, Thor used to to assist his jump high in the air, planning to bring it down with all his weight on Naruto's legs. "Are you ready to submit just yet friend Naruto!?"

Eyes opening as he spun to his feet, Naruto's chakra cloak sprung to life. Submit? Him? Hah. Catching Thor in one hand by the wrist, Naruto stabbed Kubikiri in the ground and grinned into the other man's blue eyes, "Sorry buddy, but I can't submit to you. You're not a hotter than life woman that's married to me. Also." Naruto held up his free hand, a multicolored Rasengan growing to the size of a basketball. "Grit those teeth."

"Oh, this is going to hurt, isn't it?" Thor watched the light cast shadows on Naruto's face, those purple ringed eyes shining with inner light.

"Yup." Naruto smashed the ball of chakra fueled pain into the other man's gut, sending him and his hammer away to tumble and crash through the forest. Naruto had felt some armor give during that strike and wondered if maybe he went to far. Senses told him Thor was alive, but seeing was believing wasn't it? That worry was dashed as he heard Thor groan and watched a tree fly through the air. "That's the spirit!"

Lumbering out from his tree and brush cocoon, Thor blew an errant strand of hair out of his face. Naruto was strong, far stronger than he had first assumed. A worthy opponent for sure, one that Thor was beginning to believe was not giving his all in this fight. "You're holding back."

Naruto shrugged as he watched Thor stalk his way, "I mean, I'm not trying to kill you here."

Grin back on his face, Thor flexed his arms as some loose armor fell to the ground, "You say that as if you could."

Honestly Naruto was sure if he absolutely needed to he could in fact kill the other man. But this was a friendly spar, not a execution. "I mean. I've killed off a god or two in my time."

'You're being generous with one of those. She is now married to you.' Kurama couldn't help but speak up finally, much to Naruto's amusement.

'My Kaguya isn't the same as the Kaguya who wanted to kill all life on our world.'

'Your Kaguya would also love to repopulate your world with nothing but your children.' And Kurama thought he was the horny one. That woman took the cake by a mile.

Grinning as Thor started to sprint his way, Naruto decided hand to hand was perfectly fine. "Let's get back to it Thor!"

Leaping forward and leading with Mjolnir, Thor was all smiles as Naruto once more accepted his challenge, "Of course friend Naruto!"

Deciding to disarm Thor and then beat the daylights out of him, Naruto was suddenly distracted. Something was tugging on his senses, tugging hard. Belatedly a hand came up, stopping Mjolnir instantly as Naruto's gaze turned away from Thor. Away from Asgard. Out in the cosmos, something wanted his attention.

Seeing his friend suddenly distracted, Thor pulled away with some difficulty, "Naruto? Is, something wrong?" The spar was over, something had gained Naruto's complete and undivided attention.

"I'm…not sure. Something's searching for me but I'm not sure what it is. Yet." Whatever it was, whether it wanted his attention or not, it had it. "Great, now I'm going to have to find time to hunt whatever this is down."

Thor paused to think about that, before snapping his fingers, "Heimdall could help you with that. He does see all."

Skin crawling, Naruto nodded along and turned back to Thor, "You know what, I'll take it. Whatever this is, it's looking for me. There shouldn't be anything in this dimension that powerful that really knows I exist." This screamed fight, but it also had something deeper in him tickling. With his kids here he wasn't going to take chances, so it was time to be a bit proactive. "Wanna tag along, might be a good fight on the way?"

"A fight and an adventure? Say no more, I shall accompany you." Some recent maturing done sure but Thor was always willing to have a good fight. Bonus that it would be helping a friend. "Are you sure you have no idea what it is that's searching for you?"

Naruto shook his head, "No. But when I do find them, something tells me they aren't going to like it." There was no reason for powerful beings to be searching for him specifically. Not unless they were looking for a fight. Or maybe something powerful to be sealed away. He was an accomplished seal master.

Or maybe something needed to be unlocked, now that he thought about it.

-AN-

Woo been a long week.