Chapter 4

Bruce Banner was the only doctor that Kagome allowed near her and her son. So, once a year, they both had a checkup. And since Leo just turned three, it was time for the boy's annual visit. But as Bruce examined the blood sample he took from Leo, breaking it down…

He noticed something strange…

Bruce had taken the blood of every Avenger, mostly since they all had been heavily injured at one point or another. Kagome's blood was very similar to Tony's, though now that Bruce knew what to look for- he could find the faintest singles of her power inside of her. It was the very same with Steve and Bucky, and Peter and Thor- all those with inhuman powers.

So, when Bruce looked at Leo's blood sample, he expected to find traces of Kagome's spiritual powers within…

Though Leo's blood…

It's almost…

I-it was almost like tiny sparks were coming off it…

Bruce blew up Leo's DNA strand on the holographic screen, only to freeze… T-that sample… There were traces of standard human DNA, but mostly- it… it looked like something entirely different…


"Kagome? Do… Do you have a minute?"

The miko looked up from the essay she was writing and smiled, "Uncle Bruce! Yeah, sure, what's up?" She pushed the laptop off her lap, closing it and setting it on the coffee table as the doctor came to sit next to her.

"I, uh…" Bruce pursed his lips and fidgeted with the papers in his hands. "I just finished running Leo's blood tests, and I, well…" he looked at the girl, "Kagome. I need to know, from a purely medical standpoint, who Leo's father is."

Kagome sighed deeply… She smiled sadly, "so you noticed?"

Bruce nodded, "Yeah… Leo's DNA isn't fully human…"

"I know, because his father wasn't human at all." She put a hand on his arm. "But don't worry, Uncle Bruce. When Leo's powers begin to show, I'll be able to handle it." A sad, melancholy smile was on her face. Her eyes shone with sadness, "I was able to handle his father, after all."

Brunch Banner looked at the young woman… the young girl he met for the first time when she was three months pregnant at merely 16 years old, and the daughter of his best friend. Kagome impressed him greatly with her strength, her resolve…

There were, are, so many mysteries surrounding Leo's entire existence- but one came to light that day. "You weren't-"

Kagome shook her head, knowing what he was asking. "No."

Bruce breathed a sigh of relief… "I didn't see any signs when I examined you back then, but I've always wanted to make sure."

The miko laughed lightly, "Trust me, if anything had happened that I didn't want, a very dear friend of mine would have skinned Leo's father alive."

He chuckled, "Sounds like a good friend you have there."

Kagome smiled sadly, "Yeah… he was…"

Was

Which told Bruce Banner more than an entire sentence could.


Natasha Romanoff was the first to notice it.

Clint Barton was second.

He chuckled as they watched Leo run off, Kagome completely and totally unworried. "If I didn't know that kid was three, I'd think he was six or so."

"He's strong too…" Bucky commented as he entered the kitchen with Steve. The Winter Soldier cracked his neck, "What have you been feeding that kid, Kagome?"

The miko looked over at him with a small smile, "Oh, y'know, the normal."

But it was true. Leo was a big kid for his age…

And exceptionally strong…

Almost too strong…

"Sure you're not secretly giving him super soldier serum?" Clint jokes, causing her to laugh. Kagome continued to unload the dishes from the dishwasher, Steve going to pour himself a cup of coffee. "Hey, speaking of super strength. Anyone heard from Thor?"

Kagome's heart stopped… and the dish slipped from her fingers, clattering on the ground.

It smashed into dozens of tiny pieces, causing her to yelp. Natasha raised an eyebrow, and exchanged a glance with Clint, who shrugged. "Sorry," Kagome laughed softly. "I'm a bit of a klutz." She crouched down to pick up the broken pieces.

And ever the gentlemen, Steve and Bucky went to help her.

But Kagome only smiled at them, "No need." She held a hand out, her palm glowing a faint pink color, before the plate reformed in her hand- as if it never had broken in the first place. Kagome put the very last plate away.

Bucky eyed her, shaking his head, "You can do magic."

"Yes, though not every priestess can. I just had a pretty good teacher."

Clint made a face, "That repairing crap reminds me of Loki."

Kagome tensed at the name… She looked over at the spy and smiled sadly, "I'm sorry about that, by the way. The mind control…"

His eyes widened, while Natasha's narrowed. "How do you know about that?"

"I have some experience in the field of mind control. My friend Sango's little brother Kohaku was mind-controlled…" the miko shook her head. "Unfortunately, he passed before we could break it."

Steve looked at her seriously, "Was it Loki? Did his attack reach Japan first?"

"No."

And it was the only answer they got.


Sam looked across the room at Leo and Kagome, who were playing with toy motherboards. "Is it just me…" he began quietly, so as to not alert the young mother. "But does Leo remind you of anybody? Because I swear that kid looks like someone I've met."

"Now that you mention it…" Steve looked over at Leo…

The kid had blond hair- which obviously didn't come from his mother, nor her side of the family. It wasn't a color commonly found in Japan… more in Europe and America… And then the eyes- they were similar to his mother's, yet not quiet. Instead of the light cerulean blue, they were darker, like a storm.

And his skin was deeper, holding onto warmth and a tan more than his mother's porcelain pale skin tone that never seemed to deepen.

Now that Steve thought about it- "Leo does remind me of someone. Personality too."

Tony rolled his eyes, "Lots of people have blonde hair, Cap. And Leo's three- who can tell what kind of personality he has?"

Leo's face lit up as he got his motherboard to work, causing Kagome to smile gently and kiss him on the head. Natasha chuckled, "Either way, the kid's got his mother's brains. She's probably smarter than you, Stark."

"I heard that Romanoff!"


Thor knew something was different when he returned to the Avengers compound… the air was lighter, his home away from Asgard warmer… He enjoyed being here, for on Asgard- still to this day- he would get sympathetic stares…

The same stares he had received for centuries…

Ever since the day his wife passed away in battle.

Earth always reminded him of her… Though Asgard did too… Everywhere he went reminded him of her… And as he walked through the compound from the outside lawn, Thor swore he could feel her presence…

Her soft, warm aura…

Her larger than life cerulean blue eyes…

Her sweet, soft smile…

Her laugh…

The way she lit up every room she was in without even trying…

Loki would play tricks on her, causing her to laugh… and on occasion, she would join in on his pranks- something Thor would always have to reprimand her for later, even if it was half-heartedly…

But now, she is gone…

And so was his brother.

Loud laughter echoed through the main room of the compound, causing Thor to smile sadly… the memories of her flashed in his mind… He pushed them away, forcing a bright smile, and stepped into the hallway leading to the common room, "Friends! I have returned!"

"Hey, Thor, glad to see you're back." Steve clapped him on the shoulder, a smile forming. "And not on crunches either."

The asgardian warrior laughed, "I have taken worse hits."

"I don't know whether to be impressed, or horrified," Clint muttered, causing Natasha to chuckle. The four made their way into the room, where everyone else was gathered, listening to the young spider-child rant about his day.

And then…

Peter Parker pointed towards a woman who was laughing loudly at his side…

And Thor felt his entire world shift on its axes.

He froze in his tracks, the sound singling out in his brain… I-it was the same… Bright, joyful, and exactly the same… So similar to how she'd laugh when Thor lectured her for playing a prank with Loki, only for his younger brother to mock him behind his back, leaving her unable to keep a straight face…

And when his eyes finally caught up to his memories…

He saw the very same woman, as if not even a day had passed…

Her huge, bright, warm cerulean blue eyes. Her pale, soft skin, without a blemish in sight. Her wide smile, lighting up his world. Her long, dark hair cascading down her back… Her perfect figure… She was exactly how he remembered her…

Absolutely perfect

And all his

His love…

His life…

His heart

His wife…

His Kagome