A sharp, rhythmic bang bang bang rattled the apartment door like muffled gunshots.
Kate Bishop didn't move.
She lay curled up on the couch, head buried in a pillow, Lucky snoozing at her side. The TV glowed dimly, playing some late-night documentary neither she nor Kamala were watching. It was white noise now, really a distraction for her torn heart.
Kamala Khan sat cross-legged on the floor, surrounded by a pile of notebooks and half-drunk cans of diet soda. Her hair was tied up messily, dark circles beneath her eyes, and a pencil tucked behind her ear she'd long forgotten about. She glanced at the door, then at Kate.
The banging came again but louder this time.
Kate raised an eyebrow without lifting her head. "You gonna get that?"
Kamala let out a weak sigh, then pushed herself up and trudged to the door.
The hallway light poured in as she opened it.
America Chavez stood there, arms crossed, black boots planted like she was ready to punch the universe in the face.
Kamala blinked. "America?"
America's face was stone. "You chicas look like hell."
Kamala glanced over her shoulder at Kate, who lazily flipped her the bird from the couch. "Yeah. We know."
Without waiting for permission, America walked in. The air shifted with her like it always did. It was static and alien with the faint scent of ozone layer. Her presence filled the room like a war drum with a slow beat.
She sat on the arm of the sofa, still standing tall even when she wasn't.
Lucky padded over, tail thumping once, then stopped. Even the dog looked subdued.
Kate finally sat up, rubbing her eyes. "You didn't come all this way just to insult our fashion choices, did you?"
"No," America said. She looked at both of them, then at the cluttered table, the empty mugs, the untouched gear in the corner. Her jaw clenched. "It's about Naruto."
The room froze.
Kamala's throat caught in her chest. "What about him?"
America exhaled through her nose, slow and controlled. "I felt him."
Silence.
Kate blinked. "What?"
"I said I felt him. His energy, his presence."
Kamala shook her head, confused. "You… what do you mean you felt him? L-like a memory?"
"No," America said sharply. "Not a memory. I mean I felt Naruto, as in he's alive out there.. Somewhere."
Kate stood now, fully alert. "Are you absolutely sure?"
America nodded once. "It was faint. Fainter than anything I've ever picked up. But it was him. That signature of his, it's still out there.."
Kamala's hands flew to her mouth, her eyes wide. "Oh my God…"
"But it's been a month," Kate whispered, stepping forward. "Everyone said.. Nick said he was.."
"I don't care what Fury said," America snapped, eyes blazing. "He's not gone. Not yet. I don't know where he is exactly, but I've been tracing dimensional backflow since a couple days ago. Whatever place he ended up in… it's hidden and locked away deep."
Kate's voice was raw. "So you can get us there?"
"Not yet," America admitted. "I'm still triangulating the signature. Dimensional navigation doesn't exactly come with a 'For Dummies' manual. And if Strange were here, yeah, maybe he could narrow it down faster, but I'm doing what I can."
Kamala looked down, voice trembling. "But you're sure it's him?"
America didn't hesitate. "I couldn't mistake that energy. That weird, reckless, infuriating power of his? It's his and his alone."
Kate ran her hands through her hair, pacing now. "So why hasn't he come back if he is alive?"
America shrugged, but there was a softness in her eyes. "Maybe he can't. Maybe wherever he is, time doesn't move the same. Maybe he's in danger. Maybe…" She paused. "...Maybe he's fighting to get back to us right now."
Lucky whined, resting his head on Kate's foot.
The room felt a little warmer.
Kamala sank into the couch, trying to breathe.
Kate stared at America. "What do you need?"
"Time," she said. "And trust."
Kate nodded. "You've got both."
Kamala looked up. "Do we tell the others?"
"Not yet," America said. "Not until I'm sure I can open a portal there. I don't want to get anyone's hopes up if I can't punch straight through to him."
Kate sat beside Kamala, the weight on her chest just a little lighter.
It wasn't over.
Not yet.
Naruto wasn't gone.
And maybe.. just maybe, he was still fighting his way home to them.
The wind howled up the stone spiral, cold and dry like an old man's breath. Naruto sprinted up the heliacal staircase, feet hammering the cracked slabs beneath him. His body moved like lightning, sharper and lighter than before, chakra braided tight with something new.
He didn't know what to call it.
Natural energy. The breath of the world. It filled him now, and if he slipped.. if his focus wavered for even a moment? He knew it would tear him apart from the inside.
But he didn't stop.
Each step carried him higher and deeper into the tower's unknown. The spiral narrowed the further he climbed, and the world seemed to fall away beneath him. The walls vibrated faintly. His breath drew long and even, chakra threading through his limbs like silk, coiling with the wild energy like a dancer moving within rhythm to the beat.
He didn't exactly understand how he could balance it.
It felt like second nature, like he was remembering something instead of learning. But still, the threat lingered. A pull at the back of his mind, whispering what would happen if he let go and allowed the energy to spill out of control.
The wind shifted.
He had finally reached the top of the staircase. And it was like stepping into another world.
A vast chamber stretched before him, filled with soft light and endless perfume. Pale blue walls spiraled upward like ocean waves turned to crystal. Incense curled through the air in ribbons of gold, and peacock feathers shimmered from the ceiling. At the center stood a massive throne carved from obsidian and bone, shaped like a crescent moon devouring the sun.
And seated upon it was a goddess in human form.
She lounged sideways across the throne, resting one leg lazily over the other. Her dark skin gleamed like onyx under the chamber's blue flame lanterns.
Her skin was a deep, glowing brown, warm like summer twilight. Gold thread embroidered the sheer fabric of her robe, which shimmered like heat haze. Magical symbols crawled across her arms like tattoos that moved on their own. Her raven-black hair floated around her like she was underwater, strands glittering with stardust. Golden cuffs chimed on her ankles and wrists as she sat up, lazily, resting her cheek on one hand.
Her eyes locked on him.
They widened.
Her pupils dilated.
And then she stood up so fast Naruto was sure she'd get whiplash.
"…Oh my gods," she breathed.
Naruto stopped mid-step.
"…Okay."
"You."
He pointed at himself. "Me?"
"You're real. You're real. Aren't you?"
"I guess?" he said. "I mean, I hope so. I feel real."
Her hand went to her chest. "You have blonde hair."
He touched his hair and blinked. "Uh. Yeah?"
"Your eyes… are like lightning in the sky." She took a shaky breath. "You're not from this realm."
"Nope. Kinda stuck here. Looking for some guy named Tiboro? He's supposed to know how to get me back to where I'm from"
"I want to have your children."
Naruto made a sound that wasn't human.
"WHAT?!"
She didn't blink. "Dozens. Maybe a hundred. I haven't decided yet."
"No no no! Hold on, WHAT IS HAPPENING?"
She stepped closer, eyes wide and sparkling. "You're strong. I can feel it. Your soul speaks to me. Your essence is chaotic. You fell into my life like a comet and cracked open my boredom. You're just perfect."
Naruto was already backing away. "I'm not a baby factory, lady! I haven't even had a girlfriend yet!"
"I am Itzpapalotl," she declared, throwing her arms wide. "Goddess of Magic. Daughter of Xolotl, and I have waited centuries for someone like you to appear before me."
"I don't know you!"
"You will!"
"I don't want to!"
She gasped like he stabbed her in the heart.
And then she smiled with a lovestruck look on her face.
"I like them difficult, it means you're worth it."
From the ceiling, a magical circle opened and light spiraled out as a massive feathered serpent descended, coiling through the air like a living spell. Its scales shimmered like molten paint, and wings of red and gold beat gently as it curled around her.
"Tlāzokāuhtli," she cooed. "Bring him to me."
The serpent coiled in the air toward Naruto.
He jumped. "You summon a flying snake after asking for kids?!"
He ducked under its first strike, sliding across the floor as sparks of chakra danced up his legs.
"I just want to go home!" he yelled. "Why does everything in this dimension want to marry me or kill me?!"
"I want to do both!"
Naruto leapt, flipping over Tlāzokāuhtli's head and driving a chakra punch straight into its snout. The serpent recoiled, slamming into a floating column of crystal. The room shuddered under his strength.
Itzpapalotl sighed, arms crossed under her chest.
"Even the way you fight is beautiful."
"I will LEAVE if you don't stop."
"You can't. I closed the passageways."
He froze. "You what?"
She wiggled her fingers. "Goddess of Magic, remember?"
"I hate it here." Naruto sighed.
"But you'll grow to love me."
"I'll grow to hate you more!"
Tlāzokāuhtli returned in vigor, its wings cutting through the air. Naruto skidded across the floor and scooped up a chunk of shattered crystal from the impact crater.
He hurled it like a fastball straight into the serpent's face.
The jagged shard slammed into its jaw with a crack, throwing the beast off course for only a second, but it recovered fast, screeching as it arced around for another strike.
Naruto didn't wait however.
He sprinted forward, jumped, twisted midair, and slammed his heel into the serpent's snout with a loud THWACK. The impact rang throughout the chamber.
Before the serpent could react, Naruto's body vanished in a blur of speed and reappeared on its back.
Tlāzokāuhtli upon realizing shrieked and thrashed under him, trying to shake him loose.
Itzpapalotl watched with glowing cheeks.
"You're so rude. So difficult. I adore it."
"I'm not your boyfriend crazy lady!" Naruto roared.
"Yet."
He screamed.
Literally screamed.
"WHERE IS TIBORO?!"
"Dead. Or asleep. Or fishing. Who cares? Stay with me instead!"
The serpent launched into a dive but Naruto jumped just before impact, flipping onto a hovering crystal platform. His clothing was torn and his hair whipped in the wind as chakra crackled along his knuckles.
"This is harassment!"
"No my dear, this is DESTINY!"
"No, it's therapy waiting to happen!"
"Fine!" she shouted. "If you won't come to me willingly, I'll seduce you with force!"
"That's not a THING!"
She rose into the air, magic circling her fingers like glowing ribbons. Runes exploded across the ceiling. The serpent coiled around her again, and with a snap of her fingers, the entire chamber changed, turning into a swirling starfield of illusion and light.
Naruto sighed as the air thickened with magic.
"…I miss fighting people who just wanted to blow up the world."
"You can blow up my heart!"
"I'm gonna blow up this room if you don't stop!"
The air shimmered.
Itzpapalotl raised a single hand and the entire room responded. The stone floor rippled like a pool, and from the space above her palm, a single glowing circle bloomed into the air.
The golden glyphs rotated gently, humming like an ancient lullaby.
Naruto braced himself.
"Alright. What is it this time? Fireball? Snakes? A floating bed with heart-shaped pillows?"
She giggled. "Oh, that's next."
The glyph flared.
Suddenly, the floor beneath Naruto erupted in vines. Thick, thornless, and green vines that slithered up from cracks in the tile, glowing faintly with a magical hue..
He jumped back as one tried to wrap around his ankle. Another tried to catch his wrist mid-dodge.
"WHAT IS THIS?"
"A binding vow spell," she sang, swaying slightly. "If the vines touch your heart, it's legally binding in three realms and a half!"
"I DON'T EVEN KNOW YOUR LAST NAME!"
She cupped her cheek dreamily. "I don't have one! Isn't this fun?"
The vines chased him across the floor, dragging behind like enchanted streamers. Naruto ducked, twisted, flipped over one and ripped another free, but they kept coming, slowly, gracefully, like they weren't even trying to win but just wear him down.
"You're insane!" he shouted.
"Nobody likes a regular girl!" she countered.
Another vine whipped toward his waist. He spun sideways, narrowly dodging it, and slammed a palm into the floor, chakra pulsing through his limbs.
"Fuck, I wish Kurama was here."
___
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