Protection Squad

It was summer holiday for the school, a time where every student decided to go on a vacation with their precious people. A fact Tony knew so well, he practically jumping on his foot, begging J to video-called the kids, quick I miss them so much!

(Even though he just called them yesterday. But detail~)

The first one who answered the call was Takashi. From the position of his camera, he rested the phone on the stack of his book while he was doing his homework. Smiling, he put the pen down, "Hi, Tony. It was unusual for you to call me when it was still seven morning in your place?"

"Yeaah, I hate time-zone," Tony complained, "but you kid should not stay up too late. If I called you at nine, that means it was ten in your place. That's your curfew!"

Takashi rolled his eyes but didn't say anything. It was basically true, except his Youkai friends love to visit him at late in the night just to arranged their favorite sake party. The supposed bodyguard of his was too happy with that and will always let them inside the barrier, no matter how many times he told them not to disturbed him when it was time for a human to sleep. The said cat was trotting and climbed onto his lap, basically ordered Takashi to combed his fur with his fingers.

The second who answered the call was Hanae and Haruitsuki simultaneously. Looks like they were in the same place, judging from the background. In their friend place—Zenko, if he remembered it right—as he saw the fox Youkai longing around the hallway. The blonde was still wearing his kimono, "are you working till night again, Itsuki-chan? It was not good for your health, you know."

"Speak for yourself," Haruitsuki snorted amusedly, pushing Hanae from his personal space and told him that he has his own phone to talk to the brunette and didn't need to peer through his, "I saw that bags under your eyes. You're worse than me."

As Tony pouted and let out a ton of excuses, another one answered. It was Ichigo, standing on nothing but air, wearing his hakama and his big, butcher knife rested on his shoulder, "oh, hi Tony."

"You too? You kids are so busy!" he shifted the hologram that contained Takashi's video-call to the front so they could see him, "take an example of Takashi-chan! He's being a good student he is and doing his homework!"

"Abeno-san and I are doing our summer homework as we talk, Tony-san."

"I just finished three of it. I'm not letting Kon touch my work."

"And Nishimura invited me to sleep-over and have a pillow fight. I'll be going after I finished this section of questions."

"ARRGH! YOU'RE GANGING UP ON ME!"

While the other laughed at Tony miserable form, the last of his kids finally returned his call. It was nothing but darkness though, so Tony was confused (and suddenly have this dark feeling that the youngest of his kid was in trouble. He's a hero of his town. He was hunted by the ghosts and his own parents oh my God, did something happen to him? No, not again—) before a sleepy voice echoed, "'llo? Who's this?"

JARVIS obligingly opened up the subtitle and translated Danny's English words into Japanese so the other kids could understand him.

"Danny, this is video-call my boy. Pull your phone away from your ear," (he sighed in relief. Nothing. No disaster rained on this young hero then. Just him waking up late). Tony put his arms on his waist, trying to scowl though it looked like a pout when Danny figure was free to see; his face was smush onto his fluffy pillow and his messy locks seem wilder than usual, "my god, you're the worse of us all. It's already seven in the morning, wake up already."

"It's ONLY seven in the mo'ning," he grumbled, "Skulke' kept me up late. When I finally captu'e him, it was al'eady five AM. Let me slee..."

Before he could finish his words however, his grip on his phone slacked and the gadget tumbled near the side of his pillow, showing them the background of his ceiling; the glowing-in-the-dark-stars wallpaper was blinking lazily.

Tony chewed his bottom lips, worried. He knew about Skulker's accomplishments, knew it full well how dangerous he was after that one incident. After that time, when he decided he wanted to pester Itsuki-chan and called for Mononokean's service. He was speaking animatedly with Hanae, while the blonde was fuming at the background (Mononokean is not some living room for you to chat, goddammit), the silent Mistress suddenly perked up. He couldn't really tell because Death didn't have any skin on her, but he knew she was worried about something.

"Tony." She started, voice turned somber, "you have to see Danny Fenton-Phantom, now. And bring Kuchiki Rukia with you. Hurry."

He didn't question her—she's the leader of all Spirit anyway. She knew anything that concerned the life of a soul—and asked Mononokean to open the shortcut into Ichigo's room. It was fortunate when the orange-haired teen and the girl herself were present, debating over their homework. Rukia was confused when her friend's door connected to a tatami room since-when-she-didn't-realized (maybe it was the Youkai version of Senkaimon, she concluded). Yet one look at Tony's serious face, she agreed to come with him, Ichigo was not far behind. The moment the billionaire opened the opposite door that connected to their youngest kid's room, he choked.

On the tiled floor, was Danny, pale complexion full of anguish. He was curled up near his bed, clutching the side of his stomach, trying to reign the blood back but to no avail. It oozes so much blood—green and red—Tony felt like he wanted to vomit.

Hanae and Haruitsuki gasped, tone laced with pure horror. The Shinigamies cursed, Ichigo ushered the first grader back inside the Mononokean as Rukia immediately rushed into the room, hand glowing green. The half-Shinigami wanted Tony to go away too when he saw the man froze in shock, brown orbs gleaming with hidden nightmares, but he persisted. He helped Rukia to pull Danny up and laid him into a more comfortable position.

The brunette almost threw up right there and then when he saw the injury. It was a hole. Like someone bit the side of his stomach off, flesh and bone and nearly lose his kidney in the process (fuck! Is that his intestine?).

(Please no. Not again. Not after those innocent people in Afghanistan. Not after Yinsen. No—)

Tony didn't really know what happened. Something about Danny's power already in the process of healing him and Rukia's Kido helped accelerate the work. One thing he remembered though, the moment Danny woke up, Tony and Hanae engulfed him in a tight hug; Hanae was crying a river, Tony almost followed suit.

(He was relieved Takashi was not here. He didn't think Hanae, Haruitsuki or even Tony could sleep well tonight)

Danny was reluctant to tell the story when he saw a stranger in his room. But Ichigo assured him that Rukia is a shinigami just like him and will not tell his secret to anyone. (They also knew if Danny's secret threatened the balance, the Mistress will never warn Tony about his grave injury in the first place and will let him die in his own pool of blood). Danny sighed. And—wheezed—finally told them what actually happens. Skulker, his self-proclaimed arch-enemy, was provided with another weapon Fruitloop concocted. It was actually effective for a halfa like him, definitely because Vlad had been experimenting on his own body to know the effectiveness. He didn't comprehend the danger of the weapon. Yet when Skulker got a lucky hit on him, he accidentally let out his ghostly wail as he screamed in pure agony. Danny caught him when the robot ghost was too stunned to react, threw him into the Ghost Zone and that was how Tony found him in his room, trying to move and heal the damage but was too tired.

The one who almost killed him was Skulker. Still, the one who provides the means was the older halfa and that basically means he was the main reason one of his kids almost die.

The billionaire really wanted that mayor out of existence, he really did. Maybe not outright kill him, but ruin his reputation so much, he'll spend most of his money just to get back to his current status. Though, Danny being a sweetheart he was, shook his head and said he is his Dad's comrade. No matter how the grey-haired old cot wanted the man gone for good and claimed his mother and himself as his family (that was a sick, sick plan. Even Hanae, the sweetest of them all, mad at a mere idea of it), his Dad still considered him as a friend.

Tony heard his soft snore from the video-call and decided to let him be. He didn't know anything about biology, especially a biology of a halfa. He could create a tech that will protect him from the ghosts, parry them away whenever they came too close. Then again, Danny was half-ghost himself, it could backfire on him. So Tony didn't. And let the Hero sleep to regain his strength.

(Maybe he'll learn biology after this. Or let a specialist teach him someday)

"Okay, with Danny's out cold, let's continue our conversation!" Tony chirped. He saw Natsume was already on the front door, Hanae and Haruitsuki closed their book and was sipping the orange juice-he waved at the arriving Zenko, in which the smaller girl waved back-and Ichigo was walking leisurely on the air to his way home, "the summer holiday already started right? Why not visit New York for a change and look at my new building? It's awesome! We have everything here; from the pool, recreation room, and bar~"

"We're still underaged, Tony-san."

"Detail, Takashi-chan. What I'm saying is, accompany me in this lonely place of mine!" he swayed, "Pepper is busy with her corporation, Rhodey is on another country doing his soldier thingy and even Happy is visiting his family. I'm boreeedd! No offense, J."

"None taken, sir" the robotic voice echoed from the ceiling.

"Oh, and I also created a translation device for you," he produced a wireless earphone from his work desk. It was tiny and fit perfectly into the earlobe, "just tap it twice and you can understand every single language! I'm gonna mass produced this, but you lot need to be my first guinea pig."

"His guinea pig, he said," Ichigo snorted, "I don't need that if we only stay in New York, but Yuzu and Karin might. So I ordered two of them. Rukia said some lower Shinigami will take my post, so I'm actually, really, gonna have a free time for a full holiday."

"You will bring your twins too?" Tony loved them. Yuzu was so sweet and Karin was a tomboy, they practically complement each other, "yes! The more the merrier!"

"And I supposed you'll use Mononokean to cross over the country, right?" Haruitsuki sighed. He gave up a long time ago. That, even Mononokean was happy to be the taxi for these unruly children (at least Takashi and Ichigo have the decency to feel guilty), "fine. But I couldn't always come over. I have my duty as the master of Mononokean."

"What about me, Abeno-san?"

"You can go anytime you want. I never depend on you anyway."

"YOU'RE SO CRUEL!"

"I already asked Fujiwara-san actually. The moment the summer holiday started, I have a feeling you'll ask this question," Tony innocently whistled and Takashi chuckled, "I'll come over tomorrow at this time of day, so you better wake up early."

"I will don't worry. J will wake me up, right J?"

"For you sir, always."

"What about you, Zenko-chan?"

"I'm sorry, Tony-san. But I don't think my father will allow me," she informed sadly. She obviously wanted to visit New York. But his father still couldn't let him loose with Hanae and Haruitsuki, even though she already said multiple times there was nothing between them, "besides, the summer festival will be held in our temple this year. So, I'll be busy helping my father around as it is."

"Aw, pity. I really want you to see my tower though." Tony pouted.

"Someday, okay?" Zenko let out a soft smile.

Tony enthusiastically nodded.

The billionaire flicked his finger to the still background of Danny's video-call, "and left a message for Danny-boy too. He needs to get a rest sometimes and let his parents hunt the ghost. He's underage, he needs his beauty sleep. Don't want that baby face of him wrinkled because of lack of rest. And tell him to eat more vegetable. And meat. And—"

"Should I remind you that you also need to listen to your own advice yourself?" JARVIS cut his owner's rambling, tone disapproving, "you can't keep living by coffee and smoothies alone, sir. Even the Mistress agree with me."

"Detail, J! Detail! You two just wanted to smother me with love, don't ever fool me!"

"Oh, and Tony," Ichigo step inside his room, kicked Kon/Ichigo on his back when he saw him reading some adult manga he-didn't-know-where-he-get-that, "I'll pay in installment for the earphone after you set your price. I haven't found a good place for me to work part-time at, my job as Shinigami wasted my time enough."

"Huh?" the billionaire looked really confused, "what are you talking about, Ichigo-chan? You don't have to pay me. It's a gift."

"Tony-san...do you remember what I said about 'don't spoil them or they'll turn into a cat'?" Takashi started, tone dangerous and Tony wilted, "Abeno-san already saved us a lot of money for this back and forth trip," the Mononokean charge 100 yen for the two-way trip, something that Takashi and Ichigo were stubborn about even though the Youkai tried to discourage them. If it was not because of him, they'll need to used their own money to buy the plane ticket, which is expensive as heck. Or worse, Tony happily spend his money for them, "if you want to freely give it to someone, give it to Abeno-san. Count it as your payment for using the Mononokean. While Ichigo-san, Ashiya-san and I will pay for it."

"I think that over-charge it a bit too much, Natsume-san," Haruitsuki drawled, "but a translator is a nice gadget to have. So I'm not complaining."

"I'll pay for it too, Tony-san!"

"You still have a debt to me, stupid Ashiya."

"Kh! But at least I can get my money right away if I do a part-time! You never give me enough to pay off the debt!"

"That was because you kept messing up the job!"

Tony was speechless. Even though he really considered giving them the first prototype as a gift, they insisted on paying for it? He didn't need their money, they knew that. He's rich. He's a billionaire. Why were they—

"That's called tact," the Mistress slowly appeared near his shoulder, wrapping her bony skeleton hands on his neck, "You should've known by now, Tony. Pepper, Rhodey, and Happy told you multiple times already. And now these kids too."

"They're a good influence for you."

He watched Hanae and Haruitsuki bickering like always. Takashi snickered at their childish argument. And Ichigo started doing his homework, while occasionally glanced at the phone to watch the entertainment (Danny was still sleeping). And he wanly smiled.

"Yeah, I know."

But it still surprises me anyway.

The next day after tomorrow, the Japanese kids finally have the time to visit him; Danny said he'll come with Sam and Tucker after he found Dani (his twin, something that Tony balked at. And his urges to kill Vlad rose after he knew the origin of the small girl) so he'll protect the town when he was gone, "I'll contact you when I'm ready" Danny said when the adult asked for his whereabouts.

They were in his lab right now. Takashi and Hanae were having fun playing with Dum-E and Butterfinger, Nyanko and Fuzzy were watching from the top of their heads. Haruitsuki slept on the sofa to rest from the tiring job this afternoon—Hanae-chan said they had to save the Youkai from drowning. And Ichigo was speaking with the Mistress of Death, asking her about the future of Japan Shinigami (Aizen was still alive and well after all) in which the Death could only answer in cryptic as she couldn't give all the information or it'll turn into a self-fulfilling prophecy. It was a pity Yuzu and Karin couldn't come today because their father was being annoying again and someone needs to watch over him, no matter how much Karin grumbled over it.

Tony was happy. Pepper, Rhodey, and Happy will always be his best friends, but they already lost all of the innocence they had after growing up. Not like this kid doesn't have their own darkness inside (Takashi was haunted by the nightmare of his childhood. Haruitsuki turned solemn whenever Youkai asked about how he got his title as the master of Mononokean. Ichigo already fought a war twice and still fighting. Even Danny was having his own difficulty with his double persona. Maybe Hanae was the only one who was still not touched by the cruelty of the world. And he has his own problem trying to discover the real identity of his father too). Yet their presence was like a fresh air. And they understand him for living in an entirely different world, seeing all these invisible creature people never believe exist.

He watched them sluggishly run around the lab. Time-zone finally kicked in, it seems, so Tony will let them rest for a while before he started the tour. His word had to be cut unfortunately when Pepper burst through the door, looking conflicted and wanted to rage at anything for the stress she shouldered right now.

"Oh, you're all here already?" yet her manner caught up to her the moment she saw Tony's guests and smiled, "thank you for coming all the way here. Tony kept distracting me from work with his phone-calls. I hope you can entertain him for a while."

"Pepper, what's wrong?" he stood up from his bench. The sudden silence woke Haruitsuki from his slumber.

"Nothing. It was just..." she scowled, "Coulson is here."

"Agent?"

They experienced it first-hand of how Natasha Romanova worked; deceit, manipulation. They knew SHIELD will do anything to get whatever they want in the name of experiment and justice, almost killing JARVIS in the process after the dark skin baldy's dare turned his butler off; they are spy agents, enough said. Pepper may saw Coulson in a different light, thought that he was nice, but they knew. They knew the nicest will be always the most dangerous. Especially when one day, after Tony's friend could finally saw the Mistress of Death with the help of Tooru's grandfather's invention, she told him to take everything SHIELD told them with a grain of salt. The Mistress, the God of Death said it herself. The one who mother-hen Tony like her own child.

Of course it was obvious which option they'll believe more.

"Does he want to talk about Nicky's boy band?" Tony scowled, "didn't I said I don't want to join?"

Pepper shrugged, "you know they're stubborn. Just...hear him and we'll walk from there."

At that exact moment, Coulson finally arrived at his lab, expression stuck in a polite mode and black coat crisp. He rose an eyebrow at seeing so many kids around Tony. He never met them before. Particularly with how they lounged across the room, touching Tony's gadget without the man reprimanding them to handle his 'children' with care, that means they already knew each other long enough to be this relax around the billionaire. Coulson almost paused when three of the four kids (that definitely not Americans) tapped their—his eyes narrowed—communication device twice. What was that device supposed to do? But he shook the thought away, walked toward Tony and said, "Mr. Stark. Can I talk to you and your assistant for a moment? Privately?"

He slightly flinched when the orange-haired teen glared at him with an intensity of an inferno. He tried to hide it. Yet Tony saw it anyway.

"Nope. Sorry, Agent," he grinned, mentally reminded himself to pat Ichigo's back, "whatever you wanna say, just say it. The kids will stay. I'm not going to hide anything again. Not after the disaster two years ago~"

Coulson wanted to protest. However, when even Pepper didn't open his mouth to coax Tony into accepting his proposal, he breathed. The agent of SHIELD pulled out a bundle of paper from his map and gave it to the assistant and she gave it to the genius, Tony leafed through it, "do you still remember about Director Fury proposal? This is the candidate for the member of the Avenger initiative."

(Tony still thought the Avenger is a ridiculous name)

(Judging from Ichigo snort in the background, he was not the only one)

"These people will be your downfall," the Mistress suddenly said, nearly startled him, as her finger pointed to the certain people.

These people? He squinted. But this person is—

"Hey, Agent," without looking up, Tony said, "can you leave me and my assistant alone now? We still have something we need to do."

"Mr. Stark—"

"J, guide this good man to the elevator," he said, waving at the camera, "thank you for your time, Agent. See you again sometimes."

Coulson knew when he fought a futile battle. So he swallowed his words, nodded, and was gone.

"So!" he grinned at the staring kids, "about these people—"

"Wait a second, Tony." Ichigo cut him before he could say anything. He approached the adults, ducked under Tony's work desk and pulled out something; it shaped like a button. And it was small enough, nobody could ever realize it was there. A wiretap. Everybody present was shocked.

Ichigo sneered then spoke in English, "if you ever do something like this again, Agent. I'm going to hunt you. I don't care you're someone important or not. But trying to collect dirt on my friend and blackmailed him someday is something I despised so much. Remember that."

He let the wiretap fall onto the floor and crushed it with the heel of his boots.

Coulson watched in disbelief when his earphone crackled as it turned useless.

That was...unexpected.

He needs to tell this to Director Fury.

Silence.

Nyanko whistled, impressed, "how did you know he was trying to eavesdrop on us?"

"War taught you paranoia. His movement was too deliberate for someone who was just walking out from this room," he huffed, "by the way, Danny messaged me. He's ready to go."

Haruitsuki, without prompting, just walked to the bathroom door and chanted, "Mononokean, come."

A clutter could be heard, a sign of the Youkai abiding his master call. With a loud hiss, the room was ready to serve. The door across the aisle opened and Danny came through it, accompanied by his friends—who were gawking at the sudden appearance of the Youkai—he waved, "sorry I'm late. I need to do a double check before I leave the town on Dani's hand."

"Sam, Tucker. It was nice of you to come too," Tony grinned, "the contact worked fine for you, girl?"

The goth nodded, "Yup. I can see the Youkai just fine."

It was another upgrade of the little trinket they use to see Thing That Is Invisible. The idea came when Sam grumbled and said a glasses didn't suit her goth appearance at all. When Tony suggested the contact lens, he was almost suffocated to death by the power of her hug. Tucker still used the glasses though, as he really needs the prescription to see. And him without his glasses will decrease his charisma for ten percent, whatever he said.

After a round of introduction, Ichigo coughed, "Tony. About those people the Mistress said..."

"Oh, right," he laid the paper on the desk and let JARVIS scanned it so he could show the list to everyone without them crowding around to see the small paper, "the Mistress said these two people will be the cause of my downfall."

Pepper wear her 'special' glasses, nodded at the floating Mistress as she watched the big hologram was shown in the center of the room. Natasha Romanova. As expected. The other one though—

"Captain America?!" Danny was the first one who showed them his disbelief, "but he's—" He stammered, hand flailing, trying to find a reason, though could only rest the case with a flimsy excuse, "...captain America..."

That was one way to end an argument.

"I understand your feeling, Danny-boy. He's everyone hero. Even my father couldn't stop singing praises about him," something that always colored his childhood bitter. He knew the man was supposed to be his best friend, by how he overworked himself to find the last place Captain America 'died', ignoring his family. But a child he was, he still absorbed every awesome legend the media served to everyone at face value, "I'm almost choked on myself when the Mistress told me. Couldn't really protest right away when Agent was here."

"Yeah! I mean, he's the Captain America!" Hanae exclaimed, "he's a legend, even I know him. So, why—"

They turned their attention to the Mistress. The God spoke, "that was it. A legend. Under his big muscle and brave countenance, he was also just a normal human being; has a feeling, wanted to be the best, and selfish at a time," she floated to the Hologram, watching the still picture of the Captain blankly. Her aura increased, almost suffocated everyone present before she cut it off (the God was...angry?), "he was a dancing monkey, as you all know. He knew how to shouted propaganda to everyone, knew how convinced citizen into agreeing with his opinion. He lived in a time where black and white were as clear as a sky. Never knew the existence of a grey area."

"So you said," Haruitsuki started, arriving at the conclusion, "he'll start judging Tony by his past as an ex-weapon designer?"

The Mistress nodded.

"Oh, seriously? That was such a petty reason! He was just as bad as Vlad," Danny complained, "we already have Takashi as our wolf in sheep clothing" ('hey!'), "and Tony will work with another one? Takashi is okay because his punch couldn't affect anyone except Youkai" ('come on!'), "but him? He could obliterate everything! Is Tony going to be okay?"

"You're sad because he was also your hero, right Danny?" Sam asked. Danny nodded.

"I'm sick of meeting another double-face jerk. At least Takashi's side was fun, with his sarcasm and all..."

"I'm flattered..." Takashi deadpaned. Tucker snorted.

"There will be also a secret he'll hide in the future, a secret that will be dangerous for your health and sanity, Tony," the Mistress shook her head when the brunette was ready to ask what that secret was, "I'm sorry, Tony. I already crossed the boundary by telling you this. But you have such a pure soul," she cradled his locks, "I don't want you to feel betrayed because you let someone like him into your circle of friends."

"I agree with her, Tony," Pepper said, she crossed her arms under her bosom, gaze fierce, "when you let someone into your heart, you let them in completely. Just like your godfather."

Tony could do nothing to refute that because it was true.

(And it was too much. After all the debacle of Iron Man, he mourned)

(Mourned for the lost remaining family of his. Mourned for the lost of trust. Mourned for the betrayal)

"Don't worry, Tony," Ichigo stood, his tall figure loomed over the brunette almost protectively, "I won't let my friend face another betrayal. Not again."

(He must've remembered Soul Society condition after Aizen's shenanigans, Tony mussed)

He pouted, "but I'm the adult here. I'm the Iron Man!"

"Well, too bad then," Danny grinned, "you will never get rid of us. Not by a long shot~"

The other occupants nodded in determination as they chuckled when Tony whined because they were ganging up on him again it was not fair Pepper help me! The said woman just smirked and gave him a nonchalant shrug with a 'what can I do against all these protective kids?' face. Even the Mistress floated towards the kids' side, smug. Tony slumped, defeated. But inside, he was happy.

These kids were a good influence for him, the Mistress said.

He watched Takashi and Danny barter their famous wits, Sam bouncing around Ichigo because she met another shinigami, Tucker playing with his robots and Haruitsuki smacked Hanae when he was doing something stupid again.

Good influence indeed.