Protection Squad

It was a week after their conversation, a week after the Avenger was reactivated. Ichigo tensed when Loki, a God from Asgardian came through a portal and terrorized the town. Even Danny was ready to go Ghost and help Tony from the sideline. But Takashi and Haruitsuki stopped them. And although they have the experience of battling with over-powerful enemies, they couldn't just barge into someone else fight without any plan. Especially as they will be invisible to naked eyes except for Tony, they will confuse everyone; that could turn up to be good or bad, but they couldn't take that risk. Ichigo gritted his teeth but acquiesced. While Danny fumed on the corner, watching Tucker and Sam playing the game on the dark-haired teen's PDA to calmed himself. He was mad because the Captain, even though they haven't seen them in person, was definitely ignoring Tony's suggestion, by the video feed from the Iron Man's suit JARVIS provided them to see. Said that it was not his turn, he was the Captain here and listened to my order. Romanova didn't bat an eyelash when that happened.

He didn't know Captain America could be so presumptuous, the Mistress was right not to trust him.

(The God herself who was watching the fight from the sideline hummed. The scepter already affected the mind of the human. And it seems the Captain has fallen for its trap)

Ichigo woke up and stretched. It was ten in the morning. After a week in New York, his body finally adjusted to the time-zone, though he still prefers waking up late to pay for his sleepless night because of his 'job'. Tony called them yesterday night, said that Thor, the older brother of Loki came and was demanding for his brother freedom, causing the collateral damages as he rage. Before the orange-haired teen could even narrow his eyes, he assured them and said it ended as well as a raging thunder struck the earth; which is, not at all but at least he stopped. He agreed for SHIELD to capture Loki. However—

"I cannot let him be contained inside this...flying contraption," Thor voiced boomed, " it's not safe. Because if you let your guard down and Loki escaped, he'll bring us down with one flick of his magic. I demand a jail on the earth. Preferably a basement."

And Tony, as ready as he ever could be, suggested to used his tower temporarily. Until SHIELD could concoct their own jail for a God.

"I'm sorry I bring this...dangerous beings so close to you guys," he whispered, "but Thor was right. If we held him inside the Helicarrier, he could just destroy the machine and we'll be over. At least, on my tower, J will be ready to open the emergency route for everyone to escape."

"Don't worry, Tony-san." Hanae smiled, "as long as you're safe."

"And I wanted to meet with this Captain America already," Danny smirked, eyes glinted with hidden anger, "maybe I can give him a punch or two. Of course, when I'm invisible. So he'll freak out like a little girl."

Takashi evilly laughed. Tony was a little concerned.

(These two kids will be the death of me someday, he mulled, maybe I influenced them too much)

(Eeeh...worth it)

So, today was the day they arrived at the tower. Or maybe they already were, as it was almost noon. Haruitsuki need to visit the Youkai world and after that, he'll bring Yuzu and Karin over to the Tower; they messaged him their father was having a sleep-over with his old friend. They also wanted to surprise Tony so Ichigo stayed silent. The billionaire will be happy too. Danny, Tucker, and Sam were probably inside Tony's lab again, trying to create another ghost weapons, combining their own tech with Tony's (they'll give him the prototype as a payment. Tony tried to refused but failed). Takashi and Hanae must be in the kitchen area, they loved to watch the view of New York city from there while sipping green tea.

Maybe I can see how Danny's and co. doing with their project, Ichigo hummed, some of their weapons maybe could drive out the normal ghost from coming too close to Yuzu and Karin.

Although before he could even go to the elevator, the Mistress suddenly popped in front of him. Without waiting, she spoke, the skeleton of her face was blank, "Tony need your help"

When Ichigo, run with all his might, arrived at the kitchen, he felt the tension arising. The members of the Avenger spread around the big kitchen, froze on their spot while watching the accumulating drama that has been going on for quite a while. Natasha and Fury were silence, assessing the situation. Thor was confused. Bruce looked like he wanted to be anywhere but here. While Hanae and Takashi were at the very end of the room; the first was trying so hard not to burst while the latter was glaring at Nyanko not to pounce, even though it was clear from his eyes he wanted that to happen at that very second. Tony and Steve were glaring faces to faces. And the self-righteous bastard's (said, surprisingly, Hanae the sweetest) next words made Ichigo blood boiled.

"Big man in a suit of armor. Take that out and what are you?"

Ichigo saw red.

That's fucking it

Before Tony could even open his mouth (definitely trying to get out from this situation by being a sarcastic billionaire he was), Ichigo slammed his fist on the wall, cracking it and startling everyone present. He stomped to the surprised Captain and glared so heatedly, he was sure his Reiatsu was leaking out, judging from the sweat rolling down the blonde's temple.

"What is Tony?" he growled, low and menacing, "He's the guy who built the suit in a cave, from nothing but scraps. Right under the nose of terrorist that caught him, who tried to break him by torturing him with waterboarding for three fucking months. He miniaturizing the arc reactor into a size of a palm, not just for a fashion statement, but save his heart from being skewered by the very weapon he built. The weapon he sold to the American government for the protection of New York citizen but was sold illegally by his fucker of a godfather. Someone he trusted so much because his father said so. And that's saying something for Howard, your best buddy that you thought was all sunshine and rainbow, right? He was a fucking weapon designer. Just like Tony here was. Why did you single him out and only cauterize Tony, huh?"

"Tony is the guy with an IQ of 180—which means he's the genius of all people out there—who graduated MIT summa cum laude at age 17, the guy who has four masters and three PhDs in various fields. He's the one of the world's leading expert in computer programming, engineering and robotic and the very first person in all humanity who created a working Artifical Intelligence," Ichigo sneered, "who did you think produced that Hellicarrier you used to transport your saggy ass ball here, huh? Who did you think build the blueprint of this tower you sleep in, huh?"

"Tony is the guy who turned Stark Industries from a million dollar company to a multination, multibillion-dollar company in one year, one of the largest and most important companies in the world, employing more than 500 thousands people worldwide in various field," he continued, still glaring dagger, "He's the one who single-handedly responsible for almost all of SI patents, received countless awards for various contributions to the engineering fields, computer programming and robotic. He was also the one who continued his mother's charitable work, helping thousands of people around the world. When he was gone for that three months, the whole world economy almost went into a catastrophe because their first donator was not here. They felt it immensely through the drop in SI stocks—even Japanese government took the brunt of it. But we're doing okay without you for seventy years."

"Nothing will ever change. He's still Tony Stark, the one who contributed all of those and sometimes, without demanding anything in return. You take his suits off? He could just build another one."

Everyone was struck speechless, even Tony.

(The inner Hollow inside him cackled evilly when his king showed them his hidden fangs.)

"I-Ichigo..." Tony started, "You know you didn't have too—"

"Shut up Tony," he spoke, "I've been bullied since I'm in grade school just because of my natural hair color. I know a bully when I saw one."

When Steve was ready to open his mouth to protest that statement—body shivered like crazy. Rukia always warned him not to leak his Reiatsu too much especially to a normal human, it could be a danger to them. Still, he huffed, he was sure Rukia will accept this slip-up—Ichigo straightened, a bit miffed that the Captain was a little taller than him. But with the blonde hunching unconsciously, buckled by the sheer power of his aura, he still stood taller than him and said.

"Let me rephrase your question then, Mr. Oh So Mighty. Big man with overgrown muscle and shield. Take that out and what are you?" he darkly chuckled (his inner hollow gleefully mixed his dark Reiatsu with his own, adding the intimidation factor and chocking the air around the Captain), "nothing. Not a single thing. Just a very desperate bloke trying to fit in in the war, never considered that your health will hinder the other soldiers."

"So don't...ever think that you're better than Tony," he stabbed his index finger to his broad chest, fire burning inside those fierce, brown orbs, "he's my friend and I will not let other people step on him like he is a mere rug. Not on my watch."

He vaguely realized Nyanko nodded in agreement and Takashi silently clapped in the background. Hanae smiled his precious bright smiles and Fuzzy, although he was rather afraid of his sudden spike of aura, blushed cutely.

Silence reigned over the tense kitchen. Nobody moved, nobody even talked. But it was shattered impressively when—

TONY-SAN!" Yuzu ran into the room and tackle-hugged Tony. The brunette was startled, but body steady enough to catch her, "I missed you!"

Karin stepped inside and nodded at her brother, "hey, Tony."

"Yuzu, Karin! You're here?!" Tony face, who was shocked at the entire dressing from Ichigo to the almighty Captain, brightened. He immediately switched to Japanese, even though he knew full well Yuzu and Karin will understand anything he said by the translation device he provided for them. He knew Natasha and Fury understand him. Thor, from his all-speaking skill. And Bruce traveled around the world long enough, he was sure the man acquired one or two languages to survived. It was just for the sake of pouring salt in the wound as the Captain didn't have any time to learn how the modern world work, let alone another language. Tony twirled Yuzu and hugged the giggling girl, "I missed you so much! How come you just visited me now?! I'm lonely! Your brother was so mean to me sometimes!"

Ichigo snorted amusedly. Looked like his anger finally subsided.

"Blame the annoying old man," the tomboy harrumphed, she smirked, "I've been wanting to visit your tower after Ichigo promised us your entertainment room. We wanted to surprise you too, by the way."

"You did! That was one hell of a surprise!" Tony laughed, "was Itsuki-chan the one who brought you here?"

"Who else? I'm the only one who could," the blonde man in question step out from behind the room, kimono rumpled but still looks presentable, "I'm gonna rest in the guest room. Legislator was so annoying, he was tiring me out..." and after murmuring that sentences to himself, he was gone.

The hologram inside the kitchen turned on, startling the Avenger. It showed a little banged up Danny, his face was covered with soot, "Tony! Your lab is ruined!"

"What?! Why?"

"According to my camera sir," JARVIS started (the butler was satisfied that three of the Heroes jumped in fright for the sudden voice but didn't see anyone around besides the kids), "Dum-E tried to help Mr. Danny, but his wheels caught onto the wire, stumbled onto Mr. Tucker that was holding a meat juice. Then the juice spilled onto Ms. Sam's head and Mr. Tucker's unfinished project, in which it exploded right on Danny's face. Ms. Sam was mad at Mr. Tucker and started shooting the ectoplasm gun."

"Don't worry, Tony. It's safe for a human." Sam voice could be heard.

"Hey! Don't let that slime spilled onto my works, you hear me?! Or I'll confiscate your toys!"

"Oh!" ignoring Tony whined, Sam leaned toward the hologram and stared at the newcomers, "are you the famous twin Tony kept talking about?"

"Hello, Danny, Tucker, Sam." Yuzu waved at the trio who were now huddling around the hologram to look into the room better, "my name's Kurosaki Yuzu and this is Karin. We're twins!"

"Hello!" Sam cooed, "you two are so cute. I can't believe you're the little sisters of that brute over there."

"Hey, come on now!" Ichigo stalked to the hologram, smirking all the way, "Karin here followed me. She's a total tomboy! Besides, you're a tomboy yourself."

"Detail, Ichigo. Detail~"

(The smallest child and her older brother definitely spoke in Japanese. They didn't know why but the American kids from the hologram could understand her just fine. And when one of them responded, the Japanese kids also understood their language even though they were totally speaking in English.)

(Romanova stared. Maybe it was because of that earphone inside their earlobe? She vaguely remembered Coulson was talking about this in their last meeting)

(And also, she glanced at the towering orange-haired teen, about that boy who found Coulson's bug right away)

"Can you help me with our project, Tony?" Danny beg, he pouted cutely though Tony didn't buy the act, "come on! Tucker is useless! Even though it was his idea in the first place!"

"Hey, I resent that!" it was Tucker's turn to protest.

Tony chuckled, "one minute boys...and girl. I have a promised to these cute little fellas here to show them our entertainment room. Oh, what about this?"

"Brucie bear, come here!" Bruce, who was silent at the entire debacle, tensed up when Tony pushed him to the attention, "this is Bruce Banner guys. I'm sure you know him, right?"

"Oh! The nuclear physics doctor!" Danny clapped while the doctor was confused (because, that was the first thing he mentioned? Not him turning into the Hulk?), "my parents really love your gamma radiation thesis you know! Some of the ecto-gun came from the idea of your writing."

Tony nodded enthusiastically, "see? I'm going to be busy trying to appease these runts," Karin kicked his leg lightly for that comment, "so you can borrow Brucie here for a bit."

"Wait, Tony," Bruce tried to protest, "you know that I can't—"

"Yes! Come on, yes!" Danny glowed at the mere idea, "come on, Mr. Bruce! You have to help me here! Tucker is so useless" ('hey!'), "and I know this project of us will be finished soon if he didn't accidentally spill the juice. We need a biology specialist for these, cuz I'm not very good about ghost biology or ectoplasm or whatever and—"

"Yes, yes!" Tony pushed Bruce toward the direction of the elevator, "now, Brucie. Help my kids there, will you? Don't worry, you don't have to be afraid about the Jelly Green Bean, Danny can handle it. Hanae-chan, can you show him the way?"

"On it, Tony-san!" Hanae, one of the presence the other member of Avenger almost forgot in the heat of that one-sided argument, exclaimed. He waved at his friends and Tony, glared at Steve and was out from the room, guiding the confused doctor to the far hallway.

"And now it's our turn. You girls up for the entertainment room?" they nodded simultaneously, "okay then. On we go! Come on, Takashi-chan~"

Takashi stood up from his chair. Being the polite boy he was, he bowed to everyone present even though that eyes glinted with anger when it settled onto the speechless Captain. Nyanko didn't have any issue to show his opinion blatantly though. As he jumped from Takashi's cuddled, despite the protest of the platinum-blonde boy, and kicked Steve's head before he landed on Tony's shoulder.

Takashi didn't apologize for that.

Wow. He must've been really angry.

And Tony and his family were gone, leaving the stunned spectator in the stunned silence.

"Romanova." Fury whispered.

"Yes, Director Fury."

"Find out about every kids that were present before. Especially how did Tony basically 'adopted' some foreign children without media knowing their existence."

While the spies were busy with their own plan, Thor looked at Tony's retreating back with calculation. He thought he was just imagining things but—

Why did I sense the Mistress of Death presence from him?

"You study well, Ichigo-chan," Tony smirked, "never realized you know me that well~"

"I mean...the man in question loved to boast about himself. Of course, some of it will stick in my head," Ichigo snorted and turned to the gloomy Takashi, "what was that bastard talking about before I was there?"

"The captain had been saying some bull about 'Tony only thinking about himself', that 'he didn't care about other people opinion'", Takashi started, looking glum. He actually wanted to scream bloody murder at the Hero himself, but he didn't think it'll nail the coffin shut like Ichigo did with his marvelous dressing down, "he was also looking at Ashiya-kun and I like we were just regular kids who know nothing. When we introduced ourselves as Tony's friends, he looked at us with pity, mumbling something about 'poor kids. They don't know what Tony Stark really is'. Freaking heck. He was the one who didn't know anything. Just because he watched one of the videos, he thought he was the genius here? Nyanko-sensei, can you help Danny-san when he decided to really punch him in the face? Ask Hinoe to put a curse on him. Preferably the one where he'll be rain by small bad luck to humiliate himself in the public."

"I will, Natsume," Nyanko cackled, "that kid's aura pissed me off too. So don't you worry."

Okay, fix. Takashi was scary, even Ichigo shuddered at that.

"How could he said something so cruel?" Yuzu frowned. She looked so sad, "Tony is nice. He cares about other people."

"He was just stupid Yuzu, ignored that grandpa," Karin said. Tony chocked on his laugh at that. When you think about it, yes. Steve Rogers is an old man, "how did you know about the argument though, brother?"

"The Mistress seek my help," the air around Tony's shoulder shimmered and the said God appeared. Ichigo and Takashi nodded at her while Yuzu and Karin waved, "she said Tony need me. Lucky I came at the right time."

"He was influenced by the Scepter that contained the Mind Stone," she explained, "it'll cause an unrest on human's mind, they'll become agitated easily. I'm sure Natsume Takashi, Ashiya Hanae, and Kurosaki Ichigo felt that."

They nodded. So that was the reason why Takashi turned super vicious and Hanae looked ready to smacked someone. The scepter may be contained in the underground of the tower. But the negativity already clung onto the Captain. And he leaked it out to the outer world and irritated the other people.

"It was just a spur of a moment. But it was his true feeling," the Mistress hugged Tony, trying to calmed his pounding heart after the confrontation of a living legend that was totally different from everyone claimed he was supposed to be, "that was why I told you I don't want you to let that man inside your circle of friend. He'll realize his mistakes, apologies, but that first impression was all you need to judge his character. Because one of the Mind Stone function is forcing people to tell the truth."

That left a bitter taste in his mouth. His father's friend thought that he was better than everyone around? But Tony nodded.

He didn't need that man. He already has his own family that cares him as Tony and not the Stark media portrayed him to be.

OMAKE

As Romanova hacked into Japanese citizen database using her own laptop that night, to find out the identity of those foreign children besides their names, she found nothing. Tony must've hidden their information already, she concluded. When she tried to hack into the billionaire's database though, the screen suddenly turned red. Showing her a yellow triangle with the word 'error' in the middle of it.

"Wha—"

Before the images changed into a big letter of 'J' and she knew that she was fucked.

"Ms. Romanova," the AI voice echoed inside her room, "as much as I want to kick you out immediately because of this, I'm not. Avenger still needed your skill. So refrained from trying to dig for information of sir's kids. Because I can erase you; figuratively and literally. I'm sick of going offline and leaving my owner under your supervision because you people were too curious for your own good. So heed this warning or you'll face the consequence. Because if Tony's surrogate family know about this, I can't stop them from skewering you, you'll be happy I get rid of you first. Good night."

Her laptop crackled and turned off. The motherboard was destroyed beyond repair.

...shit.

"I have to thank Lady Mistress for the advance warning," JARVIS said, satisfied after erasing every trace of foreign code in his system.

He also erased every data in Natasha's computer. Even the backup. Just because he could.

"By the way, what do you want to say to refute that argument if I didn't come?"

"That I'm a genius, billionaire, philanthropist and a playboy?"

"Aren't you already going steady with Pepper-san? Or do you have some women you hide from us?"

"Wha—cruel, Takashi-chan! 'course I'm not! Pepper will always be the apple of my life! The 'playboy' title was there because it kinda fit, that's all!"

"Really? I mean...you have a woman other than Pepper right over there, Tony~"

"Karin! The Mistress is practically my mom, not my girlfriend!"

"Oh, so you really saw me as the mother here. I'm flattered~"

"GODDAMIT! I FELL RIGHT INTO THE TRAP!"