Third person pov

"Oh my god, they're here!"

"Shut up, Atlas. They'll hear you."

"Well so-rry, Mark! I'm panicking, okay?"

The two boys were both roughly around sixteen or so, standing in Ella's hallway while working through their distress in the most unproductive manner possible. They had their backs pressed up against the wall, and stood as still as humanely possible for fear of being heard. It's not that they weren't supposed to be here or anything. This wasn't a case of breaking and entering— they did indeed live here. It's just that... well, no one really knew of their existence. And they would sort of like to keep it that way, at least for the time being.

The pair weren't ninjas or even trained fighters, really. That didn't make them any less aware of the intruders who'd broken in not moments ago. They were both freaking out in their own, respective ways as they tried to figure out what the literal fuck they were supposed to do. Did Atlas go get a baseball bat and go take care of it? Did Mark drop kick one and hope it took them out?

They clearly weren't actual burglars. They were looking around and hardcore snooping, but Mark was pretty sure they hadn't taken anything. That counted only slightly. It was only a matter of time before they came across something witch-y that Ella would struggle to explain. It was a disaster waiting to happen, and Mark was reasonably agitated as such. He was more annoyed than afraid.

Atlas was more worried about the whole thing than Mark was, constantly running a hand through his bright blue hair. His purple freckles bunched together in places as he frowned, his turquoise eyes darting around in search of a solution. He wasn't trained for this! How was he supposed to call the police when they were all dead? God damn Uchiha's. Nevermind! This left very, very limited options for him to pick from. He could square up and brawl it out. He'd probably die in the process, but that was the most likely choice at this point.

Mark was a lot chiller. It was sort of concerning seeing as there was a pair of strangers in their house rifling through the kitchen. Mark always had been weird, though. He was covered in abstract tattoos that climbed up his arms and neck, and his gold eyes couldn't possibly be natural. Atlas had a working theory that be wasn't even a human, and had actually crawled from the pits of hell itself. It wasn't a theory based on nothing. Atlas and Ella had been gathering evidence from day one.

Kakashi and the Hokage wandered through what appeared to them to be a relatively normal house. A bit big for one person and more on the victorian side, but it was a house! There were a few oddities they didn't know about. Like the witch cave under the home, full of potions, ingredients, cauldrons, and spiders. There were also a few gargoyles lurking about just out of sight, eyeing the intruders warily. Atlas had forced the sentient boom and dustpan into the supply closet and told them to shut the hell up unless they wanted to become kindling. They'd been silent since.

Neither had any clue about the two teenage boys standing just feet away from them in the hall. Nor did they notice the silver-haired deertaur freaking out just outside the kitchen window. Yes, deertaur. Like a centaur, but a deer. It was a long story that really wasn't important right now. This was a crisis just waiting to occur. An unwanted bomb about to drop!

Nev had spikey silver hair that matched the color of his deer body. His eyes were a stormy grey, and he was currently in the midsts of a small mental break. The young creature didn't have the social skills to deal with this right now, even though he was pretty sure they were being robbed. Could he stab the intruders with his antlers? Were his antlers even sharp enough for that?! If they saw him, then... well... That was besides the point right now!

These three were Ella's closest and most cherished friends. They trusted her and essentially no one else. She'd saved each of them from various realms that they'd been stuck in. They weren't fond of other people in general, but were accepting enough of their ginger friend. She didn't reject them for who and what they were, and that counted for more than any of them could say.

Mark silently snapped his fingers. Atlas fidgeted as a golden hand popped into existence, drifting mid air. There was an eye in the center of the palm, blinking curiously at them. Mark sent it around the corner with a wave of his hand. They needed to see what was going on without having to stick their heads out in the open. This seemed like the best way.

Closing his eyes, Mark looked through the eye on the hand instead. It was a weird ability, but it came in handy in some instances. Like right now. Mark watched the man with silver hair open a few drawers lazily, rattling through each before shutting them again. The Hokage stood idly by, gazing around as he smoked his pipe. There was a no smoking policy in the house. Ella was not going to be happy when she inevitably found out.

"Shit." Mark murmured, gaze settling in the fridge.

"What? What is it?" Atlas whispered hastily, his nervousness clear in his tone. Mark grimaced. This wasn't good. This really, really wasn't good. Ella was going to blow a gasket when she found out about this absolute mess.

"We didn't take the bear brain out of the fucking freezer." Mark hissed quietly, opening his eyes and allowing the golden hand to diminish before it could be spotted. It didn't exactly blend in, after all. God dammit this was bad. He wondered how hard it would be to knock them out and deposit them outside. Considering that was Kakashi-fucking-Hatake and the actual Hokage, Mark was willing to bet things wouldn't be in their favor.

"We didn't take the crow eyes out of the fridge either..." Atlas blanched. Mark grimaced further. Ella had probably warned one of them at some point about this happening. She had the uncanny ability to predict the most random shit, and this seemed like one of those miscellaneous variables she'd call. Atlas and Nev were absolute airheads when it came to remembering stuff, though. Fuck. Mark couldn't believe this was actually happening. He was honest to God floored.

At Mark's signal, the pair scrambled out of the hallway and ducked behind the bar counter. Neither were sure how they were supposed to get to the fridge to remove the disturbing items without being noticed, but they were trying to stay calm. Mark was doing a great job at keeping his cool. Atlas, the damn child, was of course hyperventilating. As you do in times of crisis. Shit. Just... shit.

"What was that noise?" Having enhanced hearing and being, you know, an entire fucking ninja, Kakashi picked up on the sound of Atlas' panicked breathing. Dandy. Greatest thing that could've happened. Mark was positively overjoyed with this development. All he never knew he wanted! This was just the way he wanted to die.

Atlas slapped a hand over his mouth as Kakashi's footsteps drew closer, but it was too late. He was about to fall upon them like a lazy shadow of death and kick them to the other side. AKA hell. Mark hoped Ella remembered his requested funeral plans. If not, they were going to have a problem. Mark refused to move on if AC/DC wasn't played at his funeral.

Nev wasn't all that good at too many useful things, but he did have better hearing them Kakashi did. He heard the entire thing, and decided that it was time for his shy, nervous self to fucking shine. It was his moment! His friends needed him, and he was going to help in any way he could. Hopefully. Maybe. There would be an attempt. A good one? No, now he didn't say that. But he would certainly give it his best try.

With a burst of courage that bubbled up from seemingly nowhere, Nev threw open the kitchen window and stuck his head inside.

A mistake. What was he thinking? Did he have no brain cells? Perhaps he'd been dropped on his head as a child. It would help if he could remember his birth, but apparently that wasn't a detail most people could recall! Okay, okay, this was fine. He just had to play it off and act natural. Whatever "natural" was. Wait, actually, what was considered natural? Oh no. He didn't actually know. God, normal. Okay, fast food. That was normal.

"Hello! This is Nev! How may I take your order?" His voice came out high pitched and oddly robotic. It had only been two seconds and he was already beginning to sweat. He hoped Mark and Atlas got out of there fast. He hated being looked at— being seen. He hated it, hated it, hated it. No one was supposed to know about him. No one! But Mark and Atlas needed him. He had to do this.

The Hokage and Kakashi both whipped around to face the newcomer. Nev looked young, though neither were sure how he was reaching the window. They could see his shoulders. Was he standing on something? Wait, that really didn't matter right now.

"Who're you?" Kakashi confronted with a raise of his eyebrows. Nev immediately went three shades paler, eyes going from Kakashi's face, to the kunai he was now holding, to the Hokage, and then back to Kakashi again. He gulped. What did he do? What did he say? Wait, how did you form words again? What was breathing? Fuck, photosynthesis!

"...Hi, I'm Nev!" He burst out, soaked in sweat even after only a few moments. His dark eyes darted left and right as he got gradually more nervous. He was unsure why he even did this. He was definitely regretting his decision. He should've just let them die. Nev would see them on the other side. Sometimes, you took one for the team. He should've let Mark and Atlas do that.

"Well, Nev," Kakashi said testily. He'd sworn he heard breathing a moment ago, so there could be someone else in the house. Was this a diversion? "What do you think you're doing here?"

"U-Um, I-I-I-" Nev sputtered out, eyes wide. The Hokage narrowed his eyes at the boy with clear suspicion on his face. He had never seen him before, and the Hokage had a pretty good memory all things considered. He definitely didn't know who this was. An intruder? Did Ella know he was on her property?

Mark, who was still behind the counter with a now calmer Atlas, face palmed. At least the attention was off of them. That didn't mean the original issue at hand was through with, however. There were still some damning things in the fridge and freezer. Did he just go for it? No; too risky. Even with their backs turned. Maybe... damn, he didn't know. They had very limited options at the moment.

"Speak up!" The Hokage barked out. Nev squeaked in fear, beginning to shake violently. Was it just him, or was the air thinning? He was just about ready to piss himself. Talking to Ella, Atlas and Mark was already way too much social interaction for his delicate deer heart. If they pushed him too far, what happened next wouldn't be all that great. Oh no, not at all.

"I am no one!" He finally screamed, slamming the window shut and taking off along the side of the house. The Hokage and Kakashi could only stare at the window where his face had once been, dumbfounded. Behind the counter, Mark massaged his temples while Atlas lightly banged his head against the stool in front of him, muttering the word 'idiot' over and over again. It could've been worse. Right? They were confused enough for them to maybe get away now.

This sure was one hell of a day. Mark hoped it would end soon, be that with his death or with the intruders leaving. Both seemed viable.