Where were you when it happened?
This is a series of interviews for a documentary which took place on the anniversary of the Chitauri attack. I made the decision to put it all in one chapter to give it cohesion, and because they are all individually short. Every interview is a cameo from another show/film, but only knowledge of The Avengers movie is necessary, and all cameos will be listed at the end for those who need it. Some films/shows get more than one cameo, just because.
Where were you when it happened?
"I was at the bakery actually." He reached up and ran a hand through his hair, smiling slightly. "The Greatest Cake, it belongs to me, but I don't get there as often as I should."
"What was the first hint that something was wrong?"
"The screaming. I was sculpting handcuffs out of modelling chocolate for a friend's birthday, and I heard people screaming. I grabbed a knife and went to the door and..." he trailed off, shaking his head.
"And what?"
"There were people running. They were so scared. And then I saw them. The aliens. The Chitauri."
"The reports said that you herded the crowd into the bakery and armed yourself with a Chitauri weapon to protect them."
"I... yeah. I guess I did."
"What would you say to those who are calling New Yorkers who stood and fought heroes?"
The man laughed, his blue eyes flashing.
"I've been called a lot of things in my life, but that's a first! I'm not a hero. Not even close. One good deed doesn't make up for a lifetime of crime."
"Crime?"
The man didn't respond verbally. He just pulled his leg up to rest on his opposite knee and pulled up the end of his pants to reveal the tracking anklet that was around his leg.
"Thank you, Mr Caffrey. But a lot of people would disagree."
Where were you when it happened?
"The coffee shop," the woman said. She was small and had dark hair. A scar twisted down from her right temple to the corner of her mouth.
"Central Perk," her husband clarified. He was smiling, but it didn't really meet his eyes.
"We weren't even supposed to be in the city. We moved away a few years ago, to raise our babies." She pushed her hair back behind her ear in a nervous gesture, leaning into her husband.
"Why were you in the city?"
"We were meeting with friends." He shrugged. "We decided to come into the city and hang out at the coffee shop for old time's sakes." He looked down at the floor. "We used to hang out there all the time. They're still rebuilding it. And it's not going to be the same without Gunther."
"And I heard that the two of you managed to take down a Chitauri fly bike by yourselves."
"They hurt Joey," the couple answered as one.
"Thank you for your time, Mr and Mrs Bing."
Where were you when it happened?
"I was with my boss. In his office."
"And you're a lawyer, yes?"
"Yeah. Pearson Hardman." The young man seemed genuinely happy to be getting the attention, and he seemed like a good kid.
"When did you realise the earth was under attack?"
"About the time the Chitauri crashed through the window."
The reporter laughed politely.
"How did your office handle the attack?"
"Well Jessica, Miss Pearson, she's my boss's boss. She took charge of us, organized us into a miniature army. You'd think she'd spent half her life fighting space ships. She's scarily competent."
"I understand that you were injured quite seriously during the attack."
"Yeah. Head injury. I was out of it for a while. Apparently my boss took care of me." He smiled, content.
"Miss Pearson?"
"Oh, no. Harvey. Miss Pearson is his boss. He's my boss. He made sure I was out of the line of fire and that I wouldn't choke on my tongue."
"Have you had any long term effects from the incident?"
"I've had a few seizures. And I can see sound now, which is awesome, by the way. Honestly, I'm just lucky I survived." He smiled, wide and happy, shrugging.
"Is it true that you have been approached by SHIELD?"
"If I was, I couldn't say. Besides, I'm happy at Pearson Hardman. We've literally saved each others' lives. And I like being a lawyer."
"Thank you for your time, Mr Ross."
Where were you when it happened?
"We were all in the bar."
"MacLarens."
"Yeah, my husband and I live above it."
"We hang out there all the time."
"When did you first know what was happening?"
The group exchanged a look.
"Honestly?" the dark haired woman shrugged. "We didn't notice for a while. People came running into the bar, talking about aliens. We figured it was some kind of prank."
"Yeah, it wasn't until we went outside later that we realised what was going on."
"Well, they didn't realise what was going on. I did. I went out and fought the aliens singlehanded. I protected the bar from the alien incursion! And then I made out with a hot alien chick. True story."
"That is not a true story. He didn't leave the bar."
"Ted!"
"Thank you all for your time."
Where were you when it happened?
"I was at the precinct. I'm an observer with the NYPD."
"And what was your first hint that something was wrong?" the reporter was hanging on every word. He was a bit of a fan.
"There was a call to arms. Every single police officer in the city was being called out to fight."
"Did you go with them?"
"No. I thought about it, but Detective Beckett said that if I tried it, she'd shoot me herself. Besides, my daughter was in the precinct. I wasn't just going to leave her. We set up a triage area with the help of Laney, the coroner, and waited to do what we could."
"Was the precinct one that came under attack?"
"There was some damage to the top of the building but no serious casualties. We just had to handle the aftermath."
"And are the rumours of a new Nikki Heat novel true?"
"I've heard those rumours too. Heat Ray. No. I'm not that tactless. I wouldn't write a novel about the invasion, not so soon."
"Are you still attached to the PD?"
"Not as an observer. I am volunteering as a community officer though."
"Did you lose anyone?"
There was a long pause.
"My mother was safely at a spa, and my daughter was fine. Physically fine anyway. One of the Detectives, Kevin Ryan. He'd been married only a couple of months, and she um, she didn't make it."
"I'm sorry. Thank you for your time."
Where were you when it happened?
"I was at home. My husband, Peter, was in the office. I was more worried about him than myself." The woman was beautiful, all curves and sexuality. She also seemed genuinely nice and kind, which made her seem even more attractive.
"When did you first know something was happening?"
"Peter's partner, Neal, he called me to see if I was alright. He couldn't get through to Peter."
"You must have been worried."
"Of course I was worried. I wanted to get to Peter, I wanted to get to Neal, I wanted to get the hell away from New York."
"What did you do?"
"I did what I could. I started putting together rescue packs. In my day to day life I'm an event organizer, so I had people who supply in bulk on my speed-dial. The house was out of the attack zone, so I had bottled water, canned goods, paramedic grade first aid kits delivered to me over the course of a few hours. I also called up all my staff members and they all volunteered to help. As soon as we got news that the attack was over, we headed straight into the disaster zone and did what we could."
"Wow, not a lot of people would have done that. Not a lot of people did do that. Was it all out of your own pocket too?"
"Originally, yes. It came from our rainy day account. But when word got out about what I was doing, Mr Stark offered to repay everything I'd already spent and helped me set up a charitable foundation."
"And your husband? You said you couldn't get in touch with him during the attack..."
"He's an FBI agent, so he was right in the thick of it. Hawkeye actually saved his life. He was a bit battered and bruised, but no serious injuries, thank God. I found him at Neal's Bakery after the attack. Neal donated all his baked goods to the survivors who's homes had been destroyed and he offered the use of his ovens and kitchen to every one without power. The Greatest Cake actually became the base for the rescue efforts."
"Wow."
"Yeah."
"Thank you for your time, Mrs Burke."
"Please, call me Elizabeth."
Where were you when it happened?
"I was in my office." The man exuded confidence, and didn't seem at all bothered at the topic of the invasion.
"Pearson Hardman?"
"Yes. I know you've already interviewed my associate. I don't really see the point in this."
"The city went through something terrible. We're still recovering. It does people good to hear stories of heroism."
"Heroism?"
"You and the rest of the firm killed more Chitauri than any other amateurs. And your associate said you saved his life."
"He was my responsibility. Besides, the dead Chitauri were more down to Jessica than to me."
"Modesty? I didn't expect that. And Miss Pearson has declined to be interviewed."
"She did? Interesting. I'm here under her orders."
"Is it true that you now represent the Avengers?"
"Yes."
"And you represent several other New York based Superheroes, don't you?"
"I can't speak to that."
"Thank you for your time, Mr Specter."
Where were you when it happened?
"We were actually in this bakery. The Greatest Cake?"
"Yeah, we're trying to set up our own cupcake business. We were in there trying to get a look at the competition. And then the sky opened up and aliens came from nowhere." The two girls were a study in contrasts, one tall and blonde, the other short and dark haired. The blonde seemed very sincere, but the brunette was definitely sarcastic.
"Yeah."
"What happened then?"
"The guy running the bakery was scary competent. He got us all into the storeroom, and told us to stay down, and then he went away. We could hear things exploding and things crashing. Then the door opened."
"And Caroline screamed like a little girl, and grabbed a bag of flour like that could protect her."
"Max! You screamed too! But it was more survivors. And the guy who owned the bakery. He was bleeding and he had got hold of one of those death rays."
"He saved our lives."
"Thank you, girls."
Where were you when it happened?
"Well, it was very scary! I was at work, I run a clothes design company, you see. My husband and my step daughter were there with me. And then from nowhere these demons attacked from the sky! I didn't know what to think!"
"What happened then?"
"Well, they tried attacking the building. But I called to the animals and they helped me to fend off the attack. Along with my husband. He fights very well with a sword, you know. And Morgan, that's my step daughter, she was very brave and led everyone down to the basement where they would be safe."
"Wait, you called to the animals?"
"That's right!"
"And your husband fought off the aliens with his sword."
"Of course!"
"Riiiiight..." the reporter shook his head. "I think that's all we need. Thank you for your time. Enchanted to meet you."
"You're welcome!
Where were you when it happened?
"I was with my wife, in our apartment."
"And what was the first hint that something was wrong?"
"Well, we saw the sky open up and figured that wasn't a good thing."
"Of course. Were you and your wife hurt at all?"
"Not badly. We got a bit battered by debris. We didn't have much contact with the aliens, to be honest."
"As a senator, Mr Norris, what do you think about the Avengers?"
"I think that they're the good guys. If it wasn't for them, we wouldn't be having this conversation, we're be kneeling before a Norse God and surrounded by alien guards."
"What about the people who say that the Avengers are to blame for the damage to the city? What would you say to them?"
"I would say that we got lucky. We aren't dead. We aren't enslaved. A little bit of property damage, I can handle that."
"Thank you, Senator Norris."
Where were you when it happened? Were you at home? At work? At school? Will you always remember the sound of the death rays, the crashing of the rubble? Will you always owe your life to the brave heroes who defended us that day?
Where were you?
Cameos: White Collar, Friends, Suits, How I Met Your Mother, Castle, White Collar, Suits, 2 Broke Girls, Enchanted, The Adjustment Bureau.
Any one who wants other shows/films set in New York to be added to this, or anyone who wants the individual sections expanded, let me know. I may do a second chapter with the Avengers being interviewed, or with the Avengers watching the documentary. Or I may do both of those...