Okay, I know I kind of throw you into the story, but the next chapter I'll be slower and more introductory. I hope you all enjoy, although I apologize for the shortness.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything to do with the Avengers. And I don't own the cover picture either.


The rush of wind tore and chopped at the screams that filled the air, distorting and twisting the pleas for help that seamed to be coming from the very city itself.

Chitauri had swarmed, their army disheveling the city into chaos. The organized soldiers Loki had expected and planned for had disintegrated out of his control, yet the effect was the same; Domination.


"Roger's, back me up over here!" Stark called to the Captain as he herded a group of frightened civilians away from a building that seemed to be crumpling from the force of the wind alone.

"Damn it! I said help me!" He growled impatiently, scooping a screaming kid into his arms.

Just as Steve turned around to take the kid from Tony, all the cars lining the street gave out low groans. The glass windows shattering as the metal auto-bodies crumpled in on themselves like soda cans.

"What the-" Tony was cut off as the truck nearest him exploded, sending shards of glass in every directions. The two supermen protected the little group of huddled people with their bodies, looking up into the sky as a torrent of air whipped past them.

It was Loki on one of the Chitauri hovercrafts, leaving in his wake a line of destruction.

Stark took off into the air after him, the glass on the street rattling as his jets intensified.

"Tony! Where are you going?!" Steve couldn't help but yell into his head set as he somehow doubled his pace again to make up for Iron Man's departure.

The Captain could almost feel Stark rolling his eyes as he replied, "To finish this."


As Tony neared Loki he noticed something he'd missed before; A small blonde pressed against the God of mischief's chest.

Loki had one arm wrapped almost protectively around the girl, the other holding his scepter outwards. He whispered in her ear, her eyes darting around the city in horror as he filled her mind with the worst of frights. As trickster talked in her ear, building started to twist, and glass shatter.

Suddenly the girl looked up and Tony was surprised to find fear in her eyes, rather than the cold glint of anger or bitterness.

He slowly rose his hand towards them, powering up a shot to take them down. The girl's eyes widened and his suit started to buckle, the metal creating dents and welts in itself. He fell back a few feet in surprise as JARVIS quickly ran a scan for damage.

He looked up to find the blonde's eyes still fixed on him.

It was her. She'd been the one shattering glass and cars down on the streets, and now she was trying to destroy his baby.

"Oh no you don't." He muttered under his breath, connecting to Clint's ear piece as he powered back up.

"Could use you over here bird boy." Tony flew by to grab his attention, "I can't get close to them."

Hawkeye gave a muffled reply, commenting on the name 'bird boy' rather sourly as he drew back his bowstring, his gaze following Loki's aircraft.

Clint released the bow string in one fluid motion, all ready restringing as an arrow flew towards them.

Lightening split the air, piercing the arrow before it reached home. A storm quickly grew in the air. It seemed Thor had noticed Loki's passenger as well.

"What the- Thor get off!" Clint was taken as surprise the the Lightening God himself appeared in front of him, tackling him down before he could release another arrow. Clint's elbow connected with Thor's jaw as he tried to get back up.

"Don't hurt her!" Thor bellowed, not even noticing the blow that landed to his jaw. "She has nothing to do with this! She doesn't understand!" His own eyes drifting back up to the girl in his brother's arms. His mouth had formed a straight line.

Clint rose a brow. He definitely thought Loki's side girl had to have something to do with this.

"But-" Clint opened his mouth to speak.

"Please-"

"Thor-"

"You can't-" Black clouds continued to roll in.

"THOR!" Clint yelled in frustration at the same time an explosion sounded.

Both boys looked up. Their skirmish had caused enough of a distraction for Tony to fire off a charged shot, hitting the side of the aircraft hard.

The small machine jarred to the side as one of the engines blew. The riders were sprawled on the crafts floor as it hung dangerously in the air. Loki's scepter lay on one side, the girl hanging off the other with Loki playing a dangerous game of teeter-totter in the middle.

To move either way would cause the ship to turn over in the air. But to stay motionless in the middle would leave Loki a sitting duck. He pursed his lips, casting a glance at his scepter. The other engines wouldn't hold long.

"Loki?" The girl spoke for the first time, her voice barely above a whisper as she saw him glance to his scepter. "You promised." She was sliding now, scrambling to hang on as the shift of her weight only tipped the machine further.

Loki looked her over, mouthing an apology as he lunged the other way towards the glowing scepter. He shot a glance back as the craft lurched one last time. The girl was gone. He dove off, landing on another passing hovercraft.