A/N: Because you all asked for it, here's the follow-up battle scene.

Disclaimer: I'm just a poor student, y'all. I have nothing important.

The Avengers and their counterparts met up in downtown Manhattan an hour later. Steve thought it would be best if the other team also had communicators so they could keep up with the team's strategy. So they were saddled with the back-up communicators, the old SHIELD-issue ones that everyone hated because of the crackle and background static.

But the other team didn't seem to notice or care that they were being given the crappy comms. After all, it was probably what they were used to.

"Okay, team," Steve said. "Here's how it's going to go down. The other Avengers will stay safe here on the sidelines and the rest of us will make sure we keep it that way. Thor, I need you to get Hawkeye up to a good vantage point as soon as possible. Bruce, just sit tight until we get some information on what we're dealing with. Widow, you're with me."

Natasha nodded and loaded a clip into her gun.

"And what about me?" Tony asked.

Steve leveled him with a look. "I could give you orders, but we all know you're going to ignore them anyway. So just do what you do best and give 'em hell."

Tony fluttered his eyelashes. "How about a kiss for luck, big boy?"

Steve made a face. "Was that supposed to be sexy? Because it wasn't."

Tony snapped his visor shut. "Fine. But I expect a kiss when I get back," he said as he fired up the repulsors.

Steve just rolled his eyes as Tony streaked overhead."Hawkeye, are you in position?"

"Roger, Cap. All set."

"So, what are we looking at?"

"A giant frog."

"A giant robot frog?" Tony asked hopefully.

"Nope. Just a plain old giant frog."

"Just a frog?" Tony said. "Seriously?" There was a short pause and then, "Oh, you weren't kidding. It really is just a giant frog."

"Speaking of frogs," Clint said. "A new French restaurant opened up downtown."

"Hell no," said Tony. "You are never getting me to eat frogs or snails."

"You'd like frog legs," Clint insisted. "Nat and I had some when we were on that mission in Shanghai. They were good, right, Nat?"

Natasha smirked. "Tasted just like chicken."

"Chatter off the comms," Steve said exasperatedly. Was this really his team's idea of being a good example for the others?

"Spoilsport," Clint muttered. But he continued on, "It's heading east, towards the water treatment plant."

"Tony, can you-"

"On it, Cap. One freshly fried frog coming up."

"We don't need to kill it if it's not a threat to anyone," Bruce said quickly. "Frogs aren't generally aggressive."

"I hate to break it to you," Tony said. "But this one's definitely aggressive. It already tried to eat me."

"Well, you are buzzing around its head. It probably thinks you're a fly."

Steve sighed and exchanged a glance with Natasha. "Let's move out. Looks like Tony needs our help."

"I do not," Tony protested. "I just-Jesus Christ, I am not a fly, you stupid frog."

Steve and Natasha made it the next block down to find Tony zigzagging through the air as the giant yellow frog hopped happily after him,scattering cars and cafe tables in its wake.

"Okay," Tony said. "Maybe I do need your help."

Steve chuckled. "Try and lure it away from the buildings. We want it doing as little damage as possible before we capture it."

"And after I lure it into into Nowheresvillle, how am I going to shake it off my tail?"

"Working on it," Bruce said. "Can you determine what species it is?"

"Uhh, whatever species is bright yellow."

"Oh dear," Bruce said faintly. "That sounds like it might be Phyllobates terribilis, the golden poison frog."

"Nobody touch it," Steve ordered. "We're going to have to take this thing down with long range weapons only."

"So, can I shoot it now?" Tony demanded.

"Yes," Steve said. "But be careful."

"You know me, babe. Always careful."

Steve motioned Natasha forward and held the shield up for protection. She crouched down behind him and aimed her gun up towards the frog.

Tony flew circles around the frog, hitting it with several repulsor blasts. They didn't seem to do much damage. If anything, it only seemed to make the frog angry. After Tony aimed a shot right between its eyes, it opened its mouth and belched out a burst of fire that Tony barely dodged.

"Uh, Bruce? This golden poison frog isn't supposed to breathe fire, is it?"

"Of course not."

"Great. So, we have a genetically modified giant poison frog now. As if it wasn't dangerous enough already."

"We need to get this thing neutralized now," Steve said.

"I'm trying," Tony said indignantly, swooping out of the way of another burst of flame.

Natasha cursed as the frog hopped by, completely unfazed by the round of bullets she shot into its leg. "Headed your way, Clint."

"I see it," Clint said.

"Thor, can you move Clint to a safer-"

"No worries, big guy. I got this." He shot one of his grappling arrows across the street and swung out of the way seconds before the frog collided with the building and sent it crumbling to the ground.

"What the hell?" Other Clint exclaimed. "Where did he get grappling arrows?"

"Tony made them for me," Clint said proudly. "Because I'm his favorite. After Steve, of course."

Bruce chuckled. "I thought I was his favorite."

"I love you all," Tony said. "And I'll love you even more if you get this freakin' frog to stop chasing me."

"I'd have the Hulk lend a hand," Bruce said. "But, uh, not sure how he'd handle the poison."

"We need you right where you are," Steve said. "We're going to have to cordon off the area after this is all over and contact Hazmat. They'll need to know as much about the frog's poison as possible."

"And I'll have to analyze a tissue sample to see if there are more genetic enhancements besides the fire-breathing. Until we track down the scientist responsible, we may be battling more of these things."

"I'll help," Tony said eagerly. "I need to make Clint some better poison arrows anyway."

Clint whooped loudly and shot an exploding arrow through the frog's right front leg. It screeched in pain and lumbered to the left, stumbling over a row of nightclubs before righting itself to leap awkwardly after Tony once again.

"This is getting ridiculous," Tony muttered. He came to a stop, hovering perilously close to the frog's face. "You want to eat me? I fucking dare you."

"No, Tony," Steve said immediately. "You are not offering yourself as bait."

"Relax, babe. I have a better plan." He held up his hand in a salute right before the frog's long tongue snared him out of the air.

"Tony!"Steve shouted. If not for Natasha's hands steadying him, he probably would have collapsed to the ground right there.

How could Tony have just let himself be eaten?

Natasha squeezed his shoulder. "Have faith in him," she said. "I'm sure he has a plan."

Steve watched with a heavy heart as the frog started clumsily after Clint.

"On your six, Clint," Natasha called out.

"Yes, I see it, thank you," Clint snapped. "Kind of hard to miss a fifty foot frog." He jumped across to the next rooftop and rolled out of the way as a power line toppled over.

Thor touched down on the rooftop and raised his hammer overhead. "Fear not, friend. I shall divert its attention away from you."

Thunder rumbled in the distance and then a lighting bolt struck the frog between the eyes. It screeched horribly, but miraculously, it was still dragging itself around the city.

"This thing just won't fucking die," Clint snarled.

"That's because you gotta get it right in the soft underbelly."

"Tony!" Steve said joyfully. "You're alive."

The frog reared up with a bellow as Tony's suit punched its way through its chest cavity and pitched forward onto the street.

Tony touched down next to the carcass and stepped out of the suit, already muttering instructions for Jarvis about decontaminating it.

Steve rushed over to pull Tony into a hug and then held him out at arm's length. "Don't you ever do anything like that again," he said sternly. "You could have been killed."

"What was I supposed to do, sit back and watch the city crumble around me?"

"You need to wait for back-up. Clint and Thor were working on it."

"I didn't have time to wait. The whole block could have been demolished."

Steve shoved Tony up against the wall. "Your life is more important than a few buildings. Do you hear me?"

Whatever Tony had to say in response was cut off because Steve's brain suddenly decided that having Tony pressed against the wall was a great excuse to make out with him. And Tony seemed to agree, clutching desperately to Steve as he deepened the kiss.

"Are they always like this?" Other Clint asked.

Steve pulled back a little, mortified that they were causing such a spectacle.

Tony just grinned and kept his hands hooked in Steve's belt loops. "Only after near-death experiences."

"Which is pretty much always," Steve said. He leaned in for a quick, chaste kiss. "Wish you wouldn't keep worrying me like this."

Other Steve cleared his throat. "Thank you for the demonstration. It's given us all a lot to think about."

"I could give you a demonstration," Tony said with a salacious wink.

Steve swatted him.

Other Steve coughed and reddened slightly. "Some other time," he said, quickly averting his eyes. "We really must be getting back to our world."

Steve nodded. "I wish you all the best." He held a hand out to his counterpart. It felt so weird looking into his own face and shaking his own hand. "Okay, team, time to say goodbye to the others."

Clint gave his counterpart a long look."Je t'emmerde."

"Clint," Steve said sternly.

Clint grinned. "Pardon my French."

"Wait," said Other Bruce. "You, I mean, he, I mean...Clint, you speak French?"

"Well, duh," Other Clint said. "Natasha and I have been on missions all over the world."

"Oh," Bruce said. "That makes sense. I had to learn a little French when I was hiding out in Africa."

"We've all picked up a little French on our travels," Steve said.

"Which is why it's so much fun to stand around cussing in French and pretending to have serious conversations," Clint said gleefully. "Bruce is the fucking best at it. Nobody else could tell you to fuck off and die in such a normal voice."

"Clint and I did that all the time,"Other Natasha said. "Only way to pass the time on boring missions."

"We did, too," Natasha said. "But it's not just Clint and I anymore. You could be sparring with Steve and making brownies with Bruce and watching stupid reality shows with Thor. There's a lot more to life than preparing for the next mission and self-preservation."

Other Natasha crossed her arms over her chest.

"Just think about it."

Thor thumped his counterpart's shoulder. "Trust me, my friend. Once you begin to sample the fine Midgardian entertainment and taste your friends' cooking, you will not want to return to Asgard so often." He leaned in closer and whispered loudly, "Don't listen to the Captain when he claims to be a bad cook. Burnt popcorn is actually quite delicious."

Steve choked on a laugh. "Thor!"

"He's right you know," Tony told him. "You're not a bad cook. The microwave just hates you." He tried for a serious expression, but his eyes crinkled with amusement.

Steve chuckled and pulled him into another kiss. He didn't know how he could have survived without Tony's teasing.

There was a flash of light around him and when he pulled away from the kiss, the other Avengers were gone.

"Well," Clint said. "They're gone. Back to their own fucked-up world. I don't see how their coming here made any difference."

"I'd like to think it did," Steve said. "They got a chance to see for themselves how things could be different. It's up to them now if they want to change."

And he sure hoped so. It was too late for their Tony, but maybe the rest of them could still be saved.