Chapter 2: The Immortal


Rory glances around the room for a long, slow moment. He recognized everyone, of course; kind of hard not to when some of them were so .. outlandish. Thor with his battle armor even when there is no battle, Tony Stark in suits that would cost all of Rory's wages from his last job. The moody stand alone that seemed a moment from losing his cool would be Bruce, and deity help him, the one that catches his attention the most .. Steve Rogers, Captain America. The strength and in charge attitude he exudes reminds Rory of someone .. someone that brings the barest hint of a blush to his cheeks as he tries to look away. The impeccable hair and confidence really didn't help the blush, either!

"Excuse me .. am, am I the only one confused as to why the glorified nurse is coming with us?"

Tony Stark's condescending words cut through the room. Long gone were the days where Rory would've stayed in the background, silent and timid when confronted by an obviously powerful man like Tony Stark, Iron Man. Long gone were the days where he did not earn and deserve respect. His reaction times had improved with his time in Rome, and even more so once he came back to his time. His hand has wrapped around the Black Widow's handgun and drawn it from her holster before she can register the fact that someone is reaching for her weapon. A few seconds after that, and everyone looks on in shock as three shots ring out, bullets imbedding in the wall beside each of Tony's ears, and right above his head. Rory tosses the gun to the Black Widow, who catches it with a mix of anger and awe. Rory turns back to his original destination.

"Now, if there are no more stupid questions, I believe we have work to do?"

Rory glances around after speaking, his frown increasing.

"... aren't we missing someone?"

He controls his voice, barely managing to keep the anger and annoyance out of his words. Where the hell was Jack!? The pompous prat should've been here yesterday, damn it! On the outside, he keeps a cool exterior, while cursing and grumbling inwardly. Leave it to the prat of all prats to show up late for helping to save the world!

"The Captain will be joining us a little later."

Fury smirks, watching Rory's reaction. He had wondered how the Centurion would react to the Captain being late, and he gets no end of amusement from watching him try to school every expression. Yes, this would be interesting indeed.


Again, Rory finds himself mostly unimpressed when they arrive at Staten Island, and find a small group of strange, tall blue creatures tearing up the place. After one has ridden on the back of a Pterodactyl to save a colleague, or tirelessly climbed 7000 steps to ask a favor of a Godling .. all of this is just another day, another fight, another job. It's not that he's jaded, it's that he's seen a lot in his short time. Well, Jack would call it short .. Rory would call it 2000 years of different forms of hell.

"Watch your flank!"

The Leadworth native hollers in agitation, frowning as he watches Captain America glare at him for daring to give an order. He had read Steve's file, and if the American prat wanted to believe it or not, Rory had commanded 50 times more men than Steve ever had, and knew what he was talking about! As if to illustrate his point, Captain America finds himself hit in the side with a large sledgehammer, the sound of ribs cracking almost thunderous. Rory shakes his head and darts in, catching the man around the waist and shoulder before he falls to the ground.

He scuttles away as quick and careful as he can, laying the semi-conscious superhero on the ground where Hawkeye is already curled up, face busted up in several places. Rory's gaze snaps to the battlefield. There was one bad guy left that they knew of, Stark still off somewhere in his flying tin can, supposedly dispatching another of the creatures.

Thor was the only one still active at the moment, but no sooner does Rory blink than he sees the Godling fall in a spray of blood and Nordic curses. Rory steels himself, trying to decide which decision to make; go for Thor and get him off the battlefield, or go for the last creature and try and take it down, try to prevent it from getting out, into the world and killing innocents. His mind is easily made up; protect the innocent. He begins to stand, making it to a half crouch before he feels a pressure on his shoulder. He glances back and falls flat on his arse as he looks up into a pair of mesmerizing steel blues.

"I got this, soldier. Sorry I'm late .. miss me?"

The Pseudo-American accent sends a shiver down Rory's spine, his own eyes narrowing slightly as he watches the suave 'American' man saunter toward the field of battle.

"Yeah .. but my aim has improved!"

Rory snaps after the man who waltzes toward Thor, grabbing him around his midriff and lifting him with ease with an arm around his shoulders. He turns and carries the lumbersome Godling to the pile of injured superheroes, barely managing not to shake his head and scoff.

"Here, soldier-boy .. I think goldilocks needs some help, too. Gonna borrow Mjöllnir, if you don't mind."

Jack tosses Thor a dimpled, glowing smile, the Godling trying to scoff, but ending up in a bloodied, gurgled coughing fit instead.

"That is Mjöllnir, hammer of Thor .. you could never lift it, human."

Rory groans softly, reaching up to smack his hand across his own forehead.

"Really shouldn't've said that, man. He loves a challenge."

Rory's words are soft and punched, and Jack lets out a thunderous laugh as he turns, darting forward with a quick burst of speed. His nimble hands wrap around the hilt of Mjöllnir, and while he could not wield it single-handedly, he lifts it with ease, bringing in an upward swing that connects easily with the large creature's gaping maw. A sickening thud is heard as the mythical hammer connects, the creature letting out a screech. Jack dodges a massive claw, feeling it rake across his back, tearing into his greatcoat and tearing open the skin beneath.

"... never tear up the coat."

Rory groans those words as well, shaking his head. At that point, the fights over and he knows it. So, he turns back to begin cleaning Thor's face, the Godling looking on with an awed expression Rory had seen on many a face. He just shakes his head and continues working. If he continues patching the idiotic God up, then he won't be tempted to look over his shoulder and see what the hell is happening behind him ... won't be tempted to see how Jack is fairing.

The Captain's eyes narrow, fingers touching the top of his back, feeling the shredded fabric and skin.

"Oh, hell no .."

He growls, fingers gripping Mjöllnir tightly. He braces his feet on the ground, one in front of the other, muscles tight and flexed. 3 ... 2 ... 1! Mjöllnir arches through the air, catching the creature square on the jaw. Rory flinches at the sickening thud as the creature flies through the air, smacking into the side of a building, the creature's neck broken as it bleeds out as well. Jack snickers when he notices the Iron Man robot having to boost forward to avoid the creature, Jack putting his hand up to his mouth to amplify his smooth, American accented voice.

"FORE!"

Rory can't help himself, he snickers beneath his breath before going stoic again.

"Oi! Get over here and help."

He snaps at Jack, who turns and walks over, tossing Mjöllnir to Thor who catches it easily.

"Yeah yeah, just admit that you missed me already, soldier-boy, and we can get the pleasantries over with."

"... like I said already, Captain .. my aim has improved."

Jack winks at the nurse and then turns to help Captain America to his feet, that dimpled, sultry smirk appearing on Jack's features.

"Captain Jack .. and who might you be?"

Captain America splutters, trying to remember his name, and Rory grits his teeth.

"Stop it."

He growls, Jack bursting out into laughter before he continues helping the superhero.