Back again, sorry for the long gap. It's been crazy lately. Anyway, I'm going to try and get through the rest of the movie relatively quickly and get into some more original ideas, so bear with me! This is more of a filler chapter before we get to the Battle of New York, by the way.
EDIT: So sorry this chapter has been messed up! I believe I fixed it. Thanks for bearing with me!
Toni barely manages to scramble to her feet as she struggles to get a grip on something to steady herself. The room spins and she gasps as the floor rushes up to her meet her again. Two hands grip her waist, and she's grateful for the unexpected solidity. She knows instantly that it's Steve. He pulls her up and turns her around gently. "I'm sorry," she whispers, ashamed of the words she had shouted mere moments ago.
He shakes his head, eyes unreadable. "Let's just get suited up, Stark." She nods and heads out into the hall, still stumbling slightly. Agents crowd the halls and Toni can barely make her way through the mass. She's strangely comforted by the fact that Steve is right behind her- she can hear his mumbled excuses as he pushes through. It seems like forever before she reaches the suits. Jarvis is waiting, as always, and she slips into the suit with relief. "Thanks, J."
"Of course, miss. Fury has asked me to send you to Engine One."
"Yeah, sure. Tell Steve to meet me there."
With a deep breath, she heads into battle.
"Captain Rogers?" Steve jumps involuntarily.
"Hello?"
"Forgive me for frightening you. I am Jarvis, Miss Stark's AI. She would like you to meet her at Engine One. Repairs must be made and I believe she requires assistance."
AI? "Tell her I'm on my way. Uh, please." He races towards the northeast engine, brushing past hordes of panicked agents. Bursting out the door, he's surprised to see Toni already hovering inside the massive engine.
"Finally!"
He waves awkwardly. "So Steve, I need you to check out the control panel..."
"Lever, Steve! Lever, now!"
He wrestles the gun away from the downed soldier and tries to aim at the hostile in the doorway. He's a terrible shot. Toni's shouts are being increasingly drowned out by what he assumes are the results of her being thrown around the engine. Steve dives for the lever and manages to yank it, dodging the enemy fire and landing hard. He stays down, catching his breath. A few moments later, the battered suit flies up and easily takes out the assailant. Toni lands unsteadily in front of him and flips up the faceplate. "Thanks, Steve."
"Sorry I couldn't get there sooner."
"You did your best. It worked out anyway."
Their earpieces crackle to life. "Coulson is down, I repeat Coulson is down!"
Toni's face crumples and she puts a hand to her mouth. Steve freezes. "Medical team on their way!"
"They're here. It's too late."
Toni whirls and races back into the Helicarrier. Steve closes his eyes, and leans against the wall tiredly.
He never did sign those cards for him.
"We haven't been able to track Dr. Banner or Thor. Loki escaped. You're what we've got left."
Toni stays uncharacteristically silent as she sits across from Steve and Fury paces, sullen, at the head of the table. She barely notices him throw something into the table. Leaning forward to investigate, Toni recoils almost instantly. There in the middle of the table were Phil's most prized possessions, his Captain America trading cards, bloodied and torn. Fury was still droning on in the background. She feels a bout of nausea. "But Coulson still died believing in you. Believing in heroes."
Toni scoots her chair back and leaves the room without a word.
Steve walks cautiously into the room, his footsteps echoing around the empty space. Toni stands on the edge of the platform, appearing smaller than ever. "Was he married?"
"There was a cellist. In Portland."
"I'm sorry, Toni."
She turns towards him with a bitter smile. "He was an idiot. He should never have been alone. He should have waited."
Steve shakes his head. "He did what he had to do. He was a hero."
He waits patiently for Toni's response. She's silent for a few moments, then lifts her chin defiantly. "He may have died a hero, but he shouldn't have died at all. Phil is, no, was good- genuinely good. He was always a hero, before he took Loki on, and I'll be damned if I let the world forget that...or forget him. But first- I'll make Loki pay if it's the last thing I do."
