We acquired a car and Natasha drove as fast as she could to New York.
"What are we supposed to say to them?" I asked.
"We'll work it out as we go along."
She put her foot down on the pedal and the car sped up.
"Jesus Nat!" I yelled as she suddenly turned the car in the middle of fifth avenue.
"Come on." She grabbed a bag from the backseat and pulled out the katana from Japan.
"You brought it with you?" I asked, curious.
She shrugged. "I like it." I grabbed some of the guns and looked around. The street was wrecked but empty.
"We need to get in contact with the rest of the team. Get you your shield. And costume. That t-shirt won't protect you from much."
I nodded and followed her to Stark Tower. It was empty.
"Where is everyone? I thought they still lived here."
"All of the kids will have been taken to a safe house. And probably Pepper, Jane, Jennifer and Liv too."
"Why are the chitauri attacking? Why now?"
"I don't think Loki is involved. It doesn't fit his MO. He likes to get inside peoples heads first, mess with them."
"We've been gone, we don't know what he's been doing."
She shook her head. "It would have been on the news, he wouldn't hide away."
"Maybe he would after last time."
She sighed. "I don't know. Maybe the team will have more info?"
"I suppose." I quickly changed and grabbed the shield.
"Why do you think they kept it after all this?"
"I guess it was just too painful."
As we left the building the communicator on my suit crackled into life.
"Whoever you are, I demand you return this suit. It is military property."
"Now Hill, that's no way to greet an old friend." I replied.
"Captain? But you're dead-"
"Reality would beg to differ. Where are the rest of the team?"
"Sixth avenue. The Chitauri are all there."
"Good. You wouldn't happen to have a spare communicator for Nat would you?"
"Should be some in Stark Tower near where your suit was. Should I tell them?"
"Nope. Leave it as a surprise."
"I'm blaming you if any one of them either dies from a heart attack or attacks you and screams there's a zombie apocalypse."
I laughed and ran in and grabbed a communicator for Nat. We both ran down to sixth, and as we got closer we heard all the sounds of a battle.
"Think you could use a little help?" I shouted from on top of a car.
"Captain? But you perished long ago-" Thor said, turning.
"You're dead!" Tony said at the same time in disbelief.
Hulk turned to look and his big green eyes widened. He let out a roar and charged at me. I tried ducking but his huge green arms caught me and pulled me into what I thought was a hug.
"Okay, thanks buddy, you can put me down any time."
He let me go with no warning and I dropped to the ground.
"Alright, somebody fill me in." I said into my earpiece.
"We don't know who's behind it yet. They've set up a base on the roof of The Empire State Building."
"And we're sure it's not Loki?"
"Certainly not, my friend. He is still very much imprisoned in Asgard."
"So who is it?"
"What difference does it make now you two are here? He's gonna get his ass handed to him." Tony added.
"Great. Helpful Stark." Natasha said. I looked over at her and the pile of bloody bodies around.
"So when exactly did she go full ninja with the katana?" Tony asked, and my eyes went to the blade that was literally dripping red with blood.
"It's pretty recent. We can talk later."
We kept on fighting but it wasn't enough. Even if we closed the portal there was still just too many.
"Stark. I need you to get up there and see what you can do about shutting that portal down."
"Yes Capsicle."
I rolled my eyes. "Hill. Do you have any figures on how many civilians are still in the city?"
"A lot have gotten out, but there's still a couple of thousand left."
"Where are they? And how many have died?"
"They're scattered around the city. The estimated deaths so far is around 700."
"And the Chitauri are only here right?"
"Yes."
"Clint. Shoot an explosive arrow into the portal."
"I don't think it would have much effect. You'd need Stark's mini nukes for that."
I gave the order to Stark. A lot of dead bodies started falling through.
"We can't hold them off longer!" Natasha said through the earpiece.
"We have no other choice! The entire city will be destroyed if we can't!"
"And who else if not us?" Tony added.
"She's right. There's too many. We stay here much longer we'll get killed." Clint said.
"I refuse to abandon my battle post! It is against the Asgardian code of honor!"
"Would you rather die Thor?" Natasha asked.
"At least it would be an honorable death! M'lady, would you truly flee from a battle?"
"I'm not going to die now. Not for this."
"Natasha's right." Hill interrupted.
"But-" I started to say, but she cut me off.
"But nothing captain. I'm sending quinjets now. Round up civilians if you must, but you're getting the hell out of there until we know more about what's going on."
"No! I can't-"
"That's a direct order from Fury. Disobey it and you become an enemy of the state."
"Steve. It's not worth it." Natasha said softly.
"Not worth what? Who says we have any more of a right to live than the people still here?"
"If you or any of us die right now, we have no chance of winning this. We need to regroup, figure out what we're dealing with."
"And the people who are still here? What'll happen to them? Briefly mentioned as casualties?"
"Steve. Please. You can't win this."
I looked around; she was right. There was just too many. "But-"
"But nothing." She kissed me softly.
"Natasha and Steve, sittin' in a tree, K - I - S - S - I - N - G. First comes love, then comes marriage, the comes a baby in a golden carriage!" Tony chanted.
"Done, done and done. You're a little late for that Stark." Natasha said, rolling her eyes.
"How's Libby?" I interjected.
"Um... good." Tony replied uneasily before quickly changing the subject. "We need to move now. I can use life sensors to pick out where the people are."
I nodded. "Thor! Hulk! Barton! Stay here and do what you can about keeping them busy while me, Nat and Tony try and save as many civilians."
They gave shouts of acknowledgment and I nodded at Nat and Tony. Tony paused for a few seconds and then pointed south east.
"There. Twenty or so."
Tony hovered in the air near Natasha and then grabbed her arms. He flew up a little and then threw her onto the roof. She landed in a catlike crouch and I ran back before leaping up.
We worked quickly and effectively but it seemed like far too soon that Hill was announcing incoming quinjets.
"But-"
"No buts. Get the team and the civilians to Central Park."
I sighed. "Tony. How many are left?"
"Still around 500."
"Any of them near the landing site?"
"Some aren't too far, but we wouldn't have time to go to any."
"Would you be able to reprogram all tvs and broadcasting devices on Manhattan to send out a message?" Natasha asked.
"Not from the suit, but I can call Mariah and tell her to." Tony paused in midair for a minute without saying anything.
"Alright. It's done."
I broke into a run as we neared the quinjets. There was ten in total, all but one packed with people. Thor, Clint and an unconscious hulk were waiting in the last one.
"Is this everyone?" I asked Tony, who was hovering beside the last quinjet.
"Pretty much."
I sighed and boarded it, holding out a hand to Natasha who gracefully took it and climbed in.
The other quinjets were already taking off as I took one last look around. We were leaving Manhattan defenceless.
