Chapter Nine: And the Black Plot Thickens
Notes: So the next couple of chapters will be including the path of mixing the supernatural world in with the marvel. I may have a couple of weeks where the chapters won't be updated, but I will try to make them at least monthly updates. Thank you for reading.
They turned a corner and almost got hit by a flying shield. Hercules caught it with one hand, head turned in another direction. The two women braced themselves against him to keep him up. More wounds had appeared doing the walk and he was leaving a bloody trail behind them. Steve Rogers stared, he couldn't help it. The amount of damage that the other had sustained would have brought anyone else to the ground. Yet, this man while heavily injured and entrapped by the netting continued on. Rogers started toward the three, looking at the women before shifting his gaze back to the man. "Do you know who I am?" Rogers asked, keeping his hands where the other could see him. Behind the other male, just entering into the corridor, Bucky paused to take in the situation. Rogers eased a little closer and was promptly struck by a metal bar from one of the women. She spoke in a language that Rogers couldn't understand, he squinted at her as she waved her metal bar around threateningly.
"She wants you to back up, you are not someone that they trust just yet." The giant spoke, eyes staring hard at Rogers. "I wouldn't advise a tackle from the back Mr. Barnes." Hercules continued, turning his head slightly, his weighted down wings shifted, the tips carving into the stone beneath their feet. "I might be pinned down in a way, but I am far from weak." He turned back down the hallway and started moving his feet once more. The women keeping an eye on the two men that were now following them a few feet behind. Rogers still had his hands up because Hercules seemed to still have ahold of Roger's shield.
"I can understand why you are here, but who are the women?" Rogers asked, keeping an eye out for more hydra.
"Hostages that were used in an attempt to stop me." Hercules stated, pausing in front of one door, the doors started to groan as Hercules pressed upon them, his hands prying them open manually instead of using grace. It was taking a lot of grace to keep standing underneath the heavy weight of the netting. If he was able to he would have gone into his true form, but that would have harmed everyone around him. He heard Steve Rogers' com the rest of the group, letting them know that he had found Ariel…eeeer Hercules and was now following him through the compound. Hercules had two civilians with him, so he needed back up to help protect them and that Hercules was injured. Hercules turned and starred at him until Rogers stepped back a little. Hercules had dropped the shield when he had to pry the doors open, but one of the women had grabbed it and was now holding it up as best she could, considering the weight of the shield was far more then she was counting on. Bullets started flying and Rogers cursed underneath his breath, but Hercules unfurled his wings wrapping it around the two women, pulling them up against his body. More blood sprayed the floor as the netting sliced even deeper into his flesh. Hercules stepped forward, but his knees buckled as one of the men fired a rocket at him. The rocket exploded on in pact, forcing Hercules down the women let loose cries of surprise as the wings lifted them up and pulled them out of the way. They released the two women in a hurl which both Bucky and Rogers caught them as they were sent flying out of the way.
"WE NEED BACK UP, NOW. WE ARE TAKING HEAVY FIRE. HERCULES JUST TOOK A ROCKET TO THE CHEST. "Rogers yelled into the com, setting the woman he had caught down and pulling the shield from her hands. She cried out as she saw the state that Hercules was in, but didn't try to run to him, as Bucky had grabbed ahold of her arm to prevent her from doing so. She smacked him in the chest as did the other woman, but they couldn't get free of him.
A large hole had appeared in Hercules chest and blood poured from the wound. He ground beneath the weight of the netting, but slowly rose back up onto his feet. Crowley stood on the catwalk above staring down at Hercules. "You are a lot harder to take down then I thought you would be. Ariel! You know when Lucifer talked about you he stated you were weak and easily pushed over, but I think he has it wrong. I think your older brothers are afraid of what you are capable of. I need your power to stop him, I do not want to be killed." Crowley shouted, he waved for Warden to fire another rocket at the giant. "These rockets were created from other angel's swords, as was that net, it was a brilliant idea on one of my underling's part." The rocket started toward Hercules, but stopped part way, the metal whining as it started to crunch up into a small ball. Crowley backed away from the railing as it heated up and the lights started to spark and flicker with the amount of grace flowing around the area. Hydra agents hesitated before they open fire upon the giant. The bullets stopped in midair and crunched inward as if they hit an invisible barrier.
Hercules lifted his head, eyes glowing blue as he locked eyes with Crowley. "I did not bow to Lucifer, so what makes you think I will bow to you?" He started forward toward where the sword was vibrating with energy that crackled and popped. Rain was falling inside the building as clouds built up in angry grey matter.
"What is happening?" Iron man stated on the Comm. "There is a huge storm out here, with several huge tornados ripping apart the compound. Guys I think you better hurry up." The ground started to shake as vines broke through the concrete of the building and started growing upwards. Steve turned and made a motion so that Bucky could evacuate the civilians. The women struggled with Bucky all the way out of sight. Just as he turned around the rest of the group joined them. Sky was staring in awe at the giant.
"How tall do you think he is?" Sky asked, then she saw Warden. Her shoulders squared and she tried not to show any form of fear toward her ex-boyfriend. Warden had seen her too, and was now staring at her. Hercules shifted his weight, wings flinging open and the netting which had been dragging him and slicing into him shredded underneath the strength of the archangel. More wings appeared along his arms and legs and wrist and skull, until he was multi-winged with razor sharp blades. That glowed with grace, Crowley backed farther away from the railing as the vines wrapped around the metal bars and supports of the catwalk and started to pull on them. The metal groaned and shrieked as the bolts gave way and the steel crumbled beneath the force of nature.
The sword which had sat silent for centuries jerked in its slumber as it brightened in color. Warden had enough time to drop to the floor on his belly as the blade sped from its placement in the building and slammed into the archangel's outstretched hand. "I am the planet on which you fight on, soil in which your blood is spilt upon. How do you expect to kill me when it would mean the death of all?" Hercules rose up wings spreading wide. "I am the beginning of the end." The blade swished in the air with a musical note and then pierced downward. The catwalk and part of the building split in two and one side crumbled downward. Crowley slide against the far wall, holding his hands out, with fingers spread. There was a sound of feathers flapping and Castiel was beside Hercules. Small in comparison to the giant, Castiel had his wings out. As black as coal compared to Hercules golden red wings.
"I didn't realize how powerful they were." Crowley stated, looking at Castiel. Natasha was staring at Castiel, remembering how he had lifted her up without any problems. Her mouth was slightly open in shock as was Sky's mouth.
"Wait, he is an angel too?" Sky asked. Castiel turned slightly to look at them over his shoulder a silent glower, but it was effective.
"I thought you realized how powerful they were, if Lucifer is powerful, then why wouldn't his siblings who share his rank not be as powerful as him?" Castiel asked, his voice gruff and gravely as usual. Crowley shuddered looking over at Hercules and his grace pouring off of him. Crowley was pinned down, his demonic energy being burned by the energy that the archangel was giving off.
"I don't understand, I had it all planned out. How is he so powerful? That is a similar cage to the one he was in before… the same ruins… What went wrong?" Crowley asked.
"I've grown stronger in my sleep and the years that I have been free. Those ruins will no longer hold me any longer." Hercules stated. He started forward toward where the vines had wrapped up hydra agents. He then turned to look at all the avengers and shield agents that had piled up behind them, watching the show as it would seem. "Do I need to answer any more questions?" Hercules asked. Tony Stark looked around at all the damage done.
"So you are the one we have to thank for all the destruction that is caused by nature." Tony pointed out. Hercules stared at him and Stark raised his hands in surrender. Thor stepped forward and held out his arm.
"It has been awhile my friend. I am glad to see you alive." Thor asked, Hercules grasped the offered arm with his own. His large hand dwarfing Thor's own. Stark snorted and pointed it out to everyone, which earned him several sharp looks. Coulson also edged forward until he stood beside Thor.
"We do have some things we need to discuss and clarify, I can promise we will do so without placing you into a cage." Coulson promised. Looking at the massive wings which were now resting along Hercules back. The other wings had vanished after the show of power, back into the void to hide within Hercules grace, which was once more coiled tightly close to his body. Castiel looked to his older sibling.
"It is completely your choice brother, whether you go with them or not." Castiel stated, he watched the group with narrowed eyes. Yet he knew better then to get in the way of an archangel.
"Don't we have a job already lined up for us?" Hercules asked, looking down at Cas. Castiel nodded his head.
"Lucifer is trying to bring back the four horsemen." Coulson looked back and forth between the two men. "I believe that you will be able to answer their questions and then come to help us." Castile stated after a long pause between the two. Hercules arched a brow, but it was Sky who spoke up.
"We could lend a hand with his group until you are done, can't we Phil?" Sky looked toward Phil and the other Shield agents. May arched a brow at her and Phil looked just as surprised by Sky's idea.
"We don't know what is going on or who we will be facing." May stated back, pointing a finger at Hercules. "He, She, It is a prime example of that. Did you not notice how powerful it is?" Hercules arched his wings up over his head and Castiel even looked affronted with the slight against them.
"We are not its, we are angels of the lord." Castiel rasped as he started forward to them. May stood her ground, but it was an order in Enochian that made Castiel stop. May looked toward Hercules who was staring at Castiel. Castiel bowed his head in submission to his older brother's order. "As you wish my general." Castiel stated.
"Wait, you are underneath him?" Sky asked, pointing at Hercules. She had gotten closer to her adoptive parent, but she jumped when Hercules turned his attention on her.
"Yes, since I abandoned the idea that the apocalypse needs to start and joined the humans that are trying to keep the supernatural world from entering too far into this one including the demon realm of hell, I have been switched in garrison to Ariel's company of Earth bound angels. I am one of hundreds that dwell here and on other planets." Castiel explained, head cocked in thought. Sky looked up at Hercules before she cautiously stepped closer. She noticed that the blood was still coming off of him, and the wound to his chest was still open.
"Maybe the first step is to patch him up." Sky stated, motioning to the wounds. The two women from before came running back in, one was still holding a broken pipe. They threw themselves at the giant. Wrapping their arms around his waist and hugging him. They were also speaking in their foreign language, and tears were falling from their eyes. Bucky came running back in with Bruce Banner.
"Sorry, they surprised me." Bucky stated. He had a beginning of a bruise forming upside his head. Rogers looked from him to the two women.
"What are they saying?" Rogers asked.
"They are thanking their angel for the sacrifice he had made in protecting them from the demon. Apparently the group that Crowley had captured was special in the way that they are able to see us in our true forms even when hidden inside a vessel of flesh." Castiel cocked his head and looked out toward where the village would lay in the forest.
"The language doesn't sound like German?" Rogers stated.
"It's not, it is a mixture of enochian and other languages thrown in, including German." Castiel stated, watching the scene. Hercules answered the two women back, pushing them slightly so they stood away from him. The women nodded before they turned and spoke to the others. Rogers looked at the two angels for a reply.
"They wish us to come and rest at their village before returning to our own." Hercules stated, the women turned and tugged at his hands like eager children. "They wish to thank all of us for their rescue." Stark arched an eyebrow.
"Well if they wanted to thank us all they had to do was…" The two women looked at him, before turning toward Rogers. One of the women broke away from Hercules to tug at Rogers' hand.
"Looks like we are going to their village team." Rogers stated, as he allowed the woman to drag him forward. Bruce looked worried about the idea of so many people wishing to thank them for a job that was only them doing what needed to be done. Bruce turned and started out, but was stopped by a large hand landing on his shoulder.
"In their cultures it is very rude for an honored warrior to not appear at his own party." Hercules spoke, his hand squeezing gently on Bruce's shoulder. Bruce was surprised, his inner monster was quiet. He felt warm all over from both his monster and himself. No one had ever overlooked the hulk to understand him, but here was a being capable of doing both. Hercules looked down at him. "You are not a monster, you are a man blessed with the bloodline of the angels." He paused in thought before speaking even more softly as they all moved out of the compound. "For that I am sorry. I would not wish this on anyone." Bruce looked stunned at the announcement, but quickly shook it off as the woman beside them spoke to him. Natasha appeared on his other side, eyeing Castiel as he brought up the rear.
"How much do you trust your subordiant?" Natasha asked Hercules.
"He is my younger brother, he cannot hide anything from me, as his general and Archangel I give them the power that they need to thrive. Otherwise, Castiel would be cut off from the heavens, and Bobby wouldn't be able to walk." Natasha's eyes widened. "We are all connected to each other, the Archangel's are the ones who keeps the lower ranking angel's in line. It is Lucifer's garrison that fell with him. My Garrison remains on the planets and the other archangel's garrisons remain where their archangel is. That has been the way of the heaven's since it first was created." Natasha nodded her head and fell silent. Bruce was listening to this information as well. It brought up more questions, then it had answered but he would wait until after the party to ask them.