Finn's POV…

I threw flames at the aliens around me, in a desperate attempt to break their tight circle around me. It worked, and at least two of them were fried. They backed up, and I torched them again.

Suddenly, a hand was on my shoulder. I turned around, ready to blast this person into a fiery oblivion. The person grabbed my wrist.

"Oh, sorry Cap."

"No, it's fine. Your friends need you at Stark Tower, now." His voice was cold and sad.

"Why?"

"Just, come with me. Take the aliens down as you go."

"Is everyone okay?" I asked frantically.

He stopped, turning to look at me.

"Everyone's fine." He muttered. I got the feeling he was lying, and my stomach dropped.

The Captain took off in a run, and I followed. I threw flames at those who dare challenge us, but I was distracted. Which is why, when I saw a frail little girl with black hair lying on the ground, it took me a minute to process.

But then it did.

"STOP!" I yelled to Captain America. He turned, his eyes searching for what possibly could have made me stop- but then he saw it.

I ran to Jess' side, sliding to my knees and pulling her limp body into my lap.

"Oh, Jess. Not you too! Please, say something!" I was mumbling. "Anything!"

First Maybeck, then Jess? I can't lose any one else.

Thor came running over.

"I've been keeping her safe. But every time I try to get her out of battle, more reinforcements come and I have to put her down and fight. They don't seem to be bothering her, they think she's dead."

"DEAD!" I screeched.

"No, no! She isn't! Her powers exhausted her and she fainted. They just think she's dead."

"We'll get her out." Captain mumbled.

"Finn…?" Came a weak voice.

"Jess! Hey… Hey, Jess…" I kept my voice soft, like talking to a little kid. "Hey… How are you, kid? You feeling alright?"

"F-Finn… its hard… to keep my.. eyes open."

I looked up at Captain America, who looked perplexed. He knelt next to us and put a hand on her forehead.

"Is she sick?" I whispered.

"No." He said, giving me a confused look before looking back down at Jess. "Hey, Jess… Did you get hit in the head?"

Jess shook her head.

"Do you have a headache?"

"N-No…"

"A stomach ache?"

She shook her head again. The Captain looked at me.

"She really is fine, just exhausted. Can you carry her?"

I nodded.

"Alright… then let her sleep."

I looked down at Jess, who mumbled a little 'Please'.

"Goodnight, Jess." I laughed.

Thor and Captain America jogged on either side of me, protecting me and Jess from the aliens. Jess slept peacefully, somehow, curled into me as the battle raged on around us.

Finally, we reached Stark Tower. The sight in front of me was one I'd hoped not to see. Something was obviously very wrong.

Charlie and Amanda sat on the steps. Amanda was hugging Charlie like she was a crying kid. Charlie sobbed onto Amanda's shoulder. Amanda seemed to be fighting tears as well. Fighting a losing battle, as they were streaming down her face.

What. Happened.

Oh no.

Philby? Willa? No, they must be fine, if they're together.

Both of them saw us at the same time. Both shrieked out 'Jess', both ran up to us, crying harder.

"No, no!" I said softly. "Shh, she's just sleeping guys."

This calmed their nerves a little. I laid Jess down on the top of the steps, her head in Charlie's lap, and Amanda hugged me.

"Finn.." She muttered into my shoulder.

"Hey, Manda. You alright? We're still waiting on Philby and Willa, right?"

"Finn." She whispered, her voice breaking.

"Where is Philby? I have to ask him-"

"He's raging around the city as a blue, red-haired hulk, trying to kill Loki."

"Oh! He found his power! That's great! What made him-"

"Finn…"

"Amanda? Wait.. What's wrong? Are you okay? Is Charlie? Amanda… Where's… Where's Willa?"

Her breath caught in her throat and she fought back tears.

"I-Is she hurt? Does she need help?"

"Finn. Philby hulked out because… because Loki killed Willa."

My ears rang.

"What?" I mumbled.

"Finn, Willa is dead."

"Ah… N-no… no, she… She's not… I mean… She can't be…Gone?"

"Finn…" She muttered. Her voice broke, and soon she was sobbing into me.

"Mandy. I.. I'm sorry." I said, though I was very near sobbing, myself.

"Finn, she was my sister!" Amanda screeched.

"She is your sister."

"Don't start with that, Finn. Please." She cried into my shoulder. I kissed the top of her head, about to burst into tears myself.

Charlie's POV…

I sat, leaning against the front of Stark Tower. Jess was leaning against me, asleep, and I hugged her. I really didn't want to cry anymore. Or I couldn't. I felt pretty numb.

I couldn't get Willa out of my head. I couldn't get her face- right before she had gotten hit with Loki's laser- out of my mind. How she had sacrificed herself to save me. After I had tried to kill her-twice- nonetheless. I remember that face, too. The only thing I could remember from my time as Loki's slave was Willa's terrified face. Her betrayed, horrified, all-hope-was-lost, sorry, but most of all, forgiving face. She had loved me. For me. Not because I was famous, or popular. She was my best friend because she actually loved me, she actually wanted to be my friend.

And now she's gone.

Gone. I was shaking, thinking about it.

"M-Manda?" I heard someone mumble.

"No. It's Charlie, Jess." I whispered.

"Oh. Okay."

I thought for a few seconds. Should I ask? I had heard Amanda say… Yes, I'll ask. I need to know.

"Jess?"

"Yeah?"

"Wh-Where's Maybeck?" I was almost scared to ask. The way Amanda and Finn had talked about him-

"He's dead. He died, right after you got turned evil, Charlie." Her voice broke. "I'm sorry."

With that, we both were in tears. I hugged her closer to me, rubbing her back.

Now Maybeck, too? This can't be happening. It can't. First my sister… and now… Maybeck? No. It' a dream.. Wake up, Charlie.

Maybeck. Please, I need him… wake up, Charlie! Wake up!

Not only that, but his last sight was probably me, being evil. No, No! Did I kill him? No, I couldn't have. It wasn't me. They'd kill me before that. I hope.

Maybeck... I...

I loved him, didn't I?

He'll never know. He deserved to know! This all my fault...

Charlie...calm down...

I took a few deep breaths, and figured I should tell Jess-about Willa, that is. I looked down at her. And she looked up at me with giant, watery, gray eyes.

Or I could let Amanda tell Jess, I thought, as Amanda walked up.

"Hey, Jessie, how're you feeling?" She sat down next to us, placing a hand on Jess' back.

Jess shrugged. Amanda looked at me.

I could pretty much tell what she was trying to ask. I shook my head.

No, I didn't tell Jess yet.

Amanda met eyes with Jess. Jess, seeing something was wrong, let go of me and sat up. She looked Amanda in the face.

"Amanda…"

"Jess. Listen to me." Amanda whispered. She grabbed Jess' hand.

I got up, walking towards Finn. I didn't need the news again. I didn't need to see poor Jess' reaction.

"Hey Charlie." Finn whispered. He sat on the curb, his head in his hands. Broken Alien speeder parts rained down from above us.

"Hey Fi-"

"Charlie, I failed."

"What?"

"I failed. Wayne says I'm a leader… I'm-" We both looked over as we heard Jess break out into sobs, to see Manda hugging her and trying to comfort her.

"Oh… Aw, Jessie." I whispered.

"I'm a horrible leader!" he continued. "Horrible! Tw-Two of us dead! Dead! That was my best friend! My brother! And my little sister! I can't even keep my family safe!"

He was nearly screaming- pure rage. He was so mad at himself.

"Finn, it's not-"

"Yes! You don't get it! You don't get it, Charlie! I failed and they're dead! There's NO undoing that! They're gone! You don't understand! You'll never see your stupid boyfriend again!"

Maybeck.

Had he really liked me?

I don't know. All I know is that I was backing up, sobbing.

"Or your little sister, huh? You always called her that! Do you care? She's gone! You'll never see her stupid smile ever again, Charlie! And it's my fault!"

He gets angry when he's sad. This is the second time this week. He's so pissed.

I sat down hard on the curb, putting my head in my hands.

He was sobbing, too, staring at me dead in the eyes. Would he hulk out too? I don't think so. But could he shoot flames from his eye sockets if he got pissed off enough?

"Finn, you shut up! NOW!" Amanda screamed. At the top of her lungs. Never had I seen Amanda this furious. Especially not at Finn.

Finn was shocked, too. He looked guilty immediately.

"Charlie, I…"

"Save it, Finn. I don't care." I muttered, walking over to Jess.

I sat down next to the poor girl; her elbows rested on her knees, her hands on her head gripping her hair. Her head was hanging down, and she sniffled and shook and sobbed.

"Jess…" I whispered. Amanda sat on the other side of her. She doubled into Amanda and cried.

There was a giant BOOM! as a blue, ten-foot-tall monster landed in front of us. In an instant, Finn stood in front of us and blocked up from the giant monster. Finn may get mad, but he's got a big heart. And he shouldn't blame himself.

Philby's giant blue eyes examined us. Friend, or Foe? his brain was trying to decide.

"Philby." I whispered. I stepped up to be in front of him. "Phil.. please. I want to help you, Phil."

His eyes stared down at me in rage. In a second, I'd be a Charlene Turner pancake, extra cherry-red syrup.

But he didn't crush me. He was listening to me.

"I… I kn-know it's hard that they… that they're gone. B-But you have us.. Philby, you will always have us. No m-matter what happens… or who's gone. I know... H-how you feel… Willa was my s-sister, just like Maybeck was your brother. A-and you l-loved Willa… Just like… Just like I loved Maybeck."

I couldn't believe that it had come out of my mouth. I couldn't believe how true it was, either. I had fallen for Maybeck, somewhere along the way.

Philby's eyes softened. He began to shrink. Back to the Philby I know and love. He shrunk to his knees, weakly falling into my arms, crying.

"Philby." I muttered into his hair as I hugged him as close as possible.

He had lost just as much as me, maybe more.

I kissed the top of his head, letting him cry into my shoulder. I hugged him for a few minutes, just crying with him. With my poor little brother, who had held it together so well until now.

Eventually, we were all in a tight group hug. The five of us.

The five if us.

I will never get used to that.

Five.

I love them. I love seven of our little five.

I looked up at Amanda's tear-stained face. My big sister, currently holding me in a tight hug. Sometimes we all need someone to lean on.

I'm glad she was hugging me, then.

Because suddenly, there was a giant BOOM! and everything was on fire. It was hot-every part of me was in so much pain. But Amanda's grip on me still held.

I realized we had just been blown up.

And everything faded to black.

…(I seriously thought about leaving it there… but I won't. YOU'RE WELCOME.)…

Finn's POV…

Darkness? Oh… my eyes are closed.

I slowly lifted my head, looking around. I couldn't see-it was too bright. But I didn't feel pain anymore. I was numb-tingly. It was almost a nice feeling.

My vision came back to me. My friends were laying on the ground, slowly waking up around me. Amanda had been hugging Char and Jess, I'm guessing, since she had an arm around each of them, and, even though she was slowly waking, I doubted she'd let go of them anytime soon.

That's when I noticed I had a firm arm around Phil, like I was protecting him, trying to keep him safe. But I wasn't sure from what. What had happened?

"whearrwe…" I heard one of the girls mutter. We were all so tired.

I picked my head up, looking around.

"Wha…?" I mumbled lazily.

"Wherearewe…" they muttered again, clearer this time. Though not by much.

I examined our surroundings. I let my head hit the ground.

"In the middle of the freakin' jungle, cause we can't win." I yelled to no one.

"Whyyy…" someone groaned.

"Dunno, don't care… all I wanna do… is… sleep…"

"G'night…" someone mumbled.

We all fell back asleep, completely wiped out from our trip so far.

The horrible part was, our journey wasn't over yet.

…

Yay! Next movie: jungle setting. Any guesses? Unless I already told you guys…

Goodnight…

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