I love this story! I hope you all enjoy it just as much as I do! I've been very bad at not updating all of my stories, so I'm trying to get better at that. I'm trying to complete them before I start something new.

Enjoy!

Chapter 14

I looked over at Clint when he sighed, and he went over to start aiding people who were getting onto the lifeboats. Opening my wings, I flew forward to warn off any robots that might have come our way. Behind me, Thor and Steve were helping some of the people out. I briefly saw Clint head out toward a building, and when I focused, I saw a small child in the ruins. Always having to help. I snorted, when the roar of a plane caught my attention. Something wasn't right. The Quinjet came around the side of several smashed buildings, and when I saw who was in it, I immediately roared.

Ultron started shooting, and I snarled in rage. He just had to get in one last attack. Lifting up, I blew a stream of fire, but he avoided it and kept shooting. The rain of bullets that came down, pierced my scales and tore through my wings. I swung my head around through the pain to see his path. It was heading through the line of us. Steve, Thor, and then Clint and the child he had saved. Steve threw his shield up and yelled out to me as another burst of bullets came down. Ultron lingered on me briefly, and the damage was done. I dug my claws into the cement as I leaped forward but it was too late.

Blood filled my jaws as I hit the ground and I was unsure what had happened during the chaos. I wasn't sure if I had managed to protect Clint and the child. My head smacked into rocks, causing my vision to go white for a moment. Steve was by my side in an instant, his hand on a part of my nose that wasn't damaged. I was shoving myself to my feet, making him back away.

"Clint," I said hoarsely.

Lifting my head, I looked at the car that had been thrown into the way, saving Clint and the boy. Pietro stood there, bullet holes littering his body. I felt my breath catch from pain, and knowing that the boy was dead the moment he hit the ground. Steve put his shield on his back and jumped down to aid Clint. Sinking to my belly, I listened to a loud scream, and a surge of power went through the city. Thor was in the air moments later. I blinked at the young man who was on the ground. I had tried to fly over toward Clint, but it had not been possible. Had I been able to, would that boy still be alive? I bared my teeth as emotions surged through my body. I had failed to protect all of them.

"Kayden."

Blinking through my pain, I turned my head and looked at Steve. Clint looked up as well, having picked the boy back up. I gave them both a rumble, careful to keep my jaws shut.

"Ah hell," Clint whispered.

Turning from them, I spit the blood out of my mouth as best I could. "Get on the boat," I hissed.

"But what about you?" Steve demanded.

"I can't..." I rumbled hoarsely. "I can't turn human. Go, I'll be fine."

"But..."

"Go!" I snarled, shoving him.

Their safety was my priority. I wouldn't let them die, or be harmed because of me. I watched as they made it safely onto a lifeboat, and I lowered my head to the ground. I heaved a little, and felt my body push itself to heal. My abilities to heal were already amazing, and things like this wouldn't kill me. It'd hurt like hell though. I tried to focus the healing on my wings. Lifting my gaze, I looked right at Steve who turned back toward me.

"Don't you dare die on me," he whispered, and I lifted a lip.

His ability to care for those around him was astounding. The ground beneath us suddenly quivered, and Steve turned and jumped. I gasped as the city suddenly dropped, and I ignored the shouting over the line. I wasn't the only one falling. Snorting out heavily, I shoved myself up. My instincts screamed at me to survive, so I opened my wings and found myself surging into the air. It was agony to keep my wings open, but at least I had managed to stay in the air. It wasn't very graceful, and I had very little control over my own body. Grinding my teeth together, I watched as the city exploded below me. Watching it was quite the experience.

"Thor!" Stark yelled over the line.

Turning my gaze to look for the man, I watched him fall toward earth. I snarled loudly and turned toward the ground. Keeping my wings tight to my body, I shot down and angled my way around the rubble that was falling. Thor had hit the water, and was sinking fast. I hit the water not long after and reached out and grabbed him. Rushing to the surface, I took a huge breath, and had to float there for a moment. Thor was awake, patting my chest, and I glanced at him.

"Thank you," he coughed.

"I hate to admit this, but I can't fly..." I grumbled, tasting blood in my mouth.

"I got you," he nodded, and he held me tightly around the neck.

He got into the air easily, and it was a rush flying toward the hellicarrier. He had to drop me, so I opened my sore wings. I landed ungracefully, and watched the others gather not far off. I stumbled a little, aware that Thor had laid his hands on my scales to keep me up. It was easy to forget how strong he was.

"You all right?" Thor asked. "There is blood on your chest…."

"Fine," I whispered carefully. "Still trying to heal."

"Are you going to be okay?" he asked, his voice thick with worry.

"I think so," I grumbled, glancing down at him.

I growled quietly, and shuddered at the pain. Part of me wished I could have just deflected the attacks. Thor glanced behind him, so I looked up to see Steve walking over. The moment the god stepped back, I was sinking back down to my belly, unable to hold myself up any longer. All this trying to heal was exhausting. Having lived with Steve since New York, I figured he felt responsible for me. In any case, it had him picking up the pace and hurrying over. I was in too much pain to care that the others had come over as well. Tony's mask came off, and I tried hard not to look at his expression.

"I'll be fine," I managed to rumble.

"You gave me a scare," Steve whispered, coming to my head.

"Sorry," I tilted my head to look at him.

"Are you all right?"

"If I hear that question again..." I murmured, and he smiled.

"Can you turn human?" he asked.

"No," I snapped, and then closed my jaws.

He nodded his head, and stood up again. I knew they had things to do, but Tony, Thor and Steve stayed with me until I was healed. It took the better part of an hour before I was able to move without it hurting. The bullets had gone straight through me, which I was grateful for. I was hard to kill, but this had been the worst I had ever been hit. I'd have gladly taken on a leviathan again, rather than deal with all of this.

Opening my eyes, I breathed out harshly and finally got to my feet. It was a little painful, but there were no more open wounds on my body. They were healed over for the most part. When I was able to turn human again, I found myself reaching out for something to catch me. Tony reached out, and I looked at him gratefully. Once I was sure I could stand on my own, I let go of him.

Steve sighed gently. "Can you walk?"

"I'll make myself."

He chuckled at that, and I stood up a little straighter. All of us walked into an office, where Nat and Clint were. Everyone was trying to just sit and relax. Natasha was treating Clint's wound, and I turned my head when he gestured to me. Going over, I let him grab my hand and squeeze it. He had been worried as well. It touched me, to see that I was so cared for by these people. Steve sighed as he walked over, having washed his face. Walking away from Clint once I knew he was okay, I took a soft breath.

"Kayden?"

Turning my head, I looked at Thor who had spoken my name. He gave me a look, and then gestured to the couch. I went to protest immediately, but Steve cleared his throat, so I looked over to him as well.

"You're shaking," he murmured.

Glancing down at my hands, I realized I was. Clenching my fists, I forced myself over to the couch that was there and made myself lie down. It seemed I still had some healing to do. Thor grabbed a blanket and put it over me, and touched my forehead. I was asleep in moments.

We went home as soon as possible, and once we all landed on the pad the others were going inside. Steve had woken me up when we had to switch to another jet. I couldn't sleep on that ride. What ever Thor had done to me, had at least helped. I was feeling a little better. Tony had flown home without us, for whatever reason and was there and cleaned up when we walked in.

"We have a bit of cleaning up to do," Steve sighed.

"Yeah, I can imagine."

"I got Stark Industries on it already," Tony offered. "I ordered food. You should go shower."

"Oh good," I hummed, mostly to myself.

I left them and took a quick hot shower, and I was sure the others did the same. It was refreshing, and soon I was relaxed again and feeling more myself. Once I made sure my hair was dry, and I was dressed, I walked back out to the others. Natasha wasn't there when I came back out and Clint was asleep on the couch. Tony, Thor, and Steve were at the bar with pizza. Rhodey walked in and joined them shortly after, and I noticed that Vision and Wanda were not there as well. I joined them, taking a stool that was open beside Steve and we all ate in silence.

Tony regarded me quietly, and for a while I just let him stare at me every now and again. It irritated me, but I was too tired to care about it at the moment. Thor killed a whole pizza on his own, and so did Steve. Tony and I split one before he finally spoke.

"If I didn't know any better, I'd say you're looking a little human," Tony smiled at me.

"You just know how to break the happy silence don't you?" I asked, irritated.

"It's disrupting the peace, and yes it's what I do," he answered, matter of fact.

"So refreshing," I sighed, and Thor chuckled deeply.

We finished eating and I watched everyone go off to get some sleep. I went behind the bar and grabbed myself a beer, and sighed quietly to myself. My back was killing me, and for a moment I did feel human. I hated feeling human, it made me feel weak.

"Grab me one."

I almost smacked my head on the bar. "I need to start using my senses more," I grunted, but grabbed another bottle.

Steve gave me a smile when I handed it to him. "That's probably a good idea," he mused.

Glaring at him, I took a drink and leaned against the counter top. "You should be sleeping," I noted. "You guys had a rough time."

"So did you," he snorted. "And I slept a little on the ride back. I had to make sure everyone was all right. Plus, I was hoping Banner would come back."

"I'm sure Banner will return when he's ready," I sighed, avoiding his statement. "You can't push someone like that. How is everyone?"

"Tired, beaten and I'm sure sad," Steve answered. "But we won..."

"Yeah. At what cost?" I asked quietly.

"Don't beat yourself up. None of us were able to save him. The least we were able to do was bury him," Steve sighed, taking another drink.

"Well...good," I mumbled, also taking a drink.

"And you are okay?" Steve question, looking at me seriously.

"I've been alive much longer than you. I'll be fine," I chuckled. "I'm tired now that I think about it. I just need...something. Not sure what. I'm not sure if I have to go kill something, or just sleep for a week."

"Sleeping is the better alternative," Steve answered, and it made me smile a little.

"I don't know, I just...I don't want to talk about it," I muttered.

Steve gave me a glance, and sighed softly to himself as I finished my beer. I threw the bottle away and took his when he was done as well. I walked down the hall with him quietly, and he took me to my apartment door. I reached up and gave him a tight hug, and then patted him on the chest.

"You owe me a date, Captain," I grinned, trying to lighten the mood.

"Ha, I guess I do," he laughed. "Night, D."

"Night," I smiled, and unlocked my door with my thumb print.

I shut the door, and listened to him slowly walk off. I was so exhausted, and I just took off my shoes and laid in bed. I was asleep within minutes, unable to fight it.