Reina watched with wide eyes. The Chitauri Leviathan was barreling at them, slashing through building and cars in its path. She looked up as Tony flew past overhead.
"Dr. Banner?"
Reina's gaze went to Banner, he walked towards the giant.
"Now might be a really good time for you to get angry" Steve said.
"That's my secret, Captain. I'm always angry" Banner said with a sad smile.
As he turned, his skin started turning green. His clothes ripped at the seams, his body growing in height and bulk. This was what happened when the super soldier serum went wrong. Chills went up Reina's spine, thinking back to how easily it would have been for her to be standing where Banner was now.
The Leviathan approached them, the Hulk slamming his fist into the beast's nose. He slid back a few feet, the beast careening over as it flipped up.
"Hold on!" Tony called to them, firing the rocket as it embedded into the beast's side.
The monster exploded, sending metal and flesh raining down. Reina ducked behind a flipped car as the debris showered past her. She heard the Chitauri soldiers let out screaming cries, standing as the Hulk roared back at them.
Movement above them caught her eye. She looked up into the void, the portal swirling with blue energy.
"Guys…" Reina's voice was hardly a whisper, not believing what she was seeing yet.
She watched, more beasts seemed to swim from the portal. The soldiers followed on flying chariots, spreading out.
"Call it, Cap" Tony turned to him.
"Alright. Listen up" Steve quickly came up with a plan. "Until we can close that portal up there, we're gonna use containment"
Steve turned to Barton. "Barton, I want you on that roof, eyes on everything. Call out patterns and strays" He looked to Tony. "Stark, you got the perimeter. Anything gets more than three blocks out, you turn it back or you turn it to ash"
"Wanna give me a lift?" Barton looked to Tony.
"Clench up, Legolas" Tony grabbed Barton by the belt, the two lifting off.
"Thor, you've gotta try and bottleneck that portal. Slow them down. You've got the lightning. Light the bastards up."
Thor started spinning his hammer, the wind picking up. He tossed it up, flying through the air.
Nat and Reina exchanged a glance. They were the only two left now besides Hulk.
"We're staying on the ground. Keep the fighting here. And Hulk" Steve turned.
Hulk swung around, glaring to them. Steve held up his hand.
"Smash"
Hulk grinned, launching himself up onto the building as he followed his order.
Reina glanced up, preparing for the battle ahead.
!
The wind was knocked from Reina's lungs as the Chitauri slammed her against the car hood. She sneered, grabbing hold of its head as she rammed her knee into it. Its skull shattered, the alien falling limp onto the ground. She looked back, watching Steve launch Nat up as she grabbed onto a flying chariot. She quickly rolled off the hood as the spear stabbed through the metal. She breathed in, kicking the other Chitauri back as it blasted into the stone barrier.
"Duck" Tony's voice sounded through the earpiece.
She ducked down as he flew over her, taking out a line of Chitauri. He fired his laser at Steve, Steve holding up the shield and angling it as it bounced off and took out another group. Reina rolled to her feet, grapping the car door and throwing it as it cut through more of the soldiers. Reina's back connected with Steve's. The two sharing a glance.
"Just like the old days, huh?" Reina asked, holding one of the energy spears she took from a Chitauri.
"Yea…except there wasn't aliens back then…" Steve breathed, holding up the shield.
Thor landed beside them, throwing his hammer as it took out more soldiers. He held his hand out, the hammer reeling back into his grasp. The three fought, the battle never-ending. When one Chitauri fell, four more were there to take its place.
Reina had never pushed her stamina like this before. Her limbs were growing heavy, tired from the battle. She was almost gasping for breath now, hardly able to fill her lungs with enough oxygen. She stole a look at Steve. He seemed to be no better than her. She flinched, watching the blast of energy hit Steve in the ribs. He fell forward, slamming into the broken concrete ground.
"Steve!" She called, the distraction opening herself up for a blast to her shoulder.
She fell onto her knees, gripping her shoulder. She could feel her body healing already, the deep soreness she always felt setting into her joint. She looked up as Thor collided his hammer with the car, sending it rolling as it mowed down the line of Chitauri.
Steve pulled himself onto his knees, using the shield to rest for a moment. He held his side, taking Thor's extended arm as he helped him up.
"Ready for another bout?" Thor asked, looking back as Reina set the butt of the spear on the ground, using it to stand.
"What? You getting sleepy?" Steve asked, heaving his breaths.
Thor gave a low chuckle, Reina scoffing. She leaned against the spear like a cane, her own breaths jagged.
"I can close the portal. I can close it…"
Natasha's voice made Reina snap back to reality.
"Do it!" Steve yelled.
"No!" Tony's voice sounded. "I got a nuke coming in, it's gonna blow in less than a minute"
Reina looked towards the bridge, seeing the blip across the water.
"Stark…you know that's a one way trip" Steve's voice was quiet.
Reina shut her eyes.
"Tony" She pleaded.
"Reina. It's ok"
Reina shook her head. No, it wasn't ok.
Reina looked up, watching Tony as he flew above them. He held the missile on his back, opening the thrusters on his shoulders to angle himself up. He shot upward, vanishing into the portal. Reina held her breath.
She flinched, the Chitauri seeming to deactivate as they fell to the ground. Reina looked around, returning her gaze back to the portal.
"Please Tony" She begged, keeping her eyes on the portal. "Tony!"
There were a few beats of silent. Finally, Steve spoke.
"Close it"
"No!" Reina screamed.
"Reina…" Steve's voice was somber.
Reina knew he was right. It needed to be closed. She hated him for being right.
The beam stopped, the vortex being sucked into itself as the hole began closing. Tears welled up in Reina's eyes, threatening to spill down her cheeks. Reina shut her eyes tightly.
"Son of a gun"
Steve's voice made her look back up, seeing the Iron Man suit plummeting towards the ground. She held back a laugh, her eye brows furrowing.
"…He's not slowing down" Thor was swinging his hammer, getting ready to fly up and catch Tony.
Suddenly, Hulk appeared. He caught Tony, the two smashing into the wall of the building before slamming into the concrete. They slid a few feet, Hulk pushing Tony off of himself. The three hurried over, Reina reaching him first.
She crouched beside him, ripping the mask off as she threw it away. She watched Tony, his eyes shut. Dread filled her heart.
"Is he breathing?" Steve asked, crouching beside Reina.
"Tony?" She asked. She laid her ear over his mouth, she couldn't feel any breath. "Jarvis? Jarvis?"
There was no response. The suit was dead. And so was Tony.
Reina cried silently, hanging her head. She jolted, Hulk roaring loudly. Tony awoke with a start, gasping as he tried to breathe.
"What the hell? What just happened?" He gasped. "Please tell me nobody kissed me"
Reina laughed, wiping at her eyes.
"I don't think I've ever seen you cry" Tony joked.
Steve breathed a sigh of relief, looking around. "We won"
"Alright. Hey good jobs guys" Tony tried to sit up, giving up as he laid still. "Let's just not come in tomorrow. Let's take the day off"
Reina shook her head.
"Have you ever tried shawarma? There's a Shawarma joint about two blocks from here. I don't know what it is but I want to try it" Tony rambled.
"We're not finished just yet" Thor looked up at Stark Tower.
"And then shawarma after?" Tony asked.
"Yes…shawarma after" Reina agreed with him.
!
The blue energy glowed, Thor, Loki and Sigyn seeming to be pulled up and away by the beam. They vanished, Reina breathing a sigh of relief. She looked back, watching as Natasha and Clint climbed into the shield van. Steve and Tony shook hands, now holding a mutual respect for each other. She walked to them, hugging Tony.
"I'll see you later" Reina patted his back.
She pulled back, looking to Banner as he offered her a handshake. She ignored it, instead wrapping her arms around him like she did with Tony. Banner tensed at her touch, slowly relaxing as he awkwardly returned her hug.
The two climbed into the convertible, driving off towards Stark Tower.
Reina walked alongside Steve, crossing her arms.
"So. Where will you go?" Steve asked.
Reina shrugged her shoulders. "Back to D.C. Back to the department of Veterans Affairs" Reina looked to Steve. "Want to join me?"
Steve thought for a moment. "Sure…sounds like a good adventure"
Reina nodded over to their motorcycles. "Let's take a ride"