Chapter 13: Steve
Steve knocked the last Chitauri off the Bifrost with his shield and turned back to face Thor as the Asgardian summoned Mjolnir back into his hand. Together they caught their breath.
"Any idea who's behind this attack?" Steve asked as he surveyed the battleground that had been a peaceful city mere minutes before.
"None." Thor's gaze shifted to something behind Steve. "But I suspect we're about to find out."
Steve turned to watch as the massive spaceship slowly sank to the level of the golden, orb-like building at the end of the Bifrost that Thor called the Observatory. Something was happening.
The question of what was answered as an icy wind swept across the water towards the Bridge, so cold Steve could temporarily see his breath. On the far shore of the lake, at the foot of the mountains, several hundred giant creatures stood behind a slim figure clothed in green.
"Loki," Thor said grimly.
Steve felt his heart sink as the man who had murdered Bucky created a path of ice with the glowing object in his hands – probably the Casket Odin had mentioned - and started across the frozen lake surface towards the Bifrost. Loki was obviously here to meet with whoever was in the spaceship. The other Frost Giants remained on the shore.
Steve's voice was hard as he spoke into his comm. "Loki's arrived with an army."
"Give him my love," came Natasha's reply.
"Roger that." Steve readjusted the straps on his shield as Loki stepped from his ice bridge onto the Bifrost. Then he started running towards the god of mischief, Thor at his heels. As soon as he was close enough, Steve threw his shield, putting all his strength into the throw.
It missed by inches. Loki ducked at the last moment and the shield cut through the air above him, denting the wall of the Observatory before ricocheting back and skidding along the Bridge.
Steve started forward to retrieve the weapon, but he'd only taken two steps when Loki raised the Casket. Ice blasted from it and before Steve could react he was encased in the stuff, unable to breathe or move.
Not again.
He watched helplessly as more Chitauri emerged from a door in the front of the spaceship and ran through the Observatory onto the Bridge.
Then Thor was there, smashing his hammer down on the ice. It shattered and suddenly Steve could move again. He gasped in a breath, accepting his shield as Thor handed it to him. "Thanks."
"Don't mention it." Together they faced the new wave of Chitauri that separated them from Loki.
Time for round two.