Chapter 36: Tony
Tony watched the Guardians run off with some misgivings. He knew all too well that it might be the last time he saw them. But he didn't have the luxury of being able to hover protectively over them as they waded into the battle.
He had a mission of his own.
With that in mind, Tony spoke into his radio as he flew over the smoking city. "Okay, Cap. The Power Stone is secured. Where next?"
"Find out what on earth is happening with that ship," came the reply.
Tony was about to ask what ship when he rounded a skyscraper and saw the second Chitauri ship balanced on its nose in the sky. As he watched, the ship righted itself and turned away from the city, speeding out over the Atlantic.
"On it," he replied. "Looks like they're on the run."
"Maybe," Steve replied. "Thor went up there a couple of minutes ago."
Tony soared after the massive ship as it continued on its eastward course, and slowly he began gaining ground.
Then the ship shuddered suddenly, and a familiar cool voice spoke into Tony's comm. "If anyone possessed of the power of flight is nearby, I could use a lift. I'm in the moving Chitauri ship."
Then a black-and-green clad figure jumped from the ship and plummeted towards the ocean as the craft above disintegrated into fire and scraps of alien material.
Tony chuckled humorlessly to himself as he watched Loki falling. He didn't really want to save the trickster god. "Eeny meeny miny moe…" he breathed. "Oh, forget it." He'd never hear the end of it from Steve if he did nothing.
With a sigh, he dived down and caught the falling man a few yards above the water. "Did you want a swim?" he asked.
"Not really," Loki replied, and Tony thought he saw the smallest measure of relieved surprise in the Asgardian's expression.
Tony brought them back over the city as the remains of the Chitauri ship crashed into the ocean behind them. "Where should I dump you?"
"I need to find Thor."
"JARVIS, find me–" A rumble of thunder cut Tony off and he looked up to see storm clouds forming over a city block. "Never mind." He turned and headed for the building storm.