(Steve's P.O.V.)
We were all hiding behind a prop replica of a viking ship. Hudson, and Light stood guard while I was guarding Goliath. "This game is futile. You were too old to play it a thousand years ago. I could just rake this room with the laser. There's no way you'd escape.", Demona's voice echoed.
Hudson and I then started to drag Goliath as we heard Demona's voice getting closer. "But I've given you one last chance, Hudson. Goliath's time is over. I am the leader now. Swear fealty to me and I'll let you live.", Demona said with a growl as we turned around to hide in a corner, and I then saw her.
"Very well, then. Die, hiding like the cowards you are.", Demona sneered as she started to fire her laser in every direction. We then found a way out, and we were outside.
"Please leave me here. Save yourselves!", Goliath pleaded with a low growl. "No, Goliath, we will never leave you.", Light said with a huff.
"Gargoyles don't leave their warriors behind.", Hudson said with a nod. "They are right.", I said, agreeing with them. I then saw a sewer line, and I got an idea. I quickly opened the grate, and everyone went inside.
"You don't understand! Demona could hurt you all, just leave me!", Goliath said with a snarl. "Goliath, stop this! Think about your clan, your friends, your family and...Jean.", I said with a stern look, and a raised eyebrow.
Goliath's eyes then widened a bit in shock. "If you won't fight back for us, fight back for Jean. Fight back for her.", I said with a firm nod. "It's that obvious?", Goliath whispered lowly.
I smirked lightly, and he sighed deeply with a nod. "I'll always fight for Jean.", he spoke clearly with a determined growl, and my smirk turned into a grin.
(Jean's P.O.V.)
Natasha and Elisa led me to my bedroom. "You need to rest, Jean.", Natasha said softly as I laid down on my bed. "If Goliath and the others come back, we will let you know.", Elisa said with a nod.
"Thanks.", I said with a weak smile. A minute later, they left my room and I slowly fell asleep, still thinking about Goliath.
(Steve's P.O.V.)
We were now at a old cemetery. I, Hudson, and Light were fighting Demona, and dang, she was a strong fighter! She kicked me away, and I slowly stood up.
I saw Goliath get knocked down, and I gasped in horror as I saw Demona lifting her laser gun above her head. I, Hudson, and Light stood in front of Goliath.
"Your pride will cost you your life.", Demona said with a cackle. "But I know something you don't. Something that comes only with age. I know how to wait.", Hudson said with a grin as he stood in front of Goliath who was laying on the ground.
We then saw that it was now dawn. "NO!", Demona shouted in dismay as she turned to stone, and I saw Hudson and Goliath turn to stone as well.
"Now what do we do?", Light asked anxiously as she looked at me, turning to her human form swiftly. "I have to call my teammates.", I said with a smile as I got out my communicator, but to my dismay, it was soaked up by water.
It must have happened from when we have fallen from that rooftop when we were escaping Demona, the rain gutter must have spilled over, and it had my communicator crapped up. "Oh shit!", I cursed with a groan.
"What is it?", Light asked with a concerned look. "The water must have done something to my communicator, and now, I have to fix it.", I said with a frustrated huff.
"How long do you think it will take?", Light asked as she bit her lip nervously. "I'm not sure, but I hope I can fix it before Demona wakes up.", I said with a sigh.
(Jean's P.O.V.)
It was nearing sunset, and Goliath and the others still weren't back. I was getting more worried, and then I heard a sound come from Tony's lab. I ran towards the lab, and so did the others.
"What is it?", Bruce asked quickly. "It's Steve.", Tony said with a relieved sigh as he then accepted the call.
"Steve, where the hell are you?", Natasha asked furiously. "And why didn't you call us sooner?", I asked worriedly with a bit of anger.
"Sorry, it's just my communicator got wet, and I had to fix it.", Steve said, looking apologetic with a sheepish shrug. "But where are you and the others at?", Clint asked hastily yet curiously.
"We are at a cemetery, and I'll give you the location, but you need to hurry as Demona will soon wake up.", Steve said, looking anxiously nervous. "Ok, we are on our way.", Tony said with a nod before he closed up the call.
"Elisa, you and Bruce stay here with Jean.", Tony said with a stern glance at them. "But I have to see if Goliath is okay.", I protested back.
"You have to wait, Jean. If Demona sees you, she will know that her plan failed.", Natasha said with a stern look at me. I then sighed with a resigned nod. "Come on, let's go.", Clint called out swiftly as he, Natasha, and Tony ran out of the room, and Elisa rubbed my shoulders in comfort.
(Steve's P.O.V.)
It was nearing dusk, but to my relief, I saw Clint, Natasha, and Tony arrive, all in their suits like me. "Did we miss anything?", Tony asked as he landed besides me, the visor lifting up to reveal his face.
"No, they are just about to wake up.", Light said with a patient look. And soon enough, Goliath, Hudson, and Demona woke up from their stone sleep.
"It ends now.", Demona said with a snarl. "I don't think so.", Light said with a low growl as we all went to stand in front of Goliath.
As Hudson had said, Goliath was now fully healed, and he stood up. "What?", Demona said, widening her eyes in shock. "It's over, Demona! You have lost!", Clint said as he was aiming one of his arrows at her.
"Why do you humans defend them?", Demona said with a furious growl. "We accept them the way they are.", Tony said with his hands up, glowing with the arc reactor's energy.
"And they are our friends.", Clint said with a glare at Demona. "If you mess with them, you mess with us.", Natasha said with a stern look, looking furiously mad with her gun in her hands.
"And we will always protect them no matter what.", I growled lightly with my shield held up as I tensed, ready for action. "They are right, sister.", Light said with a vicious look at her.
"A warrior protects his own.". Hudson growled lowly. "And we protect them in return.", Goliath snarled lightly.
"You think you've won. But you've forgotten why you came. Your human now, the poison has run its course. And there is no antidote.", Demona cackled madly as she then flew off.
"It's probably best that she doesn't know that Jean is alive.", Goliath said with a snort. "She will find out sooner or later.", Light said with a sigh.
"Thank you for keeping me alive, Hudson, Light, and Steve.", Goliath said, looking grateful with a smile. "You are our friend, Goliath.", I said with a grin.
"I think it's best we head back to the tower, and besides, you don't want to make Jean worry even more." Natasha said with a smirk at Goliath. "Yes, that sounds good. Jean deserves to know that I am alright.". Goliath nodded lightly with a smile, before looking at me for a moment, silently asking me something I understood, and I nodded with a wink.
He blushed lightly before he joined the others to leap off a stone in the cemetery. Natasha allowed me to be the front rider of her motorcycle, and she sat in the back. Soon, we all headed back to the Avengers Tower.
(Jean's P.O.V.)
I then saw Goliath land on the roof, and I ran over to him, and hugged him. "Goliath, I'm glad you are alright!", I heaved out in relief as I then felt Goliath hug me back.
"I'll always come back to you, Jean...". He whispered warmly, and I blushed lightly as I felt the rumble of his chest. "Hey, no hug for us?", Light said with a slightly affronted look. I then smiled as I went over to hug her, and then Hudson, and Steve.
"Good news is Demona doesn't know that you are alive.", Steve said with a sly smirk. "I wonder how long it will stay like that until she finds out.", I said with a thoughtful, anxious sigh.
"Don't worry, Jean. I'll be there to protect you.", Goliath rumbled softly as he grasped my shoulder gently. I smiled at him warmly with a nod of understanding.
Goliath along with Steve, Hudson, and Light told us what happened last night. I was shocked..Well, everyone was, but I couldn't believe that Goliath had gotten injured by Demona, but thanks to Steve, Light, and Hudson, they were able to protect him until dawn.
Light and Goliath had told me that when a Gargoyle has a injury, they can heal when they turn to stone. I was then outside the Avenger Tower, talking with Goliath.
"I was impressed by how your leader, Steve was determined to protect me.", Goliath said with a thoughtful smile. "Steve is a warrior as well, and he will never leave his friends behind.", I said with a proud grin.
"At first, I wanted them to leave me behind, but it was thanks to Steve that he convinced me to live. You see, he told me that I had to fight back for my clan, and... for you.", Goliath said gently with a warm hand upon my shoulder.
I widened my eyes in amazement and happiness as I realized that Goliath might just have feelings for me, and I chuckled warmly, "Remind me to get something for Steve. It's gonna be his birthday soon in a week.".
He smiled widely, "To thank Steve for protecting me, yes?". I shrugged before I smiled brightly as I hugged him tightly. I felt Goliath hug me back. "Thank you, Goliath.", I said softly.
"You're much welcome, and don't forget, I'll be here always, Jean.". Goliath rumbled happily as he held me warmly. But what we didn't know is that someone had taken a picture of us hugging.
(Erik's P.O.V.)
I had sent one of my mutant brothers to go check on my Jean, and I was wondering what she has been doing as I found out a year ago that Jean had left the X-Men to join this new superhero group called the Avengers.
But no matter, they won't stop me from getting what I want, and I then saw the mutant who I sent come back. "Well?", I asked impatiently, and I could see him looking a bit scared.
"Sire, you are not going to like this.", he said nervously as he handed me a picture, and what I saw made my blood boil. I saw in the photo Jean hugging some sort of creature with wings, and it looked like a male. I think it's a Gargoyle. "Where was she?", I asked lowly with a growl.
"She was at the Avengers Tower.", the mutant said, his fingers fidgeting nervously. "Did you get this Gargoyle's name?", I asked angrily.
"Yes, I heard Jean call him Goliath, and I hate to say this, but I think Jean has feelings for Goliath, and so does he.", The mutant gulped as he backed slightly. "Get out!", I shouted, and quick as a flash, the mutant quickly ran out.
"How dare she betray me like this?!". I growled angrily as I felt fists form in my hands. That Gargoyle, that Goliath, he is stealing my Jean away from me! I won't let him as Jean is mine!
"You shall die on the day I take Jean, and no one, repeat, no one, not even a filthy Gargoyle takes what I want!". I screamed out loudly, anger filling through me as I faintly heard sounds of crushing metal.