Zoë Aetós: Starting & Ending Action
Chapter Eight
After having commandeered a Quinjet with the others, Zoë sat across from Steve while the other two were in the cockpit. From the windows she could already see the destruction of Manhattan.
She was wearing a light grey tunic with black jeans. She had a vest underneath her tunic that was bullet-proof, and you could barely tell it was there. It was an invention of Tony that S.H.I.E.L.D. had received the plans for. She was using the only version in existence. Hopefully it worked as well as Tony bragged.
Out of all of them, she was the most underdressed, but she also looked the least ridiculous. Natasha was in all black except for her insignia which was blood red. Clint's black leather outfit had no sleeves, and she wasn't complaining, but it just meant that by the end of this all, he'd have several new scars on his arms. And Steve… well, the outfit with the mask was still a bit old fashioned. She just looked like a civilian, which is what Steve wanted. She was to disappear into the crowds, helping those who needed it.
Natasha spoke into the comms, mostly to Tony.
"Stark, we're heading northeast."
"What, did you stop for drive-thru? Swing up park, I'm gonna lay 'em out for you." Zoë pulled out a handgun, making sure it was loaded before putting it back in its holster.
She and Steve jolted as a wing was torn off and the ship began to spin and drop out of the air. She closed her eyes for a spilt second as it dropped to the ground. It spun out of control when it hit the road then slammed into a building.
Unbuckling her seatbelt, Zoë pushed open the ramp with Steve's help.
"Ready, Aetos?" Clint asked, pulling out his bow.
"Ready, Barton?" Zoë shot back. He grinned, pressing a kiss to her forehead.
She took off down the street, dodging around buildings and cars as she listened to her team over the comms. She fired at an alien, ducking into an abandoned coffee shop a trio of the creatures started following her. She fired at the three of them, taking time to reload her gun before heading back out into the streets.
"Stark, are you seeing this?" Steve asked.
"I'm seeing, still working in believing," Tony answered. "Where's Banner? Has he shown up yet?"
"Bruce? Is he supposed to be here?" Zoë asked.
"Just keep me posted, Z."
Zoë caught sight of an overturned school bus and headed for it. The passengers were stuck inside as a group of aliens surrounded them.
"Oi!" she alerted them to her presence before firing her gun. She cursed under her breath when her last mag was emptied.
An alien reached her, punching her across the face. She grimaced, falling to the rubble littered ground. She grabbed a large rock, throwing it at the alien to briefly distract it.
"Clint," she said, putting a finger to her earpiece. "Got a spare?"
She didn't hear a reply as she started fighting against the alien in front of her. It felt metal and it's helmet bruised her knuckles when she hit at it. She tried to get Clint's attention again, but still heard no response.
Backed against a wall, Zoë wasn't expecting the two slender black objects that dropped to the ground as Tony swooped in, destroying the alien for her.
"Thanks," she called to him.
"Don't make it a habit, Aetos," Tony said, taking back to the sky.
Grabbing the arrow sheaf and bow, she notched it, sending an explosive arrow at an oncoming group. She ran back to the bus, giving them cover as the driver got the students out.
"Come with me," Sara told the driver. "I'll keep you guys safe."
The large group took down the street, Zoë in the back. Clint's voice came through her comms, asking if she got his gift.
"It's just like Budapest all over again!" Natasha joked.
"We must remember Budapest very differently," Zoë remarked.
Once the group she was with was safe, Zoë found herself staring at a small motorbike.
"Want a ride?" Bruce asked sheepishly. She shrugged, climbing into the back of the bike. She wrapped her arms hesitantly around his stomach as he started heading towards the others.
They found the rest of the team on a broken bridge. They were shocked when Zoë and Bruce pulled up.
"So, this all seems horrible," Bruce remarked.
"I've seen worse," Zoë muttered, walking over to Clint. Bruce winced at her words.
"Sorry." She sent him a small grin.
"Nah, we could use a little worse… Tony, we've got Bruce."
"Just like I said—"
"Just like you said."
"Tell him to suit up. I'm bringing the party to you."
The large space beast appeared ahead of them with Tony flying in front of it.
"Dr. Banner," Steve said. "Now might be a really good time for you to get angry."
"That's my secret, Captain. I'm always angry."
Bruce transformed into the Hulk, attacked the space beast in the face. Zoë turned to Clint.
"I meant a gun," she told him, firing her bow over his shoulder to an alien behind him.
"Best I could do," Clint shrugged. "But hey! I got the measurements right." She rolled her eyes as Natasha got their attention.
"Guys!" She pointed up at the sky where more and more aliens were coming out of the portal.
"Call it, Cap," Tony said.
Taking a breath, Steve started barking out orders.
"All right, listen up. Until we can close that portal up there, we're gonna use containment. Barton, I wanted you on that roof, eyes on everything. Call out patterns and strays. Stark, you got the perimeter. Anymore gets more than three blocks out, you turn it back or you turn it to ash."
Nodding, Clint looked at Tony.
"Wanna give me a lift?"
"Right, Better clench up, Legolas." Tony grabbed Clint, taking off into the sky again.
"Thor," Steve continued. "You've gotta try and bottleneck that portal. Slow them down. You've got the lightning. Light the bastards up. Aetos, why aren't you…"
"There weren't many civilians where I was," Zoë answered. "Everyone is holing up in the bank. That's my target and Bruce gave me a ride."
"Then go to the bank now," Steve ordered.
Zoë headed down to the 42nd Bank, pushing through the scared civilians. She looked up slightly, catching sight of Clint. She didn't keep her gaze on him long as she ducked into the bank. She had just made it inside as three of the aliens arrived.
"Cap," she whispered. "I've got a couple hundred people and three strangers with a bomb. Can I borrow your shield?"
As one of the aliens charged the bomb, Steve jumped through the window, throwing his shield at the bomber.
"Everyone out!" Zoë yelled. "Get out now!" She fought her way through the crowd to Steve just as one of the aliens ripped off Steve's helmet. Zoë fired her an arrow, hitting the alien in the back. She reached Steve just as the bomb went off. He grabbed her, keeping her safe as they were thrown out the window.
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