Anya's breath caught in her throat when the herculean shadow loomed over their craft. They needed to escape-
A large explosion made the ship rock and she stumbled. A pale hand snatched her arm to steady her. Her ice blue eyes met sharp green, both trying to hide the bit of fear in them.
"What is this?! Heimdall!" Thor thundered out of the room, intent on finding the dark skinned man or maybe the Valkyrie Brunhilde. More explosions echoed around them.
"Thanos." Loki didn't let his voice shake, "You need to go." He looked at the woman beside him, his face smooth.
She glared at the trickster. "No."
He sighed, "He knows you. He will snuff you out for my failure on earth." Loki's expression turned stern.
Anya shook her head once, "I've neglected you for far too long. I was supposed to help you, though many times you've told me otherwise. Still, I was actually barely able to anything when the dark elves came. So, I ran Asgard with you until your brother broke the facade. I am not going to run the moment you need me the most standing at your side."
"You would die at my side?" Loki was not able to hide the almost imperceptible tremble in his words.
Anya opened her mouth to respond once more when screams sounded down the hall.
Too late.
Her hand found his and she squeezed, her eyes shining. They ran down the corridor side by side.
She had prepared for this.
When Thor requested her, though it sounded more like an order, to open a portal to Earth, she was ready. Though Ragnarok had been the end of her foreknowledge and end of her obligation, she still felt responsible. However, she could fight freely now.
So she opened that portal and ushered the terrified Asgardians and gladiators of Sakaar through. She could save them. She'd drag everyone through. She'd drag Loki-
A smoky blue grey cloud formed in the middle of the communal deck of the ship.
No.
Not yet!
She'd only gotten barely half of the refugees through.
"Keep the portal open. I'll get as many I can to you." Brunhilde growled, readying her sword. The Valkyrie charged the aliens that were coming through the other gateway.
Anya nodded, fighting off other monsters who got too close.
She heard various battle cries, the clash of weapons, the ring of steel, and the enormous crunches and blows that came from Thor, Loki, Heimdall, and the Hulk fighting.
But she knew it wouldn't be enough. Not against a titan. They had to leave. She had seen a few glimpses into the start of this war and had drawn her own conclusions and assumptions. Thanos would claim the space stone. That meant-
"Loki!"
Her eyes were desperate when they caught his. She looked to her own portal then back at him.
They couldn't save everyone.
But she could save him-
Then through the smoky blue mist, stepped a tall, grey skinned alien in dark clothing. He was followed by three more.
The children of Thanos.
Ebony Maw saw her and stood straight, a smile on his face that made her shiver. "A human that wields magic? That is new."
Fear was bubbling in her and skyrocketed when she heard the thump of heavy boots that could only belong to-
"Mighty Thanos," Maw bowed, as did the other three.
There wasn't time to freeze.
She had prepared for this.
Anya had gotten half the refugees through the portal when an unseen force pulled her roughly away. Brunhilde had pushed the last few she could through the gateway before it snapped shut behind her, leaving the Valkyrie on earth.
Anya was now suspended before Ebony Maw, stiff as a board. "I'm afraid I cannot let you take any more away."
Her eyes widened at the realization that she had only been able to save the half she could because Maw had allowed it. A cold sweat began at her brow. Maw turned and nodded at his three other counterparts… Then the massacre happened.
Everyone left was slaughtered while Anya had to watch, horrified, from her invisible prison.
The screams, grunts and death cries were deafening until everything slowly went eerily quiet.
Proxima Midnight and Cull Obsidian stood by Loki while Corvus Glaive went around checking bodies, stabbing and finishing off anybody who was still breathing.
Maw stepped over corpses, approaching Thanos and making a speech while Anya floated helplessly behind him. When the titan turned he looked at the trapped woman, noticing how Loki's gaze flickered to her. "Ah, is this your pet, trickster?"
Loki simply scoffed. The fingers of his left hand twitched.
Thanos smiled, "Well then, more choices for you. You are lucky." He looked to Thor who was groaning at his feet. "We'll start with your brother's head." He picked up the god of thunder's skull easily in one hand. "That, or the tesseract. I'm sure you have a preference." The titan clenched the hand that wore the golden gauntlet, bringing it closer to Thor's temple.
The god of mischief swallowed, straightening his stance, "Kill away." He said bluntly.
However, he wasn't prepared for his brother's screams of pain. It took only several seconds for Loki to yell, "Stop!" And hesitantly reveal the tesseract in his hand.
No!
Anya struggled, forcing her hands slowly behind her back.
Thanos crushed the cube and blew away the fragments that didn't matter.
She just needed one burst. Just one.
When the Hulk charged Thanos, the distraction was enough for her to break free of Maw's hold. As she tumbled away, the alien thought it inconsequential as she didn't really pose a threat to him or his master.
Anya opened another portal that brought her crouching by Loki and Thor. The god of thunder struggled upright, fighting the dizziness and pain that was crippling him after having his head almost crushed, and grabbed a large piece of metal. Loki made to grab for his brother, but Anya snatched for the dark-haired god first.
"Loki," she whispered, feeling fire build up in her veins and her arms being weighted down. Pain that told her that what she was planning was essentially wrong.
Like hell.
"Anya?" Loki questioned. Concern seeped into his voice when he saw her wince.
The woman smiled, though it was more of a sad grimace as they locked eyes. Reading her intentions, he made to move. However, before he could make a single step, she shoved him through a portal she'd quietly conjured behind him and snapped it shut the moment he was on the other side.
She fought against the pain that wracked her body and stood. The fire in her blood was scorching, but she wouldn't let this universe tell her what she could and couldn't do anymore. A wave of magic washing from the top of her head to the tips of her toes.
She had prepared for this.
Nadia was wiping down a table in the cafe she still worked at. Two years and she must have been doing something right because Hannah didn't mind when she had to call in last minute emergencies and leaves. Well… the young woman made sure to somehow make up for those times with overtime, double shifts, and covering for some of the employees who suddenly had their own emergencies or just didn't show up for a shift.
It was mostly quiet today… until it wasn't.
A strange hum vibrated through the air. People were suddenly gawking at their phones and looked in the same direction outside.
Just as she was going to go outside to check it out herself, her phone buzzed in her pocket.
::Peter: 911 Manhattan ::
Her fellow employees rushed outside, wanting to check too. With them distracted, she didn't waste any time going into the back room and opening a portal to the New York Sanctum.
It had to be something big if Peter didn't send a more specific location and-
The strange hum became louder as she stepped onto polished wooden floors. The first thing she noticed was the hole in the main stairs and the main window of the place that was shattered into pieces. Despite that, the Sanctum was empty. It was never empty.
She was going to ask the Doctor if maybe-
Something flew past the street outside.
When she spell-switched into her robes, she went through the sanctum's double doors and saw Spiderman swing past.
::Where are you, Sabrina?:: Tony's voice came through the communicator in her mask as soon as it fully materialized on her face.
"Bleecker Street. I've got eyes on Peter." She responded, conjuring another portal to bring her closer.
::Good. Give him a hand. Keep the wizard's necklace away from the aliens.:: She could hear slams, grunts and repulsor blasts in the background, but she had to trust that the man could judge if he did or didn't need back up.
She had basically tried to play catch up, trying to get to the web-slinger who was trying to get to the wizard.
The female magic-user only got close enough to use a telekinetic spell to grab hold of her crime fighting partner by the waist when he was snatched up by a blue ray of light that came down from the spacecraft.
"Peter!" She huffed. She could feel the pull of the tractor beam increasing in power.
::I'm getting beamed up!:: He reached down with his free arm, fingers grasping at the empty air as though it would somehow help keep him anchored, ::Nadia!::
"I-I've got you! Tony!" She cried out for help.
::Just a sec, sweetie-:: The man grunted in reply, finishing his own battle.
Nadia yelped when the alien ship fired at her, causing her spell to snap and her to tumble twenty feet to the ground.
Peter called after her again, seeing her fall.
"I'm-" she felt disoriented but, "I'm okay."
Amid the chaos, she glimpsed her father blast to catch up to the ship. It was starting back towards space.
No!
Her arms were shaky as she pushed herself up from the ground. That ship could only be headed for Titan. She would not let her father and her best friend fight without more help. They needed all they could get.
The young woman tried her hand at conjuring a portal while she still had eyes on the alien ship, but she only got some sparks before they sputtered out.
She forced herself to stand, "Peter, are you still on that ship?!"
Two beeps were heard before he replied, ::Mister Stark needs back-up. I need to stay here.:: The beeps meant Tony wouldn't hear. He thought he'd sent Spiderboy packing.
::Sabs, don't you even think of coming up here. I've got it handled.:: The man warned.
"But-" Another beep cut her off.
:: Mister Stark is on a call with the missus.:: Jacks informed.
"Wait. Peter!" She turned her focus back on the young man.
::Mister Stark's right. We've got it handled.:: His voice on the comms was starting to get softer and static-y.
She yelled out angrily, "He doesn't even- No! I should be there, Peter!"
::Nadia… nt wor….. ery…ing's go… alri… I pro-::
::Lost connection. Kid's outta range. Sorry, little lady.:: Jacks was apologetic. That was the first time Nadia ever heard the AI sound genuinely sorry.
"No. He can't-" Nadia fell to her knees, a memory of Thanos slamming Spiderman into brown stone making her breathe hard.
I promise.
"He… I…" He didn't know just how hard it would be to keep this one.
::Nadia, listen to me, alright? Breathe, girl. Breathe.::
She needed to be there. She had to be-
A hand grasped her shoulder.
"Nadia, are you hurt?"
Wong.
She shook her head and swallowed. The familiar voice, even one she hadn't heard for a while, helped anchor her.
"Just- Just a bump." She explained when he touched a shallow gash on her head.
::Try slightly concussed.:: Jacks informed.
"Come. We can tend to it at the Sanctum." The sorcerer opened a portal, and just as he stepped through it, another voice called out.
"Wait! Where are you going?"
Nadia glanced over her shoulder and gaped.
There stood a ruffled looking Bruce Banner.
"Without the sorcerer supreme, the sanctum remains unguarded. I need to keep it safe." Wong explained to the man, "What will you do?"
The good doctor shuffled slightly, "I… I'm gonna make a call."
Nadia stood a few feet away from the portal looking at him… and he looked back. His brow furrowed slightly like he was trying to solve a puzzle. Then he turned to the phone in his hands.
"Will you go with him?" Wong asked from across the circular threshold to the Sanctum, as though sensing her indecision.
"I…" Nadia looked back at Bruce who was stunned that someone had picked up on the other end.
If she went with Wong, she could try to look up some way to get to Peter. She'd promised to watch over him after all.
But… Bruce needed some direction, right? She could return to the Sanctum once he was set. She couldn't just leave him looking so lost.
"Yes."
Wong nodded once, before closing the portal, sparks dissipating.
Bruce was running a hand through his hair again, looking anxious and agitated. "We need to find him, Steve. Tony said you were the only one who could." The man nodded at some words exchanged that Nadia couldn't hear. Then it was done.
He snapped the phone shut, stuffing it in his pocket rubbing his hands on his face.
What was next?
"Uhmmm… Doctor Banner." Nadia stepped forward. She knew it was a little uncharacteristic of her to be so soft-spoken and cautious.
"Oh, hi! Are you…" the man watched the young woman breathe in to steady herself, "You work with Wong and Strange?"
Nadia smiled. The gesture eased both hers and Banner's nerves. "Sort of. I studied under Wong when I was younger." She stepped forward and held out her hand, "Nadia."
"Bruce. But you knew that." They shook hands. "I saw you trying to help out the other hero… You're an… Avenger then?" He ventured.
Nadia shook her head. "I just partner with Tony's protege."
People were starting to trickle out onto the street now that things had calmed down.
"That's- That's perfect! You can help me out." His shoulders sagged in relief, feeling a little less lost.
"Of course. Come on. We should get out of here before there are too many people."
"To the tower?" The doctor turned in the direction of the former Avengers tower.
Nadia chuckled slightly, "Tony sold the building two years ago. There's a new facility upsate."
"Sold?" The words hit Banner a bit hard. It made it real just how long he'd been gone. He watched the young woman swing her arm in a circle, just like Wong and Strange, before a portal opened.
"Yeah. Come on, doctor. I'll get you caught up." She reached out a hand and smiled reassuringly. "I'm sure Rhodey would be ecstatic to see you." The promise of a familiar face was definitely a comforting idea. For both of them.
He followed her through the ring of sparks into a lobby area that had some similarities to the interior of the old Avengers tower. The man paused when he noticed the bit of blood on her temple and the way she clutched at her shoulder. "Maybe I can look over that too."
"You're an Avenger now, kid."
Peter's chest puffed up and he stood straighter. Those had been the words he wanted to hear for a long time. He instinctively looked to his left, grinning. But when he was met with an empty space, his expression faltered slightly.
He always thought Nadia would be right there the moment he finally became an Avenger.
It kind of sucked that she wasn't and that he couldn't just tell her right now, but at least he could tell her face to face when they got back to Earth.
He'd have a cool, badass alien battle to tell her about. They'd be even too because she'd told him how she fought in New York. And now they'd both gone to space!
She'd totally freak.
And she'd be incredibly proud.
He couldn't wait to tell her all about it.
Renny had been numb the whole day. The woman had woken up with a start while the sun was just barely peeking over the horizon. Her chest was heavy. Something felt utterly wrong. Or ominous.
That morning, Bucky had simply been stacking sacks of wood chips and animal feed outside of their shack. She'd walked to him, placing a hand on his shoulder to coax him into taking a break with her so they could talk when T'Challa came with a group of Wakandan warriors.
"Buck…" she squeezed his flesh arm and he looked down at her. Her agitation had stayed for hours. The contact was a balm for her anxiety especially since it had been a while that he allowed her to touch him since their fight.
True. They'd been in almost domestic bliss for over a year. However, the last few months were difficult. Something made Renny jumpy and nervous. She woke up in the middle of the night because of nightmares. Some nights, she couldn't sleep at all. Still, Bucky had always been there to assure her that everything was alright. To comfort her and calm her down from her shakes. She'd always been there for him when he was coming to terms with his time with HYDRA, as the Winter Soldier, and the decades that had passed while he was in and out of cryo.
One of the warriors held a long case. He snapped it open and a vibranium prosthetic arm lay within.
Bucky nodded, resigned, knowing that he was again needed to fight.
T'Challa nodded in return and informed him that Shuri would be in her lab to do some final calibrations. Bucky looked behind him to see that Renny had slunk back into their shared abode.
He took the case gratefully and followed the woman. There she was, hunched and hands grasping at the edge of a table as she gasped.
"It's here. It's- It's time and I- I'm not... not ready."
Bucky hesitated for a moment before he placed the case on a chair near the entrance and carefully stepped up beside the shaking woman. He put his own hand on her shoulder, "Renny… is this the… the war you've been having nightmares about?"
Renny had started talking in her sleep during her nightmares, which had lead to Bucky finally asking the question she always dreaded, "Who's Thanos?"
Fuck it. She couldn't hide this anymore. She'd answered him as best as she could then. That she had spent her life preparing for when he would arrive, making sure that earth would have every possible protector fighting. "It was why I started protecting you and Steve. I-I… I knew about him… becoming Captain America." That he would be twisted into the Winter Soldier. She'd told him three weeks ago.
The admission had lead to more questions, conclusions, tensions, arguments, and a large fight. They were just starting to fix things a few days back but the tension between them had yet to fully resolve.
She'd vowed that as long as she was capable, she wouldn't hide anything from Bucky anymore. All he needed to do was ask. So she did her best so her voice wouldn't shake, "Y-Yes. We're going into the Infinity War."
The fear in her eyes. The trepidation in her body. She radiated nothing but worry and concern about what was going to happen. She started shaking again as she wrapped her arms around herself. "He's coming."
Bucky'd been confused and angry and hurt when he'd first learned about her purpose for becoming a guardian and pushed her away.
How the fuck could someone just stand back and let shit happen? Let people suffer? Die?
But now that he'd had some time to process and from just looking at her state knowing what she had always feared had finally come, he understood somewhat. Maybe her initial goal was to keep everything in place, but she'd come to think of her charges as true friends. People who mattered to her. And it was because they mattered so much to her she had to stand by at times.
There had to be some kind of light at the end of the tunnel. Hence, knowing the path to it, she'd lived her life terrified that anything she did would alter that path and trap them in the dark or lead them to fall into a deep inescapable pit.
No fight or misunderstanding was worth having her sad and feeling alone. Especially now. Not if what she believed was about to happen was coming to pass. He wrapped his arm around her and pulled her to his chest.
"We'll get through this, Sunshine."
She sagged into his hold, the endearment coming from him after weeks of cool acknowledgment breaking the dam. She sobbed hard and held onto him tightly as though he would disappear.
"You've prepared for decades."
A/N: Going into the war now. I somewhat had a plan for this story, but when I was typing it out, it started to take on a life of its own. Not sure where it's going now. I have a couple of chapters down, but I'm going to write a bit more before I start posting to see if the current plot I have written is actually going somewhere that makes sense. Anyway... Thoughts? Suggestions? I'd love to hear/ read from you.