Chapter 2

Tony looked down to the street he had almost met face to face with rather recently, from inside his suit and flying over at high speeds it took up much less of his attention which was a good thing because the trio of chitauri chariots filled with soldiers firing at him took up quite a bit. Even with most of his attention diverted he noticed someone rolling along the ground where he had been earlier, he calculated their trajectory subconsciously and determined that they must have come from the portal as well. As he watched them roll to a stop, they push themselves to their feet immediately and turned to begin fighting. His attention was averted again when his comms crackled to life. His team had arrived, with a quip and an instruction he planned to shake his pursuers and circle around back to the person fighting in the street, whether to help or to put down was undecided, but as they say man plans and God laughs. out of the portal a new fun had just joined the party. Tony watched as what he could only call a giant space whale flew through the portal, and to add fun to fun, thousands of individual chitauri warriors leapt from the beast anytime it neared anything. some lept down to street level and begin pulling rifles and firing on anything that moved. Where was Banner, they could really use a heavy hitter right now? The only thing Tony could do was try to stall it and find a weakness he told the team to let him know when Banner arrived and using himself as bait began leading the Levithan (he had decided Levithan was a much better name) on a route around the city that was large enough to maneuver in but small enough that with any luck would form a perimeter to keep the fighting contained. As he flew and J.A.R.V.I.S. analyzed the enemy for weakness, he caught sight of something dark gray then a flash of purple then an explosion. If it wasn't for the purple it would have been just another explosion in what he admitted was now a war zone. He took a second glance and saw that it was a chariot that had exploded and the person responsible for that explosion was the same one that he had seen fighting on the street. A lighter purple flash drew his attention from the burning chariot and back to the person responsible, he saw what appeared to be a light purple force field protecting a small group of civilians as they ran for a subway entrance just a few steps away. A single chitauri soldier had survived the crash and was now firing on the panicked people but nothing seemed to pass through the purple shield. Before he could see more he was out of range. Speaking to his AI Tony said "J keep track of that friendly." a smooth British voice rang out into the helmet in an unpanicked and unhurried tone amidst explosions and speed of battle said "Yes sir, what shall I call our new friend?"

Tony said, without thinking, the first word that he associated with the half seen person fighting alongside them or at least for the same cause. "Gray" he said. "Ally designated gray, I shall keep an eye on them sir" replied the smooth voice. Switching to the team comms channel he broadcast "we have a friendly fighting with us, if it's gray and purple give it a chance"

There comm became active but nothing was said about their new friend only the sounds of and engine coming closer before the black widow came on saying Banner was back.

With the death of the first Levithan the team found themselves together and back to back. Plans were made, orders issued and everyone separated to their assigned tasks. Hawkeye was the next to glimpse the figure in gray, they appeared as a Levithan rounded the corner of a building riding on it's back, a small crowd of chariots hovered around one side firing a furious barrage at the figure who had formed a purple shield with one hand to protect themselves and was waving furiously at the back of the Levithans head. With each slashing motion of her hand and arm a deep gouge would appear in the armor of the great beast. He watched in fascination as this woman (he could tell she was a woman by her shape and outfit.) threw one last cut into the chasm she had carved through the armor and winced, his hands covering his ears when the Levithan let out a scream that seemed to have no end of volume. It chilled his soul to hear the dying screams of this other worldy monster, and that's all he could do was hear it, as the rider, her mount, and her pursuer had passed out of his field of vision. Without conscious thought, the action being engrained in him through countless repetitions, he keyed his mic and gave a status update to his team. He gave targeting instructions to iron Man, enemy movements to Captain America, and checked the status of the ground team. Before going back to his own fight he updated the team on their Ally "Ally is female wearing dark grey, she's capable, assist when possible." After a brief silence the winded voice of the Captain came on the line and said just two words, they came out as an order, one that would be obeyed "how capable?" Hawkeye nocked an arrow as he replied "I saw her take down a whale while fending off a whole pack of these flying things" a slight hint of awe still in his voice. "She also has some sort of force field that can stop these things" the comms were quiet for a moment before the Captain came back on "acknowledged" was all that was said.

Natasha was the next to see the woman in gray. They didn't stop, they just didn't stop coming. If she was honest with herself she knew they couldn't win, not the way they were going, there were just too many. It's a good thing she was an expert at lying. She literally was a professional liar, and she had taken to using her skills on herself, she told herself that if she did enough she could be a good person. She told herself that if she used the skills she had to help and protect people that the scales may just balance when her time came to be judged. She told herself these things with all the skill she possessed. She repeated this to herself everyday and acted as if she believed it. So she was well versed in self deception when she told herself that if she just kept fighting, kept going, kept trying, then maybe she could save another person. Just one more, just keep fighting, if you stop you die, that's as it should be, but other people could die and she couldn't let that happen as long as she still had fight left. Her guns lay in their holsters at her thighs empty of ammo, she had more, a whole belt full of clips, she just didn't have time to reload. These things were everywhere and persistent, no sooner was one out of the path of her bullet than five more were there to take their place. She had switched to her knives and widow bites a while ago. She knew she was in peak physical condition, even better than really, her enhancements made her stronger, faster, more durable and gave her greatly increased stamina, but even with these advantages and her lifetime of training she was slowing down. She knew. She knew she would die here, that they would lose, had probably already lost. She knew all this and she lied to herself. The call came over the comms about civilians trapped in a bank and she nodded to the Captain as he left to take care of it. She thought it was probably the last time she would ever see him but gave a witty reply about holding down the fort. Clint had joined them on the ground at some point, time really was meaningless in the heat of battle, all that mattered was the enemy currently in front of you if you lost concentration at any time or made any mistake it was going to be your last. She looked over at Clint as they fought side by side again and carried on a casual conversation about old times. It was a method of preventing tunnel vision, old times were safe, they had been through old times together and come out the other side. Partner was the only word that could describe what was between Clint and herself. She had started as his mission. She was to be put down, no ifs ands or buts, but that hadn't happened. When the time came he gave her a choice, she didn't know it at the time but he gave her much more than, he had given her a chance at salvation. She woul find out later that he had risked his own life to give her that choice. She loved Clint. She would never say it, she was famous for saying love is for children, but she did love him with all of her heart. They weren't together, they had been in the past and sometimes still danced around each other, but she would be in his life in whatever capacity she could forever. It felt fitting that they would die together, there was nobody she would rather be with at the end.

She did think it might be the end now. She was exhausted, there was never a second to catch her breath. Clint was amazing in a fight but he was just a man, completely unenhanced. She didn't expect their fight to last much longer. She quietly snickered under her breath as a stray thought hit her 'after they lost she was gonna find Steve on the other side and see if they could split the number of people rescued in the bank, he was a nice guy he would probably give her half, it's not like he needs the weight in his scale.'

With the Captain gone she and Clint were slowly losing ground, as the number of chitauri surged and posed to crush them, Natasha prepared to say her final farewells to her love when a calm covered them. It wasn't just her, Clint also looked around in confusion and desperation, but all was calm, the noise of the battle still screamed in their ears and she didn't think she would ever not smell burning chitauri, but nothing else. The moment stretched on. She took a deep breath determined to keep going by her lies. she drew both guns and slammed fresh clips into them. She heard Clint doing the same. Looking around she noticed that everything had a slightly purple tint, the word purple connected with the words gray and Ally in her mind when she saw the source of her moments reprieve. Standing a few yards away the source of the purple tint, that was currently under a hail of chitauri fire, pointed one arm towards them palm facing them, the other slightly behind and away from herself glowed with a darker purple light mixed with black veins pulsing through. The light around her lowered hand seemed to concentrate becoming darker, more menacing looking. Without warning the gray woman threw what had to be the world's worse punch. her arm completely straight she swung from right to left all the way across her body. What Natasha didn't expect was the wall of purple flames that spread in a sweeping arc away from the woman. The purple and black fire seemed to tear as much as burn, rending thousands of chitauri soldiers limb from limb before consuming them fully. Natasha thought she must be tired as she began seeing shapes in the flames, thing that couldn't be there, beast and dragons. She watched as shapes in the flames consumed all they touched, nightmares from beyond human imagination roared in unrestrained fury as a wave of heat nearly blasted her off her feet. Slowly at first the fire seemed to lose its hate, it seemed to be shrinking, no, it was being withdrawn, being sucked back into the woman. Where before there was enemy and fire, now, after the flames had been recalled, they was only ash. Nothing stood where the chitauri army once surrounded them. Just them, her and Clint and the woman in gray, in the calm following such carnage Natasha noticed the purple tint was gone and the woman swaying slightly. When their Ally that had protected them dropped to one knee Natasha moved. She was on her way to her side before the woman's knee had even touched the ground. Before she could join her protector the chitauri returned, not in as many numbers, but more than enough to stop her from reaching the woman in gray. Lightening crackled and arched from body to body of chitauri warriors and again there was a lull in the fighting, and she looked but there was nobody in gray where she once stood. There's still too many. The captains back now, it's time for a new plan.

small, small, small, more I need more. Small, small, BIG. With a roar to shame all creatures the hulk lept to his new target, bashing down with both fists he was enraged when it didn't die. Reaching down he grabbed the edge of the crack he had just opened with his fists and lifted, the piece didn't come free easily it was more of a ripping and tearing away than a lifting away. The hard piece finally ripped free in a somewhat pointed triangle shape, which the hulk firmly stabbed right back into the creature. It roared in pain but still didn't die. Small, smalls all over him. He turned from the jagged metal stuck into BIG to crush the smalls that crawled over and around him and BIG. As the Levithan crashed through the building and ground, the hulk saw something. It's not that he saw something that was unusual what was unusual was what he saw made him pause this was something he knew, this person he had fought before but now they both fight together hulk would not smash this one, but it did fight so one punch would be ok.

Small, small, small. To many small. In front in back. It stings, not like before, the other stings there were just as many but they didn't burn too. They keep stinging. Arms legs back front face eyes, cover eyes. To many stings. No stings on that side. The hulk turns to the side away from the legion of chitauri chariots raining a continuous stream of fire on him. Almost hidden in the shadows of his towering bulk was a small gray person, streaming from her outstretched hand a purple light extended to shield a 90° angle that seemed to absorb the chitauri fire. The stings against the hulks back didn't bother him much he was a big guy and could take the damage easily, so after he had turned and no direct fire was pelting his face and eyes he looked and found a small. This wasn't like the other Smalls this one wasn't hurting him and it seemed to be stopping him from being hurt at least on that side. Gray and purple, another pause, not like before, but kinda. He had never fought this one, but she seemed to be fighting smalls, again the same as him. A feeling in his head, not his own, the other guy, small, but the feeling is a good one about gray and purple. Hulk won't smash this small. Through the purple field the hulk jumped aiming for the smalls that sting. Now it's hulk turn.

Steve ran with every ounce of strength in his body he had to be faster. Sliding slightly as he turned into the bank he charged in, guns blazing and shield held high. He had planned this on the sprint here. They have superior numbers everywhere, his best chance to rescue these people was a surprise attack. Usually when he planned a surprise attack he liked to set things up a little differently. Like scouting the battlefield before hand and coordinating with his team to establish fields of fire and evac routes. Running into an enclosed space, with non combatants, an unknown number of enemys, with unknown weapons, limited ammo, and no backup. Not his best plan but times a luxury right now and people's lives depend on him. It's the best he can hope for really, enemy and civilians separated on different floors, at least he won't have to worry about holding back.

Outside of the bank Captain America slowly extracts himself from the wreckage of the car he had just been on, not in but on. As he regained his feet a wave of exhaustion swept over him and he leaned against the remains of the car and looked to the sky. It should have been the same, the same sky he was use to. There sky was a constant for him in an ever changing world, and this sky should be the most familiar. This was his home, at least geographic speaking, it was where he grew up. It was even the same sky during the war, it didn't matter where he was, he could always look up and the sky was there. Oh it was always changing, overcast, sunny, raining, day, night, stars, no stars. Yes it changed, but it was always there, timeless and eternal. Or so he thought, just now when he looked up to the sky he didn't see it, all he saw were enemies and a dark hole that seemed to breath death into the world and in concentration into his home. There was no stopping them, there were too many. There outside of the bank in the middle of the street Captain America quit. His head hung, the sounds and smells of battle familiar to him, it felt as if he'd spent his whole life fighting. He fought himself first, his own frail body his worse enemy, but he fought, he would have lost that fight eventually but he didn't. Fighting to fight was kinda funny in a way, he visited every recruiter he could get to, more than once, he would track down and talk to anyone that anyone said could help him enlist. Even after he was a soldier, a super soldier even, he still had to fight to fight. They had wanted a mascot, an inspiration to a country in the grips of war. But that wasn't why he joined. In the end he had had to disobey orders, and steal government property, but he got to fight. Fighting was something he was good at, he could see the battle in his mind and his troops and assets. He could plan the best strategy for missions effortlessly. He knew his team, their abilities, their resources, and their enemy. this time there was no plan for victory. There wasn't even a plan for survival. He would die today fighting, always fighting. What was the point now? They were outnumbered a thousand to one? A million? Did it even matter? No, no it didn't matter anymore, not with a nuclear missile bearing down on his home. He had seen the video of how the war ended and he was horrified at the carnage, even against an enemy there were lines you don't cross. But America has crossed them more than once, and now they proved they were still willing to cross it again. And the Captain quit. He followed the progress of a group of chitauri chariots as they flew closer, the line of fire coming down the street in spectacular fashion as cars, buses, even asphalt itself exploded into the air proceeding the group of flying chariots. People that had been evacuating the bank behind him began running in a more panicked pace, some back into the bank, some towards the nearby subway entrance. the Captain stood and watched, he made no move to bring his shield to bear. He he stood exhausted in mind, body, and spirit, he watched as death came for them all.

He didn't see where it had come from but the air behind was filled with steaks of purple, hundreds of purple balls of light sought out chitauri soldiers, and chariots fell from the sky by the dozens as a gray streak flashed overhead and out of sight in pursuit of more enemies. The nearest car lay on it's roof and burned, it took him a moment to realize that it was the same car he had been on and leaning on just moments before. Had he really been that close? He had almost died, no that's not right, he had almost let himself be killed. He had done nothing to stop it. What was the point of having the greatest shield ever made? With that sobering thought something inside him broke apart and fell away. Yes he was gonna die today. that was where every plan and strategy ended, but damned if he wasn't gonna make them earn it the hard way. He lifted this shield in front of his chest and chinched the leather strap tighter. Under his breath he repeated the mantra that had never failed him, whether it was said as a phrase to help with is breathing in his childhood, in alleys bleeding as he stood once again, or in the dead of winter when supplies are low so is moral and the only thing in abundance is enemies "I can do this all day" he whispered.

He spotted a police cruiser and several officers helping the bank evacuation and went over to coordinate the efforts of local law enforcement and his team, after a brief interruption the officers agreed to set up a containment perimeter. With one last longing look to the sky Captain America rejoined the fight with no one the wiser that he had lost faith.

It was hard not to get lost in the thrill of battle, and what a battle it was. The chitauri were not powerful beings, each being slightly larger and stronger than midguardians, no what made them worthy foes was their numbers and coordination. It didn't help that they were technologically superior to midguardians meaning that most of Earth's weapons and soldiers were all but useless. Only a handful of midguardians would be more than a hindrance in this fight. The team he was with being the exception. The team was made up of only exceptional people, each one dangerous and intelligent on their own but as a team it was one that he was proud to count himself among. And they were a team now, if only they had realized sooner, this wanton destruction may have been avoided. It has taken the death of one they had all called friend and respected in their own ways, for their own reasons, to become united in a common goal. The son of Coul was a good man who had cared about the people he protected, it was a rare and special thing to find such a protector, and a great tragedy when one is lost. He feared it may be too late, if the portal had been prevented from opening then victory would not bear such cost. He had not planned on a fight of this magnitude when he had come to retrieve his brother. he wished merely to reunite his family with one thought to be lost forever. What had his pride and arrogance of youth wrot? when would he be finished paying the cost? He laid the blame for all that transpired around him and his own feet. The glory of the battles he had not shared as he should, the spoils of victory unevenly weighted. Why had he never embraced his brother in front of the cheering crowds. Why had stories of his conquest both on and off the field of battle drown out his brothers? Even in the retelling Thor's voice could often be heard to cover his brothers words. And now this, this cry for help and attention and validation. This was all his fault, if he had been a better brother, a better man then his brother world be at his side where he belonged instead of against him.

Thor heard they did not fight alone and had seen a gray figure several times around the battle. He had seen that she was female and rather small, he had not had more than a passing glance so it was difficult to say as most midguardians were small to him. The first time he was able to see more than a mere glimpse he had descended from the tops of the buildings where he was casting lightening down to any chitauri in his sight, to the street levels as he saw the black widow and Hawkeye becoming overwhelmed. Before he'd reached them a great flame rushed forth consuming all who stood before them. When the purple flames receded he saw only three remained standing Hawkeye, the black widow, and the lady in gray. They wouldn't remain alone for long. Already chitauri soldiers were surrounding the three. When the gray clad maiden wavered then dropped to one knee he took action. Thor swung his legendary hammer downwards and released lightening that jumped from body to body as it coursed through the enemy ranks. Landing between lady Natasha and the lady in gray he saw that she was already regaining her footing. When she had stood to her full height he was able to tell that she was small, she appeared to be smaller than his love Jane who was not gifted with great height herself. She also just seemed smaller, tiny, he could easily imaging her as a child. She fought well though, he wasn't sure he would trade one of the warriors three or Sif for her, but he would definitely fight at her side.

She took a moment to look around, amid all of the burning and bleeding bodies of chitauri soldiers and their ashes she stood tall. With only a nod of her head to Thor she glanced into the sky in front of her the made a jump that would be impossible for any midguardian, fifteen feet straight into the air where she caught hold of a passing chitauri chariot. In the distance he saw a shadow leap from the chariot to another moments before the first exploded.

She watched as the red and gold metal suit streaked through the middle of the battlefield. it seemed to be carrying a missile of some kind. She followed it's progress towards the building that was the source of the portal in the sky and quietly cheered when it cleared the building flying straight up into the portal. She wasn't far, having ridden a string of exploding chariots in that direction. She watched as every chitauri that had come through the portal suddenly froze, no matter where they were or what they were doing, and dropped. Like broken toys scattered on the floor, the first intergalactic war that Earth participated in was over. With no enemy to fight she did the only thing left, she followed the metal suit into the portal.

The darkness was familiar to her, too bright, far far too bright, but familiar. so was the silence, it took a great force of will not to succumb to the memories the silence carried. her eyes locked on to the red and gold suit floating in the distance. It hung in empty space cold and dark, she could feel the life inside the suit fading. Propelling herself further from the light and warmth of the world she had only known for a short time. reaching the metal suit she gripped it by the arm and turned dragging the suit behind her. She experienced a moment of shear terror when she didn't immediately see the light from the portal. She relaxed minutely when she spotted the small circle of white light, from this side the portal looked like the entrance to the promise land just as much as it looked like the gates to hell from the other side. But was it that far? Had they drifted in the abyss so far as to make salvation such a dim hope? These thoughts ceased as the light continued to dim despite willing herself and her cargo to the portal at an increasing rate of speed. Power arched from her in purple flashes of light, the purple only lighter than the blackness surrounding them by the smallest of degrees, as she slammed into the place where the portal had been the moment before. The portal had closed, the barrier between worlds was in place once more, but it was weak still. Maybe just maybe if she pushed, poured everything she had into it, it had happened before.

Natasha gripped Loki's scepter, she doubted they would be able to pry it from her hands even in her final judgement. she knew the weight in her hands she would carry onto the scales. She stared into the clear blue sky, from up here she could have looked down upon the clouds like a goddess of old, but she knew what she would see if she looked down, just death and destruction, it was the same thing above her. She had just killed two people. Two people that had fought by her side, who had saved her life. She knew the bonds forged in the heat of battle could be strong and fast, she couldn't even lie to herself and deny they were her friends. Just like she couldn't lie about killing them, sure she could say she was following the Captains orders, or that they would have wanted it closed to keep everyone safe, they would have gladly made the sacrifice. But she knew, and this she would not lie about, not even to herself. So she stared into the clear blue sky of death and destruction holding the weight she knew she would carry forevermore.

A flash of purple light was all the warning she got before the world shook under the crack of thunder that preceded a web of purple lightening that seemed to stretch from one horizon to the other. bathing the whole world in a purple tint. As lightening danced across the sky in a light show never seen on Earth before, Natasha's eyes never strayed from the exact center. She doubted everything her eyes saw when a figure emerged from where the portal center previously hung high above even the tallest building. When that figure was attached to a familiar red and gold figure she feared to hope. The figures were falling, the gray one was alive and awake, she had turned in the air and now held the arm of the iron man sit with both hands. They were still falling fast but not straight down. the gray woman was trying to transition from falling to flying but the dead weight of Tony's suit, and their speed were against her. Natasha watched as the pair fell past her and away from the building. she watched as they got further away. She saw the gray one drop iron Man, he didn't fall far before skidding a long ways down the road. She saw the gray one fall very quickly after. She didn't slide down the road protected by a metal suit, no when she fell she rolled and bounced down the street.

She would have gone father but her rolling was stopped this time. Concrete buildings are not a good way to stop. She lay at the base of a building it was strangely quiet. That's probably what motivated her to move, rolling away from the building she forced her body to move. She made it to her hands and knees when a sharp pain made itself known in her rib cage. She winced in pain drawing a breath between her clinched teeth. The quick breath caused her coughing exhale, along with breath the red of her blood stood in stark contrast with the dust covered pavement. After a few moments coughing she placed one hand tightly to the ribs that were obviously broken, holding her side with one hand she pushed herself to her knees using the building as support. She had one foot under her and was preparing to stand when a strong arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her to her feet and supporting her weight easily she looked up into the face of the green man she had fought alongside earlier. She had watched this man kill a Levithan single handed with nothing but the strength of his muscles. He was surprisingly gentle when he scooped her up and cradled her in one arm.

Back with the team Tony was on the ground talking a mile a minute. But it was only his mouth moving, he didn't even know what he was talking about. His mind was racing, he remembered all the calculations. It was a one way trip, he should be dead. He had made his peace with that. He didn't get a chance to say goodbye. But he hoped his actions told the few he cared about how he felt about them. Here he was now laying in the middle of the street alive. How? As he rambled on, something about Shawarma, he saw the hulk join them. He knew when it was time for hero stuff Bruce would be there with them, even if it was in green form. "Whatcha got there big guy" he quipped, talking to the large green rage monster just like he would his friend Bruce was a calculated move. If he made one friend like this maybe he could make another.

The hulk grunted and lowered his arm to show the gray woman almost sitting curled up in the palm of hulks massive hand her back and head resting on the hulks arm. The woman lifted one hand and waved a little awkwardly. Tony noticed her other hand held tightly to her ribs. "Hey gray how are ya today" Tony greeted.

The blackness under the hood the woman wore was complete, it seemed that the deeper Tony looked the darker it became, time stretched on as Tony started into that abyss. After what felt like hours of being studied by this faceless being she moved, the hand she had waved with resumed it's former position but this time palm facing down, the hand tilted from side to side a few times in the universal "so-so" gesture. Tony nodded as best he could in his deactivated suit saying "yeah it's been one of those days". This seemed to set everyone off, amid the gales of laughter Natasha's voice came over the comms, "the days not over yet" was all she said. The group quieted quickly realizing that the cause of all this was at the top of the building directly in front of them. She rode with the hulk as he jumped and climbed from building to building using only one hand and being extra gentle in his landings. They joined the rest of the team and confronted the would be king.