Chapter Five
"Everyone know the plan?" Steve says over coms.
"Distract Loki by any means to give Stark time to disable the machine harnessing the Tesseract," Nel responded.
"Maybe not by any means. I really don't want to be in the middle of a domestic dispute," Tony's voice responded.
"Hilarious Stark. Can you focus on not dropping me?" Nel responded giving him a stern look as her hair whipped around her face.
"We need to focus here. We need to defend the people of New York and try to avoid having an alien army attack earth," Steve said sternly through coms.
"Sorry," Nel mumbled as heat reached her cheeks.
"It is alright," Steve responds to her softly.
"Look, we need to disable the machine before they open the portal," Nat's voice came.
"Stark, you and Nel will get there before us. Try not to do anything to make Loki even more mad," Barton's voice came.
"No promises," Tony responded.
"Nel," Steve's voice came quietly.
"I know. I will see you after," she responded with a small smile.
"Di qualunque cosa siano fatte le nostre anime," he started.
"Tuo e mio sono la stessa cosa," she finished trying not to smile.
"What does that mean?" Tony asked.
"It translates to 'Whatever our souls are made of, you and I are the same'. It is from Wuthering Heights. Though I am not sure that quote was meant to be romantic," Nat responded.
"We can discuss this later. We are almost to New York," Tony said. "Hold on Princess Cap."
"Please don't call me that," Nel mumbled. "Let me down at the base of the tower. I need to come up the elevator. He needs to think I am not there."
"JARVIS make sure she can get up the elevator," Tony says quickly as the descend towards the ground.
"Yes, sir," the AI responded.
"I'll go up and try to distract him," he says quickly as he lands on the ground.
"Don't make him mad," she called after him as he flew upwards. She quickly ran into the building and to the elevator, ignoring the strange looks from people as she passed them. She hit the button Stark had told to press.
"Hello Miss Lithoniel," JARVIS' voice came.
"What is going on up there?" She asked as the elevator rose.
"Mr. Stark is attempting to threaten Loki," it responded.
"He is what?" she half yelled. "Stark do not antagonize him!" she shouted in calms.
"I got this," Tony's voice mumbled.
"Miss," JARVIS came.
"What's wrong?" she asked pulling her dagger from her belt.
"Loki has thrown Mr. Stark from the building," the AI said calmly.
"Stark!" she shouted in her coms.
"A suit has been deployed to assist him," the AI informs me.
"You could have started with that fact," she mumbles.
"Apologies. We are on the floor Ma'am," the AI responds as the doors open.
The moment the doors opened, Nel saw Tony blast Loki backwards and a blue light flew upwards in the sky, opening the portal.
"Right Army," Tony's voice came.
"Tony, try and close the portal or stop as many as you can. I have Loki," Nel whispers through coms.
"You have me?" Loki laughs.
"Loki stop this. This is not you. What have you been promised to make you hurt so many innocents? What would you mother say if she saw you?" she asked walking towards him slowly.
"My darling, you seem to forget," he smirks, and the illusion temporarily flickers. Before she can react, there is a sharp pain in her neck, and she sinks to her knees. "I am the God of Mischief and Lies. I have you little one," he smirks throwing the syringe to the side. "Don't worry, it isn't a sedative. It is a small dose of paralyzing agent. That way you can watch as I destroy your precious Captain and his friends. It should only take away your ability to fully fight back. Because after all where is the fun in fully taking away the fire within you?"
He quickly moved her so that she was sitting up against the couch.
"There, now you have a view of what I am doing for you. For us," he mumbles against her head as he plants a small kiss there.
"This…is…not…for…us," she gets out slowly. "There…is…no…us."
"That is where you are wrong. There will always be an us, as long as I live. Now I must go lead my army," he says before planting a kiss on her lips and walking outside.
"Stark we are heading north-east," Nat's voice comes over coms.
"What did you do stop for drive thru? Swing up Park I will lay them out," Stark responded.
"Nel, check in," Steve's voice comes, worry laced in it. She tries to respond but she feels too weak. "Nel?" his voice comes again. She keeps trying to respond but her lips feel like lead. "Lithoniel. Respond doll," he says frantically.
"Down…Paralytic…Stark Tower…Thor…fighting," she manages to get out after a moment.
"Nat drop me off at the tower," Steve says quickly.
"No…he didn't inject enough…I can…fight through…it. I…will be ok…soon. Defend….the city," she tells him.
"Nel," his voice comes warmly.
"I will…be ok," she responds. "I will…meet you soon."
"Promise?" he asked.
"Always…go be Captain America," she smirked as she slowly felt her limbs waking up. "I have a god to beat up."
After a few moments, she regained feeling in her limbs and slowly rose to her feet and began to move towards the outside. As she reached the doorway she watched as Loki fired his scepter at the quinjet.
"NO!" she shouted as she ran outside.
"I hope they are dead," Loki sneered before Thor attacked him again.
"Are you all alright?" Nel asked quickly over coms.
"We are ok. We are trying to find a way back up to you," Nat's voice came quickly.
Their conversation ended quickly as her attention was drawn to a loud noise coming from above her. She stood there in shock as a large armored creature came through the portal and descended the tower and onto the streets of New York. She could vaguely hear the conversation on coms as her attention went back to Loki and Thor.
"Look at this!" Thor bellowed at Loki, as he held him against part of the tower so that he can see the chaos he has caused. "Look around you! You think this madness will end with your rule?" Loki fought against him and tried to turn away. Nel thought she could see a look of regret on his face, but she did not trust it.
"It's too late. It's too late to stop it," Loki said looking over at Thor.
"No. We can. Together," Thor said as he loosened his grip. Nel saw the blade but before she could cry out, Loki stabbed Thor in the abdomen. Thor dropped Mjöllnir and fell to his knee.
"No," Nel breathed as she ran towards him.
"Sentiment," Loki sneered before Thor attacked him again. As she reached them, Loki rolled off the tower and onto the back of one of the Chitauri's chariots.
"Loki is airborne. He is on the back of a chariot," Nel said into her coms before turning her attention to her brother. "Are you alright?"
"I am fine sister," he said as he pulled the small blade from his abdomen.
"Let me be the judge of that please," she said as she looked at his wound.
"I am alright. Let us get down to the rest of the group," he said as he extended his arm out to her. She quietly stepped into his arm and wrapped her arms around his waist. He tightened his grasp around her waist as he summoned his hammer.
Within moments they were in the air. As he flew, Nel kept a lookout for the rest of their party.
"There they are," Nel shouted so Thor could hear her. "They are being surrounded by Chitauri!"
"I will deal with them," Thor responded as lighting twirled around them before attacking the Chitauri. As they landed, Thor collapsed slightly against Nel.
"I really wish you would let me look at that wound. It is deep and may be bleeding more than you think," she said as she tried to pick him up.
"Later sister," he said as he stood to his height and walked towards the others.
"What is the story upstairs?" Cap asked as his eyes scanned Nel for any obvious injuries.
"The power surrounding the cube is impenetrable," Thor said crossing to Cap.
"Thor is right. We gotta deal with these guys," Tony's voice came over coms as more Chitauri flew overhead.
"How do we do this?" Nat asked looking at them
"As a team," Cap answered as he stepped next to Nel. "Are you alright?" he whispered in her ear quietly. She nodded and gave him a small smile.
"I have unfinished business with Loki," Thor grimaced.
"Yeah, get in line," Barton quipped looking at him.
"Save it. Loki's gonna keep this fight focused on us and that's what we need. Without him these things could run wild," Cap started as he walked away from the tower. Nel followed closely next to him. "We have Stark up top, he is going to need us."
The sound of a motorcycle cut off his speech and Banner came into view on it. They all moved quickly over to him.
"So this all seems horrible," he joked as they reached him.
"I've seen worse," Nat answered as she looked at him.
"Sorry," Banner responded to her.
"No. We could use a little worse," she responded to him.
"Stark," Cap called over coms. "We got him."
"Banner?" Tony's voice came.
"Just like you said," Cap answered.
"Tell him to suit up. I'm brining the party to you," Tony's voice came right before he came into view, followed closely by the large Chitauri creature.
Thor groaned and twisted his hammer. Nel let out a small gasp and Cap tensed as her side, pulling his shield closer and stepping closer to her.
"I…I don't see how that's a party," Nat stammered.
They all watched as the creature followed Tony towards them, none of them moving.
"Dr. Banner. Now might be a really good time to get angry," Cap said not moving from his spot. Banner turns to look at him.
"That's my secret, Captain. I'm always angry," Banner responded before he turns around and transforms into the Hulk. He punches the creature in the nose and the rises into the air.
It is about to crash into them before Stark fires a rocket from his suit. As the rocket explodes, Steve pulls Nel down behind his shield with him as Nat and Barton take cover by a nearby car. As it falls to the ground defeated, the Chitauri on the nearby buildings begin to scream. They all move into a circle and look around. Nat reloads her gun as Nel pulls out her dagger and extends it to a sword as Tony lands.
"Guys," Nat's voice came, and everyone turned and looked at the portal. Thousands more are flying out of the portal and even more of those creatures.
"Call it, Cap," Tony says breaking the silence.
"Alright, listen up," Cap says turning to face them. "Until we can close that portal up there, we're gonna use containment. Barton, I want you on that roof, eyes on everything," he said pointing to the roof on Nel's left. "Call out patterns and strays. Stark, you got the perimeter. Anything gets more than three blocks out, your turn it back or you turn it to ash."
"Wanna give me a lift?" Barton asks as he looks at Tony.
"Right. Better clench up, Legolas," Tony says as he crosses to him and takes off with him.
"Thor," Cap continues. "You've gotta try and bottleneck that portal. Slow them down. You've got lightening. Light the bastards up." Thor gives him a nod and a brief look to Nel before flying off. "The three of us, we stay here on the ground and keep fighting. Nel, he will try for you. It might draw him here and give us a shot to distract him," he says as he places a hand on her arm. "And Hulk," he begins turning to Banner. "Smash." With that the Hulk launches himself into the air and starts fighting.
"Are you sure you are alright?" Steve asks catching Nel's arm.
"I am fine. I promise," she responds, placing her hand on his face.
"Incoming," Nat yells, breaking them of their moment.
With one final look at each other they break apart and start fighting. No one knows how long they were fighting but the battle seemed endless. The enemy never let up and the incoming never slowed down.
"Captain," Nat started as she took a few breathes sitting against a car. "None of this is gonna mean a damn thing if we don't close that portal."
"Our biggest gun couldn't touch it," Cap responded as he looked at the portal.
"Well, maybe it's not about guns," Nat responded as she looked at the portal.
"You wanna get up there, you're gonna need a ride," he said as he watched more Chitauri land down the road from them.
"I got a ride," she responds as she pushes off the car and looks at the chariots flying past. "I could use a lift though."
"Are you sure about this?" he asks as he preps himself and his shield for her to jump off of.
"Yeah. It's gonna be fun," she answers before running forward and pushing off the car and onto his shield. He pushed up as she landed and threw her into the air and onto the back of one of the chariots.
"Be careful Nat. We don't know where Loki is," Nel said over coms.
"Don't worry about me. You can't get rid of me that easily," Nat's voice came over coms.
Nel's smile at Nat's response was short lived as the Chitauri started to surround her and Steve, firing their weapons at them. Steve jumped in front of her and blocked a blast before throwing his shield. They were completely surrounded when Tony arrived blasting Chitauri down and using Cap's shield to blast his beams off of before taking back to the sky
"Captain, the bank on 42nd past Madison. They caught a lot of civilians there," Barton's voice came.
"I'm on it," Cap responded after knocking out a Chitauri. He glanced over at Nel who was fighting a group of Chitauri.
"Go Cap!" she yelled. "I can handle them. I will catch up." He went to move towards her, but she yelled at him again. "Those people need you to fight for them Captain. I technically out rank you. Now move!"
He shot her one more look before turning and running towards the bank. Nel made quick work of the alien soldiers and ran off in the direction he ran.
"Captain was right. Loki is coming towards you Nel," Barton's voice came.
"I don't see him," she responded looking around.
"He is coming on your left," he answered.
"I still don't," she started but was grabbed off the ground and pulled into a chariot.
"Loki has Nel," Barton said quickly.
"Where?" Tony's voice came. Nel tuned out the response and focused on Loki.
"What are you going to do Loki?" she asked calmly.
"You know exactly what I am going to do," he sneered in response.
"That isn't what I meant," she added calmly.
"Then what did you mean, my pet?" he growled. Nel could hear Steve panicking in her ear but she needed to focus.
"Are you really going to keep your future queen out here in the open where she can be taken out at any moment?" she asked as she placed a hand on his cheek. "I am far too exposed in the back of this chariot. Easy prey for a Midgardian to pick off."
"O my darling, you have never been easy," he sneered in response as he grabbed her wrist.
"Hawkeye!" Nat's voice came.
"Nat, what are you doing?" Barton asked.
"Uh…a little help!" she yelled and Nel could see that she was in front of them.
"I've got him, but it will risk Nel getting hurt," he responded.
"Barton do not take that shot!" Steve yelled.
"Do it," Nel said into her coms while starring at Loki.
As Loki releases her to catch the arrow, Nel jumps from the back of the chariot onto the landing platform of Stark Tower as the arrow blows up and throws Loki onto the Tower Floor as well. Loki looks over at her, anger flashing through his features and he moves towards her. The Hulk flies up and throws him through the glass window and against the wall before Loki could take a step.
"Nel, check in," Barton's voice called over coms.
"I'm ok. Pretty sure Loki won't be once the Hulk finishes with him though," she sighs as she lays back on the ground.
"Nel!" Nat's voice came from above her. Nel looked up at her before she continued. "We need Loki's scepter!" Nel nodded at her and stood quickly, grabbing the scepter, and heading towards Nat.
"Will this close the portal?" Nel asked as she reached Nat.
"Hopefully," she responded as she takes the scepter.
"Right at the crown," a man said to Nat. Nat moved forward and the scepter breaks the force field, allowing Nat to almost touch the Tesseract.
"I can close it!" she yells over coms. "Can anybody hear me? I can shut the portal down!"
"Do it!" Cap's voice comes in response.
"No, wait!" Tony says quickly.
"Stark, this these things are still coming!" Cap argues back.
"I got a nuke coming in. It's gonna blow in less than a minute. And I know just where to put it," Tony reasons and everyone falls silent.
"Stark, you know that's a one-way trip?" Steve says softly as they all watch Tony take the nuke through the portal.
Nel and Nat stand there frozen, watching the portal.
"Come on, Stark," Nat mumbled as she shifted her weight on her feet.
Nel can see the explosion of the nuke heading towards the portal when Steve's voice comes over the coms, "Close it." Nat doesn't hesitate. She pushed the scepter forward and interrupted the power flowing towards the cube.
They watch as the portal closed before noting a small figure falling.
"He isn't slowing down," Nel said to Nat as they watch Tony fall. They both watch until the Hulk caught Tony and they fall to the ground. They both let out a breath and glance at each other with a small smile.
It doesn't take long for the others to join Nat and her in the tower. They all watch as Loki crawled onto the stairs and turned to face them. Barton has his arrow aimed at him while the others stand around him, armed and angry.
"If it's all the same to you. I'll have that drink now," Loki joked, causing the Hulk to snort.
Once Loki is in custody and they have all finished what they needed to do, Steve pulled Nel into his arms and held her gently.
"It's over," he murmured into her hair.
"I fear this may only be the beginning," she sighed into his chest.
"The beginning of what?" he asked looking down at her softly.
"Only time will tell," she answered as she places a hand on his face.
"So Miss Goddess," Tony started as he reappeared. "Since you were a princess and all, did you have a crown?"
"No. I did not wear a crown Tony," she sighed, knowing where this was going.
"Come now sister, do not be modest" Thor smirked at her before turning to face Tony. "She had many crowns."
"I knew it!" Tony laughed. "Show us one."
"No," Nel responded moving away from him.
"I will just keep bugging you until you show me," he said as he followed her.
"Tony," Steve warned from where he was standing.
"I can show you," Thor said holding up his hammer.
"Thor don't you dare," Nel warned glaring at him.
"It won't hurt. I have done it before," he said looking at her.
"No," she warned again.
"What won't hurt? Now I want to know," Tony said as his moved his gaze between the two of them.
"Fine," she said caving. "But only this once. You will never see this again."
Thor smirked as her before hitting her with some lightning. As the lighting faded, Nel stood before them in her normal clothes. A light blue floor length dress with slitted sleeves that connected at her wrists. Her hair was partially up in an intricate braid and a circlet of stars and jewels wrapped around her head.
"Beautiful as always sister," Thor smiled at her. Everyone else stared at her speechless. Nel looked over at Steve and his eyes met hers. He didn't need to say anything, she knew by the look on his face. He walked over to where she was and pulled her close to him.
"You are absolutely gorgeous," he murmured as he placed his hands on the sides of her face.
"Don't get used to this look Captain," she smirked.
"You don't need this to look absolutely gorgeous. You already are," he smirked before leaning down and placing a kiss on her lips.
It was the perfect way to end their day.