Chapter VIII:
The Battle of New York
Part II
The cacophony of battle surrounded Daisy Johnson as she navigated the debris-strewn streets of New York. Her arms ached from the constant use of her powers, sending shockwaves through hordes of Chitauri soldiers. But there was no time to rest, not with the fate of the city – and possibly the world – hanging in the balance.
A familiar roar of engines drew her attention skyward. Daisy's breath caught in her throat as she saw the sleek, gleaming form of Iron Man streak across the sky. Even in this chaotic moment, a part of her couldn't help but geek out a little.
Tony freaking Stark she thought, a giddy thrill running through her despite the dire circumstances. If only my younger self could see me now.
Memories flashed through her mind – standing outside Stark Tower with a homemade sign, hoping for just a glimpse of her hero. She'd been so young then, so naive. The irony wasn't lost on her that she was now fighting alongside the very heroes she'd once idolized from afar.
Her musings were cut short by a deafening crash. Daisy whirled to see Thor and Ghost Rider – Robbie – tag-teaming a Leviathan. The sight was both awe-inspiring and slightly terrifying. Lightning arced from Mjolnir, while hellfire chains wrapped around the massive alien beast. The unlikely duo worked in perfect sync, as if they'd been fighting together for years instead of minutes.
"Holy shit," Daisy muttered, unable to tear her eyes away from the spectacle.
A repulsor blast sizzled past her ear, taking out a Chitauri soldier she hadn't even noticed approaching. Iron Man landed beside her with a metallic thud, his armor gleaming despite the obvious signs of recent damage.
"You might want to pay attention to your surroundings, Tremors," Tony Stark's voice came through the suit's speakers, a hint of amusement in his tone. "Cool powers, by the way. You new in town?"
Daisy blinked, momentarily starstruck despite herself. This wasn't the suit she remembered from her time. Instead, it looked like a prototype – bulkier, with visible joints and a less refined appearance. Right she remembered. Thor trashed his original armor. No Cap to play peacemaker this time around.
"Uh, yeah," she managed, shaking off her surprise. "Quake. I'm here to help."
Tony's faceplate lifted, revealing a raised eyebrow and a scrutinizing gaze. "Quake, huh? Catchy. Well, Tremors, if you're looking to help, I've got a job for you."
Before he could elaborate, a familiar and chilling voice cut through the chaos. "Stand down, Stark! That scepter belongs to SHIELD!"
Daisy's blood ran cold as she turned to see Captain Hydra striding towards them, his warped shield gleaming menacingly. Beside him, a man she recognized as the future Crossbones – still unscarred, but no less dangerous – raised a weapon in their direction.
Tony's faceplate snapped shut. "Cap's gone rogue," he said, his voice tight. "SHIELD's compromised. We can't let them get Loki's scepter."
Daisy nodded, pushing aside the surreal nature of the situation. "What do you need me to do?"
"Natasha's close to securing the scepter," Tony explained quickly. "I need you to clear a path to the extraction point. Think you can shake things up a bit?"
A grim smile spread across Daisy's face. "Shaking things up is what I do best."
With a nod, Iron Man took to the skies once more, laying down cover fire as Daisy sprinted towards the coordinates he'd provided. She could hear Captain Hydra shouting orders behind her, the heavy footfalls of his team in pursuit.
As she ran, Daisy's mind raced. How had things gone so wrong? Steve Rogers – Captain America – was supposed to be the heart of the Avengers, the moral compass that kept them united. Seeing him corrupted by Hydra sent a chill down her spine.
Focus, Daisy she chided herself. One problem at a time.
She rounded a corner to find her path blocked by a group of Chitauri. Without breaking stride, Daisy thrust out her hands, sending a powerful shockwave that sent the aliens flying. The street buckled and cracked beneath her feet as she pushed her powers to their limit.
In the distance, she could see Black Widow – Natasha – fighting her way towards a glowing blue scepter. Chitauri swarmed around her, with more closing in fast.
Daisy gritted her teeth and pushed herself harder. She might not belong in this time, in this version of events, but she was damned if she was going to let Hydra or the Chitauri win.
"Widow!" she shouted as she neared. "I've got your six!"
Natasha spared her a quick glance, confusion flashing across her face after hearing that name from her mouth before professionalism took over. She gave a curt nod and refocused on her objective.
Daisy planted her feet and let loose with her powers, creating a protective bubble of vibrations around them. Chitauri soldiers bounced off the invisible barrier, while debris and smaller aliens were flung away.
"Nice trick," Natasha commented as she snatched up the scepter. "Stark gave you the details?"
"Something like that," Daisy replied, straining to maintain the barrier. "We need to move. Now."
As if on cue, Iron Man swooped down, laying down suppressing fire. "Ladies, your chariot awaits," he called out, gesturing to a nearby Quinjet that had just touched down.
They made a break for it, Daisy providing cover with well-timed seismic blasts. Just as they reached the Quinjet, a familiar shield came spinning through the air, aimed directly at Natasha's head.
Without thinking, Daisy threw herself into its path, deflecting it with a concentrated shockwave. The impact sent her sprawling, but she'd succeeded in protecting the scepter – and Natasha.
"Impressive," a cold voice said. Captain Hydra emerged from the smoke, flanked by his SHIELD – no, Hydra – operatives. "But futile. Hand over the scepter, and maybe we'll let you live."
Daisy struggled to her feet, her whole body aching from the exertion. She stood shoulder to shoulder with Black Widow, both women glaring defiantly at the corrupted Captain.
"Not gonna happen, Cap," Tony's voice rang out as he landed beside them, repulsors humming with barely contained energy.
For a moment, they were at an impasse. Then, with an earth-shaking roar, the Hulk landed between them, sending Hydra agents scattering. Thor and Ghost Rider weren't far behind, having apparently finished off the Leviathan.
Captain Hydra's eyes narrowed as he assessed the situation. With a gesture to his men, he began to retreat. "This isn't over," he warned.
As the Hydra forces withdrew, Daisy let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. They'd won this round against Hydra, but at what cost? The timeline was more fractured than ever, with Captain America now their enemy and the Avengers a far cry from the united team they were supposed to be. Loki was not even present at all. And the Chitauri were still coming down upon the city.
Daisy stood by one of the smashed windows of Avengers Tower, her eyes scanning the chaotic skyline of New York City. The battle was far from over, and the Chitauri were pouring through the portal faster than they could take them down. Captain Hydra had made sure of that when he activated the scepter's power, unleashing an invasion they were scrambling to contain. But there was still no sign of Loki, and Daisy needed answers.
The elevator doors slammed open, and Thor stormed in, lightning dancing in his eyes and Mjolnir clenched tightly in his hand. His presence was like a thunderstorm rolling into the room, electric and impossible to ignore. Tony was already there, pulling up schematics on a holographic display, his armor slightly scuffed from the earlier skirmishes.
"Stark!" Thor's voice thundered, startling Daisy and making her whip around. Tony glanced up, his expression a mix of annoyance and exhaustion.
"Perfect. Just what I needed," Tony muttered under his breath. "Thor, this really isn't the time—"
"You call this leadership?" Thor interrupted, his voice resonating with the kind of authority that only a god could command. He marched up to Tony, his massive frame towering over the billionaire. "Your so-called plan has failed us all, and you have done nothing but bicker and falter!"
Tony's eyes narrowed, a flicker of defiance sparking in his gaze. "Oh, I'm sorry, did I miss the part where you and your homicidal brother showed up to save the day? Because last I checked, it was Captain Hydra who opened that portal, not us."
Thor's grip tightened on Mjolnir, his patience visibly wearing thin. "Do not speak to me of betrayal when you have allowed a serpent into your midst! You should have seen through this deception, Stark! You call yourself a leader, yet your actions only lead to ruin."
Tony's armor clicked into place, the Iron Man helmet snapping shut as he stepped up to Thor, unflinching despite the clear mismatch in their strength. "Oh, I see how it is. Big bad Thor comes down from his shiny kingdom to throw stones at us mortals. Well, newsflash: your brother set this whole thing in motion with that damn scepter. So maybe take some responsibility for a change, huh?"
Thor's eyes flashed with anger, and before Tony could react, the god of thunder swung Mjolnir with a force that sent Iron Man skidding across the floor, crashing into a console and leaving a trail of sparks in his wake. Daisy felt the shockwave from the impact, her hands instinctively raised as if to brace herself.
"Enough!" Thor shouted, his voice echoing through the tower. "I am done with your excuses, Stark! Your arrogance blinds you to the real enemy!"
Tony groaned, picking himself up from the wreckage, his suit sputtering as it tried to recalibrate. "Yeah? And what's your excuse, huh? Taking swings at your teammates now? Real heroic."
Daisy stepped forward, her frustration boiling over. She thrust herself between the two, her arms outstretched. "Both of you, stop! We're fighting a war out there, and all you two can do is measure egos? Are you kidding me right now?"
She turned to Thor, her expression firm but seeking answers. "Thor, we need to know—where's Loki? We thought he was behind this invasion, but Cap's the one who activated the portal with the scepter. If Loki's not in New York, then where the hell is he?"
Thor's anger seemed to ebb slightly as he met Daisy's gaze. He took a breath, his voice lowering but still edged with frustration. "Loki is in Asgard, imprisoned for his past crimes. I have kept my word; he has no part in this invasion. Your troubles are the result of your own leader's greed and recklessness."
Tony, still nursing a bruised ego and possibly a cracked rib, managed to pull off his helmet. "Great. So we had Captain Hydra with a magic stick and no Loki to pin it on. That made things so much better."
Daisy shot Tony a warning look before turning back to Thor. "If Loki's out of the picture, then we focus on Cap. We can't afford to keep turning on each other like this." She glanced between the two of them, trying to reign in the rising tensions. "We need every bit of strength we can get. Can you put your differences aside for once and focus on the real threat?"
Thor nodded slowly, his grip on Mjolnir relaxing as he looked past Tony's bravado to the dire situation at hand. "Aye, Daisy Johnson. My quarrel is not with you or with this realm. I will stand with you against the threat at hand."
Tony, still visibly fuming but begrudgingly aware of the truth in Daisy's words, gave a reluctant nod. "Yeah, alright. Let's save the world first. We can deal with our crap later."
Daisy sighed, feeling a small weight lift off her shoulders. It wasn't perfect, but it was a start. And right now, a start was all they could afford.
She looked around at the assembled heroes – some familiar, some not quite as she remembered them. Robbie caught her eye, giving her a small nod of reassurance. Whatever came next, at least she wasn't alone.
Tony's faceplate retracted once more as he turned to address the group. "Well, that was fun. After all this is over, who's up for shawarma?"
Despite everything, Daisy couldn't help but smile. Some things, it seemed, were constant across all timelines.