Helion flickered in the last possible moment, resulting in Hulk's collision with the armored stalker. Catching his breath, he watched as Hulk dragged it out of the air, the two of them landing in the city beneath them with a resounding crash before dragging through the city square, tearing up concrete and earth.
"Looks like Hulk's going to keep it busy for us," Tony said when he caught up with Helion.
"And put everyone around them in danger," Helion finished. He then took a nosedive toward the city and landed in what appeared to be some sort of marketplace. His body hovered a few feet above ground as a ring of spectators observed from a distance, whispering among themselves. Distant crashing to his left marked the arrival of the heavyweight combatants. Lifting his hands, he forged a defensive shield just as the figure of his stalker came ripping through a building. It crashes against the hard light, then dropped to its knees.
"Everyone needs to leave this area!" Helion shouted over his shoulder at the nearest people.
Hulk's bellowing roar was the exclamation point of Helion's order. They scattered just as the green beast was leaping into the marketplace. Helion scattered the shield and darted upward just as Hulk collided with the armored enemy, their bodies tearing up more pavement beneath them. The enemy drove an upward fist into Hulk's chin, causing him to stumble, then followed up with a harsh shove that pushed him even further away. Having gained some ground, he stood tall as his helm opened up. Heated beams struck Hulk with their full force, causing him to stumble and roll backward. But suddenly the monster dug its feet and hands into the ground, gained purchase and began shoving back against the onslaught.
"What the hell is that?" Fury asked when several tremors began to shake the underground base.
Peter tapped some keys at the monitoring station, bringing up live footage from the martlet place. The others stood around him and watched as two gargantuan figures tore into each other.
"What's Hulk doing here?" Sam asked. "I thought he prowled the States."
"They're going to destroy the only inhabitable place left on this rock," Wasp groaned. "This is not good."
"This is amazing!" Thor shouted excitedly. The others looked at him as if he had truly lost his mind but he ignored them and pointed at the screen. "That is the Destroyer Armor! It belongs to my father."
"So, that's your father?" Shang-Chi asked.
"No," Thor said.
"Then who's wearing it?" Sam asked.
"No one is wearing it! It is a magical relic from my world!" Thor explained in an exasperated voice.
"Well, that magical relic is going to get people killed," Sam grumbled.
"Who's the glowing guy?" Peter asked as Helion and Stark appeared onscreen. "And the robot beside him?"
"Never seen them before," Fury said, clearly perturbed with being at a disadvantage where knowledge was concerned.
"You think they're Doom's?" Wasp asked.
"Not sure. But we need to do something about that," Fury said. "Thor, does the Destroyer have a weakness?"
The others spun around when they were met with silence to find that the alleged god of thunder had disappeared.
"Oh, you've got to be kidding me!" Shang-Chi groaned. "How do we lose someone that?"
Wasp shrugged. "Maybe it's for the best. He's only going to cause trouble."
Sam cut eyes at her. "Are you serious? No. We aren't going there, Hope. We help people. And we're going to help him."
"But we can't risk exposure. Doom's people will be drawn there," Peter reasoned. "They probably already are.
"I'll go alone then," Sam spat. "I'm technically one of Doom's anyway."
Wasp rolled her eyes, then activated her helmet and opened up her wings. "Fine," she muttered. "Count me in."
"Me too," Shang-Chi added.
Thor, who had emerged from the sewer and stood among the crowd, smiled as he observed the action. Though it was exciting to witness two powerhouses fighting for dominance, the shining warrior was truly a sight to behold. His gaze took in the slender yet powerful build of the beautiful young man. His visible skin was rich and sun-kissed, his blond hair cut short while the beginnings of a beard adorned his sharp jawline. He wore a snug suit of armor like nothing Thor had seen before. It was akin to the colors of the sun shining upon Asgard- an ombré of reds, purples, oranges and pinks- with a strip of light fabric fanning out from a clasp on his shoulder which bore a strange insignia of jagged lines converging into a V shape. The arms of the suit were bare, displaying the glistening muscles that Thor longed to touch. When he spun around, it was as if time were slowing down. The cape that obscured his face slowly moved away and Thor was stricken by just how beautiful he was. His features were sharp and striking, his lips pert and kissable. Though his current predicament was certainly unsettling, he couldn't deny the urges the beautiful warrior set blazing within him.
"They're going to destroy this place," Helion muttered. He landed on the ground and focused his power, conjuring a large sword of light. It sprang out of his right hand and became the length of his whole body.
"So now you're a Jedi knight?" Tony asked. "You're not going to actually get in the middle of that, are you?"
"I have a plan, Stark," Helion called out before rushing forward. A large disc of light shot up around his left arm while he moved. As he closed in, he slid across the ground on his knees, slashing the weapon at the armored enemy's back.
"Uh, have you seen the damage that thing can take? You're just tickling it!" Tony called out as the Destroyer stared down at Helion and prepared to blast him where he stood.
Helion grinned. "Oh, I know." He spun around and drove the light beam up, clipping the thing's face and causing the beams to shoot upward. The act granted Hulk a reprieve that he took full advantage of. He furiously stomped forward and raised his fists high, then slammed them down into the thing's head. Its body buckled beneath the blow and Hulk continued to pound his fists into the prone figure again and again.
"He is...mighty," Thor declared before hurriedly moving to get closer, if only to breathe on the scent of the beautiful young warrior as he wielded his luminous weaponry. It didn't matter much to him that he was doing battle with a being from his own world; he had to get closer. It was as if there was something about the warrior that beckoned him. A song resonating from his body to draw Thor closer.
Hands suddenly grabbed him from the side and yanked him into a dark alleyway.
"Well-met, Sam!" Thor bellowed when he realized who his captor was. "The battle beckons us! And the most beautiful warrior..."
"Not a chance, man," Sam whispered firmly. "Stand down, Thor."
Thor scowled. "The Odinson has never been made to 'stand down'."
"Well, he's doing it today," Wasp said from nearby before tossing a Pym Particle at Thor. The thunder god rapidly shrank down and Wasp hurriedly picked him up in her hand.
"What have you done to me?!" Thor demanded.
"Saved your life," Wasp hastily explained. "Do you honestly think you could stand toe-to-toe with them?"
"I am Thor, God of Thunder and you will release me from your bewitching!"
"Well, now you're Thor, God of My Pocket," Wasp sighed as she tucked the shrunken god away.
"Who's the glowing guy?" Sam whispered as the two of them looked around the corner and watched the person in question hovering nearby as Hulk co tiniest to make a crater out of the Destroyer.
"I don't know. I don't like any of this."
Sam nodded in agreement. "He's not one of Doom's- I'd know if he was."
Hulk gripped the Destroyer by its face, stifling the energy beams as they fought to be released. Then, in one deafening roar, he leaped into the air and moved across the sky.
Thor yanked himself free of Wasp's pocket and crawled up onto her shoulder. "Witch! Turn me back this instant!"
"Would you please be quiet, Thor?" Sam asked a she leaned on and stared the shrunken god down.
"People of Latveria," Helion called out as his body hovered over the marketplace. "I am Helion Boltagon- crown prince of Atillan, the home world of the Inhumans. And I have come to aid you in freeing yourselves from the tyrant who calls himself Emperor Doom."
Stark floated off the side. "Not good, not good, not good," he whispered nervously. "Are you seriously calling him out like this?"
"I have with me the technological genius called Tony Stark!"
"Oh, man," Stark muttered as he clocked the disappointed faces among the crowd.
"If Doom or any of his champions is among us, I ask that they come forward and face us in combat," Helion continued, his brilliant gaze scanning the crowd. The people were terrified, that much was obvious. He didn't need to touch their emotions to know that they were frightened and oppressed.
Thor propped a hand up on Wasp's cheek and smiled. "He is quite fair, is he not?" He asked in an admiring voice.
"He's also quite dead if he doesn't shut the hell up and run now that he's kicked the hornet's nest," Wasp muttered.
The familiar shape of Captain Doom's shield ripped through the air, headed straight toward Helion's throat. The prince lifted a hand and the shield cracked into a barrier of light and bounced back to the waiting hand of Captain Doom, who had dropped down from above.
"You are Emperor Doom?" Helion asked, utterly unaffected by the attack.
"Captain Doom," Cap declared. "I represent the emperor."
Helion glared at Cap. "Is he so cowardly he would send his people in his place?"
Cap smiled smugly at Helion. "I don't know how your people talk to royalty where you're from, but around here we treat Emperor Doom with respect."
"Or what?" Helion challenged. "He sends you, his agent, to claim respect through fear?"
"Whatever it takes," Cap replied without hesitation.
Winter Soldier walked out from a nearby alley and the crowd scattered to avoid him as he moved up beside Cap, his rifle pointed at Helion. From the opposite end, a tall and imposing black man marched forward. He folded his impressive arms across the expanse of his chest, his tight yellow shirt popping against his skin. Behind him, a short man with a full head of curly blond hair emerged and lifted his right fist. It began to glow, resonating with mystical power.
"Shit," Sam muttered. "They've brought Cage and Iron Fist with them."
"Where are the Widows?" Wasp asked.
"They're somewhere around," Sam whispered warily. "Them and Jessica. Both Jessicas."
"I see three more people before me," Helion said. "But not one of you has declared yourselves to be Emperor Doom."
"Most people would show a little fear seeing us," Cap observed in a tone of begrudging respect.
"I'm actually very afraid," Tony whispered.
"I am empowered by the Terrigen Mists," Helion replied in a confident and bold voice. "I have no fear to show you."
Thor's eyes widened in awe of the warrior. Were he able to, he would stand at his side, march into battle with him. He would tend his wounds, lavish him with food and drink when they celebrated their victories. He would make this beautiful warrior the only star in his sky.
What has come over you, Odinson?! He asked himself. You have had more than your share of beautiful lovers.
But when the one who called himself Helion raised the blazing sword and shield he'd conjured from his power, Thor knew what he felt didn't require an explanation.
There are some things one cannot explain, he told himself. Only feel.