AS SOON AS THE CHITAURI began flooding the New York skyline, Tony knew dealing with Loki was definitely not a priority anymore. There was no reason to stall him since the portal had already opened. He just hoped the others had time to evacuate a maximum of civilians.
After fending off the God of Mischief, he flew out near the portal in the sky and for a second it felt like the breath got knocked out of his chest. The Chitauri looked viciously repulsive; like something out of a science fiction nerd's worst nightmare.
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Meanwhile, down in the streets, a rabid fight was taking place. The Chitauri flocked every corner, attacking New Yorkers and destroying everything in their path. The Avengers could barely contain them.
In the midst of this chaos, Tony's voice reached their earpieces with a few breaks "Guys, I'm heading down. I'm going to lay them out for you."
Angrboda was fending off a Chitauri when the message reached her and it caused her a moment of inattention. The Chitauri took advantage of it to shoot directly at her chest. Thankfully, the Harpy had the good sense to jump away, just in time. The blast ended up grazing her arm, leaving an ugly but superficial wound.
She didn't let it faze her for long and quickly buried the blade of her spear in the Chitauri's neck.
Her breath came out in short huffs as she contemplated the dead beast, but a single thought was running through her mind: Tony's alive. Loki didn't hurt him. He's okay.
Her relief was shortly lived and before she knew it, more Chitauri were charging her way. This time though, a newfound surge of energy gave her the confidence she needed to take them all out at once.
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A few streets further, the Black Widow had gotten Tony's message and it made an idea sprout in her mind. She grabbed Hawkeye by the arm and ordered him to hop back into the Quinjet with her.
"Stark, change of plans, we're meeting you up there!" she shouted into her earpiece.
"Don't stop for drive-through," Tony grumbled "I can't keep 'em occupied for long."
Natasha's strategy was a good one, there was no doubt about it: take out a maximum of Chitauri in flight before they could reach to the ground. This way they had a better chance of minimizing casualties.
Through the jet's windshield, Hawkeye and Black Widow saw the Iron Man leading an impressive horde of Chitauri, putting them in clear view of the Quinjet.
Natasha focused on keeping the plane upright while Clint pulled out the machine guns and fired a trail of missiles at the aliens, obliterating them.
But before any of them had time to be cheery, a massive blow came out of nowhere, rocking the jet dangerously.
"What the hell was that?!" Natasha exclaimed.
Clint looked out the left window, where the shot had come from. He found themselves to be quite close to the Stark Tower and it was only after squinting his eyes slightly that he saw none other than Loki, aiming the Scepter at their jet, ready to strike again.
"It's that bastard Loki!" he shouted before aiming the machine gun at the Stark Tower "I'll see if I can take him out."
"Clint, one more from him and we're down!"
As if on cue, Loki fired another blast energy that landed on the jet's left wing. The aircraft wobbled, barely holding on.
"We need an emergency landing!"
"I can't!" she protested "It's too crowded down there!"
They didn't have much say in it though, because the plane began to spin and drop out of the air as it passed over New York's skyscrapers. They barely managed to maneuver the wing that wasn't destroyed before crashing into the street. Clint's face slammed into the dashboard and Natasha cut the side of her head on the broken window, but overall, it was a miracle they made it out in one piece.
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Steve ducked down behind an upside down bus, dodging the blast of a Chitauri. He looked up and threw his shield at the monster, knocking him unconscious.
The Captain was taking care of the Chitauri on foot but the ones in their flying chariots were the most vicious. They were firing randomly at everything and everyone, leaving a chain of explosions in their paths, tumbling cars and terrified people running for their lives.
He looked up, spotting a group of cops firing at the flying chariots. It was quite pointless; the bullets weren't doing anything.
The only ones who were really making a difference were the Avengers and there was only seven of them. Thor and Angrboda were taking out Chitauri by the handful. Natasha and Clint had skilfully directed the jet and killed a few hundreds of them in one go. Tony was targeting them in flight, preventing the monsters from spreading through the streets. Last but not least, the Hulk was doing what the Hulk did best... smashing.
All seven of them were trying their hardest, but it didn't change the fact that they were ridiculously outnumbered.
Steve raced over to them, scanning the area. It was mayhem. There was a roadblock of police cars across the width of the plaza. Behind them, a complex of office buildings was still full of civilians, judging by the faces plastered at the windows.
Without waiting another second, he hoped past the police cars and landed right in front of the line of fire. The police sergeant stared at him up and down, confused and disdainful at the same time.
"I need men in these buildings," he ordered pointing at the building complex behind them "There are people inside that can run into the crossfire. Take them through the basement or the subway. Just keep them off the streets."
The sergeant's eyes widened even more, a look of utter contempt on his face "Why the hell should I take orders from you?"
Steve cocked an eyebrow. He definitely wasn't used to being looked down on and having this petty sergeant do just that, at such a critical time, ticked him off like no tomorrow.
"Listen," he spat in a threatening voice he didn't even know he had "My team is out here killing themselves to protect the city and its people. Make yourself useful and evacuate the civilians."
Steve's eyes were shooting daggers and the sergeant swallowed with difficulty before asking hesitantly "Who-who's your team?"
"The Avengers," he snapped "Now do as I say before the casualties start piling up!"
The sergeant turned to his officer and began barking Steve's orders. The Captain watched him with a small smug grin but his satisfaction didn't last long. Before he knew it, a group of Chitauri were charging toward the plaza again. He turned around with a sigh, preparing to take them out one by one.
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A few dozen miles away and some thirty thousand feet above the ground, Director Nick Fury was watching the live transmission from Manhattan, deeply agitated.
It took a while to wrap his head around the fact that the Avengers decided not to consult him before jumping headfirst into battle... but now was not the time for reprimanding. How could he think about his pride when the next few hours would decide of the fate of the Earth?
Despite everything, watching the Avengers fight so fiercely and passionately through the live transmission made a great surge of pride rush through him. This was the team he built. It hadn't been the easiest but perhaps he'd succeeded more than they gave him credit for. This was the group of remarkable people he, and Phil, dreamed of all along.
He was at the bridge when Agent Hill walked up to him. The look of worry on her face made him dread what news she was about to deliver at such a critical time.
"Sir, the World Security Council is on."
Fury's face melted into a frown. Great. Just great. A line-up of corporate politicians barking at him was the last thing he needed right now.
⁂
A wide grin spread on Loki's face as he admired his soon to be kingdom. He flew on the back of a Chitauri's chariot, exhilarated as his army led a ferocious combat. People ran around, terrified, pleading for their lives.
The sound of submission. He loved every second of it.
The chariot flew over a wide avenue somewhere in the middle of Manhattan. There was a relentless fight going on. If he were honest the Avengers were a thorn in his side but he was hopeful they'd get crushed under the Chitauri forces soon enough.
His eyes were roaming the ruins around him when suddenly, something caught his attention, or rather someone... Angrboda.
A group of Chitauri were closing in on her but she was fighting back fiercely.
Loki's chariot passed nearby just as she stabbed the last Chitauri assailant. She looked up and they made eye contact unexpectedly. Loki could feel her gaze boring holes through him and it chilled him to the bone. It seemed even the God of Mischief flinched under the Harpy's wrath.
The eerie moment didn't last for long and his chariot soon flew away from her bloodcurdling glare.
But Angrboda wasn't going to let him get away that easily.
She aimed her spear in his direction and threw it with all her strength. A satisfied grin spread on her face as the blade lodged itself into the chariot, causing a small explosion that sent Loki plunging to the ground.
The Scepter had slipped out of his hand during the fall and rolled over a bit further. Loki began crawling miserably to reach for it, but Angrboda stepped on his fingers with a merciless satisfaction.
He yelped and his gaze trailed from the tip of her boot all the way up to her face. Her hard stare was even more chilling and Loki looked far less pompous than he did on the chariot. The fall had been nasty, just as Angrboda hoped. He was covered in dust and blood trickled from his mouth. A sight for sore eyes.
The Harpy didn't know it was possible to despise someone as much as she despised Loki. Her look of disgust lingered on for a moment before she kicked him in the jaw with the boot that wasn't crushing his hand.
Loki cried out as the blow sent him rolling a few times. He was trying desperately to reach his Scepter but Angrboda gave him no rest.
Before he knew it, she turned him on his back with another kick and straddled him, pressing the shaft of her spear on his windpipe.
"You fucking vermin..." she forced him to contemplate the wreckage around him "Are you so deranged that you can't even see what you've done?! You think this madness will end with your rule?!"
She was ready to unleash all her rage on that bastard who caused her so much pain.
Loki could barely speak under the tightening weight of the spear on his throat "It's... it's too.. late..." he whispered in half a breath "E..ven I ca..n't stop.. it..."
"Then there's no reason to keep you alive," she spat venomously.
And with that, she threw punch after punch, putting in all the anger, the sadness, the frustration accumulated in the past few months. She was finally making him pay for all the hurt he caused her and every hit was cathartic. She barely noticed the tears filling her eyes as Loki looked at her almost pleadingly.
Blood was pouring from his mouth and his cheekbones were shattered but Angrboda couldn't stop. He didn't have the strength to even struggle anymore. He simply lay there, taking in the blows, wondering if he was going to die.
"F...fen..rir"
Angrboda froze, still holding her fist in the air. It had barely been a whisper but she definitely heard it "What did you just say?"
"Fen..rir"
Her anger flared up intensely "You dare say his name again?!"
Loki was gasping for air but it felt like his next word got seared into her soul with a red hot iron.
"Alive."
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Wuuuut did that just happen...? WHY YES IT DID, I love to leave you guys hanging it's super satisfying ngl
Don't forget to like and leave your comments!
-L