I sat in the quinjet as I stared at the blue beam that connected to a portal above New York. My stomach twisted as I saw all sorts of different creatures crawling out of the portal and flying down towards the people of New York, "Yeah, not fun."
"Stark, we're on your three, headed northeast," Natasha spoke to Tony, her gaze focusing on what is currently occurring.
"What? Did you stop for drive-through? Swing up Park. I'm gonna lay 'em out for you."
I turned away from the other, whispering quietly to myself, "Piper, Jarvis, you connected?"
"Yes ma'am," they both chorused at the same time.
"Splendid. Let me see what he's seeing, please," I requested, fiddling with my thumbs as I patiently waited for the projection to appear through my helmet.
A view of Tony flying past the tower relayed through my helmet, and I let go of my hands before letting out a laugh, "You got yourself tied into a knot there, aye, Stark?"
"Did you smooth talk my AI or something, shortstuff?"
"Shortstuff? I'm not that much shorter that you, Mr. 5'9". Maybe grow a few inches and we'll talk height," I retorted, turning off the feed with a quick whisper to Piper, "And I did no such thing. We just got to know each other."
Suddenly, an explosion rattled the outside of the quinjet, resulting in both Steve and I to grab onto the railing over head.
The quinjet was moving erratically due to the lost engine, so my feet were no longer touching the ground as we moved side to side. Steve was struggling just as much as I was, but being this close to him with his suit on made me realize something.
He looks absolutely ridiculous with his mask on.
We started rapidly approaching ground as we swerved through buildings, narrowly missing several complexes as we made contact to the pavement. Letting out a breath I didn't know I was holding, I let go of the railing, making my way towards the back that was now opening. Steve, Natasha and Clint all following me.
"We gotta get back up there!" Steve spoke, gazing at the tower as we continued running.
We all slowed to a halt, looking up as a loud, low mechanical growl came from above. I watched as a large creature comes from the portal, roaring as it made it's decent.
It started heading for us, traveling overhead, not paying any heed to the four of us as we watched it pass.
Human-like creatures launched from it's sides, landing on building sides, or getting inside the buildings as well. My eyes trailed after everyone, my body frozen. Steve snapped me out of my trance as I heard his voice, "Stark, are you seeing this?"
"Seeing. Still working on believing. Where's Banner? Has he shown up yet?"
"Banner?" Steve asked.
"Just keep me posted."
"Will do, Stark. Will do," I spoke, clenching and unclenching my fists as I followed the others. I knelt down as they conversed on what to do next.
"There are civilians trapped inside there."
"Guys," I whispered, gazing around at everything that's happening above.
"We got this. It's good. Go."
"Guys."
"Do you think you can hold them off?"
"Guys."
"Captain, it would be my genuine pleasure," Clint replied, gazing at Steve.
"Guys!" I snapped, resulting in the three of them to look to me, "Look, I'd love to help the three of you, but I'm going to go and help someone else for the time being, okay?"
"How can you? From what we know, you have enhanced speed and strength. You can't aid Stark, Thor should be dealing with Loki, and Banner is currently a no show," Steve spoke, looking at me as if I was mad.
"See, I'm the mystery girl to you Cap. Nat and Clint know me and what I can do. Just let Stark and I handle things from above, mkay?" I grinned, before getting to my feet, saluting at the three of them, "Good luck to all of you, and look in your pockets!"
They all shared a surprised expression before opening their pockets, pulling out a white feather. Steve stared at it while Natasha and Clint had a knowing look on their faces.
I dipped my head in respect, before hopping on top of a car, and forced my wings to manifest. I then launched into the air, taking flight as I also started distracting the enemies flying by, "When you think you've seen everything, the world surprises you."
"Stark," I speak through the comms, "How much space junk do you have tailing after you?"
"An unwanted amount."
I came from behind, grinning beneath my mask as I outstretched my hands, "On your six."
He quickly turned around and shot at a few of them, while I did the same. He flew up to my side as his voice quickly came through, "Was that Cap's reaction to you having wings?"
"Indeed it was," I nodded, looking at the portal with distaste, before gazing back at him, "Did you try going up there and handling them?"
"I've done more things than I can count, that, being one of them."
"Dang," I muttered, before whipping my head back towards the man, "Here, I'll gather the attention of those things on the west side. You stick to this side and continue what you've been doing. Try to limit the amount of these monsters coming down as we can."
"Taking orders from a kid."
"Hell yeah you are," I grinned, before flying off towards the west, leaving Tony in my dust, "Oh yeah! Since Jarvis is connected to my headpiece, you're free to clock in and see what I'm dealing with if necessary."
"Roger that. Jarvis, find me a weak spot."
Panicked screams of the people from below brought my attention down, seeing one of the larger ones heading straight towards them, "Piper, how fast do I need to get down there?"
"Approximately 10 seconds, Arch."
"And how long for that thing to get there?"
"Eleven."
"STARK I NEED YOU TO TAKE THESE THINGS BEHIND ME OFF OF ME NOW!" I yelled into the headpiece, flying down as fast as I could manage, letting my wings press as close to me as possible.
"What? Where even are you?"
"Jarvis, share my location with Stark!" I ordered, continuing my decent as I got closer and closer to the chitauri.
"Sharing location."
"Kid, I can't help you out-"
"GET YOURSELF TO ME NOW, STARK! I'M NOT LETTING PEOPLE DIE UNDER MY PROTECTION!"
Five.
I turned myself around as I continued falling as fast as humanly possible for me, blasting as many of the chitauri with light as I continued my decent, anger bubbling inside of me.
Four.
My eyes now focused on the civilians screaming and running below, longing to get there to help them- protect them from this monstrosity.
Three.
A flash of light from above me brought my attention towards Tony, who started taking care of the chitauri that I didn't get.
Two.
"Soft spot, Piper. Soft. Spot."
One.
I launched through the chitauri, blue blood splattering on my metal suit as I landed on the ground, panicked screams surrounding me as I raised my hands over my head, light pulsing out of them to throw the chitauri higher into the air.
I jumped off the ground, flying towards it's mouth that was wide open. I started building up the light throughout my entire body.
"Kid, you got a death wish?"
"No, that's why I'm doing this!" I snapped through clenched teeth, flying into the chitauri, it's mouth closing behind me, "Just protect the civilians, Stark!"
"Soft spots right there, Arch."
"Thanks, Pipe!" I smiled softly, before letting the light shoot out of my body everywhere, splitting the creature in two.
I flew down to where Tony was, landing beside him as I shook out my wings, trying to get rid of the blood that coated my feathers. He nodded curtly before flying into the air, drawing the remaining chitauri away from the civilians.
"Is that the Guardian?"
"The Guardian's here to save us!"
"Who's the Guardian?"
I turned myself around, and spoke out as I lifted off of the ground, "I no longer go by the Guardian. Call me Archangel."