Chapter Ten
Soroya

Sam holds onto me tightly as I sob into his shoulder, his hands rubbing up and down my back. Zy is holding onto my hand on my right, tears streaming down his own face.

"Stevie will be fine. You heard Bucky, he's asleep and he's stable." Sam whispers.

"I want my baby," I whisper back, wiping my eyes on his suit. "I hate being trapped up here in this goddamn ship when he's suffering down there. What kind of mother am I?"

"Hey, don't," Sam urges. "The Kree are after you, if you went to Stevie now, you would lead a hoard of soldiers to him and put him in danger. You're doing the right thing."

"If you're done, can we get back to the war, please?" The King of England asks curtly. I pull my head away from Sam and send a glare towards the king, the glare I've used to send my enemies to their knees in terror. The king shrinks back a little, holding his hands up in surrender. I can put up with a lot, but the moment someone brings my kids into something, my patience becomes little to none.

"Our government buildings are still under heavy fire," the Chinese president says after he clears his throat, clearly concerned I'll give him the same glare I gave the king. "Even with the back up, they're cutting through our forces like blades of grass."

"Same here." The king mutters.

I wipe my eyes again and ask into the coms: "How are the White House and Capital building holding up?"

"Not great," T'Challa replies breathlessly. "We're really outnumbered over here."

"We have another problem!" I hear Bruce yell into the coms. "Kree soldiers are starting to move away from the city, they're tearing apart houses in the suburbs."

"We're trying to hold them off, but more and more keep straying from the battle." Wanda adds.

Panic begins filling me up to the brim. "Why would—oh my god, it's because of me. They're looking for me. Why else would they be focusing on those houses?"

"What are we going to do?" Zy asks, his hand still in mine.

I look at the other world leaders, seeing that they too are anxiously waiting for my reply. I now look out the window of the ship, seeing the death and destruction beneath, seeing the carnage made because of the Kree. I ball my hands up into fists and take in a deep breath, giving my nephew the answer: "We draw them back here to the city. I'll have to go out there, act as bait. It's the only way."

"We'll come, too." Sam says with a firm nod.

"No, someone needs to stay up here—"

"Then we'll get someone else," Sam argues, now speaking into the coms: "The three of us are going to get on the field to draw the Kree back here. We need someone to come up here."

"I'm on my way." Thor replies.

I know there's no point on arguing with them, and I know they've been itching to get into the fight as much as I have, so I just nod. Sam grabs onto his shield, which has been leaning against the side of the ship, and secures it around his arm. Zy activates his suit, his mask now covering his worried expression. My suit is already ready, all that's left to do is wait for Thor to arrive, which he does after less than a minute of waiting. We open the ramp to the ship and let him step inside, his skin gleaming with sweat and blue blood, his expression filled with the excitement and adrenaline from battle.

"Call the shots from the window and check in with the world leaders," Sam directs him, tightening the straps of the shield. "If they give you a hard time just flash your axe and they'll shut up."

Thor glances at the axe and shakes his head. "Stormbreaker won't be with me."

I give him a puzzled look. "What do you mean?"

"Well it will be of no use to me up here. Stormbreaker needs to be down there on the battlefield," He says, extending the axe to me. "And it will provide a perfect show to draw the Kree back here to the city."

I glance back and forth between the axe and Thor. "You're giving the axe to me?"

"Yes."

"But I-I thought you...but only the...how do you—"

"I'm fifteen hundred years old, Soroya, I think I know who's worthy enough to hold my axe. I was right about Steven," he says, grabbing onto my hand and wrapping it around the hilt of the axe, then letting go himself. "And I'm right about you."

Christ. I'm holding Stormbreaker. I don't know what to say, what to think. The thought of me ever holding it never even crossed my mind, I never even considered it. Thor, Steve and Vision were the only ones deemed worthy. And now me. I'm worthy. I feel a disbelieving laugh escape my lips, my eyes welling up with tears all over again. I look at Sam and Zy and find them grinning at me, while the holograms of the world leaders behind me are staring in fear and shock.

I extend one arm out towards Zy and pull him in for a hug, knowing that it's time to head down onto the field. Zy grips onto my back tightly, leaning the side of his head against mine. "I love you, Aunt Soroya." He whispers.

I pull back from him and kiss his cheek. "I love you, too, honey."

Sam opens up the ramp to the ship again, the cries and screams from the dying soldiers below now filling my ears. I take in a deep breath and tighten my grip on the axe, glancing between my friend and my nephew. They both look just as anxious.

I try my best to smile at them, and I say to Sam: "Be careful, Director Wilson."

He winks. "You, too, Director Roberts."

Exhaling my deep breath, I jump off the ramp and fall down towards the battle field, Sam jumping down soon after, holding onto Zy. As I fall I realize that Stormbreaker allows one to fly, and the moment the thought crosses my mind, I stop my fall, I float in midair. Already I see soldiers from both sides look up at me, shock and bewilderment crossing their faces. Ships in sky turn towards me, accusers shout orders to head towards me, and pretty soon the audience I have is as wide as the battlefield beneath me.

I raise Stormbreaker towards the sky, remembering that I can use lightning with this axe, I watched Steve do it all those years ago. I take in a deep breath and call upon the lightning in the sky, hearing the clouds above me begin to crack and darken as I do so. The clouds swirl towards me, their blue and white lightning striking down around the axe, making me flinch; partly from fear, but mostly from the intensity of the electricity, the power I now hold. I load the axe up with as much juice as it can take, then I soar through the sky towards the ships still reigning fire down on the White House and Capital building. With a war cry unlike any I've ever yelled, I aim that axe at the ships and unload the lightning upon them, right at their weak spots. The ships stutter and halt, some exploding instantly, others crashing into each other, and some falling straight down to the ground.

From below me I hear cheers, I hear screams, I hear even more orders be given to apprehend me. In my coms I hear Bruce and Wanda say that the soldiers are flooding back into the city, that whatever I'm doing is working. I smile to myself, now pointing my trajectory down to the battlefield. While I do so, I keep the axe aimed above my head, gathering the lightning from the clouds and waiting for the opportune moment to strike. With another cry, I bring the axe down into the blood soaked ground, electrocuting dozens of Kree soldiers at once, the smell of burnt flesh now filling the air.

"Fuck, when did you learn to do that?" I hear my brother ask me through the coms. He must be close by, even amidst all the chaos I can smell him.

"I have many tricks up my sleeve." I reply, grunting as I swing the axe and collide it into the chest of one Kree, then into the head of another.

I spot Alex a few yards away, fighting back to back with Khari with a Wakandan spear. He locks onto my spear and shakes his head. "Show off." He says into the coms.

A laugh escapes my lips, but it's cut short. Across the battlefield I see a Kree tank park on the street, just a few yards away from where I am. As to be expected, the tank's gun aims for me. I lift Stormbreaker and fly over towards the tank, slamming it into the side, then again into the latch on the top, where a couple angry Kree are operating the contraption. One of the soldiers whips out a gun and points it up at me, but I throw it away, shoving my foot into his face then burying the axe in his shoulder. The next soldier climbs out of the latch and attempts to fight me head on using a staff of some kind. The staff makes a clinging noise as it collides with Stormbreaker, the vibration from both weapons sending a hum down my whole body. The Kree soldier and I continue to fight on the top of this tank, her face contorted in focus and anger. She's a skilled fighter, it takes a lot of my own focus and concentration to keep from getting injured by one of her strategic strikes.

My focus falters though as I feel a different hum echo throughout my body, a hum emanating from the tank beneath my feet. The tank is about ready to fire. I don't know where it's planning on firing to and I don't care. All I care about is stopping it before it has the chance to fire. I shove my foot out in front of me and hook it under the Kree soldier's, making her trip. I use my other foot to kick her in the knee, breaking it instantly. I swing Stormbreaker and disarm her of the staff before swinging it again and severing her head. Just as I'm about to swing the axe again into the middle of the tank, the machine rumbles, a blast excreting from the gun barrel. The jolt of the shot knocks me off my feet, and as I fall onto my back, my eyes follow the line of trajectory, to a spot of the battlefield that makes my heart stop.

All thoughts about the tank, the Kree, the battle all fade away as my brother's scream fills the com link in my ear.

-

Liam

Stevie has been asleep for some time now. Bucky and I haven't left his side for one moment, we've just sat by his stretcher and watched him sleep. I'm so glad he's been able to sleep, he really needs it. I think we all do, but I know I won't be able to while Stevie is in here and a battle still rages out there. If anyone looks exhausted and in need of sleep it's Livy, Analiese, and Shuri. Shuri is currently in another room of the hospital helping with a severe head injury, while Analiese and Livy are both working on Scott Lang, who got slashed pretty deeply in the side. He's not doing too good, he's passed out from all the blood loss.

Bucky and I pulled up two chairs and positioned them on the left side of Stevie's stretcher, right next to the wall so we're not in the way. I've had my head on Bucky's shoulder for some time, too exhausted to sit up properly. He has his arm wrapped around my back, securing me firmly to his side, like he too needs someone to support him from falling over.

"Shuri! Analiese! Livy! Someone! Please, come here! Now!" I hear a familiar voice shout from down the hall. Bucky and I instantly grow alert, as do the two doctors working on the other side of the room. Livy runs out the door and her gasp is audible from in here. Bucky lets go of me and runs out of the room after her, me in tow. I find a gasp of my own slip from my lips as I behold Khari and Sam carrying Alex, who's head is bowed, his body limp.

"W-what happened?" Livy asks breathlessly, already bringing over a stretcher to lay him down in.

"There was a tank, it fired—I didn't see it, I was distracted, but he did, he pushed me out of the way and..." Khari trails off, tears streaming down his face as he and Sam lower Alex into the stretcher, revealing his face to us all. Almost his whole left side and part of his right are burnt, melted. His ear is almost black, bone is showing on his jaw, and as his eyes flutter open and closed, I see that his left eye is crimson red. If Alex hadn't been wearing a vibranium suit from the neck down...he would be dead.

"Uncle Alex, can you hear me?" Livy asks, shining a light in eyes, inspecting the seriousness of the injuries, but I don't think you have to be a doctor to tell it's pretty bad.

Alex groans in response, his chest shaking as he begins crying, the same pained expression I saw on Stevie's face earlier cross his burned face now. Khari, who is sobbing at this point, grips onto his husband's hand and kisses the back of it, watching in agony as Livy pulls the stretcher into the room we left a few minutes ago. Bucky pulls his brother in law in for a hug, letting him sob into his shoulder. Sam places a comforting hand on Khari's back, looking into Bucky's confused eyes. I now remember Sam is not supposed to be here, which begs the question why he left the cloaked ship.

Sam gives us that answer without us having to ask. "Soldiers were leaving the city looking for Soroya, so we decided to join the fight to draw the soldiers back."

All color drains from Bucky's face. "Lena is on the field?"

Sam nods. "She took care of the Kree tank then asked me to take Alex and Khari here, she didn't want to lead the whole army here by doing it herself."

"If you're all here who's on the ship?" Bucky asks, rubbing Khari's back.

As if in answer, Thor Odinson's voice fills the coms. "A second wave of attacks have happened in Beijing, they need back up. The Masters of the Mystic arts are opening up portals for troops to travel through."

"We're heading there now." Zy's voice responds hesitantly.

Khari pulls back from Bucky and wipes his eyes, his eyes falling to the exit down the hall. "I have to go back, my people need me."

Bucky nods, his eyes falling in the same direction. "And Lena needs me," with a sigh, he turns towards me, placing his hands on my shoulders. "You stay here and watch over Stevie and Alex."

I shake my head, beginning to protest. "No, no I need to fight—"

"A good soldier knows when to fight and when to rest. You've done beautifully, Lee, but now is your time to rest. Be with Stevie, it's where you're meant to be."

I knew Bucky and Soroya both approved of me dating their son, have told me so several times, but hearing him say this, that he trusts me to look after him and keep him safe...it means a lot. I nod to him, placing my hand on top of his.

"Be careful."

He squeezes my shoulders and smiles. "I will."

With that, the three Avengers run towards the exit of the hospital. I watch them as they leave, hoping that one day I will be like them: fully bred heroes who inspire newbies like me to stare in awe. I'll get there someday, so will Stevie. We'll be Avengers and save the world side by side for the rest of our lives. That future, the idea of a happiness so great, is what keeps me going, what keeps me sane during this battle. With a sigh, I venture back into the hospital room, back to my boyfriend, back to where I belong.

-

Josephine

My fear reached new heights when Thor replaced Aunt Soroya, Uncle Sam, and Zy's holograms. Those three decided to go on the field to draw scattering Kree troops back in. They've been gone for about twenty minutes now, and every second I see the former Asgardian king stand there, is a second I grow closer to losing my mind. No one gave me a com link, I have no idea what's going on out on the battlefield. I'm completely cut off. It's agonizing.

A few more seconds pass and I can't take it anymore. Despite the warnings from Daniel and the outright glares from the president, I run up to Thor's hologram and ask for updates on my family. As soon as the question leaves my lips, Thor tenses up, hesitating. The sight makes my heart sink in my stomach.

"What's happened? Tell me." I nearly command, my voice dangerously cold.

Thor's jaw clenches as he says finally: "Little Steven had an unfortunate encounter with a Kree accuser that has cost him part of his left leg. He is stable. Alexander...he was the victim of a Kree tank blast. He is at the hospital now, but his stability is unknown. I'm sorry, Josephine."

I feel my knees buckle under me, feel a sob escape my mouth. Just before I hit the ground, arms wrap around my waist. I glance up to find Daniel lifting me back onto my feet, pulling me away from the holograms, from the president. I feel tears fall down my cheeks, my chest heave from sobs. I know I promised I wouldn't cry in front of the president, but I don't care, I can't help it. Stevie lost his leg, or part of it anyways. Just the image of him fighting a Kree accuser by himself makes me feel nauseous. How stupid is he? I'm going to kick his ass when we get through this for being so stupid. And Dad...I sob harder as I think about Dad.

"I can't lose him," My voice is nothing but a broken whisper. "I-I can't lose my dad."

Daniel unexpectedly pulls me against his chest, cradling my head with one hand, the other pressed firmly between my shoulder blades. In any other circumstance I would push him away, but I really need to feel the comforting embrace of someone I trust, someone I care about. I wrap my arms around his waist and hug him, continuing to cry into his suit.

"Alex is very strong. He'll make it through." Daniel whispers, gently petting my hair.

My family, my friends, everyone I love, is going to die. They're going to die, and I'm going to have to live with not only the grief of their deaths, but they question of whether I could have prevented them from dying. I realize now that that's even worse than the helplessness; the unknown, the not knowing if the people you love are alive, and not knowing whether you could have helped them.

Actually, I know I could have. If I were up there on the battlefield I could have protected Dad. That Kree tank blast wouldn't have made it past my shields. I could have saved him, could have saved Stevie, too. But I didn't. Instead I was sitting on the couch of a bunker talking to Daniel about Pride and Prejudice. I'm sitting here alive and well while everyone else suffers.

It's like Uncle John all over again.

I can't endure that again. I won't.