.ೃ࿔*:･𝐯𝐢𝐢𝐢. avengers assemble

𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐑𝐈𝐃, 𝐂𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐓 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐍𝐀𝐓𝐀𝐒𝐇𝐀 𝐂𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐂𝐇𝐄𝐃 𝐁𝐄𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐃 𝐀 𝐁𝐀𝐓𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐃 𝐓𝐀𝐗𝐈 𝐂𝐀𝐁, using it as cover from the chaos engulfing the streets. Ingrid glanced around, her eyes taking in the devastation. Buildings were either ablaze or reduced to rubble, the air thick with smoke and the acrid smell of burning debris.

Steve sprinted over to them, his shield strapped firmly to his arm. "We’ve got civilians trapped," Clint reported, his eyes scanning the area for a clear path.

Above them, Loki flew past on a Chitauri craft, his sinister grin visible even from a distance. "Loki," Steve muttered, his expression hardening with determination.

Loki and his troops unleashed a barrage of energy blasts, blowing up the streets around them. The shockwaves from the explosions sent debris flying, but the team held their ground. Natasha fired both her guns at an incoming group of Chitauri, the bullets finding their marks with deadly precision.

"We got this. It’s good. Go!" Natasha shouted over the din, her voice cutting through the chaos.

"You think you can hold them off?" Steve asked, concern evident in his eyes.

"Captain, it would be my genuine pleasure," Clint replied with a confident grin. He grabbed an arrow from his quiver and let it fly. It struck one alien in the head, then quickly separated into multiple arrows, taking down three more Chitauri soldiers in a swift, deadly move.

Satisfied, Steve nodded and took off, jumping off the overpass. He rolled onto a bus, then onto the street.

Back at the bus, Clint and Ingrid were helping people off, guiding them to safety. Natasha fired her pistols at the Chitauri, her aim unerring as she took down one enemy after another.

Once the civilians were clear, they regrouped with Natasha. "Ingrid, stay close!" Natasha yelled. Ingrid nodded, determination etched on her face.

As they moved through the wreckage, Natasha continued to fire her pistols with deadly precision, each shot finding its mark. Clint, meanwhile, notched another arrow and released it, the projectile splitting mid-air to take out a group of Chitauri.

Ingrid unleashed as many blasts of fire as she could, her hands glowing with the intense heat of her power. Each fiery bolt struck the Chitauri soldiers with precision, incinerating them on impact. However, the effort was draining, and every so often, she had to duck behind an abandoned car to catch her breath. Despite her exhaustion, she never strayed from Natasha and Clint's side.

Natasha continued to fire her pistols, her movements fluid and precise, while Clint's arrows flew with deadly accuracy, each one finding its mark.

"Ingrid, you okay?" Natasha called out, her voice cutting through the noise of battle.

Ingrid nodded, wiping sweat from her brow before rising from her cover. She raised her hands, summoning another wave of fiery blasts that streaked toward the enemy. The Chitauri soldiers recoiled under the relentless assault, their advance momentarily halted.

A particularly large Chitauri soldier charged at them, its weapon raised high. Ingrid gathered her remaining strength and unleashed a powerful blast of fire, the flames hitting the alien square in the chest and sending it crashing to the ground.

Natasha fired a few more shots to ensure it stayed down, then turned to Ingrid with a fierce grin. "You're doing great. Just a little longer."

As the fighting continued, Natasha, Clint, and Ingrid found themselves becoming surrounded by an increasing number of Chitauri. The alien soldiers advanced relentlessly, their weapons firing in all directions. Just as the situation seemed dire, Steve rejoined them, charging in and knocking Chitauri aside with his shield.

From above, Thor descended from Stark Tower, landing with a thunderous crash and unleashing a bolt of lightning that tore through the Chitauri ranks.
"What’s the story upstairs?" Steve asked, turning to Thor.

"The power surrounding the cube is impenetrable," Thor replied, frustration evident in his voice.

Tony's voice crackled over their earpieces. "Thor is right, we gotta deal with these guys first."

Natasha glanced around, assessing their dwindling options. "How do we do this?" she asked, her voice steady despite the chaos.

Steve looked at each of them, his expression resolute. "As a team."

"I have unfinished business with Loki," Thor declared, his eyes fixed on Stark Tower with determination.

Clint, readying his arrows, chimed in with a smirk, "Oh yeah! Get in line."

"Save it. Loki’s gonna keep this fight focused on us, and that’s what we need. Without him, these things could run wild. We got Stark up top, he’s gonna need us to..." Steve began, but his words trailed off as Bruce arrived on a motorbike, interrupting the conversation.

Bruce dismounted, his eyes scanning the scene of devastation. Ingrid's face lit up at the sight of her father, a mixture of relief and worry crossing her features. She knew she would get in trouble for being involved in the dangerous fight.

"So, this all seems horrible," Bruce remarked dryly, his tone tinged with resignation.

"I’ve seen worse," Natasha replied, her voice steady despite the chaos around them.

"Sorry," Bruce added, his expression conveying both empathy and a touch of guilt.

"No, we could... use a little worse," Natasha quipped, her tone dry but determined.

Bruce scanned the group, his eyes finally settling on his daughter. Before he could say anything, Ingrid spoke up, her voice quiet but steady. "Hi, dad," she greeted, waving slightly.

Bruce walked over to Ingrid, concern etched on his face as he gently wiped dirt and scorch marks off her cheek with his finger. "What are you doing here? We need to get you somewhere safe," he said, his voice filled with worry.

"I don't think anywhere is safe right now. Plus, Natasha told me I could come and help out," Ingrid replied, her gaze meeting her father's with determination.

Bruce looked up from Ingrid to Natasha, a mix of surprise and amusement crossing his features. "Your kid is a snitch," Natasha teased, a small smirk playing on her lips.

Bruce chuckled softly, a hint of pride in his eyes as he regarded his daughter. "I see that," he replied, his voice gentle. He placed a hand on Ingrid's shoulder.
Tony's voice crackled through their earpieces, cutting through the chaos. "I’m bringing the party to you," he announced.

"I don’t see how that’s a party," Natasha quipped wryly as Tony zoomed around a corner, closely followed by the massive Leviathan.

Bruce turned and began to walk away from the group, heading directly toward the oncoming Leviathan.

"Doctor Banner, now might be a really good time for you to get angry," Steve said, his voice tinged with urgency.

Bruce paused, a knowing smile crossing his face. "That’s my secret, Cap. I’m always angry."

With those words, Bruce's transformation into the Hulk began. His skin turned green, and within moments, he stood before the Leviathan. With a deafening roar, the Hulk lunged forward and slammed his fists into the Leviathan, sending it crashing into the ground with bone-shaking force.

"Hold on!" Tony shouted, his Iron Man suit firing a missile at the creature. The explosion rocked the area, debris flying in all directions. Clint swiftly found cover, while Thor stood his ground, absorbing the blast. Ingrid, standing in front of Steve and Natasha, reacted instinctively. Crossing her arms in front of her face, she deflected the fiery aftermath of the explosion away from her teammates. The air crackled with heat, but Ingrid remained steadfast, shielding Steve and Natasha from harm.
The Avengers stood in a circle, each member poised and ready for battle. Ingrid conjured a flame in her palm, Hulk let out a primal roar, Hawkeye nocked an arrow, Thor gripped Mjolnir tightly, Black Widow loaded her gun, Captain America held his shield, Iron Man hovered above them, his suit ready for action as he landed next to the Hulk.

Their attention was drawn upwards as more Leviathans and scores of Chitauri warriors poured through the portal, darkening the sky with their presence.

"Guys?" Natasha voiced the growing concern in the group.

"Call it, Captain," Tony urged, his voice steady despite the looming threat.

"Alright, listen up," Steve began, his tone commanding yet focused. "Until we can close that portal up there, we’re gonna use containment. Barton, I want you on that roof, eyes on everything. Call out patterns and strays. Stark, you've got the perimeter. Anything gets more than three blocks out, you turn it back or you turn it to ash."

Clint turned to Tony with a nod. "Wanna give me a lift?"

"Right. Better clench up, Legolas," Tony quipped as he grabbed Barton and soared up to the top of a nearby building, swiftly leaving the ground.

"Thor! You gotta try and bottleneck that portal, slow ’em down. You got the lightning, light the bastards up," Steve directed, his voice commanding. Thor swung Mjolnir in acknowledgment before launching into the air, ready to take on the incoming enemy forces.

Steve turned to Natasha and Ingrid, his expression serious yet determined. "Us three, we stay here on the ground, keep the fighting here. And Hulk!" Steve called out, turning to the green giant who stood towering nearby. Hulk turned around, facing Steve directly as the Captain pointed at him. "Smash!"

A mischievous grin spread across Hulk's face as he let out a thunderous roar. With a mighty leap, Hulk launched himself into the fray, landing amidst a group of Chitauri warriors who were scaling the sides of buildings.

Ingrid, following Steve's orders with unwavering determination, threw herself into the battle. Her hands ignited with flames, casting an ethereal glow around her as she moved through the chaos. She fought valiantly, her flames scorching the Chitauri soldiers that attempted to overrun their position.

A group of Chitauri warriors advanced, their weapons raised. Ingrid reacted swiftly, creating a wall of fire that forced them back, disorienting them long enough for Natasha to finish them off with her dual pistols. Ingrid nodded to Natasha, who gave her a quick, approving nod before turning back to the fray.

As the battle raged on, fires erupted in several buildings, adding to the chaos. Ingrid spotted a burning building where civilians were trapped on the upper floors, their desperate cries reaching her ears. She knew she had to act fast. With a quick glance at Steve, who was engaged in a fierce hand-to-hand combat with several Chitauri, she made a split-second decision.

“Ingrid, go! Help those people!” Steve shouted, having noticed her hesitation.

Ingrid nodded and sprinted toward the building, her heart pounding. As she reached the burning structure, she focused her energy, creating a controlled burst of flame to clear a path through the fire.

The heat was intense, but she pressed on, her powers providing her with some protection from the flames as she sprinted up the stairs to the top floors. The smoke still managed to get into her nose, making her cough loudly as she stopped in the middle of the staircase.

Pushing herself even more, Ingrid continued up the stairs.

She found a group of civilians huddled together, their faces filled with fear. “This way!” Ingrid called out, extending her hand.

The civilians hesitated for a moment, not sure if they should trust the little girl, but the sight of Ingrid’s determined expression and the flames bending to her will reassured them. They followed her as she led them through the inferno, her powers keeping the flames at bay. She guided them out of the building and into the street, where paramedics quickly took over, ensuring their safety.

Ingrid took a moment to adjust her lungs to the clean air, breathing heavily as her eyes scanned the battlefield. The chaos was overwhelming: fires raged, civilians ran for cover, and the relentless Chitauri continued their assault.

Ingrid returned to the front lines, her heart heavy as she joined Thor and Steve. “Fire’s under control, civilians are safe,” she reported, her voice steady despite the exhaustion creeping in.

Steve nodded, then spoke into his earpiece with urgency. "Do it!" he commanded, his gaze fixated on the portal looming ominously in the sky. Everyone else in turned their attention skyward as well, their expressions a mix of determination and worry.

"No, wait," Tony's voice cut through the tension.

"Stark, these things are still coming!" Steve responded, his concern evident.
"I got a nuke coming in, it’s gonna blow in less than a minute," Tony explained urgently as he flew towards the incoming missile, closely followed by his suit. "And I know just where to put it."

"Stark, you know that’s a one-way trip," Steve cautioned, his voice tinged with resignation.

As Tony swiftly maneuvered, Ingrid, Thor, and Steve watched in silence as he redirected the missile, narrowly avoiding Stark Tower, and guided it upward toward the portal. The rest of the Avengers stood together, their eyes fixed on the sky, a tense silence settling over them as they waited.

After what seemed like an eternity, there was no sign of Tony returning. The seconds ticked by, each one heavier than the last, until it became painfully clear that Tony might not be coming back.

"Close it," Steve commanded into his earpiece, his voice urgent as he watched Natasha prepare to seal the portal.

Just as the portal began to shimmer and close, Tony Stark fell through and plummeted towards the ground. The Avengers looked up in disbelief as Tony reappeared unexpectedly.

"Son of a gun!" Steve exclaimed, his concern evident.

Tony continued to fall, and Thor, ever ready, prepared to fly and catch him. But before Thor could react, the Hulk leaped into action. With astonishing speed, Hulk intercepted Tony mid-air, grabbing him forcefully. They slid down the side of a nearby building and crashed heavily to the ground, shaking the earth beneath them.

Thor, Steve, and Ingrid hurried over to where Hulk had thrown Tony. Thor quickly removed Iron Man’s faceplate, revealing Tony’s pale and unconscious face. Steve listened intently for a heartbeat, but his fears were confirmed when he saw that the arc reactor was not glowing.

Ingrid held her breath, her heart pounding with worry as she watched Tony lay motionless on the ground. The silence was broken by Hulk's sudden roar and pounding of his chest. Tony gasped in shock, his eyes snapping open as he took in his surroundings.

"What the hell? What just happened? Please tell me nobody kissed me," Tony quipped, his trademark wit cutting through the tension.

"We won," Steve replied, his voice filled with a mixture of relief and exhaustion.

"Alright. Hey. Alright. Good job, guys. Let’s just not come in tomorrow. Let’s just take a day. You ever tried shawarma? There’s a shawarma joint about two blocks from here. I don’t know what it is, but I wanna try it," Tony suggested, already trying to shift the focus to something lighter amidst the aftermath of the battle.

"We’re not finished yet," Thor interjected, his tone serious as he reminded them of the cleanup and potential threats still looming.

"And then shawarma after?" Tony persisted, his tone hopeful, trying to inject a touch of humor to lighten the mood further.

Ingrid couldn't help but chuckle softly at Tony's insistence on shawarma, despite the gravity of the situation. His resilience and ability to find humor even in the darkest moments were part of what made him Tony Stark—the Iron Man they all relied on.

.ೃ࿔*:･

Loki crawled over to a stair, his usual bravado somewhat diminished in the face of the Avengers surrounding him. Hawkeye's arrow was aimed unwaveringly at his face, Natasha stood with his scepter in hand, and Hulk emitted a low, threatening growl.

"If it’s all the same to you, I’ll have that drink now," Loki said, his tone a mix of defiance and resignation, acknowledging the inevitable defeat at their hands.