『ᴀʀᴄʜᴀɴɢᴇʟ || ᴀ ᴍᴀʀᴠᴇʟ ꜰᴀɴꜰɪᴄᴛɪᴏɴ

Ch. 43: Sokovia 1/3

"Ultron knows we're coming. Odds are we'll be riding into heavy fire. And that's what we signed up for. But the people of Sokovia, they didn't. So our priority is getting them out."

"We're under attack! Clear the city! Now!" Pietro yelled, running into a police station in Sokovia. He ran back out. The people inside looked confused before resuming their work. One of them, resuming a solitare game.

Pietro ran back in, assault rifle in hand and he fired it at the roof. The others launched up, alarmed by the loud noise while he ran back out, "Get off your asses."

"All they want is to live their lives in peace. And that's not gonna happen today. But we can do our best to protect them. And we can get the job done."

Wanda was in the streets of Sokovia, having the nearest people in the area rush through the streets. Her eyes glowed red and the colored trendrils wafted through the air as they walked past her.

Thor smashed through a wall, ducking under it and stepping inside. 

Bruce walked inside a building. He walked further into the dark room to see machines- hundreds of machines.

"We find out what Ultron's been building, we find Nicole, and we clear the field. Keep the fight between us. Ultron thinks we're monsters. That we're the problem in the world. This isn't just about beating him. It's about whether he's right."

"Nicole!" Bruce called out, his voice faint throughout the building I was in. I raised my head, a small smile ghosting my face as I stood up, racing to the other side of the cell I was in, "Nicole!"

"Bruce?" I responded, seeing the doctor running over to the cell. He looked at me with wide eyes, assessing me for injuries before visibly relaxing.

"You all right?" He asked, placing a hand on the cell door.

"Yeah," I nodded, looking behind him to see if anyone else was there. I looked back to him, a pleading look in my eyes, "Tell me we got the Cradle."

"Yeah, we did. The team is in the city. It's about to light up."

"Don't suppose you found a key lying around somewhere?" I asked, glancing around the area.

"Yeah, I did," Bruce nodded, backing up and lifting a gun. I turned around and hid behind the wall, watching as he blasted the lock. I pushed the door back and opened it, stepping out. He brushed his hands before tilting his head, "Why didn't you leave sooner?"

"Ultron. He had bots stalking me for a while. I couldn't risk it," I replied, looking at him, "So, what's our play?"

"I'm here to get you to safety."

"Job's not finished."

"We could help with the evacuation, but I can't be in a fight near civilians. And you've done plenty."

I shook my head, sighing quietly, "I can help with the evacuation, but if things get worse, I'm fighting. If I had agreed with Tony and stayed back, this could've been Nat. I made my choice to benefit the team. But Bruce, you aren't bad. You are more than what the Hulk is- sure, he's big, green, and strong, but he is you. Everything quality that you possess, it's also there in him. You fought in New York, where there were civilians in danger. But that didn't stop you. This isn't different from then."

"But what I did-"

"That wasn't you. That wasn't Hulk. Your mind was affected by that Maximoff girl. But a team sticks together. A team fights together. A team bleeds together. A team cries together. A team wins together. A team loses together. If we fight this battle, we do it together," I responded, rubbing my wrist as I looked into Bruce's eyes. My eyebrows were furrowed, and he nodded slowly.

"I just... can't trust myself."

"But I do. I'd trust my life in your hands- but I've already done that before, haven't I?" I hummed, stepping forward and heading away from him, "Ultron talked to me while he continued to execute his plan. He's planning on killing this planet, this world, with this town."

"How is that possible?" Bruce asked, following where I was going.

"He plans on unleashing his own iron legion, and it's all in the ground. Buried under rock and soil, cement and gravel- and bring this place to the sky."

"Like... make Sokovia fly?"

"Yeah, don't panic buddy. This is why we fight together. He's planning on drawing Tony out and talk to him before starting everything. And once he does... the fight begins. Civilians or not, we fight."

I held a hand out for him, a small smile on my face as my wings expanded. He grabbed it hesitantly and I pulled him close, launching into the air and flying out of the building.

I flew out to see crowds of people leaving, and flew down with Bruce to the nearest one. I landed down, seeing Clint and Wanda. I set Bruce down before narrowing my eyes at her, glancing at the archer. A pleasant smile took over his face, "Wanda Maximoff, right? I assume you're... not dumb anymore, right?"

She shook her head, "I'm so sorry for what I-"

"Yada yada yada, we don't worry about that right now. We focus on the mission," I responded, turning towards the robots heading towards us, "Fuck, he already started it. Please don't tell me he-"

The ground started to rumble, and a slew of curses shed from my mouth. Wanda looked around, panic striking across her face and I turned to Bruce. He nodded and ran towards the civilians, ushering them away from the battle. Clint looked at me, "What do you mean?"

"He's going to make Sokovia fly! Literally fly!" I hissed, looking at the archer, "We need to fight and get the civilians to safety. Is Steph here?"

"She's off evacuating people with Cap," Clint explained, his grip on his bow never faltering. I looked at him and then to the robots in front of me.

I glanced at Wanda, looking into her eyes. She looked back into mine, panic still consuming her face. I walked over to her, and put a hand on her shoulder, "You can do this. It's just like fighting us, but, y'know, more robots and you've switched sides."

Wanda nodded, raising her hands as her eyes started to glow red, "I will right my wrongs."

I smiled, looking at the robots with a grin as I walked towards them, hands expanding, light glowing from them, "Come here you sons of bitches."