Beautiful Chaos

{part two | chapter eleven}

Lilith hurriedly traded her clothes for a clean pair of ripped jeans, a black crop-top with a mesh over piece, and a leather jacket. After lacing up her black combat boots, sheathing her swords behind her back and strapping on a few extra blades, she drew in a shaky breath. This would be one of the biggest dangers she would face as an official Avenger and she was terrified. She looked at her hands and saw they were shaking violently. She tried taking deep breaths to calm herself but she couldn't seem to gain control of her nerves. 

"Lilith," An accented voice rang through her ears and suddenly she couldn't see. The blackness around her seemed to be moving in on her, crushing her slowly. Memories of a dark haired god with ice-cold eyes flashed through her mind.

"Lilith," the voice called to her again. Her ears were ringing and her breaths were labored, "Lady, Stark," Thor said, kneeling to be level with her eyes as she sank into her mattress, "It's alright. I understand how you must be feeling. We all do. It may not seem that way, but we are scared too. We do not know if we'll overcome the dangers we must face, yet we have to try.  You are strong, a warrior. You will meet your demons, and they will terrify you, but you must let them reach you. If you don't let them get close, you will never be able to slit their throats, and you will never be rid of them. Let the demons reach you, Lady Stark, and cut them to pieces."

A single tear slipped down the young woman's pale cheek as she nodded, her awareness of her bedroom and Thor kneeling next to her returning. She took in a long, shaking breath and stood from her bed, wiping the tear from her face.

"Lilith," Thor said as he stood, "My brother... he dreams of you. I saw it in my vision. He dreams of golden fields and quiet conversations and memories that have yet to occur. What the future holds... it's uncertain, I only saw a glimpse, a fraction of what it could be. But you were a part of it, Loki's future. I fear you will become something you do not wish to be. Violent, dangerous." The young woman's brow creased in confusion as the god of thunder spoke, "I hope the demons grow close enough to be slain, but please, never let them touch your heart. You, Lady Stark, you harbor such kindness within you. Never wield such hatred against your enemies, that you forget what is truly in your heart."

Something sparked suddenly inside of the brunette. She felt braver, stronger, capable. A small, mischievous smirk tugged at her features as she spoke, "I know who I am. I won't forget. Now let's go get this son of a bitch."

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"No way we make it all through this," Tony was saying as Lilith walked into the room, followed by Thor, "If even one tin soldier is left standing we've lost. There's gonna be blood on the floor."

"I got no plans tomorrow night," Steve replied.

"Neither do I," Lilith muttered.

"I get first crack at the big guy. Iron Man's the one he's waiting for."

"That's true," Vision agreed, walking into the room, "He hates you the most."

"Ultron knows we're coming," Steve commented once they had boarded an aircraft built for more people than the quinjet could comfortably hold, "Odds are we'll be riding into heavy fire. It's what we signed up for."

"But the people of Sokovia didn't," Lilith continued for him, "So our priority is getting them out." 

"All they want is to live their lives in peace, and that's not going to happen today. But we can do our best to protect them. And we can get the job done. We find out what Ultron's been building, we find Natasha, and we clear the field. Keep the fight between us." Lilith looked down at her hands and cracked her knuckles nervously as a silence fell over the group.

"Ultron thinks we're monsters," she said, "that we're what's wrong with the world. This isn't just about beating him," Thor placed a comforting hand on the young woman's shoulder, "It's about whether he's right."

When they reached Sokovia, the twins split up in order to evacuate as many people as the could. Pietro speeding around and warning as many people as he could, and Wanda enchanting hordes of civilians. 

"Natasha," Lilith called, as she and Bruce entered the building she was supposedly located in, "Natasha!"

"Lilith?" 

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah," Natasha nodded to the men as they entered the room after Lilith.

"The team is in the city. It's about to light up," Bruce informed her.

"I don't suppose you found the key lying around somewhere?"

"Yeah, we did," Lilith said, moving out of the scientist's way. The weapon he'd found on their way in powered up and blasted the bars open. Natasha moved quickly out of her prison and into Lilith's arms.

"Thank you for saving me, Flower. I owe you one."

"No you don't, Red," Lilith squeezed her friend tightly before letting go.

"So," Nat said, her expression a mix between relief and anxiousness, "what's our play?"

"We're here to get you to safety," Bruce said.

"But the job's not finish-"

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

"Just doing her part is never enough for Nat. She's an over achiever."

"It's going to have to be enough. Let's move."

"Wait!" Lilith called, "Something's wrong." A rumbling sound thundered through the building and the structure began to crumble around them, "We need to go. Now!"

"You're not gonna turn green?"

"No, I'm fine, why?"

Lilith took a tentative step towards her friend, "I really don't want to do this."

"Do what? What is happening?"

"I hope you can forgive me," Lilith said, pushing Bruce backwards into a large hole in the floor that extended miles into the earth, "but I need the other guy." A roar echoed against the stone walls as the Hulk threw himself back to where the women stood. The giant bared his teeth at them.

Natasha smiled in return, "Let's finish the job."