till the end of the line

31 The Core

Steve sighed as we leaned against a wall for a moment before moving again.

"The next wave's gonna hit any minute. What have you got, Stark?"

"Well, nothing great. Maybe a way to blow up the city. That'll keep it from impacting the surface if you guys can get clear."

"I asked for a solution, not an escape plan."

"Impact radius is getting bigger every second. We're going to have to make a choice."

"Cap, these people are going nowhere. If Stark finds a way to blow this rock-"

I shook my head at Natasha, "Not 'til everyone's safe. Good to see you, by the way."

"Everyone up here versus everyone down there? There's no math there."

I met Steve's eye and we both agreed before I turned back to Natasha, "We're not leaving this rock with one civilian on it."

"I didn't say we should leave."

We both looked to her as we walked up to the edge of the floating earth, "There are worse ways to go. Where else am I gonna get a view like this?"

"Glad you like the view, Romanoff."

I looked up as I heard Nick's voice, over comms before we looked over the clouds, it was the Helicarrier breaking through, "It's about to get better."

I nodded and let a smile appear, "Sweet."

"Nice, right? I pulled her out of mothballs with a couple of old friends. She's dusty, but she'll do."

"Fury, you son of a bitch."

I elbowed Steve before I heard Nick again, "Oooh! You kiss your mother with that mouth?"

"It was one time!"

I shook my head and looked up at him, "Nah, it's stuck for life."

"Altitude is eighteen thousand and climbing."

"Lifeboats secure to deploy. Disengage in three, two... take 'em out."

I sighed as we watched lifeboats coming our way as the twins showed up.

"This is SHIELD?"

"This is what SHIELD's supposed to be."

Steve nodded as Pietro smirked and gave approval, "This is not so bad."

"Let's load 'em up."

We all nodded and then headed back to the building full of people. I searched for the little blonde girl from before and then I sensed her nearby. I went to her and picked her up as I motioned others to follow me to the lifeboats.

Once we arrived, I placed her in a seat and smiled as I kneeled before her, "What's your name?"

She thought for a moment and then looked over my shoulder as I sighed, "Do you know how old you are?"

She nodded and smiled as she held up three fingers, laughing.

"Do you have a name?"

"Mama calls An-Lina."

I thought for a moment and then met her eyes, curiously, "Angelina?"

She nodded and then dropped her teddy which I caught before handing it to her, "Okay, Angelina, you stay here and I'll come right back for you."

I stood up as she nodded before I turned to one of the agents, "Keep an eye on her and once you get to the Helicarrier, give her to Agent Hill."

The agent nodded and sat down beside her as I ran off the lifeboat helping others get on.