Worthy

Part 51 - Your Saviour Is Here

As you stumble your way through the compound, you can already hear the fight well underway, feeling guilt ridden that you're not out there fighting with your team, your family. But who were you kidding, Tony had been right. While you knew how to fight, you were not prepared for this kind of onslaught. "BRUCE!" You yell, heading into the med lab. He meets you at the door, hands placed on your shoulders as you fight for breath.

"Kate, just take a second. Breathe."

"I'm so sorry Bruce." You pant out, desperately trying to claw your breath back. "But...Tony called a Code Green. A real Code Green." Bruce swallows hard, nerves completely overtaking him. He always hated when the team chose Hulk over him, but he had sensed it was inevitable when he saw Thanos' ship. He looks over your shoulder, as if something or someone has followed you, before nodding his head.

"Rocket's awake but he's still weak. Stay with him and Groot." You nod as he marches off, a bundle of nerves as he takes off his jacket and throws it to one side. Feeling even guiltier you head in to see Rocket.

"I am Groot." His little voice is terrified as he sits next to Rocket, who is still groggy. Before he can run over to you, you slam the medi lab door shut.

"I'm sorry Groot," You shout as you lock the door. "Stay with Rocket." His eyes start to well up as you wave to him, hoping he'll be safe locked up, as you make the decision to stand and fight with your family.

As you dart past the lab, on your way to the armoury, you remember about the surprise Tony had been talking about. Could it possibly be that he had finished making your suit?

Before you can make through the door you hear a roar completely shaking the compound, sending shivers down your spine. The roar sounds painful, and full of anguish; it also sounds too similar to the Hulk's roar.

The roar gets louder and louder, as if it's getting closer to you. The ground beneath your feet starts to shake, and you can hear the sounds of crashing almost surrounding you. Suddenly arms grip around your waist pulling you to the ground, just as a large mass bursts through the wall. You can just make out the tell tale signs of green as the Hulk and another large figure come barrelling through the wall.

"Your saviour is here," You turn to see your rescuer, who gives you a small grin. "Let's move Kate." Loki grabs you up by the arm, and then drags you along the hallway, desperately trying to pull you away from the two massive figures now fighting inside the compound.

"We need to help Bruce," you yell.

"And how do you propose we do that when he is trying to save you!" Loki yells as he continues to pull you along.

"Is Thor...?"

"Out there fighting for you too. Now move." You're both comforted, but terrified at the thought of Thor out there too. Feeling your legs start to wobble slightly, Loki wraps an arm around your waist. "It'll be fine Kate. I promise." He stops and looks directly into your eyes. "My brother entrusted me with your safety, and it's a promise I will not break this time. But we need to be quick, and we need to be stealthy."

"Loki that's my family out there!" You yell back. "I can't just leave them to fight for me."

"Then Thanos will take you. And he'll torture you, manipulate you and turn you against the people you hold most dear." His voice is cold, and his eyes dark, reminding you of the Loki you first met in New York. He takes a large sigh, his eyes softening. "I do not know what Thanos wants with you, but whatever it is they are out there willing to stop him." He takes a pause. "Because they need you." His voice wobbles. "Because they love you. Don't make it more difficult for them."

"And what if one of them dies trying to protect me?" You try desperately to hold on to your emotions. "I can't lose any of them Loki."

Despite wanting to reassure you, Loki is desperate to get you moving. "I'm sorry Kate." He clicks his fingers, and instantly you follow him as he guides you out of the building. It's an unsettling sensation as you're still within your own mind, but have no control over your body. You feel the fresh air hit you as you make it outside, tears running down your face as you just blindly follow Loki. You can't turn your head to watch the fight going on, but you can hear everything. A flash of light burns close to you, you recognise it as the Bifrost. "Odin has granted you sanctuary," Loki's voice echoes in your head. "Now, run! I'll be right behind you."

Because of Loki's magic, instantly you start to run; despite screaming to yourself in your head to stop. You want to know what's going on, you need to see them, you need to see Thor. A large explosion knocks you off your feet as it hits close to you, freeing you from Loki's magic too. As you stand you struggle to hear any definitive sounds, just yelling. You take a look around at the carnage strewn throughout the compound. Your eye is particularly drawn to the fight going on closest to you: Tony and Thor fighting Thanos.

Shaking it off, you just can just make out Loki yelling at you to move, but your eyes are fixed on this fight. The only thing that draws your attention away is Peter landing in front of you, taking off his mask. "Katie, you have to get out of here." He stands directly in front of you, already knowing what you were looking at. "They'll be fine." He yells, grabbing your arm and pulling you closer to the Bifrost. "Please?" He begs, making you look at him, tears almost streaming down his face. "I can't lose you again." He mumbles, head dropped.

You nod, reaching over and squeezing his hand tightly, before turning back to the Bifrost. Despite your heart breaking over walking away from everyone you love, Loki was right. You had to leave. You turn to take one last look at your family, praying that you'll see them again. As you do, one of Thanos' 'children' distracts Thor, leaving Tony to fight the Titan on his own.

Despite Iron Man standing strong, Thanos manages to overpower him. You can't help but watch as he plunges his sword into his body, completely going through the suit, and stopping Tony almost instantly.

"NO!" You yell out, but it's more like a scream, one so loud that the entire battlefield stops immediately, turning to look at you.