the strongest avenger (0.5)

nine

"Is that the best you can do?" Talia hears Thor yell out as she lands on the ground next to the rest of the team.

"You had to ask." Steve mumbles as swarms of robots come to Ultron's side.

"This is the best I can do." Ultron's robotic voice rings loud and clear. "This is exactly what I wanted. All of you...against all of me. How can you possibly hope to stop me?"

"Well," Tony turns towards Steve. "like the old man said: Together."

A loud roar from Hulk momentarily shocks Talia, but she braces herself as the army of robots runs towards them. Each team member takes a section that's protecting the core, Talia making her gloves disappear so that her lightning can be set free.

Sparks make their way down her fingers, popping and crackling as they charge up. The girl thinks back to those lessons with Thor and how he taught her to embrace the chaos, instead of fighting it.

She thrusts her hand out with a yell as the first robot comes to her, a lightning rod extending from her fingers through the robot and another behind it.

"That is new!" She hears Thor call.

Shaking her head she conjures another, her hands shooting in every direction as lightning flows from her. Before when she was fighting the bots, they were coming sporadically, a mix of fire and random sparks.

But now...she embraces her ability and wills it to do as she wishes. The lightning flows as an extension of her.

As more bots come from the air, she leaves Wanda's side to fly next to Thor. The latter using his hammer to smash the bots into pieces.

Talia reigns in her lightning and calls forth her fire, raising her hands to send up flames into the air. The robots disintegrate as they hit her wall of fire, Vision flying around to help out.

Knowing she can't hold it long, she releases and continues to send balls of fire and bolts of lightning, manipulating the air to rip the machines apart.

She ignores Tony telling Rhodey to get rid of the bots leaving the city and continues to tear them to shreds.

As the few remain, Talia reaches out and squeezes her hand, watching as the robot crinkles into a ball. She gasps for air and takes a second to herself, resting her hands on her knees.

She never really fought like this, for a long time and fast. Tal's not in the physical state of the fight and is drained.

"You good?" Clint asks.

She holds a thumbs up for the man.

"We gotta move out." She straightens as Steve talks, resting her hands on her hips as she tries to slow her heart rate. "Even I can tell the air is getting thin. You guys get to the boats. I'll sweep for stragglers. Be right behind you."

"What about the core?" Clint asks.

"I'll protect it." Wanda speaks up, drawing Tal's attention. "It's my job."

"Nat," Clint tilts his head for her to follow. "This way."

Talia follows them and leaves the church behind, ready to be done and get back to New York. The three of them steal a car, the girl jumping in the back while Clint drives.

"I know what I need to do," Clint says. "The dining room. If I knock out that east wall, it'd make a nice work space for Laura huh? Put up some baffling. She can't hear the kids running around. What do you think?"

"You guys always eat in the kitchen anyway." Nat states.

"No one eats in a dining room." Clint mumbles while they pull up to the edge of the island where the rest of the people try to get on the last boat.

"We don't have a lot of time."

Talia swiftly gets out of the car and makes her way towards the edge, adjusting her temporary mask to make sure her face is covered.

She lends a hand to those trying to find balance and makes sure they don't fall as they get on the boat.

"Why are you leaving?" Talia calls out as Clint suddenly runs off the boat back to the land.

Tal shakes her head and runs through the rows of people, making sure everyone who needs one, has a blanket and that they all have somewhere to sit.

Thor, I'm gonna need you back in the church. Tony's voice comes in.

Is this the last of them? The God asks.

Yeah. Everyone else is on the carrier. Steve replies.

You know, this works, we maybe don't walk away.

Maybe not.

Talia tries to decipher their words, but comes out confused at what they're talking about. She sees Thor fly off into the distance and mentally wishes them luck.

The girl continues to assess those who need medical attention, getting wet washcloths from a SHIELD agent to give to people along with bandages.

As she makes her way back outside with arms full of supplies, Tal stops in her tracks as she sees Steve place a body on the ground. Walking over, she bends and drops the supplies, coming on her knees next to Pietro's body.

"What happened?" She murmurs while pushing his hair from his face.

"He saved Clint." Steve explains, drawing her attention to Clint carrying a child on the carrier.

He gives the child to his crying mother, Steve leaving, and then sits down on the seat next to Pietro.

"It's been a long day."

"Yes..." She runs her hand over his hair again, wishing that life wasn't so cruel.

That no lives had to be taken and that the good guys always won with no death. But that's a silly dream. She takes another second before grabbing her supplies and moving through the crowds to assist.