31

57.6K 2.1K 2K
                                    

Those on the team who weren't able to fly, or run fast, formed a barrier around the outside of the console.

Split into thirds, Natasha and Barton covered one, another was covered by Hulk and Thor, and the last by Wanda, Steve, and I.

Pietro sped in circles around the perimeter of the church.

Covering the air above the core was Stark and his robot.

I was performing the same tricks I had used the entire fight: swallowing robots and redirecting their locations. Around my team, I was able to tweak my technique a bit, by combining our abilities.

Wanda continuously sent her scarlet colored light through the incoming robots. Opening a portal in front of her, I stole some of the wisps, making them exit into a robot flying above our heads. Twisting her hands, Wanda's wisps of energy broke apart the robots from within.

Closing my portal, I opened another in front of the flying Mjolnir. It was similar to a game of Pinball, how fast the hammer was flying, how quickly I had to open and close portals in order to hit the robots necessary.

"Clara!" shouted Thor.

I closed my hand into a fist, ridding my portals from blocking Mjolnir's path back to its owner. With my fist, I punched a robot in the face, let out a pained grunt, then kicked it, which hurt significantly less.

Shaking out my tingling hand, I found a moment to yell, "One hell of a date night," to Steve.

Ultron, previously lingering outside of the church, decided to take action himself. Lightning, a mind stone, and an extended repulser blast drove Ultron from the church within seconds of him entering.

With Ultron no longer summoning robots, the remaining robots were broken apart by the rest of the team.

Popping the head off the final one, Pietro called, "Clear!"

I fell to my bottom on the steps. Panting, I tangled my hands within the mess that was my hair, trying to focus on breathing normally.

"Clara?" asked Steve.

"Asthma?" wondered Barton, presumably by the wheezing.

"No, no. This... This is just the most I've moved since S.H.I.E.L.D. ended," I managed to get out, "Well, that, and I feel like the air is really thin."

"She's right," agreed Steve, his breathing heavier than normal for once, "We gotta move out. Sweep for stragglers, then get on a boat."

"What about the core?" asked Barton.

"I'll protect it," said Wanda quietly. She looked at Barton, nodding. "It's my job."

With Natasha by his side, Barton stole a car outside of the church and started to drive to the intersection.

Steve helped me to my feet. Hands locked, I took a step in front of him to guide the way. He tugged on my hand to keep me from walking.

"What do you think you're doing?" he asked.

"Helping you search for people," I said.

Eyes filled with admiration, Steve cupped my face in his hands. "Clara, I say this with complete affection: get your ass on a boat."

"Come back, okay?" I asked, placing my hands over his.

"You really think I'd leave you alone?" asked Steve, tilting his head, "Come on, if I wasn't here, Pietro would be able to make his move on you."

Hearing his name, Pietro turned his head, ending a similar talk with his sister.

On accident, Wanda and I ordered, "Go," to our boys.

In Your Eyes // Steve RogersWhere stories live. Discover now