Combustion ✦ STEVE ROGERS² [✓]

12 | AN ACT OF VALOR

STEVE, KATO, AND LUCA WORKED ON USHERING THE REMAINDER OF THE CITIZENS ONTO THE LIFEBOATS WHILE ALSO TAKING CARE OF ANY STRAY ROBOTS. However, Kato couldn't help but feel nervous. The city was quiet. Way too quiet. Where the hell was Ultron? There was no way he would've gone down that easily, right?

However, they met up with Thor near two lifeboats near the destroyed bridge anyway.

"Thor, I'm gonna need you back in the church," Tony said over comms.

"Is this the last of them?" Thor asked.

Kato nodded. "Yeah, that's the last of them."

"Everyone else is on the carrier," Steve agreed.

"You know," Tony piped up, "if this works, we maybe don't walk away."

Thor paused for a beat. "Maybe not."

But maybe we will, Kato thought to herself. She had to be optimistic. They had gone through too much for too long for their lives to just end abruptly. Kato wasn't a big believer in faith and all that, but she had a feeling in her heart that things weren't going to end here. The universe wasn't done with them yet.

Turning her head, Kato looked up at the sky. It was a lovely view, one you wouldn't be able to see unless you could fly. She'd never really taken the time to appreciate it before. But now, looking at the massive expanse of clouds before her... she knew she had taken it for granted. Being able to fly was a gift that very few people had. She had to take advantage of it while she could.

But there was no time to dwell on it for very long. Steve had been right, the air was getting thin. Kato and Luca could survive it, but the rest of the team couldn't. So they all had to leave now, before it was too late.

That was when Kato heard the faint roar of an engine. Looking up, she saw a quinjet streaking towards them. Kato frowned. Everyone was in the city, including the Hulk. So who the hell was flying the jet?

Kato looked around as the few remaining robots raised their metal fists to the sky, only to be destroyed by Steve, Thor, and Luca. Kato's eyes went wide as she realized who it was.

It was Ultron. Ultron was flying the jet!

"Get down!" Luca shouted.

Gunfire shattered the peaceful silence as the jet sped over their heads. Bullets tore up the ground, and Steve and Thor immediately jumped out of the line of fire. Both Kato and Luca glared up at the quinjet as the bullets bounced harmlessly off their bodies. This guy just won't quit, will he? Kato thought.

But then, out of nowhere, Kato was tackled by a lone Ultron sentry. Completely caught off guard, she tumbled through the air before her back slammed into a crumbled wall, and she slumped to the ground. And then, before she could retaliate, the robot grabbed a metal rod and plunged it right through Kato's shoulder - the same one she'd injured before. Kato screamed in pain as she was pinned to the wall, unable to move due to the blinding pain.

"Not so tough now, are you," came Ultron's voice from the sentry, the blue lights on it turning red as it stared at her.

Kato gave him a deathly glare despite her pain. "B-burn in... in h-hell," she managed to say.

Ultron chuckled. "Defiant to the end," he said. Then, he ripped the rod out of Kato's shoulder, making her scream again, before he raised it over his head, preparing to stab her right between the eyes.

And then, a pair of familiar voices pierced the silence.

"KATO!"

Ultron barely had time to turn around before a red and silver object slammed into him at full force, knocking him back. Then, the sentry's lights returned to their blue color just as two powerful red lasers blasted it, burning it to pieces. Moments later both Steve and Luca rushed over to Kato, seeing her injured on the ground.

"Kato!" Steve cried as he and Luca knelt by her side.

"Oh my god, are you okay?" Luca asked, putting his hand on Kato's uninjured shoulder.

Kato grimaced. "I-I'm alright," she stammered out. "I just... I need some sunlight."

Luca grabbed Kato's good arm and hauled her to her feet, then hooked his arm under her shoulders to support her. The two began walking towards the lifeboats and out into the sunlight, with Steve two steps ahead of them, his shield out to defend her from any stray robots. Almost as soon as Kato was in the sunlight, she felt her shoulder begin to heal.

And then, she looked up to see Pietro fall.

"No!" Kato cried, horror flooding through her.

She broke away from Luca and rushed towards Pietro, ignoring the pain in her shoulder as well as Luca and Steve's calls to come back. But she was too late. The deed had already been done. Pietro had fallen, completing a final act of valor by saving Clint and a small boy from Ultron's rampage.

In the distance, Kato heard a wail of pure anguish. She turned to see red telekinetic energy arcing into the sky above the church. It was Wanda, mourning the death of her brother.

Kato knelt by Pietro's body and put her hand on his cheek before gently closing his eyes. Then, she closed her own eyes for a moment, her head lowering as a few tears fell down her cheeks. She sat there for a moment in silence, paying her final respects.

After a few more moments, Luca wordlessly picked up Pietro's body and flew off towards the Helicarrier. Hawkeye, still holding onto the young boy, walked off to the lifeboat as well. That left Kato with Steve, who stood next to her as she continued to kneel on the floor.

Kato was silent for several more moments. But then, she sensed movement beside her. So she looked up, seeing that Steve had extended his hand to her, and was watching her with a sympathetic gaze. Kato met his eyes gratefully, then took his hand, allowing him to pull her to her feet.

But Steve had pulled a little too hard, for Kato was abruptly brought to her feet before bumping into him. She stumbled briefly, only to be caught in Steve's arms as he tried to steady her. Kato looked up at him... and immediately froze. They were close. Dangerously close. And it made her heart race. And the way Steve was staring at her... it was alarming to say the least. She'd never seen him look at her like that.

Then, the city jolted. Kato and Steve's eyes went wide, and they both broke apart and bolted before leaping onto the last lifeboat. Steve landed hard on the platform, and Kato landed on top of him, leading Steve to instinctively put one arm around her waist to protect her. Then, they both looked back and over the side of the boat as it flew away, watching as lightning wreathed around the city. And then, seconds later, the city exploded, nearly vaporizing into dust and debris that rained down into the water below.

Kato looked at Steve, who met her gaze. Then, she buried her face in his shoulder and closed her eyes, fighting back tears. It was over. The job was done, and they had won.

But it had come at too high a cost.