TOXIC ~ STEVE ROGERS [1]

Chapter Twenty Eight

I left the building without another word, and I ignored their voices calling my name. It was best I didn't let anyone see me near them, in case they got hurt. Or worse.

Running outside onto street level, I could feel the power surging in my veins. Fires blazed in wrecked cars and dust billowed in the wind, all the while allowing my body to aborb the toxins and grow stronger. Overhead, Chitauri soared in their alien chariots, and I aimed a few blasts at them before running back towards where I'd left Rogers. Once I got there, I looked around frantically for him. I don't think I'd realized how much I relied on my 'team', or Rogers in particular. My heart was pounding and I started panicking. What if he was in danger? What if he was dead?
Questions and doubts flooded my thoughts before I mentally slapped myself in focus.

Retrace your steps. Heck, just ask through your comms!

I followed the wreckage back the way we came, and spotted Natasha, Barton and Rogers fighting a group of Chitauri back where Rogers and I had left them. The Chitauri were advancing swiftly, and I raced over and joined in the fight. Natasha was weilding a Chitauri energy rifle, but still the aliens were too much for the group to handle.
They were only human, after all.

"Glad you could join us," Barton commented, glancing at my mouth. My cigarette had long fallen from my lips, and they felt almost empty without it.

"I thought you might need me," I slammed my elbow into an aliens face, knocking it backwards where Natasha blasted it.

"Where were you?" Rogers spoiled the banter with his serious tone and cold stare.

"I needed to check something." The excuse was lame at it's best, but nobody questioned me further as more and more Chitauri flooded the street. The four of us were soon grouped together in a bunch, fighting off the ever expanding group of aliens.

Suddenly, a bolt of lightning struck down from the sky above us, frying all the Chitauri in it's wake. They convulsed and dropped dead on the ground. The mighty Thor landed in a whirlwind next to me, and looked me up and down with satisfaction. I had an uneasy feeling he knew more about me than he was letting on.

"What the story upstairs?" Rogers asked him, adjusting his shield.

"The powers surrounding the cube are inpenetrable," Thor said, sneaking a glance at me.

"There's no way you're getting through that barrier." I shifted my weight from one foot to the other as I spoke.

"And how would you know?" Barton questioned. He had an an obvious dislike for me, and I didn't blame him.

"Because I'm the one who made it," I answered angrily, and the look on my face shut him up.

"Thor and Keight are right. We gotta deal with these guys." Tony's voice through the comms jump scared me, and Barton smirked at my open mouthed expression.

"How do we do this?" Natasha looked around at the group of us, resting the energy gun on the ground.

"As a team," Rogers answered. He definitely lived up to his righteous history.
Thor's face darkened.

"I have unfinished business with Loki," he thundered. I rolled my eyes.

"Yeah get in line," I said, and to my surprise so did Barton, barely seconds after me. We looked in shock at each other, while Natasha sniggered.

"Save it. Loki's gonna keep this fight focused on us and that's what we need. Without him that thing could run wild. We got Stark up top, he's gonna need us..." Roger's voice trailed away as he looked out onto the empty street. I followed his gaze, and saw to my surprise Banner driving towards us on a motorcycle. He looked dusty and dirty, but other than that unharmed.
The rest of us were speechless as he unmounted the bike and looked around at the broken city.

"Well this all seems horrible," he said bluntly, and I couldn't help but smile.

"I've seen worse," Natasha nodded.
Banner lowered his head shyly.

"Sorry."

"No, we could use a little worse." She smiled at him, and his face lit up.
He was adorable.

Rogers leaned into his comms.
"Stark, we got him." I heard a roar in the distance.

"Banner?" Tony seemed pleasently suprised.

"Just like you said," Rogers admitted.

"Than tell him to suit up. I'm bringing the party to you," Tony said through the comms. I wasn't aware of what he meant until I saw him fly around a building in front of us, followed by the giant alien fish thing that flew through the air. It roared in anger and swerved dangerously near a building I knew as a law firm.

"I...I don't see how that's a party," Natasha commented. Banner began walking towards the alien as it barreled down towards the ground. My hands curled into fists and glowed with energy. I could see Barton looking at them in shock out of the corner of my eye.

Banner looked behind at us, his eyes on Natasha.
"Now might be a really good time for you to get angry." Rogers stepped forward, his gaze unwavering.

Banner smiled.
"Thats my secret Cap. I'm always angry."

He turned back, and before my very eyes his body began to swell. Green veins snaked across his skin, connecting until his whole body was one big block colour. His shirt ripped to shreds and it was a miracle his pants stayed in one piece.

With a roar, he smashed the oncoming alien fish with his huge fist, smacking it's nose into the ground. Almost in slow motion, the Chitauri alien flipped forward, flying upside down, it's soft spot white and exposed. Tony in the Ironman suit took aim and fired, blasting chunks of burning alien flesh all around the vicinity of the street.

Rogers raised his shield to stop the falling meat from hitting us, and I cowered beside him, the smell of the alien flesh making my stomach churn.
The Chitauri army around us watched in horror as one of their mighty beasts was defeated, and growled angrily.

Far above us, watching from the Start Tower, Loki stared, motionless.
I swore I heard him in my head, but it must have been my imagination.

"Send the rest."

Authors Note
Yeah I couldn't resist. Here you go