Kept Behind Enemy Lines

C H A P T E R T W E N T Y - F I V E

The weapons dematerialized. The illusions faded. The blood remained, slicking the floor. The body lay still, drained of life.

A grim job, but a nessecary one.

Thankfully the crimson addition to Loki's clothes would disappear when he left Percy's mindscape. The raven demigod was beginning to stir. He didn't need to see any of this. Instantly, as if Loki's surroundings agreed with him, things began repairng themselves. The high arches of the roof connected together again like a bridge. Fallen stones rolled up the walls, filling the gaps they'd once created. Soldier's body, an abnormalty. Unnatural. Something never meant to be. It folded in on itself and evaporated in a shower of dull sparks. New carpet appeared under their feet. Percy's stability was returning, a look of calm overcoming his features.

Time to go back to the battle.

Percy's mindscape faded away and they were back. Percy jolted upright with a start, arms ripping free of Loki's grasp, headbutting said god in the face in the process.

"Ow." He muttered before becoming aware of his surroundings. "What-"

Soldier.

"Loki-"

"You can't be distracted by that now. We have a fight to get to. We can talk later." Loki instructed firmly. Loki got off Percy and lowered the dome prison. It was suspiciously empty outside. Empty in the sense that nothing flying chunks of metal immediately came soaring to kill them.

"That centre thingy." Percy accurately described. Loki raised an eyebrow, something he seemed to be doing a lot today.

"Lead the way." They grinned at each other.

The arrived in time to hear Ultron's speech.

"Well it's like the old man said." Tony paused dramatically. "Together."

"So that's what I missed." Percy said, leaning casually on a busted building wall. Everybody whipped around to face the pair.

Loki stood defensively beside him, tending at the death glares being fired his way.

"Cool it. Pick your battles. This right now?" Percy gestured to Loki, "nah uh." Stark growled, but nobody could deny that Percy was right. This came first.

"You broke free." Ultron stated.

"Obviously. Now this is the boringest fight I've ever been in." Nobody cared to correct Percy on his use of description.

Ultron allowed his raised arm to fall, calling those who gathered behind him to flow forwards. They charged with one object in mind.

The core.

Blue weaved through streams of red, robots of silver falling apart by brute force. Nothing was fast enough to escape the blazing fury of the twins, who felt responsible for this.

Beams of light. Gunfire. Mjölnir smashed through the metal ranks. Flashing daggers. Claws. Fists. A bronze leaf like blade. Heroes with capes. A patriotic shield. Until all that remained was him.

Ultron.

Vision, Thor and Tony aimed, and fired. Lightning and brightly coloured beams assaulting the enemy. His face began to melt, circuits frying. They stopped.

"You know, with the benefit of hindsight-" he never got to finish. Hulk charged in and with a roar, punched Ultron far into the sky. He turned and growled at a few scattered bot. They quickly, and wisely, scampered away.

The Avengers gave chase. Every last one needed to be destroyed.

"Oh no. I didn't say you could leave." Somebody Percy hadn't met commented. He flew around in a silver version of what Tony had. "War Machine, coming at you! Right!" Percy rolled his eyes, this "War Machine" reminding him of someone he hadn't seen in years.

Could be dead for all I know.

Percy shrugged off the solemn thought. He would be sure to visit them when this was all over.

Vision flew in, hands materialising in the chests of the enemy. Tearing them apart from the inside out.

"Okay, what?" Rhodes said, dumbfounded. That was new.

Steve issued orders for the Avengers to get to the boats. He'd be along after sweeping for stragglers. Percy and Loki decided they would have a quick look too, then leave.

Nobody would be left behind.

The air was getting thinner.

Time was running out.

Wanda would stay and protect the core.

Once everything was ready to blow, Pietro would retrieve Wanda and everyone go home happy. A heroes win right?

Not quite.

~~~~

I think I like these shorter chapters.

Peace

BTSWD