Umbra

Chapter Fourteen

Grey didn't try to escape Loki as he seized her by the throat and forcefully pushed her against the nearest wall. She didn't even struggle when he started slowly pressing down on her windpipe, cutting of her air supply.

"You will submit." He mumbled forcefully, a murderous glint in his eye.

"Never to you." Grey choked out, staring fiercely up at her attacker.

Before he could finally kill her, a metallic sound filled the air. Both Grey and Loki turned to the window to see Tony hovering there, in full Iron Man armour, his hand outstretched in Loki's direction.

"And there's another person you pissed off!" Tony sharpened his aim. "His name was Phil."

Loki threw Grey to the ground before he raised the sceptre. Tony anticipated the move, firing at him before he could retaliate, and he sent Loki flying across the Tower floor.

Tony quickly ran to Grey's side. She coughed, her own hand rubbing the fingerprints on her neck as she sat up. Tony flicked his visor up, looking down in concern.

"You okay?" he asked, his metal hands moving to cub her cheeks. She nodded, her eyes not leaving his.

"That was a close one." Grey mumbled softly, "for both of us."

Tony cracked a small smile, resting his forehead on hers in relief. Grey could feel his breath against her lips, and her mouth stretched into a smile itself.

Breaking the moment, a loud crack sound from above them, forcing the two to jump apart in fear – the Tesseract's energy had blasted up into the sky, forming an open vortex. Tony and Grey both looked out of the broken window; the sky had suddenly filled with alien creatures riding in chariots through the air, chattering and screeching.

"Right. Army." Tony quickly pressed his lips against Grey's forehead, closing his eyes for just one second before mumbling to her. "Get down to the street, find Cap. I'll see you after the battle, I promise."

Grey gulped slightly. "Stay safe."

"Stay safe." Tony breathed, before pulling away and closing his helmet. He flew off out of the smashed window, and Grey soon heard the explosions and screams of dying Chitauri.

Grey quickly made her way downstairs, making sure he gun was loaded and she was completely invisible. Above her, she could see Tony shooting at each of the aliens, but her focus was soon drawn on another flying figure in the sky; Thor had arrived.

The battle ensued – Chitauri littered the streets, clumping around groups of civilians like bacteria. Grey focused on these squadrons, silently and invisibly shooting them while ushering the civilian out of their hiding places and into safe zones.

After exterminating another group, Grey eyed one of her victims dropped guns, and her skin crawled at the dark energy flowing from it. She took a breath, before picking it up. It whirred happily in her hands, and her eyebrow rose.

"Let's see what this thing does."

Every shot with the alien gun forced more energy into Grey, and soon she was fizzing, popping, crackling. Every kick with her boot had sent sparks flying, and each punch felt like a lightning bolt flew from her hand. She laughed as she did it, quickly clearing each space of Chitauri.

Still giggling, Grey's eyes locked on the three figures running towards her; Steve, Nat, and one she only knew from pictures – Clint.

When the three joined her, Grey hugged Natasha and Steve tightly. "I'm glad you're here. I could use the help."