After multiple run-ins with death and many shocking self-discoveries in the course of a few months, all America Evans wants to do is hide away in Washington with Steve until she finds out who she really is. But life as an Avenger doesn't allow for a...
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AMERICA'S POV
"Avengers, time to work for a living."
Pietro and I arrive in the church right after Tony says this. He beat me, of course. "You good?" He asks Wanda, who stands protectively in front of the vibranium core, her scarlet powers swirling around us. She nods.
"Yeah."
"What's the drill?" Nat asks as she joins us. All of the team is officially assembled and angry. Not a good combination. Well, for Ultron. For us, it's fantastic.
Tony points to the core. "This is the drill. If Ultron gets a hand on the core, we lose."
Thor smacks another robot away with his hammer, and the Hulk takes down a few more. "Is that the best you can do?" He roars as Ultron descends.
Utron holds up a hand, and hundreds of bots join him. His own army. My eyes widen as I take in the sheer number of opponents we now have. Steve turns to Thor, an exasperated look on his face.
"You had to ask." I roll my eyes playfully at his comments.
"This is the best I can do. This is exactly what I wanted. All of you, against all of me. How could you possibly hope to stop me?"
"Well, like the old man said." Tony motions to the group. "Together." The Hulk roars, and the fight begins.
I fight. I fight like I've never fought before. I fight for everyone who might die. I fight for the family I found. I am motion, speed, agility. I am Miss Momentum, someone not to be messed with. And I haven't been shot yet. I might break a record today.
Soon, Hulk smashes the last approaching bot out of sight. A big group of them start to fly away. No.
"They'll try to escape the city," Thor growls darkly.
"We can't let em, not even one," Tony says, powering up the suit's thrusters. He addresses his friend. "Rhodey!"
"We gotta move out," Steve says to us all. "Even I can tell the air is getting thin. You guys get to the boats, I'll sweep for stragglers, be right behind you."
"What about the core?" Clint asks.
"I'll protect it," Wanda says stoutly. He nods in approval. "It's my job."
"Be careful," I warn her. She surprises me with a quick hug that's tighter than I expected. Clint and Nat disperse, and Steve begins to leave when I stop him.
"No!" I say, running up to him. "You get to the boats. I'm faster, I'll meet you there."
"No, America-"
"I can check the entire city faster than you can check two hundred feet. It's safer for me to do this. I'm doing this, Steve," I say firmly. "You need to go."
"I can't leave you."
"You won't. I'll be right behind you." I take his face in my hands and force him to meet my eyes. "I can rescue myself today. You go rescue everyone else."
"Mer." He quickly pulls me close for a kiss, a kiss that ends all too soon. "We've got a date tomorrow. Be there."
"I will." We take off in opposite directions. I don't worry about him, or the team, or myself. I don't leave room for anything in my head but the people of Sokovia.
I check as many buildings as I can, running up and down stairs, through parks and schools. but I don't find anyone. That's good. We did a better job than I thought. No one is left on this rock, just us. I start to jog back when I spot Clint and a little boy, with a robot in pursuit. From about thirty feet away, I see Clint brace himself as Ultron aims to fire. My eyes widen as Pietro runs, and my feet move before I have time to think or question anything. I just know they're both much better than me.
Multiple bullets pierce my skin, and I hold in a cry. I'm suspended in motion, breathing heavily, blinking back tears. Pietro, who was also shot a few times, and Clint, who lowers the child to the ground, stare at me for a few seconds.
"I told you," I whisper to Pietro before collapsing to the ground. They're both at my side in an instant. Clint gently rolls me over and curses under his breath. It must be worse than it feels. And it feels pretty bad. When I shakily raise my hand and Pietro grips it, his palm becomes coated in blood.
"We need to get her help now," he mutters to Pietro, who despite injuries of his own, nods. Clint scoops me up and moves as quickly as he can through the rubble and destruction. He's stronger than I gave him credit for. "You run ahead. Tell them what happened. We're going to need medics." Pietro glances at me once more with terrified eyes before taking off.
"Clint-" I mumble, my eyes fluttering shut.
"No. No closing your eyes. Not now. I know it hurts, but you've got to stay with me, okay?" I nod the slightest bit, and that's enough for him. He starts talking into the comms, but mine must have fallen out and I don't hear anything. I can barely focus on his words. None of them process in my brain correctly. It doesn't make sense. The last time I almost died, I was free-falling with no way to save myself. There was a sort of inevitability about it, and there wasn't long to be scared. Not like this. This is terrifying, agonizing.
"Clint-"
"You're gonna be fine. America, it's gonna be fine. All of it. Just stay awake a little longer." I hear the desperation in his voice as clear as day. He thinks he's going to lose me.
I bite my lip and do my best to fight the impending darkness.
New one, bit of a cliffhanger. I saved Pietro, though.
