Unexpected // An MCU Story (Book One)

xxv

I caught my reflection through the dusty mirror of a nearby car, hardly recognizing myself.

I was covered in dust and debris, blood dripping from multiple places on my head. I had a bloody nose and what was sure to be an entire black eye by the end of the day.

My hair was a mess and I decided right then and there that I needed to get Nat to teach me more braids for the next time I had to fight.

I checked to make sure I still had all my teeth, nodding in approval before continuing forward.

I walked past several destroyed vehicles before approaching them, Nat's staff still tight in my grasp.

I kicked a piece of rubble out of my way, causing the two of them to spin around to face me, weapons ready.

I held my arms up in the air in surrender, a smirk on my very damaged face.

"Alex?" Steve asked, lowering his shield as I leaned against a nearby car. I tried to make it look casual when really it was to keep me from falling over out of sheer exhaustion.

"What's up?" I asked casually, ignoring the stunned look on his face.

"How are you still alive?" Thor asked, staring me down.

"Little bit of stupidity, whole lotta luck." I shrugged.

"Well, get ready." Steve told me, looking around us. "This isn't over yet."

"Oh, joy." I muttered sarcastically, standing up straight.

Movement out of the corner of my eye caught my attention, distracting me from the conversation.

I flicked my eyes over to the mirror of a nearby car, seeing an alien racing towards me as I kept perfectly still.

"Get down!" Steve yelled, but I was already in action.

I ducked, narrowly dodging a blast from its gun as I rolled to the side, standing up and swinging the staff down on its arm, damaging the weapon.

I spun out of the way as it lunged for me, whirling the staff into the back of its knees and causing it to fall forward. I kicked its face as hard as I could before it even hit the ground, sending the piece of armor flying so it was more vulnerable. 

I slammed the end of the staff down onto its face, hitting the electric switch and sending electricity coursing through its body until it stopped moving.

I lifted the staff and twirled it back up to my side, giving it one last kick for good measure.

I turned back around, looking up at the shock written all over Steve's face, whereas Thor looked almost impressed.

"We need to close that thing." I told them, stating the obvious as I tried to subtly catch my breath.

"No kidding." Steve nodded, before his eyes went wide. 

Several more aliens began to surround us, and we all backed into a triangle, facing outward as we prepared for the next wave.

"Do it!" Steve suddenly yelled, and I knew that they had found a way to close it already. "Stark, these things are still coming."

My face contorted with confusion. My dad didn't want us to close it?

"What's going on?" I asked Steve, but he didn't answer.

"Stark, you know that's a one-way trip." He said over the comms instead, and my heart plummeted.

"What?" I exclaimed, staring at Steve to make sure I heard him right. And based off of his grim expression, I did. "No, you can't let him!" I snapped, panic like no other beginning to consume me.