The Weight of the Universe | Avengers

30. The Battle of New York

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The five of them jump out of the quantum tunnel and land on the desired side street in the middle of New York's chaos. This time, Eve barely feels dizzy and also the air isn't thin anymore, Aurora really fixed and adjusted the suits after Eve's time travel test. Deactivating their suits, they're now in their combat suits or normal clothes and Eve looks up at the sky. Chitauri are flying and roaring, everything's a mess.

"Alright, we all have assignments. Two Stones uptown, one Stone down. Stay low. Keep an eye on the clock." Steve advises and a loud thud makes each of them turn around. The Hulk has just crushed a Chitauri with a car, violently jumping on it with a wild roar. Steve, Scott, Tony and Eve look back at Bruce in shock who covers his face in embarrassment. "Maybe smash a few things along the way."

"And you managed to calm that thing there down???" Scott asks Eve in utter disbelief and she presses her lips together.

"Right now, I have a hard time believing that myself." She confesses, still taken aback. "It took some time and training though."

"I think it's gratuitous, but whatever." Bruce tears his tank top apart and clears his throat before attempting a poor roar. Awkwardly punching a dent into the car and throwing the motorcycle a few feet away, he proceeds the inauthentic growling.

"This is sad to watch." Tony raises a brow in the air and turns to the remaining three. "Everyone knows the plan. Rendezvous is on the side street next to the Stark Tower."

"Got it." Eve nods along with Steve and Scott. They go separated ways since it would be too suspicious if Steve went alone through New York with a single SHIELD agent.

Jogging through the destructed streets, Eve looks at the sky again and witnesses how Tony's 2012 version falls out of the wormhole. Wait, if Thanos' goal was to erase half of the population on each planet, does it mean that he tried it on Earth, too, but failed because of us? She questions and puts on her helmet and safety glasses, pulling the collar up to her nose.

Entering the Stark Tower, she joins Team Alpha and they walk into the elevator to get to the floor where Loki and the Avengers are. According to Eve's earpiece, the others have arrived, too.

"Got to hustle, Cap. Things look like they're just about wrapped up here." Tony lets Steve know, watching from another building what's going on.

"Got it. I'm approaching the elevator now." Steve responds and Eve is glad the earpiece is advanced enough that only she can hear them. It's too quiet in the elevator right now to even mutter a word.

"Barnes, I hope you're on the elevator."

"Hm." Eve presses her lips together, making that unremarkable noise and Tony immediately understand that it means yes. While she's just standing still, waiting to arrive on the floor, their conversation continues.

"Ugh, Mr. Rogers, I almost forgot that suit did nothing for your ass." Tony sighs mockingly and Eve is trying her best to not scrunch up her face in disbelief. What the hell?

"No one asked you to look." Steve defends himself and Eve hates how she's forced to keep a straight face right now. Do they really have to discuss this on the open line?

"I think you look great, Cap." Now even Scott joins their discussion. "As far as I'm concerned, that's America's ass."

"Barnes, if you agree, stay quiet." Tony takes advantage of Eve's situation and he chuckles. Eve clenches her hands to fists, still doing her best to stay calm. "Ha, she's on my side."

"Guys." Steve sighs tiredly and Eve finally arrives on the floor, the elevator opens. She moves along with the Alpha Team and steps out of the elevator. As expected, the Avengers and Loki are there, but she hasn't even dreamt of seeing the old STRIKE team again, including Rumlow and Agent Sitwell. Rage is boiling up in her stomach and Eve is trying her best to suppress her electricity, thinking of the name Rumlow once left on her collarbone.