Chapter 37 – Avengers Assemble (8)

(New York City- New York –May 4th, 2012)

"Brother, are you certain this is a good idea?" Thor's voice sounded out as he started spinning Mjolnir summoning the power of a storm to devastate the section of the city before him.

The section he was looking at was adjacent to the waterfront and lay beside the massive black ship they needed to destroy, with the SHIELD Helicarrier visible in the distance behind it. The current power he was channelling, although he knew it couldn't penetrate the ship's shields, was still enough to level everything before him.

"There are no civilians left here, only Chitauri and Zod protecting the ship." Kal's voice sounded out calmly as he scanned the area again to make sure he was correct. "We need to flush him out so that Carol can get him away from the ground and I can…deal with him."

"Only if you are sure?" Thor asked a little uncertainly, finding it odd that for once he was the cautious one and that Kal was the one advocating for mass destruction as a plan.

"OH just do it, you big blonde baby." Carol stated as she stretched her legs and arms, her position on the ground just outside the area they were about to pulverize ready to leap up and bring Zod to Kal. "Let's light this candle."

"Hmph, Kal," Thor said as he let out a snort as he geared up to do his part a small smile started to grace his face. "I like this one."

The thunder god then unleashed the pent-up energy he had been saving up, instead of his usual move of holding aloft his hammer to the sky he instead brought it crashing down to earth. The moment the weapon made contact with the ground, Kal could feel the power and heat of Thor's attack. Like a thundering herd of Bilgesnipes, the lightning of Thor's attack charged forward reducing everything before it to ash.

A few blocks from downtown towards the centre of the island the massive explosion of light and electricity caused Steve's head to snap towards its source as he punched a Chitauri foot soldier that Nat then shot. He looked over towards his current partner as Clint fired shots from a rooftop and Tony flew overhead and couldn't help but admire the woman fighting next to him.

"We need to get this fight finished soon or else we wouldn't have a city left," Steve stated, as he slipped in next to Nat, punching a Chitauri next to her with his shield. A nod of his head indicated the direction of the massive amount of light still filling up the sky.

"Da, we are barely slowing these guys down, Cap." Nat panted as her natural accent sounded out too tired to maintain any type of façade as she also fired her last magazine at a squad of enemies. "None of this will mean a thing unless we can close that portal."

"Our biggest guns couldn't touch it." Steve huffed out as he glanced up at the portal which was still spewing forth thousands of Chitauri at every moment.

"Vell, maybe it's not about guns" Nat stated with the calmness of a Russian winter, glancing up at the portal with a pensive look on her face.

Steve glanced around them and saw hundreds more Chitauri moving back into the area he and Nat just cleared, their window of being able to anything slowly closing. He then looked at the spy quickly and saw that the woman clearly had an idea or at least a gut feeling that she could help out where the others couldn't.

"If you want to get up there, you're going to need a ride," Steve said as took in several deep breaths readying himself for the next round of fighting.

"I got a ride." Nat said her calmness remaining as she gestured with her head at a group of incoming chariot-riding Chitauri in the air. "Kould use boost zough, if you vouldn't mind."

Steve moved over and readied his shield to launch Nat into the air figuring out what her plan was. However, a look of uncertainty came over his face as she limbered up ready to launch in the air.

"You sure about this?" Steve asked as squared his feet ready to do his bit, thinking that the plan was slightly crazy.

"Da, it's going to be fun," Nat stated, as calm as if she was merely bearing for a ballet leap at the Bolshoi.

Before Steve could say anything else, he was forced to react as Nat ran at him at breakneck speed leaping gracefully in the air, a single foot touching his shield as he pushed her up. Graceful as a black swan soaring through the air, she launched herself upwards with a twist to land on one of the incoming chariots.

As she landed, she plunged a dagger into the head of the Chitauri firing off the back of the airborne vehicle. She then twisted around, and like her moniker she ruthlessly plunged two daggers into the back of the pilot, utilising his corpse to fly.

Steve had a chance to grin before he was forced to duck from the incoming fire from the hundreds of enemies swarming his position. He let out a deep sigh and rushed back into the fray hoping that the rush of adrenaline would be enough to carry his tired and bruised body a bit longer. As he did so he saw a black figure being launched into the air by a powerful beam of light.

Back near the waterfront, the battle was going almost according to plan.

Thor's devastating attack had managed to flush out Zod who had rushed forward through the barrage of lightning to try to prevent any threats to the world engine, just as they planned. However, what they had not counted on was Zod moving faster than he had before, rocketing forward to grab Thor and start pummelling him into the ground. It was almost as if the more Zod broke down the stronger he was becoming, like his body was burning through everything it had left to keep him fighting and alive for as long as possible.

However, Thor was not some hapless maiden nor a novice warrior but a battle-tested warrior prince of Asgard. He observed between the blurs of Zod's fist striking his face that the General's attack was sloppy and more like a brawler instead of a refined warrior. Seeing an opportunity, Thor managed to move his head out of the way of a single blow and as the general overextended, he brought up his other hand and slipped the loop on the end of Mjolnir's handle over the Kryptonian's neck.

As Zod brought himself back to unleash another barrage he found himself pulled forward slamming his face against the floor as Mjolnir refused to move. The act allowed Thor to dart out from underneath his attacker with a smile on his face as he lifted up his hand summoning his hammer back to him. Zod was flung like a rag doll through the air, slipping out of the loop as he sailed over his opponent's head.

"MARVEL, NOW!"

Thor's excited cry was immediately answered. Before Zod could react or correct himself a bright streak of light surged through the street cracking pavement and glass. Carol was holding nothing back as she slammed into the General, moving forward a few blocks before suddenly turning upwards. With Zod between her and the sky, Carol smirked as she unleashed the greatest blast she could and catapulted Zod into the sky.

Zod felt his chest singe and smelt his skin burn as he soared upward. At the peak of his flight, he felt himself become weightless for a moment, allowing him to regain his bearings and move to return himself to the safety of the city streets. He knew that Jor-El's son would never use his full strength when surrounded by the insects he seemed to care for.

It was at that moment that Kal appeared, hidden in the rays of the sun, swooping down on the other Kryptonian like a bird of prey. He grabbed the man's neck as he unleashed his heat vision into Zod's face, shooting upwards like a bullet. Zod responded by bringing his arms up in a surprising surge of strength whilst unleashing his own heat vision into Kal-El's face with a yell.

The two titans, locked into a death struggle both desiring the destruction of the other, trying to claim the title as the last son of Krypton. A title neither truly desired but felt in that moment needed to be claimed to preserve everything they loved.

To everyone else, the sky became filled with red as the two Kryptonians' heat vision blasted off each other, getting hotter and more powerful each second. Arcing rays of stray energy, pure bolts of power rained down over the city, annihilating everything they struck. Kal felt himself weaken first, and it was Zod's poisoned body that weakened him as they reached the upper edge of Earth's atmosphere while the air burned off around them. His faltering heat vision earned a smirk from Zod, whose own vision merely intensified, causing the skin around his eyes to char as he pushed everything he had into killing his enemy.

"Your father also equipped himself with great honour Kal. Know… that I take no pleasure in killing you." Zod spoke as he gritted his teeth, intensifying his vision to the point his own skin was flaking off his face in a desperate attempt to remove the last obstacle to his people's return. "Be proud that you die like a Kryptonian."

"I'm not just a son of Krypton," Kal said as he gritted his teeth as well. He let one of his hands go from Zod's neck and opening it up, he immediately felt a familiar pull. "I am also a son of Asgard!"

Kal's declaration was accompanied by Gram rocketing back into his hand from the earth's surface, the feeling of power returning to him immediately. He began shining brightly channelling the full power of Asgard through him. As they reached the void of space Kal was brighter than the sun and was easily able to overpower Zod, twisting the blade in his hands he plunged Gram into the General's chest. The action caused the two to begin streaking back down to earth like a pair of falling mythic figures, one the avenging saviour returning in triumph the other the fallen angel dammed and broken.

However, as they streaked back down to earth Kal saw not pain nor anger in the defeated man, but serenity. A smile of almost pure bliss was on Zod's face as he stared up at Kal, as the air began burning around the two as they started heading towards the black ship in the harbour. Zod brought his hand up to hold Kal's face, gently touching his cheek. The action was almost loving as if Zod was Kal's father staring into the eyes of his son, not a man being hurtled towards his destruction.

"Krypton…... endures." Zod was smiling and tears graced his face as he looked at Kal, just as the two collided with the black ship's shields.

The combined force of both the Kryptonians and Gram was enough to shatter the shield and send the pair hurtling through the ship. It broke apart like it was a sandcastle hit by a meteor, the shock wave of the explosion causing the nearby Helicarrier to jostle violently and lose more than a few plates of its armour.

"KAL!" Carol's voice sounded out as she raced towards the collapsing wreckage of the ship. However, her rescue attempt had to wait as she had to deal with the small tidal the ship's destruction caused.

The ship's detonation had caused a mini tidal wave to surge forward and threaten to envelop what remained of the lower part of the island of Manhattan as well as the rest of the New York Bay area. She raced downwards towards the water and unleashed a series of blasts that were perfectly aimed to break up the incoming tide. Carol was also aided by Thor who had recovered from Zod's attack unleashing his own attack on the water to prevent the sinking of the city he was trying to protect.

As Carol went up again trying to find any sign of Kal, she felt her heart miss a beat as she saw him wade onto the shore. The last vestiges of the power he had channelled were leaving him and as the shining light died down, his tattered armour and bruised skin were revealed to all. As she swooped down to check on him, she was waved off as he stood tall and proud giving her a confident look and gesturing back towards the battle.

Carol lingered for a moment before giving him a slightly hesitant nod before turning around and heading back into the city followed by Thor, both determined to find Loki and end this. As his brother and his love left Kal felt the strength momentarily leave his body, causing him to collapse onto one knee as he took a moment to regain his strength. His brief rest did not last long as he heard a figure wading in the water behind him, causing him to raise and turn.

Kal let out an exasperated sigh, as standing before him somehow still alive was Zod.

The general now truly looked like a corpse, his armour was a twisted black charred smudge melted to his flesh, and the gaps within it were not showing skin but bone or in some cases nothing as large holes existed in his flesh. Kal looked at the single clean cut that ran through the man's chest and saw that Zod had pulled Gram from it, his sword in the man's right hand which was now smouldering. Kal could see behind him the remains of the black ship's genesis chamber sinking into the sea taking with it the last Kryptonian Embryos and incubators that were not within his fortress.

Kal clenched his hands into fists once more ready to do battle again but found that it was not needed as Zod surprisingly dropped Gram. The general swayed before Kal and took several unsteady steps before he collapsed, forward. Kal on instinct moved forward and caught the man, Zod's wait forcing Kal to knees as he cradled the warrior of Krypton in his arms.

"The… codex…is…in…you." Zod's voice was fading fast, but the expression of peace lingered, as he lifted a hand and showed Kal some of his own blood. "Krypton… will… …endure."

Kal was silent as he looked down at the man that he had just killed, a feeling of pity within for the general who was so desperate to save his people. The world itself was silent to them expect for a single jet craft that streaked across the sky above their head that unleashed a single missile that was arcing across the sky. Kal took little notice as he released a deep breath as he closed his eyes before he spoke again to the General, feeling he had to tell Zod the truth, that Kal after seeing what another Kryptonian could do, he did not think it was safe for the universe to restore his people.

"Krypton is gone General, I can't res-" Kal's voice was barely above a whisper, but he was cut off as Zod surged grabbing what remained of the neck of his armour, the last sparks of his life in his eyes.

"NO…...please…. don't…...doom…. our…people…because of…...me. HUH-ARGH!" Zod stopped talking as he coughed up the last remains of the blood in his body, his skin going even paler. He looked up with Kal with pleading eyes that connected with Kal on a level no other being before ever had, it was the unspoken pleading of the last of a race to his sole remaining kin. "We…were…. a…. great…. people… we…accomplished …wonders…. You…...are …. strong…. enough … to….to…lead…"

Kal watched as Zod began to trail off the light in his eyes died away, the grip on his armour once like a vice slackened as the hand fell. For a moment Kal thought that Zod had passed beyond the veil but suddenly the general moved his head one last time and looked into Kal's eyes. As he spoke his voice was no longer broken nor dying it was strong again like it had once been and so filled with hope.

"Jor-El, my brother." Zod gave Kal a smile that was full and happy, as he saw not the son but the father for one last time. "I have missed you, are we going home brother? Are we going to Krypton?"

Kal opened his mouth to correct the general to shatter the illusion that the dying man who had terrorized the world he had sworn to protect and murdered his friends but found that he could not. In his arms was not a would-be tyrant nor even a great warrior, but merely a dutiful son wanting to see home one last time.

"We are going home …...brother." Kal's words caused Zod to give one final smile as he closed his eyes and let the last of his strength leave him.

As if Zod's death was a signal, Kal suddenly heard an explosion from behind him, which was accompanied by every single Chitauri vessel in the sky falling to the earth. He turned just in time to see a ball of fire emanating from the portal above his head as it began to. Just as it was beginning to close, he saw the tattered and almost destroyed figure of Iron Man falling from the portal.

(SHIELD Helicarrier – New York Bay – May 4th, 2012)

Fury was finding that every positive action today was immediately followed by several tons of crap, burning flaming crap. Case and point, the giant alien death machine that had been threatening to destroy all life had just exploded, excellent positive progress, which was immediately followed by the council launching a nuclear strike on Manhattan.

"Sir, we have a bird in motion!" Hill's voice called over the clamour of the command deck as the ship was still trying to stabilise following the world engine's destruction. She then scrambled over to her console pressing every button she could to try and stop the launch. "Anyone on deck, we have a rogue bird. We need to shoot it down. Repeat: takeoff is not authorised!"

Fury's eye swivelled to the screen next to him showing a single jet on the carrier deck ready to launch, a tactical nuclear payload fixed to it. Fury then turned to the other man of authority in the room who was still elbows-deep in wires and technology trying to keep the Helicarrier working.

"Luthor, can you get our systems to shut down that bird?!" Fury asked, shouting over Hill, hoping that Lex could reprogram the Helicarrier's defence systems he had restored to target friendly crafts.

"I am trying!" Lex shouted frustration in his voice as he suddenly slid to the floor, getting underneath a console and pulling out wires and processors in an effort to help. "But I am currently keeping the engines on, and the reactor core from overheating."

Fury bit back the curse that had almost escaped his lips as despite the terrible news he knew Lex was not at fault and although he was loath to admit it the narcissist-bordering-on-sociopath of a billionaire had proved invaluable during the crisis. However, Fury wasted no time as he pushed off the console he was at and started running for the flight deck. Although he was now one-handed, Fury only needed his one good hand and one good eye to get the job done.

As he reached the deck, he pulled out his side arm and watched the rogue jet start its run, however, the bird never reached its target as the pilot's head suddenly exploded in a red mess. Fury lowered his sidearm, releasing a slow controlled breath, a grimace on his face that he had to use his marksmanship skills to kill one of his own men. However, his grimace turned into a snarl as he saw a second jet launch off of the underdeck. Fury's hand came up too late to get a shot off.

"Damn" he cursed as he watched the jet soar off at speed obviously under orders to launch its deadly payload as soon as possible. He brought up his hand to his comm device and tried every channel that was active in quick succession until he got the response team. "Stark, do you hear me? You have a missile heading for the city."

"How Long?" Stark's voice called over the radio as what sounded like scraping metal and fighting was blaring in the background.

"Three minutes, max." Fury said as he got back inside the Helicarrier and pulled up the specs for what had just been launched, a deep feeling of dread as he saw which warhead the council had ordered used. "Stark, it's a Phase 2-modified tactical nuke. It'll wipe Manhattan and most of New York state off the map."

"Got it." Stark said as he blasted the enemies away from him he was fighting. "Jarvis, give me everything into the thrusters NOW!"

(Central Manhattan – New York – May 4th 2012)

"Team ve have problem" Nat's Russian accent sounded over the communication devices as Tony was soaring towards the missile that had just been launched.

"We know!" Tony barked out as he felt his suit starting to strain from the speed he was putting the damaged suit through. "I'm trying to deal with the missile right now."

"Niet, not the missile," Nat responded to Tony's urgent voice was ice cold calmness. "I'm vith Doctor Selvig, he has told me ve need the sceptre to shut down the portal."

"Anyone got eyes on it?" Steve sounded out as his shield smashed the head of a Chitauri footsoldier clean off.

"It's still vith Loki." Nat sounded out as she gazed at the portal that was still blasting away before her bringing even more monsters into her world.

"I've got him." Carol's voice sounded out as she soared through the air like an avenging comet. "One sceptre coming up."

Carol had spotted Loki's chariot streaking through the air below her. His tactic of avoidance to frustrate and keep the Avengers off balance had seemed to have been abandoned at seeing Zod's ship explode in the harbour. He was now seemingly trying to just hide; his flight pattern was erratic, and he was keeping low while trying to weave between the rubble of the buildings.

However, Carol had run out of patience and simply gained altitude before she dived bombed Loki and the squadron protecting him. A series of arrows shooting out from a nearby rooftop provided the cover she needed to go unnoticed as Loki's eyes were drawn to Clint who had taken out all of his guarding chariots. Loki raised his sceptre with a snarl on his face as he prepared to destroy his former thrall, it was the last thing Loki did with his arm for a while.

Carol unceremoniously crashed into Loki, she brought her first fist down onto the centre of Loki's elbows her speed and strength resulting in a cracking noise as his arm shattered and bent the wrong way. Loki's shriek of pain was short-lived as Carol twisted in the air and lifted Loki up by his throat, her face one of fury and rage. Despite her temptation to put her fist through his skull right then and there, she resisted it knowing that there were a few other people that had a claim to his head.

"You're coming with me," Carol said as she leaned down and picked up the sceptre Loki had dropped, still holding the injured god by the neck. "Your brothers would like a word."

Carol then rocketed towards the top of Stark's tower, clutching the sceptre carefully in one hand and dragging Loki through the air without much care in the other. The Asgardian prince flopped around like a rag doll and was tossed like one into the corner of the tower's roof when Carol arrived. The Marvellous maiden of might, gave him one snarl before she threw the sceptre into Nat's waiting hand, earning a nod from the Black Widow.

"Spasiba" The icy Russian warrioress thanked her comrade in her native tongue as she turned back to the portal generator, turning to Selvig for direction.

"Right at the crown!" Selvig shouted as he pointed at the spot Nat needed to disturb before he clutched his head still feeling a ringing and tugging inside his skull.

As Nat pushed the sceptre through the barrier around the Tesseract she had to duck as sparks of pure energy jolted off of it. She grimaced as she felt the instrument in her hand both try to pull her forward and push her back, as the energy danced along it in beautiful arcs of swirling power.

"I kan close it. Kan anyone kopy? I kan shut down the portal." Nat called out as her usual calm Russian accent was now punctuated but grunts and tension as she felt to hold onto the sceptre.

"DO IT!" Steve's voice called out more than ready for this to be over.

"No, wait!" Tony's voice sounded out interrupting Steve and cutting off anyone else that wanted to speak.

"Stark, these things are still pouring in. We need to end this now!" Steve grunted out his point reinforced as he ducked under an energy bolt and smashed his shield into the side of yet another Chitauri only for three more to take its place.

"I've got a Phase 2 nuke coming in. It's going to blow in less than a minute…" Tony stated as he approached the missile grabbing it and starting to redirect it to where he wanted. "...and I know just the place to put it."

"Stark, that's likely a one-way trip," Steve whispered over the radio as he cast a glance upwards toward the incoming metallic objects. The radio fell silent as Stark failed to come up with a witty response, instead, he just took a deep breath.

"I know." Tony briefly closed his eyes as an image of Pepper flashed through his mind. "Save anything we have for the return journey, J"

"Sir, shall I try Miss Potts?" Jarvis spoke with almost human-like softness as he brought up the contact details for Pepper Potts.

"Might as well." Tony breathed out as he started his final approach to the wormhole, his mind racing with what he should say, the only things leaping to mind were awful and tacky.

However, Tony's momentary consideration of a final farewell ended abruptly as he felt a strange sensation as he passed through the portal. The world briefly became one of bluish hues mixed with colours that Tony had never seen before, which was then quickly replaced with a void filled with nightmares. The expanse before him was filled with legions upon legions of hellish unearthly creatures swirling around a single massive hive-like ship, all of them ready to pour forth upon his world.

"Sir power, level is criccccta-" Jarvis' voice was sluggish and slow as the last vestiges of power began to leave the suit.

Tony released the warhead as he felt the last of his strength leave his body while the suit's power core began to fail. He felt weightless for a moment as the void took him, watching with wide-eyed fear and awe as the missile soared across the vacuum. As if confident in their invincibility not a single one of the nightmarish monsters attempted to stop the sole metallic object as it flew closer to the hive.

It was only when the missile struck did they realise their mistake and Tony understood what he had just saved New York from. There was a moment of nothingness before the void itself shook around him as the cosmic warhead detonated, unleashing a wave of roiling flame in every direction. However, the blast, although it promised death, was also Tony's salvation as the shockwave pushed him back through the breach in space.

As Tony fell Natasha wasted no time striking forth with the sceptre Carol had retrieved. The moment it touched the cool metal underneath the portal above them began to fracture and collapse. Tony passed through the portal at the last second with it fully collapsing as he fell to the earth like a ragdoll dropped from a plane. Carol was about to move to intercept the falling Avenger when a blurred streak passed her.

Kal had gently placed Zod on the floor and made a mental note to come back for the corpse of the last warrior of Krypton. He then launched himself into the air towards Tony soaring past Carol and streaked up to gently catch his comrade. Kal was careful to cradle Tony making sure that his hasty recuse was not going to cause the man of iron any harm.

As Kal landed next to Captain America, he felt the earth next to him shift and looked up to see Thor and the Hulk had arrived. He however quickly returned his focus to Tony who was still not moving and whose suit was worryingly without its usual glow in the centre of its chest.

"Is he breathing?" Steve asked as he moved forward looking at Kal for answers.

Kal lifted his hand to Tony's face and ripped the mask off of the suit to see the currently unconscious billionaire an almost peaceful look on his face. However, Tony was still not moving and there seemed to be no visible sign of life.

"Is he de-" Steve's voice was hesitant fearing that their victor had cost the life of another comrade. However, was cut off by a single sound that cracked through the air and ricocheted off the nearby buildings.

SLAP!

Kal's hand had streaked in a blur and struck Tony across the face causing everyone's eyebrows to raise in shock including the Hulks. However, before anyone could question it Tony suddenly spurred to life, the reactor in his chest humming again although clearly depleted.

"Okay, I'm awake," Tony sputtered out, stirring as if he was 13 again and his mom was getting up from bed. However, Tony suddenly felt the pain of his body return releasing a massive groan as he lifted his head off the ground to look at his comrades. "What the hell? What just happened? Please, please…. tell me no one kissed me."

Steve gave Kal a quick glance his eyebrows still raised at Kal's slapping of Tony to wake the man up. "Just how long had you waited to do that?"

"About 10 seconds after I first met him." Kal gave the super soldier a small playful grin before he returned to looking at the multi-billionaire. "We won."

"All right, yay!" Tony said as he released another groan putting his head back on the ground as another wave of pain hit him. "Hurray. Good jobs, guys. Let's just not come in tomorrow. Let's just take a day."

Steve just shook his head in disbelief as Kal offered Tony a hand and lifted the multi-billionaire off of the ground gently. As Tony stood up his playful victorious smile wavered slightly as looked around and saw the true amount of devastation that the battle had caused, whole city bollocks where just gone. The few that remained where not in anyway good, most had massive holes blown through them and the ones that didn't had the massive Leviathans creatures laying on top of them.

"Do you require any assistance?" Kal asked as he saw the look on Tony's face a mixture of horror and pain as he looked around at what remained of New York.

"Huh, oh I was just thinking you guys ever try shawarma?" Tony returned his usual jovial light-hearted attitude earning him a grin from Steve but Kal was less certain as he saw something lingering in Tony's eyes. "There's a shawarma joint about two blocks from here. I don't know what it is but I want to try it."

"We are not finished yet," Thor said as he looked up at the tower seeing the figure of Captain Marvel rapidly descending carrying two people and a glowing cube. Well, more carrying one and dragging the second like an uncared-for rag doll.

"Okay let's be super one more time" Tony said as he glanced up and saw what was coming, he released a heavy sigh before he again straightened himself up, a cocky grin then appearing on his face. "And then shawarma after."

Carol let go of Loki with little care causing the would-be world conqueror to crash to the floor unceremoniously as she gently lowered herself and Nat to the floor. She was currently holding the Tesseract in her left hand with Natasha pressed to her with her left arm, the Black Widow herself was carrying Loki's sceptre. As the two landed a thud drew everyone's attention as an arrow impacted next to the with a wire attached to it, which Clint promptly slip down.

"Oh no, don't worry about good old Hawkeye." Barton joked as he retrieved his last arrow stretching as he felt every bone in his body ache. "You all just fly down; I'll take the boring way."

"Vell you are old." Natasha quipped back, her cold Russian accent somehow increasing the humour of the joke, earning a smile from her partner.

"ENOUGH!" Loki roared as he got up from where Carol had dropped him clutching his still twisted and bent right arm. "I will not be ignored. You are all pathetic, beneath me not even worthy of my apathy! I AM A GOD; YOU ARE MEWLING PATHETIC CREATURES AND I WILL NOT B-"

Kal was about to move forward to have words or more accurately strike his brother tired of Loki's words and not in any mood to listen anymore. However, before he could react the Hulk had merely moved forward and grabbed Loki by one leg before swinging him around like he was a sack of overripe potatoes. Kal's along with everyone else's eyes went wide as they watched Loki strike one piece of the road next to Hulk and then raise, only to strike another.

The barrage in all was not a short affair, as Hulk had plenty of pent-up rage built from the battle and it seemed Loki had become the outlet. After what seemed like hours but in reality, was only a few minutes, the Hulk began to become less green and smaller until with one final superhuman swing he brought Loki down into a crater, transforming fully back into Doctor Banner. Bruce quickly moved to grip his trousers that were now over stretched as he was panting heavily, he then turned and walked back to the group.

"Puny God." Bruce grunted out as the last vestiges of the Hulk left him.

His statement caused chuckles to rise out of everyone except for the target of his outburst who merely let out a single mewling groan like a wounded pussycat.

(Temporary SHIELD Base – Central Park – 11th May 2012)

"So, what are you going to do now?" Carol asked no longer in her Starforce Uniform, but a T-shirt and jeans with her leather flight jacket covering her as well.

She let out a small snort as she saw a nearby screen showing a previous interview of Lex Luthor being interviewed about the events in New York with the title. Luthor instrumental in saving City with Avengers. Although the sound was off it was clear that Lex was acting humble adding to his apparent noble appearance as he stood in the rumble of the city helping with the clean-up.

"Well, I was thinking maybe taking you for a nice meal." Kal gave her a playful smile as he turned back to look at her, ceasing his observations of the clean-up efforts that the city was still undergoing. "Clint has invited me to something called a B-B-Q, and is serving flaming hot wings? I suspect it is a type of Phoenix dish."

"Oh god, never change Kal." Carol let out a chuckle before moving in and planting a small kiss on his cheek, finding his lack of understanding of Human cultures still adorable. However, her face then grew serious a strained look appearing as she released a sigh. "But you know what I meant. So, are you going back now?"

Kal was silent for a few moments, in truth he had been avoiding the topic relentlessly, which had been easy given the state of everything over the past week. Whilst most of the world sung their praises, a few had attacked the 'Avengers' as people where calling them for the damage they had caused. Kal had tried to silence that criticism by almost single handily clean up the remains of the World Engine in the bay, having either destroyed the remains or moved what was salvageable to the artic and the safety of his fortress.

However, even then it was still not enough despite everyone who was able pitching in the damage was just too extensive, some parts of the city where just gone and nothing could be saved. Even Kal suspected he had missed a few incubators from Zod's ship that the ocean had carried away but was currently unconcerned. Those incubators would be far too damaged for any human to use and even if they weren't he a human would need his blood to utilise them and figure out how to operate them. So even if he had missed a few he was certain that he had time to find them.

Zod's body had also taken up much of his time as well, he had promptly delivered the body to the fortress and left it in the care of Jor-El for a few days as he helped out the city. However, when he had returned Kal had discovered that disposing of the body was incredibly difficult as even dead and poisoned Kryptonian cells did not break down easily. In the end Kal had had to fly the body and gently push it into Earth's sun the only source of heat he had that was hot enough to do the job.

However, Kal knew he could not keep avoiding the question forever so finally released a tired sigh and looked up at Carol. For a moment he had no idea what he was going to say before he felt a wave of certainty wash over him as he looked into her eyes.

"No, I'm not going home at least not yet," Kal said as he decided on his course of action. "I am needed here, and I need to ensure nothing dangerous remains from Loki's attempted conquest. Besides, even with the Tesseracts restoring the Bifrost will take a little while, Midgard is still vulnerable to attack."

"But once the Bifrost has been restored?" Carol asked hesitatingly knowing Kal too well to think he had not thought that far ahead. Her question caused him to sigh only as she could make him part defeat and part resignation.

"Thor has told me that the Nine Realms are in chaos. The loss of the Bifrost left the realms open to war and invasion. Every petty grudge exploded into a conflict without our wisdom to soothe tensions and every opportunistic enemy we had pounced." Kal reported frustration evident in his voice, as he looked to the sky as if he could see their section of the cosmos on fire. "…. when the Bifrost is restored Asgard will march to restore the peace, and I must be part of that."

Carol was silent for a few moments as she looked at Kal before she pushed off of the surface, she hand been leaning against uncrossing her arms as she did.

"Okay." She said her voice certain causing Kal to look at her.

"Okay?" Kal asked hesitantly not sure what her word's meant.

"Okay, I'll help." Carol said giving him a smirk. "Things are quiet my side of the cosmos, so I can stick around and help sort out your mess."

Kal chuckled and opened his mouth to try and tell her that was not necessary but as he attempted to do so Carol just raised her eyebrows at him daring him to try to tell her what to do. He suddenly found himself silent and then chuckled before shrugging his shoulders in defeat earning him a smile from Carol.

"Good boy." She said as she moved over and patted his cheek with a playful smirk on her face. "So, they are letting Thor take the Tesseract and Loki. How did you swing that one?"

"I made a deal." Kal said a slight grimace on his face as he remembered the conversation he and Thor had had with Fury regarding their brother.

"Which was?" Carol asked curious.

"We get Loki and the Tesseract. In exchange SHIELD gets to keep any remaining weapons they have already created from it. They are also keeping the Sceptre whilst I give my aid in helping to restore the minds of those Loki enthralled, after which I will take it back to Asgard. There is something odd about it …. Also, me and Thor don't tear SHIELD apart if they refused." Kal said in a matter-of-fact tone, however the grimace on his face made her feel that it was certainly a compromise that both parties had bitterly reached.

"Do you think that is wise?" Carol didn't want to press the issue, but she had seen the Phase 2 weapons twice now and was not certain humanity was ready for that type of fire power.

"It is not ideal, but I have spoken with the one named Luthor who made the weapons, and he has stated that he was only able to get 3 missiles ready. And has sworn that he will not work on the project any further, so I don't believe it is a threat." Kal reported his voice more confident now and the grimace had partly gone from his face.

"Kal, I don't think you trust Luthor. Something about him makes my skin crawl and he did launch a missile at you. He could have killed you." Caro pressed the image of the bald-headed man made her feel off for some reason, although she couldn't put her finger on it.

"He was truthful when I spoke to him, and I believe he genuinely has no further interests in the Phase 2 weapons." Kal said as he took in Carol's words giving her an appreciative nod. "As for the missile whilst I am not happy, I do understand it was War and he thought it was his chance to defeat an enemy. Regardless, currently Lex Luthor is the least of my worries."

"So, what is worrying you currently?" Carol asked a concerned eyebrow-raising as she looked at Kal wonder what issue forefront in his mind was.

"As I said, taking you for a meal." Kal gave Carol a playful smile as he moved in towards her.

His almost cheesy line earned him a playful slap on the chest from Carol as she leaned in and kissed him. Her worries about the Sceptre, Loki, Lex and the rest of it floated out of her mind as she lived in the moment.

It was a little while later as the Avengers gathered one more time to see Thor off who was currently escorting a very battered and very restrained Loki, whose mouth had even been muzzled to prevent him from talking. Thor pushed Loki to the centre of a cleared area as he watched Selvig and surprisingly Lex Luthor, who had arrived to help, carefully placed the Tesseract within a device Kal had created to allow him to safely travel back home. Thor turned away from Loki for a moment and gave Kal a smile yet mournful smile.

"Are you sure that you cannot come brother?" Thor asked hopeful that Kal would change his mind about waiting to come home. "It will make my meeting with Mother so much easier."

"I have responsibilities here brother," Kal said placing a hand on his big brother's shoulder giving it a brotherly squeeze. "Once the fires of the Bifrost are reignited call me and I will come home brother."

Thor gave him a brotherly smile and then pulled Kal into a great big bear hug as if they were small children again. However, as he brought him in close Kal could tell that Thor was smirking and even gave a small whisper.

"I think you might have another reason for staying, my dear brother." Thor whispered and as they broke apart gave a nod of his head at Carol. "Just don't let her ware you out to much, we will have battles to fight."

Kal had to greatly resist rolling his eyes at Thor and just gave his older brother a playful slap on the shoulder as Thor moved over to Loki. He then took the device Kal had created and all but forced Loki to take the other end, he gave Kal one final nod before activating the device. A bluish light engulfed both Thor and Loki, which promptly flashed causing both Gods to disappear.

"Well, me and Nat have to dash." Barton was the first to speak as he and Nat headed for an unmarked car a smile on his face. "We will catch you later Kal, got a cold one with your name on it."

"I look for to it. I must be off as well, there is still wreckage of Zod's ship unaccounted for." Kal gave Clint a nod and then he and Carol took to the sky.

Bruce and Tony departed, in Tony's sports car having promised to give Bruce a lift to his private airstrip and a plane ride wherever he wanted to go. Selvig didn't stay long either as a pair of SHIELD medics moved in quickly to help the Doctor who was still not fully recovered from his enthrallment. Which left Lex by himself, who took little notice of any of the Avengers apart from Kal and Carol his eyes still watching the spot of the sky the pair had soared up to.

He then felt his phone vibrate and brought it up to his ear not even bothering to ask who it was as he knew exactly who was calling him.

"Mr Luthor, we managed to retrieve a dozen items from the bay before the alien swooped in." Mercy Graves' voice sounded from the other end as the whirl of moving trucks and equipment sounded out behind her. "It appears mostly destroyed or junk however we have recovered two-chamber-like devices that I think you are going to be interested in."

"…. Oh I think I am." Lex stated as he started to walk out of the area to the waiting limousine that he had arranged. As he got into his limousine, he opened up a case inside that displayed two vails filled with bright red blood, the first was labelled Kal and the second Marvel. As Lex looked at them a rare smile graced his face. "I think I very much am."