Chapter 5
Steve
This day has been a whirlwind, twist, turns and flips. A man outside time is a lonely experience. The gigantic buildings, renamed skyscrapers; the tiles stamped on the tin. Technology replacing old fashion paper, old fashion to them. I can read newspapers on a screen, what’s wrong with paper and ink. A simple walk down the street people can’t spare two second without a telephone glued to their faces.
A wonderful change, kissing the same gender isn’t illegal and doesn't end with handcuffs. Some people are still against it, time can fly by, some people can’t change their spots. Gay pride is a thing.
The world is unfamiliar, the people I used to know are in ill-health or dead. The battle of New York the Avengers came along. My new found family, dysfunctional yes but still family. I cling on for dear life not wanting these new found bonds, loss to me too.
The mad engineer peaking my interest, Howard’s son. The brash, stubborn man lit up my lonely existence.
Our kisses warm sunshine.
The sunshine hidden with clouds. The man I was getting to know is a jerk. Family to him is a hindrance. The hot and cold language towards his brother is confusing as technology.
Standing in the forest orders shouting from Tony's long-lost brother. Fellow army vet. Sound man, his mannerisms similar to Tony. Energy bouncing off his skin, jittery, waving arm movements.
No surprise earth was keeping another secret; superheroes, mutants, now supernatural creatures.
The night sky is cracking, glass shard gluing together. Piece by piece, slotting into place.
Gluey black splurging the forest floor. Slippery slime trailing down eight legs; shield in both hands, chop, bone crunching, splattered black blood over my uniform. The head rolls to the ground, all four eyelids open.
Tony blasting the spiders.
Natasha's widow biting electrocuting the creatures to their deaths.
These soldiers don’t fight like soldiers; claws gutting guts, manic hand movement glitter sparks on their fingertips, more knives than guns, winged mini creatures tiny daggers in their gasp.
Arrow catapulting into hearts.
A real life wolf biting necks.
Hulk roaring and smashing.
Is this going to be enough? Spiders keep crawling above the earth.
The dome is near completion; glossing the moon, reflecting light, like a light stream bouncing mirror-to-mirror. A laser blast beam shooting upon the town. Announcing Thanos' presence above earth. The last puzzle piece sewing into position. Locking Thanos out for now.
A spider spits runny goopy acid. Running down Peter, falling like a ton of brick on him, the acid bullseyes on my shield. I’m guessing acid also burns werewolf skin.
“The town needs protecting and a med team,” I said.
Thor swings his hammer, knocking down six spiders all at once, domino landslide. Not using lightning bolts, the last thing we need is a forest fire.
“Avengers protect the town. Scout the injured. Backup and medics will head your way. Not a good idea to bring the Hulk.” said the Director. Fighting his fair share, knife in hand, gutting a spider's. Rubbing the knife on his combat trousers, cleaning black goo covered knife.
Pixies flying around, throwing fireballs at the spiders. Darting here, there, and everywhere. Zig-zag weaving through trees.
The Hulk roars are not the only creature howling.
Tony stands next to me. “Are we really going to follow their orders?”
Turning to look at the Nemeton, the tree is growing, branches twisting and turning no leaves yet. Stiles wibbly wobbly on his feet.
“Tony, the town needs protecting. Check for survivors. The dome could break at any moment.” Come on. I’m in the field. Get your captain head on. He’s Ironman not Tony.
Running into the town. Natasha and Clint on my heels. Thor and Ironman in the sky. Lucky it being evening, there aren't many people on the street in a sleepy town. Scorch marks lining the street, burning road leading to the sheriff station.
Villagers gawking at them.
“There is no one to save,” said Clint.
“Told you so,” Tony said through the comms.
The sheriff building burns to a crisp. Black scorch marks dicing the building, fire singed the roof, flame dancing inside. Orange and yellow illuminating the dark street.
“You spoke too soon,” I said.
Catching my breath, taking in a gulpfull of air, chasing full throttle towards the building.
Deputies running out the door. The skeleton crew, at this hour. Ironman scanning the building hovering by a widow.
“Sir, one person is inside the building.” Jarvis announces to all. Thor swings his hammer and the whirlwind swells the air. The fire tames. Ironman flies in, a man in sheriff uniform in a bridle hold coming out with him.
The two men land. Tony lifts his faceplate up. The Sheriff's name tag says Stilinski, Stiles’s father. Or the one who brought him up, anyway. Being a sheriff runs in the family. Nurture over nature. Blood isn't always thicker than water.
“Stilinski as in Stiles Stilinski” I said to the singed man. With salt and pepper hair, aged eyes and back smudges on his cheek. Needing a new uniform, not one burnt at the edges.
Sheriff's eyes fire up, not in a good way, fury eyes. “You met my bastard son.” The way he said it wasn’t endearing or a joke, he’s serious, this would be clear to a moron.
Tony steps outside his Ironman suit. “Who are you calling a bastard?”
The Sheriff looks Tony up and down. “Your father’s son. I never wanted to be landed with him. He was a package deal, marrying my wife. That boy is the devil reincarnated.”
Tony punches the Sheriff, the man tumbles like a game of jenga. Tony is caring, in his tin-man heart beating.
One magical stitch after another unraveled. The dome cracking shards falling away. Spaceships in the sky, the dreading New York whales are back, it was near impossible to destroy them the first time.
“The magic is failing,” said Thor.
Guns hanging from above.