Chapter 8
None of the Avengers wanted to deal with Doom's over dramatic ass today.
But, unfortunately, not everybody gets what they want.
So here they were, fighting Doombot's while they tried to get to the real Doom who was watching them all with gleeful eyes. Clearly, he thought he had a solid chance which worried the other Avengers.
So far, they were doing well. But Clint was running out of arrows and Steve had lost his Shield somewhere in the battle. Natasha was limping after a bad hit to her leg, Thor covering for her but even he seemed as if he was tiring out.
"You guys sure you don't need help?" Bruce's voice asked over com's, sounding stressed. He was close to the battle but not quite in it.
"We're alright, Banner," Steve said, punching his fist through another Doombot's metal face, metal crushing under his fingers. "Just be ready incase we need you to jump in."
"What is this guys problem?" Clint grumbled, letting loose another arrow from his perch above on a building's balcony. The arrow hit its mark as it always did, the arrow exploding seconds after, ripping the Doombot to shred's. That left about twenty more to go. Clint gave a pitiful whine. "That was my last exploding arrow!"
Natasha sighed in exasperation. "We'll get you more exploding arrows once we finish here, okay?"
"Yeah, okay. But I want some with extra—"
Steve frowned when the archer stopped mid sentence. "Clint?"
Nothing.
"Clint?!" Natasha demanded, glancing at the spot Clint had been but he wasn't there. "Shit, where did he go?"
That's when a loud whooshing noise was heard, followed by a thunk as none other than Ironman landed between the Avengers and the remaining Doombot's. The Avenger's stared in shock at Ironman who's armor opened, revealing Tony Stark who easily stepped out, a wide smile on his face.
Steve and Natasha exchanged worried looks. Doom they could take on their own. But Ironman and Doom? They would barely stand a chance. Was this why Doom had looked so smug?
But Doom didn't look smug now. In fact, he looked rather ill as he stared at Tony. "Stark. What are you—?"
"Doing here?" Tony finished pleasantly, his smile bordering on dangerous. "I could ask you the same thing, Vicky."
Doom scowled at the name though he didn't look eager to start a fight with Ironman. But neither did he look as if he wanted to back down either. "I'm engaging in a battle as you can clearly see. I'm doing what you seem to be incapable of doing."
"Incapable?" Tony asked in mock offense. "What exactly do you think I'm incapable of doing?"
Doom's eyes flicked to the Avengers who stood unsurely, watching the interaction between the pair. "Killing them of course."
Tony's eyes went dark. "Really?"
All around them, the Doombot's suddenly exploded into flames, metal flying across the road. Doom scrambled back so he wouldn't be hit by the flying metal, one piece still managing to slice his unprotected cheek.
"These are my heroes to fight and I choose when, how and if they die, not you," Tony growled, a fire in his golden brown eyes. "And if you disagree then it won't be them dying."
Tony flicked his hand and the Ironman suit raised its hand, the circle on its palm glowing a dangerous whitish blue.
"It will be you," Tony stated firmly, tone low and dangerous.
Doom went pale, eyes flickering between Tony and the Avengers. "But—"
That's when Loki appeared beside Tony, Clint in his grasp. It seemed the archer was attempting to step on the god's toes when Loki shoved him into Tony's arms before he appeared right in front of Doom, a knife at his throat. "Do you truly wish to finish that sentence?"
Doom gulped, quickly shaking his head, no.
"Very good. Now, if I were you then I would leave before you manage to annoy Stark more than you already have," Loki suggested, moving the knife away smoothly letting it brush threateningly across Doom's neck. "And when Stark is annoyed, so am I."
Doom backed up quickly and before anyone could move, he was gone, bolting down the street.
"Um, shouldn't someone stop him?" Bruce questioned having walked over to join the group of heroes.
"Not now. I doubt he'll be causing any problems anytime soon," Steve said, his eyes on Tony who still held Clint, the archer looking surprised being there.
"Are you alright?" Tony murmured to Clint, low enough so only he could hear it.
Clint huffed. "Course I am. Your boyfriend scared the crap outta me though."
Tony nodded, unsmiling and stiff as he let Clint go, the sandy blond looking as if it were the last thing in the world he wanted him to do. He reached for Tony but the genius stepped away, out of Clint's reach.
"Tony?" Clint asked, blue eyes concerned. Still, Tony said nothing, turning away but Clint stopped him, grabbing his arm just above his elbow. "Tony, wait—"
Suddenly Loki was between them, yanking Clint's hand from Tony and roughly shoving him away but not enough to make him fall. "Do not touch him, mortal."
"Hey, man. I don't know what your problem is but I'm just trying to make sure my friend is okay," Clint said, nearly growling. It was no secret that the archer and god didn't get along.
"He does not need your concern. Now leave him be before I incinerate you," Loki hissed, green flames appearing in his left hand, eyes burning with withheld rage.
"Loki, stop it," Tony said then, putting his hand into Loki's hand, the one full of flames though they didn't seem to burn Tony's skin as they licked at his fingers. "Let's go."
Loki looked as if he very much wanted to disagree, staring Clint down even though the archer refused to back down, glaring right back.
"Tony," Steve breathed, too quiet for the genius to have heard but Tony looked over, making Steve's breath catch.
Tony looked as if he hadn't slept in days, dark circles under his eyes, face too pale. His clothes hung off his too skinny frame as he pressed in closer to Loki's side. "Please, Loki. Take me home."
Loki gave the Avengers one last look before he vanished, Tony and his suit vanishing with him, leaving the Avengers to clean up the destroyed Doombot's.
Clint glanced at them all, blue eyes swirling with confusion. "What the hell just happened?"
No one had an answer.