New Yorkers witnessed a strange sight: Captain America sprinting through the battlefield with a small girl on his back while the girl threw her hands around, instantly killing aliens and lifting debris off civilians with invisible force. We saved every person in our path, including a family of two with a thirteen-year-old nerdy boy and his aunt.
By the time we arrived in the center, the other Avengers had regrouped. Captain America arrived only slightly late — with me still on his back.
"A SMALL HUMAN?" Thor shouted, confused.
Three voices spoke at once — Banner, Natasha, and Clint — "Captain!"
Steve immediately started issuing orders.
"It seems like the machine that opened the portal is at the top of Stark Tower. Stark and Thor, focus on the aliens in the air. Do not let them leave Manhattan. Natasha, try to reach the top discreetly. Hawkeye, you're her backup, help her pave the way…"
"What the hell, Rogers! Are we not going to address the little gremlin on your back? Did you steal her from a daycare?" Tony interrupted.
"Stark, now is not the time. We need to act," Steve insisted.
"No, THIS is something important to address. Why did you bring a baby to a battlefield? Now is not the time to bring your kids to work! She could be killed."
"She jumped on my back and I couldn't remove her."
"You are not a taxi. You're literally a super soldier. How can you not be stronger than a baby?"
"The little girl did an invisible force thing!"
"Of course she did a mysterious force thing. And now you're stuck on babysitting duty."
"The girl is right here, and I am NOT a baby," I said confidently as I jumped off Captain America's back.
"Someone take the baby out of here," Tony said, exasperated, though I could see concern in his eyes.
Hawkeye, the only father in the group, stepped forward to grab me while shooting Captain America a judgmental look.
A whole fleet of twelve Chitauri advanced toward us as the superheroes argued like children. Thor raised his hammer, Natasha her guns, Tony his repulsors, Clint his arrow, Steve his shield, and Banner prepared to transform — but I reacted faster.
I pushed my hand toward the aliens, killing them all instantly. All the adults stared at me.
"While Capsicle, Tin Can, and the rest of you are busy bickering like children, did you forget that we need to save the world?" I said sarcastically, hand on my hip.
"I think she's growing on me. She can stay," Tony said, pointing at me, slightly terrified.
"She stays on the sidelines," Natasha ordered.
Steve shook himself out of his trance.
"Back to the plan. Dr. Banner, now might be a good time for you to get angry."
"That's my secret, Captain: I'm always angry," Banner replied before transforming into the Hulk.
"Hulk… smash!"
Everyone started fighting. I was doing something insane — fighting in the Battle of New York. Attack, dodge, attack, roll, attack, attack. I was running on pure adrenaline and survival instinct. I almost missed a blast to the head, but Clint grabbed me. He didn't let me leave his side after that — dad instincts.
"Wanna give us a lift?" Barton asked Iron Man.
"Right. Better clench up, Legolas. Baby, hang in there," Stark replied.
Now I was on top of a building with Clint, attacking from the sidelines while occasionally dealing with aliens that got close.
Then I saw a scene I recognized from the movie.
"Hawkeye!" Natasha shouted while riding an alien vehicle with Loki chasing her. She looked so effortlessly hot while the world was ending. A badass woman. I wanted to be like her.
"Nat, what are you doing?" Barton called out.
"Uh, a little help!" she shouted. Clint drew an arrow, waiting for them to pass.
"I got it," he said.
"I got it!" I yelled and used my telekinesis to slam Loki into a building.
A moment later he stood up in a broken wall, clearly hurt but still a god. He raised his hand, summoning another alien vehicle. I flipped him off and muttered, "Bitch."
In seconds, he was chasing Natasha again. Clint fired his arrow. Loki caught it inches from his face, smirked—
And the arrow exploded, launching him onto the Stark Tower platform.
The battle shifted.
We continued fighting. I didn't know how much time passed, but I felt myself burning out. The overpowered adrenaline was slipping away.
Suddenly, a missile appeared. Iron Man caught the nuclear bomb, redirecting it toward the portal. He was going to make it. He was going to save the world.
But then a Leviathan appeared, heading straight for him. Hulk and Thor were busy. It was up to me.
I concentrated everything I had left and screamed, pushing with all my strength. I ripped the Leviathan apart with my mind. Then I collapsed, a fountain of blood pouring from my nose. Clint caught me before I fell off the roof.
My last thought before the familiar void swallowed me:
I did it!
I woke up minutes later to the sound of cheers — Iron Man had fallen out of the portal at the last second. Hulk caught him. Everyone ran toward where they landed. His armor was destroyed and his helmet gone, but I knew he'd live. Hulk roared triumphantly and beat his chest. Tony gasped awake, shocked.
"What the hell? What just happened? Please tell me nobody kissed me," Tony groaned dramatically.
"Captain did. Then you woke up. It was a true love's kiss, so now you can get married, have three kids and a hamster, and be a couple called Stony," I said immediately because I could not resist.
Steve and Tony looked gobsmacked, utterly speechless. Everyone else burst out laughing — even Hulk and Natasha.
Steve and Tony chose to ignore the comment.
"We won," Captain America declared.
"Alright, hey. Alright. Good job, guys. Let's not come in tomorrow. Let's take the day off. You ever tried shawarma? There's a shawarma joint about two blocks from here. I don't know what it is, but I wanna try it," Tony says, standing up, tired from the exhausting battle.
"We're not finished yet," Thor states somberly.
"And then shawarma after?" Tony asks, almost hopeful.
"I've always wanted to try it," I say, voicing my opinion. I need food to recharge, like Eleven's powers in the series.
We head toward the Stark Tower. By the time we arrive at the elevator, I can stand on my own, but Hawkeye still has to support me to the floor.
The only elevator that survived, by sheer miracle considering the damage to the building, is packed with the Avengers and some agents. If I remember correctly, they're from Hydra, trying to steal the scepter. But it's not like I can tell them, "No, you can't take it." I'm exhausted, inside a 10-year-old body, and I don't have the strength to take on a single agent anymore.
Hulk tries to enter the elevator, but Tony quickly stops him, so Hulk is forced to angrily take the stairs instead.
"Hey, Hulk!" I shout as he smashes through the wall of stairs. "Can I go with you? There's no way I'm getting in that crowded elevator with sweaty, smelly adults."
Almost instantly, the Avengers notice their own smell and regret it.
Hulk turns around and looks at me, confused, while the adults look at me like I'm crazy.
I walk up to him confidently, fearless, like a modern-day fan of Hulk who knows he's essentially a child with anger issues. He's known nothing but violence and fear since the moment he was born, with everyone considering him a monster. But I know he's like a teddy bear inside, even if he's an angry bear on the outside. Plus, so many strange things have happened that I feel numb to scary stuff at this point. I'll probably react to it later when I'm safe.
I pat his hand.
"Can you give me a lift on your back?" I ask. He looks even more confused but raises me onto his shoulders as gently as possible, like I'm made of glass.
"Let's go, teddy bear," I say, hugging his head and rubbing my fingers through his hair, completely comfortable being on the head of one of the most dangerous beings in the Marvel universe. He listens to me and starts walking toward the stairs, leaving the group of adults dumbfounded, unable to believe what just happened.
When we reach the top, having broken through the wall, Hulk and I are already best friends, and it's not just my imagination.
The others have already arrived. I pat Hulk's head again and say, "You can put me down now, big guy."
Natasha looks like she's about to say something, but Hulk listens to me again, calling me "little friend" while gently patting my head, as if he's afraid he'll hurt a little ant. Compared to him, I probably don't even deserve to be called an ant, but still, he does it so gently that it's almost cute.
Natasha shakes her head in surprise but refocuses on the main concern. We line up in front of Loki, looking badass, pointing our weapons at him in a classic superhero pose, with me extending my hand. Despite being drained, I don't want him to know that. I probably look so cool right now.
As Loki regains consciousness and sees us standing there, he knows he's lost.
"If it's all the same to you, I'll have that drink now. Can I still drink with the baby soldier here?" Loki asks, never giving up his image.
I walk over, kick him in the balls, and use the last bit of my telekinesis to add a little extra force to the blow, my annoyance getting the best of me.
"I am NOT a BABY!" I say, glaring at him as I hold his hair.
He holds himself, letting out a silent scream while all the men wince in sympathy, despite being enemies, and Natasha looks so proud of me.
"He's yours. Now, let's eat shawarma. Hulk, let's go." I say, walking out like a badass. I jump onto the remains of the couch and hop onto Hulk's back again. Hulk heads toward the stairs, but I point to the open wall. "Just jump. It's faster."
He jumps, and I shout, "WOOHOOO!!!"
Later, after we leave, Tony points outside and finally asks the question everyone's dying to know.
"Who is the kid?"