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The three of us fought hard, cutting down Chitauri left and right. I felt my energy waning, but I could not stop. I'd held all of my firepower back my whole life, I wasn't about to let myself run out the one time I actually needed it.

I was forced to fall back on my hand-to-hand combat knowledge when some Chitauri managed to get close, but using what Nat and Gale had taught me I was able to strike them down.

Natasha heaved a heavy sigh and sat down on the hood of a car once we'd dealt with the swarm of Chitauri and the coast was clear. For the moment.

"Captain, none of this is going to mean a damn thing if we don't close that portal," Nat said, panting as she turned her gaze to the sky.

"Our biggest guns couldn't touch it."

"I could blow it up," I suggested.

"You want to get up there you're gonna need a ride," Cap responded, as a group of Chitauri hit the ground, one of their transports soaring past overhead.

"I got a ride," Nat said flatly, pushing herself tiredly to her feet and walking to the end of the road, "I could use a boost though."

Steve nodded, squatting low and readying his shield. "You sure about this?"

"Yeah," she nodded, even though her face said otherwise, "It's gonna be fun."

With that, she broke into a sprint, launching herself off the hood of a car and using Steve's shield as a stepping stone. Steve boosted her and, throwing her into the air. She caught the end of a transport, pulling herself up and speeding off.

Steve looked at me, next.

He gestured with his shield, silently asking if I wanted a boost, too. My eyes widened and I frowned.

"Me?" I asked breathlessly, "I'm not like Nat, Steve. I've been practicing martial arts for a grand total of a year and I have no clue what I'm doing here."

As I spoke, a few Chitauri advanced on us. Steve and I picked them off one by one.

"You can do it, Alivia." Steve finally spoke, when the last one had hit the ground.

I chuckled and rolled my eyes. "Don't give me one of those bullshit 'you can do anything if you just believe' pep talks."

"Kinda thinking now isn't a great time for pep talks, so you can either stay here and fight, or flee with the rest of the civilians," Cap said, as he caved a Chitauri's face in with his shield.

I raised my brows and blinked. "The rest of the civilians?" I shook my head, turning to one of the Chitauri slowly picking through the rubble towards us, "Can the rest of the civilians do this?" I asked, as I materialized a thin blade of flame which I sent barreling toward the Chitauri. Not only did it meet its mark, it sliced the cars and trees in its path cleanly in half.

"Don't think so, but if you find out let me know. We'll need all the help we can get."

"So now's not the time for pep talks, but a prime opportunity to crack jokes?" I put a hand on my hip.

"Look, do you want a boost or not?"

I looked up at the soaring transports overhead. Then next at the tower, and finally the portal. I swallowed, hard. And nodded my head. "Okay. Boost me."

"Good luck Firebyrd." Steve said encouragingly, as I reared up to launch myself in the air. "And remember—You can do anything if you just believe."

He winked, and I rolled my eyes, breaking into a run and following in Nat's footsteps, jumping from the hood of a car and using Cap's shield to burst up into the air. I latched onto the floor of a transport, and by the time I had hauled myself up, Cap was miles behind me.

I struggled to stay upright. The transport was moving so quickly, that the wind whipping past me threatened to send me overboard. I melted the chain attaching the Chitauri to the transport, using one of the two knives I'd recently discovered in my suit to slash the backs of its legs. It toppled over the side, dropping to the ground.

The other Chitauri onboard was somehow attached to the transport. It must have been piloting the thing. I extracted my other knife, and planted both into the Chitauri's back, hoping to God I could drive this thing.

I pulled to the left, and the transport banked. I breathed a sigh of relief. I could do this.

Ahead of me, I spotted Nat's transport making for the tower.

Suddenly, another transport cut in between us. My eyes narrowed. Loki.

"Hawkeye," Nat's voice came over the earpieces.

"Nat, what are you doing?" Clint's voice came in response.

"Uh, a little help!"

"Don't bother," I said into my earpiece, "I'm on your tail, Nat. I've got him."

Leaning back, I picked up the discarded gun left by the Chitauri I'd thrown over the side. I aimed it ahead of me, and let off some shots.

Loki's transport dipped to the side to avoid them, and the shots went right by Nat.

"Watch it!" she called, tipping dangerously to avoid them.

"I apologize, I'm not that used to shooting alien-style shot guns," I said, tossing the gun aside uselessly, "This is why I stick to fire."

So much for conserving my fire power. I brought a flame to my free hand, keeping the transport steady with my other.

Spinning the flame into a long disk, I threw it ahead of me.

It spun towards the transport, slicing clean through it. It exploded, sending its passengers flying in different directions. I saw the green of Loki's capes fly towards the roof of Stark tower.

Of course he'd survive that.

Nat pulled her transport down, diving off of it just in time to land on top of the tower. I swallowed. It was a tough act to follow. I pushed off the Chitauri pilot, taking back my knives and peering over the side. I took a deep breath. And I jumped.

The air was knocked from my lungs as my legs met the firm concrete of the roof. I groaned, rolling over.

Despite the pain enveloping my entire body, I stumbled to my feet, rushing inside of Stark tower to confront Loki, while Nat dealt with the portal.

When I ducked inside, I saw him making for the stairs, likely to get to the roof to retrieve his sceptre. I extracted my knife, throwing it so that it struck the wall directly beside his face.

He bowed his head, smirking, before turning to me.

"My, my, look at you playing dress-up and pretending to be a hero," Loki said, pulling my knife from the wall, and taking a step toward me, "Tell me, does it make you less afraid of your powers when you tell yourself you're using them for good?"

"I've learned to use them Loki. They don't control me anymore."

"Is that so?" he said tauntingly, leering closer until he stood only a foot across from me. "Strike me down, then. You have the upper hand, have you not?"

I glared at him, and felt fire jump into my hands. Climb my arms. But this time I hadn't called it. I looked down frantically. How could this be happening? How could he so easily cut down all the work I'd done to keep my powers under my thumb?

"Tell me," he said, moving closer so that I was forced to take a back step. "If you are the one in control of these powers, why do they seem to have control of you? And why, pet, do you seem as though you cannot kill me?"

I pulled out my other knife, holding its point threateningly against Loki's neck. He lifted his hands.

"Would you kill me if our positions were reversed?" I asked, as the flame began to lick up the length of the knife. I tried to hold it back. I didn't want to kill him. But the fire would not listen to me anymore. Being there, in front of him, nearly touching him, it brought everything back. Because as much as I hated to admit it, I'd cared deeply for him in Asgard. And I couldn't strike him down.

"I've had countless opportunities to kill you, my darling," he drawled, smiling as he watched my hand shake with the effort to hold back. "If I'd wanted to, I would have."

I cursed, dropping my knife. It would have burned a hole through his throat if I'd continued to hold it there.

I backed up, taking off my helmet and discarding it on the ground. I wrung my hands together, but the flames wouldn't recede. I felt a faintness take hold of me, the fire draining my energy. Bitter cold drained me.

Behind me, I heard crashes that rocked the city. I turned, and watched, as transports and serpents fell from the sky. The portal, Nat must have closed it. I turned back to Loki.

"Its over, Loki," I said breathlessly, "You lost."

"And yet Midgard is still in danger. In danger of races like the Chitauri," he looked down at me, "In danger of people like me... And you."

"I'm nothing like you."

I groaned in pain and dropped to my knees, clutching at my side. My whole body felt like it was tearing itself apart.

Now that I'd let my power out, it was almost as though it wouldn't stop.

"You are just like me," Loki said, stooping so that his gaze was level with mine, "I've seen how power has changed you, Alivia. Now, you just need to choose the right side."

My head dropped to the ground, and the flame finally went out, as my vision flickered to black. Distantly, I heard the sound of the Hulk's roar belting out across the city. My vision swam as I tried to keep my eyes open. I saw Nat's red curls, and Thor's blue eyes.

And then I went under.

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