Thor's return brought new life into our ranks.

Todd and I were split up at some point. Any chance that I could, I searched for him, while trying to not get my head bit off by alien teeth. Just after Thor had arrived, I had quickly retrieved my blades—I was not about to lose those here.

Oh if only my parents could see me now. Tony would definitely appreciate this.

With renowned energy, I let my fiery blades bite into any alien flesh they saw fit. As one came for me, I took to the skies. A body hit me halfway, shooting us both across the battlefield. We hit something other than ground on the way down, I believed it was a body.

I ended up on my back, with vicious teeth snapping my face. I decapitated the alien with both daggers. I spat out the blood that got into my mouth, wiggling under the dead body on top of me. I gave it an extra kick when I got back to standing.

In the small downtime I got, Steve's back was turned, an alien coming towards him.

"Steve, duck!" With a cry, I chucked one of my blades at the alien coming for my husband. He dove for the ground, allowing the weapon to shoot over his head. It connected with the alien. Upon calling it back to my hand, the alien was already dead.

As I made my way to Steve, my blades bit and sliced into enemies. At this point, I didn't care about the blood spatter on me. I had terrible stitches in my side.

"I know that we said something along the lines of 'till death do we part'," I said to Steve as I killed another monster. "But I'm not ready to face that music yet if you're not."

Aliens converged on us in a mad dash. With Steve's secondary shield and my fire blades, we played off each other nicely. Nearby, Thor was helping out. I had so many things I wanted to say to him, so many things to ask. Now was hardly the time to sit down and have a chat.

Once I struck down the last creature, the three of us seemed to be in a small patch of catching our breath.

"New haircut?" asked Steve.

I hadn't taken into account Thor's new appearance, I had been all too happy to see him in general. His long blonde locks were gone, hair now cut shorter and closer to his head. His traditional Asgardian garb looked to be the same.

Thor grinned in response. "Notice you've copied my beard."

"I'd prefer if it stays," I chirped. "Hello to you, too, Thor."

"I guess I'm a little late on the congratulations of your marriage."

"How do you know we're married to each other?"

"It was only a matter of time." Behind Thor, his tree friend skewered three aliens with his right arm, waving them around in the air. "By the way, this is a friend of mine. Tree."

"I am GROOT!" said the tree.

"I...I am Steve Rogers," said my husband. "This is my wife, Kiara."

Gods how nice that sounds. Yet the introductions felt so out of place.

Uh, Kiara...

What, Todd?

I hate to be that guy, but, um...the aliens brought backup.

I watched in horror as big, whirring machines tore through the open lands, bowling over and shredding any bodies that came into its path. Though I was a bit of a distance away, I retracted my blades and tucked them away, taking to the skies, looking for anyone that would need a sudden lift.

Wanda?! came my surprised thought as the witch came out of nowhere, moving one of the whirling machines with her magic. I couldn't see who she protected on the ground, my eyes moved to the other machines running around the battlefield.

KIARA.

I lowered myself to see if I could find Todd. I hoped he was actually shouting for me, not just through thought. That was nowhere near as helpful.

Oh, got you. Todd, incoming! I dove low, intercepting Todd just before the machine's teeth could deal him damage. He screamed loud in my ear as I thrust us upwards into the sky.

"Calm yourself, just don't let go," I yelled over the wind. I need to find a place to set you down.

"Oh, sure, because I had plans on dying today!"

"Don't be so dramatic."

"Kiara!"

I grunted as Todd pulled hard on me, trying to force me down. It wasn't until I took a shot to the chest to understand why. We both freefell, luckily away from those machines the enemy had unleashed earlier. We both twisted into the air, holding each other tightly.

We rolled onto a small patch of land where no fight was going on. Though the area did reek of dead bodies. We quickly untangled from each other. Sucking in a breath hurt.

"Are you good?" Todd asked, brushing himself off. As if that made a difference right now.

"I—I will be." I put a hand over the stitch that had long developed in my side. "Gods."

Nearby, Steve was in another bout with more aliens. Todd grabbed the nearest weapon he could, charging to help out my husband. I took a slow trot towards the two. By the time I got there, the enemy was down.

"Guys, we've got a Vision situation here," Sam's voice crackled on comms.

"Somebody get to Vision!" said Steve, as I took on an alien that tried to lunge for him.

"I got him!" said Bruce.

"On my way," said Wanda.

"Well, when we get a break, I'll be happy to give you a lift, Cap," I teased Steve lightly. "I know you always enjoy that."

"Now isn't the time to get romantic, Kiara," Todd chastised me, whacking another alien across the face with his newly acquired weapon.

"Oh, hush, you. You're just jealous."

"Not in the middle of a battle, I'm not!"

The three of us did a quick look around, just to be sure we were in a safe takeoff zone.

"Guys!" came Bruce over comms. "Vision needs backup now!"

"Guess that's our cue," I told Steve, casting a worried glance at Todd.

"I'll be good," said my best friend. "Go get him."

"Get a good grip, honey!" Grunting, I launched Steve and myself into the air, heading for what remained of the forest. I didn't search, I let Steve do that. I was focused on driving. "See anything?"

"Got a visual. Ready for a launch."

Smirking, with another grunt, I flung Steve into the trees, diving in behind him. I barely caught a glimpse of him as I landed. I jumped through the brush to find Steve had tackled a new opponent. A much bigger opponent. Vision lay on the ground, weak.

"Get outta here!" Steve shouted at Vision. He exchanged blows with his opponent. "GO!"

"Vision!" I yelled. "You might wanna listen!" As Steve had the alien's attention, I leapt for his back, punching a fiery fist into it. The alien stumbled forward, and Steve dodged out of its way. I wasn't prepared for the beefy arm that hit me, launching me a good distance away from the battle.

Aching limbs aside, I rose, rushing back into the fray. I skidded short as I saw Vision with a spear through the big alien. He tossed the alien off the weapon before collapsing. In the meantime, Steve picked himself up off the ground.

"You really need to stop being a damsel, my dear," I told Steve rather lovingly. "It's not a good look on you."

Ignoring my comment, Steve went to Vision. "I thought I told you to go," he insisted as he helped the android to his feet.

"We don't trade lives, Captain," was Vision's response.

"Let's set him down somewhere," I suggested. My hands were fiery fists, my eyes on watch, as Steve set Vision down out of sight in the woods.

Kiara?

Vision's good, for now, I told Todd. He's...looked better.

Do you need me there?

No, we'll be okay. I think backup will be coming soon, anyhow. You just stay alive out there, okay?

Will do.

After some time, Steve came back. Nearby, I picked up voices—one belonged to Wanda, the other probably Vision.

"There's no way this is over," I said through labored breathing.

"Agreed."

The air felt...different. Foreboding, almost. The wind kicked up.

"Everyone, on my position," said Steve. "We have incoming."

Ah, just in time. Natasha, Sam, T'Challa's right hand woman, and T'Challa arrived.

Before us, a portal of some sort opened up. Through the blue-black shadows emerged a purple giant with a grim, determined expression. He stood almost as tall as Bruce in the Hulkbuster armor. A gold gauntlet gleamed menacingly on his left arm. I caught glimpses of stones glittering in the light. The Infinity Stones. Unless my eyes were tricking me, I counted five on that gauntlet.

"Cap. That's him," said Bruce. Despite being in such bulky armor, I hadn't heard his approach.

Thanos. I cracked my neck. The fire burned on my fists. He doesn't know who I am, but he's about to.

"Eyes up," Steve ordered. "Stay sharp."

Bruce took the first shot—and miss—at Thanos. As the Hulkbuster armor went for the purple giant, Bruce became almost transparent, passing through Thanos and becoming imbedded in the cliff rock behind him.

Steve took his turn next but was hit with a blast of purple energy before he could even land a hand. T'Challa leapt high, but Thanos intercepted him halfway with a large, meaty hand around the king's throat. I flinched away as T'Challa was slammed into the ground.

Sam flew in, discharging bullets at Thanos. Within seconds, his wings no longer functioned and he took a dive to the ground.

"If anyone else wants to join the party, now would be an awesome time," I said coldly, watching as Thanos was barely harmed.

Inhaling deeply, I took a run at the purple giant. I ducked and rolled under his fists, somehow finding myself behind him. I threw a fiery punch at his back. He didn't even bend forward in pain.

I leapt back as a meaty arm tried to clothesline me. One of my fires morphed into a whip. The other hand pulled for one of my blades, setting it afire.

As Thanos advanced, I lashed out with my fire whip. He moved away, as my marks just missed. When he was too close within range, my whip vanished, leaving me with my one blade. I leapt as he lunged for me, almost clearing over him. He grabbed my leg at the last second, chucking me far out of the battle arena. A tree stopped my momentum. The ground wasn't any softer upon landing, either.

Thanos might as well have punched me, it felt like he had. I winced with every breath that I took. I could hear the fighting ahead. Gunshots—Bucky. A whirring of machinery overhead—Rhodey. A battle cry—Aria.

He can't get the stone. He cannot get it. As quickly as my body would allow, I got to shaky legs. I forced myself to run, knocking through brush, nicking my body on trees.

As I broke through brush, I screamed loudly as Steve took a massive knock-out blow to the face from Thanos. Hot tears went to my face. Nearby, Wanda worked on the stone in Vision's forehead with a red stream of energy. I scoped the battlefield.

Everyone was indisposed, except for me and Wanda.

As Wanda blasted a stream of energy at Thanos to slow the madman down, I took flight, avoiding Thanos entirely, landing behind him. He made slow steps, fighting Wanda's magic along the way. I produced two whips, lashing them both out towards Thanos' arms. Only one connected. I threw the one out again, this time connecting with one of his legs.

Thanos didn't turn to stop me, or try and get my whips off. He plowed through, like a bull pulling his max weight.

Hurry, Wanda, hurry! I dug my heels into the ground, I started moving slightly.

I gave a loud cry, forcing my flame blue. The giant didn't even bellow a grunt of pain.

A bright yellow light suddenly lit around Thanos. The ground vibrated, the trees caved to the energy blast, and I had a big body off its feet flying right towards me.

Thanos' back collided with my front, and I was sent flying. I felt a sharp crack as my body collided with the rock wall that Bruce was currently stuck in.

I couldn't stay awake long enough to cushion my fall once I got peeled from the rock.