Attack on New York (All US teams on deck!)

[ngm_villains]

The Avengers will arrive in Time's Square in short order. They will see Frost Giants moving out quickly. There are a few standing guard over something but there is nice and snow shooting up into the air so it isn't obvious right away that it is the Cask of Winter.

But there are many Frost Giants gathered here. It is an invading army.

Comments

[comic_awareness]

Bruce landed next to Marcus and Erin, dropping the force field when he was satisfied that the giants were in full retreat.

"Let 'em go," he said, letting out a breath he hadn't been aware he'd been holding.

[the4thblackknight]

With the giants in retreat and Bruce nearby, Marcus felt confident enough to leave Erin there and step over to check on his horse. His own chest ached from the impact of the fall and every breath hurt. Nothing broken, he didn't think, but his ribs weren't happy. For now, he ignored it.

Marcus peeled off his gauntlets and let them fall as he knelt in front of Aether. There were scraped and bleeding forelegs, which concerned him, but not nearly as much as the left wing. While the right was tucked up neatly against the horse's side, the left drooped slightly and seemed unable to bend properly.

He stood and stroked Aether's neck, leaning his forehead against it. "Sorry," he murmured. "This isn't at all what I imagined, coming here."

[avengingwarbird]

Roxie touched down next to her team. A slick sheen of sweat could be seen covering her face from underneath her metallic black helm.

"Well, that was exhilarating," she exclaimed. "Is everyone alright?"

[asgardian_angel]

"I'm not certain exhilarating is the right word," Nicky replied, landing down next to Roxie. He sheathed his axe and, for a moment, watched wistfully as the Frost Giants retreated.

They were closer to Asgard than he would ever be. He looked at Aether, frowning softly. "We may require some medical attention, it seems."

[wateronthebrain]

"I need something to drink," Erin gasps. She ends up sitting on a near by curb trying to not bury her face between her knees.

That took a lot out of her. The whole thing.

"Asgard next, right?"

[vincent_amora]

Vincent hurries over to the others, brandishing the Casket with almost maddened pride. "Yes, absolutely right. I-- oh no..." He sees the injuries to Aether and his comrades.

"I.... I..." His mind reels. "I can heal you." He tucks the Casket under one arm and approaches cautiously.

[lil_hulk]

Once he was certain the giants were in full retreat, Jay started to turn back around. He turned faster and moved between Vincent and the wounded.

"Haven't you done enough?" The young Hulk snarled. His eyes were going a deeper green.

Though he did reach over and rip a hydrant up. One, it gave him something to bean off Vincent's head if he came any closer. Two, it was the best way he could get water for Erin with flaming hands.

[the4thblackknight]

Marcus turned around and steeped to the side to see around Jay to Vincent. "If you cast another spell at my horse, you'll be pulling my sword from your gut, you incompetent twat."

Then he looked over at Bruce. "You may consider this my resignation. After we get the girl back, I'm done with the Avengers. I'll not give him another opportunity to try and kill me."

That said, he turned back to start examining the injured wing. Hopefully it was nothing too serious. He really didn't know any avian-equine specialists.

[asgardian_angel]

"Let's not be hasty," Nicky quickly said. He sheathed his axe and walked up to Marcus, gently petting Aether. "Resignations and the like can be tendered after we're done with the rest of this." Marcus's anger he understood quite well, but it was never good to make a hasty decision. "But, I agree with Jay. Vincent, please try to lay off the magic for a moment while we try to sort things out."

[avengingwarbird]

"We should come up with a game plan for what's next then," Roxie said. The Vincent thing was something she wasn't getting involved in, considering their recent history.

[comic_awareness]

"Vincent, take the flaming spells off Jay. And if you ever cast a spell like that on one of your teammates without asking, they'll need a crowbar to pry my foot out of your ass. And after we rescue Audhild, you're taking a leave of absence from the team."

Bruce was seething, trying to control his anger.

"All right. First things first, we return to the Mansion to regroup and bandage our wounds. Then we work on getting to Asgard."

[vincent_amora]

Vincent stops in his tracks as his face twists at Marcus' and Jay's comments. "I was trying to apologize and help you, you ungrateful--- WHAT?" He spins around and practically roars the question at Bruce's dismissal of him.

He's about to continue, when he stops himself at the mention of Asgard again.

"Audhild's rescue is our first priority after we regroup and triage. Nothing else is more important." He states severely, before reaching a palm towards Jay and ripping the brand from his back, ash dissipating into the air.

[ngm_adults]

And suddenly there's a voice from a ways away. "I wish to state for the record, gentlemen and ladies, that I will be obligated to prevent my brother from being done any permanent harm." Pause. "However deserved." He looks at Vincent like he still can't get over him. "If any minor medical assistance can be rendered in your regrouping, please inform me."

[wateronthebrain]

"I need to deal with my dehydration." She's going to take advantage of that water Jay 'got' for her. She pulls at it and drinks deeply from the water in the air.

She coughs shaking her head. "I'll need a Gatorade. The sugars will help. I can get something on the way back.... And Vincent? We just fought an army of Frost Giants. You made poor choices. We got rightfully angry. Unless you're going to put on your big boy pants and talk like an adult? Shhh. We need to plan how to make Loki give us back your kid sister."

[lil_hulk]

Jay looked at Aether. He doubted very much the horse would like to be carried. There wasn't much he could do for it out here on the street. The wing could be taken care of if equine magical wings were anything like actual avian wings.

But that was neither here nor there.

Since his hands were no longer surrounded by fire and Vincent was being petulantly moody, he tossed the fire hydrant over his shoulder.

On the Hulk's way toward the Avengers' mansion, he scooped up Erin so she didn't have to exert herself anymore.

[comic_awareness]

Bruce just shook his head. He really did not need any of this.

"All right. Let's go home. I'll put in the call for a clean-up crew."

[the4thblackknight]

Since Jay had Erin taken care of, Marcus took Aether's reins and turned to walk back to the mansion. It would take a while, but it would give him some time to cool off.