Once the dust from Loki's chaos had started to settle, Harry guided Bruce to the medical bay, ensuring he was steady on his feet after the brutal transformation back from the Hulk. With Bruce safely in the hands of the medical staff, Harry pivoted, and made his way down the main corridor, moving from one injured or disoriented agent to another.
Harry systematically checked on each mind-controlled SHIELD agent and crew member, navigating between stations and corridors that still showed signs of the recent attack—scorch marks, discarded weapons, and the faint smell of burnt metal lingering in the air.
Drawing on his legilimency, Harry reached into the minds of each affected agent, one by one, carefully isolating the traces of Loki's influence. He could feel remnants of foreign energy like a lingering fog, twisted and powerful, but it was dispersed just enough that a gentle prod or tug with his magic cleared their minds. Thankfully, Loki seemed to have used only a light touch of magic to assert control over the muggle agents, ensuring Harry could reverse the damage without too much resistance. Swiftly, all agents blinked back into clarity under his influence, looking dazed but grateful.
Once Harry had tended to the last of the mind-controlled agents, he made his way to the medical bay where Clint sat on a bed, his gaze lowered, guilt visible in every line of his posture. Natasha stood close by, her expression softer than usual. Harry watched from a few steps away, sensing that Clint needed this space to face his own demons.
Clint's voice came out low and strained. "How many agents, Nat? How many did I..." He trailed off, the guilt weighing down his words.
Natasha stepped closer, her eyes meeting his with gentleness. "Clint, don't do this to yourself. This isn't on you. This was Loki, magic, and monsters, stuff they don't train us to handle."
Clint looked at her, searching her face, grasping at her words as they could somehow ease his guilt. "Loki… did he get away?"
Natasha's face tightened as she nodded, frustration briefly flaring in her eyes. "Yeah. Do you know where he might have gone?"
Clint shook his head. "Didn't know where he'd go. Didn't need to know. But he's making his move soon. Today."
A tense silence fell, and Natasha took a breath, her voice resolved. "Then we stop him. Whatever it takes."
He looked at her. "Yeah? And who's 'we,' Nat?"
She paused at the door, glancing over her shoulder towards Harry. "Whoever's left."
Clint exhaled the ghost of his old humour surfacing. "Well, if I get to put an arrow in Loki's skull, maybe I'll finally get a good night's sleep."
Natasha allowed herself a small smile, recognizing her old friend in that dark humour. "Now there's the Clint I know."
Clint turned towards Harry angrily. "What? Is it that awkward for you to stay in the same room with Nat? That you won't even utter a word. Can't you set your differences aside for a bit while the world is at stake?"
Harry raised an eyebrow and, with a smirk, stepped over to Natasha. Without warning, he swept her off her feet in a classic, Disney-princess-style dip and planted a theatrical kiss on her lips. Natasha let him finish, but when he pulled back, she rolled her eyes and shoved him off, straightening herself with an exasperated sigh—though a small smile tugged at her lips. "Behave. We've got bigger problems than your dramatics," she scolded, a playful glint in her eyes.
Clint's jaw dropped. "Wait—when did you two get back together? Weren't you avoiding each other like the plague?"
"Just today," Harry started to explain, but Natasha quickly cut in, shooting Harry a look to keep him quiet. "Another time, Clint. Focus on Loki first, love stories later," she said, clearly dodging the specifics.
Harry nodded and changed the topic "Come on, let's make sure you're alright, Clint. We've got a team meeting to call."
"Fine, fine." Clint relented, rolling his eyes. "But don't think I won't get all the details later, Potter."
Harry nodded, turning his focus to Clint. Rather than just clearing the remnants of Loki's influence, he carefully probed deeper, hoping to find any fragments of Loki's plan hidden in Clint's mind. Yet, just like when he'd tried to read Loki's thoughts, he hit an impenetrable wall, a mental block that shielded every memory after Clint's mind had been overtaken.
At the same time, Clint winced, then let out a strangled groan, his whole body tensing as if in pain. Harry barely had a chance to probe the wall before Natasha yanked him back, her face tense with worry as Clint squirmed, much like Loki had writhed on the Quinjet.
"Harry, what did you do?" Natasha asked with concern, her gaze darting from Clint to Harry.
Harry shook his head, looking as perplexed as she was. "I was just trying to access his memories from when Loki controlled him, but… there's a block, the same type I sensed when I tried to read Loki's mind."
Clint took a few deep breaths, recovering slowly, and muttered, "Whatever that was, it felt like my brain was being sliced open. Thanks for that, Potter."
"Sorry, Clint," Harry said, frowning. "But there's something strange going on. I think Loki might not be acting entirely of his own accord… He might be under the same kind of control you were in."
Natasha's eyes narrowed as she processed this. "Are you saying someone is controlling Loki like a puppet?"
"It's possible," Harry replied, considering the weight of his own words.
Clint sat up, rubbing his temples. "So you're telling me that maniac might be just as controlled as I was? That's comforting," he muttered sarcastically.
"Whatever it is," Natasha said, her tone pointed as she redirected their focus, "we can deal with it later. Right now, we need to stop Loki's invasion."
Harry exchanged a glance with Clint, who shot him a tired but determined nod. Collectively, the three headed to the meeting room where everyone else was waiting for them. They did grab Bruce on the way. Bruce rubbed the back of his neck, clearly rattled yet ready, as they made their way down the corridor toward the meeting room.
When they entered, Fury was already stationed at the head of the table, leaning over a tactical map strewn with points marked for Loki's anticipated moves. Beside him, Hill was busily typing on a tablet, updating SHIELD's field reports as they came in. Coulson stood near a monitor showing a live feed from New York.
Around the table, Thor, Rhodey, Tony, and Steve looked up, each one's expression shifting as they took in the newly arrived group. Tony raised an eyebrow, leaning back with a wry smile. "Look who decided to join us. Banner, Harry—you guys missed a heck of a party. Next time, at least leave a note."
"Pretty sure I left a mark or two on the walls," Bruce muttered, managing a faint smile as he took a seat across from Tony.
Rhodey glanced at Bruce. "Hope we're all done smashing up the Helicarrier. Hate to say it, but SHIELD's insurance isn't as forgiving as Stark Industries'."
Steve, gave Harry a nod. "Good to see you're all okay. Fury filled us in—sounds like you've had your hands full. But we need to get on the same page if we're going to stop Loki."
"Agreed," Harry said, leaning forward as he examined the map.
Once everyone was seated, Harry cleared his throat to start the meeting. "Bruce, Tony—what did you guys find? Where's Loki planning to open the portal?"
Bruce raised an eyebrow and glanced at Tony. "You want to do the honors, or should I?"
Tony gave a half-smirk, leaning back in his chair with a dramatic flair. "Oh, I'll take it. Alright, team—Loki's little stunt on the Helicarrier and Stuttgart? That was just the teaser trailer. This invasion? It's opening night on Broadway, and Loki? Well, he's a full-tail diva. He wants flowers, parades, the whole world watching as he struts his way to stardom."
"Stark," Thor cut in, voice booming with exasperation, "enough with the drama. Speak plainly. Where does he plan to start this invasion?"
"Ugh, all right. No sense for theatre, this one, even if he looks Shakespearean" Tony grumbled, rolling his eyes. "Loki's using Stark Tower to open the portal in New York. He wants to unleash this show of power where everyone can see, as a validation of himself as Earth's self-appointed ruler."
Fury's eyebrow arched. "So Loki's choosing to open his intergalactic portal in your building, Stark? That's convenient."
"Trust me, not my choice. But it's the only arc reactor in the world. Loki couldn't resist it," Tony replied, shrugging.
Bruce continued, leaning forward as he explained, "The Chitauri army will need to keep the portal open to maintain their connection to Earth, reinforcing their numbers as they invade. If we shut that portal, we cut off their supply line and any potential backup. As long as it's open, though, they'll be able to send in wave after wave of reinforcements. I mean, considering we're dealing with a cosmic invasion… they're not just sending backup through any ordinary channels. Without the Tesseract, there's no other way to sustain their forces here."
Harry nodded, processing this. "Right. We close the portal, we choke off their invasion." Harry looked at Tony. "Can you shut it down remotely?"
Tony folded his arms, his jaw set in a rare moment of seriousness. "So far, they haven't reached Stark Tower yet. I've got JARVIS on lockdown protocol, and the security team on the ground is holding them off. But they aren't exactly trained to handle top-tier mercenaries. Loki's guys are professionals; they're going breach the tower's defenses eventually and have the system running on their own. Right now, we're just buying time."
Maria Hill jumped in, "SHIELD has already dispatched every available agent from the New York office to Stark Tower. They're reinforcing the area and will assist in securing the tower as long as necessary. But we should be ready for anything. Loki's mercenaries will push hard, and we don't know what other tricks he might have up his sleeve. If the Helicarrier is an example, then he is going to start mind-controlling our reinforcements to add to his army"
"Right now, it's about buying time. Any effort is welcomed." Steve confirmed.
"That's fine," Natasha cut in, "but we need a contingency if Loki opens that portal. We can't afford to be caught flat-footed."
Rhodey leaned forward, considering the logistics. "Alright, let's assume they're following standard invasion protocol. The biggest target here is the tower—it's where the portal will be, and it's what Loki's soldiers will focus on. Without that, they can't keep the portal open long-term. But beyond that, we're talking about a classic ground and air invasion. Their first goal would be to secure the tower's perimeter."
Clint nodded, picking up where Rhodey left off. "Once the portal is open, they'll probably aim to destabilize the city, taking out key infrastructure to prevent organized resistance. Full aerial strikes, probably with artillery support, if they have it. They'll try to shut down power, knock out communication channels, stir up chaos in the streets. It's standard protocol—cause panic, weaken defences, then dig in and start moving outward."
Steve leaned back, his brow furrowed in thought. "We need to remember we're dealing with an intergalactic army. This isn't like fighting on Earth; they're unfamiliar with our tech and won't know what's essential to target right away. I'd wager their main force will stay close to the portal at Stark Tower, focusing on keeping it secure and drawing attention there. They'll cause a lot of chaos, sure, but mostly to invite the fight there until they're confident all our defences are down."
"So, you're saying they're going to make the tower their base of operations?" Rhodey asked, glancing at Steve.
"Exactly," Steve confirmed, glancing around the room. "Until they have a strong foothold on Earth, I doubt they'll spread out much. They'll want to funnel their forces in and make sure they're secure before expanding their reach. We can use that to our advantage."
"Thor, what can you tell us about this army?" Harry asked with concern.
Thor's expression darkened as he spoke. "The Chitauri are a fearsome race—reptilian in nature, but their soldiers are more machine than flesh. They begin life fully organic but are soon enhanced with cybernetics—neural networks and armour fused into their bodies. They become part of a hive mind, controlled by a central Mother Ship that never sets foot on the battlefield, yet commands them to act as one in a battle."
He paused, allowing the weight of his words to settle. "They possess superhuman strength, and their hive mind makes their strategy near flawless. Armed with energy rifles and flying vehicles, they are relentless in their assault, overwhelming their enemies with sheer numbers. Each soldier is intelligent enough to fight independently, but they move as one, an unstoppable force."
Thor's gaze swept across the team. "Their greatest weapon, though, is their utter lack of fear. They will throw themselves into battle, no matter the odds, because they do not value their lives the way we do. Victory, for them, is all that matters."
"Steve, Rhodey—how do you want to handle this?" Harry asked, nodding toward the map Tony had pulled up on the holographic projector.
Rhodey leaned forward, studying the map intently. "If we can't shut down the portal right away, containment is our best move. Since they'll be sticking close to Stark Tower to keep the portal open, we use that to our advantage. We keep the fighting boxed into a tight radius, say three blocks around the tower. That way, we minimize civilian risk and keep damage to a smaller area."
Steve nodded, tracing his finger around the area on the hologram. "Makes sense. We need to draw their attention and keep them focused on us, right there, in the dead centre. Any broader fighting, and we risk losing containment."
Fury leaned back, contemplating the plan. "That's workable. I can mobilize the National Guard and other military reserves to secure a perimeter around your area. They'll hold the line and evacuate civilians as far out as we can reach. But if any of those creatures break past, they'll be ready to take them down."
Hill spoke up, taking notes on her tablet. "We can organize staggered waves for the evacuation, guiding people out from the core as fast as possible. That should keep the area clear for our forces to secure the perimeter."
"Alright," Steve said, scanning the group, "what's everyone bringing to the table?"
Harry nodded, laying it out quickly. "Tony and Rhodey are our aerial firepower. Barton's got the sharpest eyes and the best scouting range. Natasha's our expert in hand-to-hand and quick takedowns. Thor and Hulk are, well, our heavy hitters. And I can conjure up a magical force to add numbers on our side."
Steve absorbed it, then turned to each of them, crisp and confident. "Okay, here's the breakdown. Barton, I need you on that rooftop. Keep your eyes sharp—call out any patterns, loose strays, or unexpected moves. Tony, Rhodey—you're our perimeter. Nothing gets more than three blocks out. If it tries, you turn it back or turn it to ash."
He looked at Thor next. "Thor, you'll need to focus on the portal. Use your lightning to bottleneck it and slow their entry as much as possible. We're counting on you to keep them from overwhelming us."
Steve paused, locking eyes with Harry and Natasha. "Natasha, you're on protection detail for Harry while he controls his army. I'll be on the ground with the two of you to keep any stragglers from breaking through."
Finally, he turned to Bruce, a small but knowing grin tugging at his lips. "And Hulk…"
"Yeah, yeah," Bruce said with a chuckle, already feeling the familiar tension.
"Smash," Steve finished, the grin spreading to the rest of the group.
At that moment, Harry got a text from Yao. When he saw what it was, she had texted him that the invasion would begin in 2 hours. Harry smirked, now he had a timeline to work with. "Alright," Harry began, "start the 9/11 evacuation protocols. Every country developed one after the attacks, and New York has one in place. Use it—get people out of the city or at least down into subways and bunkers. If necessary, fabricate a credible terror threat and broadcast it. Give everyone a one-hour warning to clear New York."
He paused, meeting Fury's gaze. "I'll use magic to help push compliance city-wide, in case anyone hesitates."
Coulson glanced up, a mixture of determination and curiosity in his eyes. "And after that?"
Harry nodded, issuing assignments. "Natasha, Steve, Clint, Bruce—you're in charge of prep on the ground. Make sure the evacuation is progressing smoothly. Fury, mobilize every SHIELD and military asset you have to clear out the city fast. Rhodey, call in whatever contacts you need for support. I want Manhattan ready to be a battleground in two hours."
The group exchanged a quick, understanding glance, each one already mentally checking off their role.
"What about the portal?" Tony asked, ready to head out.
"Tony, Thor, and I will head to Stark Tower. Either we stop Loki from opening the portal, or we buy as much time as we can to limit what they can bring through."
With a final, resolute look around the room, Harry closed the orders. "We've got two hours. Let's move." The room sprang into action, everyone surging into their roles with silent agreement and clear focus. This was their moment, and each of them knew exactly what had to be done.
Author's Note:
"The drums of war thunder once again" The battle is upon us. Are you ready?
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