[Third Person's PoV]
While Melissa handled the remaining Sentinels in the sky, the others focused on those trying to escape on foot, realizing that the skies were no longer safe.
Hulk leaped from building to building, landing on groups of Sentinels and tearing them apart with his bare hands. He roared as he smashed them against each other, their metal bodies crumbling into piles of scrap that slipped through his fingers.
The rest of the team moved away from the church. Clint had stationed himself on top of a nearby building, firing arrow after arrow at the Sentinels below, maintaining the high ground.
Melissa was having the time of her life, swinging her hammer with reckless abandon. "Tony, when we get back home, we are so making me one of these!"
Thor, who was nearby, scoffed. "Little girl, Mjolnir is not something you mortals can simply replicate! It was forged by the dwarves and blessed by Odin himself!"
Tony, wielding a large buster sword with an electrified edge, was slicing through the remaining Sentinels, using both levitation and sheer agility to move swiftly through the battlefield. "It can't be that hard," he quipped. "All we need is the right conductive metal and a deep understanding of quantum field manipulation as it relates to storm formation—boom, makeshift Mjolnir."
Thor frowned. "Asgardian magic cannot simply be recreated with—" he made air quotes, "—'science.'"
Tony scoffed. "Look at your sword. That's all the proof you'll ever need."
Melissa, meanwhile, gave Thor an incredulous look. "So we're just gonna ignore the fact that you used air quotes when talking about science? As if it isn't a real thing?"
"Focus, you guys," Steve's voice came through their comms. "The faster we clear out these Sentinels, the sooner we can go home."
Melissa let out a dramatic groan. "Which means it'll almost be time to say goodbye. I don't want to leave… I was really starting to like you guys."
"Aww," Natasha replied sympathetically. "That's so sweet."
As she sprinted across a rooftop, a sniper rifle in hand, a red, holographic scope in the shape of her Black Widow symbol flickered into place over her eye. She spotted a Sentinel attempting to sneak its way out of the city.
Holding down the trigger, she allowed the rifle to charge, the barrel glowing red with concussive energy. When she finally released it, the kinetic blast tore through the air, catching fire mid-flight before burning a hole straight through the Sentinel's body. It combusted into pieces on impact.
Lowering her rifle, she smirked proudly and kissed the weapon.
In the distance, she heard the familiar sound of Hulk rampaging through the city.
"I'll go calm the big guy down…" Natasha informed the others as she moved toward the commotion.
She descended from the building and spotted Hulk walking aimlessly through the streets, kicking aside wrecked cars as he searched for more enemies.
"Hey, big guy," Natasha called out softly.
Hulk snapped his head in her direction with a deep, guttural growl, ready to attack, assuming she was another enemy.
Natasha slowly removed one of her gloves and, in the calmest voice she could muster, said, "The sun's getting real low…"
Hulk stared at her, unmoving, as if trying to gauge her intentions. Then, slowly, he stepped forward and extended his massive hand toward her.
BRRRR! BRRRRR! BRRRRR!
The sudden roar of heavy gunfire shattered the moment. A turret rained bullets down on them, pelting Hulk's body.
With a furious roar, Hulk whipped his head up and spotted a jet speeding toward them.
Reacting instantly, he moved to shield Natasha, using his massive frame to block the incoming fire.
A battered Ultron flew past in the jet, dazed and muttering to himself, "I have no strings… I'm free… I have no strings…" His voice was barely above a whisper.
The turret continued its relentless barrage of bullets as the jet sped by. Not far away, Tony and the others stood amidst the chaos.
Tony's eyes widened as he tracked the bullets' trajectory—straight toward Wanda.
She was caught off guard and frozen in shock, unable to react in time.
But Pietro was.
"WANDA!" he shouted, turning into a streaming blue blur. He skidded in front of her, arms holding her protectively, bracing himself to take the full brunt of the attack.
TINK! TINK! TINK! TINK! TINK!
The unmistakable sound of bullets ricocheting filled the air. Pietro flinched, expecting pain—but felt nothing.
Both he and Wanda opened their eyes to see Tony standing in front of them, a long metal shield in his hands, bullets bouncing harmlessly off its surface. He stood protectively between them and danger, his posture unshaken.
The jet flew past them as quickly as it had appeared, but before Tony could even think about chasing after it, a thunderous roar split the air.
They all turned just in time to see the Hulk leaping between buildings, his massive form hurtling through the air, gaining on the jet at an alarming speed.
---
Inside the Jet
"I have no strings… I'm free…" Ultron kept repeating the phrase, his voice hollow, until suddenly the jet lurched violently.
"What the—?" He gripped the controls, fighting to stabilize the aircraft.
Then came the sound of metal being ripped apart.
Ultron turned just in time to see the back hatch of the jet being torn open.
"ROAR!!!"
His head snapped back, and there was the Hulk—clinging to the side of the jet, pure rage in his eyes.
"Oh, for the love of—"
Before Ultron could finish his complaint, Hulk grabbed him by the back of the head, yanked him from his seat, and flung him out of the jet as it climbed higher into the sky.
---
Back on the ground, Pietro and Wanda stared at Tony, still processing the fact that he had just saved their lives.
"You…" Pietro muttered in disbelief.
"You saved us…" Wanda finished, her eyes locked on Tony.
Tony scoffed, turning to Pietro. "You idiot. You have superspeed. How the hell were you about to get killed by bullets?"
"I was protecting my sister, man!" Pietro shot back, clearly irritated.
"Oh yeah? Then next time, grab her and move out of the way instead of standing there like a damn idiot."
Pietro rolled his eyes. "You know, you are a very difficult person to be grateful toward."
Wanda watched their bickering with a faint smile before placing a hand on Pietro's shoulder.
"Perhaps I was wrong about you…" she admitted, turning to Tony. "You stopped Ultron's plan to turn Sokovia into a meteorite. You saved my brother's life. I… apologize for what I said about you before." She nodded sincerely.
Tony let out a deep sigh, then chuckled. "Wanda, we've talked about this. I'm a committed man. I'm sorry, but I already have a beautiful girlfriend whom I adore dearly. I just can't return your feelings."
Wanda's face twisted in pure contempt.
"You disgusting child," she said flatly. "My brother was right—you are impossible to be thankful toward."
Tony clutched his chest in mock pain. "Did you have to use the word disgusting? The tales were wrong—there are far worse things a woman could say besides no."
"Ahem."
Tony spun on his heel so fast he nearly tripped.
"Melissa! My love! How are you?" he said with forced cheer.
Melissa stood before him, arms crossed, her hammer twirling lazily on the tip of her finger.
Tony grinned nervously. "Have I mentioned how good you've been looking lately? It must be the hammer—it does wonders for your complexion."
Melissa raised an eyebrow, unimpressed.
Pietro snickered. Wanda smirked.
Tony was in trouble.
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