Rainwater streamed down the brick walls as they advanced, the alley stretching on like a tunnel, every step echoing. “Storm’s messing with the scanners,” Tony muttered again, sweeping a repulsor beam across the ground as lightning flashed, briefly revealing a small shape tucked deeper in shadow before darkness swallowed it whole. “Stay sharp,” Steve said, raising a hand as thunder boomed, his voice steady against the chaos. Behind a tipped crate, the girl pressed herself smaller, arms wrapped tight around her ribs, long blonde hair hanging heavy and wet as she tried to quiet her breathing, heart pounding louder than the rain. “I don’t like this,” Natasha added, eyes narrowing as if she felt something unseen. Thor paused, rain rolling off his armor. “Midgard weeps tonight,” he said softly, another crack of thunder answering him, while just a few feet away, unseen and unheard, the girl squeezed her eyes shut and prayed they would pass—or that they wouldn’t.