The last remnants of the portal collapse with a final, crackling burst. The sky above New York clears, and the Chitauri forces disintegrate into nothingness. The battle is over.
Thor lowers his hammer, exhaling a deep breath, the tension in his body finally dissipating. Natasha, still gripping the scepter, stands tall, her face a mixture of exhaustion and relief. Selvig steps back, relieved but cautious.
NATASHA ROMANOFF
(into comms, to the team)
We've done it. The portal's closed.
FURY, standing in front of a bank of monitors, watches the final moments of the battle unfold on the screens. His jaw tightens as the last of the Chitauri are destroyed. But there's no time to rest. Fury's expression darkens when a new alert comes through.
FURY
(gritting his teeth)
Dammit.
He taps a few buttons, bringing up a new message. His eyes widen in disbelief as he reads the notification.
FURY
(into comms, urgently)
Clark, Thor—listen up. The President has just launched a nuclear missile at New York City. You need to stop it, now.
Clark, still floating in the air, looks down at the remains of the city. He sees the destruction—burnt buildings, shattered windows, streets torn apart—but there's a feeling of peace. For a moment, he allows himself a breath.
But then, his earpiece crackles with Fury's urgent message.
FURY
(voice crackling)
Clark! A missile's been launched at the city. You need to intercept it—now!
Clark's eyes snap wide open. Without hesitation, he rockets into the sky, a streak of blue and red leaving the air behind him.
The missile, traveling at high speed toward New York, begins to glow ominously as it nears the atmosphere. The countdown clock on it ticks down rapidly.
Suddenly, a blur of motion—Clark streaks past the missile at supersonic speed, his body a blur of motion as he reaches out and grabs the missile just before it breaches the atmosphere. The force of the motion creates a shockwave, but Clark's grip on the missile is unyielding.
He ascends higher into space, the missile struggling against his grip as the countdown nears its final moments. Clark looks at the Earth far below, his heart heavy with the responsibility he carries.
He speeds higher, leaving Earth's atmosphere.
CLARK
(under his breath)
Not today.
He releases the missile into the vacuum of space. The countdown finally hits zero.
BOOM!
The explosion is massive, but it's contained in the vastness of space, miles above Earth, where it causes no harm. The light of the blast shines bright, but it quickly fades as Clark hovers in the cold blackness, watching it all with a focused gaze.
He pauses for a moment, taking in the sheer weight of what he's just done.
Clark streaks back toward New York at full speed, descending into the city like a comet, touching down just outside the perimeter of the destruction. The city is quiet for now, but the damage is staggering. The chaos is far from over.
Clark spends hours in New York, helping wherever he can. He pulls people from rubble, extinguishes fires with his breath, and carries injured civilians to safety. There's a sense of order in the midst of chaos, as Clark moves through the wreckage, his strength and speed a beacon of hope for the people around him.
As he lifts a large chunk of debris off a trapped family, their eyes widen in shock and awe. The camera crew from a nearby news station zooms in on him, capturing every moment of his selfless actions.
A live broadcast shows Clark Kent—now fully dressed in his iconic suit—helping victims, saving lives. The camera zooms in on his face, capturing the intensity and focus in his eyes. The city's skyline in the background shows the damage still visible from the battle, but the people of New York seem to be finding hope in the hero's actions.
NEWS REPORTER
(over loudspeakers)
This is Jennifer Rogers, reporting live from New York City. As you can see, the aftermath of today's terrifying attack has left much of the city in ruins. But one thing stands clear—this man, this hero, has given everything to ensure the safety of the citizens of this great city.
The reporter's eyes widen as they focus on Clark, pulling a large piece of debris from a collapsed building. His body is a blur of motion, his strength beyond human. The footage plays on the screen of countless civilians looking up to him with expressions of awe and wonder.
NEWS REPORTER
(continuing)
What we're seeing here... it's unlike anything we've ever witnessed before. A man with powers beyond belief, saving lives. Clark Kent—an alien, yet he's shown nothing but compassion for the people of Earth. He has, without a doubt, become a symbol of hope.
Clark continues to help, his every move a blur of speed and strength. He's almost like a living force of nature—unstoppable, unyielding. The sounds of his movements fill the air, the energy and chaos replaced by an eerie calm as he ensures that everyone is taken care of.
FURY watches the live broadcast, leaning back in his chair. A mixture of disbelief and awe plays across his face.
FURY
(to himself, watching Clark)
Incredible... He's not just powerful. He's... something else.
The door to the command center opens, and Coulson steps in, walking toward Fury with an almost solemn expression.
Coulson
(firmly)
The battle is over. The people are safe.
Fury nods slowly, his eyes still fixed on the screen.
FURY
(softly)
For now.
He looks at Thor, then back at the screen.
FURY
(quietly)
We've seen what he can do... and the world is watching.
Clark stands still for a moment, surveying the scene. The destruction is vast, but the city is alive again. People cheer as he continues to work, tirelessly helping in every corner of New York. And even as the sun begins to set on the city, Clark remains a beacon of light.
NEWS REPORTER
(over speakers)
As Clark Kent continues to aid the city, the world watches in awe. Who is this man? Where did he come from? And how will his presence change the future of Earth?
The battle is over, and the streets of New York are filled with a strange kind of quiet. The city is scarred, but there is hope in the air—people slowly emerging from the wreckage, some cheering, some unsure of what to feel. The lights of the city twinkle against the dimming sky.
A few hours later CLARK KENT stands still in the center of the street, looking around. The devastation is immense, but it's nothing compared to the fear and guilt he's felt for so long. He stands tall, but his expression is one of quiet contemplation.
Clark stands in front of a large group of people now, offering a hand to pull someone free from the rubble. A child reaches out to him, their small hand grasping his.
Clark looks down at the child, their innocence reminding him of everything he lost. He blinks away the feeling in his chest, a lump forming in his throat. The child smiles up at him with wonder, but something shifts in Clark's expression. For the first time, he feels a flicker of peace amidst the chaos.
As the child runs back to their parents, Clark looks at the sky, his eyes filled with a deep, unspoken pain. But there's something else there too—hope.
He wasn't the cause of the destruction this time. He had saved these people. He could make a difference here.
He stands taller, looking up at the heavens, the stars shining above. For once, the weight of his past, the guilt that had almost crushed him, seemed just a little bit lighter.
Clark flies through the night sky, gliding effortlessly toward Stark Tower. The city lights below flicker like a sea of stars, and for a moment, it feels peaceful. As he lands softly on the rooftop, he pauses, taking in a deep breath, his thoughts still with the battle and the people he saved.
The door to Stark Tower opens with a low hiss, and Clark steps inside.
The mood inside is lighter now. The battle is over, the threat has been neutralized, and the team is winding down. Music plays softly in the background. TONY STARK lounges on the couch, a drink in hand, and STEVE ROGERS is by the window, looking out over the city, his posture relaxed. THOR is animatedly talking to BRUCE BANNER, who, while still processing everything, seems to be in better spirits.
NATASHA ROMANOFF is seated with her legs tucked under her, scrolling through something on her tablet, her sharp eyes scanning the information, but there's a sense of calm in her demeanor.
The tension from earlier in the day has dissipated. They're all here, alive, and mostly in one piece.
CLARK KENT enters, his eyes scanning the room. He's already wearing his suit, the dark blue and red standing out starkly against the soft lighting of the room. His gaze locks on Natasha.
Without a word, he crosses the room, a slow, purposeful stride that causes everyone to glance up. The music, the casual conversations—everything falls away as he reaches Natasha.
CLARK
(softly, with a slight grin)
Good evening.
Before she can react, Clark pulls her gently into a kiss. It's not rushed, not filled with urgency—but rather a kiss of quiet relief. His arms wrap around her as if grounding himself in the moment, feeling her warmth against him, finally able to let go of the weight he's been carrying.
Natasha pulls back slightly, her eyes meeting his. She smiles, a rare, unguarded smile that reflects both her affection for him and the emotional weight of the day lifting.
NATASHA ROMANOFF
(softly, teasing)
You just got here, and already you're stealing the show.
Clark chuckles, brushing a lock of hair behind her ear.
CLARK KENT
(quietly)
I think I've earned the right to be a little selfish tonight.
He turns to the rest of the group, giving them a casual nod of acknowledgment, his gaze lingering on each of them—Thor, Steve, Tony, Bruce—and finally, he looks back at Natasha.
CLARK KENT
(smiling)
Goodnight, everyone.
As he walks toward the door, everyone watches him go, their faces showing respect, amusement, or a shared understanding of what it takes to be someone like him.
The weight of the day lingers, but Clark feels a moment of peace, the battles won, the friendships forged, and the promise of a new chapter ahead.
TONY STARK
(raising an eyebrow)
Goodnight, big guy. Don't go saving any more planets tonight, alright?
CLARK KENT
(smirking)
No promises.
The door closes behind him with a soft click, and the team continues to relax, the sound of laughter and conversation filling the room once again.