quote:
"But first things first, is everyone okay? Physically? Or mentally?”
quote:
"Physically, I'm fine. Mentally... not so much."
"We've been through a lot, Natasha. More than we can even comprehend. But we're alive." Hank's simple reply had summed up how they all felt. No one had even dared voice the question of whether those left behind in the Tower were alive or dead: Wasp, Spider-Man, Falcon, and the Human Torch.
Friends. Allies. Heroes.
Danny stands back up quietly. In his arms now is the unconscious Storm, who had done her best to ensure the team's survival through their recent trials. Now, though, the brave leader of the X-Men only lies limp and unmoving in his gentle grasp.
"It's just..." he adds with a sigh,
"Storm won't wake up. My Chi healed her injuries, but it can't bring her out of whatever mental state she's in." He looks down sadly at Ororo, whose eyes are shut to the concerned comrades all around her. He's not sure when they might open again, but he hopes-- prays-- that she's okay. That she wakes up from this...
Coma? He didn't ask it out loud, so as not to tempt fate. Anyone could tell at a glance that the condition Ororo was in seemed serious. Perhaps she had struck her head during the Tower's collapse... or fallen prey to an enemy's attack... or maybe, in straining to keep this rag-tag team together for so long, she had simply exhausted herself past all limits.
Danny looked around at the team: pioneering Pym, voracious Venom, mysterious Ms. Marvel, and blunt Bishop.
"I can't ask you all to give any more here than you already have. You all risked your lives to stand with me and fight the Skull." He bowed his head deeply in gratitude.
"Thank you." Sounding almost like he was dismissing them, it was clear from his gesture that if they now chose to depart, the Iron Fist would bear them no ill will.
"For anyone staying behind..." Danny turned his head and looked out over the city.
"The Rand Building's not far. Opening my doors to the Avengers is the least I could do on a day like this."