[Author Note: And now for your regularly scheduled update! This is a really long chapter because a lot happens here. Thank you so much for reading and to everyone that reviewed last chapter: THANK YOU! That was such a big response! It made me all squibbly and happy *^_^*

***Spoiler Alert***: Movie-verse spoilers throughout the story. Not everything though, since I had to make some significant changes to accommodate Loki's own plotting and so on.

Please see the Prologue for all warnings and a short explanation of how this story came about. Another thank you to Josh, Rei, Angela and ElrueFaerie for all the help and support! *Sends kisses*

All you readers out there! Please comment/review! I would greatly appreciate the feedback.

DISCLAIMER: I do not own The Avengers, its characters, or its backstory. This is not for Profit, I just like to write.]


Chapter 6

~~~/~~~/~~~

"Sir," one of the agents on the bridge said as he straightened, "We have a match for Loki in Germany. He's certainly not hiding right now."

Fury nodded and looked to up to Steve, who nodded as well, before calling to the lab, "Mr. Stark, we're going to need you in that suit of yours."

"What? I thought I was just here to be a science nerd! We've only been at it for five minutes!" Tony shot back.

"Not this time, Stark. We're dealing with a god here. I'm not taking any chances," Fury answered.

"Every damned time," Tony grumbled in his normal, sarcastic manner and cut the communication off.

~~~/~~~/~~~

Loki walked across the balcony of the great hall, below people were listening to a German man at the bottom of the stairs and an orchestra played somewhere beneath him, but his eyes were on something else. A creature that moved in the shadows and had a specific target in mind that was currently giving his speech. He wasn't exactly sure what he needed from the man, but he had managed to track down Aiden, not a horribly difficult feat just energy consuming, through the shadows. The man exuded a certain energy that was particular to the Chitauri, something he was all too familiar with. With a grin he glance up at one of the cameras before moving smoothly down the grand staircase, green eyes intent on the German and Aiden as the once-human came from the shadows.

The security was easy enough to take out, Aiden sending them flying into the walls with sickening cracks. Loki paid no mind to the humans as he moved swiftly forward, watching as Aiden's hand poised high with a three-pronged device. Loki took up the cane of a gentleman that had already fled, not feeling like getting out his daggers yet and sent the Chitauri champion flying to the side with a firm club to the head. He bent over the terrified human slightly and quirked an eyebrow, the man scrambled to his feet and moved away as quickly as possible. Loki tossed the now broken cane to the side and pulled out his daggers as he looked up, "Hello again, Aiden."

"My, you are bold," Aiden said as he stood from where he had landed and twirled his scepter, "You realize I know about the inhibitor. Your weakened state."

"And yet you still know so little," Loki said with a grin.

Aiden growled at the taunt and went after the god. Loki sidestepped the swipe of the scepter and landed a sharp blow to the champion's side and a quick slap to the back of his head before sliding out of reach, "What did they teach you, Aiden? Charge and swipe? No foot work?" Loki taunted, 'tsk'ing softly.

Aiden cracked his neck, before turning to watch Loki closely, then moved back in. This time Loki was much more hard-pressed to keep away from the blows or land any, but he knew if one landed Aiden could have him crippled. Aiden just moved slower than Loki. A small hole and Loki took it, a sharp jab and his dagger was between Aiden's ribs, he ducked away and a snap of his fingers set off an explosion, sending Aiden to the side.

This gave a pause in the fight, but nothing like a victory. Loki knew all he was doing was stalling. He was weak and still exhausted from all of the spells that he had cast just a few hours ago. One step wrong and he was dead, or captured. Neither were acceptable. It was his preparedness that kept Loki from taking a column of stone to the face as Aiden, with frightening strength, tore the column of the building and sent it flying at Loki.

The trickster dove to the side and rolled out of the building. He darted to his feet and backpedaled across the pavement as the column crashed into the wall inside, forcing it to bulge dangerously. Aiden stalked after him, tossing a blast of energy to take out the police car that barreled towards them. The champion made it obvious he had been toying with the god before as a moment later he had Loki on his back, a hand on this throat and the dagger Loki has just put in Aiden, in his own side instead, making him cry out for a brief moment in pain and surprise before he cut it off. Aiden's toothy grin was all that Loki could see as the champion sneered, "A pity they don't obey me. I would have great use for them." He twisted the dagger a bit, "Your face as I tortured you with them would be exquisite."

Loki's teeth grit, glaring up at the Chitauri champion, but before he could send the spit into Aiden's face the champion was sent flying off him as a rocket slammed into his chest.

"Did you have to use the rocket, Stark?" Came a voice he knew in passing, Captain America.

"It was absolutely necessary," answered Tony Stark's computer layered voice from within the Iron Man suit.

Loki shifted and rolled up into a sitting position, attempting to hide the wound and pulled the dagger out as he listened to them move towards him. There was a movement of his hand and the last of the magic in his sphere was spent as he healed the wound. The sphere disappeared from his hand, going to a safe keeper as he stood and turned to the two heroes.

Captain America held up his shield protectively and Iron Man just looked at him with what seemed to be impassivity, but Loki knew those dark eyes were accusing him of everything he was guilty of behind that mask. He didn't have time to dwell on it though, as his head snapped around at the scream that echoed from the building he had just come from. It was not the scream of people running, it was the scream of someone being tormented and Loki wasted no time as he took off to see what had happened.

They arrived only to find Aiden standing up from the German he had been after earlier, his left eye gone and Aiden grinning triumphantly over him, "Thank you, Captain, Iron Man. Your little stunt allowed me to realize that he had almost gotten away."

Tony wasted no time and fired a shot that Aiden just side stepped before he laughed and disappeared into one of the nearby shadows. Loki could only track him to the block's end, he was exhausted and out of energy. He looked to Steve and Tony as they looked at him. Steve was about to speak, Loki raising a hand, only to be shot to the ground by Tony. Steve looked at Tony is dismay, "Tony! What are you doing?"

Tony shrugged, "He was reaching for something," he said matter-of-factly.

Steve sighed heavily and shook his head, "Just knock it off."

The red, white, and blue covered superhero knelt over Loki who had a resign expression on his face, "Want to give me those daggers and come nicely? At least so Iron Man doesn't go trigger happy on you again."

"I was in the right," Tony shot back in a low voice.

Loki sighed and handed over the four daggers, "I doubt I have much of a choice," he paused, "Just don't touch the blades. Nick the wrong one and it doesn't like you, and you could be any of four things."

Steve stared at them with wide eyes, holding them out from himself as if they were living snakes. Loki stood, brushing himself off and firing Tony an icy glare before they moved to the quinjet, Natasha glancing back from the front of the ship.

~~~/~~~/~~~

"I don't like it," Steve said, "He has the tesseract. Why would he just let himself be captured? We don't even have his motive for taking it in the first place."

"Maybe Rock of Ages just wants to talk?" Tony said sarcastically, trying to keep himself in check.

Seeing Aiden stooped over Loki that way had made Tony's blood boil, dredging up the emotions that he had for trickster and putting his heart in his throat as he had seen the dagger in Loki's side, though there was no sign of a wound now. He had attacked before he thought when he fired off that rocket, but the shot at Loki before they left… That had just felt damned good.

"Tony, this is serious. He disappears, reappears, and then doesn't say a word to us once we're on the plane. This isn't right," Steve argued, blue eyes watching Loki just as closely as Tony.

Natasha frowned as lightening began striking around the jet, "Where the hell did this come from?" She murmured as the jet rocked.

They didn't get a chance to comment further as Loki jerked slightly and sat up, looking about the ceiling as lightening and thunder struck again, closer now. Steve tilted his head, "What's the matter, afraid of a little lightening?"

That was new, Tony thought; Loki had never jumped at it before. Loki glanced at them, "I'm not overly fond of what follows."

As if on queue something slammed onto the top of the quinjet. Steve yelled for them to open the back so they could figure what had happened. What they didn't expect was the towering, blonde haired, armor wearing, hammer-waving Asgardian that made Loki grimace in distaste. Thor sent Iron Man flying with one hit of his mace into Captain America before Thor reached forward and tore Loki from the chair he was in and jumped from the plane with Loki gripped tightly to him. The fall was a short enough one, Loki to preoccupied with trying to get out of Thor's hold before he was skidding across the earth to the edge of a cliff. Loki let out what one might call an insane laugh as Thor growled out, "Where is the tesseract, Loki!"

Loki shook his head, "Oh, it's good to see you too, Thor," beginning to sit up.

"This is not a game!" Thor snapped, dropping his hammer and pulling Loki to his feet.

"If anyone is aware of that, it is I, Thor. Not you," Loki snapped, knocking Thor's hands away as he got his feet under himself.

"Then why do you treat it as such? We know what happened when you fell into the aby-"

"Do you? Do you have any inkling of what happened to me? Can you even fathom what will come if Aiden succeeds?" Loki snarled back.

"Heimdall has looked, brother! He sees what the Chitauri are and their terror. You should have brought this to father!" Thor argued, leaning over Loki.

"Oh yes, because your father is so perfect and all-knowing, your father would listen to anyone, your father would give an ear to the wayward 'son' that he spent his entire life lying to!" Loki's voice raised as he spoke, from sharp, carefully picked words, to yelling back at Thor, not backing away as the God of Thunder flinched at each point, "He did tell you didn't he? His little secret?"

Loki pulled back slightly as Thor pursed his lips into a thin line and he finished off, "No, Thor, the Allfather would be the last person in the Nine Realms I would go to with this," and moved past him to put some distance between himself and the taller Asgardian.

"He raised us together. We played together under his watchful eyes. For years you and I fought together as brothers. Do you remember none of that?" Thor said, desperation lining his voice as blue eyes locked on Loki's retreating back.

Loki wasn't quite sure what Thor expected from him as he turned on his heel and countered, "I remember a shadow, living in the shade of your greatness and father's ever present, controlling hand. I was drowned under it until there was nothing left for me to do but grab hold on the scraps of debris that were left in the wake of the destruction you caused, he allowed, and I was expected to clean up after," Loki explained, breath heavy and expression a mix of sadness and inquiry, "Tell me, did anyone weep for the fall of the trickster?"

Thor's expression went from that of sadness and pity that Loki did not want to surprise and confusion, "Of course. We thought you dead. We all mourned your loss."

"Yes, and did you dare to look beyond the facade they all put on for you?" Loki shot back.

Rage twisted Thor's lips into a snarl as his hammer shot to his hand, "Listen here, bro-"

Before Thor could say a word more a familiar streak of red and gold took the God of Thunder for a short dive into the woods below. Loki leaned forward to nothing, "I'm listening," just because he could, before turning and grinning like a mad man as he sat down on the edge of the cliff to watch the show.

~~~/~~~/~~~

Thor tossed his cape back as he skidded to a halt and looked to the man in iron before him. He pointed to him as he stood, "Do not touch me again."

Tony shrugged with his arms out as his mask lifted, "Don't touch my stuff."

The god sneered as he straightened to his full height, "You have no idea what you're dealing with."

Tony gave a considering look, then raised any eyebrow as he offered, "Shakespeare in The Park?" and posed, "Doth mother know you weareth her drapes?"

Thor growled, "Loki will return to Asgard to face our law."

The billionaire shrugged, "He gives back the tesseract and then maybe we'll talk," Loki winced slightly but he could expect little else for what he had done to Tony the night before.

Tony's mask clinked shut, "Till then, back off," Tony said and turned to begin walking away as he murmured, "Tourist."

The God of Thunder took a purposeful breath and with a raise of his hammer, sent it flying at Tony before following up with his own fist. Tony turned in time to take the hammer, followed by a harsh blow from the god's fist. Iron Man slid back before sending a shot at Thor along with his own punch, ignoring the flicker and glitch of his screens within his helm. Thor staggered back, mildly surprised and annoyed. He called Mjolnir back and Loki whistled a little as Thor held Mjolnir high, letting a bolt of lightening gather around him before tossing it at the Tony.

Tony grimaced and skidded slightly on the forest floor, but when the light and sparks had cleared a little flash of his power level read '475% capacity'. Tony grinned and said, "How 'bout that," and fired off all his repulsors at the god.

Thor flew back but got his feet under him before pushing off the tree and back at Tony. Blows flew once more, one of the two tended to be bodily in the air at any given time. There was even head butting involved that made Loki cringe from his audience perch. Thor had a notoriously thick skull; Tony's was no match for it, even with the helmet on.

It wasn't until the Captain ricocheted his shield off Thor's head and Tony's chest plate that the fight paused, "Hey! That's enough!" And looked to Thor, "Now, I don't know what you plan on doing here-"

Thor quickly cut in and said, "I've come here to put an end to Loki's schemes and end the threat of the Chitauri."

Steve nodded, "Then prove it! Put the hammer down."

Tony held up his hands and stepped away, "Um, yeah, no! Bad call! He loves his hammer!"

Mjolnir flew and sent Iron Man sprawling as Thor turned fully to Steve and snarled out in his booming voice, "You want me to put the hammer down?"

The hammer raised and Thor took to the air before Loki could figure out what to do, knowing that look on Thor's face. He could only watch as the Captain ducked under his shield against the blow. The impact of Mjolnir on the vibranium shield sent Thor flying back, and created a wide crater of demolished trees around them. Steve stood as the other two fighters looked around them, "Are we done here?" He asked, and Thor nodded, a bit dazed.

~~~/~~~/~~~

They all stood or sat at the back of the bridge where the large meeting table was, Thor with his arms crossed solemnly. Steve sat forward with his hands laced before him, Tony drummed his fingers as he watched Thor curiously, mentally noting how different Thor was from Loki, Bruce was just behind him, Natasha was off to her side and Fury stood with his arms crossed and Maria at his elbow. Steve was the first to speak, "So tell us, what's his play Thor?"

Thor sighed a little, "I believe he's trying to protect us," he said.

"Protect us? From what?" Fury asked, his head tilting as his eye narrowed at Thor.

"When my brother fell into the Abyss that was wrought by the destruction of the Bifrost, he came in contact with a race called the Chitauri. From what we know they tried to convince him to lead their race in a war against earth. He declined and escaped. He came here and managed events so that if anything did happen, he could retrieve the tesseract first," Thor explained, relaying what Heimdall had been able to see.

"Well then it sounds like we're on the same side," Steve said, "Why won't he just tell us where it is?"

"He doesn't trust us," Tony said absently, drawing on past and present experience with the trickster, and looked at Thor, grinning, "Right?"

Thor nodded, "He has little reason to trust anyone, so he chooses to trust no one. "

"Well, if Loki has the tesseract hidden, then let it stay like that," Bruce said, everyone looking at him in surprise, "At… least until we can figure out what Aiden, the current, direct threat, is doing."

Thor nodded in agreement, "Aiden… His origin is unknown. He was once human, but now the Chitauri have changed him and made him their champion. He is here to do what Loki would not."

Fury asked, with a tilt of his head "But why would he need the iridium?"

"It's a stabilizing agent," Tony said, "Not only does it mean the portal won't collapse in on itself like it did before, it means that it can stay open as long and as wide as Aiden may want," the genius explained.

Bruce frowned as he listened, piping in, "He'd have to heat the cube to a hundred and twenty million Kelvin just to break through the Coulomb barrier though."

Tony shifted towards Bruce, "Unless, Selvig has figured out how to stabilize the quantum tunneling effect."

"Well, if he could do that he could achieve heavy ion fusion at any reactor on the planet," the other scientist said skeptically.

Tony's eyebrows rouse, "His notes don't say anything about it, but who knows how Aiden's fucked with his brain by now."

Most of the others in the room had given up trying to fully understand what the two were talking about as Fury sighed, "That just means we have to find Aiden all the more urgently. If Selvig has figured that out, then he may only need the tesseract to complete his portal. We can't let that happen."

Steve thought a moment, "Loki was there fighting Aiden before we got there, though. How did he know he would be there? He must have some way of tracking him."

"You forget, Capsicle, he's not talking," Tony pointed out, smiling cheekily at the soldier who shot him a sharp glance.

Fury stepped towards Thor, "Do you think you could get him to tell us?"

Thor sighed, "I fear I could not."

"Please try. All other avenues are shot at this point," Fury asked with a slightly pleading expression.

The god nodded slowly, "All right."

~~~/~~~/~~~

As Thor was carted off to talk to Loki, Tony and Bruce returned to the lab. The equations were a welcomed distraction in comparison to the thoughts that made him want to waltz down to Loki's prison and do three things:

1. Punch him.
2. Demand why he didn't trust him.
3. Kiss him… And other things. Because he just looked so damned good with that long dark hair and armor.

The last one goaded him endlessly. He wanted so much to hate Loki, and he did, but he still loved him too. Having Bruce there was a godsend. He could focus on the man's inability to trust himself, instead of his own inability to accept that Loki had been lying and using him and move on. He punched a few things into the computer before saying, "You know, you should come by Stark Tower sometime. Top ten floors, all R and D. You'd love it, it's candy land."

A slight smile played over the other's lips, "Thanks, but the last time I was in New York I kind of broke... Harlem."

The billionaire grinned at that, "Well, I promise a stress free environment. No tension. No surprises."

Bruce laughed and shook his head, "It'd be nice if it were that easy."

The smile pulled wider across Tony's lips as the other scientist laughed and said, "I've got a cluster of shrapnel, trying every second to crawl its way into my heart," and moved over to the other scientist, tapping the blue glow beneath his shirt, "This stops it. This little circle of light. It's part of me now, not just armor. It's a... terrible privilege."

Bruce stood and moved over to a screen next to Tony, "But you can control it," he pointed out.

"Because I learned how," Tony countered, moving to the other side of the see-through screen Bruce had just moved to.

"It's different," Bruce said and tried to read the computer screen, but Tony would have none of it and slid the data aside.

"I've read all about your accident. That much gamma exposure should have killed you," Tony said with narrowed eyes, hands on his hips.

Bruce frowned a little as he said, "Oh, so you're saying that the Hulk... the other guy... saved my life? That's nice. It's a nice sentiment. Save it for what?" He just barely kept from spitting out that last sentence.

"I guess we'll find out," Tony said with a tiny shrug and a quirk of his eyebrows before he moved back to his own work.

There was a short pause as Bruce added, "You might not like that."

"You just might," Tony shot back almost absently, before moving back over to his own work.

~~~/~~~/~~~

Loki sat on the bench in the circular prison. He had managed a short nap that allowed enough energy regeneration for him to be a bit more aware. After the entire ordeal he felt drain and he was very careful to make sure all his magic was being well contained and stored. He needed every scrap he could get his hands on right now. He looked up as he heard the door open to the outer room. Fury stood there, watching him for a moment before stepping aside and letting Thor move past him. Loki sighed and rolled his eyes, "Better to just leave and go about your own, Thor. I have nothing more to say to you."

"Brother-" Thor started.

"I am not your brother," Loki cut him off, green eyes staring at the ceiling and refusing to look at Thor because he knew that hurt-puppy look would be there, "I never was."

"To me you are. So I will continue to call you by it," Thor said firmly and he moved up, the door to the circular cell opening so that he could step in.

Fury closed the door behind him before saying, "Let me know when you need out."

Thor nodded and waited until Fury and his men were gone before continuing, "What can I do, brother? What couldI do?"

"Odin's head on a pike for what he did," Loki snapped.

"Loki..." Thor trailed off, sighing softly.

"Or maybe, yes, how about the great and powerful Allfather admit he was wrong? How about that?" Loki said, sarcasm lacing his voice as he looked over finally and stood, "Oh, but that is just as impossible," his eyes narrowed and lips pressed into a thin line.

Thor took a deep breath, "I did not come here to fight, Loki."

"Then what didyou come for, Thor?" Loki asked, taking a step toward him, eyes narrowed, "Because fates know it was not for a chat."

Thor's jaw clenched, "I do want to make things right brother. I know what father did was wrong, even if he will not acknowledge it. Please stop for a moment and let us talk."

Loki gave him a defiant look, "You talk with your fists, Thor. You're words are often a jumble."

A moment later Loki was slammed back into the glass with a snarling Thor an inch from his face and his arm at his throat. Loki's vision swam and he quickly tried to shake it away, but Thor had already seen the lapse and stopped. His expression softened, then fell, "I knew you weak, but this... You once stood toe to toe with me, but now you are weak as a babe."

"And you only just noticed," Loki snapped, thrusting Thor from him, rubbing his throat and the bruise that was creating there, his head still ringing.

"Who did this? How has it been done?" Thor demanded.

Loki rolled his eyes, "Figure it out Thor!" He snarled, "Think! Use that shriveled up piece of meat between your ears for one moment in time!"

Thor's jaw worked before he finally said, "A-an inhibiting spell. But only father would have the power to suppress you."

"Then keep thinking. You'll get it eventually. Now leave and tell Fury to find Aiden on his own," Loki said.

Thor at least knew when his once-brother would say no more and called Fury to let him out of Loki's prison.

~~~/~~~/~~~

"Let me guess, he didn't give you anything," Fury said with a sigh as they moved back to the bridge.

Thor replied grimly, eyes focused ahead as he tried to wrap himself around how weak his brother was, "You were watching, you should know."

Fury glanced back, "But we know he's weak now."

Thor looked over immediately and grabbed Fury's arm with a harsh look, "You will not touch my brother."

Fury stopped moving and gave Thor a hard look, "No, we won't, but every piece of information is useful."

There was a moment of contemplation on Thor's face before he nodded and released the ex-spy, only to be thrown to the side as an explosion rocked the helicarrier, "The hell..." Fury began, and then was racing for the bridge with Thor on his heels.

~~~/~~~/~~~

Fury arrived on the bridge with Thor, yelling out, "Damage report!" As he stalked to the helm.

"Engine number three is offline entirely and there's a few levels of damage, primarily around the labs," Coulson listed off.

Maria cut in as she leaned over one of the other helmsmen, "It looks like the engine can work again, but it has to be repaired from the outside."

"Stark, Captain, I want you on engine three, get it working," Fury called out.

Two affirmatives came back to him and he looked to Maria, "Where is Dr. Banner?"

"In the utility rooms below the labs. According to Agent Romanov the other guy is out," Maria explained as she moved over to her own station, her hands flying over her touchscreen.

Fury touched his communicator, "Natasha, can you hear me?"

"Yes sir," came her hushed voice.

"Keep him busy, I'm sending help," And he turned to Thor, "I would ask you to help with Dr. Banner."

Thor gave a curt nod, "Understood," and turned on his heel and left the bridge to find the scientist.

Fury turned back to the bridge, "Now get us over the water! We do not need to be landing on civilians if another engine goes."

He barely got that out before an explosion sent him and Maria to the side and gunshots sounded on the bridge as men dressed in SHIELD uniforms began storming the bridge.

~~~/~~~/~~~

Aiden watched the chaos unfold in the wake of Clint and his men's attack. They scattered and ran, so fitting. He moved through the ship, shadow to shadow, watching pieces unfold as he did his own work. He reached the lab where Bruce Banner and Tony Stark had been working and carefully placed the blood-smeared notes on the counters. He used one of their little tinkering instruments to make sure they didn't go unnoticed. When he looked up a little smile touched his lips. He could see his daughter, Melony, dancing about the lab, smiling at him, singing a lullaby her mother had taught her. As she sang, he hummed with her and followed her from the lab.

All night, all day,
Angels watching over me, my Lord.
All night, all day,
Angels watching over me.

Sun is a-setting in the West;
Angels watching over me, my Lord.
Sleep my child, take your rest;
Angels watching over me.

She was so beautiful, long blonde hair like her mother's and his own bright, sky blue eyes like he had once had. A few of her front teeth were missing, having lost them to the adult molars that were coming in and made her smile that much more endearingly beautiful. He followed her to the Captain's quarters where he set a similar note on his desk, setting the locket he held so dear over the corner. He turned as Melony giggled at him from the door, still singing as she moved away, expecting him to follow.

All night, all day,
Angels watching over me, my Lord.
All night, all day,
Angels watching over me.

He followed her to the bridge to watch the fight there. He grinned as he watched Fury's battle hardened face and Maria's determined expression as gunfire was exchanged. He set the final note on the debriefing table, a little spell making sure it didn't go anywhere until it was noticed. With a soft hum he continued after his daughter as his glowing eyes looked for a seed to plant. Once Melony found a spot she liked he settled down with her on his lap and waited for the appropriate moment.

~~~/~~~/~~~

Natasha took slow even breaths as she tucked the fear away and watched the Hulk mill about, looking for her, for something to direct its rage at. She needed to keep him preoccupied till Fury sent appropriate 'help'. She wasn't sure what he had in mind, but she would need it soon. She gasped softly as she scrambled back as the pipe she had been crouching on was taken out from under her and crushed as Hulk's enraged yelling and snarling followed after her. He tore apart whatever she was moving over in an attempt the grasp her. She swung across the pipes and beams, keeping something between them before ducking under a walk way and firing a shot at the pipe in front of him, sending a cloud of steam in front of him, confusing him enough for her to hide away.

She crept around him, gun at the ready. It wouldn't do anything but it made her feel better. The Hulk was searching again, sometimes nicely, other times destructively. She glanced around looking for something that she could use to possibly keep the Hulk busy, but that was hard when the person you wanted busy just destroyed everything in his path. She was distracted enough that she almost missed the fist that nearly turned her head to mush. She managed to duck and roll away before taking off, skidding into a turn as she went down a hall of arches and cluttered machinery. It did little to stop the Hulk as he barreled after her and a swipe sent her flying into a wall. Her head swam and she blinked rapidly to try to clear her vision as she tried to get up. But the Hulk was faster and her eyes widened as he came at her...

Only for a certain blond god to take the Hulk through a wall.

~~~/~~~/~~~

Thor had been surprised to see the green monster that Bruce Banner had become. So this was why the human's so feared him. With a determined look as the Hulk turned his attention on the crumpled form of Natasha, he raced at him with his fist. He took the Hulk through the neighboring wall before the Hulk sent him through a stacked case of supplies nearby. He wiped a touch of blood from his nose, and then reached out his hand as he called for Mjolnir, a grin touching his lips. The Hulk charged at him and the moment Mjolnir was in Thor's hand he swung, nailing his opponent squarely across the jaw.

~~~/~~~/~~~

SMASH!

~~~/~~~/~~~

Fury sent off two more shots as the pilots fought to get the Helicarrier over water and Maria tried to find where the arrows were coming from. Fury stepped to the side and touched his communicator, "Coulson! Find Natasha and get her on Barton! Now!"

"Yes sir," came through the communicator, the voice calm and collected as always.

~~~/~~~/~~~

Coulson motioned for the two agents with him to follow as they finished making sure the storage area was free of people for Hulk and Thor to fight, or destroy, however one wanted to look at it. They raced up to the lab first to search. The lab was empty, a giant hole in the floor where Natasha and Bruce had fallen, but otherwise there was no way to get down to the utility room from here. He stopped as he saw the two little notes on the tables though, each held down by a tool or device that Banner and Stark had used that day. Carefully, he moved over to pick one up and open it, only to drop it back to the counter in shock. He swallowed hard as his mind raced. He looked at the other one, and then at the agents, "Both of you, go down below and find Agent Romanov," he ordered.

The two agents exited the room with sharp nods and he moved over to the second note. He closed his eyes after looking it over and folded it carefully before taking each and tucking them gently in his coat pocket. He touched his communicator in his ear and said, "Sir, we have an issue."

"I have a lot of issues right now Coulson. What is it?" Fury answered, the sound of the fight behind him.

"Aiden has ransom," Coulson answered as he moved back towards the storage hangers where Thor and the Hulk were.

He could hear Fury growl in frustration, more shots were heard, "Do what you have to, Coulson."

"Yes sir," the agent said curtly.

~~~/~~~/~~~

One shot of that damnable bow and the computer screens became jumbled and useless as red lights began to flash and a pilot yelled, "Engine 2 is gone!"

Fury closed his eyes and touched his ear piece, "Captain..!"

~~~/~~~/~~~

"How much more debris, Stark?" Steve yelled as he stood on lookout by the red lever.

"Almost there, then I'll jump start it," Tony yelled back, kicking a piece out of the way, before laser cutting through another piece.

Steve grit his teeth, knowing he couldn't do anything for the moment. He looked down as he saw three SHIELD agents move out and one toss a grenade. He jumped across the gap and knocked it out of the way and ducked the following gunshots. Not SHIELD agents. He grit his teeth in determination, swinging down and knocking one out of the ship, hearing his scream as he fell to his death. He sent a solid punch to the second soldier wrenched his gun from him before swinging up onto the upper walkway and firing off two shots, killing the second intruder.

He backed up to the red lever Tony had specified earlier, gun at the ready as the third and final soldier and he exchanged shots. A sudden shift in the ship and he was falling then, footing lost. He managed to grab hold of the wire his hand found and held on for dear life. With a determined narrowing of his eyes he crawled back in, hearing, "Cap, hit the lever!"

Tony had finally managed to get the engine jump-started and his eyes darted about in panic as the propeller he had been pushing a moment before slowly got away from him. Swallowing, he murmured, "Uh-oh," and the propeller behind him slammed into his back and he was dragged under.

Steve gave a triumphant yell as he grabbed the lever and pulled, only to duck again as a shot hit right next to his face. Tony dropped out of the bottom of the engine and he briefly glanced the helicarrier as it began to right itself and flew down to where Steve was and quickly dive-bombed the final shooter. He lay on the floor with a sigh, "This day could not get worse," he mumbled to himself.

~~~/~~~/~~~

Thor took a few breaths as he straightened, blue eyes locked on Hulk as they circled one another. They were at a stand still, neither able to beat the other and were just destroying the area around them. He had to figure out how to knock him out or talk some reason into him. It was the sound of Agent Coulson on a loud speaker that stopped both of them, "Dr. Banner!"

The agent seemed to have no fear as he walked through the debris of their fighting and towards them as if it were nothing. He was holding a piece of paper and photograph high for them to see, "Dr. Banner. You need to calm down. If only for Betty's sake."

That got Hulk moving towards him with a roar. Coulson didn't flinch as he said, "Aiden has her."

Hulk's fist smashed the ground next to Coulson as the agent stopped before the growling green monster several times his size. The agent just held the note before the Hulk's face and said again, "Aiden has Betty."

Thor blinked widely as he watched the Hulk transform from a stampeding green monster to a stumbling, naked man. Banner stumbled exhaustedly into Coulson, the Agent catching him. Banner snatched the paper from Coulson and his face fell. Betty's handwriting, in blood his still ringing senses could tell, was a note:

Find the tesseract to save my life. Save my sanity. Or both you and I will know his pain.

-Betty.

Blood smeared the edges of the note and a fingerprint in blood was next to her signature. There was a picture of her writing the note, tears on her face, hair in disarray, and rope burns on her wrists. Bruce looked at Coulson one last time as his body finally gave out, "Betty," and he was gone.

~~~/~~~/~~~

Fury smiled triumphantly as the carrier began to right itself and with a final shot he nailed the last agent, only to have to dive aside as one last bomb went off. Maria flew over the railing and skidded to a halt as she clutched her side, that last bomb having gone off closest to her. When she looked up though, she was no longer on the bridge. She look around as she sat up, black on all sides with just what looked like a window where she was looking through to the bridge, "Interesting way to view the world isn't it?" Came a deep voice behind her.

She snapped around and her eyes went wide as she scrambled back. Aiden stepped forward and advised, "Don't go too far, there's only so much solid ground in the shadows."

She stopped as she found that edge, heel of her hand dipping unexpectedly, then stood quickly, "What do you want?"

"Oh, it's not about what I want, right now. It's about what you want," He said, smiling with his blackened teeth and leaning forward.

She leaned back from him, grimacing, "What are you talking about?"

"What you want. It bleeds off you, from every crack and crevice of your being," he said as he circled her, lightly sniffing, "Power."

Maria gave a pathetic half laugh, "I have enough power."

"Oh no you don't. Not for you liking," he whispered.

It was a seed that slipped into her ear and nestled there, egging her on, stroking her ego. No one would see the difference. He grabbed her arm and turned her gently to look out at the bridge and he leaned over her shoulder, pointing to Fury, "You want that."

She swallowed hard, unable to deny it. He grinned, chuckling low, "And when you are ready to have it, you come to me."

He then shoved her forward and back onto the bridge of the helicarrier. Maria stumbled into the light, breathing heavily, eyes wide and sweat dotting her forehead. She turned and pressed a hand to the wall where the shadow was. Nothing. Her tongue felt thick and dry as she replayed the words in her head before shaking herself and looking up, racing over to her station. No one had noticed her disappearance or her reaction to her return, thankfully. She would tell no one either. She was not compromised.

~~~/~~~/~~~

The doors to Loki's chamber swished open and Aiden stepped in, footsteps giving a soft, ominous thump as he looked the god over. Loki stood in the center of his cell, stance steady and eyes fixed ahead as his hands remained folded behind him neatly and a chain running from his left ankle to the side of the chamber as a further assurance he would go nowhere. Aiden sneered and reached up, hand slamming a piece of paper onto the glass, a note written in a familiar script, all in blood. Loki glanced at the note, then looked up at him and said sharply, "You have Amilia."

"Mmm, I do. Nice to know I was right in thinking you wouldn't need the picture accompaniment," Aiden said with a smile, "Now, tell me where the tesseract is."

"I don't know anymore," Loki said, and gave him a smile.

Aiden's smile fell, "Then she will pay in blood for your carelessness."

"So hasty, Aiden," he said and stepped forward, chain rattling as he moved, "I may not know where it is now. But I can help you find it."

Aiden leaned forward on the railing, "Then tell me and I'll release her."

"Release her and I'll show you. Besides, you hold Chitauri magic. You need Jotun magic," he said and gestured to himself with a tilt of his head.

Aiden laughed loudly, "Or I could just take you."

"But then you'll have to find a way to get me to talk, whereas if you just let her go… say, bring her here, I'll help willingly," Loki offered with an amicable smile.

Aiden looked him over, twisting blue eyes considering him for a moment, then he tipped his head slightly and waved his hand. Amilia gasped as she appeared. Her eyes darted about, then landed on Loki and she tried to move forward, "My Lo-" only to be backhanded to the ground by Aiden.

Loki made no indication that he even noticed the blow, eyes locked on Aiden. Aiden laughed as she sat up, blood coming from her lips as she stood again. Her expression hardened over as dark eyes looked at Loki calmly, using him to ground her emotions. The champion turned back to Loki and kept his eyes on the god as he moved over to the cell door and opened it. He stood expectantly looking at Loki who didn't move. The god raised his eyebrows and gestured to the chain on his ankle, "I mean, I can't come out while I'm chained, and I-"

"Quiet," Aiden snarl and stormed into the chamber, only to swirl around on his heel as the door closed behind him.

He turned to Loki as the trickster spoke, voice low and dark, "You actually thought I would help you?" And his green eyes darted to the side.

Aiden turned, rage on his face as he slammed against the glass, a crack filtering over the surface and making the cell shift. The black figure that appeared out of what seemed like nowhere pressed a few buttons to open the area below them and flipped up the cover to the large, red button that would drop them. Loki walked around Aiden, the chain around his ankle gone, "I am the God of Lies."

"Then I will make sure you start to enjoy the taste of a gag," Aiden spat back as he turned back to face him.

Loki said nothing as he looked at the figure again and the red button was pressed. The moment the chamber cleared the bottom of the helicarrier it began twisting and turning over itself with the currents of wind. Loki was tossed around the cell like a ragdoll while Aiden raged against every side he came in contact with. But as the ground came closer he began to focus on the spot he had hit the first time, fist slamming into the glass with unrestrained force. He finally grabbed Loki around the waist and broke through the glass wall and flew threw the air until he landed with a rough tumble through the dirt, Loki next to him. Loki coughed and groaned as he started to get to his feet, his body aching from head to toe from the impact. He could do little more as his hair was grabbed and he was wrenched up, his hands moving to grasp the hand in surprise. Aiden's gravely voice spoke in his ear, "Oh, I will enjoy your torment, Loki."