Disclaimer: I do not own anything pertaining to The Avengers or any of its associations.


They boarded one of Tony's private jets, and given vague instructions from Loki on their destination, they set on their journey.

Natasha shifted stiffly in the pilot's seat, the fresh bandages wrapped around her waist and the tight leather of her jumpsuit were uncomfortable against her still-healing abdomen.

Loki was seated beside her to lead her along the way, and he was thankful for the seclusion of the cockpit from the others. His eyes flickered to her face when he noticed her discomfort, and his lips pressed into a hard line.

''Why did you not stay in your casual attire if you are in pain?'' he inquired. ''You are surely not fighting.''

Natasha pressed a few buttons on the dashboard of the jet before looking over to him. Her expression was blank. ''Of course I am.''

''You will not fair well,'' he warned.

She quirked an eyebrow at him, and a touch of amusement lit her otherwise vacant face. ''You would underestimate me? Have you not learned your lesson, Loki Odinson?''

''Laufeyson,'' he snapped. ''I am son of Laufey, not Odin.'' Her amusement faded, and her jaw tightened in anger of his reprimand. He looked away from her.

''You would claim a man you did not know to be your father, over the man that raised you?'' Natasha asked.

''Would you claim a man your father that raised you to be a pawn of war, and not a king? That kept your true origins from you, not to spare your feelings, but because you knowing such a thing did not yet suit his purpose?'' he retaliated acidly.

When Natasha did not answer him, he relaxed back in his seat and forced himself to calm. When he spoke again, the anger was gone from his voice. ''I like to think that if I had been left in Jotunheim, my life would have been different. That I would have been the rightful king, and not just a false prince that never truly belonged.''

Natasha looked to him, her expression guarded. ''Thor believes you are Odinson. Even though you are a Frost Giant, you never stopped being his brother.''

Loki sucked in a sharp breath, surprised by the direction she took the conversation. His eyes suddenly welled with tears, and he kept his gaze to the front, hoping the woman beside him would not take notice. After a long moment, Loki's head fell. ''Thor is a fool.''

''He loves you,'' she asserted without missing a beat. Loki looked to her, forgetting the tears that brimmed in his eyes.

''Love is for children,'' he said. The corner of his lip twisted slightly in a grin, but it did not reach his eyes.

''He is one at heart, isn't he?'' Natasha commented wryly. ''A rather large one though.''

This time, Loki's smile was true. There was a muted rumbling sound, and she realized that Loki was laughing. He closed his eyes and pressed his fingers to his lips, trying to suppress it. But it escaped through his fingers, and Natasha found herself smiling in return. It was a pleasant sound.

The moment was broken when Steve came into the cockpit to check on their progress. After he left, they did not resume their conversation. The next few hours passed in silence, with Loki only breaking it to give Natasha directions. It seemed like decades before they reached the end of their journey.

''We are here,'' Loki said finally.


They had landed the jet on the top of a canyon, descended into its depths and now stood at the mouth of the cave that was tucked within the two towering walls. A waterfall broke through the silence, soothing despite the nature of their visit.

''What is this place?'' Bruce asked, his fingers feeling the air. ''It feels strange.''

''Why would you put the gem here?'' Clint asked.

Loki turned to face them, his hands outstretched at each side. ''This is the one place in all of Midgard that Heimdall cannot see. Franang's Falls,'' Loki breathed, a smirk twitching at his lips.

Thor was unusually solemn, his head lowered to his chest. It slowly drew their attention to him, but he did not answer their inquisitive stares. When Loki's eyes fell on him, they were aflame. ''You remember this place, brother?'' he sneered.

Thor's jaw tightened slightly, but he did not respond. Loki moved toward his brother, each step drawn out and taunting. ''Do you wish to tell them why I placed the gem here, or shall I?''

''Enough, brother,'' Thor rumbled, his head snapping up and his face alight.

Loki slowly came to a stop, his smile malicious. But nonetheless, he let the subject drop.

''Thanos is not here,'' Steve observed aloud.

''When Heimdall reveals that he cannot see where the gem is located, it will be answer enough for Thanos. Few know of Franang's Falls, but he will surely get his hands on someone that does,'' Loki stated, his tone sharp. ''He will be here shortly.''

''Who in Asgard knows of Franang's Falls?'' Thor questioned. ''Who will come to harm at his hand?''

''It matters not to me,'' Loki replied carelessly, his eyebrows raising as he splayed his hands open before himself.

Before Thor could respond, Steve interrupted. ''We should locate the gem and leave before Thanos catches up to us.''

''Very well,'' Loki ceded, turning his back to them and striding into the opening of the cave. They followed cautiously, each weary of Loki and his reputation for mischief. Following him into a dark cave seemed like asking for trouble.

To their surprise, nothing happened. It did not provide them with relief, but only made them wonder more what trickery would surface from Loki.

When he finally stopped, they could only see his back in the dim light cast from Tony's glowing palm. Tony maneuvered around Loki to allow the light to shine in the space before him.

There was a large boulder against the wall, and the trunk of a small tree was partially visible growing at its side. At the base of the rock was a length of chain, and the dark red stains on the links made a violent tremor run through Natasha's body. There was a dark liquid trailing down the body of the rock, but she could not see its source, still encased in shadow.

Natasha moved forward, reaching to touch the liquid.

Loki's grip was sharp and fast, painful as he jerked her back and away from the rock. The force of it made her fall back against his chest, and she looked up at him with wide, frightened eyes but did not move away. Loki was surprised by his body's immediate reaction to her proximity, and he was certain she was aware of it as well by the way her eyes widened a fraction more.

''That would not be advised,'' he said to her, breathless as he gazed down at her. ''It is acid. The serpent's venom.''

''Serpent?'' Clint inquired. Loki gently dislodged Natasha from his chest and approached Tony. He placed a finger below Tony's elbow, and applied pressure to change the angle of the light so that it rose to the space above the boulder.

The limbs of the tree sprouted along the cave's wall in a cloud above the rock. Now that the thin brown branches were illuminated by the light, they could see the snake coiled on one of the limbs. It's mouth was agape, and they could see the venom welling at the tip of each fang before dropping down onto the boulder.

A tremor ran through Tony at the sight, and the slight twitch of his hand moved the light just slightly askew. Something caught Natasha's eye with the change, and she understood why Loki had led them to the snake.

''The gem,'' she said, watching it glow from its perch in the coiled body of the snake.

''Well... shit,'' Clint breathed.

A crash at the entrance of the cave had them all fumbling for their weapons, and it became clear that Clint's words were null and void, the snake a dull threat in comparison to the large figure that now made its way toward them.

With the light from Tony's palm now aimed towards the entrance of the cave, it was only a matter of seconds before Thanos was close enough to fall under its glow.

He looked the same as before, large and purple and intimidating. But there was something new about him, and it only took them a few short moments to recognize what was different.

There, encasing his left hand, was what they presumed to be the Infinity Gauntlet. There were five gems glowing menacingly at each knuckle against the gold metal, with one empty space at the center for the sixth and final gem.

His eyes went to the snake on the wall, as if he could see it through the darkness. When his eyes returned to them, they were alight with victory.

His smile was calm and confident, and it filled them each with dread.

''Avengers...'' Steve commanded, his voice tainted slightly with uncertainty. ''Assemble!''


Author's Note: I wonder if anyone can guess where this is going... I hope not! What I do hope though, is that you enjoyed this chapter. Please review!