So yeah, I've been thinking about why Hawkeye doesn't make an appearance in the Winter Soldier, and I've come to a conclusion. We've already seen in Thor: the Dark World, that Selvig's been driven insane by the after-effects of Loki's control. And Hawkeye was under his control for almost as long as Selvig was, so it's only logical to assume that Hawkeye should be crazy. I doubt this is what they'll do with the character, but it fits in with what we know of Loki's mind control and Hawkeye's non-appearance in the Winter Soldier.
-.-Chapter 10-.-
Loki strode out of the gala, the illusion of a human suit shimmering away to reveal that he was wearing his Asgardian battle robes. His sceptre grew to full size, and his impressive horned helmet glinted in the light. Around him, terrified Germans were running scared. He chuckled quietly as they fled onto the plaza. Loki flickered, and illusions of himself appeared, corralling the humans like the cattle they were. He'd already used the scanning device to take a man's eyeball, allowing Barton to steal the required iridium. Now he just had to keep whoever SHIELD would send busy while waiting for Barton to clear the area.
In the meantime, he could have some fun tormenting the humans.
"Kneel before me." Loki yelled, using his gift of tongues to translate his words into German. "KNEEL!"
The people obeyed him, scared beyond measure. He felt proud of himself, for showing a lesser race what they should worship. Striding through the crowd, he spoke to them. "Is not this simpler? Is this not your natural state? It's the unspoken truth of humanity, that you crave subjugation. The bright lure of freedom diminishes your life's joy in a mad scramble for power, for identity. You were made to be ruled. In the end, you will always kneel."
He heard movement to his left, and turned to see an old man, with a hunched back, struggle to his feet and face Loki. Asgardian and human made eye contact, before the old man shook his head. "Not to men like you."
Loki smiled threateningly. "There are no men like me."
The old man shook his head again, spitting at the ground. "There are always men like you."
"Look to your elder, people." Loki said, raising his sceptre, aiming it at the stubborn old man. "Let him be an example." Loki blasted with his sceptre, but before the bolt of energy reached the old man, there was a loud crack, and two more men stood before him. One of them drew a wand from within his robes, while the other caught the bolt on his shield.
"You know, the last time I was in Germany and saw a man standing above everyone else, we ended up disagreeing." Captain America said, striding forward. The crowd began to scatter away from the three costumed men.
"The soldier." Loki sneered. "The man out of time." He then turned to face the robed and hooded man, who must be the one they called Merlin. "And the sorcerer. The lost man, torn from his world."
Merlin raised his wand. "I'm giving you one chance, Loki. Stand down."
"I think not." Loki replied.
The Quinjet flew into view above them, its guns locked onto Loki. From over the PA, Coulson's voice emerged. "Loki, drop the weapon and stand down."
Loki's face twisted in rage. "Kneel!" He yelled, blasting Merlin with his sceptre. As the sorcerer was thrown backwards, the Asgardian raced forwards, swiping with his sceptre at Captain America. The hero blocked his strike with his shield, before dropping and sweeping with his foot, tripping the Asgardian.
-.-.-
Harry pushed himself to his feet, noting immediately how he'd been blasted quite far away from the fight. He raised his wand, firing off a quick duo of Stunning Spells. Loki sensed them coming, kicking the Captain back and spinning his staff to intercept the spells. Loki then blasted another bolt of energy at Harry, but he threw up a quick Protego to deflect it.
Captain America threw his shield at Loki, and it was clear the Asgardian hadn't expected that. As the vibranium shield caught Loki in the chest, the Captain was already moving, slamming his fist into Loki's face. His second swing hit Loki in the gut, before he used his sceptre to force the Captain back. Harry levitated the shield, using his magic to banish it into Loki's back. The Asgardian was knocked down once more, and Harry took the chance to hit him with a Stunner. To Harry's shock, Loki simply smiled as the red spell washed over him, not affecting him at all. Harry swore, and immediately began to think of more damaging spells to use.
He threw a Blasting Curse first, and was irritated when Loki batted it away with his staff. The Captain charged again, having rolled to pick up his shield. As Captain America bashed Loki in the face, staggering the Asgardian, Harry hit their foe with an Incarcerous, temporarily binding him. Loki quickly drew a thin throwing knife from a concealed sheath in one of his bracers, using it to slice through the bindings, before launching the knife at Harry. Harry easily deflected it, but it bought Loki time to grab his staff.
"Loki's tougher than I expected." Natasha remarked through her headset, watching from the cockpit of the Quinjet. Coulson sat in the co-pilot's seat, making sure that the chain-gun was tracking Loki's movements. "What the –" She exclaimed, as the words 'System Compromised' flashed up on her screen. As the sound system was remotely controlled, and began to blare out AC/DC, she knew exactly who had hacked their system. He'd arrived faster than she'd expected he would.
"Agent Romanoff." Sure enough, Tony Stark's voice spoke through their headsets. "Did you miss me?"
Iron Man flew in, blasting Loki in the chest with both of his repulsors. As Loki flew back, Harry summoned his staff, grimacing as he caught it. Iron Man raised both hands, aiming his repulsors, the wrist-mounted missile launcher and the smaller missiles on his shoulders at Loki. "Make your move, Reindeer Games." Iron Man called out. As Loki raised his hands in surrender, his armour shimmering and changing into more regular Asgardian robes, Iron Man lowered his repulsors. "Good move."
-.-.-
Harry sat opposite a handcuffed Loki in the back of the Quinjet. Loki's staff had been secured in a crate, and Steve was sitting on that crate. Tony was in the cockpit, talking with Natasha and Coulson. Tony turned and walked out of the cockpit, having irritated their pilots enough.
"I don't like this." Harry said.
"What, Rock of Ages giving up so easily?" Tony asked.
"I don't remember it being that easy." Steve remarked.
"Exactly." Harry said. "We took him down too easily, considering what Thor did in New Mexico."
"You were pretty spry, for an older fellow." Tony said to Steve. "What's your thing, pilates?"
"What?" Steve asked, confused by the change in conversation.
"It's like calisthenics. You might have missed a few things while you were doing time as a Capsicle." Tony said dryly. Harry struggled to contain a snicker at that comment, but Steve looked annoyed.
The loud crash of thunder shook them all, and Harry noticed how nervous Loki looked that they were flying through a storm. Tony noticed it too, and taunted Loki. "What's the matter, afraid of a little lightning?"
"I'm not overly fond of what follows." Loki replied. A thud from the roof made Harry look up, and Loki looked even more nervous. A quick pulse of electricity shot through the ship, and the ramp began to open. Harry moved immediately, grabbing Loki and pulling him away from the open ramp, as another Asgardian landed.
This Asgardian, Harry recognised. He'd never seen the man before, but the blond-haired, bearded Asgardian, wielding a mighty battle-hammer, couldn't be anyone but Thor. Harry positioned himself between Thor and Loki, but before Thor did anything, Coulson spoke from the doorway to the cockpit. "Thor?"
Thor looked up, noting the faces of the other people on the Quinjet. Steve had already picked up his shield, and Tony had put his helmet back on. Harry had drawn his wand, and Coulson had his pistol in one hand.
"Son of Coul." Thor inclined his head respectfully, recognising the agent he'd met in New Mexico. "Give Loki to me, and he will face Asgardian justice for his crimes."
"We need him to find the Tesseract." Coulson replied. "He's also controlling several of our men. Once we've got the Tesseract and our men back, you can take him."
"Thor." Harry said coldly. "Do you remember me?"
Thor looked at him, and shook his head. "I do not. Should I?"
"I came through the same portal as you to Earth." Loki raised an eyebrow at that revelation, and Thor looked stunned.
"Then we must talk, friend." Thor said. "I will accompany you for now."
-.-End Chapter 10-.-
AN: This seemed like a natural place to end the chapter. All of the Avengers are now on Earth, and Loki is in SHIELD custody. Because Coulson came with them to Stuttgart, Thor recognised him when he boarded the Quinjet, and didn't kidnap Loki, meaning there was no need for a fight between Thor and the others. Personally, I just reckon that was so they had some more awesome action shots to throw in the trailers. Plus, it means that they don't all leave Loki unguarded and actually have him stay there instead of, you know, escaping. In the next chapter, Thor and Harry have a chat.