Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Marvel-characters!

AN: Waw, just…waw. I was overwhelmed by the response I got to the previous chapter. Seriously, I was cheering and jumping up and down! They made my day so thank you so much! As a reward, I bring you the newest chapter. I had a blast writing this and I hope you will all enjoy reading it.

In response to a few reviews: I realize that Coulson is supposed to be…well…you know. Sorry, I can't actually say it (or in this case write it) because then it would be actually true. So Coulson lives in my stories because he's awesome. I'm also sorry that last chapter caused some confusion. The first scene happened entirely in Loki's head. Thor never left earth and the Avengers are still battling Chitauri on the surface! To noukinav018, I used an idea of yours so thanks for that!

Now read on and enjoy! Oh, and thanks a million times again for all the feedback! Aaargh, it was awesome!

~ Shadows and Regrets ~

Chapter 14

Steve wasn't sure when it had happened exactly. One moment he had been fighting six Chitauri-warriors and the next, he'd found himself surrounded by half an army. He had gotten separated from Iron Man and Steve quickly searched the skies for his ally. He could not find him, however, and he felt dread climb up his spine as he understood he would have to face this small army on his own.

He started by blocking attacks with the use of his shield. He hit one of the Chitauri in the face, spun around and kicked another one. Then he saw, from the corner of his eyes, how another Chitauri was hit by an arrow. Steve felt instantly better when knowing that Hawkeye had his back. Steve again turned to the skies to find this comrade, but he found nothing. Then he remembered that the archer was no longer on top of a building to cover them. Clint had come down.

Another four Chitauri jumped Steve who needed to use all of his strength to get them of his back. More arrows whizzed past his head and Clint suddenly stood beside him. They began to fight the mass, back to back, but they both knew they were greatly outnumbered.

"Where are the others?" Steve shouted over his shoulder. He used his shield to knock away two Chitauri-soldiers and then used his fist to fight off a third one.

"They are just around the corner," Clint replied, almost completely out of breath, "they needed to defend three dozen civilians who had to find shelter."

"At this point-" Steve ducked in order to avoid getting a hit to the head, "we need shelter!"

More and more Chitauri-warriors began to attack them. Steve made a somersault and then planted his foot in the side of an enemy. He kicked and boxed and hit anything that came near him, but when another four Chitauri jumped him, he was forced to drop his shield. He felt fists hitting his face. His entire vision turned black and then he dropped down.

"Captain!" Clint yelled. However, the archer had no time nor options to reach his friend. He, too, was attacked by too many Chitauri. They grabbed his arms and twisted them in painful angles. Clint cried out and was forced to let go of his bow. He received a blow to the head and instantly fell a few drops of blood trickling down his left temple.

At that moment, Clint blacked out. Steve was down as well and three Chitauri-warriors made sure he stayed down. The Captain felt how his hands were pulled behind his back and bound. Then he got another blow to the head and he lost consciousness.

~ o ~

Loki was staring at his hands; his long fingers, his ivory skin, his thin wrists. There was no sign that only days ago, it had looked ashen grey with cuts and bruises. There was not a sign whatsoever that he had been badly beaten by his own father. When he closed his eyes, he remembered seeing the horrified and denying expression on Thor's face when he had learned the truth for the first time. Loki had told him what had happened, but his words had been taken for lies. He had gone to his brother for help and he had almost not received it.

Sentiment.

The mere word alone made Loki snarl. He would not make the mistake again. He would not go to Thor even if his life depended on it!

He carefully rubbed his index finger across a thin, red scar that still covered his right eye. It was the only reminder of what had happened to him. Asgard's best healers had tried to remove all traces of the vicious attack, but this had been impossible to erase. It was where Odin's spear had cut him. Loki had to admit that he was not entirely blameless. He had murdered two guards (who had treated him very poorly, if he might add) and he had antagonized the King (but again, he had only used words so had he deserved getting beaten in return?).

Still Loki doubted if he had made the right decision right here and now. He pondered and pondered, but in the end, he simply found himself lost in his own thoughts. He was started to think that no decision he made would be a good one.

"You made the right decision."

Loki had been so deep in thought that he had forgotten that The Other was with him. He let his gaze fall upon the Chitauri-lead and all but suppressed a heavy sigh. Instead, he made sure that he kept his back straight, his chin high and his movements under control. Now was not the time to start shaking.

He hated it how The Other had been able to read his thoughts by simply looking at his face.

"I know," Loki replied evenly. He was surprised by the lack of emotion in his own voice.

"The battle for Midgard will soon be over, humanity's heroes will fall eventually," The Other announced, "then we can focus on more important business and discuss our new plans. With your help, Asgard will fall as easily as this doomed planet."

Loki smiled. He knew it was a convincing, award-worthy smile, but on the inside he doubted. He was prepared to do much in order to avoid a torture session by The Other's hand, but he wasn't sure just how far he was willing to go. Yes, he'd wanted to subjugate earth only months ago, but now he was starting to change his mind. Like Tony Stark had said before; there was no scenario where he would come out on top. Sure, they could defeat earth's defenses and mightiest heroes, but Loki would never truly rule this planet. People would always stand up to him.

Then there was Asgard. If they had luck on their side, they had indeed a chance to conquer the almighty realm of the Gods. But that remained one big 'if'. Loki recalled the vision The Other had shown him. That scene of the whole of Asgard kneeling before him would be their best case scenario, but then Loki remembered his crying mother and he did not want that.

Frigga's voice sounded ever so clearly in his head. 'Stay out of trouble.' He could even see her stand before him as if she was actually there. He could see her fondness for him, her compassion. Loki was sure that this is not what she wanted so yet again he had disappointed her. It was the story of his life really.

It broke his heart to think this and Loki felt his chest sputter as he began to have difficulty breathing. He turned away from The Other and said, "I am in need of air."

Without waiting, he left the control room. As soon as those doors closed behind him, he felt a weight fall off his shoulders. There might still be four Chitauri-warriors escorting him (The Other didn't take any chance with Loki this time), but he didn't bother to put on a front for them. He inhaled deeply and steadied himself.

Then he began to walk, not really knowing where he was going. He felt the Chitauri's looming presence and contemplated on escaping them, but he decided against it. For one, The Other would not appreciate it. If Loki tried any funny business, then he was in for some extreme torture. So he continued to walk while listening to the loud bangs coming from outside. It was clear that they were still trying to destroy these ships.

It wasn't until he reached a more remote part of the ship that he stopped dead in his tracks. He heard voices; familiar voices and Loki couldn't help but listen in to the conversation.

"I just don't get it." Loki had spent enough time with Hawkeye to recognize his voice anywhere. "Why would they capture us and not kill us like a normal enemy would do?"

The second voice was more difficult for Loki to place, but he knew it was one of the Avengers. He closed his eyes and tried to recall the man behind the voice and suddenly he felt himself in Stuttgart again, the Captain standing tall before him. He was surprised that the man had been caught by the Chitauri. Wasn't he normally called the super soldier? Pathetic.

"I guess they're not a normal enemy," the Captain replied.

Loki carefully crept closer as to not alert the two Avengers of his presence. He only hoped the Chitauri wouldn't give him away, but the aliens kept their distance as well.

"Oh crap!" Hawkeye suddenly exclaimed.

"What?"

"I think I know what's going on here," Hawkeye said with a half-annoyed voice, "we're bait."

There was a short silence. Loki wasn't sure what was happening, but he hoped that Hawkeye would care to explain his thoughts. He didn't understand why the archer would think them to be bait, but apparently Steve couldn't follow the logic either.

"Think about it," Hawkeye explained, "the Chitauri are hoping that the other Avengers will come and rescue us. For one, they'll be walking into a trap. Two, that would mean there is less resistance down on the surface which would make it an easy victory."

"Yeah, that doesn't sound good," the Captain sighed, "and I'm also pretty sure that the Chitauri are hoping that the attacks on these spaceships will be temporarily halted. At least for as long as we are on it."

"So now we're not only bait," Hawkeye sounded sour, "we're leverage as well!"

Loki wasn't sure what to think of this. In essence, it was a very smart plan. Did it have any chance of succeeding? Loki wasn't sure. These were the Avengers and they were not to be underestimated. However, most of them were mere mortals and could easily die. Though Loki had more doubts about his personal position in this battle. He wasn't sure whether to feel pleased that two of the Avengers had been captured or whether to feel concerned.

He just wasn't sure what to feel right now. It was all very confusing. Weeks ago, he would have cheered and celebrated that two Avengers had been caught. He wouldn't have hesitated to kill them.

But now… Now what exactly?

Loki turned around, ready to walk away when he heard the next part of the conversation.

"But we have one advantage the Chitauri don't know of," the Captain said.

The God of Mischief pricked up his ears. He was very curious to find out what they were talking about.

"And that is?" Hawkeye asked.

"Thor."

Loki was already losing interest in the conversation rapidly. He truly wasn't in the mood to hear of his brother's heroic acts.

"He's already skulking around here," the Captain said next, "looking for Loki. He wants to save him from the Chitauri and we both know how stubborn he is. He will not give up on his brother so if we're lucky, Thor finds us as well in the process."

"Oh yeah," Clint sounded almost pleased, "I hadn't thought of that."

Loki stumbled back. What the hell was he supposed to make of that? How did Thor even know he was here? In the end, it didn't matter. All that was important to Loki was that Thor was looking for him. Could it be that his brother had abandoned his friends for his sake? Could it be that Thor was risking his life and this planet for him? Why else would he leave the battle to – as the Captain had said it – skulk around these ships?

All the questions overwhelmed Loki and he needed answers. He impulsively strode forward, walking into the Captain's and Hawkeye's view. He found the two avengers bound by their hands and feet. They were sitting in a small, dark cell and Loki knew there was no escaping from this. He clenched the metal bars of the cell door between his hands.

"Loki!" Hawkeye looked surprised and shocked.

"What did you mean?" The God of Mischief demanded. He was completely aware that he sounded distressed and emotional, but times were rough and he honestly couldn't be bothered with putting up a façade.

It was the Captain that responded. "What are you talking about?"

"Thor is looking for me, you said it. Why is he looking for me?"

The Captain and Hawkeye exchanged a careful glance.

"Iron Man saw you being hauled away by the Chitauri and he told your brother," the Captain said, "Thor didn't hesitate. As soon as he knew you were in trouble, he came looking for you. He wants to save you."

"But apparently you don't need saving," Hawkeye added darkly.

The Captain shot his fellow Avenger a warningly glare. Then he returned to look at Loki. "We would have stopped him if we could, but he was very adamant. I know you're very skeptical at everything we tell you, but you must believe me when I say that I've never seen Thor so concerned before. He cares deeply for you, Loki, even after…"

"Even after I tried to rule the world he loves so much?" Loki completed the Captain's sentence. He watched the super soldier nod. So apparently, Thor had risked everything to come and look for him. Could it be that he still had a few people in the nine realms he could count on in the end? Could he trust in his brother?

"So…why are you here?" Hawkeye asked after a short silence.

Loki didn't know why, but he suddenly turned very defensive. "I didn't have a choice," he spat, releasing the metal bars that separated him from the two Avengers, "I could ally myself with The Other again or I could find myself tortured and still give him what he wants. I chose the easy path."

He wasn't met with disdainful words or expressions. In fact, both the Captain and Hawkeye kept their gazes even. Loki wasn't sure what the two mortal superheroes were thinking at the moment.

"Well, to me-" the Captain said, "-it looks like you're still a prisoner."

Loki glanced over his shoulder and found the four Chitauri-warriors standing uncomfortably close. He hadn't noticed them stepping closer and he realized that he might be stepping across some boundaries here. These Chitauri would, without doubt, report everything back to The Other. That meant Loki was screwed unless…

…unless he played this cleverly.

"And so are you," he told the Captain, still sounding distant and defensive, "so I am sure you would try anything to get out of the situation. I am a master at manipulation so I know when someone is trying to do the same to me." He painfully remembered his previous talk with The Other. He had been aware that he was being played, but he hadn't been able to stop himself from walking right into the trap. He would not be fooled again. "Don't count on Thor too much," he continued, "I'm sure to tell The Other of my brother's threatening presence and he will be caught."

Hawkeye looked horrified. "What?"

Loki conjured his most devilish smile. Mischief lay in his eyes like a sparkle igniting him. He had newfound energy. "You truly didn't think I would care about Thor, did you? I am at The Other's mercy and I am not planning on scorning him."

"You are wretched!" Hawkeye sneered.

Loki held his smile in place. "I know."

He walked away from the small cell, leaving two perplexed Avengers behind. Loki kept his hands into fists and forced himself to focus. The plan was ready in his head, but the execution had to be perfect. He would only have one shot at this. If he failed, the entire Chitauri-army would be out for his head. If he was unsuccessful, then The Other would have a field day with him!

Just before they reached the corridor, Loki spun around and lifted his hands. The spell was difficult and required much magic, but Loki knew he could pull it off. Fire blasted from the tips of his fingers and he aimed it directly at the four Chitauri. They cried out in agony, but Loki only intensified the heat. After a few seconds, the four of them fell down. Dead.

That was not a spell he could pull off again.

Without any doubt, he reached for the Chitauri's weapons. He took a rifle and found four hidden daggers. Those were his favorite weapons and Loki felt lucky. He carefully put them away and then raced back the cell. The Captain and Hawkeye were standing now, having heard the screams of the Chitauri and feeling threatened by the new event. Loki wasn't sure whether they looked relieved or frightened when he appeared before their cell again.

"So…" Hawkeye said slowly, "are you here to kill us or to help us escape?"

Loki grinned. This time it was sincere, without any darkness or villainy. "I'm here to help you escape."