"It still doesn't make sense," Clint interrupted amidst the team meeting. "This Thanos guy kills a fake Loki and it's all gonna be over? Just like that?"

Natasha had been explaining Loki's situation with her fellow teammates, aside from Thor who was on Asgard, and Loki who was fast asleep in her bed. "Loki got himself into trouble. His death seems to be the only way out."

"If this guy was responsible for the recent attack on this city, then we need to be prepared!" Steve warned her. "Thousands of innocent people are still recovering from the recent alien invasion. We can't put them through this again…" He lowered his eyes to the glass coffee table.

"Look," Natasha continued, "Thanos will be on Asgard with Thor and his dad. This guy is responsible for their mom's death. Thor won't let this guy off so easily, especially after 'killing' his brother."

Clint's eyes darted over to Natasha's place on the couch. "So Loki knows Thor's gonna take this guy down?"

"I'm only assuming things." She folded her arms across her chest. "I'd like to see this guy taken out before anything worse happens."

"Like another invasion," Bruce chimed in. He adjusted his glasses for a moment. "I doubt we can handle something like that again…"

Tony was over at the bar pouring himself another drink. "I say we've got the whole teamwork thing down," he mused. "My bet's on Thunder Guy kicking this alien-or-whatever's ass."

Natasha rose from the couch and began to walk off. "I need to check on Loki."

"You've got a promising job as a babysitter if this doesn't work out for you," Tony jokingly remarked. As he watched Natasha leave the team's living room, he swore he saw her giving him the finger.

Natasha padded over to her bed where Loki's sleeping form lay. It was well after eleven in the afternoon and she wondered if waking the god would be a wise idea. "Loki?" He needed to wake up, though. "Hey." She gently shook his shoulder and he began to stir.

"Natasha?" He slowly opened his eyes and was greeted to her lovely face. His dark, wavy locks were a mess around his pillow and Natasha couldn't help but laugh. "What is it?" he naively asked.

The woman could see a childishness in his face that made him look even less threatening. "Your hair." Her hand reached out to brush a strand of hair out of his face. "It looks worse than mine in the morning."

"Nonsense. You are always lovely." Loki propped himself up on his elbows and smiled for her.

"Oh, shut up." She playfully slapped his chest. "Get up so I can make us lunch. It's a big day-you need your strength."

Loki's smile immediately fell. He felt that Natasha was taking this too lightly-his very life was at stake. The god stayed in bed, staring off into space while Natasha began walking off.

"Loki?" she turned around, wondering why he refused to follow.

"If something goes wrong tonight, Natasha, I could lose my life…" His gaze slowly met with hers. "Or worse. I could lose Thor, Odin… maybe even you…"

Natasha shook her head as she rejoined him on the bed. "Don't talk like that. Everything's gonna be okay."

"That is not something you can promise me!" Loki snapped at her.

"I'm only trying to help you!" she fought back. "That doesn't give you a reason to yell!"

Loki tightened his jaw and told himself to stop. His fingers tightened around her comforter. He didn't wish to get into a spat with her, but the stress was slowly gnawing away at him.

"Loki…"

The sound of her voice forced him to take a deep breath and slowly exhale.

Natasha reached out to touch his shoulder and felt his muscles begin to relax. "You'll be okay," she murmured. "You have Thor and Odin looking out for you back home, and I'm right here. You're gonna be fine."

Loki simply nodded in reply. Her words were the only things that he could trust at this moment.

The trickster's hand traced over the golden container's lid. He was hesitant to open it, but the spell needed to be done.

Natasha watched him as she sat cross-legged atop her bed. She was worried about what was soon to come, but she masked her anxiety well. "Let's open it together," she suggested, placing her hand over his.

Loki nodded and felt confident enough to lift the lid up. The blood-red gem glistened from inside its casket, welcoming the god to make use of it. "Very well, then," he whispered to himself. Loki reached in and held the surprisingly warm jewel in both hands. He closed his eyes and took a moment of silence to meditate. The god could feel the precious stone's power begin coursing through his veins. Loki felt stronger than ever. He felt as if he could take Odin down with just the flick of his finger… but that wasn't what this power was to be used for. His Mother's warning about the gem's power corrupting even the best of men echoed within his mind. This was all for her. The goddess' death needed to be avenged. Loki seized control over his power and conjured up a double. He was able to take himself into his clone's head and see everything that he saw. The god was now back in his cell which was just as dark and dismal as the moment he left it.

Natasha didn't have a clue what was happening, but Loki's serene expression and relaxed posture told her that everything was going smoothly. She didn't dare speak in fear of breaking his concentration. After a moment of being completely still, Loki's shoulders stiffened. Natasha reached out to place her hands over his. She wasn't sure what was happening, but she had promised Loki she would be there for him.

Loki heard footsteps, along with Thanos' deep, gravelly voice that made him fearful.

"Show him to me!" the titan demanded. "Until we speak and discuss the debts he owes me, I will not leave."

"If I allow for you to see him, then you must vow to leave right after," Odin's voice retorted. "Loki struggles to find the right path. I will not have you putting any more ideas of madness into his mind!" the All-Father threatened.

Thanos darkly chuckled in reply. "I will make our talk brief."

Loki heard the footsteps drawing nearer. Soon, a dim light filled the room as the All-Father entered. Standing tall behind him was Thanos. Thor was also there, glancing from Thanos to Loki. The trickster noticed a tense expression on the thunder god's face. Was Thor worried about him? Thanos' voice forced Loki's thoughts to cease.

"Do you remember our deal, god?" Thanos asked of Loki. "You promised to lead my army, yet you failed me. Tell me, what caused your downfall?"

Loki stood tall, safe behind the glass walls of his cell. "I was weak, ill-prepared… cocky…"

"That will cost you dearly," Thanos taunted. "We had a deal!" His monstrous fist slammed against the cell wall, sending shards of glass flying towards Loki.

"You will not touch him!" Odin shouted. He sent a bolt of lightning towards the purple-faced titan.

Loki knew that this was all part of Odin's plan. He wasn't using his full strength-this was all just for show. Nonetheless, it left the trickster frightened. Loki saw Thanos turn and snarl at Odin. "No!" Loki shouted. "This is between us! He has no part in this!" Even though Loki was hiding behind a decoy, he was willing to die a hero's death.

Thanos returned his attention to Loki with a pleased grin across his lips. "So you accept your fate? Very well, then." He reached out and grabbed the god's head in his golden gloved hand. "This is what becomes of those who betray me!" Thanos lifted Loki up and held the flailing god up for Thor and Odin to see. There was a gruesome crunch as the titan squeezed the trickster's head like one would crush an egg.

Thor turned away, feeling sick to his stomach. Odin kept his eye focused on Thanos, feeling both angered and upset. Despite how the two knew that the real Loki was hidden away safely, watching the decoy's murder was just as painful and sickening.

"My business here is done. I have more pressing matters to tend to." Thanos dropped Loki's body to the floor. A pool of blood quickly began forming around the corpse.

"Know that if you threaten my people, or those of Midgard, we will declare war upon you!" Odin growled before the titan left them.

Once Thanos was gone, Thor turned his attention to where Loki's body lay. "Did it work?"

The duplicate's body soon disintegrated. In its place lay the ruby red Infinity gem.

"Yes, my son," Odin stated, reaching for the precious stone.

Back in Natasha's bedroom, Loki's eyes shot open the second the spell was over. He had sent the stone back to the All-Father where it belonged. Even though a clone experienced the cruel death, Loki couldn't help but feel that it was he who had died. His body was trembling uncontrollably and his breaths were labored. The only think to give him any sense of comfort was the fact that Natasha's arms were around his neck, squeezing him tightly. He responded to her embrace by throwing his arms around her thin waist and pulling her even closer.

"Loki!" she gasped. Natasha had never been more terrified in her life. One minute, Loki was completely calm, but in a matter of seconds, his body had tensed up and began to shake. "Thank god you're okay." She buried her face in the crook of his neck. "I didn't know what was happening-it looked like you were losing control or something…"

"It is done now," Loki assured her in a hollow voice. "Thanos assumes me dead." His body shivered as the crunching of his double's skull echoed in his head. "Natasha, allow me to have a moment alone." He pulled away from the woman's touch.

"Where are you going?" she asked.

"The roof," he answered, looking away from her. "I need a bit of fresh air…" He disappeared from her sight and reappeared on the rooftop. The air was cool and crisp. Loki stared off into the horizon, slowly becoming lost as shades of pinks and oranges mixed in with the dark blues of the late evening sky. The god was trying to not think of death, but his mind kept thinking back to Thanos murdering his double. Loki felt numb, just as he did when his Mother died. Being alone and feeling like an empty shell only made Loki long for the freedom that could only come with his demise. As twisted as the thought was, it was the only way he would ever see his beloved Mother again… But then he thought of Natasha and how his heart ached for her in the most blissful way. Loki had to ask himself just who exactly he cared for more. His Mother, whom he had known all his life, or Natasha, one to recently enter his life and make him feel whole again?

Loki truly cared about Natasha more than words could express. She represented hope and redemption, something Loki desired wholeheartedly. There was a growing part of Loki that feared he was letting himself become too close with her too quickly. Thinking back to the rose he had given her, he wondered if the reason she originally kept it was out of love. Love. The word terrified him. Loki hadn't had the best luck when it came to loved ones. His beloved Mother was dead, his Father who 'loved' him locked him up in a cage, and his so-called brother was a suck-up who would side with the All-Father's decisions. Love would only bring Loki pain in the end. He knew that it would be for the best if he ended things with Natasha before his feelings for her grew. The last thing he needed was another heartbreak…

"You're not cold?" Natasha asked as she made her way to Loki's side.

Speak of the devil, and she shall appear… "No. I'm fine," he distantly replied. "I've been thinking," he began, continuing to watch the sunset.

"Oh, yeah?" Natasha stood close to him, watching the skyline.

He found himself thinking back to the rose-why else would someone keep such a thing? And hidden amongst precious gold and diamonds, of all places? That, to Loki, said that there had to be a deeper meaning. Perhaps Natasha did love him. All he now knew was that he needed to push her away before they both wound up hurting. Loki refused to lose anyone else in his life. "About my Mother," he continued.

"You really miss her, don't you?" She turned her head to stare at his profile. He said nothing in reply. "I never knew my parents…" Natasha absently began. "They died when I was still a baby. That's what I was told, at least," she nonchalantly shrugged. "I honestly can't remember anything, even if I tried…"

Loki didn't bother to make eye contact with the woman, but he listened. While she spoke, he simply stared up into the sky, taking note of the few stars.

"But I remember Ivan," she continued, looking down towards the cityscape below.

Loki couldn't recall her ever bringing up an 'Ivan' before… "Is there a point to your chattering, Ms. Romanoff?"

"My adopted Father," she finished. "For the longest time, Ivan was the only one I could trust. Then I lost him..."

Loki forced a grim smile. "Is this your way of leveling with me? I don't find this amusing." The god didn't appreciate her pity, nor did he want it. Letting her go was about to become easier than he had expected. "As if you understand me!" he spat. All he needed to do was make her angry with him-she would want him gone, and Loki would gladly leave for another world.

"Loki, I know how you feel," she stated, her emerald eyes glaring into his. "I know what it's like to lose family. And I moved on." Moving on was the key to getting over the pain. "So should you." She didn't mean to sound hurtful, but Loki's brooding was causing her to worry.

"You think it that simple?!" he exclaimed, yanking his arm away from her. Loki turned his back to her. The sight of her face was only making him genuinely angry. He was supposed to be hurting her! Loki felt as if he was being mocked. His Mother had just died and she expected him to move on?!

"Just give it time," she quietly added. "I know you're hurting, but if you can just try to-"

"Shut up!" Loki shouted into the silent night. "As if you know anything!" he continued to yell. Loki clenched his fists at his sides and felt his body trembling from anger. But she did know… "Don't think that you can everunderstand me!" But she did understand… It wasn't until the god saw a tiny drop of water fall to the pavement at his feet that he realized that tears were slowly rolling down his cheeks. Pausing to take a deep breath, Loki could tell that his body shook not with rage, but with sadness. "You don't… understand…" A choked sob escaped him. He suddenly felt the warmth of the red-head's chest against his back as her arms wrapped around his waist. The unexpected gesture reminded Loki of his late Mother's tender embrace. Turning around, he hugged Natasha back just as tightly. A pained cry passed his lips as more tears fell.

"It's okay," Natasha whispered, running a hand through his messy hair. "You're okay," she breathed.

He couldn't let her go. Try as he might, he cared far too much. Loki didn't care if he ended up hurting himself. He loved her and he wanted nothing more than to be at her side.

"And it's over
And I'm going under
But I'm not giving up
I'm just giving in

I'm slipping underneath
So cold and so sweet

And the arms of the ocean so sweet and so cold
And all this devotion I never knew at all
In the crushes of heaven for a sinner released
And the arms of the ocean delivered me"

Never Let Me Go ~Florence and the Machine