Steve stood in the lab with his fist balled up and pressed against his mouth as he looked onto the computer screen of Banner's which showed Loki sat in his cell, lounging around as if he had no care in the world. Yet he knew that to be untrue. He knew that inside of this prison cell was the safest place for him until they came. He had been given a second chance, something which was completely unheard of to him. He had promised them that he would not mess up this time. He had already threatened on doing so.

He knew the darkness which fell over New York and the rest of America would spread soon enough. The plan to take over the world was one which Loki relished. Of course, his position as a leader had been demoted and his only privilege in life would be to live. Somehow that did not feel quite enough to the Asgardian leader who wanted more than that. He needed more.

The time would come and he would be released from the cell. The heroes would be disbanded once again. He had already managed to get to his brother who was making sure his precious earthling Jane was safe in the Maldives after Loki had gotten into his head and informed him that his men were on the way to the small home which she lived in.

Thor had gone mad with worry, deciding Loki could wait whilst he had been captured and had rushed off to Jane Foster. And now Steve was running after his precious Elizabeth Meyer. Banner would be easy to crack – the constant working was tiring the man out and Loki knew it. He did not consider the two S.H.I.E.L.D agents anything to worry about. They were mortal and possessed no power which he could not handle. Their care for each other would be their downfall, Loki knew that.

And that simply left Stark's loving assistant, Pepper Potts. With Steve's dear missing, Stark's first port of call will be to keep Pepper safe.

Everyone had their weak spot and Loki knew exactly where the Avenger's were held.

With them falling over each other to keep a certain few safe the rest of the world would perish. And once it had perished then he would extract his revenge over their cherished ones. Only when that was completed would he move on to the heroes.

Loki smiled sinisterly to himself at the thought of breaking out the prison cell which he was in and working in alliance with the leader of the foreign galaxy. He had grovelled with an apology and had been granted another chance to redeem himself and he hoped that he had.

He hoped that by disbanding the Avengers he had proved his worth. They thought that Loki was the worst thing to grace Earth. How they had been mistaken and would pay for that terrible error of judgement.

...

"Can you trace her phone?" Steve asked Banner as he thought about everything which could happen and Banner shook his head sadly to Steve, pushing his glasses further onto his nose after he had told the Captain.

"No can do. All cell phone service is down."

"Right," Steve said, moving the gloves on his hands before dropping his hands onto his hips and they all looked to him with wonder as to what he was intending to do. Stark had left, informing them that Pepper was the only thing which he cared about.

His love for Pepper was one thing which he had already taken for granted. Ever since the first incident with Loki he refused to put her in danger or lose her.

Everyone watched as Steve moved to the doors, his hands pulling at the mask to the costume as he pushed it on top of his head and covered his face. He grabbed the shield which sat in the corridor of the underground headquarters. Quickly, he rushed up to the surface, ignoring the odd looks which he was receiving from members of S.H.I.E.L.D. He didn't care for explaining where he was going when he knew exactly what he had to do.

Steve looked at the sky which remained pitch black above him and he moved along the quiet streets of New York, noting how the usual bustling had disappeared from them. Not that he blamed them for hiding themselves indoors. He would probably do the same if he weren't Captain America and had duties. Besides, he wasn't designed to sit back and do nothing when people relied on him, not like the modern era seemed to do. He stepped up and did what he needed to.

He moved quickly, looking around for any sign of transportation which he could work. Preferably a motorcycle. But, there was nothing which was not destroyed. Without luck he quickly rushed through the streets to where Geoff's apartment lay.

Deep down he knew it was probably a stupid idea. He wouldn't keep Lizzie holed up there. He should know that would be the first port of call which Steve went to when he found out she had been taken. But Steve went regardless. It was somewhere to start looking. It was better than sitting around and not knowing what was happening to her.

He couldn't understand it. Why would Geoff want her? He had thrown her out of his apartment, refusing to put up with her. He had kicked her out and told her that he never wanted to see her again. What kind of a person did that and then extracted revenge. He could only assume Geoff wasn't the usual type of person.

No, he didn't have to assume. He knew as much.

Steve eventually reached the apartment block, thankful that the base wasn't far away from it. The main door to his apartment building was unlocked and the corridor was trashed with everything imaginable from shopping trolleys to the remainder of logs for fires. Steve shook his head and took the steps up to the apartment which he knew Geoff lived in.

He banged on the door once, not giving anyone enough time to answer before he quickly barged the door down, walking in and looking around the modestly decorated apartment.

"Lizzie!" he called out, his voice full of false hope as he received no answer back to his ears. He pushed doors open and even went as far as to look into the closest, desperation taking a hold of his body as he sighed deeply, his breathing becoming erratic once he realised she was nowhere to be seen.

"Lizzie!" he tried again, his voice wobbling on her name. "Where are you, Lizzie! Jesus Christ!"

He pulled the mask back from his eyes and ran his hands through his blonde hair, pulling at it as he bowed his head, a single tear escaping from his eyes.

...

Lizzie didn't know how long she had been tied to the wooden chair. Long enough she supposed considering she couldn't feel her bottom due to numbness. Her back ached and her head pounded as the gag in her mouth became uncomfortable and she continued trying to push her hands from the ropes which bound her.

"There is no use in fighting."

It was the first thing which he had said to her in the entire time she had been tied up. He'd been sat on the leather sofa at the side of the room, circling his prey which sat in the middle on the shaggy rug. Lizzie's eyes snapped across to look at him, her hair falling onto her cheeks as sweat poured down her forehead and he stood up.

"No one is here to save you. Really, everyone left the apartment block," he told her and she squirmed about in the seat, swearing from between the gag. He chuckled as he bent beside her, his hand squeezing her chin to force her to look at him as her eyes widened in fear.

"Now, cursing is not very becoming of you, Lizzie." He warned her before she cursed again at him. "Of course, looking back on it, there really was never anything which was attractive about you."

He smirked, standing up whilst Lizzie remained mute, her face one of thunder and he laughed to himself, his head shaking back and forth as he did so.

"Hence why the affair commenced," he whispered, his brow arching as he looked back at her. "She had a much better physique than you, baby. She actually had curves you could see."

Lizzie remained calm, not allowing his words to get to her as she remained silent, refusing to become irate with him. Did he honestly think that she cared? Did he honestly think his lucid affair bothered her? Not when she had found Steve because of him and she knew who the better man was.

"So that probably leaves you wondering why I have you here," he said and Lizzie allowed a sarcastic remark to come through her mind and he chuckled, scratching the back of his neck as he did so.

"You see, I threw you out...with the intention of having everything back on track again...I thought I was free and Allie could move in...turns out she didn't want someone who had been cheating on their girlfriend," he rolled his eyes.

Lucky escape for her, Lizzie thought and Geoff turned his back on her, prowling around the chair in which she sat.

"And then I realised that maybe having you back wouldn't be too bad," he shrugged. "You were willing and I assumed you needed a place to stay and you were ever so...desirable...when you wanted to be."

"But then I saw you with him. The pair you walking back into the apartment and I realised that you really did have an issue, didn't you? You're a needy creature really. You told me all about your relationships in the past and I saw it then. I saw how you need to cling onto some. You always want to be loved...thinking your life is such a failure and then having someone bail you out of the dark abyss which you find yourself in."

Lizzie remained silent, listening to his haunting words whilst she thought about him. It wasn't true. She could get along fine on her own. She didn't need anyone.

But I need Steve. I need Steve so much right now.

"So, I began to resent you for moving on. I didn't want that. I wanted you back. And so I found myself hating that boyfriend of yours...but then...well...someone can looking for you here...and I told him you'd moved. He was much put out but then he heard my tone of distaste...and we made a deal. One which would benefit him and one which very much please me," he assured her, bending down behind her, his hand wandering up and down her neck as his lips rested on the hollow base of her throat.

"So, you see, things ended up for the best for me. He also divulged information about your little boyfriend. Captain America? I almost laughed when he told me...but then again...you have always had a way of picking them, haven't you, Liz? I mean there was Collin in College, wasn't there? Dear Collin...and then after that it was anyone, wasn't it? Anyone who could satisfy you until we met...and you thought I loved you."

"Well, Lizzie, I hate to disappoint, but love is never anything which I've felt. Most certainly not for you, sweetie."

Lizzie moaned out as his tongue dashed against her skin and she felt her body convulse with fear as he nibbled ferociously at her neck.

"Lizzie!"

Geoff stopped his torment for a moment, his eyes darting up as he heard the soldier shout her name and he smiled softly.

"Looks like lover boys got the wrong apartment, doesn't it? Pretty clever, isn't it? Switching to the next apartment to keep him off the scent. Once he's checked here then he won't come back...and he won't find you...no one will."

"Where are you, Lizzie! Jesus Christ!" he yelled again and Lizzie screamed against her gag, muffled sounds coming from her as she realised there was no point to it. There really was no use but she continued with her attempt regardless as Geoff stood up, looking to the wall which separated the super soldier and him.

"There really is no one to save you."

...

A/N: All kicking off now, I can assure you guys! I would like to thank miller330, stinkysox and CuteSango07 for reviewing the previous chapter!

Remember to drop me a comment pretty please!