A/N: Loads of thank-yous to Ulura, ForeverLilacLies, tapion580, FullMetalBlunt, ArainaHaldthin, Loki-fan13 and Lawnon for reviewing, Favers and Alerters for Faving and Alerting, and Rue for betaing 8)

They converge on the Helicarrier's bridge – Fury, Hill, Romanoff, Barton, Rogers and Banner. Loki is left standing self-consciously off to one side, unsure of where to go or what's expected of him. Below them is a scene of confusion as S.H.I.E.L.D. tries in vain to regain control of the ship.

'The manual reboot failed,' they're informed, 'We're still airborne, but we're no longer in control of the ship. The Helicarrier is dead.'

'Orders, Director?' says Maria.

'Start evacuating the crew immediately. Use all the aircraft we have at our disposal. Forget the cargo.'

'What about the storm, sir? Conditions are far from ideal.'

'Still, they have a better chance out there than in here. Tell all personnel to head to the flight-deck. Whoever stays behind...we're in for a bumpy ride.'

Hill nods and runs off. Amid the chaos, Loki is pushed into a corner.

'Are you okay?' Bruce asks him, and is answered with a mute head-shake.

The Helicarrier is beginning to dip forwards, putting the floor at a subtle but noticeable incline, gradually entering a nose-dive. As loose objects rattle and clatter past, the reality of the situation hits Banner: trapped aboard a flightless ship, a metal death-trap scuttling with tiny human life, slowly but surely losing momentum – and soon, losing altitude too. A coffin on a supercarrier-sized style. The doctor has to clench his fists to stop them shaking.

'Tony must've brought something onboard with him,' he says, 'A chip, something. He knew we were going to bring him here and he planned accordingly.'

'But that's impossible,' Steve says. 'We scanned him for weapons twice, he came up clean both times.'

'Who says it's that big?' Natasha points out. 'It could be tiny – a microchip. Undetectable on a weapons scanner. And it might not necessarily be on his body; he might've ingested it.'

'What about Loki? He could be the one carrying a chip,' Bruce interjects. All eyes turn to the Asgardian, who fidgets nervously. 'Loki, did Tony implant anything in you? Like a small piece of metal? Anything like that? He might've inserted it in your skin or he might've made you swallow it.'

'N – no.' Loki tries to remember, shaking his head. 'No. But – '

'But what?'

'He fed me. Last night – no, wait, the night before last. He gave me food. Bread. I ate it.'

'Great,' says Clint, 'This is great. You're telling me we're all going to die because Loki neglected to take a shit before coming onboard?'

There's a sharp crack of thunder overhead. Outside the windows, the morning sky is now a roiling mass of dark clouds. A flurry of helicopters, Quinjets and even fighter-planes are taking off in all directions as the Helicarrier is evacuated. Once they're clear of the stormfront, several of them eject parachutes before circling back around to pick up more evacuees.

'Okay, now we've identified the problem. How do we solve it?' Rogers says, 'Tony's our friend, we can't just throw him overboard. Even if we could, it's too late.'

'What if we released Thor?' Loki pipes up. 'I'm sure he can be reasoned with. If you let me talk to him – '

'Thor stays where he is,' Fury interrupts.

'We can't leave him locked up,' Loki says, alarmed. 'If we crash – '

'If we crash, everyone dies, not just him. Besides, his best chance of survival is if he remains inside his cell. It's damn-near indestructible.'

'All he wants is to protect me.'

'All he wants is a few dozen craniums lined up, ready for his hammer. Thanks to you.'

Loki quiets down, ashamed.

'What's our altitude?'

Hawkeye glances out of the window.

'...Simultaneously too high and not high enough, if that makes sense.'

Maria Hill returns.

'Sir, there are less than a dozen aircraft remaining, and still over a hundred crew. We're not going to be able to fit everyone. It looks like some of us are gonna have to go down with the ship.'

They all exchange a single glance – a wordless agreement that if they're going to die, they're doing it together.

'What about Loki?' says Steve, 'We can't ask him to die along with us, it wouldn't be fair. He's not one of us, and it's not his fault we brought him here...Wait, where is he?'

They turn.

'Shit.'

The trickster is gone.

Several decks below, Loki races past laboratories and loading bays. The corridors are too narrow and sharply angled to allow a flat-out run, and several times he almost hits a wall in his haste to turn a corner. Passing by a gaping hole in the ceiling, he realises Mjölnir has escaped her containment. She's either enroute to Thor or already with him, trying to batter her way into his cell. How long until she succeeds and Thor's rampage begins? All the more reason to hurry.

He knows where the majority of Helicarrier's holding facilities are concentrated, and within minutes he's able to track down Tony Stark's cell. The metal door has a small glass aperture, through which he can see Stark slumped on the floor. He looks so weak...surely he can pose no physical threat, not in this state.

Jabbing the nearest button, Loki finds it unresponsive. Managing to get some purchase on the door, he prises it open a few inches. Once the gap is wide enough, he's able to brace his shoulder against it and brute-force it the rest of the way.

'Tony?' Darting into the cell, he crouches in front of the Midgardian. 'Can you hear me? Gods, what have they done to you?'

Stark lifts his head sluggishly.

'What are you doing here?' he slurs.

'We need to talk. Try to focus.' He grasps Tony's shoulders and gives him a little shake. Tony groans. 'What did Thanos tell you to do? Please try to think. Please tell me. What have you done to the ship?'

'Kill-code. Total wipeout. Worked like a charm.' Stark giggles. 'Ate it last night. It was wired up to its own outer casing, so once my stomach acid eroded it, it was automatically triggered.'

'How can it be reversed?'

'Can't.'

'But there must be a way. There must be something we can do.'

'Nope.'

'We have to leave at once.' Grabbing Tony's arm, he pulls it around his neck and stands up. The inventor's head lolls, his legs trailing limply, and Loki ends up practically dragging him out of the cell. 'We need to think of something, an escape plan...Thor. Thor can help us, he can fly. He can fly you and me to safety and then...and then the others, too...we'll be fine. I can do it, I can save us all.'

'You're saving me?'

'I can't leave you.'

'Why not?'

'Because you gave me a second chance when I didn't deserve it. I know you're a good man. An honourable man. You wouldn't hurt me unless you had no choice, and Thanos doesn't exactly give people choices. I forgive you for what you've done to me.'

'That's sweet.' A pause, and another giggle. 'Sweet. Just like the taste of your pleasure.'

Loki knows instinctively who's speaking to him. He drops the man, shoving him away like an unclean thing. Tony grunts, but doesn't seem offended by it.

'Strange how easy one can be rendered helpless. I'll never understand these mortals live even half their lifespans with such frailties, such failings...'

The floor's tilt is getting worse, and in his terror Loki loses balance. He scrambles backwards until he can't retreat any further, pressed up against the wall.

'This body is pitiful, but it's served me well. And you've enjoyed it too, haven't you?' Stark rasps, 'I was there when you and he...bonded. I very much relished the sensation of your mouth, your clever tongue, your warm throat, your tightness...It was the first time I'd seen you truly happy and relaxed, almost as if you felt safe in my arms...Oh, I'm sorry, have I mortified you?'

Loki can't make a sound. Help me, help me, help, he wants to scream, but his voice is trapped.

'Don't be afraid. I'm not going to hurt you anymore. I have you where I want you and soon it'll be over. All your pain and fear will be no more. Come closer.'

Loki doesn't budge.

'Come now. You know what happens when you disobey me.'

It's impossible to do anything but yield. He inches forwards as if magnetically drawn.

'Good pet. A little closer. Now, place your hands around this mortal form's throat. Tightly.'

Loki complies without thinking. He can feel Tony's blood pulsing steadily, the passage of breath travelling up and down his windpipe, the life inside him – and he can't bring himself to squeeze.

'Don't test my patience, Loki,' Stark chokes. 'I said tightly.'

'I – I – c-c-can't.'

'Yes you can. You're so much stronger than he is. It'll only take a little pressure to snap his neck. Try it.'

'I can't. I can't!'

'Try...'

'I won't!'

Without warning, Loki is yanked backwards by his sweater. He struggles reflexively, frantic to extricate himself from the vice-like grip – only to stop when he realises it's the Hulk. Moving with surprising care and gentleness, the green-skinned beast sets him on his feet. Loki stares up at into the monster's eyes. If he looks deep enough, it's almost possible to see Banner aside.

'Here's the beast,' Tony remarks, 'Come to crush me, brute? No matter; I'll find another willing host.'

'You,' the Hulk rumbles. Nudging Loki aside (causing him to stagger backwards), it lumbers towards Stark.

'Go ahead – kill me. This body's death will be of no inconvenience to me. I'm surrounded by substitutes. Every man on this ship harbours a guilt, a weakness, a filthy secret...and no-one is better at shining a light into the darkness than I...'

Without answering, the Hulk tosses Tony back into his cell and unceremoniously jams the door back into its previous position. Turning, he regards Loki.

'Please, he needs help,' Loki whispers.

'Come,' the Hulk utters, the floor shuddering with its heavy footsteps as it trudges away.

'But he's – '

'Gone.'