"You know, I think I like you," Loki said casually. Bruce shook his head in bewilderment, trying to figure out how Loki could go from murderous to friendly in the blink of an eye. He could admit that Loki was very good at throwing him off.

"What?" Bruce sighed, rubbing at his temples.

"You continue to surprise me. Most people I've met are so dull, but not you," Loki said, smirking in that way he had. "Your man of iron has obvious charisma, but you've got substance. You've got layers."

"What are you trying to accomplish with this?"

"Why do you think everything has an ulterior motive?"

"Forgive me if I'm unfairly judging you based on your actions. I know we haven't known each other for long, but when every part of it has been bad, I'm going to assume that things are going to stay along that trend."

"But I haven't done anything that bad to you recently."

"Really?" Bruce scoffed, waving around the room. If kidnapping and threatening to upend his whole life wasn't bad, Bruce was hesitant to see what did fall into that category.

"If this has all been so bad, why haven't you asked to leave?"

"Excuse me? As if that would work."

"Well, you requested that I not hurt these little creatures and here they still sit, unharmed. I was beginning to think we were having a good time here," Loki shrugged.

"So, you're saying that all I have to do to leave here is ask to be let go? And no one gets hurt?" Bruce asked incredulously. There was no way it could be that easy. Loki had to be playing at something.

"You won't know unless you try."

"Loki, can I leave?"

"I'm not sure," Loki replied, rubbing his chin in contemplation. "Convince me why I should." Bruce groaned, knowing that this had all been a game. Just another trick from the trickster himself.

"What are you getting out of this? Do you want me to beg?" Bruce snapped. "As if there is anything I could say to convince you to let me go."

"And now we find ourselves in the same predicament."

"How do you figure that?"

"What would it take me to convince you to let me go?" Loki questioned. Bruce shook his head in disbelief. He felt like he needed to sit down before all these twists and turns took him off his feet.

"What are you talking about? You think I'm the one keeping you here?" Bruce laughed, gesturing toward the door. "I'm not going to stop you. And besides, if you were so worried about getting away, why take me in the first place? You could've been anywhere in the world by now. In the galaxy even."

"But there is a difference between freedom and actually being free. A life on the run, always looking over your shoulder is no way to live. I feel as though you can relate," Loki said, raising an eyebrow at him.

"Or you could accept the punishment you deserve," Bruce pointed out.

"Deserve? Who gets to decide that?"

"You killed people," Bruce reminded him.

"And that brings us back to intent, because I could say the same about all of you."

"It's not the same," Bruce argued.

"But did you even try to reason with my army before you resorted to violence? Maybe they thought they were doing the right thing? It's all about perspective."

"They came down out of a hole in the sky and started shooting people! Were we supposed to have a peace summit?" Bruce growled.

"I'll admit that isn't the best example, but it shows that things aren't always black and white," Loki shrugged. "But the question still stands: if I let you go, will you call off the dogs?"

"What makes you think I have that kind of power?"

"But if you did, if my fate rested in your hands alone, would you decide that I deserve another chance?"

The helicopter ride was tense, but Tony didn't bother trying to lighten the mood. It was getting late and he was exhausted. He used up the last of his comic relief at the previous warehouse. Now was the time to focus. If Jarvis was right, their latest battle might finally be over soon.

Tony didn't want to think about what they might find. Bruce and Loki had been together for hours now and there was no way that was a good thing. They surely would've heard if Hulk had caused chaos in another part of the city, so it was likely that Bruce hadn't shifted. But what did that mean for him? Was he using that restraint he worked so hard on, or had he been unable to Hulk out for some other reason? Like a permanent one. Bruce had commented about not being able to die when he tried, but maybe Loki had found a way. He'd never forgive himself if Bruce wasn't okay.

"How well do you all know Dr. Banner?" Steve asked, gripping the edge of his shield. Everyone shook their heads and shrugged. They were just strangers thrown together to save the world.

"I vaguely followed his work," Tony replied.

"Does he have any family?"

"Why?" Tony shot back. Steve sighed, giving him a look. "Stop acting like we're going to find his dead body. There will be no bad news to deliver to anyone."

"I was just asking, Stark. We know what Loki is capable of."

"Just because you got taken out by him with no effort doesn't mean the same happened to Bruce," Tony snapped. He didn't need Steve verbalizing the fear that Tony was trying to keep hidden. Optimism and denial were the name of the game right now. "We aren't losing anyone today, so take your solemn soldier bullshit elsewhere."

"Tony," Natasha said in warning from the front of the helicopter.

"I wasn't-" Steve started, before cutting himself off. He stared out the window, looking less like the super soldier and more like the out of place kid that he was. Tony figured he could've actually liked the guy, in a different circumstance. But now wasn't the time to strengthen personal relationships. It was time for work. It was time to save Bruce.

They landed the helicopter a few streets down from the address Jarvis gave them, not wanting to alert Loki to their presence until they were ready. He could see the green haze people mentioned witnessing, so this had to be the place.

"We can't let Loki get away this time, so we need to cover both directions if he tries to flee," Steve commanded, fully back in his Captain America persona. "Thor and Tony, you go in through the roof while we'll come in from the ground floor. Meet in the middle and get our guy."

"I'll handle my brother," Thor said gravely, squeezing his hand around the handle of his hammer.

"Be careful of civilians, but do what you need to do. Getting Bruce back is top priority," Steve directed, giving them each a look of determination. Tony nodded in agreement, ready to get through this final battle. This day was going to end with a win, no matter what.