Chapter 4: Gone

"Make your decision Ms. Romanoff," coaxed Loki, a sly smile etched on his face. Natasha's spy instincts kicked in, she looked at Clint and motioned, very quickly, to his weapons with her eyes. She knew he understood and she flicked the switch to open the cage. "Good choice," the God said, an even more sinister smile appeared. "But you won't get any help from Barton here." Loki's fingers glowed blue and then he pushed Clint out of the cell, moments before he fell in a heap on the ground, unconscious. "Don't worry," Loki purred, "It only lasts a couple of minutes, now, and you have to keep with your promise."

"Like hell!" Natasha blurted as she grabbed her gun from her holster and fired at his chest. Loki swiftly dodged the bullet, laughing. She ran into the cage, unhooking a knife from her belt and swung it at him, not a care what happens to the black- haired God. She plunged it into his gut, but the moment she did Loki disappeared. Her eyes went wide with shock, until she heard him behind her, she spun around but it was too late he grabbed both her arms, twisted them around her back, and pulled her right up to his chest. So close she could feel his chest rise and fall with each breath.

"You think I didn't know you were going to try that you stupid girl!" Loki snarled into her ear, she felt his warm breath rush by the side of her face. "You think I am that foolish? I am not mortal! I am a God! With each word he twisted her arm a little tighter, to the point where you could see the pain displayed on her face. "You on the other hand, are mortal, and I can do whatever I want with you, and I will!" With that his hands turned a blue and her whole body went limp in his arms, her body turned against her, useless. Then numbness began to cloud her mind, her eyes, everything growing more and more blurred, the last thing she saw before fell into total unconsciousness was Clint just starting to wake up, his face stricken with horror.

Clint Barton had seen many things during his time at S.H.I.E.L.D but this shocked, and to be honest, scared him the most. His mind had been controlled, again, this time into helping Loki lure Natasha into a trap, soon after he fell on the ground lifeless, unable to help. When he woke up all he saw was Natasha limp in Loki's arms, and him leering at him: right before they disappeared into thin air. Quickly he got to his feet and ran out of the room, looking for any of the other Avengers. The first one he saw was Tony, right beside him Thor, it looked like Tony was trying to teach Thor some card game.

"Come on Blondie," Tony pleaded, "It's not a hard concept!"

"Uh," Thor sighed," I don't know why you humans do the silliest things to occupy your time; you cannot fish for playing cards!" It was at that moment when Barton entered the room.

"Natasha's gone!" he cried, distress was practically written across his face. Both heroes' stood up in confusion and worry.

"Who? When!" Thor demanded, fearing the worst.

"It's Loki, he took her, he was able… to control my mind again…" Barton was clearly hurt, the last time this happened he hurt strangers, this time; he directly endangered a member of his team, a friend. Thor's face, on the other hand, was unreadable, a mixture of anger, disappointment, even fear bubbled up inside him.

"Show me where it happened."

Barton walked Tony and Thor, now joined by Steve and Banner, to the holding cell. It looked untouched except for the cage door hanging open. Thor looked around but he couldn't see any signs, the others just seemed very distressed.

"Barton," Thor said, "Do you know how Loki got into your room to control you?" Clint directed his eyes downwards when he answered the question, feeling very guilty.

"He… well he wasn't there, it just happened in the middle of the night and… yeah." Steve looked the most shocked by the answer.

"But that means…" he said

"Loki can take control of anyone, which already has been in contact with the scepter," finished Thor. "We need to find him, and soon." Everyone in the room agreed, and everyone was silent, even Tony.

"I know where he will strike," Barton stated, "New York, again."

"How do you know that for sure," asked Banner, "there are many places Loki could attack, not just the one he already had."

"Well," he explained, "Loki seems to want to end unfinished business, with us, with Tasha, even with New York." This time after an explanation, Tony was the first to speak up.

"Okay I guess reindeer games wants some revenge, but what does Red have to do with any of it, I mean all of us are just as 'guilty'." All of them sighed at Tony's nicknames, even at a time like this.

"Alright, you guys all know about Natasha interrogating Loki when we had him in the cage on the ship, right?" They simultaneously nodded their head, "well, she only told me a little about it, but he threatened her with… horrible things, even horrible to her. I think that a combination of that, wanting to not back down on his 'word' and that fact that she was able to fool him made him want to get revenge specifically on her." The room was silent, everyone worried for Natasha's safety, and if they could find Loki before it was too late.

"But Tasha's strong," continued Barton. "We will find her."

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