Chapter: 14: Shadows

Loki's body fell into a heap on top of one of the chairs he earlier set out. His jaw clenched as he stared at a wall across from him… what was really here for him on earth, except foolish torture from a foolish woman. He stood and started pacing, the cool air of the warehouse flowed by him. He knew the Avengers would come, and they would fight, but he was brutally outnumbered, although, he remembered, he still had the scepter. He felt the chill metallic surface on the palm of his hands. He considered using it on Natasha again, only if necessary, he thought, there are many others he may use it on. For now he needed to figure out what to do, and when to do it.

Natasha stayed in her room for while listening to the others comments. Soon she heard one of them; she thought it was Steve say they were landing. She sat up a bit wanting to hear what would happen.

"Okay bringing it down, Tony, you still with us?" Clint asked through his ear piece.

"Yeah right here Legolas."

"Shall we go into the building right away?" Questioned Thor. She didn't hear anything for a couple of minutes when Steve said.

"I think I have a visual. Come to the back left." More silence then some shouting from multiple voices, she couldn't make them out.

"Crap no he is over here!"

"No I see him"

"What the hell is going on?!"

"The lights!"

Natasha quickly got up from her bed, she was not going to sit there and do nothing as she listened to her team be attacked. Silently she equipped her weapons and snuck out of the base. It wasn't hard to do, boringly simple, when no one looks for you won't be found. She quickly spotted the large building that held all the aircraft. She crept into the hanger, a few locks broken, and two guards later she glazed at the sleekest aircraft S.H.I.E.L.D created. It was a one person jet plane, a smooth black exterior with state of the art equipment inside. She had not driven one of these specifically but knew how to drive the others. She climbed in, the seat belt fastened around her waist and shoulders, opened the garage like door, and flew off. She knew Nick would be infuriated but she didn't care. The plane controls were perfect, in no time she would be off to the warehouse.

Clint Barton didn't know what he expected when he arrived at the deserted building but this was not it. All of the team running around in the dark, Starks lasers nearly killing him twice, almost taking a shield to the head, and of course Thor's hammer flying every which way. Loki had duplicated himself, and finding the real one had proven to be a task. Finally he saw one; he grabbed an arrow, fit it into his bow and aimed. He didn't know if it was the real one or not, but either way seeing the arrow go into, or through him will be satisfying. He fired and it sailed through the Loki, the image collapsed.

"Damn," He said, "Wrong one." He then heard an approaching plane, S.H.E.I.L.D sending backup?

Natasha landed the plane just outside the warehouse, she heard blasts occurring throughout. What the hell is happening in there? She thought to herself. She slinked in, readied her pistol and saw that everything was drenched in a cool darkness. She saw Captain America run by her vision, but she stayed to the shadows, not wanting to be seen until the last moment. All of a sudden one voice rang out above the others.

"Loki!" Thor shouted out, "Stop this madness that is unneeded, come out of the shadows." There was no response either then a laugh silently echoing around. Lighting then illuminated the warehouse for a moment; she saw Loki and snuck up closer. He held the scepter, she saw him tighten his grip and instantly the other Loki's disappeared.

"Well I'm here!" He yelled to all of them. The other Avengers surrounded him, Natasha just behind.
"Give it up, you're surrounded!" Captain America shouted back. Loki laughed and pointed his scepter at Steve.

"Not for long, even I don't fully know what this does." A painfully electric blue blast of energy shot out of the end of the staff. Rodgers knelt down, his shield protecting his body. The blast bounced off and flew off in the other direction, as fast as light. Natasha saw it but could not move quickly enough, no one could have. It hit her in the chest, almost directly hitting her heart, which would have instantly killed her. The pain she felt was like no other, a burning sensation that consisted of a cold she never knew existed. A pure screech of horror was emitted from her throat a guttural cry that rang throughout the building. She had no ability to move any part of her body, and her eyesight quickly was diminished to a cloudy darkness. She wanted nothing more than to fall asleep into a never ending night, and be released from the pain. She heard her name being called out, but it was faint and distant. She felt someone come close, slide their arms under her back and crease of the knees. Clint, she thought, please kill me. She wanted to say something, do something but the magic that ravaged he body rendered her completely useless. Her eye lips slid into that pure blackness that she craved and slipped into a hopefully never ending void.

For Clint, the event happened in slow motion, Loki, the sceptre, he had not seen Natasha until last minute, but he had figured earlier that she would come. The blast hit her where her hearts used to beat, he thought to himself. He cried out her name, accompanied by a long mournful no, which he used to think cliché. She was gone, forever.

Hope you enjoy this last chapter! Quick thanks to all the positive reviews and praise. Being my first Fanfiction I really had no idea what I was doing at the start and thought no one would like my story. Anyways thanks for reading!