Loki swerved around while still in mid air and grabbed the hammer's handle. It smashed into the ground and flipped Loki over upon impact. As he rose to his feet, he heard something whooshing toward him and turned around to see Captain America's shield coming towards him. He managed to dodge it, but the shield came back at him and hit him square in the back, sending him forward into the ground.
"Better watch your back!" Steve taunted.
Loki glared up at him and staggered to his feet, holding the Captain's shield. He angrily threw it towards him. As Steve outstretched an arm to catch it, Loki charged at him and punched him in the gut.
"Thor's handling Hawkeye now, Cap's with Loki, so it looks like we're fighting these guys," Tony informed Natasha and the Hulk. "Agent Romanoff?"
Natasha was staring off into space, her mind racing over what to do. Maybe she should just give in and join Loki and Barton. After all, her past wasn't the brightest… She should've hated Loki for what he did- he nearly killed her… Yet, his eyes full of sorrow spoke of all the truth in the world. He needed her-someone-to be there for him. Despite the lies, she couldn't help but love him. He needed her to come around.
"Hey, Romanoff!" Iron Man repeated.
"I'm going back." She reached for her gun and took off running.
Loki managed to get several good hits in, however, Steve managed to strike him, as well.
"Let me handle things from here, Captain!" Natasha announced, gun held, poised to shoot. "Stark needs you, now."
Steve nodded and took off, leaving Loki to her.
Loki held his hands up as he turned to face her. "Back to kill me?"
"I should." She lowered her gun. "But I can't." The gun was placed back into her holster. "You need me more than you know."
"You keep insisting that-…" Before he could finish, she had slapped him across the face.
"Just end this," she warned him. "Stop these-these things from destroying everything and you can start over."
"Exactly," he laughed. "This is me starting anew! I'll rule these people-they will be mine."
"Are you this desperate for redemption?" she asked.
"This is the path I choose. I was born to be a King."
She shook her head in disagreement. "You wouldn't be seen as a King here. Not by anyone."
His cold glare fell upon her. Who was she to tell him otherwise? Father always told him that he was born to rule.
"What kind of King uses force to rule? That's just a tyrant."
"These people need someone to put them in their proper place." How could she possibly understand? How could anybody understand?
"Who are you doing this for, Loki?" she asked suddenly. "Is this to prove yourself to your Father? Would he really be pleased with this? Or Thor-he's not happy about any of this!"
His brows knit together as his fists clenched at his side. "I'm doing this for myself!" he shouted.
"To prove to Odin that you exist? He cares about you already…"
"You know nothing!" he yelled. His eyes became clouded with tears.
"Fine. Push them away all you want, but don't leave me out…" She wrapped her arms around him soothingly.
He gave in and embraced her tightly, burying his face in the crook of her neck. He lied to her, yet she still came back to him, offering words of encouragement and hope. Even though he wanted to deny it, he truly believed that he would get redemption. To be brothers with Thor, a son to Odin…
"How can we stop this?" asked Natasha quietly.
"I'll need my scepter."
She drew her phone from her pocket. "Commander Fury, I know how to stop this…"