A/N: More of following the movie's storyline. This chapter was kinda rushed through because of that .

"And where did Loki run off to?" Nick Fury asked as he handed over the scepter.

"Fighting alongside the Chitauri," she easily lied. "We've all lost track, but we're sure he's within the city."

"Find him. And bring him back," he added.

Natasha nodded and ran to Stark Tower as fast as she could. Halfway up the stairs, she was forced to a halt as an arrow came flying at her. Luckily, she jumped forward and avoided it. There was only one person she knew that could handle a bow and arrow with such skill. Turning her head, her fears were correct. Hawkeye was on the floor below, poised with another arrow, ready to shoot. "Clint…"

He fired another arrow at her, but she jumped back and avoided it again.

"What the hell, Barton?" she yelled. "Don't you remember anything?" As she saw him draw another arrow, she jumped down to the floor of Tony's home where Barton was positioned. "Don't make me do this, Clint…" She drew her gun with her free hand and shot at him, only to miss.

The two soon dropped all their weapons as they engaged in close hand-to-hand combat. Hawkeye managed to grab her around the waist, only to have Natasha roll forward with him still latched on. Once she had him pinned, she smashed his face into the floor.

His sunglasses had snapped in half and fell off his face. He stared up at her, blinking in confusion. "Natasha?" he asked weakly.

Before she could smack him, she stopped and looked into those familiar eyes. "Clint?"

"What happened?" he groaned.

"You're back," she breathed.

He winced, suddenly feeling the pain in his skull. "What did I do to deserve this?"

Natasha shoved him back down on the floor and ran for the scepter. "No time!" She ran up the stairs until she reached the top where Loki was standing with Selvig. Breathless, she thrust the scepter at Loki. "Good news- Agent Barton's himself."

"A shame…" Loki grabbed the scepter and stared down at it. "Now, then." He pointed it at Natasha's chest. "You're all mine, little spider."

"Think about what you're doing!" she warned him.

"You and Thor seem to fall for all the same tricks, don't you?" he chuckled.

Before he could try anything, she whipped out her gun and shot him in the side. "So do you…"

He fell to the ground, dropping the gold staff as he clutched his wound.

Natasha snatched it from him and approached the Tesseract with it. "Any clue how this turns off?" she asked Selvig. The man shook his head. She decided to push the pointed end of the staff to the Tesseract. A blue glow erupted and everything went white. The next thing she knew, all the Chitauri creatures were falling dead in their tracks. The void in the sky brought forth a wind that swept all of them away and into the void, which closed once all the aliens were back inside.

"You did it all on your own," Loki said into her ear.

She whirled on him, pointing the scepter to his face.

"How does it make you feel to hold that much power?"

"Not corrupt like you…"

"So you admit I'm corrupt?" he asked, raising a brow.

"Yes," she admitted. "Misguided, mostly."

"We're still playing this game?"

"Loki," Iron Man's voice boomed from behind him. "You're under arrest."

"It would seem this is farewell for us." He turned to face the crimson and gold iron suit. "Another cage?"

"The best your Assgard place has to offer," he promised.

His eyes narrowed at the very mention of it all.

"Just so we no longer have to hear any more lies," Tony continued. "You get one of these." He wrapped an iron mouth guard around Loki's place and made sure it locked in place behind his head.

"I will make sure that the Tesseract is kept safe back home," announced Thor. He kept his head turned, unable to bear the sight of seeing his brother being chained up.

Loki's eyes flickered over to Natasha in defeat.

She shook her head. There wasn't anything she could do. He was too far gone for saving, now.

Tony led Loki over to Thor by his handcuffs and they all moved outside.

"Until we meet again, my friends," said Thor, rather sadly.

Loki pitifully stared at Natasha, then looked away as he saw just how hurt she looked. He brought this upon himself… He grabbed one end of the container holding the Tesseract and he and Thor were transported back home to Asgard.