In ten minutes, we were sailing through the sky in a plane piloted by Natasha and Clint Barton. Natasha assured me that Clint was no longer controlled by the Tesseract, but even without the brainwashing Agent Barton, also known as Hawkeye, made me nervous. His skill in combat leveled Agent Romanoff's, plus he was deadly with a bow and arrow. It was obvious why Loki had chosen him to be on his team.

"We'll be arriving in New York soon," announced Clint. I took a seat in the nearest chair.

"Hey," said Steve, sitting next to me.

"Hey."

"You nervous?" he asked.

I sighed. "Interestingly enough, no."

"You don't sound very convinced."

"Look, all those times we fought Loki before, all those times I begged and pleaded and tried to reason with him, I did with a glimmer of hope the man I loved was still in there." I looked down. "I no longer have that hope. Not after today."

I tried to plaster on a smile and Steve put his arm around me.

Steve opened his mouth to say something, when our plane was suddenly tossed sideways. We looked towards Nat and Clint to see them trying to steady the plane. I smelled smoke, and I realized it was the plane.

"Brace for impact!" shouted Natasha. I grasped the sides of my seat as the plane hit the ground. The crash was so great, I fell onto the ground.

"Everyone okay?" asked Clint. I grunted in reply as Steve helped me. The landing deck was lowered and we entered into utter chaos.

The sky was plagued with millions of disgusting looking beings cutting through the air on flying motorcycles. These same grotesque aliens were also on the ground, laying waste to all they could in the city. My eyes wandered from one destroyed building to another until they landed on Tony Stark's tower. There, a beam of blue (which I could only assume was the Tesseract) shot a portal into the sky, a pathway for these beasts to enter. I continued to survey the scene and, to my horror, saw that there were still civilians in the buildings. I turned to tell Steve but noticed him, Natasha, and Clint taking out aliens.

"Halle, behind you!" shouted Steve.

I heard a buzz of electricity behind me and smiled.

As I spun, I caught the alien with my leg. I took his electrified weapon and proceeded to impale him with it. I turned around and shot two of his buddies as well. Though many more aliens took the place of the deceased, I couldn't help but feel giddy. This was the first time since New Mexico that I'd been in real combat. It all came flooding back to me with each punch, each dodge, each kill. My adrenalin pumped as I shot each beast with its own weapon. I didn't even realize Steve calling my name.

I turned my head in his direction and instantly ducked as one of Clint's arrows flew by, the grunt of an alien soon following.

I approached the group and noticed that Thor had arrived. I resisted the urge to ask him where and how Loki was.

"Here's our plan," said Steve. "Thor, you've got the air. Take out as many flying things as you can." Thor nodded and took off. "Clin, Natasha, we need you on the ground, keep em in the streets and away from civilians." They nodded.

"What about me?" I asked.

Steve sighed, surveying the city. "You're with me. We're gonna put the police to use and help people get to safety."

I took a deep breath and we took off down the road.

It continued like this for about an hour. Steve and me escorting civilians to safety, with minor alien combat. We meshed well, almost as if we were one. But trouble came when we approached a bank full of hostages.

"On my count," Steve whispered as we crouched by the door to the bank. "One...two…"

We burst in and found all eyes on us. Steve caught the attention of the aliens as I lead people out of the building. As I ran back in for the last of the people, I realized I couldn't hear Steve anymore. I took off up the stairs and saw Steve surrounded by four aliens. I peeked around a corner, contemplating my attack when I was picked up by throat. As I coughed the alien brought me to the room Steve was cornered in.

"Halle!" Steve cried as I was pinned against a wall.

And there we were, stuck with no place to go. I'd never get a chance to see Loki one more time. I'd never see Jane or my family. Moral began to run low; I dropped my head. The aliens chuckled at my admitted defeat. I heard the sound of Steve struggling for life.

And then I felt it.

An tingling sensation ran through my body. It strengthened with my anger.

Oh no, I thought, immediately recognizing the sensation. Not now, Halle. You have to control it. Fight it!

But the feeling only got stronger, and took over my whole body. I gasped, trying to hold it in, using all my strength. Don't do this! Think of all you've worked for!

A tear ran down my cheek as my body felt like I was trying to hold a semi-truck over my head. Halle, no!

And then, with a blood curdling scream, I let go.

The walls caved in and instantly filled with water. Steve and I were shot out of a window from the pressure and the last thing I heard was the screeches of the aliens.

I awoke sopping wet with a splitting headache. I gingerly pulled myself up from the fluffy bed I was laying in and surveyed my surroundings.

Wait. Fluffy bed?

My first instinct was that this was all just a bad dream. That I had not just shot myself out of a window using my power. Then I remembered that I was drenched.

I ran out of the unfamiliar bedroom and into a living room laden with tossed furniture and broken glass. As I looked out the window, I realized I was still in New York, but there were no flying aliens.

"Halle?" said a voice in a pained whisper.

I turned towards the middle of the living room where Loki was laying in an indent in the floor. I gasped and ran to him.

"Darling," he whispered as he touched my face. "I thought you were dead."

"Just knocked out," I explained. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, just-"

"You don't look fine."

"Well I am and-"

"You're bleeding."

"Halle!" he said, taking my hand.

"What?"

"I'm so sorry."

My eyes filled with tears as I thought about Coulson. "Well sorry doesn't quite cut it."

"I know," sighed Loki, "but I just wanted you to know before they separated us again."

"I won't let them," I said.

"The things I have done are too horrible for us to be together." His eyes locked with mine.

His eyes, they were green.

"You were controlled by the Tesseract, weren't you?" I asked, putting the pieces together. Loki's head fell and I knew I was right. My lip started to quiver, knowing that I was right about the man I love still being in there.

"I made a deal with some bad people, but none of it was worth it," whispered Loki. "When I almost killed you, I-" he took a sorrowful breath "- I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I had hurt you."

I choked back a sob, and kissed his face. "You have to tell them this."

"They would not listen."

"Thor would! He's your brother! Or maybe Steve, or…." I gazed at his crestfallen expression. "I can't lose you again," I sputtered.

"I must take my actions with honor," he sighed, pulling me close.

"What are they going to do to you?" I asked into his robe.

His silence told me I already knew.

"I'm going to help you," I said and stood up.

Instantly I fell to the ground and noticed the wound on my left calf. I began to feel light-headed, seeing the amount of blood I'd lost.

"Halle, are you alright?" Loki held me in his arms.

My eyes fluttered. "I'm fine. I just need to get to-" I tried to get up again, but Loki held me back. I was too weak to resist. So I lay, relishing the last few moments we'd have together until the team showed up and took him away. My eyesight began to fade, and I felt myself blacking out.

"When I was in the bank, surrounded by all those aliens, I thought I'd never get to see you again," I whispered. "That I'd never get to say I love you one last time."

"This isn't a last time," assured Loki.

I smiled peacefully. "There's no one I'd rather be with."

"No!" was the last thing I heard before my eyes closed.