Hey there! I'm actually happy with this chapter, but there's probably a few mistakes here and there. Virtual cookies to Moriarty-assbutt, Alison APD and fan-de-carlisle-cullen for their reviews. Enjoy!

Chapter 13

"I just don't like that she's out there, no extraction plan, with the freaking guy who tried to blow up New York." Clint muttered darkly. Steve nodded sympathetically, while Tony just rolled his eyes, taking another bite out of his shawarma. He couldn't quite believe none of the others had figured it out yet. Though, it's not like any of them, especially Clint, would believe it.

"Look Hawk, he seems to be trying to pull himself together, and who better to help him, than the queen of redemption herself?" Steve said quietly, Bruce nodding in agreement.

"Steve has a point, Barton. If Loki wants to redeem himself, he has to do it someway." Clint rolled his eyes, shoving his tray of food away from him.

"What do you think, Stark? Do you think Loki's trying to earn forgiveness?"

Tony prided himself on his wit, charm and mind, but one thing he could not do was keep a secret. Hell, he couldn't keep the fact that he was iron man secret for long. So the urge to tell his friends that Natasha was "fraternising" with the enemy was almost too much too bare. But the thing was- it wasn't his secret to tell. So when Thor broke in with his voice that demanded attention, Tony could have kissed him.

"I realise that my Brother has done little to earn your trust, but I know that his intentions are honourable- The Berserker Staff would do little to serve him since he has no powers- it would only turn him into an incredibly strong human." Thor announced disinterestedly, food spilling from his mouth as he made his way through his third refill. The remaining Avengers though looked at each other with worried expressions.

"So you're saying that, if Loki gets hold of the Berserker Staff, he would more or less get his powers back?" Bruce said quietly, his face draining of colour when Thor nodded.

"Indeed. It would not add to his abilities in any way." Thor said, still not realising what he had just said- Until Clint banged his fist on the metal table, causing all the trays to rattle slightly. Thor jumped slightly.

"I'm afraid friend, that I do not know whether I have offended you, or if you require more mead."

"What Clint is trying to say," Steve said tensely, while he massaged his temple, "Is that Loki would get all of his original powers back. He's become the God of Mischief again. Thor do you think that might possibly be the reason why he took the mission?"

Realisation dawned on Thor quite quickly after that, his jaw dropping a little as he contemplated the suggestion.

"He would not do something so low…" He said his voice unsure. Clint made a sarcastic laugh. "Didn't you think he wouldn't stoop low enough to force our entire planet into a monarchy?" He half shouted a manic expression on his face.

"Agent Barton, relax, you need to calm down." Bruce said in a forceful voice. When Clint threw him a look of pure loathing, Bruce narrowed his eyes.

"For my sake Clint." He repeated all the necessary warning in his quiet tone. Clint made an effort to calm his breathing. It was then that Tony decided he needed to say what he knew, just so that all faith in Loki wouldn't be lost in one meal.

"There is a third reason why he might have taken the mission." He said quickly, hoping they'd ignore him, but knowing they wouldn't.

"Please, share it with us!" Clint snapped, crushing his can in his hand.

"Hawk, you might want to block your ears." Tony said, knowing full well it was no use. He took a deep breath, before staring at the ground.

"He might have gone so that he could continue screwing Nat."

Even Tony had to relish in the few moments of stunned silence that his statement brought down on the table.

"You mean that," Steve seemed to swallow the second half of his sentence for a moment, gesturing with his hand a couple of times. "You mean they, fondued?"

Tony recognised the term that his father had used on occasion. He nodded clapping Steve shoulder. He was careful not to look at Clint, and was surprised when he was the next to speak.

"I think," He choked out, his hand almost leaving an imprint on the edge of the table he was gripping it so hard, "we should go to Ireland, as a precaution." He turned to look at the rest of his team, who were looking back at him worriedly.

"He's right Stark- Taking into consideration that Romanoff compromised, it only makes the situation more unstable. We need to go." Steve said in his Captain America voice. Tony groaned.

"Urgh… cows."

"Erik seemed a little on edge there, don't you think?" Natasha asked nervously, throwing a glance behind her. The lack of agents in the Cloister Halls they were marching through was also setting her on edge. Loki stroked her arm reassuringly. "I'm sure he just wasn't comfortable in my presence. I'll try to not be around next time you have to talk to him." He said, trying to suppress the fear that was rising in him. He could sense something was not right, something dangerous was approaching, a danger he had felt before. There was a sell to it, like white-hot metal, burning oil and coal. Like a furnace. He repeated to himself that it was just the presence of The Berserker Staff, that was unsettling him, but if he was honest with himself, from the moment he set foot inside the building there had been a sense of Déjà vu about it. They approached the door that they assumed the staff was being held in, seeing as it was largely sectioned off with tape, and hastily made steel fences. Natasha tore away the tape and was about to open the door when Loki pulled her back. He remembered where he had seen this before. Where he had felt this before - In his nightmare.

"Natasha, love, I think we should leave. There's a presence here we weren't made aware of." He said shakily, anxiously pulling her away from the ancient wooden door. It might have been his imagination, but he was sure he could see dark smoke swirling around the foot of the entrance.

"Don't tell me you're chickening out!", Natasha moaned exasperated. "You promised me redemption!"

"And you shall have it, but getting ourselves killed won't help me earn forgiveness." He muttered sharply, as Natasha yanked her arm out of his iron grip.

"You can leave if you want, I have a mission to complete." She said as she pulled on the handle. All of Loki's instincts were telling him to run, to vanish in a puff of smoke, but he couldn't leave her. It was with a grim determination that he followed her into the large Chapel.

He kept his eyes trained on her, and seeing that she was still breathing calmed him slightly. Until, that was, he saw her terrified expression.

"You were right." She whispered, her eyes staring at the scene before them.

Loki followed her gaze and met the cold eyes of The Other.