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The Quinjet landed smoothly on the helicarrier.
Agents were already waiting.
"Move carefully," one of them said as Thor was carried out.
Thor and Loki were immediately separated.
Thor was taken to a reinforced holding cell—strong metal walls, heavy restraints, and constant monitoring.
Loki, however, was taken somewhere else.
Deeper.
More secure.
They placed him inside a special glass prison—suspended in the air, surrounded by reinforced structures.
A cell designed to be dropped from the sky if needed.
Tony looked at it and let out a low whistle.
"Yeah… that's not overkill at all."
Fury stood beside him.
"It's necessary."
The glass walls sealed shut.
Loki stood in the center, looking completely calm.
A moment later, Natasha, Tony, and Coulson entered the observation room.
Moments later, Fury entered with Maria Hill, and they all sat around the table.
"The mission was a complete failure," Fury said.
Tony raised his hand slightly.
"But we caught Loki. Plus Thor as a bonus brother," he added.
"The mission was securing the iridium. Loki can't open the portal on his own. Even when he is locked up, his team could open the portal from anywhere with Iridium in their hands now," Natasha said.
"That's right," Maria Hill added. "Loki is not even worried at this point. For all we know, he let himself get captured so that he could let the iridium get away safely."
They all nodded.
"Still, why would he let himself get captured?" Bruce said.
"I mean, if he got the iridium, he should—"
Fury looked at Natasha as he heard Bruce.
"I know he has some other motive," Fury said. "That's why I will send Natasha to find out why he is here. I doubt someone like him would get captured this easily without his willingness."
Sharon nodded.
"True. If he wanted, he could have run away… but he didn't."
"What could be the possible reason, I wonder?" the others said.
"Why don't we ask Ethan? I mean, that guy seems like he's got all the plans in his mind," Tony joked as others looked at him.
"Uh… that was a joke," he said.
Sharon spoke, "Good idea."
She called Ethan on the spot.
"What is it now?" Ethan's sleepy voice sounded over the phone.
"Were you sleeping?" Sharon asked.
"Yep," Ethan said lazily.
"So, here's the situation—why would Loki get captured by us so easily?" Sharon asked, putting the phone on speaker.
"Hm… I doubt he went after any tech. If he wanted that, he could've come to my house or the tower, but he didn't go there. So I can only think of one possible thing—the threats that can defeat him or his army."
"And one is Hulk, obviously. So most likely, he wants to get Hulk under his control. Keep Bruce out of his reach, and the rest will work out."
"And most likely, his people, I meant the agents under his control might attack you guys soon, so be ready for it." Ethan said.
Sharon nodded and cut the call.
"Damn… he really gave an answer," Tony said.
"It does make sense though," Coulson said. "Among all the Avengers, clearly Hulk is the most powerful, so Loki would want him under his control."
"And for that, he will need his scepter," Clint added.
"I mean, we all saw—only when he does that touching trick with his scepter do people get under control," Clint said.
"Mr. Castle, take the scepter and take it to Ethan. Have him keep it secured there," Fury said.
Frank nodded.
Fury looked at Natasha.
"Still, go and get information out of Loki," he said.
Natasha nodded once and left the room.
Tony stretched slightly and stood up.
"Well, I'll be working on seeing if I can get their next location," he said.
Fury gave a short nod.
"Do it."
Bruce looked uneasy.
"I'll… stay out of sight for now," he said quietly.
Sharon glanced at him but didn't say anything.
Meanwhile—
Natasha walked into the interrogation room again.
The door closed behind her.
Loki was still standing inside the glass cell.
He looked at her as soon as she entered.
"Did they send you to see if I have any plans for being here?" Loki asked as he saw her enter.
"Is that why you think I am here?" Natasha asked with a smile.
Loki nodded.
Loki took a slow step closer to the glass.
"I have heard about you, Natasha," he said calmly. "The famous Black Widow."
Natasha didn't react.
Loki continued.
"Assassin. Spy. Betrayer of many masters," he said. "So many red marks in your ledger."
Natasha's expression stayed neutral.
"I'm not here to talk about my past," she said.
Loki smiled slightly.
"But your past defines you," he replied. "All those people you couldn't save… all those you had to kill."
Outside the room, Tony frowned.
"…Yeah, he's trying to get in her head."
Fury didn't respond.
Inside, Natasha let out a small breath.
"You think that gives you control?" she asked.
Loki tilted his head.
"It gives me understanding," he said. "And understanding is power."
Natasha stepped a little closer.
"No," she said. "You talk too much. That's your weakness."
For a brief second, Loki's smile paused.
Natasha continued.
"You want me to react. You want me to lose control," she said. "But that's not going to happen."
"Want to learn something interesting?" Natasha asked, smiling.
"Oh? What would that be? Thor joining your side?" Loki asked.
"No. Your scepter—we've moved it," Natasha said.
Loki's smile fell.
"Yep. He clearly wanted the scepter to control someone like Hulk," Clint nodded, seeing Loki's reaction.
"I guess I was spot on. You needed that scepter to control more of S.H.I.E.L.D. agents… or the Avengers, probably," Natasha said as Loki frowned.
"Where is my scepter?" he asked.
"We gave it to our 'friend.' And I doubt you can take it back from his hands," Natasha said.
Loki frowned.
"That Arasaka kid… Ethan?"
"Seems you've already learned of him," Natasha said, smiling, noticing his reaction.