Sometimes, Steve dreamt he was back in that cell. He saw the chains and knew that his super strength was useless, that he was trapped. That he could not go out and that Bruce and Loki were suffering and he couldn't do a thing about it. Sometimes, he dreamt of the hunger, and of begging for food and not getting anything. One time he took all the food they'd been given and Loki died - because he was selfish. Other times, it was him who was the victim of the Mask's tortures, he was taken to that small room and burnt and iced. It was terrible.

He didn't know why he had these dreams, but they were vivid. Maybe the cell had left more of an imprint on his head than he thought – maybe he missed Loki after the bond they'd formed on the months in the cell. Maybe he had post- traumatic stress and the flashbacks were a way of telling him he hadn't dealt properly with the whole incident.

He didn't understand why, everything have ended perfectly.

Someone (most presumably Loki) had left Myers gagged and tied hanging with a rope form the edge of a bridge with a sign that read GUILTY. There was also a news channel that had received some anonymous info and made a whole special program about it. The man who kidnapped the Avengers. When asked about this, Myers told everything. As if he was under some sort of spell to tell the truth and could not help himself. They were going to charge him with everything and his partners in crime as well. No place to hide anymore.

Strangely, there was no mention to Loki. Probably because he had gone back to laying low on Earth, and it would be easier if no one but them knew he was in the planet. Less persecution. And if they knew Loki had been in the whole thing they would probably suspect he was involved. Once a criminal, always a criminal. Or something like that. This absence of info was probably for the best of all of them. If people somehow knew that The Captain of America and the Hulk had worked side-by-side with a former terrorist, they may lose faith in them.

Still, Steve would have wished to know where Loki was, if he was all right. His little stunt with Myers indicated that probably he was ok but… He'd left so abruptly.

He wished he could at least have said good bye.

Bruce dreamed about Loki too, sometimes.

He was next to him on the cell, with his face slashed in two, drained but still dignified.

One time that he was particularly depressed, Loki came to him in his dreams and took him to a rooftop, where they talked.

"Monsters can win too, friend Bruce." He said, from that rooftop, looking at the blue sky. "We are important for the world. And you are loved and well-liked by your friends and team-mates. Do not lose faith in yourself."

He woke up feeling much better, much happier. He couldn't know if it had actually been Loki or only his own imagination, but it was good to remember that he wasn't the only monster around. He wished, like Steve, that he could see the guy again, maybe have a coffee, talk about science and feeling like a loser and the other things they talked. He remembered his tired smile, and the guarded expression of his face when he returned from the Mask's punishments.

What could have become of him?

Thor didn't want to look for him, but his duties forced him. It turned out that Loki had hid himself from Heimdall and all of Asgard – making his search very complicated. So he looked for him, yes, but not very intensely. He had meals Jane and the young Miss Lewis and sparred with the Captain or the Lady Romanoff and then told his father he simply couldn't find his brother. It was easy… but he missed Loki.

Sometimes, they felt a strange presence – a magical presence.

When they were in trouble and suddenly their enemies would trip, or have no ammo.

Sometimes they would want to go to a show and tickets appeared. Sometimes a journalist would speak ill of them and then suddenly get fired. Small things like that, little helps. Maybe not exactly legal or moral, but enough to realize that he was still there and that he was grateful for the help.

9 months later.

"Guys, we have a problem." Bruce started, serious. "They've got him. Fury and a couple of Agents took him about a week ago and used those damn blue cuffs. SHIELD technology."

Steve knew who he was talking about but didn't want it to be true.

"Loki?"

Bruce nodded, his expression grave.

Tony took his drink again.

"We'll have to think of a way to break him out then, won't we?" he said.

Bruce had been hesitant to call Tony to this super-secret meeting. He knew Tony wasn't as close as he and Steve had been to Loki, but they could really use his technology for what they had to do. Tony, indeed, was not Loki's best friend, hadn't been in that cell with him but knew what they'd done to the guy when he'd been prisoner last time. Fury was supposed to be better than that, but he'd rather not risk it. And he would do it for Bruce and Steve, if for nothing else. He was always up to secret plan – that was fun.

"But we can't be us – or else we'll have SHIELD against us, and end up in another cell."

"We'll have to be in some sort of disguise, then. Something black, maybe? That's very neutral."

And like that, in a couple of hours they were there, in the very place where Loki was being held captive, chained again.

They took him out – Tony and Steve.

Easy and clean, nobody would know it was them. Bruce was outside the building, with JARVIS, making sure technology was on their side. Making sure SHIELD got no images or audio of their little operation.

"Thank you so much."

He thanked them and was suddenly gone, because he knew that if he stayed he would have problems. Better to be far from the place where he had destroyed half a city. Maybe he would go back to Scandinavia, explore the roots, the myths.

And they thought would the last time they would see him – they were wrong.

Because the next time a villain tried to put them in a cell they only lasted there ten minutes. Loki took them away, knowing that he would have to disappear again or else he would be imprisoned again. Bruce and Steve were smiling, Tony nodded in his direction, Clint felt confused and Natasha was surprised, but grateful for the help.

"Thanks, Loki." Steve said.

And then he was ready to leave again, but he was stopped.

"Stay" Natasha said, out of the blue. "I hear Rogers is looking for a flatmate."

Loki stopped for a moment. Was Romanoff playing him?

"We owe you." She continued. "For Myers and for this. Let us repay you."

Loki was reluctant, but agreed. He had his magic now, was able to defend himself. And he'd been meaning to catch up with his former cell mates. He did move in with Steve. Sometimes Bruce would visit, and they'd drink wine and talk about life.

Forget the torment.

Forget the pain.

Even if it was only for a little while.

They were together.

That was what mattered.

A/N: Hope you liked!

That was the end. Just a short thing to end things.

Reviews are always appreciated!