Burdened With Glorious Purpose.

Circumstances.

"Bad circumstances have a way of ruining things that would otherwise be pleasant."  Author Unknown

-Loki's POV-

Thor and I made it back to the Tower with Banner's jacket, Steve was sitting with an ice pack on his head and everyone looked worried and distressed especially Tony, who looked like he had just walked through Hel and back. 

He had bags under his eyes, on top of that they were bloodshot and tired looking, worry and stress had obviously eroded his normal, cocky self away. If this is what he looked like when he found out his sister was missing then I couldn't imagine what would happen if his significant other was harmed. Then again, that's how I felt at the moment and we weren't even together. But she, other than Thor to some extent, were the only ones that seemed to care about me and, not in the ways of what I had down and watching me like a hawk but, more so her wanting to know...me  

Panicky, jittery, for some reason my heart was beating against my rib-cage, my mind was swimming...no, drowning in a sea of dark thoughts of Aubrey's untimely demise. I quickly shook those thoughts out of my head. 

"Get Fury on the phone and we'll see if we can find her using her cell." Natasha said, her face was an emotionless mask on top of the true fear she was feeling. There was no question that every single person sitting in this room right now thought very highly of Aubrey. 

Tony shook his head, "She left her phone in the jacket." Tony looked to the ceiling and wiped his hands across his face. 

"DAMMIT!" He screamed. I jumped my eyes meeting his tense stature. I felt pity for him, I was going through so many emotions it almost hurt. Rage and worry were the elephants in the room.  Along with, regret. 

I raised an eyebrow as Steve walked over to Tony who was shaking with rage and looking down at the ground, muttering.

"I promised her I'd protect her, always and no matter what and here I stand wondering where she is and seeing her blood spread across the pavement in an area where she should not have been." He stopped, Steve had his hand on Tony's shoulder and Tony whipped around. 

His gaze fell upon Banner. 

"What did you say to her, Loki and Thor told me that you told them the reason why she ran off was because you talked to her. Bruce you know how hurt you made her, how unworthy and angry? And now that she seems to have...something for this cracker jack prize," He gestured to me, Barton sighed and handed Natasha ten bucks, "You seem to have a hard time letting her go now, then when she was preparing for her wedding day." 

"Tony," Steve muttered, Tony shoved Steve's hand off his shoulder.

"LET HER BE HAPPY!" Tony exclaimed. 

Banner grit his teeth, "We both know that he," He pointed at me, "Is not good for her!" 

"Yes but it seems as though she's done some good on him since I haven't seen reindeer games make an attempt to escape, enslave, or stab someone. So clearly Aubrey is doing something right!" 

All of them looked at me, I sighed deeply, "Stark's right...Aubrey has opened something inside of me I never thought I could possess anymore and, now I'm just as worried as you all...she truly is something spectacular to see some sort of good in someone, something, like myself. I want to help you get her back." I stated, no regrets, no lies. 

Thor looked me up and down, "He's telling the truth." 

The others looked at him, Steve glanced back at me, "We'll take your word for it Thor...yours too Loki." 

"Anyone who can and will help find Aubrey is just more help we can get," Barton said, "Even if I still hate you for turning me into a slave." I looked down and pursed my lips, "I don't suppose I could say sorry for that...all of it?"