Finding Loki's Plan

Helicarrier.

After the Triskelion Building was destroyed, one of the Helicarriers became a temporary operations base.

Inside the Helicarrier, in a spacious, brightly lit conference room with glass windows overlooking the clouds and the ground below.

Steve Rogers stood silently, staring blankly through the glass at the ground.

Beside him stood Nick Fury, his hands tucked into his black trench coat, his single eye filled with worry.

Not far away, Natasha had her legs propped on the conference table. Leaning back in her chair until its front legs lifted off the ground, she rested her hands behind her head and gazed at the ceiling with her pale neck raised, lost in thought.

Hawkeye leaned against the wall on the other side, arms folded as he contemplated in silence.

Thor sat heavily on the sofa, elbows braced on his thighs, fingers interlaced and hovering before his nose, his exposed eyes grave.

Tony Stark had stepped out of his armor as well. Sitting in his chair, he flipped a one-dollar coin between his fingers while staring thoughtfully at the tabletop.

He-El rested with his eyes closed.

Bruce Banner's sprain had healed. He rolled his shoulder in a corner.

After discovering that even the Cosmic Cube had been stolen by Loki at some unknown point, everyone had come to the temporary base aboard the Helicarrier.

There was little conversation, and no one had yet proposed a way to find or deal with Loki.

They had failed to keep even the Cosmic Cube safe time and again, and they still could not find Loki. Everyone felt frustrated and powerless.

They had been utterly toyed with by Loki, leaving this newly formed team silent amid their defeat.

Their very first attempt to lure Loki into a trap had already been a trap laid by Loki.