Loki tried not to show just how excited he was, maybe this could be fun.

"I don't really know where we would go. I've never really been out to see the city. Except when…"

The memory of losing an army on New York hit him, then he had seen plenty. Not that he was really all there for that. Loki looked away from the window and back at Bucky. Perhaps he would know where to go.

Bucky thought a moment. With how long Loki was inside, he probably wanted to stay where the sun could hit him. If that was the case… "How about we go to Central Park? I heard there's a zoo there and some carnival games…"

Still trying to sound nonchalant about it Loki pursed his lips in thought.

"I have heard of this park, although I am not quite sure what a carnival is. Is it like a festival? They had those on Asgard occasionally."

"Sort of. Way back when, back in the 1930s, I used to force Steve to go on the Ferris wheel and roller coasters with me." Bucky grimaced. He hadn't meant to start talking about Steve, not after what happened. He wondered if Loki would say something about that.

There was something there, between Steve and Bucky, Loki could sense it. Their relationship must have once been very different, not as unhappy as it was now. Loki wondered what all had happened to change that.

As they started walking out, he decided to ask.

"You and Steve were once very close, I can tell. It was much the same with Thor and I, we were not always like we are now. If I am not being too presumptuous, why is that?"

Bucky already looked so upset earlier, Loki hoped he wouldn't do the same.

Bucky glanced at Loki, with a dark look on his face. He wasn't mad at Loki, the dark look was more of a gloomy, 'gonna go grow mushrooms in the corner, k?'

"I can't remember everything from back then, but I know that now, he… I disappoint him every time I speak. I think he… doesn't like me anymore because I'm not me, not anymore." Bucky blew a breath out of his lips and looked to the floor as he walked.

Loki's face softened, he could relate. He saw the same look in his would be brother's eyes, after a time Thor had stopped trying.

"We really are two of a kind aren't we? They don't make it easy, not when all they can see is who we once were."

Even though Loki tried not to, a hint of bitterness crept into his voice. He had to keep a lid on his emotions, when they got out of hand his… natural form revealed itself.

"It seems sometime that nothing is good enough, not to redeem what was in the past anyways."

Loki shook himself away from that train of thought, it would not do to let the monster out now. This wasn't about him and his troubles.

"But I think in your case Steve is confused. From what I understand, it was not long ago that he talked to you as you used to be, not to condone his…bad reaction, not at all. But it must be strange to see you differently from what he remembers. He needs to work on that temper though, I won't let that go so easily if it happens again."

Loki frowned, thinking that there must have been something he could have done earlier to stop Steve.

Bucky obviously took it the wrong way, because he scowled. "Loki, I can take a hit, I've taken many hits from him since…" Bucky stopped.

"I'm not some fragile glass figurine, you don't need to act like I am." Bucky kept his scowl fixed on his face, but it softened slightly after his rant was done. He should have had a better hold on his words, why had he said that? No one was supposed to know about any of the hits he'd taken from Steve.

It was always only one hit, and Steve was always apologetic and gave him what he wanted for a few hours before they were back to a cold distance. But with Loki and Clint there, protecting him, Steve had gotten angry very, very quickly after.

Bucky wondered if Steve would hit him again today. He hoped not. And if Steve did, he hoped it was when there was no one around, especially not Loki or Clint.

A flare of anger rose within Loki as Bucky brushed him off, but instead of responding as he usually would Loki took a sighed. Yelling at him would not fix this, it'd only make it worse.

"I never intended to treat you any differently, and I'm sure you can take it."

Loki looked down, thinking of the best way to say this without making Bucky mad at him.

"I know very little of your past and it is not my place to ask. But due to…pain in my own past I have a hard time letting it go by the wayside."

Loki let out a shaking breath, the memories of his time before the tesseract coming back to him. The mental and physical abuse, paining him to think about.

"I know what it is like to become used to…certain things. That does not make it right, you deserve more than that. But if you wish it, I will not say any more about it. It is not my place, for that I am sorry."

The deep sense of Asgardian morals still lived inside him, no matter how Loki tried to forget them. Invasion of privacy normally didn't give him reason to pause but Bucky was different. He was a friend and Loki could not do that to him.

Bucky stopped walking and turned, putting his hands on Loki's shoulders to stop him. "You have nothing to be sorry about. If anything, I should be sorry. And I am, I really am. But it's not all about me, ok, and if you want to pry I'll do my best to tell you everything. But since I don't want to be unfair, you have to tell me something too. How about this, we'll play 20 questions. I ask a question, and if you answer, then you'll ask a question until we've asked 20 questions."

Bucky didn't let Loki go and he stared into Loki's eyes. "If you agree, then my first question is, who used to hurt you, back then?" Bucky was sure he had gotten the question right, now all he had to do was wait and see if Loki would continue it. Until Loki answered, however, the question or saying he didn't want to do this, Bucky was not letting go of his shoulders.

Loki really hadn't been expecting that, the deep sincerity in Bucky's eyes stunned him. Honesty had never been Loki's forte but this time he couldn't lie, not to him.

"I…I was…You noticed the difference in my eye color, not many did. It was one of the only outward signs I was not myself."

Loki stopped and sighed shakily.

"You must understand, before all of this happened I found out I had been lied to about something that should not have been kept from me. It was then I fell into the hands of a monster, I…I will not say his name. He…coerced me to take the Tesseract to earth and wage war. By any and all means necessary."

Memories of the months of torture came flooding back, the scars internal and external that were left behind. Loki's skin started to take on a blue tint, until he realized what was happening. Sucking in a ragged breath, Loki shoved it down the blue disappearing along with the tears that been gathering.

Bucky finally let go of Loki's shoulders, stepping back. "Thank you for answering honestly." Bucky mumbled, looking around. They were nearly to the elevator and out the Tower. Bucky sat down on the bench behind him and patted the seat beside him for Loki to sit.

"It's your turn to ask a question." Bucky told him softly, afraid of what Loki would ask. Bucky understood the severity of what Loki had just uncovered about himself, and also saw the tears that had gathered and his skin that nearly turned blue.

Bucky gave a shaky exhale and waited for Loki to sit and ask his question.

Not sure whether to be glad Bucky didn't say anything about his skin or afraid of it coming up later, Loki slowly sat down on the bench.

There were many questions that flicked through Loki's mind, several he wasn't sure if they were close enough to ask. Deciding to avoid the topic of Steve…for the moment, Loki settled on something he's been curious about since he'd met Bucky.

His arm, it was metal and at times it looked quite painful. Loki knew that on Midgard it wasn't uncommon to see prosthetic limbs, but Bucky's was most unusual. And Loki was, if anything perpetually curious.

"Why is your…how did…your arm is metal."

Loki groaned internally as he lamely tried to ask why Bucky had a silver metal arm.

Bucky stiffened. That was… well, he supposed it was a good thing that Loki didn't say anything about Steve. Well, at least not that Loki knew of.

"Well, way back when I was fighting in World War 2, I… fell. Steve tried to save me but… Well, I fell off a train and down a cliff. I ended up losing my arm. Anyways, Hydra found me and…"

Bucky slumped, finding it hard to continue without tears. "Well, they were extremely nice and gave me a new arm to replace the one they so graciously took away from me by pushing me out of the train." Bucky's voice had gone extremely sarcastic, and he looked over to Loki, waiting for his reaction.

Now very interested, Loki looked at his arm more closely. It was more advanced than he thought, in fact there were quite a few like it on Asgard. How someone on Midgard could replicate it was fascinating. It was a great honor, to be able to keep fighting. But it seemed Bucky did not think of it that way, in fact if it was forced on him he must hate it. He was obviously very upset.

Perhaps he could…but his turn was over.

Loki put his hand on Bucky's shoulder carefully and smiled.

"You are very brave my friend. I believe it is your turn now."

Bucky sighed in relief. "Alright. Why do you not call Thor your brother anymore? You grew up together, didn't you?"

Bucky nearly flinched. He wasn't very tactful with that question, was he?

Loki did flinch, though he tried to hide it. But he was determined to be truthful.

"That requires a bit of…background."

Loki looked out the window, lost in thoughts of the past.

"Thor and I are not brothers by blood, but we were brought up to believe so. Both of us, from a young age were told we were born to be kings. As we grew up it became a competition for Odin's attention…and love. Thor was suited for battle and all the things of a warrior, I was not. I grew up in his shadow and when the lies we grew up believing were shattered…so was our relationship. I will admit much of it was my fault, but it is too late to reconcile what I've done and said. Thor gave up on that long ago."

Loki clenched his fists, cursing his own stubbornness. Things could have been so different, if only he hadn't done what he had. He was a monster.

Bucky nearly asked 'or did you give up?' But he decided against it since it wasn't his turn anymore. "Lokes… uh, 'ts your turn. 'm sorry for the question." Bucky shut his mouth and waited for the next question with nervousness.

Shrugging off thoughts of his broken relationship, Loki smiled at the use of the nickname.

"It's fine, you answered all of my questions. It would be wrong not to do the same."

Loki then decided to lighten thing up, they both could use it.

"What is your favorite color? Mine is green, if you couldn't tell."

Loki wanted to slap himself at how dumb that sounded. He wanted to lighten things up not sound like an idiot.

Bucky smiled. Well, a little light-heartedness was probably what both of them needed. "'ts blue. What music do you listen to?" Bucky kept the light questions going, if only for a little bit.

Loki snorted, glad he hadn't sounded too stupid.

"I'm not all that familiar with the music here, but there is a group I like. Our Last Night is one I found while looking through Stark's music collection. They have a nice sound."

Taking a second to think of what to ask Bucky, Loki decided to touch on the topic they'd been avoiding.

"Why do you let Steve walk all over you?"

Bucky didn't stiffen like last time. No, this time he slouched forward a little and hesitated. "What would happen if I fought back, huh? I'd be fighting the most patriotic man in the world, and I'm already seen as a villain now." Bucky chewed on his lip a moment. "And I don't want to hurt him, either. He… I always forgive him, because… well, because there wasn't anything better. And sometimes I even believe I deserve it because of everything." Bucky wondered if Loki had caught the past tense he had used about anything better. He had used it because there WAS something better now- Loki and quite possibly Clint.

Loki frowned in thought, it was a messy situation to be sure. But Bucky was wrong about one thing. Loki was the one they all saw as a villain, all the others looked at Bucky like a troubled kid. Someone they wanted to help get better, Loki was the dangerous one that had to be watched.

"What would happen? You would show him that you are not going to put up with his abuse any longer, it would NOT make you a villain. If anything they would respect you, standing up to someone you care for is much harder than someone you don't. And you deserve much better."

Loki looked into Bucky's eyes, wanting him to understand.

"And you deserve much better than that."

Sighing, Loki looked back out the window.

"And frankly, I find it amazing that you can keep forgiving him. I don't find it easy to do so, one of many things I cannot do right. You impress me James, I wish I was more like that."

Bucky barked out a sorrowful, humorless laugh. "No, you don't want to be more like that. In fact, I'm pretty sure it's just hurting myself putting up with everything."

He shook his head. "No, I'm a little stuck here, Loki. I either put up with it and stay here, living and knowing you and the team, or I tell him off and get left in the dust, probably back to Hydra, where I'll be a villain once again."

Tears spilled from Bucky's eyes again. "And even if they do let me stay if I fight back, Steve will never want to talk to me again, and he's the only link I have to back then." He sighed, leaning forward. "I'd rather take all the blows he gives then be… forgotten…" Bucky wasn't sure he'd said the right word, but it felt like it on his tongue, so he looked over at Loki.

"Besides, I like the one hit and then apologies better than the beating to the ground and destroying of the mind." Bucky finished in a half-hearted joking tone.

"Perhaps, but you can. Even when I know I'm in the wrong I find it extremely hard to even think about forgiving. Pride I guess."

Hesitantly Loki put his hand on Bucky's shoulder, it pained him to see him cry. What an odd thing, it felt so…nice to care for someone else. To want to see another person smile because of you was a feeling Loki relished.

"I know it probably doesn't mean all that much but…I would never forget you."

Loki left his hand sitting on Bucky's shoulder, a small smile on his face.

Bucky looked over at Loki with a drying, tear tracked face. Bucky relaxed a little at the hand on his shoulder and exhaled. "Alright, that's 3 questions each that we've already asked. Guess it's my turn to ask something."

Bucky hesitated, thinking. There was so many things he could ask Loki, so any things flitting across his mind. But one stood out more than the rest.

"I read once that you have children. Do you really?" Bucky wanted to continue, ask if they were actually taken away from him has horrifyingly as in the stories, but he decided to keep that for later.

He was just a little afraid of what Loki would retaliate with, with his own question. If Bucky was going to dig deeper, Loki was almost certainly going to as well.

Glad for the topic change Loki smirked devilishly.

"Ah yes, the myths. They make me out to be quite promiscuous do they not?"

Loki chuckled as he thought of the interesting things that had been said about him.

"I have a daughter, Hel. She is Lady of the Asgardian hall of the dead. It was her title given to her at birth, here it translated to goddess of death and the underworld. I…don't see her often."

Loki smiled thinking of the monsters he supposedly created. Humans had such imaginations.

"As for the others, I had a hand in their birth just not directly. So unlike many would believe, I am not the father of an eight legged horse, a sea serpent, or a giant wolf. I do-used to look in on them every once in a while, they really aren't the monsters legend makes them out to be, Fenris, the wolf, is actually quite friendly. Mother took quite a shine to him."

Thoughts of his mother made him sad and happy at the same time, bittersweet in a way. Loki had no idea if, or when he would see her again.

Bucky exhaled in so much relief his whole body moved forward and back. "Thank the mother of god. Thank the mother of the grandmother of god. It's your turn." He smiled.

"I'm just wondering if I have 20 questions to ask you. Well, 16 now."

Loki laughed at the evident relief on Bucky's face.

"Maybe someday you can meet them, I think you'd like Fenris."

Loki glanced back at the sunny window, light streaming through it.

"I'm running out of questions too. What do you say to going outside now? I'm sure you know New York better than I, you could lead the way."

Bucky grimaced a little. Right, time to go outside. But maybe… maybe they could bring someone else? Like Clint. Just someone that the people would trust. And maybe he could ask Tony to keep an eye on Steve… but he couldn't do that.

Bucky hoped Loki didn't notice how Bucky had suddenly gotten a little rigid, and slightly pale.

He nearly asked Loki if they could get Clint. But he didn't want Loki to know that he was afraid. He didn't want Loki to see him as weak.

Before Bucky said anything and before Loki could comment his reaction, the elevator doors dinged open.

It was Clint.

He looked at Loki and Bucky and gave a little half smile.

"What're you guys doing? Hiding from Steve? Man he was such a jerk earlier, I don't know what his deal is lately."

Bucky nearly whooped in relief, but managed to stop that. He smiled to Clint. "We were just about to go to Central Park. Did you want to come with us?" Bucky wanted Clint to not continue that string of conversation.

That wouldn't be very good for his emotions, and there were just some things he didn't want everyone to know about.

Didn't want anyone to worry.

Interested at the turn of events, Loki decided to see where things went. Maybe Clint didn't want to gut him with an arrow.

"Sure, sounds good to me. Hey can we get food while we're out? I'm starved."

Loki smiled at Clint as he stood up.

"I'd like that, it is past lunch anyways."

Looking back at Bucky, Loki grinned.

"Are you ready?"

"Yeah, let's get going before we accidentally start another game." Bucky suggested, standing. He held his hands out for Clint and Loki with one cocked eyebrow.

He wondered if they'd actually take his hands. He wasn't actually expecting them to. He just wanted them to know he was comfortable around them.

'And only them…' Bucky added in his head.

Hesitating only for a second, Loki grabbed his and smiled. His metal hand felt oddly normal, not all that much different.

Clint looked at Bucky's offered hand, then shrugged and took it tugging them both towards the door.

"Come on, the days a wasting."

Smiling in real happiness, Loki stepped out of the tower for the first time since he arrived. A friend at his side and a possible friend across from him.

Bucky liked the feeling of the sun on his skin, he decided as he relished in the warmth a moment before letting go of the 2 men's hands.

He was the one that spotted the row of restaurants. "Coffee shop?" He suggested.

Loki closed his eyes and let the warm sunlight wash over him, it had been far too long. He looked over at the coffee place Bucky pointed out.

"That looks nice."

Clint grinned at Bucky.

"Yes! I love that place, good call man."

Both Bucky and Loki followed Clint as he sped off.

Suddenly Bucky froze. He was sure he had heard something, someone talking to another on a Bluetooth. But… they were talking about Loki?

Bucky decided he was, how the people in this era said, trippin', and continued to run to the coffee shop. He got there last. "You ok, Bucky?" Clint asked.

"Yeah, 'm fine…"

Suddenly Loki started getting nervous. What if someone recognized him?

Maybe this was a bad idea.

Clint seemed to notice Loki's hesitation and rolled his eyes.

"Here, better?"

Clint had taken off his ball cap and shoved it on Loki. Somewhat surprised, Loki smiled at Clint.

"Uh, thanks."

Clint was already inside ordering, so as soon as Bucky caught up Loki went in as well.

Bucky blinked a few times at the baseball cap. "Nice hat. I was… sorta expecting that on Clint's head, though, not yours…" Bucky chuckled.

Bucky pushed the bill of the cap down over Loki's face and went into the coffee shop, leaving the god behind.

Loki looked at Bucky, a long-suffering glare present on his face.

"I was NOT in need of this smelly…thing on my head. Damn archer…"

Secretly though Loki was pleased Clint had noticed and cared enough to do anything. But he couldn't let anyone know that, revenge was in order.

Loki smirked.

"Say James, have you ever seen the prank styled after a girl named Carrie?"

With so much down time, Loki had plenty of time to master the internet. Most of the time it was to look up new ways to cause mischief, and a certain coffee shop prank was coming to mind. He only hoped Bucky knew what he was talking about, if he didn't oh well. This would be fun either way.

Not waiting for Bucky to answer, Loki started staring at Clint a predatory glint in his eyes.

"He'd make a good Claire, don't you think?"

Bucky nearly laughed out loud, flesh hand flying to his mouth. "Very great Claire." His voice cracked, going a little high pitched.

"Am I going to be thrown at a wall?" Bucky asked, and looked over at Clint, who had stopped to say something to a boy from the Daily Bugle.

Loki looked at Bucky, a huge smirk on his face.

"If you're okay with that, then yes. But first…"

Clint ruffled the kid's hair and started walking back over to Loki and Bucky. As Loki snapped his fingers, Clint's form rippled and morphed into that of a woman. If Clint had a twin, that was what she looked like right down to the female version of his clothes.

What made Loki have trouble holding in his laughter was the face Clint hadn't noticed anything. But the kid he'd been talking too sure had, Loki grinned and put a finger to his lips when the two made eye contact.

Just then Clint, or Claire reached them.

"What are you looking at? Did I miss something?"

"Well, you missed 2 things, and if you just look down…" Bucky looked away, shaking with inaudible laughter.

"Wha?" Clint- well, Claire, looked down and gave a girly squeak. "I have boobs! Wait!" She turned to look in the mirror near the entrance. "I'm a girl!"

Claire looked over herself a moment than turned to the side, puffing out her chest and reaching up to grab at her hair, elbow pointed up.

"I make a pretty sexy girl, don't I? Wait, why am I a girl?!" Claire turned an accusing glare at Loki.

"Loki remembered an amazing prank that needs you as a girl." Bucky answered.

At this point Loki lost it and started cracking up, the poor kid behind them look so confused. His eyes were are wide as saucers, and his mouth had dropped open gaping like a fish. Loki winked at him and grinned.

"Ehehe…you look ravishing Claire…ehehe…"

Putting a hand on Bucky's shoulder to keep himself from falling over, Loki smirked.

"What do you say? Up for a little mischief Barton? I think you're familiar with the Carrie prank."

Claire's eyes widened slightly, then she gave a Cheshire Cat smile. "That sounds fun."

She winked to the boy from behind them, and asked, "What do you need me to do?"

Bucky returned her smile, getting ready. "We need a fake laptop and I need coffee. Good thing we're not using a real laptop…"

Finally regaining his composure, Loki nodded at Bucky.

"I can take care of the laptop, you get the coffee. Oh this will be good."

The three of them walked inside while the boy with fluffy hair followed behind them, his camera at the ready.

Bucky ordered a regular iced coffee so he didn't accidently spill hot coffee all over Claire and waited for the coffee to be ready.

"This is going to be so fun!" Claire cheered quietly, making sure only Bucky heard her. Well, and the boy from the newspaper, who had decided he was going to see the whole thing.

"Loki's going to use his powers to make it seem like I'm tele- teli- like I can move things with my mind, and then everyone's going to run out screaming, right?" Claire asked.

"Like you have telekinesis, and yes." Bucky answered, thanking the coffee woman for the drink. She gave him a wink and flipped her hair as she left. "Whoa, she liked you!" Claire hissed excitedly.

"Oh shut up. Let's see if Loki's ready."

Leaning up against the wall Loki watched as Bucky and Claire were getting into place. Maybe afterwards they could try and trick Tony into hitting on Claire, his reaction at it really being Clint would be priceless.

"What're you guys doing?"

Loki looked over to see the skinny kid Clint had been talking to earlier. Smirking at him, Loki just shrugged.

"Why don't you wait and see?"

Just then Bucky walked over to them, coffee in hand.

Bucky sat down at a table in front of them and got ready as Claire sat in the table next to him, laptop and coffee set in front of her.

Bucky quelled his nervousness, then stood, turning towards where Claire was. The coffee spilled onto the computer and Claire gave a gasp, quickly shooting backwards in her chair.

"Oh my god!" She cried, grabbing everyone's attention.

"Oh, that's terrible. I'm sorry." Bucky told her, shaking his head as he stared at the computer.

"You just ruined all my things!" Claire cried.

"Look, I'll just get you some napkins and it'll be okay." Bucky told her, starting toward the napkins. He was stopped by Claire's voice going shrill. "Okay?! There's coffee inside my computer."

Claire stood, chair scraping across the floor backwards. "You know what?! Just get away from me!" Claire pushed her hand towards Bucky and Bucky braced himself for Loki's magic to push him into the wall. Softly, he hoped.

Watching intently, Loki waited until the exact moment Claire threw her hand out. Loki made it look worse that it was, to Bucky it would have felt like someone hit him with a pillow and was hovering in the air.

To everyone else it looked like he'd been violently shoved against the wall and slammed up stuck in the middle of it. He had no desire to hurt him, so Loki was as gentle as possible. Hopefully Bucky was a good actor.

Covertly glancing at the kid next to him, Loki smiled. He was looking back and forth between Loki and Bucky, trying to figure out what was going on.

Loki didn't know what was more amusing, the shocked coffee drinkers or the confused young man beside him.

Claire's hands flew to her mouth, feigned shock. Mainly, she had not been expecting it to look as though Bucky had been hurt, and his cry of pain made it feel even more real. But then she lowered her hands and watched them as if they were dangerous weapons, figuring out that Bucky was faking.

Bucky dropped to the ground softly and watched as Claire turned and stepped backward, hands moving slightly outwards. People started screaming once the chairs and tables moved, and Bucky blinked in surprise as Claire got ready, grabbed the sides of her head, and screamed.

Bucky cried out in surprise and covered his ears. 'Damn, she has a really piercing scream!' He thought, gritting his teeth.

This was the really fun part, none of it was really happening. As Claire started to scream Loki cast an illusion that made it look like the whole store was shaking and things were flying off shelves. And Bucky's reaction really sold it, the people around them looked utterly terrified.

It was perfect, so just to add to everything Loki made cracks in the floor appear around Claire.

Loki laughed, he hadn't had this much fun in a long time. And never with friends, this was something he could get used to.

As soon as every person from the shop ran out the shop except the fluffy haired boy, Bucky, Loki, and Claire, Claire let go of her head and bowed.

"Nice performance." Bucky told her, grimace on his face as he rubbed his ears.

"Ey, I don't have that bad a scream. Hey, I actually like this body. I should go flirt with Tony as a prank when we get back." Claire said, a smile on her face.

Bucky stood. "Alright, let's go before people start to come trying to arrest you." Bucky glanced outside and abruptly stiffened, frozen as he glimpsed Steve's motorcycle. "We gotta go, let's go to… to the park, yeah, that was the plan anyways, wasn't it? Yeah, yeah, let's go."

Claire looked at him with a furrowed brow as he stepped to the door and held it open.

"What was that?" The photographer murmured dazedly. "That was a wonderful prank. See ya, Peter." Claire told him, stepping to the door.

The 2 waited for Loki.

After everyone had left, Loki let the coffee shop fade back to normal. He rolled his eyes at Claire checking out herself in the window's reflection, yeah Tony would be all over that.

Noticing Bucky's sudden want to leave, Loki grinned and threw an arm around his shoulder as they left out the side door.

"Nice acting James, if I didn't know better I'd of thought you were actually scared. You sure had everyone convinced."

A sudden thought came to Loki. What if he'd been too forceful with his magic?

"I wasn't too rough was I? I tried my best to be careful."

As he waited for Bucky's response, Loki thought he saw someone in the corner of his eye. Must have been his imagination, there was no one there.

"What?" Bucky asked. He hadn't been paying a lot of attention, too focused on if Steve was actually there, and who was that guy talking into his comm?

"Oh, no, not rough at all. Per-perfectly fine…" He let the word draw out a little before he stopped talking.

"Man, I can't wait to go and flirt with some people!" Claire cried, jumping on the balls of her feet. "Hurry, there's tons of girls and guys at the park!"

"Girls and guys?" Bucky asked quietly. "Well, yeah, I may be a chick in this body but I'm a dude in my mind. Chicks still look awesome in my mind. You alright, Bucky?" Suddenly Claire turned into a doting mother, stepping forward with a slight worried look.

"Yeah, yeah, 'm fine." Bucky lied, sure he had caught something wrong happening. The guy with the comm unit was suspicious, and he was still a little afraid of Steve seeing him and causing a scene.

Relived he hadn't hurt his friend, Loki smiled.

"Good, you were great. Totally what pulled off the whole thing."

The park was within sight and Loki smiled at the thought of Claire flirting with anything that moved. And laughing at him when he failed, with Bucky by his side.

As they started to walk towards the people milling around, Loki stopped. For a second he was sure he saw someone, so he slowed down to look falling behind the others slightly.

Suddenly something hit him in the neck, wincing in pain Loki put a hand to the side of his neck. His eyes widened when he pulled out a dart of some kind. Then everything started getting blurry, and he was unable to catch anyone's attention.

Peter saw the whole thing happen, and he swiftly jumped up, snapping a few pictures of the people who discreetly took him.

"Cli- er, Claire!" He yelled, rushing forward to get the now-woman's attention.

"Huh? Peter?" Claire asked, turning.

Bucky looked around, suddenly, his heart missing a beat. "Where's Loki?!"

"That's what I was about to say! Some people, I don't know who, they shot him with a dart and kidnapped him!"

Claire blinked a few times at Peter, then fainted.

Bucky cried out in surprise, catching her. "I think as a girl she's a little susceptible to fainting. And she just realized that she's stuck as a girl for a while. And that we just lost Loki!" Bucky wailed the last part harshly, picking Claire up bridal style.

"I think Claire and I need to get to the Tower." Bucky suddenly said, bid Peter goodbye, and ran to towards the tower, carrying the woman in his arms.

Whatever they hit him with had to really strong to bring down an Asgardian, Loki felt like Thor had just walloped him with his hammer. Everything was dark and fuzzy, he could faintly hear voices but not well enough to understand what they were saying.

The last thing he remembered seeing was Bucky, Loki could only hope they realized he was missing and come find him.

He tried moving but a sharp blow to the back of his head sent him spiraling into darkness once again.

Slowly Clint woke up thinking about what a weird dream he'd just had, only to realize it was no dream. Bucky was running, carrying him bridal style. He had fainted and he still had boobs. He was still Claire.

"Oh no! This is bad, very very bad! Dude what are we gonna do?"

Bucky blinked down at the woman in his arms and gave her a sheepish look, setting her down. "I don't know, Loki was supposed to be safe with us, since you're an Avenger and I'm-!" Bucky didn't finish his sentence.

"It doesn't matter. What does matter is that we need to tell the others so we can find Loki. And I need to learn grammar." Bucky exhaled angrily.

"Who do you think took him?"

Claire crossed her arms and frowned.

"I don't know, but we're gonna get him back. He's not all that bad, I was just starting to like the guy."

Not waiting for Bucky, she turned and burst into the tower, intent on getting the rest of the Avengers to help save Loki.

"And that jerk still has to change me back! As sexy as I look right now, I don't like the idea of being stuck like this."

Once inside, she angrily punched the elevator button.

Ok, review, favorite, follow! Got renamed... after a REALLY great book!