After her friend had gone, Natasha looked to Loki with a smile. "No one would guess how you look under all that armor."

"You've been guessing?"

"I don't have to."

Loki sighed. "Of course. More proof that humans are obsessed." He tilted his head. "Is this why your world is full of conflict? I should use sex as my new tactic. Your people would fall so easily..."

"Do you honestly think you're the first to try that? You're not even the first in this room." He became acutely aware that they were alone.

"I see," he commented. Natasha looked like she was waiting for something. "When last we spoke, you said I would never ask for help."

"I said that would be your usual response, yes."

"If I were to do so now, would you understand the severity of the situation?"

"As with most of my answers, it depends. Are you actually asking for my help?"

Loki closed his eyes and tried not to sneer. "Subtlety is not one of humanity's strong points."

"And honesty is not one of yours. Do you want my help or not?"

"I am beginning to think that any assistance from you would necessitate a lengthy discussion mid-battle."

"For god's sake, Loki. Is it a battle I could help you win?" She crossed her arms.

"I don't know. My enemy is more powerful than I and you have no magic or strength."

"You have magic and physical powers where I have stealth and other skills."

"You know not what you would face, human. As your employer eloquently put it, they can kidnap a god in the blink of an eye. What use would a woman be?"

"When you're done being a jackass, I'd like you to prove you're worth helping." She turned towards the elevator door, but looked back at him. "By the way, the people assigned to watch you have been missing since last night. Returning them would be a very good idea." As she started to walk away, he grabbed her arm.

"Wait. When were they taken?"

"Approximately eleven o'clock." After she glared, he let go.

"Damn. I doubt you would believe me, but I did not take them. However, if I can find them will you take that as 'proof I'm worth helping'?"

"Do it, then we'll talk." Her demands and abrupt exit were confusing. Why was she so concerned about these agents? Did she know them? ...Ah, it reminded her of Barton. An amended version of his plan might still work if he were more attuned to her emotions.

As to the agents, that creature would have to answer for interrupting everything yet again. Even more irritating were these constant headaches. Perhaps Natasha was right: both the Kybant and the pain were linked. He could not call up the creature on command, nor would he want to, but it was clear who had taken her colleagues. Now, how to return them?

Loki noticed a cushioned chair by the window and sat rather than teleport elsewhere. This 'Baruka' had powers enough to rival his own. Their last meeting had been far less kind than he let on. Natasha's comment that 'One of your memories must be important enough to keep you alive' was unnaturally astute given how little he told her. It transpired that the creature was indeed looking for information, some tiny detail hidden in his people's histories. Loki's mother would read him their stories when he was a child, centuries ago. A pang of loss made him tighten his fist. He did not know whether Thor was, for once, being compassionate or had simply forgotten Loki's nightmares. As interesting as the Kybant were, he was also terrified of their power. After the destruction of an entire Kamore village, Baruka and his mother Chitoba just vanished? According to legend, the rest of the Kybant civilization faded shortly afterward. Loki always guessed that unusually powerful pair was the cause.

Baruka had torn through his mind in search of something. Loki had earlier thought him surrounded by others but found it strange to realize he was alone. The shadows in the fog were just that. Projections. Knowing his enemy was without allies gave him no comfort; it meant Baruka was desperate, even more so than could be inferred from his need for this memory. He could not bring Natasha there. His headache was not abating and his vision was blurring again. As an experiment, he set his mind solely on her. If the ache continued then he could delight in informing her that she was wrong. If not, well, she had given him much to think about in any event.

Certainly her skills were formidable, especially for a human. Stealth would not be of much use on enemy territory. It would be Black Widow's violent tendencies and intelligence that might win him this battle. He idly wondered if it were those same qualities in himself that she favoured. If in reality she did still favour him, or ever did. Considering how much of the past he'd had to relive in the last day, it was a surprise how unwilling he was to admit that he found a certain pleasure in her company. And while utterly infuriating in Asgardians, her quick jibes and irreverence were all too often unexpected and somehow refreshing. Perhaps it was Natasha's initial lack of any emotion that drew him in: he was most used to being overlooked or more recently feared and hated. Having no response at all, even after his scathing attack on the airship, threw him off balance.

Loki loathed remembering, but she did trick him; she might trick Baruka as well. He leaned back in the chair, looking at the ceiling. It was a stab of pain afresh that made him realize his headache had subsided earlier. Well. There could always be another factor causing them. She could be right, or she could be wrong. They would know for certain when this whole affair was over. Would they? Maybe she was already planning to kill him once this new threat was dealt with. The number of times she mentioned how easily she could do so was disquieting, even for him. He could leave the planet, but for the sake of one woman's throwaway promises... Where would be the fun in that?

After a time, he was interrupted when the elevator emitted a high-pitched beep and opened. "Ah," Loki murmured.

"Brother! I am very happy to see that you are well. It was worrying to see you so pained last night,"

Thor pronounced, coming closer.

"Hmm. You observe more than you acknowledge."

"Loki, you shall always be my brother. Even if you deny this, I know you. Having grown together, I know of your tricks." Thor looked to the chair opposite and sat gracefully, leaning forward.

Loki made no move to adjust his rather slumped position. "Do you really?"

"I can rush forth at times, and that makes your illusory magic especially potent, but I know how you think."

"Yet you realize that if you thought about what was in front of you, it wouldn't make sense?" Loki sat bolt upright in his seat. That same feeling of understanding from when he realized Natasha knew everything hit him again, now about the Kybant. "If you had done more thinking when we were 'growing together', I might not have grown to resent your influence."

Thor's huge shoulders drooped. "I am truly sorry for my actions, but I cannot apologize until the end of time. I wish you peace." He shifted to get up.

Loki raised a hand. "Actually, Thor, if you want to help me I have a simple request."

"You would seek my counsel and not resent my influence?" Thor said, leaning away.

"In this regard, no. It is not something I've handled well." Loki moved his hand to half-cover his mouth.

"Speak, brother. I will aid you however I can."

"I have offended a… friend. It is rather unfortunate timing as I also require her assistance."

"You want me to make amends? If it is a personal matter, I do not see how—"

"It is, but she will listen to you more than I. There has been a misunderstanding, and the only way to correct it requires both of us."

"Ah, and she will not help you because of it."

Loki smiled. "It is a delicate situation. You know her, and she trusts you so it will be easy."

"Natasha?" Thor smirked and raised his eyebrows. "I had suspected you were taken by her charms, but if you care for her feelings, then I will do all I can."

Loki groaned. "Could you speak with more prudence? The walls have ears."

"Do they?"

Loki closed his eyes when one of them started to twitch.