Loki frowned as Kara's words drifted to him. They were far too faint for the mortals to hear, of course. Fool woman had the gall to challenge the All-Father, and for what? Him? He closed his eyes tiredly. Perhaps Thor would turn his father's wrath away from her…assuming Heimdall took Kara's threat seriously; it was possible he'd simply disregard it as a mortal's empty bluster. He looked up as she dropped into the seat beside him. Kara still looked angry. "I've no doubt you were heard, my lady. Take care."

She stared at him, her eyes wide. "Oh, your hearing is that good, hmm?" She shrugged. "I meant it, and I'm capable of carrying through with it."

"I don't doubt it, but truly, you do not want Odin as your enemy. Even power such as yours would only serve to make him angry."

Kara's smile was suspiciously serene. "You haven't seen everything I can do."

"Next steps, people," the S.H.I.E.L.D. director called out from the screen. Loki found himself sympathizing with the man, at least somewhat. Directing this group was like trying to herd bilgesnipe: not only all but impossible, but dangerous. "Loki, what can we do about this?"

"Unless one of the sites lies in an area that we can cover by a minimum of four meters in saltwater, one of the sites will need to be either moved in some manner, or destroyed outright. The Cube, ah, tesseract as you call it, was buried in the ocean for many years from what I understand. This is why Midgard did not attract unwanted attention before."

"Can we have the aerials on the two sites again, Jane?" Stark asked.

"This is the site where Thor and his friends came through," the woman with Fury told them. Loki frowned. He'd expected Thor's beloved to be more impressive. Certainly she was attractive for a mortal, but not memorably. "This first site is located just outside of Puente Antigua, a mostly ranching area southeast of Galisteo, New Mexico. There's a design carved deep in the mesa, roughly round in shape, about ten meters wide. As you can see, there would be no way to submerge or move it."

Loki examined the carving and frowned. "Let's see the other one, destroying this one should not be our first option."

"No problem," Jane Foster said as a new image replaced the first. "This is the Bell Rock formation, near Sedona, Arizona. Mr. Stark can tell you what he found there."

Stark looked up from where he'd been staring down at a glass of whiskey, brooding. "Just east of the actual Bell Rock, there's another carving. It isn't as large or as deep as the one in Galisteo, but the pattern is similar. Jarvis, drop another screen and display the aerial I took of that carving."

"Of course, Sir," the disembodied voice said as Loki frowned in annoyance. A screen dropped down on the other side of the main screen. Another carving in red rock was displayed. This one looked rougher even to the untrained eye.

"This is our target," he decided. "Destroy this one immediately and you will buy Midgard what it needs most; time."

"Why this one and not the other," Fury asked.

"The egress point in New Mexico was created by the All-Father. He would be…unhappy to have that effort put to waste when another option was available."

The entire group turned to stare at him. Fury looked…furious. The thought made him chuckle and deepened the director's frown. "And why would Odin make an egress on Earth?" he bit out.

"Ah, well, to ensure quick passage when needed. The Bifröst is the power source we use to travel within the Nine Realms, or was before Thor destroyed it, but egress points are needed to transport multiple beings. This is one of those points."

"I don't think that answers the question, Loki," Kara said softly.

He sighed. "Fine. History lesson. The people, and I do use that term loosely, of Midgard, would be the playthings of the other races in the Nine Realms were it not for the protection of Asgard. The Jötnar, the Ljósálfar and the Svartálfar..." He paused at the blank looks on most of the faces. "The Frost Giants and the Elves or Álfar, light and dark," he clarified. "These groups were using Midgard and harshly, mostly for amusement. Odin rallied Asgard to put a stop to it. There was a great deal of warring, and many warriors of Asgard, including myself during the latter wars against the Svartálfar, fought to ensure that Midgard and its inhabitants were left alone to evolve or die without interference."

"I see," Fury commented. "So these egress points were created in various parts of the world to give Asgard's warriors quick access should any of the other races try to go behind Odin's back to play?"

"Correct." Loki gestured at the third screen. "This one, however, was not made by Odin. I suspect one of the other races carved it and did not have the opportunity to use it as that would have alerted Heimdall and we would have seen it destroyed a millennia ago."

"Okay, people. Let's get it done," Fury ordered.

… …

"Stark, can you take this? You're best equipped for it," the Capsicle asked.

Tony frowned at the red, white and blue clad boy scout. "Sure, Cap. No problem. Anything else I need to know first?" His glance around the room netted nothing but shrugs, oh, and a frown from Reindeer Games. "Well, then I'll just suit up and head out."

"The remains of the rock will need to be transported out of the area, at least another four hundred kilometers away from the Puente Antigua carving," their unwelcome guest said. "While destroying the carving would prevent them from locating it again, the energy in it may reside in the actual rock at this point and might be able to be used since that location has already been confirmed."

"Okay, that makes as much sense as any of this does. Better safe than sorry."

Fury had turned away to a screen in the background. "I'll have transport for the rock remains meet you there. The National Guard is clearing the area of people and securing it so you won't have any interference, and we've notified the appropriate authorities to expect to pick you up on their instruments."

"Sounds good." He knocked back the last of his drink and headed for his launch area. "Bruce, can you let Pepper know where I am? She's in an acquisition conference right now and can't be disturbed."

"No problem."

… …

Loki was staring out the window when she brought a plate over to the table for him. He frowned down at it once she had set it down. "Did you cook this as well?" he asked.

"No, since so many of us are here, Pepper called Tony's personal chef in. I'm decent with a few things, but I know my limits."

"So good to know you actually have limits." He speared a piece of meat with his fork, chewed it slowly, then swallowed. "Am I too dangerous to be allowed a knife?" he muttered, his tone matching the annoyance that rolled off of him in waves.

Kara tried not to sigh. "No, I just forgot to grab one. I'm sure you could cause just as many problems with a fork of you were so inclined." He didn't respond, but at least he was eating. "I'll go get the knife. You have a choice of juice, milk or water to drink. The M.D. looked at your blood work and after he got over the fact that he wasn't looking at human blood, recommended against anything alcoholic or containing caffeine yet."

Loki's frown intensified until it was just short of a glare. "What kind of juice?"

"Um, we have apple or pomegranate."

"Pomegranate will do."

She headed back for the kitchen, reminding herself to have patience.

… …

"Sir, we have a report from S.H.I.E.L.D. agents on the ground in Puente Antigua," Jarvis informed him.

"What's happening there?" Tony asked as he studied the area surrounding the carving.

"A man has appeared, seemingly out of nowhere. One of the agents recalls seeing him in town when Thor Odinson faced the automaton."

"An Asgardian, then? Guess Heimdall finally passed on the message. Why send him to New Mexico, though…oh. Never mind. Patch me through to Fury."

"Fury here."

"This is your friendly identified flying object. Do you want me to check out the newcomer once I'm done here?"

Tony smirked inside his helmet at Fury's sigh. "No. Romanov and Barton are in route. Just get that carving destroyed. We've got a Quinjet modified to carry cargo ready to remove the rock."

"Copy that. Heh, always wanted to say that."

"Stark…"

"Keep your pants on, chief. I'm slagging the carving with lasers as we speak, then I'll bust it up with a few low-level charges. Shouldn't take more than a few minutes."

"Report back in before you head to New York."

"Will do."

… …

Frowning down at his empty plate, Loki forced himself to set the fork down gently. His thoughts kept going back to the damned woman. She'd done something to him, he was certain of it. Standing, he moved between the table and the window and stared back out at the city. Based on the view, he was below the lounge area where he had been forced to allow the beast to smash him into the floor without retaliating or escaping using his power. The door to the suite opened. She was back. "What are you doing to me?" he asked without turning around.

"What?" The woman sounded surprised. Likely surprised she had been caught.

"You have been manipulating me, using the excuse of giving me energy to aid in my physical recovery. Why?"

"I am giving you energy to help you recover physically, no more, no less than that. I wouldn't know how to do anything else," she claimed.

He laughed quietly. "Why does everyone lie to me? Do you think me stupid? I assure you, doctor, I am not. Do you think to keep me placid until Odin can bring me home to face the Court's tribunal? If that's the case, leave off. I have no intention of avoiding my fate. There's nothing else left for me at this point."

"I-I don't understand. Why do you think I'm manipulating you? What's happening that you think I'm violating every principle I believe in?" she asked, an obviously faked note of stress creeping into her voice.

"Taking acting lessons from Agent Romanov? She is far more convincing."

"Loki Odinson, I don't know what bug has crawled up your ass, but you need to get over…"

"Do not call me that!" She cringed back satisfactorily as he spun and advanced toward her. "I am not his son, and never could be."

The woman's demeanor shifted. "Fine. Would you prefer Laufeyson? Do you really want to be called after the man who abandoned you to die? I'm sure he'd be so thrilled."

"He'd be nothing of the sort as he's dead. I killed him."

She sighed. "I know. Thor mentioned that you killed your birth father to save your adoptive father."

"Perhaps I chose the wrong man to save. Odin abandoned me as well when he threw me into the void."

"He didn't throw you into the void. He wasn't even touching you when you…"

"I was there, woman! Do not presume to know what happened. I am certain my dear brother told you what he wanted you to believe."

"Okay, I'm going to take a walk before you really succeed in pissing me off." She turned and strode towards the door.

"I did not give you permission to leave."

"That's fine, because I didn't ask for it," she said without looking back. He reached out with the power that had been slowing trickling back and slammed the door. She stopped for a moment then moved to reopen it physically. He held it closed as she turned to face him. "I am the only person who has been willing or able to help you that hasn't given up on the job. Don't push me, Loki. Let the damned door go."

"I don't need you."

"You don't know what you need."

… …

Kara closed the door behind her and collapsed against the wall in the corridor, shaking. "Hey, kiddo, what's wrong," Bruce asked as he left an open doorway down the hall a bit.

"I wish I knew, Bruce, I really do." She put her hands on her knees and took a few deep breaths.

"Kara, come on, talk to me," he said, placing a hand on her shoulder.

She straightened. "I-am I using my empathic gift to manipulate Loki?"

His jaw dropped. "What? Why would you think that?"

"Somehow he's convinced that's what I'm doing. I'm not sure why. Maybe I am, somehow?"

"You'd never do that."

"God, Bruce. I'm so confused. I want to help him, I really do, but I don't know if I can."

He sighed. "Kara, I'm not a shrink, but I'm a good listener. Why don't we go sit down and talk."

She crossed her arms in front of her. "Yeah. That-that's a good idea. Jarvis, initiate lockdown of my suite, please."

"Lockdown initiated."

… …

Bruce led the way into his sitting room. "Have a seat, you want some tea?"

"Sure. Tea would be good."

When he came back from the kitchen Kara was staring morosely at the wall his suite shared with hers. "Here you go, just how you like it." She didn't look at the mug. "Earth to Kara?"

"Huh? Oh, sorry. When did I start screwing it up?" she asked.

He thought about how to answer. "I'm not sure that you are."

"Oh, I am, trust me," Kara insisted. "He's all over the place. One minute he's quiet, almost kind, and the next, paranoia kicks in and you'd think I was some manipulative bitch from hell. He seriously believes that I'm using my abilities to control him." She took a sip of the tea and sat back. "Honestly, I don't think that I could, but maybe I'm wrong? Maybe I made him feel as he seemed to…no, why would I do that? I didn't want him to…God, what a mess."

"Is he bipolar, maybe?"

"It doesn't feel that way."

"Okay, so help me here. What does he think you were making him feel?"

"Attracted to me."

"Oh for…Kara, you're a beautiful woman, he'd have to be gay to not be attracted to you at least until he remembered that you're human. Oh."

"What?"

"When did he start making this accusation? After the meeting?"

She sighed. "Yes."

"Okay, that…makes sense, actually. So, let's break it down."

Kara snorted. "That's my line."

"I know, I figured it must work."

"Okay, fine. Break it down for me."

Bruce smiled. Her hands were no longer clenched, that was a good sign. "Loki arrives here, mostly dead, not all dead, just mostly dead."

"Have you been watching eighties movies with Tony?" she demanded.

"Guilty. He's blown his last wad of power to get here, gasps out his warning to the first person he's conscious enough to notice, then passes out, expecting to die."

"Yep."

"Next thing he knows, he's lying in a bed, weak as a kitten, with a beautiful woman passed out on top of him and he's told she saved his life. He loses consciousness yet again." Kara was sitting back with her arms crossed, waiting for him to continue. "Okay, next time he comes to, same beautiful woman lying on him again. He's told that she's exhausting herself trying to help him. You see where I'm going with this?"

"Yes, guilt and gratitude. That's a powerful combination."

"Plus he's weaker than he's ever been in his life, so your life force, mortal as it is, seems powerful to him. He starts developing an attraction to you." Bruce chuckled as Kars scrunched up her face. "Oh, come on. Have you never had a crush on a young handsome doctor?"

"Okay, yes, I can see that," she admitted.

"Same woman is genuinely trying to help him, shares her own tragic history with him, and it's a history guaranteed to put any decent man into protective mode. A decent man is going to wish he could be her hero, even if she's capable of taking care of herself and in fact, did so."

Kara's jaw dropped. "Oh. He did make a comment about my saving him the trouble of tracking them down and killing them." Her smile was small and sad, but it was there. "You're pretty good at this, did you ever consider studying psychology?"

"Yes, I looked into it as an undergrad," he admitted. "But I had too many anger issues." Bruce smiled as she groaned. "So, our problem child is now filled with urges to pay back the woman who saved him and to be her hero. He's physically recovering at this point, so his libido kicks in."

"Shit."

"Exactly. The perfect storm."

"So, he didn't care about me really, he was just reacting to impulses dictated by all of the emotional input, oh, I am so stupid. Why didn't I see this? I treat people for this crap and I do it well."

He shrugged. "The same reason you're still struggling with your PTSD. It's really hard to be objective when you're one of the players."

"So what triggered the sudden change in attitude?"

"You did. After he passed on his second warning to Asgard, which gave him a subliminal reminder that he wasn't one of us, you stayed outside. Why?"

She squirmed in the chair. "I was…crap, Bruce. I've lost all objectivity. I was pissed on his behalf. I, well, more or less threatened Odin."

"And Loki heard it."

"Yes. He warned me to back down, that I didn't want to take on Odin."

"Probably a good idea. But let's look at it this way. You kind of forcibly reminded him that you are mortal. He has a condescending attitude towards mortals at the least, or may well detest us completely, it's hard to tell."

"So, if he's feeling any kind of attraction for a mere mortal, then obviously someone must be somehow forcing or manipulating him into feeling it?"

"Bingo."