I still wasn't being allowed back to the Helicarrier, and I was itching to get out of this damn ward. Thankfully there was going to be a break from the monotony; it had been a week since Thor had visited from Asgard, and he had left with a promise – he would return… with Loki. No-one else had been pleased with the decision to allow Loki to visit me, but he had argued his case and, with my permission, was allowed a short visit to see me. I could see their point, the man was a mass murderer, but after those few moments in Stark Tower during the Battle I needed to see him again.

Thor had set the date and time and the other Avengers had been given prior notice to stay clear. I'd gotten out of the hospital gown and bandages a few days ago now; I sat, cross legged on my bed wearing jeans and a baggy t-shirt that Tasha had brought in a bag of things I'd asked for. Alone, I found myself going between staring at the clock hanging on the opposite wall, counting down the minutes until the Asgardians were due to arrive, and thumbing over the bruises left on the inside of my elbows from having blood taken and having tubes inserted and removed.

I was getting fidgety. It wasn't as if we gotten off to the best start, or bonded incredibly well, but in the minutes before my fall Loki had changed, he wasn't the man who had mocked me in the jet, or had teased me from his cell – in those moments, Loki had been another person, someone less threatening, someone kinder.

A nurse knocked on the door carefully – hesitant of what he was about to say. I nodded for him to come in. "Agent West?"

"Yes?"

"You, um, have some visitors here to see you"

Through a slit in the blinds I could see the red of Thor's cape, "Let them in"

"The Director has ordered a security team-"

"Don't. Tell him I said 'no'. I'm having no exceptions, just me and them – understood?"

He looked afraid, he definitely didn't want to tell Fury what I'd said, but he nodded irregardless, "Understood, Agent West." The young nurse held open the door and Thor walked in, holding Loki by the thick handcuffs that were clamped around his wrists.

I sat up straighter. Loki looked awful; though some attempt had been made to make him look more acceptable, he still looked tired, beaten up, both physically and mentally exhausted. He no longer wore his princely Asgardian robes, but a thin cotton tunic and tight leather trousers, no shoes, no warmth or comfort. Hesitantly, I breathed his name, "Loki…"

He replied first with that characteristic smirk, "Agent West."

Thor stepped in, coming over to pull me in to a tight hug "Amanda, it is good to see you well. I am glad you appear more comfortable." He stepped back "Is there anything I could do for you?"

I smiled politely, breathing deeply now I saw out of the strong hold of the Asgardian "No Thor, it's fine – I'm good"

"That is truly good news"

I found myself looking past him at Loki. He watched me with soft eyes, taking me in as if he were afraid it would be the last ever time – and I slowly began to fear the same. Loki stepped out of Thor's shadow and cleared his throat, "Amanda, I'm glad we could meet again under different circumstances – though it is unfortunate your injuries have seen you confined here" Thor stared at the Frost Giant, almost glaring at the other man as he spoke.

"It could be worse, I could be dead"

"There are worse things than death, Amanda" I knew from the tone of his voice that Loki was speaking from experience.

Apparently, this wasn't as clear to Thor. "Loki" the God of Thunder growled, wrongly taking the words as a threat.

"No, it's fine. Maybe… maybe if Loki and I could… speak alone?" Thor let out a low grunt, unhappy with the idea. "Please Thor," I jumped up off my bed, standing confidently before the former brothers, "I can look after myself, and you said he can't use magic here any more. You'll be right outside the door, I'll be safe"

Thor looked uncertainly between Loki and I. Eventually he nodded, "I'll be outside." Then he left the room.

I found myself staring at Loki, how weak he looked now, how powerless, how small compared to Thor. I padded forward quietly until I was standing right in front of him. I swallowed before I spoke, my eyes finding Loki's, "They, uh, said they had you muzzled"

"I guess they were afraid of what I could say"

"Fair enough – Asgardians call you silver-tongue for a reason."

He chuckled darkly, "They have called me many things" He shifted from one foot to the other, causing his tunic to shift slightly on his shoulder, revealing a dark purple bruise. "What did they do to you?"

"Who specifically? It was you're large green friend who sought to assault me before I was forced back to Asgard and the prison guards seized their opportunity"

Every phrase stung; I didn't want Loki hurt, it wasn't as if he didn't deserve punishment for what he had done, but the brutality that shone through was not necessary. I stared at the obscene handcuffs; they were too huge and too bulky, to extreme for the slight figure they bound.

"Can't… can't Thor have them taken off?"

He chuckled, "You're fortunate Thor grant you privacy with me, I don't think it would be wise to press your luck"

I nodded, "I see." There were cuts on his knuckles, bruises around his wrists – barely visible beneath the cuffs. Carefully I reached out, wrapping his fists in my hands. "They shouldn't… they should never have… you don't deserve-"

"Amanda. Leave it"

It was a snap decision; I pushed Loki's hands above my head and quickly stepped in to wrap my arms around him. I felt him tense, the primary reaction to fight me off, but he stopped, bringing his arms up to hug me in return the best he could. I shook my head, "They're wrong, they're all wrong – the sceptre, it… I don't know, it did something. That wasn't you"

"Hush, child, hush. No-one else will understand."

"But your eyes, they were blue like when-"

"Hush"

I closed my eyes and rested my forehead against his chest. "I'm sorry" I whispered.

As best he could, Loki tried to comfort me, "You have nothing to apologise for. You could have ended that Battle long before you team did if the Chutauri had not attacked you, if you hadn't been drawn out to find me"

"Don't blame yourself, not for that anyway. I was told not to go after you and I didn't listen; the only person to blame for me falling is me."

Loki was silent and very still until he said, "I would hate for Thor to see us this close – he would not take the time to understand that I am causing you no harm."

I nodded, hugging him tighter for a moment before slipping out of his arms. I looked at him, seeing the amount of abuse he'd suffered in such a short time, I'd only been in the coma for just under a month and Loki looked like he had suffered months of torture already. I was less than one step away, my head tilted back to look up at him. But Loki wasn't looking back, not into my eyes at least, Loki was gazing at my arm, following the spiral patterns.

I frowned, "It was you" Loki grinned. "You helped heal me. No-one could figure out why I healed so quickly or why the scar formed that pattern but it was you; wasn't it?"

He pushed some hair back from my face, "It would have healed quicker but I was too far away in Asgard. When I touched you in the Tower I started. Then I slowed you down as I saw you falling so your friends could save you… but I was too weak to do so myself"

"Loki… you still saved me." I looked at his bruises, the scratches and cuts. There were tears in the corners of my eyes, before long they spilled down my cheeks and I looked away.

With careful fingers, Loki turned my head back to face him, "No need for tears child. I am a God, am I not? I am strong."

"But strong enough?"

"We shall see" I didn't like that. Awkwardly raising both hands together with the heavy cuffs, he brushed the tears away with a gentle smile.

"Loki?"

"Yes?"

"They're not going to let you leave Asgard again, are they?"

"I doubt that they will"

"I'll never see you again…"

A smile broke out across his face, "Perhaps not" I frowned, "Thor is under the belief that I am now entirely incapable of magic, but of course he is wrong." Loki took my hand and with his long fingers began tracing a symbol onto my palm. Where his fingertip came in contact with my skin, a thin trail of ice was left behind, leaving, in the end, an intricate geometric symbol. "This will create a link, between you and I – as long as we are within the Nine Realms it will allow me to contact you. All you need to do is grant me permission"

I gazed at him, "How? How do I give you permission?"

"A mental acknowledgement – in your mind, agree to let me in. You will understand better when it happens."

I nodded, "And when will that be?"

"Not soon – security is still too high. Whenever they lower the guard presence, I will contact you."

"Okay"

"I trust it is not necessary to instruct you to keep this between us?"

"Of course"

"Good girl" He stepped forward and kissed my forehead.

I fixed my eyes on him, taking in every feature. "Thank you" I whispered.

"You're welcome Amanda"

The door opened, making me jump and Loki flinch away. Thor stepped inside and I smiled, reassuring him that everything is alright.

Thor nodded, "We should be leaving now"

"Ah Thor, always so eager to ruin my fun" Loki smirked.

"You were not granted permission to come here for 'fun' Loki" Loki turned his head slightly and rolled his eyes, making it hard for me not to laugh.

"Do you really have to go so soon?" I asked.

"The Allfather has ordered it"

I sighed, "Fine, alright then. Are you coming back?"

"I may return"

"But not Loki?"

"The Allfather-"

"Has ordered it. Fine, I get it." I sighed harshly, "Come back soon"

Thor smiled but he was not exactly pleased, "I will try." Thor turned back to the door, Loki in tow. Thor left and at the last moment, Loki looked back, "Family" he whispered.

I grinned, "Family"