A/N: Thanks to those reading the story and following/reviewing/etc. :D ...Looking back over the chapters I've written, I feel bad that Natasha gets out-of-character (that's what I feel, at least .) She's really my second favourite character and I feel bad not doing her justics .

"Okay, wait, so you want us to give Loki a chance?" Tony asked in exasperation. "Keep talking and you'll go in the magic glass box with him," he added.

Thor shook his head and looked Natasha in the eyes. "I have warned you about my brother's way with words. You can't rust a thing he says."

"What exactly did he tell you?" wondered Fury. "Details on Agent Barton?"

Natasha's mind had been so Loki-centered that she had forgotten about Clint. "I got through to him."

Thor stared at her curiously.

"He told me about Asgard," she began.

Thor heaved a sigh.

"No!" she whirled on Thor. "That wasn't it- the Tesseract! He said it showed him his parents-the real ones. And the look in his eyes… He looked so alone…"

"I think that's a load of bull," remarked Tony.

"I think you may be right," interrupted Thor. "Loki is my brother. To be able to let him redeem himself from his wrongdoings will be good for the people of Asgard. Loki is misguided- he needs to have people to accept him."

"So you're saying we accept the guy that kills like there's no tomorrow? Think again, Blondie," Tony retorted.

"But if he's on our side, we can let him go," Natasha pointed out.

"I don't think we're in any position to let him loose right now. Just in case, you know?" Bruce piped up as he rubbed his hands together.

"I am so glad you and I are on the same page," said Tony. He went over to Bruce's corner to pat him on the back.

Steve rolled his eyes at Tony. "I'm all for forgiveness, don't get me wrong, ma'am. Just as long as he's really sorry."

"We'll give it time," stated Fury. "Until then, he stays locked up."

They all dispersed, aside from Natasha and Bruce.

"Did you need something?" he asked.

Her eyes were locked on Loki's scepter that rested atop a stainless steel table. "No."

A smile formed on Loki's face as Natasha approached the glass cage late in the afternoon.

Natasha happened to turn her head in time to see him smile at her and felt her chest tighten. She quickly averted her gaze and pushed back a strand of red hair. "About Agent Barton…" she began. "I think it would be best you return him to us."

"And what do I receive in return?" he asked.

"Trust." She approached the entrance and looked him straight in the eyes. "Not just from me, but the others, as well."

A laugh escaped his throat. "Oh, I'm far from earning their trust."

"How sure are you?" She raised a brow.

"You say you want me to call upon your lover—"

"We're not like that," she quickly added, rolling her eyes. "I only owe him a debt."

"If I have him come here, how can you be so sure that he won't wreak havoc upon this facility of yours?"

"Because Agent Barton isn't like that. He won't hurt anyone, unless the job calls for it." Her eyes narrowed. "Why do you say that? What did you really do to him?"

"The Tesseract," he reminded her.

"Are you saying that you, yourself, has no idea as to what's happened to him?"

"I lie," he reminded her with a sly grin.

"Dammit, Loki!" she shouted. She beat her fist against the glass. "I'm trying to help you get out and you insist on running it!"

"Is that really what you want?" he coolly asked. "Do you really want to see me free? I'll kill everyone." He leaned into the glass and pressed his hand against it.

"No you won't."

"Is this a challenge, Ms. Romanoff? Because I gladly accept!"

"You won't hurt anyone," she told him. Her hand pressed against the glass over his. "Because then, you'll lose any chance you had at acceptance."

His eyes lowered as he turned away.

"You're not as bad as you think you are…"

"That's where you're wrong." The heels of his shoes clacked against the floor as he went to sit on the bench.

"Am I?" She reached down into her belt to pull out her ID. She swiped the card in the chamber's scanner and had her fingerprint checked. The door opened and Natasha stepped back. "When you feel you can't let anyone in, I'm here."

His expression went blank as he stared up at her. Still, he sat, as if waiting for her to shut the door in his face.

"Let's say you used some of your…magic because I slipped up." She turned and started to walk away.

"How foolish can you be?" he asked, rising from the bench with a smirk. "I can kill you right now. I'll kill everyone."

"I trust you enough not to." She froze in place as she heard his footsteps coming towards her.

"Thank you," he whispered into her ear.

His breath felt cold and it made her body shiver and heart race. Was this fear? Had she really made such a mistake?

Loki began to chuckle as he retreated back into his cage.

Natasha took a deep breath to calm herself down. "See? You're not as bad as you think." She turned to follow him inside. He managed to instill such fear that she rarely felt and it left her oddly charmed.

A smile formed on his face that made Natasha's cheeks flush. "Does it matter? After all, Fury told me that we're thousands of feet above the earth. Either way, I'm trapped until we reach landfall."

The sensation of that same fear crept back in. "But you won't."

He gingerly ran his slender fingers through her hair. "You allowed me freedom, so in return, Agent Barton is yours."

The fear was quickly replaced by a tightening in her chest. "Thank you…" The sensations he instilled within her made her worry. This wasn't like her- the Black Widow had nothing to fear, yet this man was bringing those rare emotions to the surface.

"You best go. Before someone catches us in this most unforgivable offense."

"I have no regrets," she stated before turning away and leaving. This was a lie. She rued every moment spent with the trickster god. He made her feel like a traitor to those she worked with. She had to find out Barton's whereabouts, however. There was also the lingering thought in her head that perhaps she could also persuade Loki to change his vile ways. He wasn't the only one skilled in manipulation…

The glass enclosure began to shut as she walked away. This was going to prove to be an exciting day, after all… He outstretched a hand and forced the door to stay ajar.