"Listen Luke, we don't want you going alone, alright?"

Luke's shift at the bakery was over, he had finished cleaning, and preparing for yeast for the next day's bread. He was tired, and he knew Leon must have been getting worried.

"Matt, I appreciate everything, but it's not a big deal. I can get home by myself." For some reason, The Avengers (or at least that's what everyone kept calling them) had marched into the store demanding that he come with them. Needless to say, it caused quite a stir. There were thrown pastries all over the floor, and spilled juice that made the tables sticky. Luke really wanted to appreciate the gesture of those patrons coming to his rescue…but then he promptly remembered he would be the person to clean up their "battle field" once the dust had settled.

And now, Matt wouldn't even let him out of the store without a babysitter.

"Luke I'm just saying, what if those creeps come back? What if they try to hurt you while you're alone? They've taken down aliens; an amnesia stricken cashier won't be too difficult for them."

Luke merely rolled his eyes. Lately Matt had been getting more and more worried. When Luke first arrived at this bakery, Matt thought he'd just be some kind of charity case. What was it the boss called him? A flake? But as time went on Matt couldn't help but smile at Luke's inability to see the negative side of anything. Once, Luke burned his finger against the oven, and he only smiled and said "Burns are good luck."

Who the fuck does that? Normal people would curse and then take the day off.

"Doesn't matter man, you're not walking home alone." Matt crossed his arms and smirked. "Now, I'll get my shit and then we'll go to your place. Hell, I may even sleep over."

Luke rolled his eyes, and then fought back a smile. Aside from Dr. Stewart, Matt was pretty much his only friend (well, his only friend that didn't need to use a litter box). Matt was always on Luke's back about going out, getting drunk, or just not being inside all day.

"Alright Luke, let's go."

The two walked through the doors just as the last beam of light slipped beneath the city.

"So, the Avengers kept calling you Loki? You got any clue about what that was?"

Luke shook his head. "I just assumed they thought I was someone else, I mean it does happen a lot. Just about every girl that walks into the store thinks we've met before…some of the guys too. It's gotten to the point where it's just normal."

Matt grunted. "Have you even been trying to regain your memory? I mean, aren't you at least curious?"

Luke shook his head. "No, I'm not. You're starting to sound like Stewart."

Wasn't simply being Luke enough? He never understood why people were so obsessed with who they were. What was the point of that anyway? He was Luke, and only Luke. Whoever he was before was gone. He was Luke…that was enough.

"Here we are Matt. Thanks for being my bodyguard but I think I've got it from here."

Matt only wrapped his arms around Luke's shoulder and said, "Forget it man, I'm stayin' the night. Open the door."

Somehow the apartment seemed smaller.

"Got any beer?" Matt asked as he opened the fridge.

"Dude, you know I do. You made me buy five cases the last time you were here."

Matt smirked. "Yeah, I know."

"What the hell was that?" Steve said as he walked into the tower, wiping the last bit of frosting from his face. All of that training, and they couldn't even take Loki in. "I can't believe this."

"I told you just barging in wouldn't yield the proper results." Natasha said as she wrung juice out of her hair.

"Then how are we supposed to deal with him? How do we get him to reverse this mess he's started?"

"Uh, Steve." Tony said as he walked over to the soldier. "I think we've got bigger problems. Jarvis, show him."

On cue a holoscreen appeared in front of the team.

"…the scene earlier today when the Avengers intrude into a bakery and tried to abduct a young man."

Steve's eyes widened at the news broadcast.

"The Avengers are now being held as criminals, and enemies of the state. Law enforcement is urging civilians to stay out of the conflict as the criminals are armed and dangerous, so please stay away. More news as it breaks."

…could this get any worse? Without even saying a word, the team assembled into the war room once again to assess the situation.

"Okay, just to recap, Loki has been spotted but we can't capture him, the police are up our butts, and now we're wanted criminals who everyone hates." Tony leaned back into his chair. "Did I miss anything?"

Natasha scoffed. "Only the part where even SHIELD can't help us now. The law is the law."

"Well, it's not like they can do anything right? I mean we're the Avengers, it's not like they can haul us off without a fight-"

"Which is exactly why we're still here and not locked up. Because people are too scared of us to do anything." Natasha finished. "But now everyone is going to be looking at us, so there's no way we can get close to Loki without someone sounding the alarm." Natasha shrugged her shoulders, they were right back to square one. If Captain had listened to her instead of flying off the handle they wouldn't be in the mess in the first place. Surprise was their greatest weapon and now they've lost it.

"Well, what now? Thor, any thoughts?" Tony asked.

Thor only shook his head. "My brother…" That was Loki, wasn't it? He could feel it…but, something was wrong…or rather, something was missing from him. "Brother, what have you done?"

"There's gotta be something we can do. Anything. Maybe if we just talk to him alone?"

"Come on now Tony, what exactly is that going to do?" Natasha asked, even she was having a difficult time trying to find a way out of this.

"We could invite him to Avengers tower, you know as a 'peace offering'."

Clint rolled his eyes. "And if he doesn't take the bait?"

Tony frowned "Well, we'll just have to be very very persistent is all. Anyway, while we were in the bakery I had Jarvis hack their computer records, and I've found where little Loki is hiding."

Steve shot from his chair "Then let-"

"Steve, I think you should sit this one out."

The room fell silent. What did Tony just say?

"Tony listen-"

"Look, you're too much of a liability, alright?" That was an understatement. "I think the best person to go check this guy out is Thor." Tony turned to the thunderer "That alright with you big guy?"

Thor nodded. "Y-yes. I shall see to it at once."

"Wait a minute." Natasha began, "You need to be discreet. Just knock on his door or something, try to win his trust and get him to come to Avengers' tower. Alright? Nice and easy."

Thor nodded. "I will see to it."