Loki frowned up at her from his position on her therapy room couch. "I suppose it is a good use of our time," he agreed grudgingly as she continued to move healing energy into his nervous system.

"And if another scan this evening after I do a couple of healing sessions on both of us confirms what we're suspecting, we won't have to come back to do another one."

"Perhaps you're simply misreading the results."

Kara sighed. "I don't think so. Bruce is going to run a detailed comparison, but even to the naked eye it looks like my nerve damage has gotten worse, not better."

"You will find a way to fix it. I have confidence in your ability as a healer."

"Don't lie to the empath, Loki. You know it doesn't work."

He sat up and tugged her down to sit beside him and held her close. "If you cannot find a way to fix it, ask Thor to plead your case in Asgard. Ultimately, blame for your condition can be laid on me. They should agree to make it right."

"Don't take the blame for this. If they hadn't come up with this technology to contain you, they still would have invented it to contain me. Even the Avengers are afraid of what I can do."

"They are your friends. I have watched them with you; I have heard them speak of you when they did not know I was present. They care deeply for you and I saw no sign that they feared you."

"Well, no, they don't fear me, but what I can do? Hell, yeah. Loki, even I fear what I can do, you know that."

"And I know you would never abuse it. You have a strong sense of fairness, of justice. Any who feel your power would surely deserve it." He smiled as she rolled her eyes at him. "Are we done here?"

"You are. Stay out of trouble while I work on myself."

"Hmm. I'll make every effort to do so."

She glared at his mischievous expression. "Loki…"

"Leave off, Kara. I'll go rescue Agent Hill and distract Fandral. That should provide me enough amusement while you're busy here."

… …

Maria was pissed. This amorous buffoon would not stop following her around the carrier. Fury was no help. Her superior had smirked at her and 'reminded' her that they needed to play nice with the visitors from Asgard. She'd like to play nice. Nice and loose with her foot up the jerk's backside. Turning, she came face to face with the jerk in question and sighed. It wasn't that the man wasn't attractive. The way his blonde hair waved boyishly over his forehead was positively touchable, and she'd always been a sucker for a man with a small, neat beard. It was his self-absorbed 'you know you want it' attitude that had her steamed. Not to mention the feeling that he'd be about as faithful as a damned alley cat. "Why are you still here?" she asked, trying to keep her tone pleasant and non-confrontational.

"Because basking in your radiance is the highlight of my day," he answered in a serious tone.

Opening her mouth to snap out a response, she paused as the even more unsettling god of mischief and lies strolled into the room wearing a smug expression. "Fandral," Loki said. "I believe Hogun and Stark are looking for you. Perhaps it is something to do with your input on the armor you all were testing."

"Oh, very well." Fandral sighed theatrically, took her hand and bowed over it, his lips grazing her knuckles. "Alas, my lovely lady. Duty calls. I shall return."

Maria waited until the Asgardian was well down the hall before she muttered, "That's what I'm afraid of."

Loki laughed, obviously enjoying her discomfiture. "We shall attempt to keep him otherwise occupied until we return to Stark's tower," he told her with a smirk. "Though it would be far easier if you took care of the issue yourself."

"And how am I supposed to do that? I've discouraged him in every way I can imagine, short of locking him up or shooting him."

The smirk still lingered. "And that is the problem. Turn the tables on him, Agent Hill. Pursue him, and he will lose interest."

"I think that's every bit as much of a lie as you told Fandral."

"Ah, no. I did not lie to Fandral; at least not truly. Hogun and Stark are looking for him, but their purpose is to keep him from continuing to make a nuisance of himself. Director Fury is concerned that he is distracting you from your duties."

"Hmm. So you think if I chase him, he'll run?"

"He always has before…except, of course, when his heart was involved." Loki shrug was nonchalant. "That is only rarely the case. I haven't seen him truly in love for over five centuries. For him to be so now, and with a mere human, is inconceivable."

"You're sniffing around a mere human. Is he so different from you?"

Loki's rather condescending smile had a sharp edge to it. "Dr. Gunnarssen is a very powerful and exceptional human; an advance on the species as a whole. It's not the same thing at all."

"She's the product of a lab, like Captain America. Her abilities were created by human science."

"Hmm, I understood her firestarter ability was inborn."

"Well, yes. But that's a mutation, not an advance."

"Is it not? Tell me, Agent Hill. Have you not studied evolution? Are you a creationist? No? Then you should realize that nature uses so-called mutations to determine which way is the best for a species to advance. The successful mutations breed and produce more of the same, until that mutation becomes the norm for the species. So, Dr. Gunnarssen may have a mutation, but she is also a test of an advance to your species and as far above you as you are to one of your pets."

Maria watched him stalk off with her mouth hanging open.

… …

"Fandral! There you are, we've been looking all over for you," Tony Stark called out.

Fandral sighed. Loki had been honest, again. Hogun and the human had been searching for him. He should not have doubted. "Yes, I am here. What did you wish to discuss on the armor?"

Stark blinked. "Uh, oh, right. Well, we got tired of waiting to find you, so we just made a decision without you. It's all taken care of."

"Good, then I shall take my leave…"

"Whoa, uh, no. Come on, Valentino, it's lunch time and we're going to have to insist on your company. The cafeteria is…" Stark hesitated as he turned around, examining the walls. "This way," he finally concluded.

Loki and Doctors Gunnarssen and Banner were already seated and eating when they arrived. After turning in their orders Stark was handed a stiff card bearing a number, and they joined the others at their table. Banner and Loki were eating steadily, though neither much looked as though they were enjoying their meal. The woman was doing little more than pushing her food about her plate. "My lady," he began politely. "What troubles you?"

Stark grabbed the seat across from where she sat flanked by her two companions. "Yeah, what's up, Sparky?" Fandral frowned as the woman shook her head, not lifting her gaze from her plate.

The other human sighed heavily. "The detailed analysis of the scans was completed. She's getting worse, not better."

"Shit. What about his scan?" Stark said, nodding in Loki's direction.

"Despite the far greater exposure, his system isn't nearly as damaged as Kara's. There's an awful lot of new nerve tissue growth though, it shows a different density than old tissue, so he's apparently healing rapidly from what was originally far more damage than Kara's original scan showed."

"Jesus." Stark pinched the bridge of his nose between his fingers. "So, now what?"

"I really don't know," Banner replied. "S.H.I.E.L.D. is calling in neurology research specialists, but this kind of damage isn't on file in any of the records we can access. I don't see that they're going to be able to do more than guess at treatments."

Fandral started as Hogun nudged him. "Call Heimdall?" his old friend suggested.

"I suppose we could. Though the All-Father is not known for taking interest in such things…"

"The All-Father had best take interest in this," Loki spat. "Ultimately, this is his fault."

"Loki, calm down. It's not his fault, it's mine," the lady healer said. "I agreed to it."

"You had no idea what you were agreeing to. I'm certain they gave you little choice in the matter."

"Uh, guys," Stark interrupted. "Maybe we should wait until we get home to discuss this, okay?"

Loki frowned at him. "Fine."

… …

Kara stared morosely out over the city. The second set of scans had confirmed it. Her healing ability had no effect on either of them. Bruce hadn't said anything, but she knew as well as he did where this was heading. It could take weeks, maybe months or if she was very lucky, years, but eventually she was going to lose too much nerve tissue for her body to compensate. It would cripple her at first and then go downhill from there. On the bright side, she wouldn't have to worry about missing Loki for long. She wouldn't be around long enough to miss anyone. She tried not to sigh as she felt him step out on the balcony behind her. "I'm not hungry," she said, assuming he'd come to try and coax her into the dining room for dinner.

"I know." He stepped close and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her back against his chest. His breath warmed her cheek as he pressed his lips to it. "I asked them not to alert Asgard just yet. There will be a better chance of agreement if Thor asks his father to allow help for you as a personal boon to him. Odin rarely denies Thor anything."

"Sure." She wanted to tell him it didn't matter, but he'd just argue the point and be annoyed with her. Once he was gone she could tell Thor not to bother. It would sure save Raj a lot of work.

"Don't," Loki said quietly, tightening his hold. "I forbid you to give up." Kara smiled; wondering if mind-reading was among his talents. "You do not know what the future may hold for you, Kara. Please promise me you will make every possible effort to be there to meet it."

"Why?"

"Because I am to blame for enough death on this world; if you give up on life because of me, you will add to that burden. It is already unacceptably heavy." She felt him smile against her cheek. "And yes, once again, it is all about me. But seriously, if you love me as you say you do, you will allow Thor to seek help on your behalf."

"Loki, don't try and blackmail me with my feelings for you. All that will do is piss me off."

He sighed and turned her around to face him. "I do not understand what good this love of yours is then. There seems to be little point to it."

"Oh for…there's not supposed to be a point to it. It just is. And it's a good thing, mostly. If two people share the feeling, it's a great thing. The best thing in the universe."

"How would you know this? Have you loved and been loved before?" He sounded genuinely curious, and maybe a bit…was that jealousy?

"No, but my foster parents did. They loved each other more than anything. Kara shrugged. "I was just grateful they were willing to share their lives with an abandoned teenager. I had no expectations that they'd love me, so I wasn't disappointed."

Loki leaned in to kiss her softly. "I wish I could give you that, my lady. But it's not something I'm capable of just now." He pulled her close again and she laid her head against his chest. "I do care about you. Your well-being is…important to me. I owe you so much, and there is little, if anything, I can do to show how much you-your love means to me." The tears that had been threatening ever since they'd gotten the results of the second scan began to flow. Loki sighed again. "This is another mortal thing I do not understand. I tell a woman that I care for her…this is supposed to be a good thing, is it not? Yet, you cry."

"It's okay. I don't always understand crying myself."

… …

Pepper looked around the table. Dinner was somehow an even more strained affair than it had been the night before, despite Loki and the two Asgardians being on much better terms. Tony and Loki were getting along as well, which was really amazing. They had been trading snarky comments back and forth, but with good humor. She was really starting to wonder if she'd fallen down the rabbit hole. "I have not congratulated you on your impending motherhood," Loki said to her, his expression totally serious.

"My…what?" She glared at Tony. What in heaven's name had he told them?

Loki's smirk finally gave him away. "Well, marrying someone so immature as Stark is akin to acquiring an overgrown child, don't you think?"

"Hey, Snape," the overgrown child interjected. "I'll have you know I resemble that remark. But it's part of my charm."

"Snape, really? If you are going to compare me to a fictional mage, you could at least choose an attractive one. Cedric, perhaps."

"More like Sirius Black," Bruce said, than shrugged. "Hey, you were kind of deranged for a while."

Kara, who had been sitting quietly, looking understandably depressed after the bad news on her scans, chuckled. They all turned to stare at her. "Do you realize that both of you compared Loki to self-sacrificing, heroic characters?"

Pepper smiled as Tony and Bruce stared at each other. "Son of a bitch," Tony muttered.

The boys headed off to the game room once dessert was finished. Hogun and Fandral were absolutely eager to show Loki how to play HALO 6. Something was definitely odd here. And Tony was actually laughing at one of Loki's comments. "Kara? What the heck happened today? Did we have a mass personality transplant; am I hallucinating, or what?"

"Well, I know Loki and Tony destroyed something together, they haven't said what, and I don't really want to know…plausible deniability and all that. It seems it was quite the bonding moment. Fandral and Hogun have apparently pulled their heads out of their butts. They even told a heroic Loki story from way back when." She sighed. "Of course, it came with an observation that proves Loki was right about the crap he put up with all his life. I think that got them thinking and realizing he wasn't just imagining it all."

"Heroic, huh?"

"Yep. He did something daring that saved all of their lives, and instead of the big feast and honors that Thor would have gotten for the same thing, he was scolded for risking himself."

Pepper stared at Kara, stunned. "Seriously?"

"I know. It's no wonder he has a complex about Thor." They stood and collected plates and carried them into the kitchen for the cleaning service to deal with. "I thought he was just being ungrateful before. But…now I really think he wasn't even exaggerating by much. It makes me sick."

… …

Tony grinned at the dismayed shouts from Fandral and Hogun as the team of Loki and Banner began to kick their asses. The teams were each playing the game on separate systems; the competition was based on the advancement of the respective teams. Loki had fumbled with the controls for the first fifteen minutes of play, and then found his groove. His fingers flew over the buttons and his grin as he got the hang of it was downright predatory. He'd taken the initial teasing in stride, returning jibe for jibe, and had even laughed as he and Banner lost ground to the others. But now, even Tony was impressed with his student. "Jeez, freeze-frame, how are you picking this up so fast? Not that I'm not proud; but not even my admittedly brilliant instruction should have gotten you this far."

Loki shrugged, never taking his eyes from the screen. "I have an advantage. I've been studying your technology for quite some time. Others in Asgard never saw the need nor did they have the desire."

"Hey guys, who's winning?" Kara asked as she entered the game room, followed by the love of his life. Pepper was carrying a few wine bottles and Kara was balancing a tray full of glasses.

"Well, the wonder-twins took an early lead, but now that he's got the hang of it, your boyfriend and Mr. Zen are totally kicking ass."

"Only because I have that advantage," Loki chimed in, not arguing the boyfriend point, interesting. Tony grinned at Kara's blush.

"Well, glad you're all having fun with it," she managed. "Um, I pulled out my medieval recipe book to see if I could do something about all of the complaints about our drinks. I didn't have any mead to work with, and the only place that I know of that makes really good stuff doesn't ship to New York, so I went with mulled wine, the Nordic countries call it glögg, I think."

"Doesn't that sound, uh, appetizing," Tony managed.

"Don't mock it until you've tried it, Stark. If it's done right, it's quite good and can be every bit as intoxicating as your Scotch," Loki told him. "What did you put in it, my lady?" Tony shook his head. Holding a conversation, Loki was still paying close attention to the game. Fandral and Hogun weren't trying to contribute to it, but they were still distracted enough to be losing even more ground. Loki was hell on wheels with multi-tasking.

"I started out with a tawny port, added sugar and spices, and knowing Tony's tastes, spiked it with some brandy for an extra kick. Who wants?"

Hogun raised his hand and immediately lost his character to NPC return fire. "Bullocks," he muttered.

"Go ahead and hit your pause button, guys," Bruce told them. "We can pick this up again later."

Tony grinned at their relieved expressions. Loki smirked. "Yes, it's time for a break…you can look at our score and bask in our brilliance while you drown your sorrows."

… …

"Loki, it's just a game," Kara scolded.

"It is, but a good competitor always plays to win."

She smiled. "Just for that, you have to try this first," she told him, handing him a glass. Pepper and she had already tried it and pronounced it yummy, but she wanted the opinion of someone who had probably drank the real thing way back when. Oh boy. Way back when and a half.

"What's wrong?" Loki asked as he took the glass from her hand and supported her with his other arm as she wobbled.

"Uh…nothing. Just thinking. I'm fine."

"You're not fine; you look like you've grown faint. Come, sit down." He led her over to the couch and sat, pulling her down beside him.

"Really. I'm fine. Are you going to try it, or not?" she grumped, frowning at him until he sighed.

"Very well." Loki lifted the glass and sipped cautiously. "Hmm. Not bad. A little on the sweet side, but not overly so." He looked over at Hogun and Fandral. "You'll like it. It doesn't have quite the strength of our mead, but it is certainly well drinkable."

"Well drinkable?" she asked, feeling a bit miffed.

"Hush, sweet lady. That is a compliment. This is much better than most of the drink we've been offered here."

"Oh, okay." She watched as Pepper finished handing out full glasses. Tony took one sip and made a face, then shrugged and took a deeper swallow.

After taking their own cautious tastes, Hogun and Fandral made approving noises and almost drained their glasses. "This is excellent," Fandral enthused. "Might there be more?"

Pepper headed over to him with the second of the three bottles they'd brought out with them. "There is, and we've a few more bottles ready in the kitchen when these are gone." She looked over her shoulder and grinned. "Kara, I don't think we're going to have to worry about cutting the recipe down."

Kara smiled. "I guess not. We'll have to try out some of the food recipes tomorrow."

"I have meetings most of the day, but if you order in the ingredients, we could try something in the late afternoon."

"That works." She frowned as Loki chuckled softly in her ear. "What?"

"Why this sudden urge to try medieval recipes?"

She shrugged. "It was a hobby a few years back. I went looking for the books after listening to Fandral going on about mead and such. As I recall, some of the food was exceptionally good, so I thought it might be fun to make some of it again."

"Hmm. I suppose you'll want me to taste it?"

"I suppose I'll allow you to taste it if you don't piss me off between now and then."

Kara grinned as Tony cracked up from behind them. "Snowman, haven't you learned not to provoke the redheads yet?"

"Why shouldn't I? It's so much fun watching their reactions."

"Sure it is, until you end up being couch man."

Loki gave the couch they were sitting on a puzzled look. "I don't see…"

She snickered and whispered as softly as she could, "Means you sleep on the couch instead of with me."

… …

"Ah. Hmm. But, wouldn't that mean you deprive yourself as well?"

"Yes. I don't know about Norse gods, but mortal men kind of suffer more than we mortal women do when they're 'deprived'."

Loki frowned and stared at her amused expression. "Would you truly deny me?" he whispered.

Kara laid her head back on his shoulder. "Did I even threaten it? No, that was Tony's contribution. I'm sure it's because he's been couch man before…often." She grinned as Pepper laughed from behind them. "See?"

"I do see. Well, it's a good thing I do have more reliable sources of information than Stark."

"Hey, I'm a great source of information about women," Stark insisted. "I know exactly what to do to piss them off, first time, every time."

"Oh, lovely. I'll surely consult with you when I want to know what not to do." He had to grin when Stark laughed and bowed theatrically before wandering off toward the lounge area. "Kara, we've had a long day. Shall we retire?"

"Absolutely."

… …

"Kara, I haven't forgotten that you have not given me your promise," Loki told her as he closed their door behind him.

Kara sighed. No, his forgetting would have been too convenient. "Of course not."

He stepped around her, sat on the edge of the bed, and pulled her close. "Sweet girl, do you understand why I'm simply waiting to be brought before the tribunal?"

"No, but what does that have to do with this?"

"Everything. I am tired. No matter what I do or how I do it, it will never be right, it will never be enough. So, I come here, and what happens? I find what I've never had: love and acceptance…from you. That is all that is keeping me sane. I cannot go back; I cannot face this without knowing that you will be well and that you will have the chance to be happy."

Tears welled up, she couldn't help it. She leaned in, wrapped her arms around him and buried her face in his neck. "I'm sorry," she managed. "Okay, I promise."

His chuckle surprised her and she pulled back to look at him, dashing a hand across her eyes so that she could actually see. "What exactly do you promise?" he asked with smile. That smile widened when she flushed. "Kara, you cannot trick the trickster. Now, swear to me that you will allow Thor to petition Odin for help to heal you, and that you will not withdraw that permission when I am gone." He paused and frowned. "Also, on the off chance that the All-Father sees fit to deny his son this boon, swear that you will pursue any and all possible alternatives to become healthy again."

She sighed. "Fine. I promise all of that."

"Thank you. Now, promise me one more thing."

"What?"

"Promise me that you will try your best to find happiness and that you will allow your friends to help you."

"I don't know if I can."

"You can promise to try." He cupped her cheeks in his hand and stared into her eyes. "Please. I don't say please often, you know."

She smiled as he had no doubt intended. "Never thought you did. Okay, fine. I will try." Shrugging, Kara admitted, "I already promised Raj I would let him help me."

Loki frowned. "Raj is not your friend, his loyalties are to S.H.I.E.L.D., never forget that. These people here, these Avengers, they are your friends. Trust only them."

"I trust you."

"And that, my dearest lady, is likely a mistake," he said bitterly.

"You're wrong."

Loki shook his head and leaned forward a bit to touch his forehead to mine. "I'll not dissuade you, hmm?" The corner of his mouth twitched at she shook her head in return. "Have I angered you?"

"What? No." Kara decided he needed to be teased. "Are we getting in bed anytime soon, or are we talking all night."

The teasing worked. His smile was genuine and he took her chin in one lean hand and kissed her lips softly before responding. "We are getting in bed as soon as we get these garments off."

She sniffed. "About time."