Author's Note: Chapter 13 now revised!
Trust. You entrust someone with your life. You allow him to have your back in battle, and you have his. Once you trust someone, the enterprise of brotherhood and fraternity does not seem so far away anymore. There is this invisible cord holding you together, the both of you, or however many you may choose to trust. And even if this might be one of the most uplifting feelings ever known to people, it is a dangerous endeavor. Because trust is a very fragile thing, the cord, no matter how flexible it may seem at times, is made of glass. And once a rupture happens, it does not take long for the entire bond to shatter to endlessly many, tiny shards, shards you can never piece back together. You can never mend a bond once it's broken, as it seems. And once the cord breaks, you feel exposed, so exposed that you just want to run, run till you can no longer, and then one step further. That is when true dread clenches at your chest, knocks you off your feet and you just want to wake up a day before, when everything was still intact. If you lose trust in someone, then you slowly but surely start to lose him, too. He's slipping through your fingertips, and once he lets go... it seems that you can just no longer go back, but have to move on, regardless of the pain in your chest. Yet... sometimes, you run into this very person, much later, once you already pushed him out of your immediate stratosphere of thought that you almost faint at the emotions suddenly flooding back into you, drowning you, suffocating, dark. But no matter how hard either one may try, the stump of the former cord of trust still gaping in either one's chest will ram into the other once they dare to embrace, dare to be close again. So... mending broken trust is seemingly... just suicide.
The events of Loki's attempted suicide lie a few weeks back now, and things actually seem back to normal. Thanks to Pepper's, Natasha's and Bruce's ongoing effort to make her enjoy life again, well, she actually does, or at least she tries. Loki is spending a great deal of time working in the lab with Bruce and Tony and Natasha and Pepper have taken it upon themselves to introduce her to the social life of New York, shopping, drinking a coffee, the usual things. At first all were a bit anxious that Loki would just rebuff them with some comment about how those useless mortals are wasting their time, but much to everyone's surprise, she is actually quite eager to get to know the outside world, just like a child making its first tentative steps outside. It never ceases to amaze how the young woman seemingly takes in everything, her eyes wide for all this world has to offer. Bruce is convinced that this is the scientist inside of her calling - she just wants to understand the world.
Well, that is the good part, the not-so-good part is the "relationship" between Loki and Thor ever since that encounter. In battle neither one gives only a clue for any such discrepancy. Both fight side by side and help each other as it is required, but they won't talk to each other, at all. Not that they didn't have that before. The silent treatment is something that Loki seemingly helped inventing alongside Thor, but now they don't do that to deflect the other or make each other mad, as before, no... they just... they don't talk, they don't interact just an inch beneath the surface of "Good morning," and "Could you pass me the salt, please?". And that is the crux of the problem. For as long as those two don't put their argument to rest by discussing it, there won't be a solution, easy as that.
What proves that there must be a problem is that even the guys have finally caught up on it and actually realize that something is not sitting right with those two. When even Tony, who, despite his genius, can be so oblivious at times, asks when those two finally have the talk and move on, then you really have a problem.
So now the Avengers, except for the two, are in the lounge, discussing, well, the two missing members.
"Do we really have to continue with this relationship-stuff between those two?" Clint rolls his eyes in annoyance.
"We talked about this. We tried to give them time, but nothing happens. We have to move... somehow," Natasha tells him.
"She is right. This is affecting the team dynamics sooner or later. Arguments can be resolved, lack of interaction not," Bruce argues.
"I'm still all up for locking the two in a room and...," Tony wants to say, but the others just interrupt him, "No."
"In the movies that always works," Tony pouts
"Oh, please," Steve rolls his eyes.
"Guys, let's not lose focus here," Bruce throws in. "What exactly do we want to do? I mean... as for Natasha, Pepper and I... we made any effort to bring Loki to move, but she won't, that much is for sure."
"So, logically, the next option would be to talk to Thor... maybe he's more willing to resolve this issue," Natasha nods.
"He'll just make mush of us with his hammer," Tony huffs.
"Loki can probably do worse stuff to you," Natasha snickers.
"... yeah... I think we're always in a lose-lose-situation when it comes to these two," Tony grimaces.
"I'm with Natasha. We should just try to talk to Thor. I mean... we could even convince him of using the car and not swinging his hammer all the time. Maybe we really have better chances with him," Steve nods.
"The question is who has the honor then," Tony argues. All grimace. Neither one wants to actually do that. With Thor, despite the fact he is adorable and a great guy most of the time... getting things across is just like explaining it to a very dull child at times. He just won't get it.
"Well, to make it a fair game, we might want to do the old-fashioned... drawing straws," Steve suggests.
"Oh, please," Clint sighs. If this wasn't kindergarten until this moment, it is now for sure.
"Can't I just say who does it?" Tony argues.
"No," Steve retorts.
"Guys, let's not make this a child's game once again. The Captain is right, let's draw straws and whoever gets the short one goes to talk to Thor. Can we all agree to that?" Bruce sighs.
"Yeah," all agree with reluctance.
"And to keep matters fair, even the ones who don't have the... privilege... will have to do something, namely making sure that Loki has no clue of what's going on. If she finds out, she will scratch all our eyes out... possibly more than that," Bruce offers.
Steve takes out a matchbox and breaks off one for the "winner". The team members draw their straws. Yeah, this feels just like kindergarten all over again.
They hold them up.
"Oh, please!" Natasha cries out, covering her face with her free hand.
"Yes!" Tony dances around gleefully.
"Great, of course it has to be me," Natasha huffs.
"Congratulations," Tony fakes enthusiasm.
"Go to Hell, Stark," Natasha mutters.
"I just meant to...," Tony wants to say, but she already kicked him in the shin, making him cry out like a teenage girl.
"Okay, so let's just get over with this," she exhales. "You guys make sure Loki is distracted... I talk to Thor... maybe I should bring colored posters to make my point..."
She walks off with a sigh, already contemplating on a strategy.
"Tony? Loki's in the lab, so we should go there. I think we could work on that new shield technology you proposed earlier the week," Bruce turns to Tony, who smirks, "Awesome."
"Okay, if she takes off, you just let us know. Then we will make sure she stays away from Thor and Natasha," Steve nods.
"Good," Bruce agrees. The rest spreads out.
Natasha, meanwhile, made out Thor in the gym. After all, that is his second best favorite room, right after the kitchen. The thunderer is working on his second punching bag the day... he and Steve actually have a contest going on about who destroys most within a year, with the one condition that Thor may not use Mjölnir for help. Men.
"Hello," Natasha says politely. Thor stops, flashing his signature smirk at her, wiping some of the sweat out of his face.
"Ah, Lady Romanov, it is good to see you," Thor smiles at her toothily.
"Am I interrupting, or...?" Natasha asks, but he assures her quickly, "No, no, I was finished with that one anyway."
"How many to the count?" Natasha smirks knowingly.
"With this one... 197," Thor grins.
"So it's looking good for you that you win?" Natasha snickers.
"Yes, but I think the Captain will not give in without a fight," Thor smiles.
"Certainly not," she agrees. "So... can I talk to you about something, well, uhm... rather private?"
"What? Yes, of course," Thor nods. He grabs his towel to wipe himself off of sweat, "So? What is your desire?"
"Okay, uhm... I will be straight to you and not beat about the bush," Natasha grimaces.
"What bush?" Thor frowns at her.
"Nevermind," she sighs. "I want to talk to you about Loki."
Natasha has to swallow at just how fast Thor's cheerful expression can change to hard grimness. The fist with which he is holding the towel clenches painfully around the fabric.
"Yeah, I know it's a touchy topic, but... everyone is concerned, for the both of you," Natasha tells him.
"Why?" Thor asks.
"You don't talk, at all. Even in the beginning you managed... somewhat interaction, but now... One could doubt you even live together," Natasha argues.
"I do not wish to talk about it," Thor snorts dismissively.
"And honestly, I get that, but... you might have to," Natasha sighs.
"Why do you think so?" Thor questions.
"Because it does neither one of you good," Natasha argues.
"It is a complicated matter," Thor shakes his head.
"No doubt. And I don't believe that this can be resolved in one conversation, but... if you have any interest to resolve the issue... you have to start somewhere," Natasha tells him.
"Yet, I do not wish to resolve the issue," Thor snorts, acting more like a child than a man at this point. Not that this comes as a surprise to Natasha.
"Why are you giving her such a hard time?" Natasha exhales.
"I am giving Loki a hard time? Loki is giving me a hard time. With all this here," Thor says angrily.
"With working for us? You actually gave the vote for her, twice, once she joined, and then for the active team. So you can't say you didn't see that coming, c'mon," Natasha snorts.
"Loki still blames me for everything that went wrong in his life. And that couldn't be further from the truth," Thor argues. Natasha decides to ignore that Thor is still referring to Loki as a he. After all, it only underlines his defiance.
"So... you had nothing to do with it?" Natasha asks, not buying it.
"Of course I had to do with it, but I did not tell him just once to go havoc on Earth or to trick the Allfather. He tries to blame me for everything. He brought that upon himself," Thor grits his teeth.
"... are you sure that she blames you for it?" Natasha questions, and he glares at her. Natasha holds up her hands in surrender, "I'm just saying... when talking to us... she seems rather... aware of her own mistakes."
"Of course he knows that it was his scheme, but he believes that he never deserved the punishment he received and... and he talks so low about the Allfather, his family," Thor mutters.
"Well, technically...," Natasha grimaces, but Thor interrupts darkly, "The Allfather tried to reach through to him. He tried. And so did I. I put faith in him, over and over again. As did our Mother, but it was all futile. I still believe that the day will come that he will just... strike again."
"Well... Loki didn't, and that in about a year now," Natasha argues.
"Loki can wait, longer than you can imagine," Thor huffs.
"I wouldn't be too convinced," Natasha mutters under her breath.
"Why is that?" Thor blinks at her, so she explains, "I don't think that this is something you'd want to know... or something Loki would want you to know."
Even if she has that feeling bubbling up in her stomach that she will have to reveal that today. Or else Thor will just never understand what the hell is the deal with Loki - and just how much he hurts her.
"Tell me," Thor demands.
"... We know that you two had a major fight, short after she was put on the active team," Natasha tells him.
"Yes," Thor grits his teeth at the memory.
"She... was really desperate after that," Natasha grimaces.
"Serves him right," Thor huffs.
"She wanted to jump off the roof!" Natasha cries out, anger getting the better of her. Thor whips his head around. Natasha actually wanted to make this a bit more... sensitively, but with Thor... you just have to be hard, seemingly. Or else he won't ever get it.
"What did you say?" Thor gapes at her in shock. Natasha takes a moment to focus again, but then says, "Yes, she wanted to kill herself. And you can tell me all you want, but even Loki doesn't deserve that. That didn't serve her right. You didn't see her, Thor, she was desperate. She wanted it all to end, and your argument almost drove her over the edge. As much sympathy as I feel for you, that is a no-go."
Thor bites his lower lip. He had no clue that Loki... No, he never, not even remotely... by the Gods. Can this be true? At some point, he thought that Loki was just being over-dramatic. Loki always was, already as a child, but now to hear that Loki actually wanted to end his life... no, he didn't see that coming, and Thor's chest aches at the revelation.
"I don't say that you are to blame for her... attempt. And that is not why I'm telling you this. I share that with you because I think that this might actually make you understand just how much she means it, Thor. I don't think that was an act. Thus, I really doubt that anything else is. She didn't know we'd come to the roof, she couldn't know. She stood there and wanted to jump. Whatever it is that drove her there... Loki was in that spot, and you stand in that spot only if you really see no way out," Natasha exhales.
"I didn't know that Loki...," Thor stammers, still trying to process this.
"She didn't want you to know, which only proves that she doesn't want to make you blame yourself for that. Don't you see? Loki kept that from you so that you don't take the blame for her actions. So, honestly, I doubt that whatever you think she blames you for... is actually blame she wants to load on your shoulders. She is too busy blaming herself," Natasha speaks softly.
"I just don't see how to... come to terms. There is just too much that's happened," Thor sighs.
"You mean... for what she did in Asgard?" Natasha asks.
"I have to give Loki that I, too, went havoc, in Jotunheimr, so... I can't really blame him for going havoc on Earth, not more than he could blame me for my encounter," Thor exhales.
"Okay," Natasha nods. She generously ignores the fact that he just said it's okay that Loki tried to destroy Earth because he tried the same on another planet.
"But Asgard is our home. Our family. And he attacked us all," Thor grits his teeth. "Just one wrong move and... Loki may have killed not only the Allfather but also me. I can accept a fit of anger, I can move past an air of megalomania, but I can't move past such betrayal, not when it comes to the family. The family is something sacred. And Loki stomped on it."
"I get that," Natasha nods.
"But Loki won't see that. He just... he just keeps taunting me. I have the feeling that every move of his, every word he does speak to me... it's mockery," Thor grumbles angrily.
"Well, since she doesn't talk to you now at all... she can hardly mock you," Natasha argues. Thor glares at her.
"Okay, okay, if that's how you feel, then that's how you feel," she holds up her hands in surrender. She takes a pause before she carries on, "But now, cross my heart, do you think this is mockery because of her change?"
"What now?" Thor grimaces.
"I mean... is it mockery to you because Loki is no longer a guy, but a girl?" Natasha asks. Thor looks away, biting his lip - as if that wasn't answer enough already.
"Why can't you accept her that way?" Natasha asks in a soft voice.
"Because... it's... I can't," Thor sighs.
"Is it really just because he is suddenly a woman?" Natasha questions.
"No, he did that before," Thor snorts dismissively.
"He did, I mean... within your notice?" Natasha blinks. As far as she had gathered, Loki only discovered her female side when Thor was not around, well... she seemingly kept that part out, the little beast.
"It's as he already said. It is natural to him," Thor shrugs.
"Coz he's... Jo...," Natasha grimaces. Yeah, they really have to catch up on the alien-vocabulary, as it seems.
"Jotun, right," Thor nods. "We knew about that in a while. And he lived as a woman even before we knew of his origin, but then it was due to the fact that he was a shapeshifting sorcerer. He liked that. Loki never saw much of... a trouble in that."
"Well, I thought that you guys were somewhat... cooler about the matter, I mean, as Asgardians and all. You know, we humans are rather set in gender roles. I mean, we have gay people and cross-dressers and all that, but... uhm... your brother really is a new level of gender deconstruction," Natasha grimaces.
"Us Aesir are pretty much the same about it as you are. Loki was the exception, actually. Perhaps we are even more set than you are," Thor shakes his head.
"Yeah?" Natasha blinks at him curiously.
"We still have executions for... certain things," Thor grimaces in embarrassment.
"Oh, ew," Natasha makes a face, shocked.
"But it's not practiced all too often anymore, actually... not at all in years now. Either way, I am... used to this, you see, that Loki bends those rules. Loki spent a great deal of time in his female form. The problem is that...," Thor lets out a sigh, seemingly unable to put his feelings into words.
"He's the brother you grew up with, and not the sister you grew up with," Natasha nods. She gets that.
"Right," Thor nods. "And I can't just push that aside."
"Well, I get your feelings to some degree, I suppose. I mean... we all struggled with Loki's sudden change. Even if it must be a whole new level to you coz you grew up with him," Natasha shrugs.
"Exactly," Thor sighs.
"But... Thor, you also gotta see that this is still Loki, just in a different shape," Natasha argues.
"No, it is not! He is not acting like my brother whom I grew up with! He... he is different. And that is what is bothering me foremost," Thor shakes his head vehemently.
"Explain it to me," Natasha demands calmly.
"I cannot! This is just... this is not him! That person here, this woman, she is not like my brother in so many ways," Thor bites his lower lip.
"You mean that she flirts and... well, acts more like a girl?" Natasha makes a face. Thor nods again.
"Well," Natasha exhales. "I take it that this is more of a show than anything else. Loki tries to play around – and that is something Loki already did as a guy, I mean... he even flirted as a guy, a lot, even when it was inappropriate. She knows this drives especially you nuts, which is why she does it ever the more, I think."
"It is not just about that," Thor shakes his head.
"Then what else?" Natasha asks.
"... Loki is suddenly... I do not even have the words for it. The nature of this person is different from that of the witty and self-centered brother I grew up with," Thor bites his lower lip.
"That she cares more? You really believe that this is just coz of her gender now? But couldn't it perhaps be because she simply had a change of mind? That also happens, and that doesn't depend on he or she. People can have an epiphany and... change," Natasha argues.
She changed, too.
"But how would I tell? I don't know if this is Loki, the person I grew up with... this new person I hardly recognize as the one I used to know," Thor admits.
"Well, sorry to break those news to you, Thor, but you hardly make any effort to get to know her, the new her. You try to stay away from Loki as much as that is possible. And if you asked me... you do that because you are afraid to lose that picture you had of Loki, of the person you grew up with," Natasha argues.
"I'm not afraid of anything," Thor grunts.
"Then there shouldn't be any issues in accepting the new Loki, right?" Natasha snorts.
"... perhaps I am a bit, but just a bit," Thor grumbles, more like a pouting child.
"Well, then that bit is afraid of losing that picture, or is it not?" Natasha smirks.
"You are probably right," Thor nods. "I... even after all he's done... he still was my brother. That is what I always held good for him, what I always... harbored, you see. When times were hard and he just... was going astray, doing things he shouldn't... this is what I could hold on to. I could always tell myself that this was my brother after all – and no one could take that away from us. But now I... fear... that this is lost, that I can't return to that harbor inside my mind."
"... but she is here, Thor, don't you see it? This is still Loki, she still has the same memories you have, you were the children who played together and all. All those memories you harbor, you witnessed with her," Natasha argues.
"I witnessed them with my brother," Thor shakes his head.
"But that is your brother, just in a different form," Natasha says.
"It's not that simple," Thor bites his lower lip.
"Yes it is," Natasha insists. "Now let me ask you this question: For example, do you harbor a memory of you two fighting side by side?"
Thor nods, "Of course, those are perhaps some of the most prominent ones! He saved my life countless times!"
"And did he, in one of those memories, ever change his shape?" Natasha questions.
"Numerous times," Thor blinks at her.
"So you remember those things, and hold them for good, even though Loki has changed the body back then," Natasha concludes.
"Of course," Thor agrees.
"Well, if that's so... then how can you say that this is no longer Loki? If you can actually harbor the memory of him in another body?" she argues. "I mean... you still regard that body as Loki's, you see the person you remember as Loki, who shapeshifted in battle, as your brother, as someone you care about so deeply. Then why can't you do that just now with her in this form?"
"I don't know what to do anymore. I don't even understand that myself. It's... it's just too complicated, too far intermingled," Thor exhales.
"But Thor, don't you see that Loki is just trying to come to terms?" Natasha asks him.
"What do you want to say?" Thor grimaces.
"You have to put yourself in Loki's place. To him... her... it's natural to be this as well as that. So with you giving her hell about... choosing this shape over the other... you ask her to stop something that is as natural to her as breathing," Natasha tells him.
"... perhaps. I don't know," Thor sighs. He knows she does have a point, but Thor knows better than to reveal one of the deeper reaching reasons of his resent for this certain form. He won't give himself that humiliation, no. This form caused him pain before, and that is why he hates his brother wearing it. That was one of the early ruptures that led to both their downfall.
"It is as I say," Natasha insists. "And you have to see how much you actually hurt her. You say you can like her for being your little brother, but you can't like her as, well, her, though she is just that. She said it herself, this is her natural female form. It's as though you tell her, constantly, that you can only love her for one side of her, and that the other is just... not lovable."
"I know it must sound foolish, but this is how I feel. You cannot shift such affection that easily. This woman is not my brother, inside my mind, and that makes it so difficult for me to regard her as such. When I look at her... then I see Loki's eyes, see Loki's wit, but I don't see so many other things that I held dear, so many things I was proud of to know about him, as the only person who'd know," Thor explains.
"But you have to see that she tries to build up a life here on Earth, so it has a very practical function that she chose this form of all forms," Natasha shakes her head. "Well, and then a persona she actually knows... is... is the better choice, simple as that. She knows Lorelei, she is that person, don't you see? Because it is her natural innate female shape. If I were in her place, I'd do the same. She knows not only how to enact that person, but she is that person."
"Loki is proficient in putting up an act, but he denies any other only to mock me," Thor narrows his eyes. And that is the mockery he sees and that makes his blood boil hot in his veins. Ever since she first changed - Loki does that to remind him of that one night. Over and over again. She tortures him.
"She does it because it costs her little to be that. Because that is what she is. Look, how would you feel if suddenly you were told to be someone else, hm?" Natasha debates. Thor shrugs, so she carries on, "Okay, let me put it like this: they have theater in Asgard, right?"
Thor boasts as always, "We reenact the great battles of the realm. It's to honor our ancestors and the victories Asgard received. We have huge celebrations about it."
"Well, now imagine you were one of the actors. And for all those years you got to play a certain role, because you're really good at it. And then, all of the sudden, you can't, because the role is canceled. And you are suddenly supposed to play this one other character you don't even know the script of. How would you feel about that?" Natasha reasons.
"No one would dare that with a Prince of Asgard," Thor scolds. Natasha bows her head, there we go, elementary school lesson with Thor...
"Thor, use your imagination, c'mon, it won't break your head," Natasha grumbles.
"I wouldn't like that," Thor replies in a grumpy way.
"Exactly," she nods. "You'd rather want to play the other role you know. And that is Loki's situation. He can be Lorelei without having to enact it. Every other shape Loki could choose... it would be a role. And it is hard to actually live a role. You have to invent mannerisms, gestures, mimics... that is hard, Thor. And it would be risky for her to do that. People might realize a flaw, even the tiniest of them all. She knows that – and that's why she doesn't risk it. You see?"
"... I don't like it, though," he puckers his lips.
"Well, I think you'd have it better if you just talked to her about it that way. I mean, it's okay you feel like this, but... she also has a point," Natasha argues.
"But...," Thor means to argue, but Natasha doesn't give him a chance, "Thor. I am actually fully on her side, because we are both women, yes, women. Right now she is and that's what matters to me. And women stick together when it comes to these kinda things. I think she has made more than valid points why she chose this form. Not only on the practical level, but also on the emotional level. This is her, we can't just deny her the right to be herself that much. We already deny her the male persona. So who are we to take away that last bit of her also, huh?"
Thor just grimaces, his last conversation with Loki echoing inside his head, how she said she is no longer herself, a shadow... is that what she meant? He knows Natasha is right. He knows, but it hurts. It hurts to realize that someone died and was reborn, and that you can't bring yourself to accept that. This is no longer the brother he used to bathe and cradle in his arms when still too small to develop any evil thoughts. It is the same body, in a different form, true, but Loki has changed, was reborn to be this from now on. And that this is as much of a struggle for her as it may be for him, Thor only realizes just now how much it must have cost Loki to take that step, though.
Natasha says with a bit of anger flaring towards the end, "It might be that you are awkward thanks to her change, but now she is a woman, so treat her like that, and finally treat her a little better."
Natasha looks at him sternly. The pictures of Loki dancing over the rim of the roof trying to kill herself, the tears in her eyes, all the anguish and sadness are still too vivid in her memory. She knows now that the young woman sought to end her life because of Thor for many parts – and especially because of how he treated her. It may be that not all things about Loki are resolved yet, but she doesn't deserve to feel so hurt that she actually considers to end her own life. No, no one deserves to feel like this, which is why Natasha has taken it upon herself to help Loki.
"Because I tell you, you treated her like shit for an agonizingly long time, Thor," she says. "It might be she did you wrong, she did many wrongs, and that doesn't just disappear, I'm fully with you on that one, but damn, Thor, she is still a living being, she is the person now in your brother's body, so for goodness sake, treat her better! She deserves that bit of respect even from you. Stop treating her like some... empty shell. She is very much alive, very much capable of feelings – and now you do nothing but hurt her. And that has to stop."
Thor bows his head, "Yes."
"She is trying, don't you see?" Natasha argues. "She sticks to the rules, she helps us out, she fights alongside us, she learned to say thanks and to be generous in her own way. And that she is now a woman doesn't lessen the efforts to me – and it shouldn't to you, coz then I will hurt you, a lot."
"... you are probably right," Thor exhales.
"I am right," Natasha glances at him sternly. "And... if you took the time to get to know her better... maybe you'd find more of the brother you grew up with inside of her than you might have pictured. She might surprise you, coz she surely surprised Bruce and I already. I mean... what can it harm, really? You could give it at least a try."
Thor nods his head, "... I thank you, Lady Romanov. For the honesty and... the counsel."
"It's nothing.. Okay... so... please, talk to her, do something. Then we can all live happily together and return to our normal madness," Natasha tells him.
"I will consider it," Thor nods.
Natasha sighs, "I guess that's the best I'll get for now... so... I will leave you to your workout. But don't wait too long to approach her, or I will kick your ass, got it?"
"Yes," Thor nods with a soft smile tugging at his lips.
"And if you dare to mention that I told you about her, well, you know what I mean, then it's only gonna get worse," Natasha warns him.
"Alright," Thor agrees.
"Alright, see you around," Natasha waves at him. With that she leaves. Mission accomplished, so now... a good glass of Vodka.
Yeah, definitely more Vodka.