Wanda returns to her apartment and Tony is waiting for her, "OK, so what's the deal? You and Loki are together a lot. And by a lot, I mean a lot a lot. And then you go for a drive today with he and Thor. Where'd you go?"
"I am surprised you did not have us followed."
"To be blunt, I'm afraid you'd make my brain melt out my ears if I put a bug on your car. And not because I bugged it, but because I touched your car."
"That is probably true."
"Could you really do that? Melt my brain?
"Would you like to find out?"
"What exactly is it, anyway?"
"The car?"
"Yeah. I've never seen anything like it. I can't believe you had me import it. It sounded like death when you started it the first time. Smelled like it, too."
"It began its life as a Trabant. It has been intensely modified."
"Yeah...you should let me work on it sometime."
"You do remember that a moment ago you mentioned your brain melting from your ears should you touch my car?"
"OK, OK, I won't touch it. Even to make it run better."
"It runs fine, thank you."
"It doesn't shriek anymore, I'll give you that. And there's no cloud of smoke coming up from under it."
"There is little left of it that is original."
"Didn't you replace the body panels?"
"Yes."
"That was the one thing on the car that seemed OK."
"It is clear you know nothing of Trabants. The body panels were cotton and wood infused with plastic. It is known as the worst car ever made for a good reason."
"O...K... Why did you want this car again?"
"Because it is my car. And I did much work on it before Pietro and I were recruited to HYDRA. That I even found it is a miracle- a much modified thing that somehow survived against all odds...much like we did."
"So it's a symbolic thing."
"Yes and no. Now will you excuse me? I would like to rest. It has been a long day."
"You never answered what you were doing."
"I found him a home. He will move in when Magda calls."
"Magda?"
"Yes, a friend of mine. Now please step aside."
Tony does, but not without another question, "I don't know what you are to him, but it's kind of freaky how much you do with him."
"No more than spending time with any other friend."
"You never let me take a ride in your car."
"That is because I still do not trust you. In a fight? Yes. But with the rest of my life? I am sorry. No."
The door clicks closed behind her.
That evening, Magda calls. Loki is free to move in whenever he wishes. Wanda goes to his apartment and knocks, but he does not answer. She tries the knob and it opens. The rooms are dark, except for a nightstand lamp in the bedroom. She checks on him. He is naked, his covers tossed and twisted around his legs. She wonders if he has been having nightmares. She concentrates and carefully lifts him enough to tug the blankets free, then lowers him and drapes them over him.
"Rest, my friend. Your life is bringing you so many big changes..."
She closes his door and leaves a note on his dining table, locking his apartment after her as she exits.