Before either of them could return to the others, Fury blocked their path and said, "You can't put it off anymore."
Eva and Loki both knew what he meant. Unconsciously, they took hold of each other for support.
"We just got good news," Eve said in a cold voice. "Go away."
"Not happening. The window is closing. It's today or she goes free. I already told Raynor. Now, go."
The thought of that happening sent fear through the pair. Nat being free meant she would return to the compound. The Avengers would be forced to work with her. Loki and Eva would have to live with her there, knowing everything she did to them. Worse, it put them at risk of having to go through it once more because they would be sitting ducks at that point. They couldn't allow that to happen. However, Eva still had no desire to see the woman that ruined their lives.
Eva began to protest, "Only Loki and I can-"
"We agree," Loki interrupted. "Get everything ready."
Eva pulled away from Loki and growled in a warning, "Mischief…"
Fury ignored the exchange and said, "See you in an hour."
They waited for him to leave. Eva's powers played over her hands. It was the only thing betraying how angry she was.
"Why would you do that?" she asked.
"To get it over with," Loki replied in an exasperated tone.
The truth was, he didn't want to do it either. His heart was racing and his palms were sweaty at the thought of being anywhere near the Widow.
Eva jabbed her finger into his chest as she said, "This better work, or I'm blaming you."
With that, Eva stomped off as Loki mumbled under his breath with a sigh, "What else is new?"
Memories of other children blaming him for anything bad happening played through his mind. Before everything, that was some of the worse times on Asgard. Now, they were pale compared to what a mortal had forced him to endure. He still hated it, but he would take it and the snide remarks over what he suffered any day.
An hour later, both stood outside a glass cell. Evil had a mark. It was unmistakable. Hate reigned on Nat's face at the sight of Loki. It was worse when she spotted Eva's new hairstyle. Loki wondered if had worn such a sign before everything. He hoped that it had been destroyed by the vile woman in front of him. It would be the only good thing to have come for the torment besides Eva's friendship.
"I expected you to make me wait longer," the redhead taunted.
Trying to appear unfazed, Eva said, "As if we'd give you the satisfaction."
The Widow walked up to the glass barrier, "I still got you here."
Loki hit the glass in anger, causing the woman to jump back as he said, "We are not the ones in a cell. You have no power."
"Is that fear I see?" The mask slipped as Loki gasped, all hope of hiding it lost in an instant, making Nat chuckle. "It is. A God scared of a mortal. Who'd have guessed?"
Eva produced a ball of energy as she growled, "Don't tempt me, Romanoff."
"As if they would let you."
Eva smirked, reminding Nat of when Loki was captured before the battle of New York. "Do you really think they'll get here in time to stop me?"
A dark gleam filled the Widow's eyes. "Have you told them yet? What I did to finally break the pathetic God and the princess?"
Loki gasped out, knowing what Nat was referring to, "Don't!"
The redhead smiled with a shrug, with no signs of remorse anywhere. "Can't stop now."
Loki and Eva took a step back, knowing they couldn't stop what was coming.