Loki's mental map didn't help much. I couldn't tell you how many times I made wrong turns. At one point, I found myself heading back towards the bridge area. I'd mulled over asking for directions, but I didn't want anyone else to suspect something.

I mentally prepared myself for the confrontation. This wasn't going to be like the one we had a few hours ago. Glass would separate us. It would be good for Loki. Should he say something to upset me, the glass would be the only thing that could protect him.

After what seemed like hours of endless searching, I found the vaguely familiar door. I pressed a button, letting it slide open before me.

I stepped into the room. There were no guards posted, I guess there wasn't need for any with all the hidden cameras that I was sure were hanging around. There weren't many other entrances to this cell, possibly one other.

I took in the vastness of Loki's cell. It didn't look comfortable in the least, but it certainly would be perfect for a prisoner who despised small spaces.

And there he was, the man behind all this chaos. He paced calmly in the cell, looking absolutely bored. He stopped when he noticed I had arrived.

The smallest smile on his face made my skin crawl. I can't try seduction, not with him. I'll have to trick him with words. Gods, this is not going to be easy.

"I'm guessing I was summoned to relieve you of your boredom?" I drawled.

"Partially. We never finished our discussion."

"There wasn't much left to discuss." I was a few feet away from the glass.

"You got away so easily?"

"I'm sure someone will see through the lie soon enough. I wouldn't be surprised if someone was listening in right now through the camera or the other side of the door." I flicked a thumb behind me. "Regardless, I bought enough time to finish our conversation. What do you want?"

"To give you an ultimatum."

"That's not going to happen." I walked closer to the cage. "I chose my side ages ago."

"You've clearly chosen wrong. You think you can trust them?"

"I trust them a hell of a lot more than I do you right now."

He shook his head. "Oh, Kiara, you foolish girl. You're oblivious."

"I'm oblivious?"

"Yes."

"You're one to talk."

"You do not see the real reason why you are here."

"I'm here to help stop you from destroying Earth." My hands fell onto my hips.

"That is exactly what they want you to believe; you are too blind to see their true motive."

"I don't understand."

"You wouldn't, not unless you understood their minds."

"This is a ploy. You're wasting my time." I spun on my heels and began to leave.

"You are only a tool to them, nothing more."

I stopped in my tracks, not turning around. "You lie."

"Oh, really? You have said it yourself; you were not on the original list. So why bring you here?"

"I'm here because of you."

"Yes, I will give you points for that. But, still, you fail to see your true purpose."

I swung around, eyes narrowed in frustration. "And what is that exactly?"

"You are merely a pawn to them. When everything else fails, they will look to use you. They know of our past, Kiara."

"Not every bit. They only know that I know you."

"Oh, I am sure they know every single detail. They mean to use you as a means to keep me from destroying this world."

I shook my head vigorously. He was spewing lies. The only way S.H.I.E.L.D. would know the full extent of our relationship was if I told them. Or if Loki did. "Impossible."

"You sound so sure of it." He chuckled lowly. "Oh, how quickly loyal you have become to them. It's sad, really."

"I would rather pledge my allegiance to them now than you," I snarled.

"That is a shame to hear, because I am the only one who can keep you away from them."

"Enlighten me." I shifted my weight.

"If you joined me, you would be safe. You would be protected, and they would lose you as an advantage over me."

"I would be no safer with you than I would be with them. They are my better bet." I swallowed. "You honestly don't believe that I would fall for this load of dung, do you? How naïve do you think I am?"

"Truthfully, more than you appear."

I clenched my jaw, but my voice remained calm. "I know you have changed, Loki, in many ways. Whatever affection we had is long gone, and I don't believe for a moment that any still resides in you. It is merely a trick to try and turn me against S.H.I.E.L.D."

"You are wrong again, my dear. You fail to observe things that stare you in the face."

"I know what I see," I declared coldly. "I see a man who is beyond redemption, beyond being reasoned with." I put a hand on the glass. "Whatever is left of the man I used to know is caged and doesn't look like he will see freedom ever again. I don't see the man you were. To wish for him to return to me is just that, only a wish."

"It can be granted if you leave them for me."

"I can't. What you want and I want are two totally different things. Neither can happen." I backed away, tears springing to my eyes.

"Oh, look at you. You have softened even more, and here I thought that wasn't possible. You are gullible to their lies. You cannot see the truth that is right in front of you."

I took a closer look at Loki. Since when had his eyes ever been blue? To my memory, they had always been a vivid green. "Your eyes," I whispered. "When did they change?"

"I'm sorry?"

"Since I've known you, your eyes have always been green. Currently they are blue. Don't act as though you are unaware of the alteration." The mysterious transformation was another thing that needed to be solved, but later. "This is a waste of our time."

"It's not if you would just listen."

"All you brought me here for was to turn me against my allies."

"No, I brought you here so you could hear the truth. I do not want to have to go against you, Kiara. It's the last thing I want to do."

"Sorry, but I'm not switching allegiances." I put my head up high.

"I think you will," Loki whispered. "In time. When your side falls, you will come running, begging to join me so you can live. Or you may run off, and I will have you hunted down. That is what you are good at, are you not? Running away?"

The question struck a nerve. I kept my breathing steady, but I felt the mixed emotions battling inside. Part of me wanted to burst into tears, another part wanted to punch through the glass to shake Loki out of this ridiculous state of mind.

Without realizing it, my hands ignited. Loki's eyes widened in amusement.

"Struck a nerve, did I?" he simpered.

"You're lucky to have this glass protecting you." I wonder if I can set him on fire with my mind. It was something I had never thought about until now. But could I really do that to Loki?

"Ooh, such a temper you have, Kiara. Has being on Earth made you more violent?"

I was about ready to lash out again, but something in my gut told me we weren't alone. I stiffened, dowsing my flames. Loki could feel it as well.

"There's not many people who can sneak up on me," he said.

"But you knew I'd come," Natasha said.

I didn't turn to face her; I could only stare at Loki.

"Kiara."

"Did Fury send you after me?" I snarled.

"No, I came on my own account." I felt a hand on my shoulder. "Head back to the bridge. He's only making you worse. Go."

Do not think this is the last talk we will have, my dear.

I lunged for the glass, Natasha had to grab me. Despite my Asgardian strength, Natasha was holding her own.

"Head back to the bridge," Natasha ordered lowly.

I pried myself away before I left her to deal with Loki.

I was very tempted to slump against the door and cry, but I refused. I would be crying over a man who no longer existed. He died on Asgard, and he was never coming back. I wasn't sure what to believe from Loki. He wasn't himself; he hadn't been ever since he let his jealousy get the better of him last year.

He couldn't be right about S.H.I.E.L.D.'s motives for having me aboard the Helicarrier. He couldn't be right about how he claimed to still feel something. Nothing that came out of his mouth sounded right. If he had any love for me left, it was warped, twisted by whatever had a hold over him.

When I found myself back at the bridge, the windows of the Helicarrier reminded me that it was late night. I yawned, feeling depleted. The chairs looked oddly comfortable. I wasn't about to sleep upright.

You look uneasy. I jumped at the invasion of privacy.

I hadn't realized Thor was still lingering until I looked to him with bleary eyes. I rubbed them, hoping to jump some life back into me. "I'm more exhausted than anything else." I took over one of the seats.

"You disappeared."

"I explored."

"You went to see Loki."

"Guilty."

Thor sighed. "Kiara—"

"I know. It's not smart for me to talk to him. You forget that I know what he was before he became...this? He's more driven than ever, it seems." I ran my hands over my face.

"I wasn't going to say any of that. I was going to say I know how hard it must be for you to be near him."

"It must be difficult for you as well. You and I thought him dead for a year." I laughed lamely. "Leave it to Loki to pull off a fake death."

"You do not realize what I am trying to say, Kiara. I know...I knew."

I picked my head up. "You...what?"

Thor maneuvered around the table to get closer. At least he was nice enough to keep the conversation private. "I had my suspicions."

"After all that time, you never said anything?"

"I believed that if you were not ready to reveal it, why should I? I saw the influence you had over him, Kiara."

My face fell. "If you remember, my influence only went so far." I felt my throat become dry. "I tried to help him when he started down the path, but I...I failed. I didn't see a good outcome, so I ran, from everything. I know what you'll say: 'you should have tried harder.' 'You should have stayed behind and fought for him.' I'm a coward for fleeing."

"Kiara, what you have to understand is that after you left, he was beyond help. If you had lingered, you would have gotten in his way. Things would have ended worse if you had remained on Asgard. Do not think of the move as a bad thing."

"I shouldn't be doing this to you, Thor. It's unfair to you."

"When was the last time you slept?"

"Almost twenty four hours ago."

"Then rest here while you can."

"If something happens, you'll wake me?"

"Yes."

"Thank you." I gave him a tired smile.

Once Thor left to wander around the bridge, I curled myself into an uncomfortable ball in the chair. No matter what position I ended up falling asleep in, I knew I was going to feel some aches when I woke.