You saw the smirk in Loki's eyes, the oh so familiar glint and it took every ounce of your willpower to stay kneeling, to not leap up to kiss him. Oh how you'd missed him. You never thought you'd see him again, but at the same time, the recognition wasn't quite there in his eyes. He didn't quite remember. It was that knowledge that kept you where you were.

Kissing a man who thought you were a stranger wasn't allowed.

The smirk was there, though, as he started to kneel to accept your blade. Just as he had done 900 years ago... but this time, unlike then, Thor swept in before Loki could touch the blade and scooped up the dragonfang before Loki could. "Thank you for your service to the throne, Valkyrie," Thor said formally and offered you his hand. You placed your gloved hand in his and let him help you to your feet. He handed you your blade back, hilt first. "I owe you an apology, Lady. It has been brought to my attention that I have been treating you unfairly-"

"Mother yelled at him," Loki interrupted with an actual smile, his formal facade cracking at the ability to tease Thor. You traded a knowing smile with him. He looked surprised at the familiarity. He really didn't remember.

"Loki," Thor's tone was a warning.

"She did," Loki replied innocently. "I take great joy in you being in trouble for once." His expression did show that he was taking such joy in Thor's discomfort. Some things never changed.

"Regardless," Thor bravely tried to go on. "I have treated you poorly and allowed the rest of the team to do so as well because of my own hurt feelings. That was unfair and unacceptable, especially when you have done nothing besides save my life. I shall make amends for your treatment and I hope you will forgive me someday," Thor's voice was optimistic and hopeful, though slightly too formal. You saw a glint in his eyes. Maybe there was hope for him yet.

"Of course, your highness," you said softly, not quite sure you could say any more. You had been hurt all of those years ago, and bruised again over the last few months. So you weren't quite trusting again, not yet. Besides, Loki deserved the truth first.

Thor gave you a look and you thought he might be starting to remember when he did. "No need for such formality. We're on the same team and this is not Asgard. Besides, we're all basically the same age. Mother said that we should all have grown up together...had circumstances not been what they were." He glanced at Loki automatically. You looked away and flushed, wondering what exactly he did remember. Thor gave you a warm smile. "Why don't you give my brother a tour while the grownups discuss the changes that are going to happen around here so you both will be happy here. His suite is the one across the hall from yours," Thor suggested. You knew that tone of voice was an order, not a suggestion.

There was still only one proper response. "I am not a child!" you and Loki both protested at the same time, glaring at Thor with daggers drawn. Thor boomed a laugh at the two of you and you saw the recognition in his expression, the slight hint of memory. You glanced at Loki. Both of you stuck your tongue out at the other at the same time, then glared, vanished your daggers, crossed your arms, and turned your heads away from the other all in sync.

You risked a glance at Loki and saw the look in his eyes, as if he almost remembered. Almost.

The memory of doing that same thing on so, so many occasions had you suddenly five years old again. The first time Thor, Sif, and the Warriors Three had teased you two over something and that had been your exact reaction to it. You couldn't remember what it was the first time. It had been a common occurrence over the years.

"Go on," Thor told you, his voice gentle, but the order was firm.

You glared at him and risked teasing, just a little, just to see how much he remembered. He obviously knew something of the events, since he had spoken with Frigga. He wasn't telling you how much, but... he was the one who wanted formality dropped. "Sure thing, Tore," you replied with a smirk. You hadn't been able to say 'Thor' properly as a small child.

"Did her entire personality just change?" Tony whispered. Nat threw him to the floor.

"Shut up. This is the side of her I've seen. Just because you lot have been morons and not trusting her because she happens to look like Loki..." she snarled, pressing on Tony's throat so he couldn't interrupt anymore.

Thor's eyes actually lit up. He may not have remembered, but he at least knew something. You turned to Loki, who also had that same look of half-remembered memories. You gestured toward the elevator. "Shall we, your highness?" you asked carefully. You were unsure of his reaction. He inclined his head, obviously puzzled and intrigued, but wouldn't comment in front of the others. He had always been shy.

You looked over at him the second the elevators doors had closed and took a proper look at your prince. He had grown since you last saw him, though he was still only an inch or two taller than you, filled out some, more muscular than he had been, his raven hair was longer, his expression harder, more world-weary. "How much do you want to eavesdrop on them?" you asked him with a smirk, unable to help yourself from dropping into the casual informality of days long past.

He raised an eyebrow, but answered quickly. "That sounds like an excellent idea," his accent was the same, but his tone was too formal, too carefully guarded.

You rolled your eyes. "You heard Thunderhead, no need for formalities, Lohk." You tested the old name on him, gauging his reaction. His eyes widened in surprise, shock, almost recognition, almost, as he was taken aback. You offered him a gloved hand, palm up. He automatically placed his hand in yours. "Trust me," you told him and teleported the two of you to the security room. He was a little surprised at the sudden teleportation, or at his automatic response to trust you. You couldn't tell from his expression.

You sat in the control chair and wheeled over to the control panel. A few moments of frantic keystrokes and the living room appeared on the main monitor in full color and full sound. "This is the security room. There's a computer system that runs and monitors the tower. No one knows I've hacked into the system. I'd appreciate it if it stays that way," you explained as Loki pulled up a chair next to yours to watch the screen.

"Of course," he agreed automatically, his eyes on the screen.

"Are you sure we shouldn't be concerned that those two are basically the same?" Tony was asking.

"Stark, she's done nothing wrong. All she's done is help us. She didn't volunteer, but that doesn't change anything. None of us really did either," Nat snarled in reply. "And before you argue that she's antisocial, who wouldn't be with the way you morons have been treating her? You treat her like a bug you can't stand just because she happens to look like Loki,"

"She has the same powers and fighting style," Clint reminded her softly. He really didn't like going against Nat.

"So all archers are exactly like you?" Nat shot back. Clint raised his hands in defeat.

"Fine, I'll give the kid a chance,"

"Kids," Thor corrected firmly.

"Loki is not a kid. He tried to take over the world!" Tony replied hotly.

"He was coerced. Give them a chance. They have both been wounded by their pasts and bruised. We won't help them by ostracizing them and making it worse," Thor stood up for the two of you. He went on to order the team to give you both a chance and to be nice.

You and Loki both rolled your eyes at that. "Your idiot brother never changes," you informed him, and he smiled at what you were calling Thor in front of him. "I think we've seen all of interest here. Shall we get to the actual tour, Lohk?" you asked, smirking at his reaction to the nickname again. It was so adorable as he tried to remember.

"I have not heard that nickname since..." he was trying to remember, but couldn't quite yet.

"You were 150," you finished for him with a soft fond smile as you led him from the control room to begin the proper tour.

"How do you know that? I don't remember seeing you at the court," he asked as you walked.

"Well, you wouldn't. Thunderhead is only starting to remember, probably because your Lady Mother yelled at him and told him some of the story," you explained as you showed him the now-empty living room, dining room, and kitchen, as well as the medical bay that was on the same floor.

"Lady..." Loki's tone was a frustrated warning, still trying to be polite, but he wanted answers. You didn't blame him.

You laughed. "Sorry! Sorry! It's just so rare to know something you don't. I had to savor the moment. C'mon, I'll show you the library and I'll explain things there." You had to fight the urge to take his hand as you walked. You couldn't just fall back into old habits like that.

Not when he didn't remember.