"That's the guy my dad never shut up about?" Tony said. "I'm wondering if they shouldn't have kept him on ice". "Tony, stop it", Grace said. "The guy's not wrong about Loki", Bruce commented. "He does have the jump on us". "What he's got is an Acme dynamite kit", Tony stated. "It's going to blow up in his face. And I'm going to be there when it does".

"Yeah. I'll read all about it"

"Or maybe you'll suit up with the rest of us", Grace said.

"You see. I don't get a suit of armour. I'm exposed. Like a nerve. It's a nightmare"

"I've got a cluster of shrapnel trying every second to crawl its way into my heart", Tony said. "This stops it. This little circle of light, it's part of me now, not just armour. It's a terrible privilege".

"But you can control it"

"Because I learned how"

"It's different"

"Hey, I read all about your accident. That much gamma exposure should have killed you"

"So, you're saying that the Hulk... The other guy saved my life? That's nice. It's a nice sentiment. Saved it for what?"

"I guess we'll find out"

"You may not enjoy that"

"And you just might"

Grace smiled at Tony and he smiled back.

Steve strained as he pushed a metal door aside. "Can you please tell me what we're doing?" Rachel asked him. He looked behind him before walking in. Rachel groaned but followed him. He looked around the place before jumping up. "Seriously?" Rachel asked him. He offered his hand and helped her up.

Loki was walking around in his cell. "There's not many people who can sneak up on me", he stated, turning around to see Sadie standing outside his cell. "But you figured I'd come", she replied.

"After. After whatever tortures Fury can concoct, you would appear as a friend, as a balm. And I would cooperate.

"I want to know what you've done to Agent Barton and Dr Selvig"

"I would say I expanded their minds"

"And once you've won, once you're king of the mountain, what happens to their minds?"

"Oh...are you in love? I'm assuming Barton and not the old bat"

"Love is for children. I'm just doing my job. Plus, I kinda owe him a debt"

"Tell me"

"Before I worked for SHIELD, I, uh... Well, I made a name for myself, me and Natasha. I have a very specific skill set. I didn't care who I used it for, or on. We got on SHIELD's radar in a bad way. Agent Barton was sent to kill us. He made a different call"

"And what will you do if I vow to spare him?"

"Not let you out"

"No, but I like this. Your world in the balance, and you bargain for one man"

"Regimes fall every day. I tend not to weep over that. I'm Russian. Or I was"

"And what are you now?"

"It's really not that complicated. I got red in my ledger, I'd like to wipe it out"

"Can you? Can you wipe out that much red? Dreykov's daughter, São Paulo, the hospital fire? Barton told me everything. Your ledger is dripping. It's gushing red and you think saving a man no more virtuous than yourself will change anything? This is the basest sentimentality. This is a child at prayer. Pathetic! You lie and kill in the service of liars and killers. You pretend to be separate, to have your own code, something that makes up for the horrors. But they are a part of you. And they will never go away". He thumped the glass with his fist. "I won't touch Barton, not until make him kill you, and Romanoff. Slowly, intimately, in every way he knows you fear. And then he'll wake just long enough to see his good work, and he screams, I'll split his skull". She turned away, shocked. "This is my bargain, you mewling quim"

"You're a monster"

He chuckled. "Oh, no. You brought the monster"

She turned back around. "So, Banner. That's your play"

"What?"

She pressed her earpiece and started walking away. "Loki means to unleash the Hulk. Keep Banner in the lab. I'm on my way. Send Thor as well". She stopped to look at him. "Thank you for your cooperation"

She walked off.  

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