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[Steve nods, realizing that it's important that they're on the same page if they want this to work. Bucky already knows that something is wrong, Steve hadn't been able to keep all of his emotions under check when he'd first seen him again.

But no matter how many times Bucky might ask, this isn't something he can share with him. That's going to hurt, he knows it is, but this is how it has to be.

At that question, he lets out a low breath and shakes his head.]

It seems like it's too good to be true. I either feel like I'm going to wake up, or like he's going to vanish the second I look away. [That feeling is present now, twisting up his stomach.] Just feels like... the other shoe is going to drop eventually, and I don't want to go through it twice.

[Steve doesn't know if he can. He will if it happens, he has to, he owes Bucky all that and more, but he's already dreading it.]

Guess for now, though... I should enjoy it. [He glances up and offers a tight smile.]

You should.

[Her agreement is soft as she meets his gaze, genuine and serious. She leans forward then, propping her arms on her knees, fingers threaded loosely in front of her.]

Call me a pessimist, but there's always a shoe waiting to drop somewhere. Take every moment you can get. Cherish the good ones and plan for the bad. Whether it's too good to be true or not... right now that doesn't matter. He's here. He's himself. That's what's important. Not a lot of people get a second chance like that, Rogers.

[Now Steve's the one that finds himself taken by surprise. Natasha might call herself a pessimist, but what she's saying sounds almost hopeful to him.

She's right, though. This may make no sense and it may feel like a cosmic joke has been played on him, but in the end he's got to enjoy what he has while he has it, no matter what the future may hold. He'll take Bucky as he is, for as long as he has that.

So eventually, that shocked look on Steve's face shifts into a smile, and he nods.]

Will do. [Though it's not as if he came here for advice or any kind of therapy session, so he quickly changes the subject.] Also, did you know that Sif is here? She's a friend of Thor's, from Asgard.

[She meets his smile with one of her own, warm and slight but genuine all the same. She reaches for her mug again, partially for something to do with her hands and partially because she doesn't like waste. She sips at the cocoa, letting the rich hot liquid linger on her tongue for a moment.

Steve's statement gets an intent look from her as she quickly searches her memory.] Sif. The tall female warrior? Dark hair? She was in New Mexico, I remember her from Thor's file. No, I didn't realize she was here, I hadn't encountered her yet.

[That description matches what Steve had seen on his phone's screen, and so he nods. Seems like they've got the same person.]

Well, she is. Sounds like she wants to help us, too. She said she caught a glimpse of you when you were wandering around.

[Which is odd, because Natasha should have noticed, but it's possible Sif has a few tricks of her own, seeing how she's Asgardian.]

I asked her to look into the magic that runs this place, to see if she can find anything out. We'll see what she comes up with.

She did?

[Now Natasha's frowning, because it's not like her to miss something like that. And Asgardians tended to be very hard to miss.]

Did she happen to mention when? And how does she know what I look like? We've never met.

I don't know, I talked to her earlier today.

[Maybe Steve should have asked more questions, but it hadn't occurred to him at the time. Natasha seems a lot more bothered by all of it than he is, which means he maybe should have been more suspicious of it. Dammit.]

She knew who I was too. I think that Thor told her all about us. That's what she said, anyway.

[She hums noncommittally about that, frown lingering for a moment before she shook her head.] Maybe he did. Thor does seem to enjoy telling tales.

[Which brought up the other matter she needed to speak to him about.] I think Loki's here.

[That's not something Steve's in any way prepared to hear, and the fact that Natasha says it almost casually has him straightening in his seat.

He sets his mug of hot cocoa down on the table and frowns at her.] What?

[Shouldn't she have mentioned this earlier?]

What do you mean, you think?

[She makes a face, because she hadn't intended to alarm him, but there's no way to insert that into a conversation without alarming him, so she hastens to explain.]

I mean I'm not sure. There's a chance it's him and there's also a chance it's not and I was reading too deeply into it. But I don't think so. I tend to trust my instincts.

I encountered someone shortly after I arrived here. He called himself Thomas. He looked like Loki, but not. He looked human, normal, modern, although his speech wasn't quite right. There were things that stood out as... off. Like I said, I don't have any proof, but I don't trust what he was showing me. He was definitely hiding something. Although why he'd appear familiar but not doesn't really make sense. If his skill is illusions, he could have appeared as anyone, without maintaining so close an appearance. Maybe it's just to make me second guess myself. I don't know.

I didn't mention it earlier because I wanted more information before I brought it to you, but I haven't had a chance and the last thing I want is for you to be unprepared if you do run into him. Besides, he wasn't outwardly threatening. And if he's here - and still here - that means he's as trapped as we are. He even brought up the possibility of a mutual arrangement between us.

[Steve also trusts Natasha's instincts, and after his initial outburst of surprise, he reigns himself in and stays calm throughout her explanation.

There's definitely a lot of mystery around the situation, because why wouldn't Loki hide himself more convincingly? If it's him, he's probably trying to confuse them or at least make them second-guess what's happening.

If it's not him, then they need to make absolutely certain that's the case before acting.]

The other possibility is that it's a Mirror, but that would mean it's probably Loki's Mirror, and it doesn't seem like it's that easy for them to cross over in the first place.

Either way, we need to assume he's dangerous and remain cautious until we figure out what's going on.

So glad we're on the same page then. [She pauses to take another sip of her cocoa, fingers wrapped warmly about the mug.] I don't know enough yet either way about him, but there was definitely something... If I learn anymore, I promise you'll be the first to know.

Although this doesn't really bode well for us, you realize. If it is Loki... He's powerful and he's clever. He's got understanding outside of what our realm's had to deal with so far. If this place can trap and hold him against his will...

[She trails off, but the comparison is still there.]

[Steve nods, relieved that Natasha is going to keep him in the loop about this. His feeling is that after everything that they've just experienced back home, they're at a point where they'd share just about anything with each other.

Of course, Natasha's got to still have some things she's keeping to herself, Steve's not so gullible as to assume otherwise. But when it comes to their current situation and whatever the future holds, they can be open with one another.]

... Yeah, you're right. Loki should have a much better idea of how this place works, so if he can't get himself out, then what does that mean for us?

[It means that they might be stuck for a while.]

[Current and future as she sees it, Captain, but there are things no one knows and since she can keep that hidden a little longer, she will. She has no file here for his old friend, no tangled web of a past history to unravel.

But he is right. She's been far more open with him in recent days than she ever is with anyone outside of her partner. He's hit a level of trust and respect from her that normally takes years to generate. But then again, she's never really met someone like him before. She's not really sure if there is anyone else like him.

At his question, she gives him a crooked smile and holds up her mug of cocoa.]

It means we do what we can with what we're given and make the best of it until an opportunity presents itself. One always does.

Edited 2014-05-09 14:29 (UTC)

You make it sound so simple.

[Steve smiles and shakes his head, but he takes his own mug and moves it towards Natasha's until there's a small clink. Then he downs the rest of it, seeing how it's already lukewarm, setting the mug on the table once he's drained it.]

Can't just wait around for that opportunity, you know. Sometimes you've gotta dig for it.

[Natasha knows, of course, but there's nothing wrong with a reminder. He stands then, figuring he's already taken up enough of her time. Besides, it's late and he's in need of rest, some of his wounds still working on mending.]

Thanks again, Natasha. [He pauses, considering something, and then adds:] For everything.

[She finishes her own cocoa when he does, matching his smile with a fond one of her own.]

Sometimes it's the only thing that is simple. And I didn't say I wouldn't be digging. Although if that eventually turns into actual digging, I'm leaving that part to you. You're the one with all the muscles.

[She rises when he does, coming around to accompany him to the door but when he thanks her, she pauses, glancing up at him with a curious look on her face, her head tilted inquisitively to the side, although she smiles at the unexpected expression of gratitude. She doesn't question what he means though, just pats him lightly on the arm in understanding.] You're welcome, Steve. Go get some sleep, alright?

[The fact that Natasha can be serious when it calls for it and discuss with him how best to keep a secret from his best friend, only to turn around and tease him about his muscles...

Well, it's the reason that the two of them work together so effectively.]

You too. Even the Black Widow needs some rest, right? [Steve smirks at her and then steps out the door and back across the hall to his room, sending another lingering look toward Bucky's door on the way back.]

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