Beacon.

Suits of Armor

In his holding cell, Loki is pacing back and forth.

Natasha appears outside his cell. 

"There's not many people that can sneak up on me."

"But you figured I'd come." Nat smiles at him.

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

"I wanna know what you've done to Agent Barton." She asks.

Loki shrugs and stands there nonchalantly with his hands behind his back. Looking every inch the arrogant prince. "I'd say I've expanded his mind."

Everyone else is watching the video feed from the security cameras and listening in.

"And once you've won. Once you're king of the mountain. What happens to his mind?"Nat asks.

"Is this love, Agent Romanoff?" Like kindled with a grin.

Nat scoffs. "Love is for children. I owe him a debt."

Loki moves back until he can sit on the low bench provided for sleeping. "Tell me."

Nat sits as well on a near by chair. "Before I worked for SHIELD, I uh well , I made a name for myself. I have a very specific skill set. I didn't care who I used it for, or on. I got on SHIELD's radar in a bad way. Agent Barton was sent to kill me, he made a different call."

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

"Not let you out." She smirks like they are playing a game and Loki grins.

"Ah, no. But I like this. Your world in the balance, and you bargain for one man?" Loki observes.

Nat shrugs. "Regime's fall everyday. I tend not to weep over that, I'm Russian, or I was."

"And what are you now?" Loki wonders.

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

Loki stands and walks slowly to the glass. "Can you? Can you wipe out that much red? Drakov's daughter? Sao 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, a prayer. Pathetic."

In the lab Bruce and Tony watch as Kindle finishes hacking into SHIELDS system.

"...You lie and kill in the service of liars..." Loki's voice comes over the comm's.

On the bridge a message flashes across a technicians screen. "VIRUS DETECTED" Fury and Hill exchange a look.

"...and killers. You pretend to be separate, to have your own code..."

Deep in here storage room of the carrier, Cap opens a container and in it are advance looking  weapons and strike equipment.

"...something that makes up for the horrors. But they are a part ofyou, and they will never go away." Loki slams his fist against the glass and Natasha jumps back. "I won't touch Barton! Not until I make him kill you. Slowly, intimately, in every way he knows you fear." Tears gather in Nat's eyes. "And then he'll wake just long enough to see his good work." Natasha turns away from Loki and bows her head, her shoulders shaking. "And when he screams, I'll split his skull! This is my bargain, you mewling quim!" He screams over the sounds of Natasha sobbing.

"You're a monster!" She whispers.

Loki sneers at her. "Oh, no. You brought the monster."

Natasha lifts her head and turns to face Loki... her face completely dry and calm. "So, Banner? That's your play."