Loki raised his free hand, waving it slightly, as if he could wave away all of their words, which were settling around them, piling up. The way she clutched at his hand was almost painful, but he returned the gesture, because for a moment he was so confused he could think of nothing else to do. But it was a good decision, he thought, a moment later. The right one.

"I don't wish to upset you," he said. "And believe me, when I want to upset someone, I am hell-bent on accomplishing it. I am clumsy around you, though. If you want to tell me my follies, then I will listen. But you've no obligation to discuss them if you would prefer not to. I can see it only upsets you."

"You are the only person really trying, and I appreciate it," he said. "You must understand, though, I know very little of my future. If our positions were reversed, I would try to understand how painful it would be for you, to know that everyone else knows your future, and yet I would only feed you small tidbits, and work away at your past because I understand it's relevance to your future, while you do not. You are not failing. I ask for your patience but I will not ask for your trust. I do not think anyone is willing to give me that, these days.

"Your blame hurts, though. I do not need you to list out that which I already know. You must let me come to my own conclusions about things. That's all I was trying to say earlier."