Thor plaits Loki's hair as he has so many times in the past. It is a moment of intimacy they have not shared in years, one kindness he is allowed to gift. He works the hair slowly, carefully tucking errant strands, smoothing the braids, until he has woven it into a soft crown. When he is done, Loki asks for a mirror, but Thor does not have one. He tells her to wait, that he will find one, and he leaves. Loki gently touches her hair, feeling only slightly better.

Thor does not know where to go for a mirror. He thinks that perhaps his female friends might have one, so first he knocks on Natasha's door. She does not answer. He goes next to Wanda's. She answers, still holding her tea.

"Yes?"

"Might you have a hand mirror? Loki would like to see his hair. I have braided it."

"Oh, yes. Step in a moment. I must find it."

Thor does as he is asked and takes in his surroundings. Overstuffed furniture, a fluffy couch, pillows. Walls draped in silk panels. Oriental rugs. Everything in rich colours, reds, golds, blue, green, and violet. It is beautiful and a bit lavish, but not overly so.

"Is he happier for it? Or ought we use she?" she asks as she rifles through a desk drawer.

"Yes, we should use 'she'. I did not know you knew." Thor sighs, releaved that he can be honest with Wanda. Even in Asgard, he had been careful about his speech. While Loki was not harassed, it was not because everyone was open to gender fluidity, but because those few who were not were carefully kept at a distance. Thor had worked hard to ensure Loki's safety.

"Yes, I do."

"I hope she is happy, but so long as she cannot shift shape, I fear she will struggle. And we may yet possibly lose her."

"I did not know which to use this morning with the others- I did not know what he- she would want. Here." She hands him the mirror, "I hope it helps."

He takes it and nods his thanks, "Why do you seem to care Loki when the others do not?"

"We were both once the villian. And she deserves no less than what I was granted."

"A chance to join the Avengers?"

"A chance at a new life, whatever shape it takes."

"I am grateful for this." He holds up the mirror, "And for this." He leaves her apartment.

She hesitates, then follows, "Wait. May I come with you?"

"Of course."

Together they return to the medical centre. Loki startles when the door opens. Thor hands her the mirror and she admires her hair.

"Do you like it, Sister?"

"Yes. I do. Thank you." She turns to Wanda, "How do I look?"

"Lovely."

"You are too kind. But it is still not right."

"We can acquire you a makeup kit, Sister. And garments. Would you like this?"

Loki sighs, "I would, but I fear I would merely be a man wearing women's garb, my face painted to appear as what it is not. It would not be the same."

Thor's face falls, but Wanda takes her hand, her voice gentle, "But it is what we can do here, now. You cannot do what you once did. But you can do the best you can with what we have. And you are quite beautiful, just as you are."

"It is not enough."

"Loki, please. Find a way to be happy with the limits Midgard has placed on you."

"Thor, it has been such a short time. Such a very short time. And you are asking that I find happiness while I still reel from your father's choice to cast me out. I can find no peace with this. I feel my body dying. Every day, one step closer. And the sparks at my fingertips from the tendrils of Yggdrasil are silent, dead, cold- beyond what I can reach. Deafeningly silent. As if these two things were not enough, I awoke clearly feeling as though the soft curves and graceful lines of femininity were the body I ought have and could do nothing to make myself match. Would that he not have taken this from me so that I might at least try to find a happiness here."

Wanda squeezes her hand, "Loki, I want you to look at me." She does, "You are graceful. You are beautiful. And I would like to take you shopping so that you might at least see what we can do to make you feel a little better."

"Does your realm have clothiers for people like me?"

"For transgender individuals? Yes. And thanks to a dear friend, I know where we can go."

Thor claps Loki's shoulder, "Once you heal, we will go shopping! You will be gloriously bedecked in Midgard's finest."

"Perhaps not its finest, Thor. Perhaps something more commonplace."

"Whatever you wish. I have been looking for apartments for you as well."

"They do not want me in the tower."

"Anthony has made it clear that you are a temporary guest."

"Ah. Of course." She asks Wanda, "Is it easy to be lonely amongst so many people? A city teeming with life, but all of it strange and unfamiliar?"

"Very. I felt the same coming here from Sokovia. I will ask Magda if she knows of any place near her home- she lives in a smaller community beyond the city centre. Life feels slower there."

"Magda?"

"My friend. A fellow Sokovian refugee. One who knows what it is like to very suddenly have no home to return to."

"Oh?"

"Our country's only city was lifted into the sky by Ultron- Tony's creation- in the attempt to drop it to earth to destroy humankind. An extinction level event. Most of our people were evacuated, and while some chose to stay and rebuild what little was left of Sokovia, most of us left. Immigration was relatively simple. 'Oh, one of our American heroes destroyed most of your country trying to stop his own creation from destroying all of humanity? Yes, of course we will let you settle here; it is the least we can do.'"

"He destroyed a city?"

"Most of a small nation. Ultron. A sentient computer. He infiltrated everything, shut down what he wanted, and put his weapons in our most sacred spaces. I fight now with the Avengers, but that does not mean that I like Tony Stark."

"Oh. I see. But there are others of your nation in this area?"

"A few. But we are so scattered."

"And Magda is one of your countrymen...countrywomen?"

"She is my Magda."

"If you trust her, I would appreciate her aide in finding a home."

Wanda smiles, "Then I will ask her. It would be good for you to meet her."

"I tried to invade this place. She might not want to meet me."

"Sokovian history is one of being conquered. We cannot hold grudges against most of the world, so we are rather forgiving of such things."

"But you cannot forgive Ultron or Mr Stark?"

"Destruction and a regime change are two very different things."

"I place myself in your hands, then."

Thor is happy to see Loki responding so well to Wanda. He had feared that everyone would shun her completely, that she would spend her entire time in the tower in isolation. To see Wanda treating her as a friend warms his heart and gives him hope for Loki's survival.