Loki stood in the same large room in Kamar-Taj that he had slipped into unnoticed to witness Dr. Strange's arrival after returning The Ancient One. As he sipped a cup of tea that had been handed to him upon his arrival, a few masters and initiates filed through as he waited for those he came to meet, greeting him politely and simply as they strolled from one room to the next passing him by. Loki decided to peruse what little decor and other objects of interest there were throughout the room.
A man entered the room dressed in the typical Asian inspired clothing of those inhabiting Kamar-Taj, Loki turning as he sensed someone's presence. The man was quite handsome with chiseled features that struck Loki as somehow familiar.
"Mariel will be with you shortly. She's saying her farewells." the man informed Loki in a familiar voice. Loki stared in awe at the man, almost dropping the teacup in his hand.
"Steinn?!" Loki said in disbelief. Steinn smiled, his eyes bright.
"The one and only." Steinn replied. Loki found a nearby low table to place the tea cup and approached Steinn as he moved to meet Loki halfway.
"I don't believe it." Loki breathed, still astonished at Steinn's transformation. He could tell Steinn's recovered physical features were no mere illusion such as either man was capable of producing. Steinn could have used his magic to conceal his disfigurement previously, but Loki knew the energy it would have taken to consistently keep it up would have been draining. He knew well from his own experience impersonating his adopted father Odin for an extended period of time.
"Loki, my old friend!" Steinn said as he opened his arms wide, taking Loki into them, Loki returning the embrace before pulling back and examining his friend from a nearer perspective.
"It's astonishing! How is it possible? Even the healers of Asgard could do nothing by the time you returned." Loki said almost breathlessly.
"I've come to learn that almost anything is possible, if one is willing to put their mind to it and dedicate themselves." Steinn answered. "Of course already having a background in Asgardian magic, it was not quite as difficult for myself to catch on and progress more quickly. I have your mother to thank for that."
"My mother is to be thanked for many things." Loki replied, recalling all the assistance his mother had offered him not only in life but perhaps in even more important ways after her passing. Steinn's smile faded as he bowed his head.
"It is not just your mother that deserves my gratitude. You as well. After what I did...what I tried to do...you would have had every reason to put me to the ax. At the very least, you would have had reason to toss the pathetic creature I was into the dungeons to live out the remainder of my days."
"As one who once had such a sentence hanging over his head, I'm not one to take placing it over another's lightly. It was my actions long ago that directly led to your own."
"Yes, but to have threatened the life of your Queen, the mother of your children, that I even considered leaving such innocents orphaned. Neither before or after what happened had I ever harmed another living soul outside of battle, nor had I ever considered it. I don't know what came over me. it was as if seeing you again, hearing your voice, awakened something in me. I was drowning in darkness."
"I myself had a similar experience, for the second time, somewhat recently."
"Yes, so I heard. I'm pleased to see that you have once again emerged victorious having routed those demons" Steinn said. Loki decided that it was a good time to change the subject. The memories of his second experience with the mind stone, how close he had come to losing it all, how he had once again lost himself, something he had for some time previously, especially after Sigyn had come back into his life, not thought possible. He doubted were it not for the Mind Stone coming once again into his possession that it would have been. But then, it was his own foolishness, albeit for a good cause, that had brought about that circumstance. It reminded him of an old Midgardian saying he had heard before and that Sigyn had employed in the past, "the road to hell is paved with good intentions." He knew well that in the future he must be ever and even more vigilant when choosing what stones he chose to make his path.
"So you say that Mariel is still occupied with saying her goodbyes. I suppose seeing as you're here you've completed yours." Loki stated.
"No. I won't be returning to my home on Vanaheim. There's nothing there for me. The only goodbyes I will be saying this day is to Mariel and yourself. I've decided to stay on here. There is so much more to learn and I find myself an eager student once again. Who knows? Perhaps someday I will run this place." Steinn said with a smile.
""Maybe you will at that." Loki said. Once again the smile slipped from Steinn's face as he seemed to be recalling something. He looked down once again.
"There is something else I must tell you. I gave my word to Mariel. She felt it was important you know. She is most likely right. No...she is right." Steinn reached out, taking Loki's right hand and gripping it between both of his own. "We had already known each other for some time as I was a student of your mother, but when we began to spend more time together as we grew older, in those uneasy and unsettled days of early manhood where we all struggle to find our place in the universe...I had known who I was for some time, long even before most others discover the truth of themselves. I led you down a path you were not certain was your own for my own selfish reasons. I know it caused you much confusion and turmoil in addition to that you were already experiencing due to the uncertainty of your life, what was your place, your role, your sense of existing in your brother's shadow. Things were not as easy for you as many believed life to have been for a Prince of Asgard. I only served to unnecessarily complicate it further. It is likely that at least partially led you to the choice you made. You saw a chance to escape from under the weight of it. One thing is for certain however...though my motivations may not have been, my feelings were always true." Steinn extolled. Both men stood silent for a moment, Loki processing Stein's unexpected words. Loki placed his left hand over that of Steinn's.
"Never more than recently has it been made clear to me that the past is best left there. Let us begin again from this day."
"Agreed." Stein replied.
"The day will come when you will find one whose path converges with yours where ours diverge. Whomever that may be, for them that day will be a fortunate one."
"Now that I no longer have need to hide myself away, perhaps that day will come sooner." Steinn said as both men released their grip on each other's hands.
Mariel entered through the same doorway as Steinn had previously, the same bag in her hand that Loki had insisted on carrying for her the day she had left Heven. She looked to Loki for a moment. Loki looked to her more than a bit nervously, though he did his best to veil it. He had not seen nor spoken with her since that day many months ago. He knew a trust had been broken and such damage necessitated time to mend. He second guessed his decision to be the one to come to Midgard and Kamar-Taj to retrieve her. He had believed Steinn would be accompanying them but with this new development perhaps it would have been better for Sigyn to have done so. His unease was somewhat relieved as Mariel's face broke into a warm smile as she approached the two men.
"My King...Loki...it is good to see you. I was concerned for you during the time of your struggle. I was relieved to learn you had come through it."
"Thank you. I have not yet had the chance to apologize to you for my behavior."
"An apology is unnecessary. I know now it was precipitated by another's influence."
"Are you well?" Loki asked her.
"Yes, very much so. I am ready to return to the service of my Queen, and yours as well free from the impediments that once weighed upon me."
"I am glad to hear it. I know Sigyn will be even more pleased. Sariah has done the job admirably and is to be commended, but she is not you. Your absence has been much felt in the palace. Are you ready?" Loki asked.
"Yes. If it pleases you to do so, return me home." Mariel said.
"It pleases me very much." Loki said, offering his arm. Mariel took hold of it. Loki looked back to Steinn. "Until we meet again, my friend."
"Until then." Steinn said before Loki and Mariel disappeared within the pink-violet light of the cylinder Loki produced in his hand.
Many months had passed, closing in on a year, since Hela's return and vanquishment, Leiffrid's imprisonment in Hel and his subsequent retrieval by Loki's past self and Loki's time in the branch timeline he had created to accomplish it (Loki sometimes found himself wondering what had become of his other self and his Sigyn in their branch timeline but tried not to dwell on it.) All had been smooth sailing since then, at least for the most part. Of course there were the minor hiccups and disagreements of life to deal with. He had inadvertently started no more fires, big or small...whether that was by his intention or mere luck he wasn't yet sure, and thus had had no need to put any out.
Loki had accepted more roles handed over to him by Sigyn, he happily taking them on, especially seeing as doing so had left her less harried. She had always put on a happy face, an air of control, but beneath the surface he knew she had been struggling to cope with the weight of it all, especially after the birth of both children, she feeling her loyalties and energies divided. He recalled how in his vision on Tartarus Stark had warned him that would happen and he had been on the mark. Loki wondered how his own mother had managed it, though her position as Queen of Asgard had been quite different than Sigyn's.
Loki's biggest struggle as of late had been Jotunheim, from where he had just returned after his annual visit. He was still its king, yet he had not actively ruled in some time, though all major decisions were approved by him. Otherwise, the realm had been left under the purview of Skrymir, who had proved himself more than capable. Yet Loki struggled to balance the mandates he wished to enact to make life there better, more fair and equal to everyone, with respecting their unique culture. How strange it was, he thought, that had he been born of a normal size for a Jotun, not having been conceived by the darkest of magic and subject to Loriel's manipulations, he would now likely be living adhering to that culture he often found irksome and troubling, his father, his biological father, Laufey likely still seated on its throne.
Loki entered the royal chambers, the sentinel opening the door for him as usual. He saw no sign of Sigyn. Frigga, much grown now, her head covered with a mop of thick, golden waves, her eyes the same deep blue as her mother's, ceased to play with the toys scattered in the bottom of the play pen like enclosure in which she sat, looking over at Loki and pulling herself up to stand, gripping its edge. Leiffrid, appearing much the same as nearly a year ago, his aging now beginning to noticeably slow, though his cognitive functions were advancing at a rate that unsettled even Loki, sat on the chaise with a book in his hand, just starting to turn a page.
"Father!" Leiffrid said happily, setting the book down beside him and rising, running towards Loki as Loki knelt down to open his arms to his son.
"Pabba!" Frigga joined in excitedly in a toddler's squeal of her unique version of the old informal term for father that was often used by young Asgardian children. Loki watched as he wrapped an arm around Leiffrid as Frigga struggled to hoist herself up by her arms and hook a leg over the edge of the enclosure, finally managing it, climbing over and in an unsteady, toddling run came towards him before sprawling on the ground as she fell. Picking herself back up again, she continued her trek in his direction.
Loki rose, putting a hand to Leiffrid's shoulder before meeting Frigga halfway, picking her up and swinging her around before placing her securely in his arm as Sigyn, a bag slung over both shoulders, appeared entering from the doorway to the bedchambers.
"I've captured an escapee." Loki said. Sigyn looked to Loki, Frigga held in one arm. Sigyn sighed in dismay.
"Ugh. I'd hoped it would take her at least a little longer before she figure out how to do that."
"Are you ready?" Loki asked.
"Give me a couple more minutes. I can't find-" Sigyn began. "Oh! I know where it is. I must be losing my mind." Sigyn said, turning and disappearing once again through the doorway. Loki had noticed that she'd seemed somewhat absent minded lately. Sigyn reappeared in the great room from the doorway. "Alright. Let's go. Leiffrid..." Sigyn called, the boy happily making his way to her and taking her outstretched hand.
Stepping out of the Ladder's golden light, Sigyn with both bags slung over her shoulders and holding Leiffrid's hand and Loki, Frigga held in one arm, found themselves for the first time in many months on the island. Before them stood a newly built house. The bottom floor appeared similar to what had existed before but now it also sported a second floor along with additional rooms extending off the back. The fresh white paint almost seemed to glow in the sunlight. A playground had been installed in the yard of the house. Leiffrid's eyes lit up as they fell on it first.
"I want to go play!" Leiffrid said, tugging on his mother's arm.
"Yes...go..." Sigyn said, her eyes glued to the structure in awe as Leiffrid ran off towards the playground. Barton standing outside the house made his way towards her, Loki and the toddler Frigga.
"So...what do you think?" Barton asked, grinning as he noticed the astonished expression on Sigyn's face. He turned to stand beside her, Loki on her other side, all three now looking towards the house.
"It's so big!" Sigyn exclaimed. Barton and Loki glanced at each other, struggling to hold back their laughter as they both knew they were thinking the same thing.
"I'm pleased you're still impressed after so many years..." Loki joked. A snicker escaped Barton. Sigyn turned her head to look at Loki and the grin on his face before rolling her eyes.
"The house, you dolt!" Sigyn said, putting a hand to Loki's arm and slightly, playfully shoving him.
"Check out the inside." Barton said before leading them towards the house. Sigyn turned her head towards Leiffrid who was swinging merrily on the swingset section of the playground.
"Leiffie! Come on! We're going to see inside!" Sigyn called. Leiffrid jumped from the swing, running to her and taking her hand. "The gold...it was enough to cover it, with some left over for you and the others I hope?" Sigyn asked Barton.
"Yeah...yeah...more than enough. Think I'm gonna buy a new truck. One back home's being held together with duct tape and prayers. Should have replaced it a long time ago, not like we didn't have the money before, but had it so long, just attached I guess. You must be sitting on a gold mine up there."
"No actually. We make it. It's why it's worth so much more here. It'd be better if you kept that just between us. I'm sure you can understand why." Sigyn said. Barton looked over to her as they walked in disbelief.
"Yeah...sure. Your secret's safe with me."
As they neared the house, Barton walked a few steps ahead, opening the door. Stepping inside, Sigyn looked in wonder at the front room, how similar it was to the original, as she remembered it when the original house had also been new. The only major difference was a stairway off to the side right before where the hallway led back to what in the original house had been her room.
"Why don't you leave those here." Barton said, referring to the bags Sigyn carried. She lowered them to the floor before she, Leiffrid, and Loki followed Barton. They filed down the hallway, Leiffrid now following behind Sigyn. Barton stepped back as they reached the door that mirrored the one to her old bedroom."Go ahead. Open it." Sigyn opened the door and stepped inside, Leiffrid, Loki carrying Frigga, and Barton behind her. Aside from a bed, dresser and a new stereo system sitting on it, the room was stacked with crates of record albums.
"How...?" Sigyn asked. She knew the part of her collection that she had not transported back to Heven had been destroyed.
"I have my ways." Loki said with a smile, Frigga still held perched in one arm. It had taken months, but the proprietor of the shop had finally tracked down through various contacts the titles he didn't himself possess. On Midgard Loki knew, money talks, but gold speaks louder. Turning to Loki, Sigyn threw her arms around him, he putting his free arm around her.
"Thank you."
Barton pushed Frigga in the baby swing as Leiffrid climbed around the jungle gym portion of the playground. Loki and Sigyn turned from them, walking hand in hand across the field towards the far side of the island.
"I have another surprise for you." Loki said. Sigyn looked over at him.
"You've already outdone yourself."
"You know me." Loki said with a slight grin.
"Yes, I do." Sigyn smiled. "I have a surprise for you as well." Loki looked over to her expectantly. "At the time, if you'd told me that everything would work out for the best I probably would have gutted you...but I suppose it has since we're going to need the extra room." Loki stopped walking, Sigyn following suit.
"I had thought...we weren't...you said...you'd decided..." Loki said, flustered, Sigyn obviously succeeding in surprising him. Sigyn smiled at his stammering response.
"I can undecide as well as I can decide. I'm the Queen. I can do what I please." Sigyn told him. Loki took her in his arms, kissing her.
"We're going to be outnumbered." Loki said smiling, "That's not a wise strategic position."
"I wasn't aware we were at war." Sigyn said, laughing. Loki froze, staring into Sigyn's eyes. Something struck him as familiar about their current conversation, his brain attempting to process the reason for the sensation of deja vu that overtook him.
"Loki? What is it?" Sigyn asked, the smile on her face transforming to an expression of worry. Loki's brain finally put the pieces together for him...his previous vision, the one his mother had given him, their life on Asgard that was not to be. Loki released her from his arms, taking hold of her hand.
"Come..." Loki said, leading her towards the far side of the island.
Loki and Sigyn stood a few yards from the cliffs continuing to hold Sigyn's hand in his own.
"Close your eyes." Loki said to Sigyn, she doing as he had told her. She could hear the sound of the ocean lapping the shore below then the sound suddenly stopped. The air no longer smelled salty. "You may open them now." Loki said. Sigyn opened her eyes to find herself no longer on the island. The two stood surrounded by forest.
"Where are we?" Sigyn asked.
"You once said you wished you could have seen it once more." Loki reminded her. Sigyn's hand falling from Loki's, she looked around her in wonder.
"Asgard..."