Sam found Loki kneeling on the gray carpet of Wanda's room, as she played a gently melody on her guitar. His eyes were closed, his head rested against the door of her closet, as he quietly hummed along.

"Hey, Lokes?"

The Trickster glanced upward in surprise, as Wanda abruptly stopped playing. "Hello…" Loki responded, tension already draining back into his slim form.

"What are you singing?" Sam wondered, decided to go about this endeavor with great caution.

Loki brightened slightly. "It's a song Wanda taught me." He replied. "What was it called, again?" He glanced over at the young girl perched on the end of her bed.

"Here Comes the Sun." Wanda replied.

Sam nodded. "Ooh, Beatles. Cool."

"Beetles?" Loki stood up swiftly, glancing around the room in terror. "Where?"

Wanda laughed softly, and shook her head. "Beatles. They're the name of the band that wrote the song. Not like bugs."

"Oh." Loki smiled embarrassedly, but didn't relax. Sparing a sideways glance at Sam, he sighed disconsolately. "I know why you're here."

"Quality music?" Sam guessed.

"You want me to go speak to your friend." Loki muttered, sitting down on the carpet, again, and drawing his knees up to his chest. "But I don't want to."

"I know." Sam admitted, seating himself next to the young Jotun. "But… you know it'd mean a lot to Steve if you did."

"Besides, Bucky's nice." Wanda spoke up, beginning to pluck at the guitar strings, once more.

Loki stared at a small speck on the wall, and said nothing, but his arms wrapped just a little tighter around his knees.

"Why don't you want to talk to him?" Sam prompted gently.

Loki sighed through his nose. "He'll laugh at me."

"I doubt it." Wanda shook her head.

Loki gestured to his blue face. "I'm a freak. Who wouldn't laugh? Besides you?" He added.

"You're not a freak, Loki." Wanda put down her guitar, a very serious look on her face. "You're just a bit different."

Sam nodded. "And different is a good thing. Our differences make us special."

"That was corny." Wanda grinned, and Sam rolled his eyes. "Yeah, I know…"

Loki looked up at the two of them. "I just don't like people." He insisted. "I don't know why… I'm supposed to be able to carry out diplomatic treaties, and things, but…" Loki swallowed the lump in his throat, and blinked back the tears that welled behind his eyes. "Father says I'm a crybaby… and that I'll never get anything done with my life if I keep shying away from everything. And I'm trying to do better."

Wanda gently laid a hand on Loki's shoulder, cutting off his miserable ramble. "We won't force you." She told him. "It's your choice who you speak to."

"Really?" Loki's ruby red eyes grew wide in wonder. "Father never said that…"

Sam sighed, and shook his head. "Doesn't mean it isn't true."

"Oh…" Loki bit his lip, and stared at the carpet. "I… I suppose… If you're sure he won't look at me strange, or judge me, or criticize me, or talk to me…"

"I can't guarantee it." Sam admitted. "But that's a chance you'll have to take. And I can assure you he'll try to talk to you."

"Brilliant." Loki sighed, and clambered to his feet. "I assume it would be better to simply have it over. Say goodbye to those who knew me, and Thor can have my strangely comfortable fuzzy socks that Anthony bought for me."

The other two cracked up laughing at the Trickster's obvious theatrics, and walked with him through the halls, back to the communal floor. Steve, T'Challa, and Bucky were already sitting on the couch, having a lively discussion, and sipping chilled lemonade. Loki took one look, released a strangled squeak, turned, and tried to bolt back through the hall. Wanda caught him gently by his wrist.

"Hey." She smiled encouragingly. "You can do this."

"No, I can't." Loki declared. "I shall become a hermit, and live far away from this Bucky person for the rest of my life."

The soldier glanced up at the mention of his name, his eyes landing on the trio. All the blood drained from Loki's face, and he suddenly became stiff as a statue, not moving except for his trembling lips and fingers. "Let me go." He whispered, under his breath.

"You're fine." Sam whispered.

"Hey, Loki!" Steve greeted, waving to his friend, who began making a low keening sound, his eyes filling with frightened tears. "Come here! I've got a friend for you to meet."

Woodenly, as if he was absolutely forced to do so, Loki shuffled over to the edge of the couch, twisting his fingers in nervousness. "H'llo…" He whispered, barely audible.

"Loki, this is Bucky." Steve introduced. "Bucky, my friend, Loki."

"Can I go die in a hole, now?" Loki squeaked, and Steve shook his head.

"No, you're fine."

Loki was obviously not fine, but he meekly sat down on the edge of the couch, anyway, as if the cushions were going to swallow him alive. Sparing a terrified glance at Bucky, who was regarding him with a quizzical air, Loki twisted his index finger so hard it popped. The conversation around him was a blur, until he realized that King T'Challa, (who he had not been introduced to, thank whoever controlled these things) mentioned that he ought to return to his kingdom, and Steve got up to show him out.

Leaving Loki alone with Bucky.

Leaving now would be shockingly rude, as Bucky was new in the compound, and should have someone to visit with him. But… Loki hated visiting. With a vengeance.

Still. Politeness, and all that.

Raising his crimson eyes to Bucky's cheerful blue ones, he offered a timid smile. "Hello."

"Hi." Bucky replied. "You're Thor's brother, right?"

Loki nodded. "Are you…" He whispered, then cleared his throat, and tried again. "Are you the C-Captain's brother?"

"Technically, no." Bucky shrugged, a fond edge in his smile. "But basically, yes."

"W-Well…" Loki began. "Technically… Th-Thor and I aren't brothers, either. Strictly speaking."

Bucky nodded. "Adopted, yeah, I heard."

Loki took a deep breath. "Who told you?"

"Steve did." Bucky replied. "He told me a lot about you."

"Really?" Loki bit his lip worriedly. "What did he say?"

Bucky flipped his hand, and that was when Loki realized… it was metal. His hand was made of metal.

That was the most amazing thing Loki had ever seen in his life, but it wasn't polite to stare, so he turned his eyes back to Bucky's face.

"Not too much." Bucky was saying. "That you've got social anxiety. Why you're blue. That you're a really good kid, despite the pranks."

Loki started guiltily. "He told you I prank people?"

"Well, yeah." Bucky grinned. "I Skyped him while he had pink teeth."

Loki glanced up. That was a new word. "Skyped?"

"Yeah, like a video call." The soldier nodded, then sadly sighed, staring off into the distance. "Honestly, I don't even know."

"Oh." Loki found his gaze wandering back to Bucky's hand. "I could Google it. Do you know you don't have to be a robot to Google things?" He smiled, excited to share his newly found information.

Bucky's face was blank for a minute, before a wave of comprehension swept over it. "Oh, the internet? Yeah, I knew. Sorry, I'm still a bit behind on stuff."

"That's okay." Loki assured him. "I only ate pizza the first time, three days ago."

Bucky chuckled lightly. "Yeah, I guess we're both walking anachronisms. Me and you and Steve."

"And Thor." Loki added. "He doesn't even know how to use a phone."

"Do you?" Bucky narrowed his eyes.

Loki nodded enthusiastically. "Sam taught me, this morning! Wait – you know who Sam is?"

"Yes." Bucky sighed dramatically. "I do have the misfortune of knowing who Sam is."

The Trickster frowned in confusion. "How is it a misfortune?"

"Sorry…" Bucky waved his hand, again, and Loki was temporarily distracted by it's glinting in the sunlight. "He and I do not get along."

"Oh…" Loki trailed off. He knew what that was like. "Like Steve and Anthony?"

"Not that severe." The soldier admitted. "More like you and your brother."

Loki smirked in amusement. "Ah. I see."

There was a moment of silence, before Bucky smiled in delight. "You want to look at it?"

Loki glanced up in confusion. "Look at what?"

Bucky nodded to his arm, and Loki's eyes widened in fascination. "Oh, may I?"

He was answered with another nod, and eagerly scooted across the couch to get a better look. Bucky slipped his jacket off, only to reveal…

"Your whole arm is made of metal?" Loki's eyes grew to the size of saucers in fascination, just as Steve came back into the room, and took in the sight of the two of them sitting on the couch, talking enthusiastically as if there had never been a speck of fear between them. Bucky had a habit of doing that, and Steve hadn't seen him smile in quite a while. It was comforting to know that happier times were ahead for both Loki and Bucky.

And, we finally have the meeting! Poor Loki... so terrified...

Does anyone else kinda ship Loki/Wanda? Just me? Okay...

TheOnlyHuman.