A/N: I'm absolutely blown away by the response this story has received. Thank you all for the support! It means the world.

"Are you sure you can do this?"

Loki's head jerks up from where it rests on the table. He blinks groggily, squinting against the bright overhead lighting of Stark's lab. He had only meant to close his eyes for a moment, but it seems he had actually drifted off while waiting for Banner and Stark to finalize the plans for the stabilizer. Strange, that he was comfortable enough to be vulnerable in their presence.

Bruce winces. "Sorry. Didn't mean to wake you."

Loki waves a hand dismissively. Stifling a yawn, he replies, "I do not have a choice."

Banner sighs. "I know. It's just…I'm worried about you, Loki."

Loki hides his surprise, only lifting an eyebrow in question. "Oh?"

"The knowledge of this future – one where everyone suffers so much, including you – is a lot to bear. I mean this nicely, but if the past is anything to go by, you have to admit that there's a chance you might not handle it well."

"He means that you might crack," Stark says, with all his usual tact. He does not look up from the pieces of metal he is shaping in his hands. "You know. Freak out. Go bananas."

"Tony," Banner admonishes, exasperated.

"What? You weren't gonna say it."

"Because I was trying to be nice."

"It's fine, Bruce," Loki interrupts. The two men bicker like he and Thor do if left to their own devices. "I understand what the both of you are saying. But I can't exactly sacrifice half the universe for my own sake, can I?"

Stark does look up then, using the back of one hand to push his safety goggles up his forehead. His shrewd gaze seems to pin Loki in place. "You really have changed."

What is he to say to that? Of course he has changed. Everything he knew has been torn from his grasp, just as he had finally begun to learn that he could not live without it. The chance that he might get all of that back – his home, his parents, his friends – fills him with hope, something he has not dared to feel in many years. He can give everyone else in the universe that same hope if he goes through with this. More than that, Hela gave him this chance; she deemed no one else capable of instigating Thanos's demise.

In the end, all he can do is shrug and say, "Yes. I have."

Stark eyes him a moment longer before returning to his task. "I know what that's like."

Loki grins, lifting a hand to his chest in mock sincerity. "Are you trying to lighten my mood by finding similarities between us? I'm touched, Stark. Truly."

The man flashes him a lopsided smile before sobering once more. "All I'm saying is, this team knows how it feels to have everything turned upside down on us. We've seen things that we wish we could forget. Just like you. I never thought I'd say this, but I don't hate you, Loki."

"None of us hate you," Banner supplies. "Not anymore, now that we know the truth."

Yet again, Loki finds himself rendered speechless in the face of their kindness. He does not deserve this understanding – not after all he has done to their world. "I thank you both," he finally says, quietly. He cannot seem to meet their eyes as he speaks. "You have been far too gracious towards me."

Banner crosses the room, placing a hand on his shoulder. "You're basically going to save the world," the doctor says, a sad smile on his face. "It's the least we can do."

In the morning, they meet in a large, open area of the compound. Windows line the wall on one side, simple gray paneling the other. Stark and Banner are already bustling around the raised platform in the center of the space. Romanoff, Rogers, and Barton sit on crates just off to the side.

When Loki and Thor enter the room, side-by-side, all eyes turn to them. Loki instinctively lifts his chin, an old act of defiance and confidence that he perfected in his youth. The gold of his armor catches the sunlight blazing through the tall windows, and for a moment, he feels invincible.

The moment ends when his gaze settles on the contraption already seated on the raised platform. Though he is willing to go through with this, he can't help but feel nervous in the face of changing time itself.

He takes a deep breath and turns to Thor. "This is it, brother."

Thor nods, his eyes already shining with unshed tears. They had stayed up most of the night talking, coming to terms with everything that had happened – both between and to them – over the last few years. Though Loki had avoided such a conversation in the past, it had felt unexpectedly freeing to finally put it all into words – even if he did miss out on a full night's rest because of it.

Thor reaches to clasp Loki's neck with one hand, just as he has done for centuries, but he abruptly stops mid-motion. For one second, his gaze flicks down to the massive purple bruise on Loki's neck. His hand comes to rest on his brother's shoulder instead, giving it a firm squeeze. "I am proud of you, Loki."

Loki blinks back his own tears, overwhelmed by his brother's words. He doesn't resist when Thor draws him into his second hug in less than twenty-four hours. Though they will see each other again in just a few minutes, this Thor will be gone forever as soon as Loki travels back in time. It feels like another devastating loss.

When they part, Loki gives his brother one last smile before making his way to Stark and Banner.

Stark points to the middle of the platform. "Center stage, Reindeer Games."

He climbs up to the indicated spot, snapping the bracelet Stark had given him last night into place on his wrist. He bounces on the balls of his feet as Banner turns on the machine.

"Ready?" the doctor asks.

Loki nods, meeting the gaze of each person present. "Farewell, Earth's mightiest heroes," he says, no trace of mockery in his voice.

The green glow of the time stone washes over him. Just as he is pulled into its power, he hears Stark call one last thing after him.

"Welcome to the team, Loki."

He crashes into his old self - into the past - with a gasp.

His surroundings immediately come into focus when he opens his eyes, the familiar mountaintop scenery stretching around him. Against his will, his body turns, changing his view from that of the darkened landscape to Thor, walking steadily toward him.

"I have grown, Odinson, in my exile." Though his mouth forms the words, his mind rebels, desperate to give himself a moment to breathe. Being ripped backwards in time feels like being run over by a bilgesnipe. Still, he is compelled to continue speaking. "I have seen the true power of the Tesseract, and when I wield it – "

"Who showed you this power?" Thor demands. "Who controls the would-be king?"

"I – " Loki interrupts himself mid-sentence, finally gaining control over his own actions. He inhales a shaky breath, lifting a trembling hand experimentally. It worked. Stark successfully sent him to the exact moment they had agreed upon. He cannot help but laugh breathlessly in relief.

"Loki?" Thor's voice takes on a note of concern as he clearly notices his brother's strange actions.

Loki looks up, and the moment his gaze meets Thor's, an overwhelming sense of rage fills him. An urgency coming from somewhere in the back of his mind demands that he attack Thor, now, he doesn't care, he has never cared about you, make him sorry –

He clutches his head in his hands, squeezing his eyes shut against the onslaught of emotion. He had forgotten the extent of the mind stone's sway over his anger. How had he even been able to think, let alone plot to rule an entire planet, with these feelings being pushed to the forefront of his brain?

Thor's hand settles on the side of his neck, and while a part of Loki finds it comforting, the majority of him still has the urge to furiously smack his brother's hand away. "Brother," Thor asks softly, "are you alright?"

Loki shakes his head. "Thor. Thor, I – I'm sorry – the stone is making me want to – " He shakes his head again in an attempt to focus. He opens his eyes, meeting Thor's with unguarded sincerity. "I need your help, brother."

As ever, Thor answers with his heart, speaking before he has thought through his words. "Anything, Loki. Tell me how to help you."

A wave of nausea causes Loki to sway on his feet, dizzy. Banner did not mention after-effects, he thinks, blinking to clear the spots from his vision. "The scepter," he manages. "Keep me away from the scepter."

"Done."

"Barton. Find Barton and Selvig, and use the scepter to free them. Tha – " He nearly chokes on the titan's name, terrified for a moment that even speaking it aloud will summon the creature's wrath upon him. "There is an army," he says instead. "The Chitauri. They are ruled by a being who means to destroy this world to gain the Tesseract."

"I don't understand," Thor replies. "Moments ago, you said you planned to rule Earth. What is this talk of another, waiting in the shadows? Why do you suddenly seem frightened?"

Loki opens his mouth to reply, but before he can, the world starts spinning. Darkness creeps into the edges of his vision. "Barton," he repeats. "Barton and Selvig first. Thor, you must – "

Distantly, he hears Thor call his name; then, he collapses.