It did not surprise Loki that Doctor Strange had visitors or was frequently out throughout the weeks. However, when Wong announced that one of the visitors was here to see him, Loki rolled his eyes. He believed that it was one of the Avengers checking in on him.

When Loki came downstairs,however, he was surprised to find a man in a motorized wheelchair speaking with Doctor Strange. The man was bald, wearing a sports coat and a black turtleneck. Both turned as he approached, though his face was inscrutable, much to Loki's discomfort.

"Loki, this is Charles Xavier." He motioned to the man in the wheelchair. "He's a professor at an institute for gifted children. By gifted, I mean children with a gene that gives them powers. I think the professor can explain it better than I can."

Loki descended the final step and held out his hand for the mortal greeting of introducing one's self. "I am Loki-" but the professor cut him off with a raised hand.

"I know who you are Loki, thanks to your brother Thor, and the other Avengers. As well as your exploits in New York City." This last part was spoken so coldly that Loki shifted uncomfortably on his feet. "However, I am not here to talk to you about that, not yet at least. I am here to help you. I understood that you were given an ultimatum, reform or be imprisoned for the rest of your life?" Loki nodded in the affirmative and the professor continued. "Then we will have to analyze your family life and past actions. From there, we can proceed to find a way that you'll never follow that path again."

Loki just lifted his shoulders, "It is as you mortals say: 'A leopard cannot change its spots. What makes you think I will not fall into evil again?"

Xavier's eyebrows rose with this statement. "I was under the impression that you wish to have your powers back, correct? Then this will be the only route for making that a reality. I have a strong sense that you don't want to remain a mortal. You're Loki the Magician, Loki the God of Mischief-"

"Loki the God of Lies and Chaos." The Trickster snorted, "What makes you think I'll stay 'good' as you put it, once my powers are returned to me?"

"You've finally have been accepted by your brother. Though estranged, he does not wish to give up on you. Why did he worry so much when you were ill? And both Bruce Banner and Tony brought about the aid to help save your life. Captain America defended you. "

Loki rolled his eyes, "Because they're sentimental fools."

"Nevertheless, They see in you, some of what they saw in themselves, and tried to change it. Your life has not been a happy or fair one, but it is up to the person to modify their behavior." He then spoke to Doctor Strange. "May we use your library?"

Doctor Strange nodded, "Of course, I'll be in my study."

Xavier shut the library doors as they both entered it, then motioned for Loki to sit in one of the cushy velvet chairs. What passed through Loki's mind was the thought that the professor was no doubt going to question him about his life on Asgard or even about his heritage. But to his surprise, he began with "We'll be meeting twice a week, is that agreeable?"

Loki began, "I thought Doctor Strange was going to be the one who was going to have these….discussions with me?"

"He was, and perhaps still will. But he thought someone who deals with adolescents with powers would be a better choice, especially given the psychology behind it." he glanced around and then pointed to a shelf. "There's a book on the third shelf down, 6th in line. I'd like you to get it, please."

Loki's eyebrows knitted together, but he nodded, getting up and doing as instructed, returning with a rather hefty book called, "Les Miserables" which he held out to the professor, who only shook his head. "No, I'd like for you to get to know Earth culture. I'll give you others to read in time. Think of it as….study. This is rather lengthy, but the story is quite a remarkable one." He glanced out the arched window, "It's a rather pleasant day, how would you like to take a walk and we can continue our conversation? I'm sure you'd like to be outside after being sick for so long."

Loki's eyes lit at the thought of enjoying the outside world again. "Yes...um...please."

"Just a moment then." Xavier put a finger to his head and closed his eyes. After a moment, he opened them, "Now we can go."

Loki stopped in his tracks. "You're an empath?"

"I read minds, yes." Xavier answered, "or communicate with it. But I never enter someone's mind or read their thoughts without permission, unless it's an absolute emergency. It's what I teach my students at the Institute. I teach them to control their powers, to use them discreetly and sometimes not at all in some situations. "

Loki nodded, remembering being told the same thing by not only his mother, but other tutors. He had still used it for mischief; sometimes for fun, but sometimes for the attention that it would garner.

As if reading his mind, Xavier added, "They do occasionally use their powers for mischief, but most are harmless, as one would expect from children. They are all the more wiser if their pranks backfire, or they lose another's trust. Their powers are not a result of anything but genetics that gives them a special power. Unfortunately, because some are uncontrollable, or get out of hand and are noticed by the normal population, we are seen by some as menaces to society."

Loki winced inwardly at this; many a time he had used his magic for just such purposes, earning the scornful looks from a disapproving tutor or Frigga. It had eventually made Sif and the Warriors Three distrustful of him; exchanging barbs at his expense, even in front of Thor who also laughed at him.

As they stepped through the threshold, Loki suddenly paused, hesitant to take that finally foothold into the street.

Xavier turned, "What's wrong?"

"I-what if someone were to see me?" Loki inquired, looking around at the avenue; there were passing cars, and only a few pedestrians.

"You're in normal Earth street clothes, no one will recognize you. Come."

The pair walked, heading north until they reached a rather large park. Loki noticed how shady it seemed to be on each side and how few people occupied it, despite the pleasant weather.

"It's the middle of the week, so there aren't many people here." Xavier spoke up. At Loki's puzzled glance, the professor continued, "You were looking at the trees, then both forward and behind you. It wasn't hard to know what you were thinking, Loki."

It took them only five further minutes before Loki was bade to sit on one of the park benches, in a slightly less occupied area of the park.

There was a lapse when neither man spoke. Loki took in the shady trees lining the walkway, the sounds of birds and distant traffic noises.

Xavier seemed to relax, sitting back in his motorized chair, steepling his fingers together. "So...you're adopted?"

That seemed to pull Loki out of his reverie. He looked at the professor and snorted, "Obviously. Thor told you of this, did he not?"

'He told me of your….origins. And why you were taken by Odin." Xavier acknowledged.

A shadow crossed Loki's face for a moment, "I may have been deemed a prince by Odin, but I was nothing more than a sham, a pawn for his politics. Surely the Aesir knew that I was not of the King and Queen's real child. I know not how they came to explain my arrival on Asgard, or why I was even given the distinction of second prince by those on Asgard."

To Loki's surprise, Xavier's eyebrows went up, "Then, I think it's time you had a frank discussion with Thor, if you don't wish to with Odin. You were treating as a prince, correct? "

Loki looked to the ground, thoughtful for a moment, remembering Frigga's words which had echoed in his memory for years after it had been spoken: "You are our son, Loki, and we your family. You must know that." He spoke in a voice that was almost too quiet to hear, "I was jealous, all that time. Odin….he did treat me as his son and a prince. His rewards and punishments were just. I knew…" he shrugged and to his own disbelief, tears swam before his eyes. "I really thought that we had an equal chance to be king. Thor is the biological son of Odin and Frigga, so it was inevitable that he would be king someday. So I tricked and lied, all the time being taunted for my magic instead of brute strength like Thor had at his disposal. It is what made me "The God of Mischief and Lies" and why my actions were scrutinized by everyone, why I was…" He trailed off. "Thor was always the charming, enthusiastic person everyone admired, while I was quiet and reserved and more bookish." He chuckled, "The only way I could get attention was to misbehave, much to the chagrin of everyone."

"Some younger children are guilty of that. You are still considered Thor's brother though, do you not? Or at least, he does think the same of you." He leaned forward.

Loki shook his head, "Only after I had 'died' and was injured by Odin. His lip turned up in a sneer. "I was useful only to the extent of helping him Thor escape Asgard after Malekith's attack."

"Then why did he bring you here to Earth?" Xavier inquired.

The dark expression on Loki's face deepened. "Odin tried to kill me, do you really think he'd let a traitor remain on Asgard?" Those word were bitten off. "If my mother were still alive-" at this, he stopped, a lump forming in his throat. His mother was gone, the memory pained him so much that it was hard to speak after this thought. "I-if Frigga were still alive, she would not have let Odin's torture happen ever."

"And then Thor brought you to here?"

Loki nodded.

"I see." A pause then, "I think that's enough for today, Loki. Perhaps it's time for some tea, it is rather cold outside."

TBC…

A/N: I know that it's been a long time. I haven't found a beta, so it's taken me a while to think about how to continue. My other smaller computer finally went kaput so I'm using a bigger laptop with keys that actually work. I'm going to try to think about the next few chapters but I really appreciate the ideas from thephoenixandthedragon4ever. Thank you to all the reviewers, and thank you all for your patience.