Thor Odinson sat down heavily. He was in the freshly built New Valaskjalf on Midgard, where the Asgardians had taken refuge when Surtur had destroyed their home. It had taken a while to build, but he'd rather still be supervising the construction than what he was doing now. This was the first time in weeks he had a little time to rest between meetings and debates and politics and politics and POLITICS. Thor hated politics. Why couldn't everyone just solve their problems by a good, old fashioned brawl? Didn't that always resolve things? Thor sighed. Loki had been good at politics.
It had been a month since the Snapped had been returned to the real world, and almost two since Thor had watched Thanos kill his brother. Loki had always been complicated. He had stolen the Tesseract, tried to conquer Earth, and almost murdered Thor a couple of times. But he had also helped save Jane from the Ether, defeat Hela, fight the Frost Giants (his own kind), and he even stood up to Thanos, the act that got him killed. Was Thor certain Loki was dead? No. He had faked his death twice. But for some reason Thor felt like Loki was really not coming back.
Which also made Thor responsible for his child.
The week before, Thor had been in his bedroom, resting after a particularly long meeting. He had gotten a strange feeling, and had turned to see Loki standing by a dresser.
"Hello, brother. I'm not here, don't get all excited. I'm probably dead, if I didn't mess up the spell. It's probably your fault." He smiled a little. "So, yes, not coming back this time, don't feel too bad, etc. etc.." He took a deep breath. "Thor, I have a favor to ask."
"Anything," Thor said, then realized the illusion probably couldn't hear him.
"Will you go to Vanaheim and tell my wife and daughter what happened?" Thor sat down, shocked. "Yes, I know, I haven't told you. It's obvious why, I have enough enemies to put anyone close to me in danger. But, well, now maybe she'll have a chance to fit it." His face took on a look Thor had never seen on him before. He looked-what was it? Fond? Admiring? But also, sad, as if he was blaming himself. "I just want the best for her. She didn't ask for this. She deserves a steadfast father." He winced. "They live on Vanaheim. About a mile north of Virdar. I suspect Estrid already knows, she's a smart girl." Thor noted the name. Pretty, yet fierce and strong. Something Loki would choose for his daughter. "Well, that's all. I'm sorry to thrust this upon you so suddenly." Loki's image looked Thor straight in the eye. "Goodbye, brother." And he was gone.