The warm bath served to relax me, allowing me to reclaim some of my usual cheer and optimism. I was also thrilled to see Danira again, and we chatted happily while she brushed my hair for me. I was given a simple pewter-grey Asgardian gown to wear, along with plain black sandals. I felt quite refreshed when I was washed and dressed in clean clothes, but not quite enough to forgive the Avengers for the pressure they placed on me. When I walked out of the bathroom, I found someone waiting for me. "Bucky?"
"I have something to show you," he told me, getting directly to the point and holding out a sheet of paper to me. I took it and unfolded it, tilting my head at the picture drawn there.
"Is this me?" I asked. Bucky nodded and I looked at the signature at the bottom of the page; S. Rogers. "When did he do this?" I asked.

"A little before Thor arrived," Bucky murmured, staring at me in that vaguely unsettling way of his.
"And you are giving this to me because…"
"Because you seem to have forgotten how much you mean to the others. I thought you could use a reminder." I looked at Bucky blankly for a moment before sighing, holding out my arm and crooking my fingers at him. Bucky approached me slowly, looking wary, and I put my arm over his shoulder, pulling him down to me and hugging him, kissing his cheek before resting my forehead against his clavicle. Bucky cautiously put his arms around me, standing stiffly and awkwardly patting the back of my shoulder with his metal hand.

"You're a great friend, Buck," I mumbled softly.
"I'm a monster," Bucky disagreed. I smacked him on the chest lightly.
"No. If anything, you're Adam."
"Adam?"
"Frankenstein's monster. He wasn't really a monster; he was made into something he was never meant to be. Just like you." I felt Bucky tilt his head slightly, considering that.
"I thought Frankenstein was a monster," he muttered after a moment.
"I don't think he was. He was trying to accomplish something good."
"I meant the creature."

"The creature was lonely, not evil," I countered.
"Am I lonely?" Bucky wondered huskily, shaking his head uncertainly.
"You shouldn't be," I told him lightly. "I'm hugging you… and you aren't alone. We were both created by circumstances outside of our control; I just made a choice that you didn't get." Bucky nodded and his grip on me tightened. I smiled, patting his chest casually.
"Thank you, Ellie."
"Any time, Sweetie. You're one of my boys." Bucky shook slightly with a silent laugh and I giggled, pulling back from him and sighing. "Now I'd better go take care of the rest of my boys before they fall apart." Bucky nodded, releasing me instantly, and I smiled at him, walking back towards the room where the Avengers gathered, still carrying the picture.

I entered the room and the Avengers, Warriors Three and Loki looked at me warily. I held my picture out to Steve and he took it, opening it and blushing. "How'd you get this?" he asked quietly.
"Bucky," I shrugged, smiling. "He reminded me of how I actually like you, so… what's going on?" I asked, moving to sit on the arm of Clint's chair easily, propping my injured leg up.
"No news yet… You seem… cheerful," Thor said carefully. I shrugged.
"Yeah, well, Bucky reminded me of how you actually like me, in spite of the fact that you can be total pains at times, so I guess I'm feeling a little less miffed. Let's see if you can keep me this way, shall we?" I chirped. The others all shared wary looks amongst themselves and I sighed. "Update, please."

"It would seem that Asgard's enemies are working to set aside their own squabbles in order to rally their peoples and march on the kingdom," Loki reported, shifting agitatedly and running a hand over his abdomen. I caught the movement and frowned, my thoughts flicking back through all the times he'd made the casual gesture when it meant so much more. Loki caught my frown and his eyes flashed at me warningly. I consciously smoothed my expression and waited for the conversation to continue.
"What are we to do about it?" Hogun wondered impatiently. "Do we move on them?"
"That would be unwise," Thor announced with a sigh, pushing himself up from his seat and standing beside his brother. "Have you any plans, Brother?" Loki shook his head, scowling in frustration.

"No… I have pieces of plans, no more than ideas, really. These are very recent developments, Brother. I have not yet had time to properly assess the situation and prepare a course of action," Loki growled absentmindedly, looking down at the ground blankly in thought. Thor started pacing and I couldn't help but smile as the pair seemed to fall back into a pattern of behaviour that I could only surmise had been developed through their lives together before Loki's parentage was revealed to them both.
"You have not heard from any of the messengers you sent?" Thor inquired. Loki shook his head, not lifting his face.
"None returned. We can only assume that they are all slain."

"We could go ourselves," Thor suggested. Loki glanced up at his brother then, blinking in surprise.
"I beg your pardon?" Thor grinned at Loki, stepping forward and grabbing his arms.
"Think about it, Brother. We take our friends with us, and we go to the other realms to discuss negotiations ourselves! We are diplomats, after all. And if they refuse to negotiate, then we will kill their leaders and show them that the strength of Asgard remains unbroken!" Loki laughed bitterly, pulling away from Thor and snapping any glimpses I had into their pasts.
"What friends?" Loki snarled, shaking his head. "I have no friends."
"Oh, ta, Princeling," I grumbled, crossing my arms defensively. Loki flicked his gaze over to me and met my eyes. "I didn't fake my death, what are you cutting me out for?" I demanded. Loki sighed, running a hand over his hair.

"Then I suppose I have one friend, when she's not angry at me," Loki amended, turning his attention back to Thor again. "Hardly enough to take on a potentially fatal diplomatic mission, Thor; no matter how extraordinary Miss Carter is." Thor looked at Loki sadly.
"Very well. I will go with you. Borrow my friends; they've come through for you before, Brother. I know they will help on this mission for the good of Asgard." Loki stared at Thor for a moment before nodding decisively.
"For the good of Asgard," Loki echoed. "Your friends will agree to embark on this quest?" Thor looked around at the group imploringly and received nods and murmurs of assent. "Done," Loki declared, turning and sweeping from the room. "Make your individual preparations; I will see to the general supplies."

I followed Loki from the room, trotting to match up to his long, purposeful stride, which wasn't easy with a limp. He didn't acknowledge my presence until he turned into a room full of palace servants and ordered preparations to be made for the mission, after which, he took me by the arm and led me out to a discreet little balcony. "Ellie, why are you following…" Loki's speaking ended in a grunt as I pressed my hand against his abdomen and he winced, bending slightly and grabbing my hand, holding it still as he stared at me, breathing deeply.

"Did you think I would not notice, Loki?" I inquired lowly.
"I hoped you wouldn't," he whispered, swallowing tensely. "Don't tell Thor." I snorted, rolling my eyes.
"Princeling, when have I ever told Thor?"
"You haven't," Loki allowed. "But I know you worry over me, over all of us, Sif aside. I'm never sure whether or not you'll betray my confidences if you think the others need to know my weaknesses."
"Unless I think you're dying and they can actually help, or you're going to kill them, inadvertently or otherwise, your secrets are safe with me." Loki looked me over thoughtfully before nodding and releasing my hand, turning to gaze out over the city.

"You should go and pack what you'll need for our journey." Loki paused, glancing back at me. "If you are joining us; you didn't say anything when Thor asked," he noted. I smiled, shaking my head at Loki.
"I didn't reply to Thor because I'm going as your friend, Loki," I told him. Loki smiled slightly, inclining his head.
"It's good to have you back, Little Mouse."
"It's good to have you back, too, Princeling. I never thought you would be back." Loki winced, looking down guiltily.

"I am sorry, Ellie. I sincerely wish that you could have known. Things would have been easier for both of us if you did."
"Why would that have been easier for you?" I wondered, confused. Loki sighed, shaking his head and putting his hands on the balcony railing.
"It matters not. Go and pack, Ellie." I scowled at Loki's back, irritated.
"Are you going to keep hiding things from me, Loki?" Loki frowned, looking at me from the corner of his eye.
"You are perceptive; can you not think of a reason why I may have wanted you with me these past five years?"

"You were lonely?" I tried, shrugging uncertainly. Loki thinned his lips, looking down and I stared at him as the realisation dawned on me. "Oh my gosh; you actually missed me," I breathed, startled.
"Of course I missed you," Loki snapped, turning to face me again. "I spent months in your company, and then there was nothing for five years. I had some adjusting to do; and it didn't help that as soon as I came back here, my father-figure was sentencing me to live the rest of my days in solitary confinement, only allowing me to live because of Frigga's wishes. Yes, I missed you, Ellie. Every day." I sprang forward and threw my arms around Loki, nuzzling into his chest as he folded his arms around my back, instinctively curling his body over me protectively.
"I missed you, too, Loki," I murmured. "You have no idea how happy I am that you're alive."
"Then that makes one of you." I growled at that, smacking Loki on the chest sharply.

"That's not true; Thor is so happy to have his brother back."
"I am not his brother," Loki retorted coldly, narrowing his eyes at me. "He is not my brother." I flicked my gaze over Loki with a small smile.
"You were calling each other 'Brother' before," I reminded him quietly. Loki blinked, staring down at me blankly. "Your habits betray you, Princeling. Deep down, you still love your brother as much as he still loves you. He told me that you saved his life. If you cared as little as you claim to, you would have allowed that Kursed to slay him." Standing on my tiptoes, favouring my injured leg, I put my hand behind Loki's neck and pressed a quick kiss to his cheek before dropping to my normal height and leaving to ready myself for the mission.