Not too much drama left in this story, but some really interesting loose ends. I've been looking forward to writing this story from the very beginning...

Frigga and Thor both visited on that first day that Loki was awake, but neither stayed too long for fear of over-taxing him. Eir had been quite correct. The effect of his wounds, followed by three months with neither food, or water, or exercise had indeed left him weak, and building his strength was likely to take some time even for one of Loki's power. Nonetheless, he continued to make small but significant improvements, and by the afternoon of the fifth day, he was out of bed, sitting in a comfortable chair on the Healing Rooms' balcony. After his confinement and immobility it was very pleasant to be out in the fresh air, and a charm of Hermione's ensured that the balcony remained comfortably warm, even in the midst of an Asgardian winter.

He was dozing lightly, a book unregarded on his lap, when a voice behind woke him.

"Are you up for some company?"

Turning, a little startled, he was surprised and somewhat alarmed to see Bruce Banner, and Steve Rogers hovering in the doorway. Sensing his alarm, Bruce smiled raising his hands disarmingly.

"It's fine – just me – the Other Guy is well under control these days"

"In that case" smiled Loki "you are very welcome. I just don't think I'm up for another tussle with your big green – friend – at the moment."

Bruce smiled and took the proffered seat. Steve leaned against the railings looking perfectly relaxed. He had already been to visit the previous day, and had spent a very pleasant hour playing chess – and being soundly beaten. With no hard feelings, it had been agreed that a re-match would be due very soon.

For a while the three men passed the time politely enough, discussing Loki's recovery, and the ongoing repair works on the city and the palace. Soon though Loki's attention turned to Bruce, looking, pleased but bemused by his new visitor. "I was not aware that you were still with us Doctor Banner? Have you been keeping Captain Rogers company?"

Bruce shook his head. "I've been back on Earth. I've done some – travelling, but I've mainly been at Stark Tower, making use of their research laboratories. Tony is right – the facilities he has at his disposal are amazing…."

Initially, the conversation was stilted and a little awkward, but when it came to matters of science Loki had a razor sharp intelligence, a profound interest in the subject and an eagerness to learn, and Bruce was equally happy to share his theories with an open and interested audience. With no enmity between them any more, they found that they had far more in common than either had ever imagined and the conversation became much easier. Neither of them noticed when Steve – who had come mainly as moral support for Bruce, slipped away.

After about an hour, Bruce was guiltily aware that Loki was starting to tire visibly. He was silent for a moment, trying to decide whether or not he ought to continue the conversation as he had planned, or come back another day. He had not expected that they would find so much to talk about.

Sensing his distraction, Loki frowned. "Dr Banner?"

"Bruce"

"Bruce. You didn't come here to talk about science did you? Not that this hasn't been very agreeable, and interesting, but what can I really do for you?"

Banner took a moment to marshal his thoughts, then he chuckled ruefully, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"If anyone had told me I'd be having this conversation all those years ago, back in New York, I would have told them that they were certifiable - but here I am." He looked at Loki. "You're clearly a happily married man. Yet in those days you were" he paused, wondering how to put it politely then gave up "…you were a raging megalomaniac with delusions of global domination. Even putting the kindest possible spin on it you were as mad as a box of cats."

He sighed – looking a little awkward. "Thor said that I should talk to you about 'the monster inside'... I'm sorry I'm not making a lot of sense..."

Loki looked at him, eyes narrowed. "The monster…? Bruce who is this..." Realisation dawned, and he smiled. "Of course, the lovely but lethal Natasha... so you and she...?" he paused delicately.

"No - yes...No." Loki's eyebrows raised - confused.

Banner put his head in his hands. "I know guys don't usually talk about feelings and stuff, but I really need your advice. How did you do it? How is it possible to - come back?"

When Loki still looked perplexed, Bruce sighed and tried again. "How is it possible to tame the monster and build a life with someone, when you've done – the kind of things that – that I - that we've done. When you're as - damaged - as we are - were?"

This was beginning to make a little sense. Loki took a moment to consider the situation. "Forgive me Bruce…. is not Natasha a woman with an - interesting past too? Is she not equally as damaged as you or I?"

Bruce nodded reluctantly, then scowled. "But she doesn't turn into a monster out of a nightmare. Neither do you come to that." He sighed and rose. "Look, this was a mistake…."

A pale hand gripped his arm. "Wait Doctor Banner. Please…" Loki closed his eyes, concentrating for a moment. He was a lot more comfortable with his Jotun form now, but showing his other self to Banner was far from easy, especially when he was still so vulnerable. He heard the other man's gasp as the tide of ridged blue washed across his skin, finally, opening his eyes now a deep and stunning scarlet.

He smiled wryly. "Behold Dr Banner. The creature of my infant nightmares, and the black hearted villain of my childhood make believe. The monster under every Aesir child's bed.

This is the face of the ancestral enemy of every decent Asgardian, a byword for brutality, and uncivilised savagery throughout the realm. Capable of producing great spears of ice from my hands, of delivering deep agonising frost burns with a single touch. My natural form." He shook his head. "I discovered this form entirely by accident, after more than a thousand years of believing myself to be Aesir, the son of Odin, a prince of Asgard. After helping my brother to slaughter countless of my kind"

Banner's eyes were wide. "No one told you...?" He was silent for a moment. "No wonder you went crazy. Clearly they were wrong - now you have your head straight, you're one of the most educated and civilised men I've ever met."

Loki smiled his thanks then looked down at the wedding band on his left hand. "Hermione, with the support of my mother and Thor, has long since helped me to come to terms with it."… He looked up, and the bright green eyes were clear and unflinchingly honest. "…but when I first found out it was the end of my world. Like you, I believed myself to be a true monster. Too brutal, too terrible to be able to love, to inspire love. Faced with the life I feared I was doomed to - outcast and alone - it was so much easier to take refuge in despair and rage. Then at my very lowest point, I met Hermione - as you met Natasha. And she changed everything."

They were both silent for a moment...

"Does Natasha share your feelings?" Loki's voice was almost tentative...

Bruce nodded. "Yes, I think that she does..."

Loki put a hand on his arm. "Bruce, the Norns know that it will never be easy, but if you truly care for one another... You need to accept that she loves you - that she finds you worthy of her love, and trust to that. All else will come in time. I was convinced that if Hermione saw me in this form it would be the end of us..."

"Clearly it wasn't."

Loki smiled and shook his head. "No, it wasn't. My Jotun form has never held any fear for Hermione – I was the one that was afraid, not her. And I understand that Natasha is already very familiar with your other form, and has developed a remarkable affinity with it – with him."

Closing his eyes with a sigh, Loki allowed his natural magic to restore his Aesir form, before turning back to Bruce. " I have come to accept that my - original form - is as much a part of me as the Aesir, and as I came to that acceptance, the ice magic has come to similarly merge with my magecraft. In fact when Asgard was attacked, that power saved my life. And if you are content and secure in your relationship - well, the happier and more relaxed you are, the easier - your other side - will be to control.

You could keep running Bruce. But you mortals have so little time - is it not better to take what happiness you can - to take the risk? I understand from my brother that Natasha was wounded herself during the Convergence. Is she now healed?"

Bruce nodded. "Healed, and gone"

"Gone?"

Bruce's eyes were on the distant horizon, watching the sun sink slowly toward the void. It would soon be time for Loki to go back inside. "We grew very close when she was so badly wounded and I was afraid that I might lose her. When she was better - I came - well I thought I came to my senses. I can see now that I was just running away. She is so much braver than I am, but I think I have finally hurt her once too often. As soon as she was able, she left. Heimdall tells me that he sent her back to Earth, but that is all he will tell me."

Loki put a hand on his arm. "Go, find her. Heimdall will know all that you have told me today. Be brave Bruce. Your life is too short. You may not have perfection – I believe few couples do, but if she loves you, and you her, that is too precious a thing to lose."

Bruce stood up and shook Loki's hand. "Thank you - for your honesty, and for your advice."

Loki smiled. "It was my pleasure…" and he was surprised to find that he meant it "…when you have found her, when you have resolved things between you for good or for ill, come back and see us. I would be interested to hear more of the work you are doing... Good luck - my friend."

After Bruce had left – heading back to Heimdall with renewed purpose, Loki leaned back in his chair, feeling weary. Just as he was dozing off, he remembered what had been nagging at the back of his mind since he woke up.

Why hadn't he seen Harry? Had he really left Asgard, while Loki was still asleep? Left Hermione when she had most need of him

And why couldn't he shift the conviction that there was something that he really needed to remember...?