Steve awoke with a gasp. He blinked in disorientation at the dawn creeping through the window of his own bedroom in D.C. He passed a clammy hand down his face. It was a dream, thank heavens. He looked to the clock. It was barely past five, but he would not be sleeping anymore this morning. He rolled out of bed and trudged through the darkened apartment towards the kitchen. He blinked in surprise as he opened the door to find both Iron Man and the Black Widow sitting at his breakfast table, moodily stirring enormous cups of coffee. "Hello... What are you doing here?" he asked. And how did you get in, since neither of you is supposed to have a key?

Natasha looked up sharply, expression grim. Stark sighed. "I got an email from Prince T'Challa a couple hours ago," he said. "Thor was in Wakanda yesterday." He looked up at him with bleak eyes. "He was returning the vibranium device Princess Shuri made for Loki. He didn't stick around."

Steve felt numb. That could only mean one thing. Weeks had passed without news, and now... Loki was dead?

"The Wakandans thought we would like to know," Natasha commented in clipped tones.

And Thor couldn't even bring himself to visit. Steve found himself crying and didn't care. Stark got up and hugged him. After a moment, so did Natasha. Loki wasn't their friend, but his life had mattered, mattered so much to all of them, and he was gone...

Author's Note: Hang in there, guys. It's safe to turn the page.