When Loki wakes in the morning, she is still in the medical centre and she is alone, still yearning for her other body, her brain screaming that she is "she". She is also strapped to the bed. She tries to snap the bonds and cannot budge them. She hates the limits of this Midgardian shell. A shell it is, though, one empty of everything she feels she is. She swears under her breath as the door opens.

Natasha enters, "You're up. Breakfast will be on its way. Wanda's bringing it."

"I seem to find myself alive. How unfortunate."

"Not going to lie, the idea of you being dead didn't really bother me much until Thor walked in and I saw his face."

"I do not wish to speak to Thor."

"Somehow I don't think that's avoidable."

"Likely not."

She sits down beside the bed, "So why did you try to kill yourself? Wanda shared her theory with us last night. Whole world ripped out from under you. Is that it? Because some of us have never really had a world under our feet to begin with and it's a little hard to sympathise."

"I do not wish to speak of it."

"Really? Because if I remember right, you really like hearing yourself talk."

"Are you still upset about the 'mewling quim' line?"

"No. You tried to play me, it failed, but you did a good job. Better than most. And that really was a creative insult. Never been called that before, and I've been insulted in at least a dozen languages."

"Ah, my one victory."

The door slides open and Wanda pushes in a breakfast cart, "Will you be joining us, Nat?"

"No, just waiting for you. He's awake." She gets up to leave, "He's all yours."

When they are alone, Wanda settles in loosens the straps, "You were thrashing in your sleep after the sedative wore off. They did not want you to hurt yourself."

"She said you were speaking of me last night?"

"I was attempting to explain why you might choose to die."

"For what reason?"

"So they will see you as a person no different than the rest of us."

"And did it work?"

"I do not know. Steve and James seems inclined to listen. Vision wants to understand but does not yet know what it is to wish for death. Tony will be harder to convince. So will Sam, but he trusts my judgement, even if he does not know how to think about you yet."

"You told them my world was completely wrenched away from me and that was my motive?"

She serves breakfast- toast and eggs, juice and melon, "That it was a possible motive. And that you had things that have been a part of you since childhood taken from you, such as your long life."

"You are partly correct."

"Do you wish to explain?"

"No."

She nods and sips her juice, "Then eat. Your brother is upstairs. He wishes to see you. I insisted on a calm breakfast first."

"Why are you doing this for me?"

"Pietro was my twin. When he died, a part of me did, too. And I wanted to follow him. Even after I made my choice to join this side, it followed me. I have the power in my own mind to do it quickly. I was very close many times, looking at objects I had as methods, in addition to my own powers. I do not want to see another as alone as I was in my wish for self destruction."

"How much of my story did they tell you?"

"Thor told us everything he knew last night. Your birth, your adoption. Your fall. New York City and the Chitauri. Your mother's death and vengeance. Your apparent death. Time on the throne. And then your discovery."

"That is quite a lot. Did none of it bother you?"

"No, it did not."

"Oh?"

"Pietro and I were with HYDRA. Has Thor explained HYDRA to you?"

"No."

"They look towards a future where they rule and all others bow under their boots. One where those who are inferior do not survive. We were their super humans. Creatures enhanced to be better than people, ones who would rule with them. We then stood with Ultron when he asked for a world evolved- a world where we would be the highest forms of humanity. But he decided that was not possible, that since humans could not evolve fast enough, he would kill them and replace them with himself. We fled."

"That does not explain why you would not be surprised by my story."

"We were the villians. We unleashed the Hulk on a city. We showed the Avengers visions of horrors they could not shake. We were willing to do worse. We were once their enemies. And now I am one of them."

"You do not see a past as a problem."

"I cannot. You are what you are at this very moment. That is all."

"What would you do were I to tell you that the reason is deeper, even, than you believe?"

"I will listen."

Loki sets aside the plate, speaking cautiously, quietly, "Does your realm have those who feel as though their body does not always match their mind?"

"In what way?"

"Growing up, there were days I felt certain that I should wear a woman's body, and so I shifted my shape to do so. Some days I was firmly a man. And other days, somewhere between. But I would simply change to fit so that I could be happy. Now I cannot. Are there those here who feel as though their body is sometimes at odds with their mind?"

"Yes, they exist. In this language, we call them 'transgender'."

"And how do they cope?"

"That varies. Some alter their bodies with surgery. Others with clothing and makeup only. Some change fully, others do not, and live flexable lives. It depends on the person, what they wish to do to live happily."

Loki sighs, "At least there is a word for it."

She reaches for a hand, "Is this why you tried to die?"

"Yes. I woke up and could not make myself match. Who I am...one more part of me he has ripped out. And an important part."

"How did those in Asgard treat you for your shifting genders?"

"It is not a common practice among the Aesir, but it is not unheard of. I was simply one of the few who could do it exceptionally well. Why?"

She squeezes Loki's hand, "There are those here who hate transgender people. It can be very difficult. But it can also be very rewarding to live in such a way that proves such horrible people cannot defeat you. I did not want you to think this world is like Asgard, if in Asgard it is accepted."

Loki grips her hand in return, "Thank you for your honesty."

"If you will not lie to me, I will not lie to you."

"Lies are...were...a significant part of my life."

"And do they still have to be?"

"No. But the better question is do I want them to be?"

She slips her hand away and pushes the plate back, "That is a question you will have to answer, but you do not need to do so now. What you must do now is eat before Thor decides that it is time to visit. You will need your energy."

"Ah, yes. For some brotherly conversation."

They eat without further talk and as she clears the dishes, Thor enters. Loki takes a deep breath.