People filter into the room over the course of the hour. Loki keeps to himself, his book in hand, while they do. Some make themselves at home, taking breakfast, chatting to Magda in Sokovian or English as she makes coffee. A few use other languages, speaking more slowly, and help her to find the words to respond. Others talk amongst themselves, glancing around as though they are strangers to this place. Once the coffee is done, Magda drifts from person to person, making a point to spend time with those who appear less comfortable. Loki identifies at least a dozen languages spoken amidst the thirty or so people gathering in the room, sometimes more than one in a family. He wonders how many Magda understands.
"Come on, kidlets, time for games!" Shelly calls from the door and the gaggle of small children clinging to their parents' legs detach and rush towards her, a giggling wave of energy.
"Circle up, my friends. The children are in Shelly and Ariel's capable hands." Magda sits on a padded bench and sips her coffee, settling the cup on the saucer when she speaks. Loki imagines she is the queen of this space, regal in her own way as her mere presence commands attention. In this, she reminds him of Frigga. Once the circle is formed from chairs, beanbags, benches, and pillows, she takes a final sip of her coffee and clears her throat, "Now. Good morning, my friends. We have some new faces in our circle this morning, so we will begin with introductions. Your name, or what you wish us to call you. Any part of your story you wish to share. And then we will move to the next person. I am Magda. I come from Sokovia. I came here after the Ultron incident. I started working here to help my people adapt to this new world, but quickly found we are not so different, those of escaping our homes because they are no longer safe. Or are no longer there. So now I help all of you as much as I can."
The stories around the circle stun Loki. People speak of wars destroying their homes, violence against their families and executions in front of their children, of rape and destruction so wide sweeping that they could not stay, of fleeing roving gangs or even their own families threatening to kill them. There are a few Sokovians who left the country after Ultron, just like Magda. And then it is his turn to speak.
"I am Loki. I...my story is a bit different than yours. I was kicked out of my home- my realm." He pauses, "I am from Asgard. The same place as Thor. He is my adopted brother. I made mistakes. Large ones. Including leading an alien army into New York City as part of a bargain for my life. And eventually I took the throne of Asgard. When I was discovered, Odin All-Father, king, and Thor's father, cast me out and I was stripped of my long life, my magic...everything I once considered a normal part of me. I was dropped, naked, in the middle of the desert. Thor found me, clothed me, and brought me to this city to find a new life. Everything is new. Everything is overwhelming. I have managed to find a few friends and they have taught me a little about this place. But with so much different, I find myself very lost."
One man raises his hand, "I know this isn't normal, but can I ask a question?"
"If Loki is willing, yes," Magda replies.
"I am. But I may refuse to answer."
"That's fine. I just can't figure out how making you one of us is the right way to handle whatever all you've done."
"Odin thought I would learn repentance best by living amongst those I would have lorded over, had we been successful. Which we never would have. Asgard would have fought us herself had your Avengers not been capable of defending this world and knowing well the might of Asgard, I could not have defeated her and her allies."
"Why did you do it?"
"My other option was to let them kill me."
"Who's them? And how did you get in that mess to begin with?"
"I am still not entirely sure who they were- a creature called Thanos, who I never met. And I got there by a series of rash decisions stemming from discovering my birth parents were demonized by the culture of those that had adopted me. I was irrationally angry."
"So...you tried to take over New York."
"In a round about way, yes."
"You are a piece of work, mister. I don't think a lot of us will sympathize. A lot of us ran from crazy regimes trying to take things over."
"I understand."
"No, I'm not sure that you do."
He crosses his arms over his chest. The circle continues, but Loki cannot pay attention. He tries to follow the discussion, but his mind is stuck on the confrontation. He once again feels as though he does not belong where he is. He wishes he could sink into the furniture, much like when Thor delivered him to the tower. When they end the circle discussion, people leave the room, stopping for a word with another or a doughnut on their way.
Magda sits beside him, "You handled yourself well. Josef asked difficult questions and you have a rough history. You answered with honesty and grace."
"I am a guest here, there is no other way to respond."
"Oh, there are plenty of other ways to respond, my dear. I have heard conversations between people from nations on opposite sides of a war turn into threats and escalate to shoving. People exposed to traumatic experiences do not react well to others needling them about it, or to those they believe are responsible for them. And we have had our fair share of that here. You did well."
"May I ask you a question?"
Magda smiles, "Yes, and I will promise to answer it, if I can."
"Did you know of everything?"
"No. Not of torture. I know a little of what happened before your fall, as Wanda told me what she had heard from Thor. And she told me of your mother. But that it was New York or death, I did not know. Did you know at the time there was no way to win? That you would be defeated by Asgard or killed?"
"Knew, yes. Would I admit it? No. I tried to believe that I had a chance, even if it was a slim one. But nothing escapes the eyes of Asgard. My choices were a death no one would see deep in the Void, my body left to rot where it fell, or a glorious death in battle against those I once fought alongside."
"Why do you think a death as their enemy would have been glorious? War is no glory, war is hell. We have seen it."
"In our culture, the warrior is a hero no matter his side because he chose to fight at all and not to flee. The willingness to engage is raised to almost god-like status. And my former friends would have borne my body home to rest."
"So even an enemy is respected."
"In a strange way, yes. Vilified, but the fact that they are remembered at all is an honour."
"You were asked to choose your best death."
"Yes."
"And then did not die."
"Correct. A surrender is a weakness. Sparing an enemy shames them."
"I do not believe I will ever understand Asgard."
"I hope you do not have to, though you would be far better at adapting than I. Thor and I were raised to be kings. To lead armies and rule entire realms. Our abilities to live other lives are underdeveloped at best."
Magda squeezes his shoulders, "You are doing a fine job, Loki. And you are more brave than you credit yourself for."
He leans against her for a moment, "Thank you."
"You are always welcome. Now, come. The children will have finished their story hour. Shall we join the families in the lounge?"
"As you wish, Magda. This is your work, not mine. Do you think Josef will cause trouble?"
"Perhaps. But trouble we can handle. There are so many worse things than trouble."