Monday morning, Loki rises early to get ready for work. He dresses, ties back his hair, eats breakfast, and settles in for a few moments of reading when there is a knock on his door. He jumps to his feet, thinking that it must be an urgent message at this hour. He opens the door and there, with a sweater pulled tightly around him, is Steve Rogers.

"Hello?"

"Hello, Loki. Thor told me how to find you. There's been an incident...which house is Magda's? He said you were next door."

"What has happened?" He cannot envision good news being the reason for this visit and his mind immediately jumps to the worst possible conclusion. His heart sinks.

"Wanda's missing. I only want to have to explain this once, though. Can you show me to Magda's door?" Loki feels the blood drain from his face and he feels ill. He takes a deep breath, grabs his bag, and locks the house behind him, "Are you OK?"

"Come." He leads the way and knocks.

Magda, her purse in hand, opens it, "Good morning Loki. Unless this is terribly urgent, can we wait to talk? I am going to be late for work."

"Then you will be late. This is an emergency."

She notices Steve behind him, "Oh god. What has happened?" She steps aside and they settle in her living room.

Loki sits beside her on the couch and takes her hands, "Captain Rogers has informed me that Wanda is missing."

"No... What happened?"

"I can't quite say, ma'am because we don't entirely know. We were in a research facility that she said looked like a HYDRA design. She was leading. One moment, she was in front of us, the next, she'd vanished. We looked everywhere, but couldn't find her. Clint disappeared for a moment, too. He said he thinks he went back in time to a rock concert- the guy who sang in the band he was listening to is dead. He reappeared the same place he'd disappeared from just a few moments later. We are definitely dealing with a very powerful artefact."

"Wanda mentioned an infinity stone. Magda, has she told you anything about these things?"

"A little."

"Then you know they bend reality as we know it."

"Yes."

"There is one that bends time. I would think this must be what was used against her."

"Is someone still there in case she returns the same way?"

"Yes, ma'am. Thor, actually, and Natasha. We've got radio contact and they'll let us know if they find anything. There's a SHIELD team with them- I've been told it's the best team they've got."

"And you are certain the SHIELD team is not HYDRA?" Loki asks. Wanda has mentioned the infiltration and he is not sure if having SHIELD with his brother is comforting or not.

"Yes. The director vouched for them. They're his team and the only team that survived the fall of SHIELD."

"Ah."

"He's got a personal reason for wanting to make sure this stone doesn't fall into the wrong hands. Thanks to you, actually."

"It is no wonder Director Fury would want to assure I could not get another one after New York."

"Fury's not in charge of SHIELD anymore. Phil Coulson is."

"Oh. OH. Yes, he would be rather intent on this."

"And despite the fact that he's in New York, I think you both should come to the tower for a little while. Maybe something you know about Wanda could help us find her."

Magda sighs, "I would, but I must work."

"As must I. The bookshop will not run itself."

"Well talk to your bosses. It would be a good idea."

Magda checks the time, "I am sorry, but I am the only one running the centre today. I need to unlock doors before my clients arrive. Thank you, Captain, for bringing us the bad news." They leave the house. Magda drives away without saying anything else.

Loki lingers by Steve for a moment, "We will come. Arrangements have to be made. Neither of us will be able to wait long."

"Call me when you're on your way. I'll have apartments set up for you."

"Of course." Steve hands him a scrap of paper with his number and returns to his car. Loki begins the long walk to the store.