Wanda sits with Natasha, Clint, Tony, and Steve in the penthouse. They are scanning the latest feed from SHIELD on the Time Stone. There have been some suspicious energy readings around the city, but most have been concentrated in one particular building. SHIELD briefed them, but did not give them the address. Tony walks them through the charts- what kind of energy signatures, the fact that they seemed to be connecting someone with something ancient, and that they are surprisingly concentrated all in one location, at least for the past month. He flicks to an areal photograph and Wanda nearly drops her coffee.

"You know the place?"

"I often live there."

"Wait, what?"

All eyes are on her.

Steve prompts, "You're going to have to do some explaining, Wanda."

She shakes her head as he zooms in, "No, that's not over Magda's house. It's next door."

"So who's your neighbour?" Clint asks.

"Loki. It's Loki."

No one moves for a moment, "Oh shit, he's gone evil again, hasn't he?" Tony says.

"Call Thor," Wanda replies.

"Why?"

"Because I think this is a whole lot more complicated than that."

Something beeps on one of the holographs hovering in front of them, "Tony? He's moving," Steve reports.

"Where to?"

"No idea. Looks like maybe Central Park."

Clint watches the moving dot, "He's on the subway. I'm not convinced evil takes the subway."

"It does if it's trying to be stealthy. Come on, we should suit up. Who knows what he's going to do?" Steve and Clint go to get ready. Tony stops, noticing that Natasha is still sitting next to Wanda, a hand on her back, "Are you ladies coming?"

Natash glares at him, "In a minute."

"Hey, I wasn't saying anything. I really wanted to know."

"No, you want to know if Wanda can handle fighting her best friend."

"That too, but I was trying to be tactful."

"That's unusual for you. Don't be surprised if I don't entirely believe you."

He crouches down by Wanda, "Look, I don't want to make this worse. But you're the one who knows him best. What's his play?"

"I do not know."

"You don't think he's up to something?"

"Tony, his lover left him for a country at war. He has spoken little to us since then. It has been a month. I do not know what he is doing, but whatever it is, it is not out of malice. It is out of desperation and anguish."

There is a thud and Steve calls, "Thor's here."

Tony calls, "Got it," and then returns his attention to Wanda, "I don't like not being the one in charge, but if you tell us to hold in the field, we'll do it. If you honestly think he's not trying to do something incredibly stupid with this thing...I've got to believe you. But if he makes one threatening move, I'll throw him across that damn park."

Wanda takes a deep breath, "Then I suppose we had best work quickly so I can intervene before others do."

"Yeah. Especially before Rock of Ages over there does. Because you know he's going to forget his brother's not a god the minute he sees whatever magical thing he's got going on with the Time Stone."

She stands and takes Natasha's hand, "Thank you," she squeezes, "I think we ought to hurry."

Tony stands and pats her shoulder, "Right. Let's get to Central Park."

Wanda rides with Natasha, Clint, and Steve in a very fast car while Tony and Thor fly ahead.

Clint adjusts his earpiece, "Drop me off at the edge of the park, Nat. I'll find a perch. If any of you give a signal, I'll fire."

Natasha shakes her head, "Wait for Wanda. She's calling the shots on this one."

"Are you sure? No offence, but if he's gone to the Dark Side, we can't afford the 'he was my friend' hesitation. That'll get us killed."

"I'll back her up. If it looks like things are going south, I can buy a little time. He's not even as strong as I am, Clint. One good hit with the shield and I can take him down."

"Yeah, but he's got the Time Stone. You don't to end up back in the 90s or something. Might get sent to a Nickleback concert."

Steve stares, "A what?"

"A rock band you should be glad you missed."

Steve takes out his little notebook and jots it down, "Now that you said it, I'm going to have to look it up."

"Suit yourself, but you're going to regret that."

Natasha rolls her eyes, "Calm down, boys. Nothing to get excited about. We're almost there." She turns to Wanda, "You sure you're ready for this?"

"Yes." She sighs,"And no at the same time."

"If he's gone evil, you know we might have to kill him, right?"

"Yes. I understand that. I only ask for a moment alone with him while he is dying if it comes to that."

"If it's safe."

"Yes. If it is safe."

"You hear that, boys?"

Steve nods, "Yes, ma'am."

"Clint?"

"Got it."

"Relay that to the guys in the sky. If we have to kill him, Wanda gets last words."