A few weeks after his arrival in Asgard, Loki faces a deadline and a choice to make. Odin, tired of his wavering and delaying, is coming for his decision. They will sit and they will talk. Thor has visited a few times, but he does not say much, instead seeking to understand and to allow his brother the space to explain himself. But Loki says little. He cannot see how it will be helpful and he is puzzled by whomever sent him the helmet, so instead he asks Thor for news of who might have sent it. It is not something he had thought much about. None of the people he has imagined might be behind its arrival are people he wants to ever have contact with again.

When Odin enters his cell, he puts aside his book and waits for the king to speak first, sitting up on his bed. Odin sits at his feet.

"Have you come to a conclusion?"

"Yes."

"And?"

"If I will be safe from Thanos and whomever sent me the helmet and Stone, I wish to return to Midgard."

This surprises him, "Oh? But you said your magic was so integral to your soul. Does that not sway you to stay?"

"It did, for a while. But more integral to my soul is the touch of another person. Falling asleep with someone beside me. Cuddling under a blanket watching the stars. Sitting close on the balcony weekend mornings sipping coffee, staving off the chill with the heat of our bodies while we watch the sunrise. Being kissed on the cheek and embraced in greeting. Always having someone next door to call on if I am unable to hold my own hope. These things are far more important. And, according to your books, the Midgardian sorcerers are ones I have books about- witch women. The lore is true enough that I think I will be able to make my own connections over time. I am willing to wait if that is the price I must pay to have my beloved friends with me."

"And your long life? You will give that up as well?"

"I already have had it stolen from me once. I did not know there was a chance of it returning and made my peace with it then. I can continue to be at peace with it. And is not a few decades living in love a remarkable gift?"

"You will die long before your brother."

"I know. But I will live alongside my sisters and, hopefully some day, a lover. And no one will treat me as though I am untouchable because I am a prince. There is happiness in my home there. And in my sisters' home. And I wish to go where I am welcomed and embraced for everything I am and have been."

Odin does not believe what he is hearing, "You have grown, Loki. I did not expect this."

"I have a life in Midgard that I have learned to love. I am useful. I am a purveyor of books old and new in a shop that will soon be my own. I am deeply cared for. And I can care for others without barriers or formalities. Please, if you are willing to keep your bargain, return me to Midgard."

Odin rises, "So be it. You will return to Midgard. Thor will be here shortly to escort you."

"Thank you."

Odin leaves. A few minutes later, Thor enters. Loki leaves the book on the bed and follows him when he is told to. Thor takes him first to his chambers and asks what he wants brought with him. Loki selects clothing, a few books, a sturdy pair of boots, and a box of mementoes from his childhood. Thor packs them in a small trunk. Loki tries not to think about what he is choosing to give up and instead focuses on what he is choosing to return to. He finds that when he does this, his heart is surprisingly light.

When they land at Stark tower, Tony meets them at the door, "This seems strikingly familiar, except this time you've left a mess on my deck."

"It is not the first time. You have been able to restore it. You will again."

"Yeah. Turns out, Bifrost marks aren't as easy to remove as you might think. Anyway, what's going on this time? You boys in trouble?"

"No. Loki has chosen to return."

"Pretty sure that's not what I thought would happen. Wanda said something about judging."

"Father has done so. And Loki was granted a choice."

"Oh I can't wait to hear this. What did the all powerful god-man deem would be the fate for this guy? Is he going to release him wild into our world like he seems to do whenever he banishes his kids?"

Thor is about to say something entirely unkind to Tony when Loki answers for himself, "I was offered back my long life and magic if I would live in a cage."

"Oh, so is Midgard now the cage? Got to keep you away from Asgard?"

"No. I would be living in a cell in the dungeons the rest of my life had I chosen such. Instead I asked to be returned here to live as I have been."

Tony stares, "Wait, you've been bent up enough over not having it that you tried to kill yourself, but you didn't take it back? What's your angle?"

"I haven't one. But I do have sisters here I cannot leave behind for the rest of a very long and lonely life. This place has brought me happiness and love."

"Magda and Wanda are the reason you gave up magic?"

"Yes."

Tony gapes, "I'm not sure what to think about this. But if you're not lying, that's absolutely amazing."

"I assure you, I am not."

"So what are you going to do next?"

"I need to see them."

Natasha, who has been sitting on the couch listening, pipes up, "I'll drive."

"Wait, Nat, how do you know this is safe."

"I don't. But if he's really still just one of us, I can probably kill him faster than he can kill me."

"I assure you, I am no greater than I was when I left."

"When you left you were using magic."

"Only because of the helmet and an Infinity Stone. I have neither. Perhaps my assurance was misstated."

"I'm not comfortable with this, Nat."

She rolls her eyes, "Come off it, Tony. I'll take someone with me. Thor?"

"I cannot. Father has business for me to attend in Asgard. My role here was as an escort only."

She pulls out her telephone and calls someone, "Steve? Yeah. Loki's back. Dad won't let me ride in the car alone with boys. Will my big brother come along?"

While she is talking, Thor shakes Loki's hand and leaves the trunk beside him, "If you need me to deliver other items from your rooms, do not hesitate to ask. I will be back as soon as this business at hand is finished."

"There is no business, is there, Thor? He wants to see how I do without you. If my friends are as true as I believe. If they are forgiving. It is a test. Be honest. You are a terrible liar."

Thor sighs, "This is true. And that is also true. Stay strong, Brother. I will return."

"Goodbye, Thor. Until we are permitted to meet again."

"Heimdal?" And Thor is gone.

Natasha hangs up, "Steve's meeting me down at the car. Come on. Let's get you home."

He tries to heft the trunk and finds that it is heavier than he expected, "A little help?"

She takes one side, "Here. Together."

The elevator ride is awkward, but she smiles and, relieved, he smiles back. The trunk only somewhat fits in her car and Steve ties it in with bungee chords. She drives. Both men sit in the back seat.

When they are well into their trip, Loki finally speaks, "I...I am sorry for my actions in Central Park. I did not mean anyone harm. I only sought an open space from which to call Heimdal."

"Why?" Steve asks, "Why did you want to go back?"

"Wanda has not explained it?"

"No."

"I had the Time Stone. And I wanted to go to where it would be safe from those hunting it. And then I wanted to bring her back...or forward, as it were."

"Who's 'her'?"

"My mother." Silence. "I know it sounds childish, but Alexi left me and I need to fill one of the holes left by those who took a piece of my heart with them..." The explanation sounds stupid to his ears, so he stops saying anything at all.

"It's not childish at all. We all have people we miss," Steve responds. "I've been looking for Bucky since...well, since I knew he was alive. He's like a brother to me and I thought he was dead. I would have done anything to bring him back after I thought I'd lost him. And now that I know he's not, I'll do anything to help him remember who he was and who I am. Including fight him only as much as I have to on a helicarrier falling from the sky while he's trying to kill me."

"And you know my story. Or parts of the legend, at least. Don't think there aren't people I've lost I wouldn't kill to bring back. Or worse," Natasha adds.

"Thank you both for your understanding."

"So what was your plan? Or wasn't there really one?" Steve asks.

"I would take the Stone to Asgard where I would be safe using it. Then I would go back to Malekith's invasion and I would use illusion to protect her, to set decoys and to create an empty shell Malekith could sacrifice. And I would steal her back to our time. Thinking it through these past weeks...it would never have worked. But it was all I could think of."

"Better plan than mine for finding Bucky."

"And that is?"

"Burn HYDRA to the ground, one base at a time, until I find him."

"Efficient, though inelegant."

"Straightforward, that's for sure."

"Has it worked?"

"Not yet. But HYDRA's still out there. So there are still bases to burn down."

They turn onto Wanda and Magda's street and Natasha parks the car, "Here's a tip for you, Loki. Learn to love the pain as a reminder you had something good, even for a little while. Love's a bitch but it's worse not to ever find it." Steve gets out to help with the trunk, "I'll wait for you, just in case you don't want to stay. Just give me a signal if you want me to go."

"Would you like to come in instead? Neither of you need to sit in the cold."

She nods, "Sure. That would be nice." They haul the trunk up the steps; he finds his hide-a-key and unlocks his front door. The house smells a little stale, so he cracks the balcony door. He notices that the clean dishes he left on the sideboard have been put away.

Steve carries the trunk to the stairs, "Where do you want me to put this?"

"Would you mind carrying it upstairs? The back bedroom."

"No problem."

He puts the kettle on and finds his phone on the sideboard in the dining room. He texts Magda.

"I owe you both an immense apology. I am home. When might I come by to beg your forgiveness?"

He expects to wait for an answer, but the reply is immediate.

"Now. Or as soon as you can."

He sets out a selection of tea on the counter beside the stove and a pair of mugs; he calls Steve over as he comes down the stairs, "Magda asks for me to come over. I have set out tea. Please, make yourselves comfortable. The whistle will sound when the water is ready"

Steve returns to the living room where Natasha has already done so, her snowy boots by the door, a book she found on the table in her hands.

"Be gentle with that one- it is quite old."

"Since when do you read Russian?"

"I do not read it particularly well. But that one is a book of witch-lore and I was interested in it, so I started teaching myself."

"And you're actually understanding it?"

"A little. It is difficult. But languages are a mystery I enjoy untangling."

"Good. We can talk about it when you get back. It's pretty fascinating, even on the first few pages."

He tosses on his peacoat- his house keys are still in the pocket, "I will return shortly."

"Take your time. You don't need to worry about Nat and I. But you need to take your time with Magda and Wanda."

He nods and sighs, "Yes. Wish me luck."