Spring is full under way when Tony hosts StarkExpo and invites all his friends and coworkers to bring their families. Wanda does not initially want to go, but Magda's face at seeing the list of gadgets and devices that will be on display is more than enough to convince her to attend. They invite Loki and he declines. But then Thor arrives on his doorstep on the day of the Expo.

He hears the knock and, not expecting anyone, he answers hesitantly, "Hello?"

"Brother!" Thor wraps him in a huge hug and carries him back into the house, "It is so good to see you!"

Loki can't help but laugh, "Put me down, you oaf, and don't let my kittens out!"

Thor sets him down and checks to see that no furry bodies have slipped by and closes the door, "Kittens?"

"Yes. Anthony, Natasha, Bruce, Steve, Vision, and Clint. Though Bruce and Vision are also female."

"When did you acquire kittens?"

"Not long after my return. Ralph said that perhaps I should procure a pet. They are wonderful little fuzzy creatures and I delight in caring for them."

Thor checks the couch and moves the black kitten with the white spot before sitting down, "Which one has which name?"

"You are holding Vision. The black one likely on top of the refrigerator is Clint, the orange one is Anthony. The large grey one is Bruce and the smaller grey one is Steve. Natasha is the one with many colours."

Thor scratches Vision's ears and soon the others notice and push into his hands for attention, "They are quite persistent creatures. Stubborn."

"Yes, satisfaction, it seems, is not in their nature lest you pet them into slumber. Nor, my dear Thor, is surrender. Once one of them sets their mind to action, there is no limit to how far it will go. I found Clint climbing the draperies in my bedroom one morning. Natasha and Anthony were eyeing the situation, contemplating joining him."

"Oh?"

"I extracted them from the curtains, set them on the bed, and gave them a firm talking-to. Then they seemed to calm. But when I returned from the bathroom, all three were perched on the curtain rod."

"Did they get down on their own?"

"No. They mewed until I returned them to the ground. I told them I should have left them there for a little while to let them know how unpleasant it was to be stuck, but I have a soft heart for these small creatures and I am spoiling them rotten."

"Speaking of being spoiled rotten, there is quite a fancy event tonight that Anthony is hosting."

The orange kitten, hearing his name, stretches up against Thor's shirt and starts trying to chew on his hair, "Now, Anthony, do not eat hair, it is not food..." Loki gently extracts the kitten and turns it to face him, "Really? Is that how we treat a guest?" Anthony mews, "Precisely. Now behave yourself." He holds Anthony against him scratches his back. Anthony snuggles against him and begins purring, "I know the StarkExpo is tonight. Magda and Wanda invited me, but I declined."

"Would you attend if I told you that Jane is there waiting for me and I would love your company tonight?"

"I do not know. It is a large crowd."

"That it is. But it is also a room filled with remarkable technology and gadgetry. I think you would enjoy yourself. And Jane is eager to explain everything we encounter to anyone who will listen. While I only partially understand what she is saying, you would figure things out quickly. You have always had a mind for science."

He avoids the question intentionally, "I assume since you are here that I passed Odin's test?"

"There was never any doubt in my mind that you would, Loki. While Father is often harsh and unforgiving, the family you have built here is gentle and firm. So much more like Mother. And what you have always needed."

"That does not mean they automatically forgave me, Thor, my actions causing no harm. It means they are willing to grant me the grace to keep learning. Is not that wonderful?"

"Yes, it is."

Loki sighs and sets a now sleeping Anthony on the chair, "I will go with you. On one condition."

"Oh?"

"That you let me take you out to buy a suit."

Thor laughs, "You wish me to be dapper!"

"Yes. You must be at least as dapper as I will be. And there is a second hand shop near here with a vintage velvet suit I have had my eye on. Perhaps today is the day to treat myself."

"On Anthony's tab?"

"No, actually. I no longer need his card to survive. My work has allowed me to take on that task myself. And so long as you do not decide on a designer silk suit, I should be able to treat the both of us."

Thor moves the kittens and stands, clapping a hand on Loki's shoulder with pride, "My dear Brother. You have come so far. I am happy for you."

"Good. Then let us go suit shopping."

Loki's velvet jacket is still in the shop, the black pants have a stripe of velvet ribbon down the sides. He tries it on one more time and admires its fit in the mirror. Thor has a little more trouble finding something, but the shopkeeper is helpful and she retreats to her back room and brings out a beautiful sage jacket with tan trousers piped in the same sage. Thor tries them on and stands in front of the mirror with Loki.

"I think we look quite good."

"Indeed, we do. Though I do admit, I am not used to seeing you in green."

"Things are different now. I will wear your colours in your honour."

Loki blushes a little, "Then I feel I must find something red to go with this delightful piece of costumery."

The shopkeeper brings him a bright red handkerchief and expertly folds it, tucking it in his jacket pocket, "There. Is there anything else you gentlemen will need? Shirts? Ties? Formal socks?"

"If you can outfit my brother, I would be most grateful. He has little in the way of these niceties and we are attending Mr Stark's Expo this evening."

Her eyes light up, "I sold a cocktail dress to a woman for that event a few years ago- it was quite a hit with the press."

"Did that woman happen to be a very tall redhead with a thick accent?"

"Yes."

"Magda. She is attending again tonight."

"I hope she wears the dress. It is lovely. It hugs her curves beautifully. Dark, midnight blue. A wrapped bodice. Skirt split into a pleated fan just over her hip. It's really stunning."

"I will mention it to her when we return."

"Oh, I would like that very much!" She turns to Thor, "Now, you. We need to find you a nice shirt and a tie to go with that. Perhaps a nice bow tie..." And she is off, rummaging through shelves and bins, digging for her favourite pieces she thinks will fit him. He leaves with a shirt, shoes, socks, a sage bow tie, and a vest in the same fabric as his trousers. Loki leaves with the velvet suit and a wallet considerably lighter. But he is happy and excited on the walk back to his row house with Thor.

He checks the time when they enter the house, starts supper, calls Magda to tell her he is going and to ask about the dress. She is planning to wear it. He finishes cooking and makes Thor coffee and they eat together before heading to the bedrooms to dress. Loki puts on his suit. He drapes his favourite scarf around his neck and clips the Yggdrasil necklace under his collar in place of a tie. He selects silver cufflinks with silver flowers etched into them. And he lightly ties his hair back with a black velvet band, a few shorter curls tucked behind his ears. He sits and looks at his makeup kit. There is nothing stopping him from using it, he realizes, so he does light eyeshadow in gold and lavender and a touch of rouge on his cheeks. He tugs on lace fingerless gloves and meets Thor in the hallway.

"You look marvellous tonight, Loki."

"And yourself. Shall we? We do not want to keep our neighbours waiting."

"Is Magda wearing the dress?"

"Yes. And she mentioned Wanda would be living up to her name. I can only imagine what that means she will be wearing."

"Red, I would imagine."

"If you can think of nothing more than red, you are horribly unimaginative." Loki tucks his wallet in his pocket, finds his keys and wallet, pulls on his shoes, and pets each of the kittens now curled in a heap together on the chair, "Come, we do not wish to keep them waiting."

Thor follows him out the door. In the chilly late spring evening air, Magda leans on her car, waiting, while Wanda is just leaving the house. They pile into the Mercedes and drive to the city.