Loki does not bother to retrieve his coat, and neither he does notice the cool air on his skin as he takes the stairs two at a time, looking for the coffee shop across the street. He spots it thanks to the little glowing mug around the "Open" sign. The street in front of the convention centre is blocked off, a parking lot for the limousines. He darts between them, not intending to run, but coming fairly close. His heart urges him to move faster.

He stops on the sidewalk, straightens his jacket, tries to calm himself, and opens the door. His heart is racing and in his throat when he steps inside. He spots Alexi by the tinted window and tries to control his steps, slowing them to what he thinks is a normal walking speed. Alexi stands. When Loki is close enough, he stops.

"I thought I would never see you again."

"I know. I'm sorry." He opens his arms, "Hug?"

Loki closes the distance between them in two quick steps, holding Alexi tight, "Oh how I have missed you..."

Alexi kisses his cheek, "I know. I missed you, too. Sit? I'll buy."

"Yes, thank you." Loki sits, reluctant, though, to let Alexi step too far away.

"What do you want?"

"Chocolate. And coffee."

"Mocha. Got it." Alexi orders and then sits across from Loki, "So...I came back for a couple of reasons. You, mostly. I thought I could help, but they took one look at me, even in my lady clothes, and told me they don't want queer women adopting their kids. Like we're going to eat them or something. I tried to tell them I was dating a guy, but they made it pretty clear that transgender anything, even just this butch haircut, wasn't going to be in line for adopting babies. Which was heartbreaking. I mean, those kids need parents, right? Why does it matter what our parts configurations are? But that got me thinking...I really really needed to be here. Where I'm loved. And where it doesn't matter."

Loki's mocha arrives and he thanks the barista, takes a sip, and then curls his hands around the warm mug, "Alexi...you hurt me very deeply."

"I know."

"No, you do not. Someone sent me an Infinity Stone so I could alter time right after you broke my heart. I will never know who and I do not care to. They had to know they I was at my most vulnerable and least able to think clearly. And I nearly used it, too. I called Asgard so I could do so there, in the safety of their dungeons. I wanted to bring back my mother."

"Oh..."

"There were two holes in my heart. And I could fill that one without destroying her life, as she was...is...already dead. I could not steal you."

"God, Loki. I don't know what to say."

"I do not take rejection well, apparently."

"No shit, honey. No shit." Loki laughs a little at his own failing, "But that's part of what I adore about you- you love hard and you don't want to let go or give up. Anyone you think is worth loving, you give everything of yourself to. And I was so lucky that was me."

"It still is you, Alexi."

"Even after everything?"

"I am a fool to want this so dearly, but yes. Even after everything." He stares at his mug.

"No, you're in love, Loki. That's not foolish."

"You left. I should not be so eager to trust you again. But my heart wants to pick up where we left off. To say this does not matter. And to simply welcome you back. But my mind says that while you opened yourself to me after knowing my past, you put conditions on it. You told me I needed to ask for help and to commit to not repeat my mistakes. So I wish to ask the same of you. Will you find a different way, one that does not involve leaving, if you feel this urge to return home again?"

"Sokovia isn't the same. But even if it was...yeah. I will. Look, I suck with words and I'm not nearly as eloquent as you are. But I felt like I'd been punched in the gut when I got on that plane. And when I had to dress like a woman and play femme? It felt like someone was ripping my soul out. I can't live like that. I'm just what I am. But I like this body. I like what it can do. And I love that you just accept that it is what it is. That I am who I am. I need that more than I need anything else. I need you."

"Can I trust you to keep your word?"

"Loki, I don't plan on every breaking it, but if I ever do some stupid shit and do, tell me I'm not coming back. That's how serious I am about this. If I ever do this again...well, I don't deserve you." He reaches out and rests his hands over Loki's, "Can I have one last chance?"

"Yes. But I need to hear you say the words."

Alexi smiles, "I'll do better." He gets up and crouches beside Loki so he can whisper in his ear, "I love you." His voice sends a shudder down Loki's spine and he closes his eyes for a moment, wishing they were not in public. "See, in Sokovia, I made some connections, met up with some old friends, and we went out for coffee. When I told them about you, my best girl told me, 'Marry that boy, Lexi! Get out of this hellhole and go back to him!' Well I took part of her advice." Alexi drops to one knee, "Would you like to make the second part come true?"

Loki is stunned by the proposal and cannot make his mind even think words while Alexi opens a ring box; when he finally can, it comes out with a giggle, "Yes!"

Alexi returns to his seat and slips one of the rings on Loki's finger, "Sokovian silver. Some of the finest in the world."

"It is beautiful."

"Just like you, honey. Now, tell me about what happened when I was gone."

"Perhaps later I will detail the choice Asgard gave me. But beyond that, I adopted six kittens and named them after Avengers." He offers to put the other ring on Alexi's finger.

Once on, Alexi takes Loki's hands, "Six kittens?"

"Yes. I have managed to raise them well."

Alexi traces Loki's ring, "So...do you want to try to raise other things some day, too?"

"You mean children."

"Yep. Little larval humans."

"I am not sure that is an apt comparison."

"You're dodging the question."

"I am still trying to fathom the idea that you are back, let alone that you wish to make our mutual adoration formal under the laws of this land. Though I hope you will allow for whatever length engagement makes us both comfortable."

"You have the most complicated way of saying 'get married' and 'wait a little while'."

"I have complicated ways of saying everything. I like long sentences and the flowing prose of conversation."

"Yeah, it's cute. Even when I want to tell you to get to the point. Which I do. On the kids."

"You are ready?"

"I left the country ready and willing to nurse an orphan baby as my own. Yeah, I'm ready."

"I do not think I am."

"That's cool. I don't really expect that you will be for some time. But are you open to the idea?"

"Yes."

"Awww, babies in the bookshop. That'll be cute. We'll take pictures to send to Ralph."

"If he is not around to see for himself."

"Yep."

Loki drags his fingers over the table and Alexi tries to figure out what he's drawing. He doesn't have to try for long. Little green sprouts ease up from the wood in a script A facing him, an L facing Loki, the L's tail swooping back up to form a little heart between the letters with the tail from the A's cross. The sprouts spring tiny round leaves and then blossom into little white five-petalled flowers. Alexi stares. Then he looks up at Loki, one hand in his, one hand propping up his chin as he lovingly admires his handiwork, errant locks of hair falling into his face. He decides that he never wants to forget the moment and closes his eyes like the shutter of a camera, trying to freeze the picture in his memory. Loki is not paying attention when he quietly switches his phone to camera mode and takes a photograph of his lover. Loki blushes when he realizes what Alexi is doing. The flowers fade.

"That was incredible. I didn't know you could do that...the magic thing. Odin took it away."

"Yes, he did. But I have been working very hard to rediscover it. Odin told me that it is possible here."

"That's amazing!"

"Yes, yes it is. What is more amazing is that he is allowing it."

"You have a lot to tell me about what's happened since I left, don't you?"

"Again, yes. But not yet."

"After the Expo."

"In our own quiet sanctuary, wherever we find it. I feel as though I should be angry, trepidatious. But I am not. And I am giddy that you have returned."

"Sokovia wasn't the home I thought it was going to be. This is. And we can take whatever time you want. A long engagement's fine. But you can't wait until we're nearly dead. Not that long, OK?"

"Agreed. But perhaps a year, or maybe two, before we make plans."

"I can do that."

"Shall we join the Expo? Four of my five siblings are there."

"I'm guessing Pietro isn't there."

"Correct."

"Can you sneak me in?"

"There is no need. Wanda will have secured us access by the time we return."

They finish their drinks and leave a large tip for the barista in the jar on the counter. She smiles at them and congratulates them. They go hand in hand through the limousines. Alexi swings Loki's arm and laughs as they bound up the stairs.