"So, you're from the past, but you became trapped in the future, and now you've traveled back to the present... which is your future?" Thor attempted to clarify.
"Sort of. The Time Variance Authority, or TVA for short, was assumed to be outside of time, but it's not, time just works differently there than it does on the timelines."
"And you're from 2012, right after your failed invasion of New York. So you haven't been tried and punished for your crimes or lost either of our parents yet."
"I- I have been tried and punished in alternate manners, and I have lost everyone... and everything. My timeline was erased from existence, and now my friends and I are ensuring that nothing like that happens to this or any other timelines! We're here because multiple variants of a very dangerous man is, so we're amassing an army to stop them before they start a war across all of time and space. I know the other Avengers won't be persuaded unless I have you onboard first, and we need all the help we can get!"
"Hmmm. But now you rule all of time, correct? If you're suddenly so powerful now, then why do you need our help?"
"Because this man, mortal he may be, is a scientist from the far future, possessing advanced technology that can control time just as I can, in addition to the armor that amplifies his strength to godlike levels! I'm the only Loki who can control time, so that leaves me at a disadvantage without a team of mighty allies by my side."
"Really. And how do I know all this isn't a trick? How do I know you haven't mind-controlled this group of 'friends' to defend your supposed cause, like you did with my friends with the Mind Stone? You... you've already died in front of me so many times, how do I know anything you say or do is real anymore!? How- how do I know anything is real anymore?"
"...The same reason you know we're brothers, and that I love you, no matter how angry I am with you at times. I'm sure it's the same for you." Thor nodded. "Still, regardless of what time we're from, I want you to know how sorry I am... for the Destroyer attack, for New York... for mother, for everything, but I also want you to know that that's not who I am anymore: like you, I have met a... an amazing group of people who have helped me, inspired me to change for the better, and I'm not afraid to be who I truly am anymore! I am no longer in constant fear of drowning in the darkness of living in your shadow, Brother. Because-"
"The sun can shine on the both of us now." Thor finished.
"Yes. And... if my words cannot convince you, then look me in the eyes, and let my heart speak for me."
Thor did as he said, finding no hint of deception or even mischief in his brother's eyes. "You are different, but..." He placed a hand on Loki's shoulder. "But you are still my brother." Loki beamed and nodded. "But, wait... if you're from just after the New York invasion, why did you apologize for what happened to Mother? Even the you from my time was imprisoned when she... when the Dark Elves came."
Loki sighed and shook his head. "I know, I heard, but still, I-"
"He's still sad he couldn't do anything to help her." Mobius interrupted him. "But he can help you now, so let's get that team together!" He finished with a clap of his hands and a pat on Loki's back; Loki gave Mobius a relieved smile in appreciation as they moved on.
When they left Axl's house, a black-haired young girl tugged on Thor's hand. "Who's that guy you were hugging, Uncle Thor?"
"Oh yes, this is my brother, Loki. Loki, this is Love."
"Wait, she called you 'uncle.' Does that mean... she's..." Loki pointed to himself, mouthing the last word, but Thor shook his head.
"No no no, it's merely a term of endearment! She's actually... well, long story short, her father died, and I adopted her."
"Oh, how sweet. It's a pleasure to meet you, Love. So, uhm, she knows the truth about herself?"
"Yeah."
Loki nodded with another smile, knowing his brother wasn't one for keeping secrets.
"Thor, you've returned!" They heard Lady Sif call as she approached them. "And you..." She glared at Loki. "Why can't you stay dead and leave Thor be?"
"And it is lovely to see you again too, Sif." Loki quipped.
"Sif, do not insult my brother so! I'm just happy to see him alive again." Thor stated.
"I know you are, but he can't be trusted! He's betrayed you before, and he will always betray you: it's just how he is."
"I won't this time, I promise you!" Loki affirmed. "I've changed for the better, just as Thor did!"
Sif scoffed. "Please, you only ever change for the worse, if at all."
"Hey, don't be such a horse's ass." Valkyrie surprisingly defended. "I spent over a millennium selling people into slavery, including Thor, and then he made me king, so most people around here are pretty good with second chances." She took a swig of alcohol before continuing. "Not to mention the old king I served before that was a manipulative old cockhead."
"Hey, that's our father you speak of!" Thor scolded. "But Loki speaks the truth: I had a chance to change for the better, and I won't deny anyone else here that same chance!"
"But you were never a murdering, manipulative, backstabbing villain, Thor." Sif argued.
Loki glanced down, noticing her left arm had been removed. He whispered to Mobius. "Was that my doing?"
"No, that was the god butcher." Mobius then spoke out loud to Sif. "If I may, Thor did lead an assault on Jotunheim to kill a whole bunch of Frost Giants, Loki's birth people. The ones who Loki let into Asgard were already dead, but he attacked innocent people over an insult from one. He was a villain to them, he didn't bother to get your friend Fandral to medical help when he was impaled in battle, and he technically manipulated Bruce Banner and the Hulk separately on Sakaar, by telling them they were each his favorite of the two. But overall, Thor was more of a straightforward bully than a manipulative one, because he didn't need to be, forcing Loki to do maneuvers that humiliated and borderline abused him, like that 'Get Help' routine."
"I- I didn't-" Thor started, at a loss.
"And who are you to say such things of Thor!?" Sif questioned him.
"I'm Mobius, Loki's friend. Me, Sylvie, and B-15 here, plus Casey, OB, and Victor back at the TVA are all Loki's friends, and we can all vouch for his character: he's really changed for good!"
"Friends? Loki doesn't have friends, he has pawns; that's why he'll always end up alone." Loki winced as she turned back to Thor. "Don't let him make you into a pawn again too."
Thor just solemnly shook his head at her. This time, it was Sylvie who glared with her hand over her sword until Mobius spoke up again, signaling her to wait.
"Back to betrayals, Sif, you were pretty manipulative, back when you spent the night with Loki, using him to get to Thor. Remember, before he cut your hair? I mean, the only reason any of you Asgardians hung around Loki in the first place was because he was Thor's brother, right? And then when Thor wasn't around, you'd make fun of him, just because he's more sorcerer than fighter. Seems pretty manipulative to me."
"How do you-"
"And by the way, how is your relationship with Thor going? You two a couple yet, share a kiss, even hold hands, or are you still alone?" Sif glowered at him, gritting her teeth as Thor held her back. "Yeah, that's what I thought."
"Sif, why don't you join us?" Thor offered. "With you and Loki by my side, no villain will stand a chance of conquering the planet!"
"I'm in!" Valkyrie joined them. "I'll take battle over meetings any day!"
"Thank you, Val, but maybe you should remain here in Asgard, protect our people." Thor suggested.
Valkyrie huffed. "Well, as long as I get a fight..."
"I still think he's leading us into a trap." Sif insisted. "I just don't want to see him hurt you again." Sif added in her mind. "I don't want to see my Thor hurt again."
"What if he lifts Mjolnir?" Mobius wondered.
"What?"
"Thor's hammer that only the worthy can lift: it might be cracked, but that enchantment is still good, right? If Loki lifts the hammer, will you trust and follow him?"
Sif stopped to think. "Well... yes, I suppose."
"Alright then. Thor?"
Thor raised an eyebrow and set Mjolnir down. Loki gulped and stepped towards it, his mind shamefully reminding himself of his last failed attempt to lift it. He gripped it with one hand and looked back to his friends.
"Go on, Loki, after your sacrifice to save us and all those timelines full of people back at the TVA, you're the worthiest person I know!" Mobius reminded him. "Don't let old Odin and his past rejections get in your head; remember how proud he'd be of the man you've become now!"
"We're right here with you now, Loki, and we're not going anywhere!" Sylvie encouraged. "You've got this!"
"If anyone can lift that hammer, it's you." B-15 agreed.
"We're rooting for you too, Loki!" He heard Casey speak through the comms. "Me and D.B. Cooper Fish both!"
"Yes, you can lift multiple timelines full of Mjolnirs!" Ouroboros reminded him. "Just one should be easy as pie!"
"You're not the man... that a-angry woman thinks you are." Victor Timely added. "Show her the r-r-real you, W-Wizard!"
Heartened by his friends, Loki's grip on Mjolnir tightened, and he lifted it above his head in one swift stroke, calling down a bolt of lightning for dramatic effect while he posed with it! Loki's friends all clapped and cheered, while the Asgardians stared in amazement and disbelief, even Thor!
Loki grinned at Thor, handing him back his weapon. "So, who should we go and recruit next? Rogers, Stark, Romanoff?"
"Uhhh... not them, Tony Stark and Natasha Romanoff are dead: they sacrificed themselves to rid us of Thanos, before..." Thor turned to a large statue of his late girlfriend. "Before the mighty Jane Foster sacrificed herself to save us from Gorr, the god butcher."
"Oh, I'm so sorry, Brother. I didn't know."
"Rogers and Barton retired, but Banner might join us, if it's to save the universe."
"Great, we could use a Hulk!"
"And you don't wanna be around Hulk without Thor there with you." Mobius whispered to Loki.
"Shhh!"
As they began to leave New Asgard together, Thor walked up behind Loki and whispered to him. "So, Loki, just between us, what trick did you use to fool Sif and the others?"
"I beg your pardon?"
"To trick them into seeing you lift Mjolnir; come on, you can tell me, Brother, I won't tell anyone! Did you use telekinesis, or use some sort of... futuristic technology... or did you change the enchantment on it, maybe put one of your own in its place?"
Loki shook his head. "I suppose I can't blame you for being skeptical: I daresay I even feel a bit proud of you for it. Just wait though, Brother, and you'll see soon enough that this is no trick."
Thor scoffed. "Still can't be honest with me, eh? You're just making it harder for me to trust you. Some things never change."
Loki rolled his eyes as his brother walked past him, but he didn't linger, regaining focus on the mission at hand.
Author's Note: I know I kinda killed the mood at the end, but I figured Thor would be super skeptical with Loki's schemes by now, even though he loves and forgives him, and I felt that seeing Loki lift his hammer would just make him more suspicious, but trust takes time to rebuild, so, matching the theme of this series, it's only a matter of time…