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Hours passed as Nat and I shared everything that had happened in the last two years since we'd been separated. Reluctantly, I told her about the Aether. About Frigga, my powers. And about Loki. And to my surprise, she didn't seem disgusted at me for falling back under his spell again. Or at least, if she was disgusted, she hid it well.

Nat told me about what had happened to S.H.I.E.L.D. and about the Winter Soldier, apparently a long-dead friend of Steve's. And, she told me about Bruce. And about her feelings for him. There was significant teasing about that, which was interrupted by a voice shouting from downstairs.

"Nat, Alivia, soup's on!" Clint's wife, Laura, called up to us.

I pushed myself up and followed Nat downstairs. I hadn't even realized how late it had gotten, but the sun was down and the sky was dark.

"Smells great," I smiled at her, as Nat and I seated ourselves.

"Alivia Byrd," a voice came from behind me, and I turned to see Fury lounging against the counter, "Good to have you on the team."

"Someone's gotta clean up after Tony," I jested. I surveyed the room, looking over each of their faces. "So, what do we do from here?"

No one answered.

"Ultron took you folks out of play to buy himself time," Nick finally said, "My contacts all say he's building something. The amount of vibranium he made off with, I don't think it's just one thing."

"What about Ultron himself?" Steve asked, leaning against the doorframe.

"Oh, he's easy to track," Nick answered. So much for he could be anywhere. "He's everywhere," he continued, "The guy's multiplying faster than a Catholic rabbit. Still doesn't help us get an angle on any of his plans, though."

"Is he still going after launch codes?" Tony asked, as he threw darts across the room.

"Yes he is," Nick answered, "But he's not making any headway."

"I cracked the Pentagon's firewall in high school on a dare," Tony said, and I rolled my eyes.

"Well, I contacted our friends at the Nexus about that."

"Nexus?" Steve asked.

"It's the world internet hub in Oslo," Bruce put in, "Every bite of data flows through there. Fastest access on earth."

"So, what did they say?" Clint asked.

"He's fixated on the missiles." Fury's response was blunt, and my chest tightened. I didn't want to be spending my night plotting how to take down an A.I. who's managed to get his hands on missiles. "But the codes are constantly being changed."

"By whom?" Tony tilted his head, just as a dart, thrown by Clint, whizzed past his head and planted itself in the middle of the dart board.

"Parties unknown," Nick responded.

"Do we have an ally?" Nat asked.

"Ultron's got an enemy." Nick raised his brows, "That's not the same thing. Still, I'd pay folding money to know who it is."

"I might need to visit Oslo," Tony said, "Find our unknown."

"Well, this is good times, boss, but I was kinda hoping that when I saw you, you'd have more than that." Nat leaned back in her seat, and met my gaze.

I felt frozen in my seat. With fear. But that fear wasn't just because of Ultron. It was also because of the idea that was slowly starting to take root in my mind.

"I do," Nick said, "I have you. Back in the day, I had eyes everywhere, ears everywhere else. You kids had all the tech you could dream up. Here we all are, back on Earth, nothing but our wit, and our will to save the world."

I opened my mouth, about to force the words out. To share my idea. But I waited too long to speak.

"Ultron says the Avengers are the only thing between him and his mission," Nick went on. "And whether or not he admits it, his mission is global destruction."

"We're gonna need all the help we can get," I said breathlessly.

"That's why we've got you," Fury responded, looking to me.

"But..." I stood, folding my arms and pacing, "I'm not all the help we can get."

"Al..." Nat warned, looking at me from across the room.

"He's changed. I promise you that, I've seen it for myself. And we aren't in any position to turn away help."

"And who says he'll even help us?" Nat asked.

"I don't know, but I plan on at least finding out," I answered.

"Someone care to shine a light on who this mysterious source of help is?" Tony asked.

I gazed sidelong at him. Swallowed. I didn't even have to say his name. The silence was enough for the others to realize who I was talking about.

"That's insane," Tony shook his head.

"More or less insane than you creating an A.I. out of his scepter?" I asked accusingly. "We're hopeless here, grasping at straws," I gestured at Nick, "You said yourself the Avengers are the only thing standing between Ultron and his mission. So shouldn't we make sure the Avengers are strong enough to stay standing at all?"

"Are you proposing that Loki join the Avengers?" Steve frowned at me.

"I don't give a shit about technicalities. All I'm saying is that we ask him to help us."

I looked pleadingly at everyone else in the room.

"Well," Nick began, and my eyes snapped to him, "I don't see the harm in asking."

I nodded, leaving the room as it erupted in protest. I marched outside, where it was pitch-dark, with hundreds of stars overhead. I looked up into the sky. This would be my first time doing this.

"Heimdall," I called into the night, "Open the Bifrost." A pause. "Please," I added.

For a moment, I feared I'd done it wrong, that it wasn't working. But then, a searing light streaked down from the sky, enveloping me. I blinked, and when I reopened my eyes, I was surrounded by gold.

"Lady Byrd," a deep voice drew my attention to a tall, golden eyed man, who weilded a massive sword.

"Heimdall," I greeted him, "I need to see Loki."

He only nodded, sweeping his arm toward the bridge that stretched toward Asgard.

It was a gruellingly long walk to the palace, and I was escorted inside by soldiers. They'd repaired it since the events of the Convergence. I recalled the attack that left the throne room in tatters bitterly, thinking of Frigga. I traced the scar on my hand with my thumb as the soldiers left me in the throne room.

"Alivia," Odin leaned forward upon recognizing me, "I thought you were staying in Midgard with your father."

"I was. Something came up. Midgard is on the brink of destruction yet again, if you can believe it."

"So what brings you here? Last I heard, Thor was already on your planet."

"I'm not here for Thor's help," I said.

Odin's brow lifted in realization. He sat back. "Loki."

I nodded.

"He was offered freedom. He denied himself of it."

"I need his help. This is a chance for him to redeem himself, to do good."

"I would not deny you, Alivia. You misunderstand me. It is Loki you will have a hard time convincing."

"But you would allow him to come to Midgard? To help?"

Odin bowed his head. "Perhaps it is a mistake. But I hope that the boy I raised—my boy, might still be in there. I see it most when he is with you. Watch him well, Alivia, if you can draw him out of his cage."

I nodded again. "Thank you."

With that, I showed myself to the dungeons. It felt really jarring waltzing around Asgard in a short, flowy summer dress, and I shivered at the chill that crept up my bare legs when I entered the dungeon.

"Not the face I was expecting to greet me today," a low voice spoke to me as I stepped in front of the cage, "But a welcome surprise."

"Loki," I greeted him. His gaze travelled slowly up the length of my body, and I felt sparks of heat travel with his eyes against my skin.

"What's happened to your eye?" he asked, frowning when his gaze finally met mine.

"I've had to make changes to hide myself on Midgard." I looked down, avoiding his gaze. His gaze that I'd missed so much in the last year. That I felt so, horribly guilty for missing so much.

"Mmm, I can see that," he nodded slowly, "Your new look—it suits you well." He strode forward to the front of the cage, looking down on me. I was somewhat taken aback by the height difference. I hadn't remembered it being so great. "So," he began, folding his hands together, "I presume you want something of me? Perhaps to beg of me to accept my freedom once more? Perhaps to argue over our last conversation?"

Humiliation rose red into my cheeks again, but I fought it down. I'd done everything to forget that conversation. "That was months ago, Loki. I've very much moved on. In fact, I was dressed for a date, which was going rather well, before the usual happened. End of the world business."

"So, what are you doing here then?" he asked. But before I could answer, he lifted his chin as realization dawned. "Ah. You've come to bargain for my help. I don't think the other Avengers would take too kindly to that, pet."

"They haven't taken kindly to it. But they can put their feelings aside to get a job done."

"And what makes you think I'd actually want to help you? My deep, repressed feelings for you? My longing to do right by my late mother? The goodness somewhere deep down in me?"

"My hope is riding on you wanting to clear your name," I said, truthfully, "You put on a brave face, but I know you miss your friends. In all our time locked away here, Tolve, Toke, and Bjorn never visited you. Thor, he never visited you. I know, Loki, that you miss a time when people didn't look at you with fear, anger, disgust."

"And you think helping you will change the way people look at me? Nothing will change that. I see that anger even now, in your eyes. And if you can't change, how could anyone else?" Loki spat, "Besides, being well-liked isn't something I crave too desperately. I'm afraid you've wasted your energy in coming here, my darling."

I bowed my head. I didn't know what to say to sway him. Why had I come here at all? What foolish hope was I nursing that had led me to think he might actually want to clear his name? To have a life that was some semblance of his old one?

But my eyes lifted when a thought occurred to me.

"There's a man on earth. Strucker, is his name," I began, and Loki watched me with a hint of curiosity. I would have to hope that curiosity would be enough to sway him. Because I knew damn well he wouldn't do it for me. "He was conducting experiments with your sceptre, and who knows how long before that with other instruments. We never found the source of my powers, but I think that Strucker's experiments are our next best chance. The Avengers are going to help me take his organization down after we neutralize this current threat."

"It's a low possibility," Loki tilted his head, eyes boring into mine.

"I know that..." My voice cracked and I hated myself for it. "I know that. Believe me, I do. But it is a chance Loki. And I won't pass that up."

"You're trying to persuade me to help you, by offering me another chance to help you, is that it?" Loki asked, and I felt suddenly very foolish.

"Well, when you say it like that..." I looked away sheepishly. This was hopeless. I shook my head. "Sorry to have wasted your time," I said, distant and formal as I stepped away from the cage, "I'll leave you to your cage."

I whirled my back on him, making for the dungeon's door. The fine hairs on the back of my neck stood up when his voice rose again.

"Alivia, wait," he called, and I turned. "This is for curiosity's sake and nothing more, I hope you know that."

I smiled, and he smiled back.

"Now, open this door and let me out."

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