Chapter Text
“We’re what?! Tommy cried. Billy flinched at his brother's outburst.
“We’re moving?” Billy was less loud about it. “Where?”
“Westview, New Jersey.” Vision answered. The boys exchanged a look, Billy’s saying “let’s give it a shot” and Tommy’s saying “But I don’t wanna”. The two boys often communicated solely on expressions.
“Why?” Tommy finally asked.
“They explained it earlier, you just weren’t listening.” Billy told him sternly. “It’s because we don’t have any friends and don’t have powers. They want us to live normally.”
“Hey! I have friends!” Tommy stated loudly, per usual.
“Mrs. Linsh doesn’t count as a friend.” Billy pointed out.
“Who’s Mrs. Linsh?” Wanda asked.
“The lunch lady.” Billy stifled a laugh.
“At least I actually talk to people! You just sit in the corner and read books all lunch and recess!” Tommy pointed a finger at Billy, who looked unamused. “And anyways, Mom, Dad, didn’t you used to tell us that we don’t need friends since we were born with each other.”
“That was in preschool, when that group of boys ditched you and you wouldn’t stop crying for a week.” Vision said.
“We’re hardly friends, Tommy.” Billy took a bite of his mac and cheese while Tommy gaped. In the younger twin's mind, this was the best comeback ever. Of course, Wanda and Vision didn’t see it that way, and of course, Tommy didn’t. “Sorry, that was rude.”
“Boys, stop fighting. Let’s just have a nice conversation about this.” Wanda tried to calm them down before another hitting match started.
“Fine,” Tommy was sulking now.
“Okay.” Billy responded. “Is Westview nice?”
“From what your father and I have heard, it’s very nice.” Wanda answered.
“When are we moving?” Tommy asked.
“We’d planned on telling you two sooner, but your dad and uncle pietro had that mission,” Wanda began. “We’d planned on telling you last week, so you’d have two weeks,”
“We’re moving this weekend?!” Tommy came to the conclusion on his own.
“That’s correct, yes.” Vision nodded.
“But we haven’t even started packing.” Billy noticed how everything was still in order, nothing had been boxed.
“The others agreed to help us. Plus,” Wanda lifted her hands and brought out a few boxes from the closet. With a flick of her hands, all the pillows and blankets that weren’t in rooms were in the boxes provided. “I can easily pack up the whole place.”
“So, we’re moving out of the compound to New Jersey in a few days?” Billy said, wanting confirmation.
“Correct.” Vision answered. “Are you two okay with this?”
“Yeah. I think it seems fun. Plus, change is good sometimes.” Billy smiled.
“I guess.” Tommy said, still sulking a bit.
“That’s….the spirit!” Wanda laughed half heartedly. Seeing Billy excited about it made her happy, but seeing Tommy upset made her sad. She was sure he’d warm up to it eventually, but she didn’t know for sure when. She did know something that would cheer him up, though. “Who wants ice cream for dessert?”
The next morning, everyone in the compound was awoken by the alarm going off. It was around 6 am when the loud sirens began blaring through every room. Wanda and Vision were out of bed in milliseconds, rushing to find the twins and find out what was happening. Billy was hidden under his covers with his hands over his ears. Wanda grabbed him quickly, picking him up and rushing out to the main meeting area where the rest of the Avengers were. Vision found Tommy cuddling his stuffed cat. He grabbed Tommy and followed Wanda and Billy to the meeting area.
“What’s going on?” Tommy whimpered.
“It’s just the alarms, honey, no need to worry.” Wanda reassured him, pulling him close like she had Billy. The rest of the heroes were also gathered around them. Most of them were in pajamas, though Natasha and Clint were dressed in training clothes. Morgan had also been woken up by the alarms, and she was currently crying into her mothers shoulder.
The alarms were disengaged after it was clear there wasn’t actually a threat. Of course, there not being a threat only meant one other thing.
“Let me go, Thor!” Loki’s shrill voice echoed through the compound as Thor carried him into the room. He had Loki over one shoulder, the 9 year old demi-god kicking and spitting like a cat.
“What happened?” Clint asked, adjusting his hearing aids.
“Loki tried to go outside.” Thor said.
“Why can’t I?!” Loki screeched again.
“Loki, you know the rules. No going outside unless someone can watch you.” Thor told the young lad. Loki struggled a bit more, trying to force Thor to put him down. Thor was built like an ox, though, and Loki was not victorious.
“No one is ever able to take me outside! I don’t even get to go out!” Loki screamed. “I just spend every day stuck in here, bothering people and playing tricks!” Everyone already knew Loki’s antics were a cry for attention, but he rarely admitted it. Finally, Thor put him down and Loki simply sat on the floor, pouting.
“Loki, it’s 6 am, buddy.” Pietro said, lazily rubbing his eyes. Loki glared at him.
“It’s not fair.” He spat.
“What’s not fair, Loki? You know the rules we have set in place. You agreed.” Tony entered the conversation. He wasn’t the biggest fan of Loki, calling him a troublemaker.
“The rules are dumb.” Loki told him coldly. “I never get to go out, and no one ever listens to me. The only people who genuinely care about me are Thor and the Maximoff’s.”
“Loki! That’s not true! Everyone cares about you!” Thor told the younger one. Loki seemed to snap at that moment. He hopped to his feet, eyes wide with anger. Instinctively, Morgan was taken out of the room. Billy and Tommy stayed, though. They got along fine with Loki, they were sorta-kinda friends and he was nice enough, if not a little arrogant. He really just liked to make mischief.
“You’re so blind!” Loki’s screeching continued. “Nobody but you wants me here! No ones wanted me for all the years I’ve been a resident!”
“We want you!” Tommy said. Billy nodded along with him. Loki looked at them like they’d just told him something amazing. Maybe it was amazing to Loki, to be told he was wanted. But Loki’s face fell in an instant.
“But you’re moving….So you can’t be my friends anymore.” He muttered.
“Loki, that’s not true-” But Loki wasn’t about to listen to reason. He ducked his head and muttered words in a language no one recognized, disappearing in an instant. Teleportation magic, the one spell Loki knew how to do for certain. Wanda had had to put up a barrier so he didn’t teleport out of the compound.
“Jeez, maybe we should cut the kid some slack,” Pietro muttered as the group dispersed. He’d tried to hangout with Loki before, but the child never seemed eager to chat with him, instead ignoring him to read a book. For someone who apparently wanted attention so badly they’d set off the alarms, Loki didn’t interact with anyone besides the twins and, on occasion, Morgan.
“That kid has serious mood swings, let me tell you.” Clint noted as he walked off.
“Alright boys, let’s start getting ready for school.” Wanda nudged her boys back into their residential area. The two looked distressed, conflicted.
“Mom?” Tommy asked cautiously, once they were back in the confines of their own area. Wanda hummed a questioning note. “Is Loki okay?”
“Yes, Baby, Loki’s okay.” Okay, maybe ‘okay’ wasn’t the right word to describe Loki. The young boy was often in mental peril, from what Wanda’s mind reading had told her. He often felt less than and not wanted - like he’d voiced moments earlier - and for those reasons, Wanda often felt compelled to show him compassion, despite knowing how and who he used to be. “He’s just...upset.”
“Do you think Loki will be okay once we’re gone?” Billy asked.
“He’ll be fine, sweetie, he just needs some time. And maybe you three can call on weekends or something.” She suggested. “Now, let’s get you guys dressed and fed for school. You have a big day ahead of you.” The twins nodded hesitantly, going to their respective rooms and preparing for the day. Wanda sighed and turned to Vision. “Vis, would you mind making us all pancakes for breakfast?”
“Of course, Wanda.” Vision responded. His pancakes were the best and Wanda knew the twins loved them, so maybe they’d brighten up their mood.
“So much for a happy transition.” She sighed.
“We’re Avengers, Wanda, changes here are nothing if not chaotic.” Vision answered as tied on his apron. “But we can do it.”
“I know.” She answered. “But that doesn’t make me any less worried.”
Loki knew exactly when the twins left for school, as he heard the door slam from his room. He was currently sulking in his closet, hiding behind an old box of toys that he, the twins, and the starkling used to play with. Now he’d have no one to play with.
He pondered the question that he’d pondered many times before, of why no one in the compound besides his brother and the twins seemed to like him. Maybe he’d done something. No one would tell him about his life before the one he had now. Maybe it was better if he assumed it wasn’t pleasant.
But to put the theatrics aside, he didn’t wish to be lonely.
Eventually, Loki started to feel cramped in the closet, and begrudgingly forced himself out of the closet to go in search of, who knows, maybe something to eat or something to do. Everyone was going to be staring at him all day anyways, so he might as well venture out into the unknown. Maybe Wanda could help him find a movie to watch.
Exiting the closet space, he looked towards his alarm clock and found it was nearly 10. He’d been sulking in the closet for 4 hours. That wasn’t a record by any means, but it did make him feel like he’d wasted time. So, as not to waste more of his precious time, he grabbed his green hoodie and exited out into the compound.
As he’d guessed, everyone was looking at him. He got side eyed by Clint and Natasha, a pitied look from Pietro. They were all looking down at him, too, since he was 4’6 and everyone one here was a giant by comparison.
He halted himself before entering the Maximoff’s area of living, wondering if he should really be intruding. They were probably really busy and probably didn’t want to see him. Another part of himself told him to just do it, it’s not like it would be out of character. He decided to listen to that part of himself.
He let himself into the small little area and walked to the kitchen, where he found Wanda packing up wooden spoons and dishtowels. He stood there for a moment, waiting for her to notice him, before continuing to cross the kitchen to tap her on the shoulder.
“Eep!” Wanda let out a cry of surprise, turning around and nearly hitting Loki with a dish towel. “Loki! You scared me!”
“Sorry.” He said in his usual monotone voice.
“It’s fine. Just try not to do that next time, okay?” Loki nodded, though he doubted there would be a next time. “Is there something you need?”
“Not really. I just come here whenever I feel lonely.” He stated.
“Oh, Loki,” Wanda looked sad now. Loki had made Wanda sad and now he felt awful. But he couldn’t take back the words that came out of his mouth.
“Sorry,” He mumbled. “I can just go somewhere else, it’s fine.” He turned to leave but Wanda grabbed his arm.
“You can stay. It’s okay with me.” She smiled, though Loki could see the pain behind her eyes. “I’m simply packing up some odds and ends. The others said they’d help me later.”
“I can help you.” Loki offered, without fully thinking about the words when he’d said them.
“You don’t need to help, it’s fine!” Wanda reassured him, but Loki’s mind was set.
“No, I want to help. Might as well, I’ve got nothing better to do.” He shrugged.
“Well then, thank you, Loki.” Wanda smiled again. There wasn’t any pain this time. Loki was glad. He hated making people upset when they didn’t deserve it. “Would you mind helping me fold the towels?”
“Not at all.” Loki said with the hint of a smile.
Vision found Wanda and Loki in the kitchen two hours after the young god initially approached Wanda. Loki had helped fold the towels and pack up some other kitchen supplies, such as the empty jars on the top shelf and the kettle they rarely used. For his troubles, Loki had been given a candy bar, and was currently sitting on the counter, eating it happily, a far cry from earlier.
“Oh, Loki, it’s good to see you.” Vision acknowledged the young boy's pressense. Loki nodded in response, continuing to stuff his face with chocolate. Wanda must have heard Vision as she took out her headphones and turned to him, a smile on her face. Vision really did love that smile.
“Vis, there you are!” Wanda smiled. “I was wondering where you went, I didn’t see you after the boys left for school.”
“I’m sorry to have worried you, my love.” Vision said. “I was simply watching the others train.”
“For the sake of the good old times?” Wanda asked.
“Yes. I am going to miss watching them all spar.” Vision told her. “But I will not miss your brother's antics.” Vision pulled out a crumpled piece of paper. Wanda and Loki leaned forward to see it. On it, Pietro had written Kick me in light blue highlighter. Wanda tried to hold back her laughter while Loki burst out laughing.
“He’s so childish.” Wanda shook her head.
“Yes, yes he is.” Vision agreed.
Loki was still laughing his head off, as if this were the best joke he’d ever read. His sense of humor was very strange and Vision didn’t understand it. He wasn’t the strangest character Vision had ever met, but he was sure up there. Turning back to Wanda, Vision noticed her smile waned a little. She glanced at Loki and back at Vision.
“Loki, why don’t you go find some more boxes.” Wanda prompted the boy. Loki nodded, stuffing the candy bar wrapper in his pocket and hopping off the counter. “They should be in the basement!” Loki nodded and exited the little apartment.
“Why did you ask him to leave?” Vision asked, wishing to know what was on his wife's mind.
“I’m worried about Loki.” She said, “I know I shouldn’t be, but I just can’t get it out of my mind that he’s going to be utterly crushed when we move and he has no one in his corner.”
“Your maternal instincts are kicking in, Wanda.” Vision said, the hint of a laugh in his voice. Wanda smiled a little.
“You’re right.” Wanda replied with a small laugh herself. “My maternal instincts are kicking in. But Loki’s a nice kid, under all that mischief and temper. And it’s not like many of the Avengers have given him a chance. They just don’t interact with him, which can’t be healthy for a kid's mental health.”
“It isn’t.” Vision agreed, pulling from the knowledge he had, which was a lot. “It’s called neglect, I’m pretty sure.”
“Pretty sure?” Wanda huffed. “You’re certain of it. I can tell.”
“He is a reincarnated super villain, Wanda.” Vision pointed out.
“He’s also a kid with amnesia being forced into a villainous role due to his past mistakes.” Wanda retorted.
“You’re...not wrong.” Vision responded, looking down at his feet for a moment. Wanda looked at her own feet for a moment before she had a thought, and looked back up at Vision.
“Vis,” She said cautiously. “What if...What if we take Loki with us.” Vision looked at her in stunned silence for a moment, processing what she’d just said.
“Wanda, we can’t just take Loki with us!” Vision hissed.
“Listen, I know it’s not practical, but Loki’s not happy here!” She said, suddenly exasperated. “Maybe we just like….try it? Like, see if it works?”
“You’re saying we should foster Loki.” Vision told her.
“Essentially, yes, I guess I am.” Wanda didn’t know why she suddenly felt so compelled to take the young trickster with them, maybe she could blame the motherly instincts on this one, but she felt she couldn’t let Loki go the rest of his life cooped up in the compound, slowly resenting everything more and more. She knew the Avengers didn’t mean to, but they were steering Loki right back to where he was before.
“Well, we’d have to ask Thor about it.” Vision said.
“Of course.” Wanda nodded. “Wait, are you on board with this?”
“I do suppose it’s worth a shot.” Vision chuckled a bit. Wanda smiled at this.
“I got the boxes!” Loki called as he reentered the area, dragging some cardboard boxes behind him.
“Thank you, Loki.” Wanda said, taking the boxes out of Loki’s hands. Loki nodded, smiling. Wanda didn’t remember the last time he smiled, and Loki wasn’t a smiler. Wanda wondered if Loki had overheard them. They’d have a problem if they did and Loki couldn’t come with them.
“It’s no problem, Wanda.” He said. “Can I have another candy bar?” And he had just been buttering them up. Wanda smiled, shaking her head a little.
“Fine. But don’t tell Thor.” She said with a wink, handing him a Twix bar. Loki nodded, taking the candy bar and running off.
Wanda approached Thor about the idea later that night. She didn’t know how to approach the subject, but she’d learned from past experience that going into something with your head held high was always a good place to start.
It was late, but Wanda was unsurprised to find Thor awake. As she walked into his area of the compound, she noticed Loki was asleep on the couch, passed out with a movie on. She smiled a little as she passed the living area and into the kitchen.
She knew Thor was awake, but she couldn’t find him. She didn’t want to look past the kitchen, since it would be sort of rude to look around someone's space without asking. Who knows what horrors you’d see.
“Thor?” Wanda called out. She heard a bit of commotion from down the hall.
“Wanda?” Thor called out. He entered the kitchen, wearing the A-HA shirt he’d had for 10 years. “Ah, Wanda! Hello!”
“Hey, Thor.” She smiled. “How are you doing?” Small talk wasn’t one of Wanda’s specialties, but she knew how to do it.
“Good. I was just packing a travel bag.” Thor smiled back.
“Where are you going?”
“New Asgard. I usually visit around this time.”
“Right! I always forget that.” Wanda replied.
“So, what brings you here?” Thor asked, changing the subject suddenly. He tended to do that. “Did Loki do something? I’m sorry for all the trouble he causes!”
“No no, it wasn’t Loki, well, it is about Loki, but it’s not because he’s in trouble.” Wanda said.
“Oh?”
“Well,” She began. “I know it’s not my place, but I don’t think Loki’s happy here. I can sense it, with my powers.” Thor nodded. “I worry about him sometimes, Vision says it’s my maternal instincts. Truth be told, whenever I look into Loki’s head -which is rare- I get a sense of deja-vu, he reminds me of me.”
“I do agree, Loki isn’t happy here. And he isn’t happy in New Asgard. He isn’t really happy in general.” Thor told her. “I’ve tried to help him, but he pushes me away as of late.” Wanda nodded this time. “So, what are you suggesting be done, Wanda? If I’m correct in thinking that’s where this is going.”
“Well, Vision and I were chatting, and we had the idea that maybe...we could take Loki to Westview with us.” She told him flat out. “It-It was just an idea, though, but I wanted to run it by you, to know your thoughts.” She shrugged.
“Do you think Loki would be happy in, ah, where was it you and the family are moving? Westport?” Thor asked her.
“Westview. Westview, New Jersey.” Wanda corrected him. “And I have no way of knowing. I’m only going off the articles and past experience from a decade ago, but from what I’ve seen and read about Westview, it seems like a very nice place. The school system seems decent, as far as the school systems go, and it’s a very peaceful town.” Though if Loki came he’d probably change that. He was a very chaotic being, even without the extra feelings of worthlessness and the craving for attention.
“And, would your boys be okay with Loki, if he were to be placed in your care?” Thor continued his questioning, naturally.
“They’re friends with Loki, I’m sure they’d be fine with it.” Wanda nodded. Thor nodded as well, before placing a hand on her shoulder and making eye contact. He only really did that when he was, A. Threatening someone, or B. Was being extremely serious.
“Wanda, if I were to leave Loki in your care, would you promise to take care of him and keep him from harm?” He asked, his voice serious as it could be. 10 years ago, Wanda would have been quaking in her boots, but she nodded with confidence.
“I promise to take care of him as if he were my own.” She’d probably overdone it, but no turning back now.
“Good.” Thor said. “And you’re sure it wouldn’t be too much trouble to take him with you?”
“Not at all. We have a spare room we planned to use as a guest room, but we also have a pull out couch, so if Loki comes with us, he can have that room.”
“Good.” Thor repeats. “I’m sure Loki would prosper under your care. In fact, I’m certain of it. You two share magical abilities, and you seem to truly care for my brother. So, I trust you with him.”
“Are you saying Loki is okay to come with us?” Wanda asks, a little confused.
“Yes, of course, as soon as I run it by him.”
“Thank you for your permission to take Loki with us,” Wanda tells him, a smile on her face. Had she just accidentally adopted a third son?
“Of course. I believe it’s best for my brother.” Thor smiles. “Now, speaking of my brother,” Thor walked over to the couch and picked up Loki, who was still sleeping peacefully. “I should tuck him into bed.”
“Of course.” Wanda knew what sleeping on the couch could do to one’s neck, for she herself had done that. “I should get back to my place. Those boxes aren’t going to pack themselves.” That got a chuckle out of Thor.
“Have a good night, Wanda!” Thor called after her as she exited. “And thank you for looking out for my brother.” Wanda simply nodded, and went back to her place.
Loki awoke later than usual, noting almost instantly that someone (Thor) had unplugged his clock. Silently cursing using words that he wasn’t supposed to know, he got up and padded out of his room, dragging his blanket behind him.
“Th’r?” He called out, forgetting to pronounce the vowel. He heard the tv on in the other room, so he assumed his brother was up. “Thor!”
“Loki?” Thor called as Loki entered the kitchen. “Ah, good morning, Loki!” Loki rubbed his eyes, looking for a clock or something that would tell him the time. His eyes landed on Thor’s phone, and he lunged forward, tapping the screen rapidly to get it to light up. The screen turned on and he read the time.
“10 in the morning?!” Loki screamed. Thor was too late to cover his ears. Loki ran over to him and started stomping his foot. “Thor! You promised you wouldn’t let me sleep too late!”
“But you were so tired last night, I couldn’t let you wake up at 7 am! Besides, you’re really grumpy when you get up too early.” Thor told him. Loki crossed his arms, pouting.
“It’s 10 in the morning, Thor! I don’t want to sleep in this late ever again!” He cried.
“Okay, Okay.” Thor raised his hands in defense. Loki was a hellien when he was having a tantrum. “But Lokes, I have something I want to talk with you about.”
“Is it about waking me up early?”
“No.”
“Is it about unplugging my alarm clock?”
“No.”
“Is it about bacon?”
“Loki, that’s random-” Thor chuckled. “No, no it’s not.”
“Then what?” Loki asked, tapping his foot.
“Well,” Thor began, though he already felt like he was walking on eggshells with Loki this morning. “Wanda came by last night-”
“Is this about the candy bars?”
“What? No!” Thor laughed. “Has Wanda been giving you candy?”
“Erm, no,” Loki turned his eyes away, nose scrunched the way it did when he lied.
“Hm, suspicious,” Thor said jokingly, earning a Loki glare. “Anyways, no, that’s not it.”
“So what?”
“Well, Wanda came by last night, and she and I had a conversation about you and your future here at the compound.” Thor began again. “She asked me if you’d want to go with them when they move.” Loki’s mouth fell open comically, as he dropped his blanket.
“What?!”