Thor looked pensive for a moment before turning to his allies.
"Friends, I may have a..solution, but it does not have to be the only one."
Steve patted Thor's shoulder.
"Any idea at this point is good. What's the worst you can bring."
Thor sighed, the captains words holding heavily over his shoulders.
".an illusion would be needed, and who else better than the master themself."
Tony shook his head.
"No, no way, not gonna happen. Do you even understand what your proposing?"
Thor hung his head. Natasha put a hand on his arm.
"He has a point Tony, we don't have much time and Katsuki might be killed. He knows he can't reveal himself, too risky."
Tony turned to her furious.
"Do you know how devastated that kid has been? What Loki did to him was-"
"unforgivable, I am well aware. But my brother also has his regrets on the boy. The only thing he spoke to me about was of young Katsuki's health. Even my brother realized his mistake."
Tony glared not buying into this but Steve our a hand on his shoulder.
"Tony, Katsuki's life is in danger, we need a solution, and you know this is the only way."
Tony took a deep breath and turned to Steve.
"Is it really?...fine, but he can't be a wildcard."
Thor nodded and went out the jet to head to Asgard. Heimdall stood before him and nodded.
"Welcome back. I assume this will be a short visit."
Thor nodded to his most loyal friend.
"Indeed old friend. I must also bring a companion with me. In and out."
Thor quickly flew to the palace. He made his way to the chambers and found the cell holding his brother.
"Loki."
Loki looked up from his chair smirking at his brother as if he was simply on vacation.
"Hello brother, wish to gloat? No, you need me for something. But you know it will-"
"that boy you controlled during your takeover of midguard. He is in danger, and I am in need of your illusions."
Loki paused at that. He looked into the boy's mind, it was a mess with the odd language. Yet, he still understood the basis of its contents. The boy was similarly raised to believe he could be everything, only to know it would never be his. The boy was even treated as an outcast and lived with many people speaking lowly of him. The boy was someone who could understand Loki, and Loki regretted pushing him. He didn't know the boy's power had its limits.
Loki turned to his brother who rightfully so had a look of anger.
"I know you regret your actions Loki, it is the least you can do to repair the damage you have done to him."
Loki glared but stood up lowering his glamour.
"What exactly do you need me for?"
Thor sighed relieved that Loki was not up for his usual trickery.
"The plan is simple, we need you to mask yourself as the boy for an exchange. He is currently held prisoner to some oafs."
Loki nodded, it was simple enough.
"And what about my sentence?"
Thor hummed in thought about that.
"I will speak with father about it. Now come, we don't have much time."
Loki nodded and with Thor they traveled to mid-guard.
"Friends I have returned. Where shall we do the exchange?"
After coming up with a solid plan they decided to change Katsuki's appearance a bit. Loki kept the boys hair but changed his eyes and covered his mouth with guard. Annoying as it was to wear such a thing again, Loki owed the young boy. When they arrived at the exchange point. Katsuki was a bit shocked to see a off-brand look-alike of him.
"The money first, just to make sure you kept up with that part."
Tony slid the case to the men who opened it and found all the money accounted for. The leader cocked a gun at Katsuki's head and announced they were about to switch off. As the other Katsuki got near the boy looked at him and their eyes flashed a familiar green. Katsuki felt himself be pushed down to the ground and the bad guys got away with their bounty.
"Was that who I think it was?"
Steve nodded grimacing but Katsuki started to laugh.
"Oh that's gonna be a riot, look the plane is already being blasted."
The plane indeed was coming apart and a green god of mischief descended towards them.
"That was fun, a bit too easy in my opinion but a prisoner can't be too picky. Hello again young one."
Katsuki shivered at the name. It brought back some rather bleak memories. Tony stood in front of Katsiki blocking him away from Loki.
"I'm not going to hurt the boy. I've done enough damage that I rather regret. If you wouldn't mind I would like to speak with you son of Masaru."
Tony butted in glaring at Loki.
"Yeah, no you're not gonna get any closer to him anytime soon-"
Loki have Tony a dry look.
"I was asking him."
Katsuki clenched his fists, he heard a bit from Thor about Loki's story. Sure he definitely was wrong to try to overtake earth, but his reasons were understandable. Katsuki just wanted to get over this and maybe a talk with Loki could help him.
"Alright, but no tricks."
Loki smiled at that.
"I wouldn't dream of it, maybe some privacy? I swear to Odín's beard brother, I won't harm the boy."
Thor started hard at his brother to see the truth but Tony decided to cut in.
"Really, that's all it takes a small swear? We'll be over there in the Quinjet. Don't try anything or we'll see it."
Loki rolled his eyes but nodded. He turned to Katsuki who was giving him a wary look.
"I would like to firstly apologize for, well.."
"Taking control of me and pushing me beyond my limits to achieve a goal that didn't really happen? Yeah, that's pretty small for what you really did."
Loki sighed at that.
"Yes, and I suppose the damage mentally, I saw your life, I know of your troubles, life had been rather unkind to you."
Katsuki froze up at that but soon scoffed.
"So what, if you really did take a peak, I was just as unkind. I deserved it."
Loki hummed.
"It's too late for redemption for me, but you are young, there is time. Is there anything you wish to ask of me?"
Katsuki paused and turned to Loki.
"Thor gave me a run down on what happened to you. Sounds like Odín is a shit father second to Endeavwhore."
Loki laughed at that.
"I suppose so, I always knew I would never get the thrown, but I never wanted it in the first place. Thor may have thought I was jealous of his fate but really, I was envious of his belonging. At least when my brother would become king, there may have been a time where I'd finally belong in Asgard."
Loki frowned taking a calming breath.
"But fate was cruel, I was a bastard son of an enemy, the monster younglings fear in stories."
Katsuki thought carefully about his words.
"Well, you sure showed them, you're not too late for redemption, I don't think so, and neither does Thor. He tells me stories of you when you were younger. Did you really pretend to be a snake and stab him?"
Loki laughed at that.
"Yes, one of my favorite pranks, the look on his face, it was priceless. I think our time is up, I still have to return to Asgard. It is good to see you are well now. I still doubt that myself but perhaps fate will surprise me. Till we meet again young one."
Thor came out and nodded to his brother.