Hello my dear followers! The format for this might be a little different because I got a new computer, and instead of Microsoft Word, I have OpenOffice. Everything should be about the same, but if it's not, just a heads up.
This is a sequel to my first big Avengers fanfiction "Avengers High School," which you can read at this link: s/9858522/1/Avengers-High-School . This story will have spoilers and references from the fist story.
My first story was more popular than I could ever hope for, but since this is a sequel, I have lower expectations. This might have a couple more one-shots than I had in the first one, and there will be characters/ plots from the Avengers movies (ie: General Ross, palladium poisoning, etc), and therefore may not be as Loki-centric. I also may never wrap this story up, in order to be able to add content along with the Marvel movies. Hopefully, I will update more often than they do. However, I do doubt my ability to update as often as I did in my first edition.
I hope you anxious followers, and you new non-followers, will enjoy this sequel!
Loki was annoyed at how many people knew about Norse mythology.
Normally, he would be happy that the sheep of Midgard knew something, but his mythological counterpart was often mocked for his sexual exploits, which normally ended with him resisting the urge to punch the human in the face.
One example was when the team went horseback riding.
Natasha was the one who suggested it, even though she had never gone. It was an average high-school day for the Avengers: breaking speed limits on their motorcycles but being late for school anyway (except for Steve and Bruce, who woke up earlier), grinding through the school day, coming home, training (usually on their own, but sometimes with group exercises), doing homework, and playing video games/ reading/ screwing in the lab before sleeping on their respective floors. That day in particular Thor, Loki, Tony, and Natasha were having a Super Smash Bros. tournament. Tony had been rather vicious in his taunts beforehand, causing the rest of the players to focus all of their punches on him. Frustrated, Tony had called on JARVIS for help, which promptly resulted in all of the other players being thrown from the screen. Annoyed, Natasha had punched Tony in the stomach, and soon they were all in a giant mock-fight. No knives were drawn (nor guns), no hammers were summoned, and no repulsers were used, but all four ended up on the ground, most nursing bruises.
"I think we should do something else for a while," Tony panted. "Maybe some Pikmin?"
"Like that would ease our frustrations," Natasha replied. "Why don't we do something besides video games?"
"Like what?" Tony was still panting.
"Horseback riding."
Loki perked up. "Midgardians ride horses?"
"Yeah, but it's mainly a sport for leisure in America. Plenty of other countries still use donkeys and camels for transport, though."
"It has been a while since I have seen a horse," Thor agreed, "It would be nice to see one again."
…
"Okay, I get why Thor and Loki would be excited about this," Clint started as they loaded into the large self-driving van, "but why are we being dragged to be taught how to sit on a freaking horse?"
Loki raised his eyebrows. "Riding horses is harder than riding a motorcycle. Horses are independent beings who choose to carry you on their back. You must communicate in a very specific way to a sentient creature to do your will. Are you shying away from a challenge?"
Before Clint could retort, Thor added on, "Besides, if you ever go to Asgard, your ignorance would betray you."
That got everyone's attention.
"Go to Asgard?" Bruce repeated slowly.
Loki slapped his hand over Thor's mouth.
"Loki..." Tony gave his biggest puppy-dog eyes, but Loki just made a look of disgust.
"I do not know what you are trying to do, Tony, but it is not working."
Tony pouted. "Fine then. Keep your super-secret Asgardian secrets to yourself."
"I will." Loki emphasized the first word as he glared at Thor, slowly removing his hand.
"So Thor-"
Loki half-heartily kicked the teen genius.
…
"Wow," Steve exclaimed as he looked at the horse, "he's so big."
Their guide, Robert, smiled at the teen's reaction. "That's Astro, our biggest horse, around 17 hands tall. You," he pointed at Thor, "what's your name again?"
"I am Thor, this is my brother Loki, and my friends Steve, Tony, Natasha, Clint, and Bruce."
Robert grinned. "So Loki's riding a horse today?"
Loki sighed and nodded as his friends giggled, realizing what the stable-hand was referring to.
"I promise I will not have sexual relationships with your horses. Frankly, I find that horrendous."
Robert chuckled softly. "That's good. How many of you guys have ridden horses before?"
"My brother and I have been riding since we were born."
Loki watched Thor carefully, waiting for him to start telling this person that riding horses was all they did back home, which would surely be suspicious, but he said no more.
"I don't think the rest of us have even seen a horse before," Steve explained. "At least in person."
"In that case, Thor," Robert pronounced the name as if he still couldn't believe that was his name, "will ride Astro here. You, Loki, will ride Gabriel over here..."
After he had assigned all the horses and taught the beginners how to lead the horses to the rail, Robert took out a key and unlocked a shed.
"Do you two ride English or Western?"
Thor and Loki exchanged glances.
"What?"
Robert changed tack. "Do you hold your reins with one hand or two hands?"
"Oh." Loki thought for a moment. "Well, it depends-" He shut his mouth before he could finish his sentence. He was about to say 'Well, it depends on whether or not we're carrying a weapon,' but thought better of it.
The stable manager gestured to the boys. "Come and see for yourself."
Loki and Thor stepped in the room, and were fairly surprised.
"Thor, they actually have Asgardian tack," Loki whispered as he removed the saddle. He couldn't help the small smile.
"I know. I wonder how they developed it."
Robert peeked his head inside. "Oh, so you guys chose English. We'll start your friends on bareback for now..." The man started muttering to himself as Thor and Loki walked off.
The two had readied and mounted their horses by the time Robert returned.
"Woah woah woah woah! What are you two doing?" he shouted.
"Riding our horses." Thor sounded as confused as he felt.
"Without a helmet or spurs?"
"Why would we need a helmet? And what are spurs?" Loki lead Gabriel to Robert as we spoke. Thor followed.
"Normally, those two horses won't budge without spurs, but you two seem to do fine without them. But I can't have you guys ride without a helmet."
"We left ours at home." Loki couldn't summon his helmet in front of this guy.
"I'll let you borrow some of ours. We have plenty. Dismount your horses and follow me."
Cautiously, they obeyed, their horses following them without complaint.
The helmets looked like motorcycle helmets, but the two said nothing as Robert fitted and tightened their helmets.
"You look ridiculous, brother," Loki smirked.
"Not as ridiculous as you."
Robert snapped, drawing their attention.
"You can ride in the barrel arena for now. I'll check on you guys in an hour. If you need me, I'll be teaching your friends at the covered arena over there. Have fun!"
Robert walked off, and the brothers rode into the arena.
…
"I missed this," Loki admitted after winning a race.
"As have I." Thor was smiling as well. "But I tire of going in circles on flat ground."
"As do I. However, we cannot leave the arena."
"He never said we cannot. Besides, we have a whole hour before he will check on us."
Loki sighed in defeat. "You want to go into the forest up there?"
Thor smiled and lead the horse away as an answer.
Loki followed, stopping at the edge of the arena before catching up to his brother.
…
Bruce tentatively raised his hand, catching Robert's attention.
"Yes, uh- who are you again?"
"Bruce. Could I get some water? I forgot a water bottle."
"Go ahead. Lead your horse over here. The water fountains are by the arena where your friends are."
Bruce wandered to the arena, legs slightly aching from the unaccustomed pressure. He saw Thor and Loki racing their horses in a circle. He stopped and smiled. They were really good, and focused. They didn't even wave back.
Bruce drank and cleaned his glasses from the accumulated dust before looking at them again. Looking closely, their horses's footsteps were the same every time they went around. Tentatively, Bruce walked over to Loki and Thor and stuck his hand out at the passing racers.
The whole scene melted away in a green flash.
Bruce ran back to the other Avengers. His horse spooked slightly when Bruce approached (all of the horses spooked around him; he figured it was because of the Hulk), but he mounted anyway and drove his horse to Steve.
"Steve," he whispered, too soft for Robert to hear. "Thor and Loki left."
"What?" The blonde slowed his horse to a walk, petting her gently.
"Their footprints lead into the woods up there. Should we go after them?"
"They can take care of themselves. I just hope Robert doesn't find out."
Right after Steve finished his sentence, Robert turned his head towards them and shouted, "Hey! No talking in the arena!"
Sighing, Bruce led his horse in a circle, away from Steve.
…
"Do you remember, brother, when we were younger, and played Frost Giants and Asgardians?" Thor asked after a couple of minutes of silence.
Loki smiled softly. "Yes. You were always the Jotun because you were the giant of us two."
"How ironic."
Loki's smile faded, and his tone became somber. "Mother never liked us playing that, but Odin never let her tell us why. Odin wanted us to fear them, and he succeeded." He looked down, petting Gabriel. "Did he want me to turn against Asgard? To become the villain to your hero?"
Thor's expression darkened, and the wind began to chill, but he said nothing.
Unknown to Thor, Loki made a motion. A snake slithered in front of Thor's horse, who reared. Startled at the spook, Thor barely held on.
"I guess you are not feeling too bad, brother," Thor mock-snarled, "if you are up to your tricks again."
"When am I not? Come on, I'll race you to that clearing."
"But you just spooked my horse," Thor protested.
Loki smiled. "Are you afraid of losing?"
"Not to you."
…
The brothers had just returned to the arena when Robert went to check on them.
"Taking a break, boys?"
They turned their heads to see that the man walking toward them with a cocky grin. "You guys are lazy for expert riders. C'mon, let's see what you two can do."
After climbing a tree-covered hill without any paths, the simple turns Thor and Loki were commanded to do were effortless. However, the patterns made them both look like fools, as they had never done them before.
Loki had volunteered to do the most complicated pattern first, eager to show off in general. He was leading Gabriel backwards when the horse tripped on a piece of wood from an obstacle that Loki nor the horse could notice, and the horse stumbled. The boy was leaning back slightly, adjusting his reins, so he flew off the back of the horse, and barely managed to roll out of the way of any panicking feet.
Robert grabbed Gabriel's reins, and Thor immediately dismounted Astro, running to check on his brother. Aside for some dirt on his face, Loki was fine.
Gabriel had calmed down, and was fit to ride again, as the wood only startled him.
Robert offered Loki a hand. "There's no shame in making mistakes. You're okay, right?"
Loki smiled, face red, as he took his hand.
"No shame, unless you have been riding horses for over 500 years."
…
Loki was feeding Gabriel carrots at his stall, when Thor approached him.
"I am having a spot of trouble having Astro lift his back hooves. Could you assist me?"
"No problem."
Thor lead Loki to the cross-ties (the place where riders prepare their horses to ride), where he easily picked Astro's front hooves. The trickster thought nothing of the ease or Thor's absence as his brain automatically went on auto-pilot. He was brushing the gelding's belly when Thor stuck his head around the corner.
"Loki! What are you doing to that horse! That is disgusting!"
Loki looked up as Robert hurried around the corner, a panicked expression on the man's face. Loki bared his teeth in annoyance when he realized the stable-hand's worry.
"You thought I broke my promise about the horses," he hissed.
Thor could not keep the pleasure off of his face, and Loki noticed.
"You!" he barked, turning his head to his brother.
Thor smiled. "There, now we are even for spooking my horse."
"I do not play to get even," Loki snarled, "I play to win. And win I shall. Count your lucky stars that I am warning you, brother."
Robert narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean, 'for spooking my horse'?"
Loki sighed.
Wow. Don't kill me, guys.
I know I promised this sequel 'mid-April,' and I'm only now just delivering, but I have been sort of busy. Sorry it was so late though!
I realize now that I cannot handle writing one-shot chapters like these. My mind cannot focus without a storyline to connect to. That means the next chapter (whenever that come out) will be plot. Yay!
(Or not yay, considering what the next chapter will entail.)
Thanks for reading!