Chapter 2


After the small set back with the locker, the rest of Loki's day went by much more smoothly. The Norns seemed to smile on him for once, instead of frown and glare as they usually did.

He even learned how to correctly open a locker with ease, thanks to his newly found acquaintance, Ande. Loki refused to refer to her as a friend, though she did sit with him at lunch and then walked with him to the library afterwards.

Loki quite enjoyed this mortal library. Of course, it was nothing compared to Asgard's library, but he had basically read everything his home had to offer by the time he turned nine years old. This Midgard library had new subject matter, which he found rather entertaining.

Loki and Ande sat in armchairs next to each other, both fully immersed in their novels. It was peaceful, or at least it was, until Thor found them.

"Brother... I need to talk to you about something..." he said nervously, shuffling his feet around.

Loki raised his eyebrows in surprise. Thor hadn't even spoken to him since the incident that caused them to be sent here, but nevertheless, Loki placed his book aside, got up, and followed him. Thor led him over to an empty table and they both sat down.

"Brother... I need your help," Thor began. "I sort of have an issue."

Loki sighed and said, "Did you forget how to tie your shoes again?"

"No! Well, yes, but that's not what I wanted to ask you about."

Loki rolled his eyes and waited for Thor to continue. Thor sat there for a moment, rocking back and forth on his seat and biting his lip.

"I have a duel after school today," he finally admitted, hanging his head.

"You what?" Loki nearly shrieked. "Thor, you bigoted idiot! Father sent us here to keep us out of trouble, not to cause it. It's only our second day here, and you have already challenged someone to a duel."

"It wasn't me, I swear! This kid–well not really a kid, more like an elephant–he came up to me in the hallway and said there was to be a fight after school. And I would have looked like a coward if I were to have declined!" Thor said frantically.

"Because your image is all that matters, right?" Loki sighed. He would honestly never understand his brother's consistent need to appear best at everything.

"Yes. So will you help me? Please brother?" the elder brother pleaded.

"Fine, fine!" Loki snapped. "What do you need my help for, anyway?"

"I need information on this kid I am to battle. His name is Greg... Um... Gregson. No, Smithhead. No, Smithson," Thor said, feeling rather proud that he had managed to remember the name for more than fifteen minutes.

"And you expect me to know about him? What am I, a walking library?" Loki said, exasperated.

"Yes. You are. Just... find out what you can about him and then tell me. And... if there is anything else you can do to help me win, do that as well." And with that, Thor walked off, leaving Loki at the table.

The god of mischief stood and walked back to the chairs where he had left Ande, still reading her book. Loki sat back down and picked up his novel.

She glanced up and saw his irritated face. "That was your brother? Is everything okay?"

"He was having a crisis, as usual. No big matter, he just got into a rough spot with another boy," Loki explained.

Now he had to start finding out about this Smithson that Thor was having difficulties with. He doubted it was over some small matter like not sharing or something, like Thor and Loki used to get into fights about. And as much as his brother bothered him, he had to help him. There was no way he could let Thor get hurt. But how was he supposed to find out about the boy Thor would be going up against? He supposed he could always ask Ande and see what she knew. But would that be enough?

And then Thor also wanted him to help beat Smithson. How, though? Loki wasn't a fighter. He felt his pulse quicken with stress and dearly hoped it wouldn't cause him to spontaneously turn invisible. He tended to do that when he became stressed. Loki hadn't quite mastered his powers of sorcery yet.

That was when an idea struck him faster then Tyr would if you messed with his extravagant sword collection – and Loki had had plenty experience with that.

He knew exactly what he could do to help Thor.

0-o-Ψ-o-0

Thor confidently strode through the hallways. One more class to go until the duel–until he showed off his mad skill. He couldn't have been happier.

He also couldn't have been more worried. Just look at the size of that Smithson boy! He was huge! Thor would even bet that he was bigger then Volstagg, which was a feat in itself. Any warrior would be scared.

That is, any warrior except for Thor. He was not scared. More of... slightly concerned. Oh, how he hoped Loki had pulled through with his side of the bargain.

He entered the classroom and was immediately bombarded with questions about the upcoming face off. Word apparently travels fast in a school so small.

The class was a mix of advanced eighth graders and slow ninth graders, which accurately described both Loki and Thor, so they had this class together. He waved off the questions with a flashy grin and joined his brother in the corner desk that he occupied.

Loki looked up from the book he was reading when he heard the heavy thud of Thor's feet approaching him.

"Brother! So, did you find out anything?" Thor whispered, though his whisper was roughly equivalent to an average man's regular speaking voice.

"I did, as a matter of fact. My... acquaintance, Andelyn, happens to know the boy quite well-" Loki started, but Thor cut him off.

"You made a friend? A friend who's a girl? Oh, Loki has a girlfriend! A mortal girlfriend!" Thor laughed, a teasing glint in his bright blue eyes.

"Not so loud, Thor! She is right over there. And no, she is not my girlfriend. We aren't even friends. Just acquaintances," Loki corrected, a scowl forming on his face. "Now, do you wish for me to help you, or have you changed your mind?"

Thor hesitated for a moment, debating between the importance of Loki's help and the fun of teasing him some more.

"Sorry, Loki. Yes, I want your help. Please continue," Thor said reluctantly.

"As I was saying, Andelyn happens to know the boy quite well. Apparently, their houses are adjacent to one another, and he just so happens to be dating her sister. He is a very rude, unmannered boy and causes fights nearly every day, which also describes you quite well," Loki smirked. Thor glared. "He has a soft spot for kittens, though, and is very over-protective of his girlfriend."

"Well, he did start the fight because I was attempting to court his girlfriend. But for the record, she was enjoying it and even responding quite well," Thor said, remembering her from yesterday. "Her name is Samantha, correct? Yes, she was very pretty."

Loki resisted the urge to slam his head on his desk. Typical Thor. He did this with so many women that Loki found it hard to believe the god of thunder could even tell one from the other.

"Did you also find out any way to assist me, brother?" Thor said, snapping out of his reminiscing about Samantha.

"Don't worry about that. Worry about you instead." Loki smirked again. "And leave the rest to me."