Seal my heart and break my pride

I've nowhere to stand and now nowhere to hide

Align my heart, my body, my mind

To face what I've done and do my time.

-Mumford & Sons-

The Gentlemen of the Road.

Jane sat alone in the bleachers overlooking the football field as the varsity football team practiced. She told herself she was just sitting outside, here, to soak up the sun and enjoy the breeze as she waited for Natasha to be done with her workout, but inside, deep, deep down she knew why she was really here; she was totally crushing on what Darcy would refer to as "The brainless hunks of meat". But really, As far as Jane knew, Thor wasn't failing any classes at all. That had to count for something.

She tried to focus on her homework but couldn't bring herself out of her daydreams. In her minds' eye she could just see it: Thor would glance up to the bleachers, wiping away sweat from practicing, and notice her. He wouldn't think of it at first but later, when he noticed her leaving, he would want to talk to her. And he would. At least, that's she imagined it would work out.

"Ja-ane!" Darcy called from the bottom of the bleachers.

Jane jumped, surprised from being ripped from her daydreams so rudely. "Da-arcy?" She called back in the same sing-song voice.

"What are you doing out here?" Darcy called, staying at the bottom of the bleachers.

"Homework," Jane called back, holding up her blank sheet of calculus to emphasize her point.

"That's a blank sheet of paper, Jane!" Darcy called, grinning. "I got my new glasses today, they're totally cute!"

Jane grinned back, grateful Darcy hadn't even hinted at the hulking football players. "Come here and let me see them!"

Darcy sprinted excitedly up the bleachers and pulled off her glasses, "Look, they have the cutest puppy print on the side!"

Jane glanced back at the football players and then turned to grin at Darcy, that was a close one. "That's adorable!"

Aim, breathe, release, bullseye. Aim, breathe, release, bullseye. Aim, breathe, release, bullseye.

Clint was pressed against the farthest wall in the shooting range and his target was a bird dummy he had found in the back room. It was relatively small but was no match for him. He just had a natural talent for archery, sharpshooting, anything that required aim, really.

Clint usually came out here when he was angry, or couldn't figure something out, or, in this case, was totally crushing on that redhead. She didn't even qualify as a ginger: she was a redhead. Ten points to her parents, Clint thought with a small blush.

Where had he seen her before? He could have sworn they had had previous interaction…he just couldn't remember where…He would remember seeing that hair in the hallways, definitely, so maybe that was all it was. No…it couldn't be: it felt like they already knew each other. What was it? Had they had a previous class together? That didn't seem likely: she seemed like a 5.0 student, advanced placement, college courses and all, so it wasn't likely they had shared classes. Were they neighbors? It could be…he would have to ask his parental units later tonight if they had gained any beautiful redheads neighbors as of late.

Loki sat that night in his room with his music blasting into his ears. He never listened to any screamo or heavy metal but he liked his music loud. He also didn't like when anything interrupted his music. Music was a sacred thing for him, it was distracting.

He had finished his homework hours ago but had nothing else to occupy his time with so here he lay, listening to loud music and contemplating the demise of Shield high. How would he go about doing that? He would have to concoct some sort of internal problem – a house divided cannot stand and all that – and then make it spread. After the staff were thoroughly shaken he would have to go after the student organizations the school held so dear: football, the beautiful theater they had, the track team, the baseball team, the volleyball and dance team, student council would have to fall, National Honor Society students would start being caught in troublesome situations and class presidents would lose all plans and notes, effectively ruining future dances and polls, fundraisers, and student gatherings. After the house was effectively divided he would have to start with the actual dirty work…hacking into the system was no problem but he found it boring…maybe he would do it from the office ladies own computer, further dividing the house. He would have to do it after school, at night. A little b&E never killed anyone –

"Loki!" Odin called from downstairs, ripping Loki from his dark musings.

Loki scowled in the general direction of the stairs but shut off his music, anyway. Odin rarely talked to him and when he did he was either being flippant or yelling at him for something.

Before he walked out of his room he was sure to pull down his sleeves of his shirt…he wouldn't need Odin seeing any of that. From the sounds of it he was already angry and disappointed enough.

Thor laughed loudly as he turned a corner much too fast. He and his best friends: Sif, Fandral, Volstagg, and Hogun were all having a get together at his house-mansion. Ever since Sif and Fandral transferred back to Realm Eternal High they hadn't seen each other enough and on a Saturday night like this they couldn't pass up the opportunity.

His dear friend Sif had grown her hair back, but to spite Loki – who had ruined her hair in the first place – dyed it black and told everyone she liked it that way better. Thor knew she actually hated it but who was he to intervene? It was all fun and games anyway! It was her own fault: she could have just let it grow back its natural color but she couldn't stand it. She always had to have the last word.

Loki was openly glaring at Thor's car as it rolled into the driveway pumping too loud music and Thor and his friends stumbled out of the car, most likely a little tipsy. It was unbelievably unfair how much idiocy Thor got away with while Loki was punished for things he hadn't even committed. Thor could go out and get drunk and return and all he would receive was a slap on the wrist.

Disgusting, Loki thought, sneering at the group as they came into the house. HE usually made it a point to be out whenever Sif and especially, especially Fandral were around but he hadn't been paying attention as of late and was caught off guard at the sudden arrival of the swine.

"Loki!" Thor exclaimed loudly upon seeing his brother. Most definitely drunk.

Loki sneered in reply and wanted to gag when he saw Fandrals' eyes on him. That swine was not going to leave tonight until he understood that Loki didn't have the time or patience to deal with incompetent children like him.

Later that night when Loki was attempting to make it back up to his room without being noticed by Odin, Thor (which was odd seeing as they usually didn't notice him one way or another) or Fandral, he made the horrible mistake of assuming everyone was downstairs. As soon as he got up the stairs the bathroom door opened and who else would emerge but Fandral, the devil incarnate.

"Loki," he whispered quietly, with an ugly smile on his lips.

Loki smirked. As stated previously: Loki wasn't weak. It was just a common misconception and if Fandral made any stupid moves now…he was going to find out how wrong that misconception was.

"I've been waiting for a time to talk to you," Fandral said, still being quiet, a feat for one such as him, to be sure.

"Funny, I've been avoiding times to talk to you," Loki said without pausing.

Fandral didn't so much as blink as he stepped closer to Loki, "You know, you're so cold, like ice, all the time…I could help with that."

Fandral reached his hand up and cupped Loki's cheek. Loki's eyes narrowed and all he could think was, He's going to regret that.

Five minutes later Fandral made a hurried and unexcused departure, effectively making Sif suspicious and more hateful than before.

Loki just laughed quietly to himself as he, once again, lay listening to his music.

Gah! LOKI WHAT DID YOU DO? I don't even know…Maybe he suddenly turned into a ninja and yeah…oh boy, poor Loks you little rascal. Stop plotting your schools demise! STOP IT!

Anyway: here's to

StarTrekFan512: YES! GO STAR TREK, BROTHA! Ehehehe

TheRedDragonEnforcer4: yeah…that's how I feel on a regular basis…

Phantom…