Bella told him that this afternoon, they were going to put trust into action, and she was going to make him take some driving lessons.

"It's useless for me to waste money on you if you can't even take my uniform to the dry-cleaners," she told him as they got in the car, and Loki scowled in retaliation. He shut the door, and then glanced around at the controls.

"Cars used to look different," Loki said stiffly, "and what are these for?" he mentioned to the wiper controls, and Bella grinned. Yes, it had been a long time since he had driven, over a hundred years in fact. It took him a few moments to equate himself to the controls. Bella pointed all the pedals out to him before she even let him start the car.

It probably wouldn't be much of a big deal, but this was a trust exercise, and so Loki was behind the reigns of Bella's 1968 5.7 liter V8 Chevrolet Impala four door sedan. And because of that, Bella's hand was lingering by the handbrake, and she was ready to rip the wheel out of his grasp at any moment.

"Okay, go into reverse," she instructed, "don't forget the clutch."

"I am not a simpleton," Loki bit back.

"This car is a classic," Bella replied, "okay, now keep an eye out the back windshield as you reverse," he did as he was told and he reversed slowly, "Okay, less brake and more throttle," he did as he was told once again.

"I'm sure I used to know all this stuff," he breathed as he reversed the large car out of the driveway. He curved it around so that he could move in one fluid motion.

"Clutch in, first gear," she instructed once they had turned far enough onto the street, "right side of the road!" she ordered as he began to drive. Fortunately there was no one on the road, which was a little strange, he corrected himself quickly, "it's not England".

"I learned to drive in England," he said absently.

"What in?"

"Model T Ford," he replied, "all the pedals were around a different way."

She arched an eyebrow, "I wouldn't let you anywhere near a car that old."

"I learned in 1912."

"No wonder your driving skills are a little rusty," Bella replied, "what do you do? Pilates?" she received a cutting glare, "How old are you?"

"One thousand and forty seven years old, give or take a few months," he replied flatly. It was not uncommon for adopted children on this planet not to know their birthdays, and for him, his birth would have been marked the day he had been taken to Asgard.

"Looking good for it."

"I moisturize."

A SHIELD sedan followed them to Carla Smyth's house, Sophia De Martino's best friend, and Loki parked right in front while the other agent parked across the street a few houses back. Bella got out of the car and checked his parallel park, "good," she told him, "driving is just like riding a bike."

Loki smiled, but said nothing, keying the ignition and letting his hands relax on the steering wheel. He hadn't realised how much he was trembling until now, or how tight his hands were around the wheel.

"Well, that was surprisingly good," she smiled and leaned back in the passenger seat, sighing in relief.

He watched as Sophia hugged her friend by the door of the house as the sun set, and she rushed down to the Impala. When she saw that both the front seats were occupied, she slid into the back with a careful glare at Loki.

"Where did you learn to drive?"

"London, 1912," he said, "I drove a Model T."

"Can I ask a favor?"

"Loki of Asgard at your service, young lady."

Bella laughed at the hilarity of the situation. Loki glanced at her as he turned the car right around and drove back the way he came, flashing the headlight at the SHIELD sedan, indicating for them to follow him.

"I have an assignment for school," Sophia explained, "I have to make this poster on a mythological person, creature or place."

"Yes."

"Can I do my assignment on you?"

Bella patted his shoulder, "remember rule three?"

Loki didn't know what to say for a minute, "I am honored that you would choose me for such an important endeavor," he said grandly, "but I do not think your mother would approve."