Brotherhood/Teacher Conference

A lot of you have been asking me for this and so here it is. I have decided to make this a series of connected drabbles. They will most likely not follow a linear path but I will try. This takes place some weaks or some some months before the first chapter.

HAPPY FRIDAY THE 13TH!

Bayville high wasn't a large school but it was a well off school. Not the brightest of students but it suited Loki or, as most now call him, Mr. Nicholas Owens. It was tiring being a teacher, but the God of Lies made up for it by sleeping during class half the time. Of course, he was tired since the other half of his school time was yelling at his students for being incompetent idiots, no, not idiots. Principle Darkholme specified already on not calling the students idiots.

It had only been two months since he started teaching at the school and, though some had made slight improvements, they were still horribly far behind C level grades were not good enough for his students. He would never again subject himself to those who were ill-educated. No, if they wanted to be fools then they could drop out of school. He had made his opinion on the matter known to anyone in his class. On more than a few separate occasions, as he was at the moment.

"Stupid, pee-brained imbeciles!" Loki was in the middle of one of his many, famous tirades, "You think I will just allow such a grade to pass?! In my class?! I have no time to waste on ill-begotten, privileged fools like you! Laugh once more, Mister Summers, and you will be joining your classmate in after school detention. You grades are horrendous compared to Mister Reid's."

The boy with red sun glasses in the back of the room stifled his laughter as Loki continued his verbal assault upon the built teen cowering in front of him. No doubt Loki would suspend the boy's football privileges yet again. To the students, Mr. Owens was well known for making kids cry. Several of the cheer leaders were sent home on several occasions along with two of the football players after being emotionally distraught from a lecture by their teacher. After a stern talking to by the principle, he could no longer make the kids cry but he could sure bring them close.

"And you, Mister Tolanski, your grades have dropped in the last week. What possible excuse can you come up with to amuse me this day?" Loki continued on, a clear dismissal for the teen in front of him to take his seat.

The pale greened skinned teen scratched the back of his head, "I…well, uh…you see, I was, um? And then there was, uh, this thing…and I was with a…but uh?"

"Please, don't continue. If you don't bring your grades up, I will have no choice but to suspend you." Loki said, a smirk appearing on his face and the short teen gulped, "Or, if you prefer, you can leave now and I will have the pleasure of never seeing you again. Please, do make up your mind. I would like to actually teach those who are, in fact, dedicated to their studies."

The boy was clearly sweating, not meeting the eyes of his teacher. This was the part that Loki enjoyed most thoroughly. The way the children feared him. But he had to agree that he loved teaching, even the most idiotic-stupid, he meant, he really had to stop calling the children idiots-students. He had occasionally taken apprentices in magic but all had either betrayed him or run off without finishing their training, dying in most horrendous ways after stupidly thinking themselves superior. But yes, the fear was what he loved, the teaching coming in close second.

Loki continued on, walking away from the desk to his own, sitting himself down on the smooth and comfortable leather cheer he had conjured when first taking the job, "Worry not. You and the rest of your housemates will be receiving a visit from me shortly. I have already scheduled a conference with your guardian."

"What?!" Several voices called out at once.

Loki looked to the white haired boy. He was the brightest in the class, always finishing first and so proud of himself. Loki liked the boy though he hid it well. Favoritism was never a good thing as he thought back to Amora the Enchantress. One of his first students. He had always favored her and he showed it. This made the once girl and now woman arrogant beyond compare, even compared to his brother. She was the first to abandon his teaching, taking on many new teachers.

"My apologies, Pietro." He said to the boy, watching the aghast face and loud exclamation turn to one of relief, "Your well off grades excluded from your housemates, of course. But the rest of you, expect to see me shortly."

The teens looked to want to protest but Loki put up his hand and the sharp look in his eyes quieted them and alerted them that the conversation was over, "Now, pop quiz. Afterwards, an Essay on the properties of good grades. Your English had better be exemplary. If you do not finish by the end of the period then I expect you to stay after school to finish. No arguing."

Once the papers were passed out, he went back to his desk, resting his head on his arms and slept.

000000000000000 0000000000000000000000 00000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000

Walking was always a great pass time. And, though Loki had the money, he chose not to buy a car or even a bike. Nature was always full of magic. Even now, when Loki's magic is locked away, he can still feel it thrumming all around him. The ground, the trees, even the animals were that of the properties of his element, his sorcery. He felt strong in times like these, walking in the fresh air of the town.

It wasn't like the city where little magic was found in the industrial, man-made structures. But this place was far from Asgard. There, he was so powerful and so full of life. Everything on Asgard was magic, but here, on earth, magic was so dampened compared to when he first visited Midgard all those centuries ago. Then, Earth could have been compared to Asgardian magic with the way it coursed through the planet so joyfully.

Loki came out of his blissful walk as he stopped in front of a rundown boarding house. Loki scoffed at the place. No wonder the kids had no motivation for learning. With a place like this to live in, it was a wonder they had any motivation at all or even more motivation to get out of a place like this and become better off. Loki, had he even had the misfortune of living in a place like this, would have taken any chance to better himself.

Loki allowed himself a quick shutter before walking up the drive and to the porch. It was a faded white, chipped in obvious spots that had eroded over a long period of time. He would certainly bring this up with the care taker. No child, Loki told himself, could grow in a dump like this.

He knocked and a short while later the door opened slowly and the face of Todd came into view. The boy gave a meek 'eep' and Loki could tell the boy was tempted to shut the door in his face. But stopped himself before he could, opening it wider.

"He-Hello, Mr. Owens." Todd said, gulping as Loki's lip twitched in amusement.

First, he looked in the house, giving it a slow once over then back to the boy, "Where is your guardian? She should be aware I was coming at this specified time."

"Yeah." He said shortly.

Loki looked at the boy, "Proper grammar, Mister Todd."

"I meant, Yes, sir." He said quickly and opened the door wider to allow the teacher access.

Slow, increasing tapping above him alerted Loki to the decent of who he was waiting for. The tap of heels was easy enough for Loki to notice the shoes for what they were. He had, more than once, donned the guise of a woman before. Expensive heels were so much more satisfying to hear than the cheap brands and this woman was in no way one to skive on the high priced footwear.

The woman appeared from the curved stare case, she stopped at the highest stare that would give both a full view of the other. The curve of her seductive smile was not missed on Loki. She was tall, accentuated by the high heels she wore and the tight, black dress. It was by no means a revealing dress but not at all one that could not catch the eyes of every man she encountered. The collar was low, though not enough of show cleavage and the sleeves that went down half way to her elbow showed the thin yet lightly muscular arms. Her dress went down to her knees in a tight pencil skirt, perfect for her thin and long legs that seemed to be endless.

And then there was her face, beautiful and sharp, one which all knew had a mind like a dagger and it showed. She was smart and it was easy to tell she enjoyed watching the dumb make fools of themselves and her light brown tresses; framing her face like an old Victorian portrait. Looking at this woman reminded him of some of the woman on Nieflahim, the Elven woman were like art that no other could touch but their chosen.

Her smile grew if only slightly at taking him in and she journeyed down the steps till she was standing in front of him. Now that he saw her up close, he could see that the woman was almost, if not just, as tall as himself. There was something distinctly familiar about the woman in front of him. And it nagged at his senses, both magical and physical.

"Pardon my question, but is there a chance you are related to Ms. Darkholme by any chance?" He asked and though the two woman were so different, they were also so much alike. He could gouge their relationship better had he his magic but he could only go on the slight feeling alone.

The woman's small smile slipped and she straightened more, "There is no relation, Mr. Owens. I have met the woman before on few occasions but I have no affiliation with her. What could possibly make you think that?"

Liar. Loki's mind screamed at him. He was not known as the God of Lies to simply be bested by this woman but whatever it was she was willing to lie about, Loki really didn't bother to care, "No reason. It is just the way the two of you carry yourselves. It is so similar as only some sisters or close cousins might have. And your eyes. They have much the same sharpness. My apologies for insinuating."

She appraised him in the few seconds of silence between them then nodded, "Follow me into the lounge."

She walked ahead of him, thinking nothing of it, he followed after the woman. When he saw the 'lounge' as she put it, he just barely stopped himself from cringing. It was a dump. The sofas and chairs were disheveled, ripped even, the paint upon the walls were chipped and faded, worse so than the outer parts of the house. The walls themselves were falling apart.

"Do have a seat, Mr. Owens." She said, taking the only good and, what seemed to be expensive, chair in the room. The black leather chair seemed so out of place in that small dump of a lounge that in itself seemed disgusting.

Loki, one to never show his discomfort, sat on the least ruined sofa, removing his satchel from him shoulder and setting it down next to him, "I am sure you are aware of why I am here today, Ms…"

The woman picked up a glass that appeared to be a fine red wine from the rusted coffee table that separated them and it was not the first time that Loki wondered how wood could rust.

"Elizabeth Morgan." She answered to his unspoken inquisition, "Elizabeth is fine and yes, I am aware. Please, do have something to drink."

He let out a soft hum, ignoring the woman's offer, "Ms. Morgan, it has come to my attention, quite clearly these last two months, that your charges have thoroughly doused my expectations of them."

She smiled, one that would clearly put any other man on his knees, and if it hadn't been for Loki's many centuries of such the same type and even more glorious woman, then he may have done just the same. He merely looked at the woman who so easily and so unashamedly used her sex appeal to her advantage.

Her voice was low as she spoke, "I am sure we can work something out to change their grades, to make them better so to say."

He answered back, a playful smile on his lips, "You are most right, Ms. Morgan."

She got up from her seat, setting down the glass and slowly moved towards him and around the table. He looked up to her face from where he sat, that owe so seductive smile growing larger as she bent down, siting herself next to him on the couch as close as she possibly could without actually touching.

"Please, call me Elizabeth." She said again, leaning close though he wasn't sure how it was even possible with how close they already were "Now tell me, Mr. Owens, what I can do for my wards' schooling?"

She lifted both glasses, handing the full one to him and taking a sip of her own. He really was never one to waste good wine. He brought it up to his nose, taking a light whiff of it. He froze for a second. Though the wine was strong, there was something else. It was almost a cinnamon sort of smell but more acidic. He almost laughed. The woman was trying to roofy him. Most likely for black mailing purposes.

He smiled at the woman as he took the glass away from his face, "I truly am sorry, but I have a terrible allergy to red wine. My stomach lining just do not take to it. Now, as I was saying, your charges are falling behind and there tendency to skip class are worrisome."

He felt giddy inside when he saw the woman's face fall in so slight a way. It was almost enough to make him laugh but he quenched the thought. He took from his bag several papers, grade sheets mostly and past failed tests.

"I was told this boarding house was for troubled youths. I have read over the pamphlet myself before arriving. It was, as I have read, meant to be a house of nurture in order for the children to have a soothing environment for promote their wellbeing. It is not up to par as I have seen so far." He said, his face taking on one of seriousness, "I can see now it was entirely misleading. If the children are to reach their true learning potential then many things must change. One being their caretaker."

The woman narrowed her eyes, standing and returning to her chair. Her expression taking on one of a hawk leveling a stare at her pray, "To what are you referring to, Mr. Owen?"

"I mean this house. I mean your state of act. I mean how you only see fit to indulge yourself. The chair you sit on could be no less than some thousand dollars." He stated plainly.

Loki knew that true learning, the want and desire for knowledge, came from the way one was brought up. This place, Loki knew, was one that did not promote such. Loki hated the fact that he could sympathize with such mortal children. The way that she favored only herself and left nothing for those she thought inferior and yet under her watch, her protection. She was so much like Thor and even more like Oden. Though Loki may seek favorites, he never diminished the hopes of those under him. This woman was disgusting, though she was beautiful, she was so hideous.

Loki began again, "This place will be cleaned, fixed and the proper comforts be allowed to these children. If that is not done then I will call the proper authorities. And trust me, I know so very high government officials."

It was not untrue. His brother was just a call away. If Loki so desired, he could 'ask' Thor to make arrangements so that these teenagers received the respect they were due. Schooling was something Loki prided himself on and this country seemed to think as well. It was something, one of the only things, he thought fondly of and those who sought schooling as well. Those like Thor and his ilk, Loki detested for thinking only fools and women and weakling went to learn.

"See here, Mr. Owens, I run this house with-,"

Loki stopped her before she could continue, "No, you see here, you ill-begotten woman. Though I could care less for these slackers, it is my job to see these children are cared for and are within their rights to a home that promotes schooling. There are other homes the children could be sent to in order to prepare them more thoroughly or actually prepare them at all for the real world and life after school, such as college or a job. So do not think me daft and easily swayed to your seductive woos."

The woman smartly kept quiet as Loki turned towards the door. He saw several heads peeking out from behind it.

"Wait." She called, "Please, let's talk. I am sorry for my behavior."

He turned back to her. He stood there for several moments, gleaming to see any lie in the woman's voice or expression. Though there was an underlying of begrudgement in her eyes, he nodded in acceptance and sat back down.

She stood, taking the two glasses from the table and rushed out without a word to him. He waited for her return, looking about the room yet again. It truly was trash, not an environment for those wishing to learn. It would have to change. Though he had only been teaching for a little over four years, Loki had always loved the thought of teaching. After teaching quite a number of apprentices, it had always thrilled him to have a student and having that student see him as an idol, to be looked up to. But he knew in this kind of condition, no child would wish to learn. Filth made expectations low, anything was higher than this.

He furrowed his brow in irritation. The woman had been gone for some number of minutes now. He stood up and began for the door to the hall. When he reached the exit to the lounge, he stopped as he heard hushed voices.

"…hear your excuses." A feminine voice said in a hissed tone, "I could care less about your problems. Get your grades up or Magneto will deal with your stupidity."

Magneto, Loki thought. That was a name he had not heard in a while. He remembered the metal bender. Strong, arrogant, and much too cocky, but it was all in good fun that he joined Erik in his many foolish attempts at something or other that Loki never really bothered with. But he did remember the mortal, or not so mortal, Wolverine. Loki preferred to call him Logan. He never did like the little nicknames, or secret identities. It always interested him that a mortal could be immortal at the same time. Not even Loki could do exactly what the mutant could do. Reincarnation, yes, but reviving after only several minutes of death had consumed him, no, he could not.

"If you do not get your act together and your grades proper then Owens has already made clear to send you elsewhere." The woman continued and it was now that he wondered just who this woman was. The voice was too deep to be Ms. Morgan but he was unaware of any other caretaker in the house, "Would you really rather be sent to Xavier's school with the X-Men? No and now it is my job to salvage what I can of your mess."

Loki quiet literally froze. The X-Men. He never really did ever meet them but he heard of them. From Erik, from the Avengers, and he knew the mutant Logan was a part of them. He peeked around the door frame and the first thing he noticed was blue skin. His mind jumped to Frost Giants but quickly dismissed the idea. Her hair was red as opposed to the traditional black or white. Of course, his mind put two and two together. This woman in the long white slit dress and skull belt was Mystique. Erik had talked of her often enough for Loki to remember the woman though never actually meet her. This meaning that the group of boys would be his young recruits, training to be the next generation of Erik's prized Brotherhood.

"Go, we are not done discussing this." She hissed, dismissing the group of boys and heading back towards the room.

Loki was sitting before she arrived, her guise back in place. She walked over briskly and sat herself down, smoothing out the skirt of her dress. The irate way in which this was done did not go unnoticed by Loki, nor did the way she tried to hide her discomfort as she took several breaths before starting.

"Mr. Owens, I am sorry for your wasted time. I know I have been a pain but rest assure, I promise you changes will be made to benefit the boys." She said with an overly sincere smile that Loki on even his worst day could tell for a scam.

"I'm sure it will." He said, standing up, "I have wasted enough time. I expect these changes to occur at a reasonable amount of time. Your charges had best take their studies seriously, this house will be suitable for proper living, and I expect your own behavior towards them to be of a respectful guardian/child relation. Excuse me, Ms. Morgan, I have other things I must attend."

He showed himself out, leaving the shape shifter to clear at his back. He was in so much of a better mood. It was so little a chance that he could actually have a proper argument, and not with just children but with an adult, one who was so assured in their ways, so arrogant in their gaunt as to challenge him. Yes, he was in so much a better mood.

And then, he slowed. His smile slipped. The X-Men and Brotherhood, both in town and his students as well, though he could only speculate about the X-Men. Who knows what Magneto would do after the last time, last two times, Loki blew up the metal benders base. By accident of course, but still, it most certainly left a fowl taste in the mutant's mouth Loki could only highly assume. And Logan. He had killed Logan quite a few times. The metal boned mutant, he knew, held quite the grudge.

And then there was Mystique. Yes, now he was sure. She, Morgan and Darkholme were the same people. He could not be sure about the last but all evidence pointed to the positive. It was easy to see how the woman was lying in her affiliation with his…boss. Oh, now that will most definitely be a problem. He most certainly did just insult and mock his boss.

He laughed quietly and began walking at his normal pace back to his apartment. He would certainly cross that troubled bridge once he got there. It wasn't like she could do anything about it. He smiled the rest of his way, enjoying the nature around him and forgetting about future problems that were not yet problems and even began to hum as he went.

END