That boy… Hela had observed him. He had stared at her, stared at her bad side as if he knew that the skin was a mere illusion. And then, in the cafeteria, his friend had ogled her as if she were a piece of meat, after he had pointed her out. In Asgard that would have cost him his… Hela interrupted her own thought. She always had to remind herself she wasn't in Asgard any longer. She hadn't been there in centuries, after what had happened. As a proud Queen of Niflheim she should say that she had left the realm of the Gods to be her own master. The truth was however that she had basically been cast out. Her appearance had been too disgusting for the refined taste of the Aesir, and they had bullied her mercilessly until she had begged her father to take her away from them. It was madness to think that this realm of unknowing mortals would be any better. Hela scowled at her own weakness.

The boy had lied as well, and he wasn't good at it at all. For the trained eye of Loki's daughter his façade was transparent as glass. She wondered what he was hiding.

At the end of the day she stood waiting in the rain outside the school gates. Her father was late, as usual. She could feel how the water slowly soaked her uniform, and she wondered if she might be able to do a basic spell to stop it. She refrained from it, knowing a dry girl in the pouring rain would be an odd sight. Everything for the cover…

All of a sudden she noticed she wasn't getting any wetter. She turned and looked straight in the face of that boy, Peter Parker, who was holding a strange contraption over their heads. It was clearly designed to keep the water away.

"Hi. You're in my class, no?"

That was obvious. Hela really wanted to get away, but the rain and proper etiquette prevented her from doing so. This mortal had offered her protection from the rain, supposedly the right thing to do would be engaging in conversation.

"Yes."

"I liked what you said in class… I have never been to a hunting party. What sort of things did you hunt? And did you really shoot it yourself?"

Hela wanted to keep her guard up, but the boy spoke with honest interest, and as the memories of Asgard came back she just couldn't help herself. Speaking about it is almost being there again…

"Oh yes, I always engaged in the hunting. Deer, wolves… Once my father made me a crown out of the antlers of a deer. I was a little girl still, and I didn't want to let go of it even though it was far too heavy…"

Hela's lips folded into a melancholic smile. Intrigued, Peter watched her, as she was absorbed in thought.

"That sounds like fun… There's not much green in New York, I can imagine you miss being out in the open."

"Beyond what you might imagine."

They fell silent, listening to the rain. Peter wanted to hit himself for the lame conversation subject, but he really couldn't think of anything better.

"Don't you have to go home?" Hela almost added "mortal", but managed not to. She hoped the hint would be clear and the boy would let her be. Peter grinned.

"Actually I do… But it would be rather impolite to take off right after I offered you a spot under my umbrella, wouldn't it?"

Peter noticed Hela's archaic speech patterns were contagious. He almost bit his tongue; she probably thinks he was making fun of her now. Hela turned her face towards him, giving him a long and piercing stare. Yeah, definitely.

"My ride will probably not arrive in the coming time, and you have been very courteous already, I do not wish to delay you any further. Feel free to leave."

Peter shrugged and then, as an idea popped into his head, he grinned. He handed his umbrella to Hela.

"If you have to wait a lot longer, feel free to keep it. I'll see you in class tomorrow; you can give it back then. "

He then walked away through the rain, mentally congratulating himself. No matter how disastrous this conversation was, at least he'll have another opportunity now to talk to this weird girl… why he wanted this so badly was a mystery to himself as well.

Two hours later, the black Mercedes of Loki finally stopped in front of the school. Relieved, Hela got in. Her father looked positively beat, and was still in his armour.

"Good day father. How was Dr Doom?"

"Doom was good, for as far as pathetic mortals go. The local superhero team on the other hand…"

"You had a run-in with those… Avengers?"

"Yes. It cost me quite an effort to get rid of them, and those Doombots didn't help much either."

"I am glad you are safe, father."

Hela truly was. Despite his nefarious scheming, honestly childish family feuds and deranged logics, Hela really loved her father. She wanted nothing but to see him happy again, like he had been when they were all younger.

"I am sorry for making you wait, my dear daughter. How was school?"

"It was nothing. A mortal borrowed me this strange contraption to shield me from the rain. Midgard is a strange realm father. They have no magic, yet they invent such ingenious things, their minds must function in a truly intriguing way."

"They cope. It is what they call Science, the Midgardian answer to our magic. You are intelligent enough, Hela dear. You will find it all very easy to understand."

There was a silence in the car while Loki drove them to their apartment. As money was easily manipulated with a touch of magic, they lived in a beautiful penthouse in the rich part of the city. It was a wonderful location, although on bad days the clear sight of Stark Tower bothered Loki to no end. In those cases Hela usually resorted to closing the curtains, hoping it would stop her father from ranting.

"The Midgardians of New York don't engage in hunting parties."

"Of course, they have nothing to hunt. Unless they would start shooting each other I'm afraid no hunting takes place in this city." Loki hesitated a moment. "Did you speak of Asgard to those mortals?"

Hela softly nodded. Loki didn't know what to tell her. His own memories of Asgard were still too raw and too painful to reminiscence with anything other than hate, and he doubted that would help his daughter. Instead, he parked the car in the underground garage and opened the door for his daughter to get out, while shifting his armour to a more acceptable outfit.

"Come. We'll have coffee upstairs, and I brought you those chocolate cookies you love so much."

It was Loki's way of saying he cared, and Hela knew that. It was so odd, but she couldn't imagine her father to be anything other than the friendly, worried man who always sought to make her smile despite his own pain.

"I don't believe it. You barely escape a team of superheroes and an army of clumsy robots, and you still went to the supermarket?"

"I stole them from an old lady who abandoned her bags in the middle of the street."

Hela couldn't help but chuckle.

"And here I thought you were being an amazing example…"

Loki grinned.

"A little gratitude is in order, otherwise I might just eat them all myself…"

"You wouldn't!"

"Never dare the God of Mischief, Hela dear…"

While the elevator went up to their floor, Loki and his daughter were laughing, and their trouble were forgotten, if only for a little while…

"Why are you wet?"

Peter threw Tony Stark his patented 'really now' look.

"Hello Peter how was school? Great, and as you may have noticed it is raining."

"Didn't you bring an umbrella?"

"I did, but I borrowed it to someone."

"A girl?"

"No, an elephant. Of course it was a girl."

Tony Stark frowns and looks at Peter.

"Someone had a bad day… Got rejected?"

"I'm just wet and tired. That's all."

"Well, if it soothes you, my day wasn't great either. Thor's crazy brother decided to show his horned head again, the clean-up was longer than the fight really, and I am desperate for a drink. Want something too?"

"Where are the others?"

"Still cleaning, I suppose."

"You sneaked away."

"What did you expect?" Stark downed a glass of whiskey and grinned at Peter.

"I'll be in my workshop, you know where to find me."

With that, the great genius Tony Stark made his way to his workshop, still holding the bottle of whiskey. Peter watched him leave and dropped down on the couch, wet uniform or not.

"JARVIS, could you please put on something fun? I need distraction."

The TV flickered on, showing an action movie Peter had told JARVIS to record for him. He sat back, enjoying the rather mindless action, taking his mind off the past day. His peace was short-lived though…

"Where is that son of a bitch?"

"I told him what would happen if he dared to…"

"No way he is getting away with this…"

"The Man of Iron has fled the battle of cleaning!"

Peter sighed. The other Avengers had clearly arrived, and they weren't pleased that Tony had let them clean the scene on their own. The door swung open, showing a very dirty and wet Avenger team, minus Tony Stark. Natasha, Clint and Bruce immediately stormed though to the workshop, leaving Thor and Captain America with Peter.

"How was your first day?"

As always, Steve was the one who actually cared. Peter smiled.

"Odd. I think I made a friend so that was good, and then there was this gothic girl with really creepy eyes… She was Norse and she talked a bit like you, Thor."

"She talked like me? Then how did this maiden speak that she imitated one such as myself?"

Peter grinned some more.

"That's what I mean. The way only old people and actors in Shakespeare plays speak."

Thor looked a bit confused, but Steve laughed with Peter.

"And did you like this maiden?"

It was an honest question from Thor, but it made Peter blush.

"I just met her, how am I supposed to know if I like her?"

Steve smirked.

"So it wasn't love at first sight then?"

Peter rolled his eyes.

"No, of course not. She was really weird and I don't thinks she liked me at all."

"But you talked to her."

"Yeah. And I borrowed her my umbrella. I swear she looked as if she had never seen one before. Thor, do they have umbrellas in Norway?"

Thor raised an eyebrow.

"Err… I am quite certain they do…"

"Hmm."

Peter had no problem with blending into the crowd. He soon learned though that Justin had been correct. School politics turned around one thing only, the size of your bank account. Thanks to Mr Stark Peter was never short on cash, but he knew better than to let himself be bullied like his newly made friend. Justin however continued to get beaten by the older jocks.

"Shit, Justin. How are you going to cover that up?"

"It's not like anyone cares."

They were sitting in the library. The smaller boy was taping his horn-rimmed glasses together, while a black bruise rapidly formed around his eye. Peter shook his head.

"You can't seriously mean that. Don't your parents…"

"Nope."

Peter couldn't believe it. If he would come home looking beat up like that Steve would be all over him in no time… Justin looked pained at his friend.

"Just let it go okay? I'm used to it." He turned away and suddenly grinned. "Peter, isn't that your creepy crush?"

Peter saw Justin was looking at some bookcases, where indeed Hela was standing, holding a whole pile of books. He frowned.

"She is not my crush, Justin."

"You still haven't gathered enough courage to ask your umbrella back and it's been a week. If that's not a crush I don't know what is!"

"Justin!"

The nerd smirked.

"If you're not crushing on her, then you go to her now and ask for the damn thing. Ten bucks you're chickening out."

"Deal."

Peter got up with a determined look on his face, but it turned out Justin was right. The closer he came to Hela the more appealing the chickening-out-option became. But Peter had his pride, so he bit his teeth and set the final few steps. Hela was still loading books on her pile, so many she almost couldn't carry them.

"Shall I help you with that?"

Hela couldn't see who addressed her because of the pile of books, but she recognized the voice. The Parker boy. His rain-shield had proven of much use to her so far… Before she could answer him the pile of books became lighter already, and she could see his face as he took over half of it.

"I do not require your assistance, Parker."

"Please call me Peter."

Peter was practically trembling as the deep green orbs of Hela Helvete scanned him. Her left eye still had that unnatural stare, a very vague squint, and it made him feel very uncomfortable to have those eyes on him. Instead he pointed his attention to the books.

"Do you like science?"

All the books were science books, and Hela felt an unnatural blush creep to her cheeks.

"I am interested in it. Your… country… is very intriguing."

"Don't they have science in Norway?"

"I never studied it there."

"Oh. You know, I like science too. If you would need help with anything, feel free to ask, perhaps we could study together then."

Hela was confused. This mortal came to her and offered to serve her, carry her belongings, and now he spoke of teaching her as if he were above her? She was afraid she would never truly understand Midgardian customs… Meanwhile, Peter was growing increasingly uncomfortable with the girl's silence.

"Err… do you want these somewhere?"

"Just… Put them on the floor. I will most likely not be able to read all of them anyway."

Peter put the books on the floor and wanted to turn away, when the cold voice of the girl stopped him.

"Thank you… Peter. Perhaps you can teach me of this realm's science, I would be grateful for your time."

Peter couldn't help but smile widely, as if she had just handed him a gift.

"That's settled then. I'll see you here at noon tomorrow, okay?"

Hela gave him one of her rare, melancholic smiles when she nodded.

"O-Okay."

Peter practically gambolled when he walked back to Justin, who threw him the "I told you so" look.

"You look like someone just gave you a cupcake. Spill. Do you have your umbrella back?"

That made Peter frown.

"Damn. I totally forgot to ask her."

"You're totally crushing on Creepy Eyes over there!"

"I'm just going to help her with science."

"You went for an umbrella and came back as a science tutor. I believe sending you out on errands would be a real nightmare."

They both laughed. Peter felt strangely light-headed as they walked back to their classrooms. What did this strange girl do to him?

Yay, second chapter done! FYI; Hela's last name (Helvete) actually translates as "Hell" in Norwegian. I found it rather appropriate, and alliterations are never bad, right? As usual, Read and Review please, I will send you virtual cookies! Also, suggestions are always welcomed :)