Yay! Chapter 2! Thanks so much for reading, guys! It really means a lot. Honest! :)
"I feel more cautious than normal. Everything passing in my line of vision I glare at as a threat, even if it's nothing more than a statue…Something must be off. Something. Is… Unnatural…"
Loki hesitated with every step he took as he came closer to the Allfather. He knew damn well why he felt on-edge, but he felt no remorse.
Thor didn't notice anything different about his brother. He was preoccupied with his fantasies of becoming the new king. He held his beloved Mjolnir tightly, and his head was high with pride, for who would dare challenge the almighty Thor when he was so close to his highest moment of glory?
As the brothers walked into the throne room, they were shocked to see the warrior three and the Lady Sif already there.
"We were just finishing up our discussion about our placement during your ceremony," Sif filled in with a smile, "Are you excited, Thor?"
Thor let out a bellowing laugh that sounded as if he was just triumphant in battle, "I have been awaiting this moment since I was a boy. I couldn't be happier!"
Loki stood in his normal position: behind his brother. Nobody paid much attention to him, particularly not today, not the day of his brother's coronation. Whenever Loki was blocked out of any conversation, he would sit back and listen. This was one reason why Loki grew up to be so cunning. His observation skills were very helpful in predicting behavioral patterns and guessing what someone's next move might be. His silver tongue allowed for easy manipulation – another trick Loki had picked up after being left in the dark for so many years.
"You four are dismissed. You know your place now," Odin said, waving them off, "Go and prepare for what is to come."
The four bowed in respect to their king and departed. The two brothers bowed to him in greeting, respect, and in love and admiration of their father, as well as their king.
"I suspect you both know why you're here," Odin said.
"Not for battle," Thor said with a chuckle, looking back at Loki, who was still wearing his battle armor (which, granted, was not much different than his usual attire). Loki responded with an innocent look, like he didn't know any better, but said nothing (which was not uncommon for him to do).
"No," continued Odin, "the coronation is this afternoon. Both of you know your parts in this ceremony," as he said this, he beamed at Thor, who did not hesitate to smile back, "but as for preparing for it: Thor, you stay with me; we have things to discuss and matter to attend to," Thor nodded, "And Loki—"
"Yes, father?" Loki asked in a frantic manner, his silver tongue escaping him.
"Don't interrupt. I need you to help prepare the kingdom. I need the guards in their places and proper protection set. I also need someone to help your mother with minor detail. Can you handle that?"
Delighted by his father's faith in him, Loki accepted, with a brighter beam in his face than any star ever seen. It was also fairly beneficial that this aided Loki with his plan to foil Thor's ceremony. And nobody could blame Loki for what was to come, for the Frost Giants would enter Asgard out of sight from all, and there would be no trace of how they entered Asgard. It was moments like this that Loki was proud of being a master sorcerer.
Odin led Thor away, like a proud father of a worthy son. Although Loki still felt a twinge of jealousy, he was overjoyed that his father had placed such an important task into his hands. His father actually trusted him with something like this! The fact that he did only left Loki feeling all the worse about his actions to come. Loki left immediately and went straight for the weapon's vault to "work his magic" and open a portal to later be accessed by the Frost Giants. He then set to guards inside the vault to protect it.
When the time came for the coronation to begin, Loki kept a calm physique and a straight face but that didn't stop his heart from racing. "Let the show commence!" he thought, observing as his father was mere moments away from becoming his father, and his brother the new king.
"I hereby crown you…" Odin paused, developing a look of alarm, and of fear, "…Frost Giants."
The Destroyer had taken care of the intruding Frost Giants at this point, by Odin's command. Loki followed his father and brother to the weapon's vault, and listened and watched as his brother protested to take arms against these intruders who ruined his celebration. Odin refused, being the wise king that he is, obviously knowing what's best…
Soon to follow, as we all know, was Thor's arrogance and rage in an act for vengeance against the Frost Giants, followed by Odin's rescue, Thor's exile, Loki discovering he is not truly Odin's son, but Laufey's – making Loki feel as if his life were a lie, he was no more than a tool to be used as a means for peace, and that he had no place in Asgard, for, if the people were to learn the truth about him, he would be seen as a monster and nothing more in the eyes of everyone – Loki becoming temporary king, Thor's return, the destruction of the Bifrost, and Loki's heart being crushed, once again, by his father: the one man he sought to gain approval from, causing him to be so grief-stricken he relinquishes himself and falls to none other than…
Earth.
When Loki fell, it wasn't like Thor. When Thor fell, he went with the storm, only to be hit by Jane Foster in her jeep. Loki fell gracefully at first, almost floating down into our atmosphere. Loki even closed his eyes, not caring where he would end up. That was before gravity kicked in, and he quickly plummeted to earth like a meteor, catching fire as he did. It didn't hurt him though – he was still a god. The fire kept him warm as he fell, fortunately, into a body of water (whether it was an ocean or just a very big lake, Loki didn't know).
Loki emerged from the water, still in his armor, which weighed him down. He used his newly discovered powers as a Frost Giant to freeze the water underneath his feet, lifting him up to the surface, and he continued to walk as such, building a bridge in the path he was walking, and letting what was left behind him melt away.
Looking around, he saw some form of civilization off to the east, with the sun rising behind it, making the city look like a silhouette. Loki looked around for any other place he might consider, but no luck. He sighed, "Well, looks like that's as good as it's going to get…"
He was in no rush to get there, so he strolled along the ice walkway he built for himself, lost in the sting of the memory of what went wrong.
Approaching the city, he knew it would be best to blend in with the other mortals, so as not to draw attention to him. From his attire of Asgard to a black dress shirt under a navy blue overcoat, dark, heavy jeans, and shiny black dress shoes.
"Now, shelter…" Loki looked around. The people walking this way and that were almost inescapable. The crowds were massive and filled with energy. Loki did his best to walk at a distance from them all, so no collisions would happen, his cover wouldn't be blown, and no contact would be made. Loki wanted to find a place where he knew he wouldn't be disturbed.
In the meantime, he observed the men of this realm – how they dressed, walked, and talked. His necessity to blend in would suffice him in the near future. His plan for vengeance would take time, and he was willing to wait another thousand years if success were to come with it; it would be worth the wait.
The day had passed on while Loki searched for shelter and observed this world. He hadn't found a sufficient place where he could dwell until the time came.
Suddenly he overheard a woman talking on the phone: "But sir! The building is completely abandoned and on the outskirts of the city! Do you know how many people go there? None. Everyone believes it's of no use. It would be perfect for—" she was interrupted by the man on the other line. Loki listened in, becoming intrigued with this building. "Yes sir… Alright… I understand. Goodbye," sounding absolutely crushed, she hung up, defeated in whatever argument she was trying to win.
The woman turned in Loki's direction to walk away, and she almost bumped into him in the process. "Oh! Excuse me, I'm sorry…" she looked and sounded as if she was near tears. In fact, she was crying. She was just doing her best to hide her face.
"No, don't be. I should apologize. Frankly, I couldn't help overhearing," the woman looked a little shocked, "There is an abandoned building you say?"
"Um…well, sort of. I'm sorry; this is a bad first impression. I'm Danni, Danni Stone. I'm a scientist…well, almost. I'm an intern for now. I'm working on this project, and I thought that building was perfect…evidently not, according to one of my supervisors…" she held out her hand, and Loki took it, remembering that this is what humans do when they first meet each other. "And you are…?"
"Jack," Loki said, already choosing a cover-up name for himself, "Jack London."
"No relation?" Danni asked with a smile. Of course, Loki had no idea what she was talking about, so he just shook his head. "Well, it's nice to meet you, Jack. So, what do you want to know about the building?"
"Where is it?" Loki asked with a smile on his face, doing his best to imitate a happy human being, completely carefree.
"I can show you if you want? It's not too far from here. Were you interested in using it?"
"Yeah…you can say that I'm kind of an astronomer myself…among other things… I was interested in a quiet place where I may do my research as well."
"Really?! Wow!" She started leading him to the building. Danni was suddenly awestruck by this man. Coming out of nowhere and into her life in such a perfect way, "This must be fate," she said.
"It must be." Having no real interest in the girl, he thought sounding sincere would be good enough to get what he needed before sending her on her way.
Danni was maybe four inches shorter than Loki. Her hair was a soothing, dark chocolate, and her eyes sparkled like the deep blue twilight of the city. "She's a very beautiful girl," Loki thought, "as mortals go…" However, his intentions were not with the likes of humans. He was to use the house and be on his way.
"Here it is," said Danni, "It's not much, but it is far enough away from the city that the lights won't affect the visibility of the stars. It also has a spectacular view… if only Eric would let me use it…!"
"I thank you, kindly. This will do perfectly," Loki said, walking towards his new home and leaving the girl behind.
"Hey! Wait a minute."
Loki stopped and turned to face the girl, "Yes?"
"I was thinking: you're an astronomer, I'm an astronomer…you're using this for work, I would really love to use this place for work… Do you think I would be okay if I worked with you?"
Loki was taken aback by this request. "You just met me. I don't think it wise to put so much trust in a man you just met…Besides, you're working for other people, are you not?"
"Yes, but they don't need me…and it seems like you don't know this city all too well, and that building needs work, and any technology you have you surely cannot be using solely on your own?"
Loki thought about this. Yes, it was true; he knew hardly anything about this world, let alone this town. And the help could be useful…she would have no idea what he would be doing. He could simply give her orders, and she would follow. It would only be beneficial. "Alright, Danni, I accept your offer."
Danni looked beyond thrilled, "Really?! Thank you so much, Mr. London!" she ran up to him and shook his hand again, having done business with him this time, and no more for a greeting.
"We start tomorrow," Loki said, "for now, I need rest."
"Understood, I can be here at any time."
"How about nine o'clock? Nighttime."
"Brilliant. Then it is." And she left. Loki watched her as she did. Her skirt was blowing back at her in the breeze, and you could tell she was walking with confidence as she strode away.
Loki then entered the building, seeing the damage done to it, and the repairs needed to fix it. It wasn't severe, but there were a few cracks to be fixed. Here, ladies and gentlemen, is another moment Loki was proud to be the sorcerer that he is. He patched them all up quickly, and proceeded with exploring the building.
It's fair-sized, and taller than it is wide. The very top was the roof, and it was completely open. Danni was right, the building was absolutely perfect for any observation of the outer worlds…Loki wondered if Heimdall could see him from Asgard. In fact, Loki knew he could; nevertheless he also knew he wouldn't bother looking for him. Loki knew everyone would think he died when he fell, and that was his intention; however, fate had other plans in store for the prince…
Please review! I would really appreciate any commentary on this. Also, fyi, in future chapters, Loki will be referred to as Jack, but I'll still be calling him Loki. Let me know if it's confusing in any way, and I'll try to fix it. And if I screw up with anything else in here, and you catch me, call me out on it. :) Thanks again!