-When writing this chapter up to the point Loki first hears about a certain Avenger I thought of "Severine" from the James Bond Skyfall soundtrack. It makes me think of a relaxing new beginning.
The sun edged its way past his curtains. He woke up at first thinking what Thor would be doing, what Loki would be expected-
No. That was not his life anymore. No more expectations. His life was his own. He could be more than a failure. The question was what would that involve? He smiled. He had more than enough time to figure out exactly it was that he wanted to do.
He was Loki and he followed his own rules. This would be wonderful! With a laugh and a stretch he got up and dressed. Then he padded to his porch and looked outside. The sun shined, the ocean moved and Earth was so different from stagnant Asgard!
My life is my own. What do I want to do? Part of his preparations for fitting in had involved becoming a regular patron of a local supermarket so he had plenty of breakfast options. He munched on something and then laughed happily.
No one to sneer at me for going to the library!
His days followed a soothing pattern. He would get up, eat a large meal and then go to a library. He didn't always visit the same one: San Francisco had over twenty and they were open various hours. He missed his midnight runs to the Asgard library but decided being able to visit libraries in the day and be around others who respected them was a profitable tradeoff. Most of the time he read, but occasionally he also went to library programs. He learned about calligraphy and the city's history. He watched movies and, daringly, went to book discussion groups. He had been raised to think he was above mortals, but forced himself to be more convivial. It turned out people had interesting and intelligent things to say. Book discussion groups were just one more piece of evidence that Earth was equal to Asgard because it was superior in some ways. Like how I was equal to Thor by being better in some areas. He did not allow himself to make close relationships: he was afraid too close scrutiny would make him stick out. Plus he liked being able to choose to be alone.
He devoured various subjects. One of the librarians introduced him to online classes which some institutions offered for free but had no course credits. Loki cared not for course credits: he knew he was smart. Then again, having a formal degree would give him a certain amount of prestige. By now he had gotten, through various channels he was careful to separate himself from, a fake id and other documents. He could get what was known as a GED, take tests and then get a degree online. He didn't want to rule but he liked the idea of having a "masters" in something. It made him cackle in amusement and would help cement him among the intellectuals. Then again, it was funny to speak with someone who thought he was stupid because he didn't have a formal degree. Upstaging them was rather amusing. Being smart in Earth seemed to be caused by what you did: what you picked to read and experience as much as a degree. Degrees were important, and vital for some careers, but were not the sole criteria for being intelligent.
He decided to at least get a GED and quickly passed the test. He spun a tale about his school records being lost in a fire to justify how quickly he sped through the process.
He also kept track of current events. He was amazed when he learned the saga of another Californian: though only a part time one. Tony Stark's announcement he was Iron Man earned a snort because it seemed so impulsively like Thor. What of the danger to his company and the woman he cared for? Then again, given the snark and intelligence Stark showed, he could also be like Loki. Maybe Stark didn't want to be in shadows imposed by others either. Everyone thought him only a playboy, as Asgard had only thought Loki mischievous, but people were often not only one thing. They were multilayered and Stark's announcement brought that lesson home powerfully. Loki laughed at the sheer chaos Stark caused and how Stark reveled in it. It was enough to make him more curious about Stark.
There was a lot to learn. Stark's impulsiveness and partying made him seem like Thor. Loki could almost painfully relate to the looks pictures sometimes caught on Potts or Rhodes. There was also much that made Stark seem similar to Loki. Reading between the lines suggested that much of Stark's prior behavior had been an attempt to impress a remote father. That Stark had also recently been betrayed by a father figure. That Stark was very intelligent and probably emotionally remote to many people due to how they viewed him. Loki wondered if maybe he and Stark would understand one another. Don't be foolish. Stark could figure out you are different and you could lose your whole life here.
His curiosity about Stark eventually manifested itself in mischief. Loki's magic related well to science. The quote by Arthur Clarke about magic being unexplained science had been intriguing and helped him to connect to science. This gave him enough of an edge to be able to slip, undetected, into Stark's mainframe and gain access as an employee. He suggested future developments and asked questions on company discussion boards. At first he was only baffling employees. Then Stark himself started responding and Loki found his knowledge being challenged. He had to buy rare and advanced books to keep up. Higher into the stratosphere of knowledge Loki climbed. Stark kept demanding for him to go to Stark's office, but Loki did not. Stark threatened to fire him, which was laughable since Loki was not an employee, but kept writing back to Loki. Loki was not only kept intellectually stimulated by what he had to learn, but by keeping Stark's computers from tracking his. Stark was so clever Loki wondered if he could teach Stark about magic. That would get Loki in trouble for sure! Good thing Stark couldn't find him and tempt him to do it.
Time passed and Loki's days were full. One day found him rushing to a bookstore to get a very hard to find book about robotics that he had to have to keep up with Stark. He razed me yesterday for not knowing something in this book! Me! No one is supposed to be able to run rings around my mind! Not around Loki Wordsmith, Loki Silvertongue! Good thing I can read fast! I'll have the bookseller order the next book above this one to be safe. Ha, Stark!
He flowed into the bookstore with elegance despite wanting to sink his teeth, metaphorically, into the book. I don't care! I'm teleporting back with this book! I don't feel like taking the time to walk or ride the bus or even catch a cab. I'm never driving in this city: it is too stressful and parking almost requires magic in some areas!
He walked up to the counter and asked for the book. He could feel people watching him. Everywhere he went people did that, but not for the reasons people did in Asgard. There they did it because he was frail to them and his gracefulness weak. Here he was slender, elegant and somehow charismatic. A flick of his hair had been known to make people stare. People loved his voice. If someone came from Asgard and asked for a frail, weakly and pathetic person Loki wouldn't be listed. He was liked here.
As he waited he was unsettled to feel odd somehow. He was used to being watched but he could usually account for all of the watchers. Maybe they had some trouble with thievery and installed a camera? That must be it.
When he had first come to Earth he had been unsettled by feeling he was being watched but not seeing anyone. Then he had read about cameras and it had made sense. It made hiding himself from Heimdall harder because he didn't want Heimdall to see any images of Loki on Earth. Loki worked on the spell so that any image of him would be included. It took more power but it was worth it because Loki didn't want to be the total hermit he would have to be to avoid being caught on camera. He had also thought of changing his appearance, but decided not to. Heimdall had been known to find him no matter what he looked like. He might as well keep looking the same. That he was considered attractive here was only a minor factor in his decision.
The bookseller gave him his book and he happily paid for it. He quickly made his way home and started to read. He found the concept Stark had sprung on him and growled. The author did not mean for that to be taken that way, but you are clever Stark. I never thought I would say this but you could almost be my equal. It is too bad I keep evading you. By now you must know I am not an employee and merely keep the invitations to your office as a way of keeping your employees from becoming unsettled. Science and magic! The things we could do with the two. Though it is best that we not as it would draw me into the spotlight. It is tempting…
Loki decided to wait for the next book before he upstaged Stark. He did not want to risk not being in possession of vital knowledge for doing so. For now he merely kept pace with Stark by proving he understood the concepts they were both using thus far. Revenge will be sweet!
Soon enough he got an email that the book was waiting for him. He walked into the bookstore and approached the counter. His eyes narrowed when he noticed the bookseller looked nervous.
"Here it is sir," the bookseller told him.
Loki looked at the man askance but kept his expression neutral. He reached for his wallet.
"That won't be necessary sir. The book has already been paid for," the bookseller informed him.
"Really. By whom," Loki asked suspiciously.
"It's inscribed in the cover sir," the bookseller answered.
Loki took the book, scanning it for technical or other traps as he did so. There were none. He also didn't see any traps, or anything new, in the store either except for-
The camera. The one he sensed last week.
He knew who the book had to be from. How did Stark get a camera in the store? He probably bought the store and had the owner put it in. How did Stark know I would come here? The book! He's been steering our discussion so I would have to get rare books! Then he could track where they go and now he has a picture of me! Good thing I always pay by cash and never gave the bookseller anything other than my first name and a generic email address which I used truth bending when registering for. Very good Stark, but not good enough!
He gave the camera a smirk.
No I will not taunt you vocally and give you the opportunity to get a voice print.
His nonchalance aside he rushed home to read.
Dear whoever you are,
Stop playing hard to get. We could make sweet science if you'd stop hiding. Cut the crud and come to Malibu or New York for a job or be a consultant: whatever it takes for me to get more access to that mind of yours. Keep hacking into my boards and I'll take it as an invitation to keep looking for you.
Also, stop calling me by my last name. For you it's Tony.
Loki's first reaction was laughter. It was amusing: only Stark could make a job offer sound like a bad pick up line. Then he frowned. If he finds me I won't be able to be in the shadows I've chosen anymore. No more being anonymous. He'll be my equal which will earn him my friendship and I'll crave being admired for my mind as he is for his. Work for him? No, I'm done working for people. Working with him…I could do that. I could finally be around someone else who has picked me for a friend. A real friend. I stopped wishing for such a thing long ago. I'm pathetic! Stark is no fool he could capitalize on this.
What if he can't find me though?
He found me this far. He knows what I look like and a bookstore I go to. He could get my address. What would it be like to be found because someone wants to get to know me? Not to find me because they think I'm pathetic and need to be dragged away from my work for my own good? It will mean having to be on my guard unless I feel like I can trust him. No more being in the shadows.
With determination Loki read the book and then, with a dash of mischief, he wrote out a comment which had most of the employees at Stark Industries confused and Tony reduced to emoticons to express his amusement.