School Prom was yesterday so I overslept. Nevertheless, I give you... chapter two.

CHAPTER TWO:

BEING NOBODY

"To be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best, day and night, to make you like everybody else means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight and never stop fighting."

E. E. Cummings

MIDGARD

6:00 a.m.

Loki awoke is a small bedroom, decorated with cheerful taste. His blue eyes made out a large cupboard to the side, an empty bookshelf near the door and a small bedside table near his head. There was a glass of water there, juxtaposed by a green capsule.

What magic is this? He asked himself And where's Thor?

He wanted to severely reprimand himself for needing his brother's presence, but it extended to more than a childish desire. He needed the familiarity. He needed the solace that only Thor, in this wretched mortal world, could provide.

He was not disappointed.

There was a brief knock on his door, and his elder brother strolled in. "You missed breakfast," he informed the younger.

"Breakfast?" Loki repeated. "How'd you manage to procure that?"

"I've made some friends," Thor replied, a glint in his eyes that told Loki there was more to the story.

The blond moved to take a seat on the bed. "This isn't your kind of chamber, is it?" he asked, indicating the yellow walls, and the white cabinets.

"No, brother. But I suppose this comes as no surprise."

Thor smiled. "Indeed not. But you need to get up. We have to go to school."

"School?" Loki asked, completely flabbergasted. "What purpose does it serve for us to attend Midgardian school?"

"We have no choice," and Loki heard the modest tone of confusion.

"Brother, forgive my lack of tact. But this is completely absurd. I refuse to attend such an institution… where their education system is no doubt inferior to ours."

"Loki," Thor pleaded, "I believe Father willed it this way. We simply have to."

"I do what I want."

"And you have to want to go to school."

"I can't believe we're discussing this. Shouldn't we be more concerned about finding our way back to Asgard?"

"The Bifröst will make itself available to us when Father permits it. We are not ready."

"So we pretend to be mortals? Is that is?"

Thor stood, giving his brother a firm but weary look. "We are mortals now. And we might as well act the part. Maybe, it'll help us in time. But being Asgardian will not help us here."

"Why do you say that?"

"We're in this place known as Scuto. Small town. Everyone, knows everyone. I have no intention of sticking out like a sore thumb."

"I have no intention of prancing around, denying my true heritage."

Thor continued, as though he had not heard his brother's words. "I am not sure how Midgardian authorities would view our presence on their world. We must be careful."

Loki took a deep breath. "So what does this necessitate?"

"Listen to them. Observe them. Learn to talk like them. Act like them."

"And this is good for us?"

"This is our punishment. We might as well make it worthwhile."

Thor flashed a meaningful look at his younger before leaving the room. Loki sat up, hugging his knees close to his chest.

How much younger he was in this world. He noted. How much more fragile this body was. Thor was not wrong when he had pointed it out, but at the time, Loki would hear nothing. In his heart, he longed to be in Asgard. To sit in the halls of Vanhalla, beside his father. To be able to conjure his magic. To embody all that was Asgardian.

But not anymore.

He had been foolhardy to presume the Allfather would not sense his mischief. And now he had to pay the price.

He eyed a schoolbag in the corner, and quickly got off the bed. Thor had mentioned something about school. Is this what the mortals on this realm had to use to carry their belongings? He almost laughed at their misfortune… only to realize, that it was his misfortune as well.

Hesitantly, he opened it, initially struggling on the zipper. Books. Writing material. Typical but…

Who in the name of Odin was Shakespeare?

He closed the bag, and hastened to organize himself. Thoughts bombarded his psyche. Thor was right. He had to make this ordeal worthwhile. But to become some form of lesser species? Never.

Fitting in was not an option. Loki Odinson simply did not adhere to the status quo. If this was his punishment, then he was going to enjoy it in his way.

As he pushed the bedroom door open to explore, and in search of any form of sustenance, it suddenly occurred to him: His arm was no longer broken.

MIDGARD

8:00 a.m.

Thor seemed in good spirits as he and his brother wandered into the room indicated by the human who stood at the gates. He reminded him of Heimdell, but the comparison seemed uncanny. After all, what enemies did one have on Earth? The Frost Giants had long abandoned their plan of conquest. So why have someone look after mere children?

He shook his head. Humans.

The blond took a seat near the window, while his brother opted for one nearer the door. From Thor's vantage point, he noticed his sibling instantly retrieve a book from the satchel and begin reading. The sight was familiar, and a deep sense of homeliness stirred within him. He turned away, afraid of the emotion, and instead focused on his other classmates.

There was a boy to his right. Brown hair, cut short. His eyes seemed to take in every aspect of his surroundings, darting around the room, but never once failing to keep the girl talking to him deprived of the attention she sought.

He was unnerving. Even while seated, he had the stance of a warrior- which seemed almost out of place.

He looked at the girl. Short, auburn hair- when the sunlight streamed through the window, it almost seemed as though it was on fire. He looked at her, mentally daring her to glance in his direction. And it seemed she recognized his mental desire.

The girl looked at him, and turned quickly to the boy. She said two words, though at the distance, and amidst the noise of the class, Thor failed to hear them. But he was skilled at reading lips.

New student.

Somehow it seemed like a challenge.

MIDGARD

8:15 a.m.

In a matter of minutes, the teacher entered the classroom, which Loki came to realize was termed Home Room.

What an odd name. A room for home… or was it a room to represent home? He stared dolefully at the man. Nothing here could compare to the splendor of his homeland.

"And today, we have with us two new students," the balding man said, grey eyes lingering on Loki. "Would you both like to introduce yourselves?"

The no formed on Loki's lips but he never had a chance to say it.

Thor stood, bravely taking in the class. THAT was his brother. Fear was something unfathomable…

"I am Thor of…. Thor Odinson," he said, and Loki gaped. They grew up with the all-too familiar preamble of "I am person of Asgard." It felt strange to hear those words from Thor, as though he was turning his back from their upbringing. "We're from out of town."

"Aren't we all?" the teacher responded with a smile, too big to be sincere. "And you?" he asked, looking at Loki.

"I am Loki of Asgard. Son of Odin," he replied, without looking the man in the face.

He could practically hear Thor suppressed threats to strangle him when they returned to their sleeping house.

Not home, he reminded himself.

"Well, Loki of Asgard. I am Phil… Son of Coul. But you can call me Mr. Coulson." The class laughed. But to Loki, there was nothing funny.

He looked to his brother, who seemed not to notice his apparent discomfort. Rather, Thor delighted in the man's response, and his decision not to take Loki seriously.

The teacher raised his hands. "Okay class. That's enough. Onto more serious matters, who'd be willing to give these gentlemen a tour of the grounds?"

Almost instantly, a girl's hand shot into the air.

Lovely, Loki remarked mentally, The medieval process of selection.

"Natasha? You sure? You have that assessment coming up."

"I'm sure, Sir."

Loki noticed her gaze lingered on Thor a lot longer than was required, and rolled his eyes. Even on Earth…