Mischief and Magic

Chapter 10

Loki spent the next few weeks settling into the tower. He worked out with the team, went out on simple missions, earned the team's trust and respect. It was a slow process, but they seemed to agree that they could trust him as long as he had a babysitter. It was better than nothing, and at least he wasn't in his cell anymore.

Though, really, Loki spent most of his time with the Starklet. She hadn't seem to think him a buffoon after all and still wanted to spend time with him. He was up when she came down to breakfast before school and the pair talked while she ate. He learned a lot about Midgardian culture from her and she definitely had a unique perspective. She left every morning with a SHIELD agent who tried to keep track of her on the way to school. Most of the time, the agent failed. After school, she would work on her homework next to Loki. She never really needed help, but he was a good companion and was curious about what she was studying.

Loki wanted to make sure he had the routine of the team down before he attempted to be Morgan's guard for a day. He wanted to see the school. Really, he wanted to see anything outside of the tower and missions. And Morgan needed protection.

One morning, Loki rose earlier than usual and ate a quick breakfast, also replenishing his snack stash in his dimensional pocket while he was at it. He needed to be on high alert that day.

Morgan came down for breakfast wearing her school uniform, her bag over her shoulder as per usual. She smiled when she saw her father at breakfast and kissed his cheek as she took her seat. She greeted Loki warmly and thanked Cap when he set a plate in front of her. The team was clearly her family and all loved her. They all greeted her warmly, asked about her schooling and social life, showed such interest in her life and growth.

When no one was looking, Loki turned into a snake and slipped into her bag. He'd already eaten and wasn't paid much attention to when he wasn't causing mischief. He reached to Morgan's mind, establishing a careful telepathic connection. It was just outside the barriers of her mind, just a communication thread, not prying into her thoughts or secrets. /Hello, my lady,/ Loki said warmly. /Don't worry if you don't see me at breakfast. I'm in your bag in snake form./

/Why, pray tell, are you hiding in my bag as a snake? You'll get squished by my books/

/So I can come to school with you and keep you safe inconspicuously,/ Loki replied calmly, though he wasn't sure she'd consent to having him with her. He probably should have asked. Oh well. Too late now.

/You don't need to follow me around the school. My usual babysitters just walk me to the door/ if they even kept up with her that long.

Loki curled up, careful to not get squished by the books. /I still want to come. Even if it's just so you have a friend./

/Alright/ she agreed. She knew Loki was cooped up in the tower. And she totally counted as a babysitter. Totally.

/Thank you, my lady/ Loki replied warmly, letting her have her breakfast in peace.

Morgan finished her breakfast, and, as per usual, tried to slip out of the tower without a guard. That didn't work and one of the SHIELD agents walked her to school, which she grumbled about. She hated having such obvious guards. It made her stand out even more than the arc reactor in her chest.

Loki suppressed a snicker. He would succeed where the others had failed. Loki stayed curled in her bag, in a pocket so her books didn't crush him. She was in advanced classes and the books showed that.

She stopped by her locker to drop off most of her books and pet the snake in her bag, keeping him hidden from view. Loki curled around her wrist, enjoying the affection. /I noticed your books,/ he informed her.