Another Chance

S.H.I.E.L.D P.1

The last time Loki had been in Midgard had been in the times when he was still considered a god and not a myth of an ancient culture. So as Heimdall passed through the gates of the massive walls that surrounded the boarding school, Loki was burning with curiosity to know what was waiting for him on the other side. He had seen something of the city as they drove through it on the way to Jotunheim, but it was different to see it from the car and experience it. Asgard also seemed golden from the castle balconies, but when one moved through its alleys, all kinds of colors appeared, and few were as bright as gold. Would the same thing happen to the bright lights that seemed to fill that world?

Beside him Thor didn't seem to wonder anything. Not after three servants had packed his suitcases, for he had steadfastly refused to believe his father was capable of actually expelling him. Two of the security guards had shrunk him into the car, under Heimdall's close watch. His father hadn't approached either of them again, and luckily Frigga had decided that she didn't want to witness their departure.

Loki didn't even know if Thor had said goodbye to her. At least he felt reassured that he had been able to do it. That didn't take away the pain of unrealized goodbyes, but it did take some of the weight of guilt away. Plus, he'd packed his own bags, making sure to include his best suits and best-looking clothes from an unknown wardrobe. That, and some strategically hidden daggers. Hey, could anyone blame him? Less than 48 hours before his own brother had tried to kill him, his father had caused him to fall into the void and had gotten into a fight without magic in which, for once in centuries, he hadn't been sure he'd make it out alive.

He had reason to be a little paranoid.

Gradually the buildings appeared before them. Even in the middle of the night they were partially visible thanks to the street lamps that stood on the sides of the paths that led from one place to another, and also the windows still lit here and there
.
The largest building loomed to the right of the driveway, a long glass-and-steel building, illuminated from the outside by powerful floodlights. There was a fairly large parking lot in front of him, but Heimdal passed the fork in the road, heading off to the left.

Towards a series of smaller and somewhat chaotic buildings, if Loki were asked his opinion regarding the architecture of the place. Concrete, steel and glass predominated everywhere, with some trees placed without much attention to aesthetics. His mothers, the midgardian and the asgadrian, would be ashamed of the gardener who had committed that aberration.

Heimdall didn't stop there either, and the buildings fell behind as the car swung around to the right. The building in front of them was... Hard to describe. It had an unthinkable design in Asgard, and not because of his difficult technique, but rather because of his unharmonious figure. The lower part of the building seemed to be made of pure glass, and above it, as if another building had been placed on top of it, a shapeless monstrosity made of some white material and more glass. It started one floor above, and then there was a sort of incline before continuing straight ahead. Or backwards, considering that they seemed to be circling the building. And it also protruded beyond the limits of the lower part, which meant that during the day it left the lower floor in shadow.

If he owned the building, the builder would probably be locked up in Asgard's dungeons by now.

Heimdall didn't seem to be bothered by the aberrant architecture of the place, although Heimdall never seemed to be bothered by anything. Not happy, by the way.

Behind the hideous building was another set of buildings which purpose was just as hard to guess as the others. Whatever lay beyond it was impossible to tell in the middle of the night. But if it was to be based on the ugliness of the rest, it shouldn't be particularly impressive either, Loki thought sardonically.