Another Chance

Good morning

At 7:15 in the morning, an unusual time for him to be awake in either universe, Loki came out of his bedroom. He did it in a new suit, this time black with green details here and there, and his hair perfectly slicked back, still a bit damp under the gel coat.

The possibility that Heimdall had not returned with the signed admission papers was not even considered. On the one hand, Odin was too interested in keeping his firstborn locked away, and Loki was included in the awkward package. On the other hand, his mother would not like to know that her children were locked up in some rooms, no matter how comfortable they were.

Besides, even if he hadn't arrived, if Loki acted like he belonged here, who would know he didn't? It was a strategy that had worked for him for centuries in the golden palace of Asgard, he thought with some bitterness.

The same one he felt when he saw the door of his brother. He waited a second, but Thor didn't show up. Either he was already out, or he wouldn't be out until later. Loki was betting on the latter. Thor wasn't much more of an early riser than him, especially if he was in a bad mood. Something guaranteed after Loki dared to confront him with his own stupidity.

With one last gesture he walked down the hall to the other side, retracing his steps from the night before. He continued past the elevator, toward the common areas that Mr. Coulson had mentioned. A few meters further on a huge open space opened up before him. It must match the curved glass front area he'd seen the night before. At the other end was another corridor, probably the same as the one he had just walked down. And the entire central area of ​​the strange U that the building created was the common area.

And it was a great common area. A set of soft and inviting-looking sofas and armchairs, a huge television hanging from the ceiling, a pool table just beyond. Near the other end and enclosed by glass walls was a study room. A huge central table surrounded by chairs, with a few smaller tables and a large bookcase against the only non-transparent wall in the room.

And towards the interior of the U was the kitchen. It didn't seem prepared for much cooking, but more for midnight snacks or popping popcorn. Or to pour yourself a drink, an idea that sounded good at the time. Very good, actually. If he had any idea how to use any of those machines.

He tried to draw on the memories of his Midgardian mind, but nothing came to him. Either he had a problem with mortal memories, or this version of himself had never been in contact with any of those devices. Those in the kitchen, at least, because he knew exactly what a television was and how to use it.

He frowned, annoyed. In Asgard he might have been a prince, but he had bothered to learn to take care of himself. During his travels, alone or with Thor, they hadn't always been allowed to travel with servants. Was the Midgardian version of him more pampered than the prince of the most powerful realm of the Nine? He huffed and took out the cell phone that he had put in the inside pocket of his jacket, willing to find a way to make a miserable coffee. But before he could come up with an answer he heard footsteps behind him. He turned around, bringing his hand closer to his hip in a casual-but-not-too-casual gesture. He had hidden a dagger there, safe from prying eyes under his jacket, but close at hand.

His fingers trembled when he saw the newcomers. The Assassin and the Archer. Even with the fragmented memories of a life to live he could remember them. The arrow aimed at his face, the glass cage. The burn of being cheated by a Midgardian. He gritted his teeth, but forced himself to relax. Those versions of them were something like a year older than he was at the time, which put them around 16 or 17 (he had found out he was 15 years old. 15! He felt offended that he had been brought back to puberty). They weren't his enemies, and if something catastrophic didn't happen they didn't have to be.