Feel Something

Chapter 3: Enough to Make My System Blow

Though not regal by any stretch of the word, Loki couldn't help his appreciation of the advancements in mortal transportation since his last venture to Midgard in the 1970s. Though from the diatribe of apologies Darcy grumbled with every abrupt stop or bump along the way, Loki had to assume this wasn't the most quality of vehicles on Midgard.

"So, small talk?" Darcy stammered, "That's a thing. Um...I'd ask where you're from and all that, but I'd hate to make you repeat yourself when we get to the lab. You got any questions for me, though?"

Loki was full of questions indeed, though most of these revolved around events far outside of the scope of this mortal's understanding. Why did his fa—Odin take him from Jotunheim? Did his real parents cast him out? Given his brief experience with the monsters and the stories he heard growing up, it wouldn't be surprising to find his true sire abandoned him, being such a pathetically small frost giant.

Noticing Darcy Lewis shifting uncomfortably at his long silence, Loki thought up a safe question to ease the tension, "These other mortals—Jane Foster and Erik Selvig—They are your kin?"

Scoffing in apparent surprise, Darcy Lewis blurted, "Dude, can you imagine? Talk about a disappointment in a family of geniuses. No, Jane's my boss. Erik is too, sort of. Though really, he's more of Jane's mentor. I'm not normally into all this sciencey-spacey stuff, but I needed a...distraction. Something to fill my time until school starts back up."

Fortunately, the Allspeak translated this more plain conversation much better than the strange turns of phrase Darcy seemed so fond of. "So you are a scholar, but not of a kind with your companions?" Loki inquired further, "What is it you find more fascinating than Miss Foster's 'sciencey-spacey stuff?'"

Darcy slammed the car to an abrupt stop at an intersection of the roads, turning to look at Loki with shock. "Wow...I sound way more idiotic when you repeat it back to me in that Holier-than-thou way of yours. Anyway, I study political science. You know, governments and rulers and laws, that sort of thing? Got anything like that where you're from?"

"Yes," Loki responded darkly, yet again reminded of his reason for being in this situation in the first place, "I am familiar with the concept."

"Let me guess...monarchy? Or oligarchy, maybe? I really don't know much about Norse mythology. Oh, here we are! Home sweet laboratory."

The building Darcy stopped the car in front of was certainly no palace, and it did not appear to be much of a home either. The building was covered in the same dust that littered everyone and everything in this town, with floor-to-ceiling glass windows exposing much of the inside for Loki to analyze. He could see a large open space full of mortal technology and several mismatched tables and chairs. There was what looked like a sparse food preparation area along the back wall, with the rest of the space disappearing behind another wall to the right—likely the living quarters. Loki could make out the silhouettes of two mortals leaning over one of the many tables, intent on the books, papers, and miscellaneous strange objects laid out before them.

Darcy sighed as she surveyed her companions before scooping up the bags of food and motioning for Loki to follow her, "I knew Jane wouldn't actually rest like I told her to. Come on then, if they're not gonna work then they might as well keep you entertained while I whip up dinner."

Loki exited the car and followed Darcy up the two stone steps to the door, watching as she fumbled to fit a key to the lock while toting the many bags hung on her wrists. Not because he was kind, but because watching her struggle was simply bothersome, Loki reached out to gently remove the bags from her wrists. As he did so, his cool hands brushed her much warmer ones, sending an obvious shiver up her spine.