Unlikely Allies

Chapter 11

"Heimdall."

"Loki."

It's tense, tenser than he remembers their interactions being, but then, it is the day before Thor's coronation and Loki is the God of Mischief. This must seem to be a strange – and potentially problematic – time for him to leave, but he has to. He can't wait another minute longer.

"Shouldn't you be at the palace?" Heimdall asks, though it's not so much a question as it is a reminder; a threat, almost.

"I was never told that I could not leave," Loki replies evenly. "It is not my coronation; it is my brother's." If he remembers correctly the first time he went through this, he did nothing but get in the way. They'd claimed they wanted him there, but it became apparent soon enough that they didn't. He's already greeted his parents today, as casually as he could after all that's transpired since he last saw them, but they were rather dismissive, distracted by preparations. He sees no reason to get in their way any more than that. He'll leave that role to Sylvie, who seemed more than happy today to just follow their parents around like an eager little puppy dog.

Heimdall just looks at him, and behind his stoic expression, Loki feels he can see some skepticism in his eyes. But finally, Heimdall steps back, allowing Loki inside.

"Where may I send you, my Prince?" Heimdall asks. He's being courteous now, non-confrontational. It certainly makes this easier.

"This is going to sound... strange," Loki begins, "but I am going to Midgard."

Heimdall pauses.

"Midgard?" he repeats.

"Yes," Loki says. "I am looking for a woman named Jane Foster – an astrophysicist; a brilliant woman."

Heimdall raises his chin. "Why?"

Loki raises his chin, too. "What difference does it make?" he asks, an icy chill to his voice. "I asked you to send me to Midgard."

"The Allfather will not be happy if you miss the coronation."

"Then I will not miss the coronation," Loki says, teeth gritted, growing more irritated by the minute. He's already had to deal with Sylvie today. He's had to deal with his parents shooing him away in favor of their elder son. He is not in the mood to deal with Heimdall, too. "I am your prince, and I asked you to send me to Midgard. Unless I have been strictly forbidden from leaving this realm, you have no reason to refuse me."

Heimdall just looks at him for a few moments, then nods once. "Very well," he says. "But be warned, if you do not return by sundown, I suspect the Allfather will not be pleased."

Loki rolls his eyes. "He wouldn't notice my absence until the coronation begins." All of Asgard is far too distracted by Thor's glory and importance to think of him right now. For once, it will work out in his favor.

So, after one more warning about missing the coronation, which he most certainly will not do, Heimdall sends Loki to Midgard.

And then...

He's there.

He's on Midgard.

And he's not sure what to do.

He looks around, taking in the world around him. It's just so... uniquely Midgardian. It's far from the first time he's been to this realm, but it always feels so foreign to him – and it changes so quickly as the humans grow and learn, and so much from location to location with the different cultures. It's a rather boring realm of boring people, but, in a strange way, it's also truly a sight to behold.

Now the question becomes, where is Jane? She must be around here somewhere. Heimdall wouldn't have sent him here if she wasn't. Is he supposed to go to every single building until he finds which one she's in? That's absurd.