Legend's Apprentice

Lessons

We walked over to the Asgard embassy since I wasn't familiar with it and Bucky was due to teach. We chatted about my uneventful day. "You seem a lot more relaxed," he said in approval.

"Dr Reynaud is a lot quieter than I'm used to," I said. "The pace is different, I'm doing something new. And the whole business at the tower was upsetting. But now that's over."

He nodded and didn't say anything about that, so I didn't ask. "I spoke with Wayne last night," he said after a couple of blocks. "He confirmed using the serum and said that he wanted your side of the story in a time-effective manner and thought you'd prevaricate or evade. He also pointed out that he was subject to the same effect from the stuff, and he'd wanted to limit exposure. You interest him," he said, throwing me a grin.

"Why?" I asked. I couldn't think of anybody less interesting than me.

"He's accustomed to his son, who I understand trades on his name a lot, uses his standing as a billionaire's son to get what he wants. About the only place the name doesn't have a real impact is at that prep school he goes to; Wayne chose it specifically because the teachers and administration aren't overawed by the pressures their students tend to threaten them with. He expected you to use your connection with Emma and/or Stark as a tool, but you're modest. He appreciated your tact and felt that you were honestly upset about the situation. He talked to your boss after you'd left and got a good review of your first day's work. He's pleased that you're willing to work in two languages even if you're not fluent in both." We strolled on. "He also mentioned that the Wayne Educational Foundation will be accepting applications for scholarships this fall for the following year."

"I saw that in the employee handbook,' I said, brightening. "I looked it over last night. They have a lot of benefits available even to their part-time help, which is me." Such as health insurance; I was on my parents' plan, but because they were small business owners, it was expensive. Dad was going to check it out because it might be more cost effective for me to use that insurance for as long as I worked there.

"You could just let me pay for college," he said.

"But I really liked earning that Stark Foundation one. I want to win more." It had surprised me how good it felt to have people I didn't even know look at what I've done and decide to help me achieve more.

"Speaking of that, Stark promised that the scholarship was yours, regardless of where you work," he said. "Turns out that $50 000 annually is the top award. They usually don't award that much, and Stark has nothing to do with any of the process, so yeah, you did get that one on your own."

The conversation drifted until we got to the embassy; the guard at the gate recognized my uncle, looked at my drivers license, and let us in. He was huge, with ceremonial green and gold armor that must be awfully hot. It wasn't scorching yet, but it was warming up early. The embassy itself had been a fin de siecle mansion, an enormous relic of the Gilded Age that resembled Casa Loma in Toronto quite a bit, down the crenellations on the parapet and towers. It was actually surprisingly cute. We were admitted to the great hall and I studied the ornate interior while we waited.

"It's decidedly not along the lines of traditional Asgardian design," Bucky murmured to me. I forgot that he'd actually been there and made a note to ask him about it later.

"It is on a register of protected sites, so it is unlikely to reflect our true style," a smooth voice said, and I turned to see Loki standing behind me. "It's a bit...cluttered, but it does impress."

"Because of those restrictions, we were able to get it at a good price," Thor shrugged, coming up. "It keeps the rain off." I smiled. "Friend Bucky. At present, you will be training me and my brother." He nodded to me. "Alex Barnes. Welcome to the embassy. It will be made known to the gatekeepers that you are to have access here to train."