The Love Of a Trickster

3

For the second time since I arrive in Asgard, I am standing on the Bifrost. Loki motions for me to follow him. I do so, hesitantly. As he speaks with Heimdall, I take note of what age Loki is for this mission. Sometimes he goes as a child, others as an adolescent, and still others as an adult. Normally, he looks to be about my age, 22, but today he is in the body of a 25 year old man. I wonder what ridiculous things he is telling Heimdall. I stand behind him and let him speak, to appease my own curiosity.

"Thor says a Hel soldier has escaped. Odin is sending Feyre and I to retrieve him and put him back where he belongs," Loki says. The truth, for once.

"Why would he send you, and not a Seeker?" His all seeing eyes sweep over us suspiciously.

"To prove young Feyre, here, worthy of becoming a Valkyrie," Loki replies.

Heimdall looks at me. "Does your master speak the truth, mortal?"

"For one, he is not my master. And yes, we were sent by Odin." I can still see doubt on his face. I turn away, pulling out my most impressive Loki voice. "Oh, very well. If you are so adamant in not letting us past, I suppose I'll just have to take this to Odin himself. Perhaps you would like to explain to him why there is still a Hel soldier loose." I look back at Heimdall and shrug. "Maybe he'll let you live and maybe he won't. Shall we test that?"

Heimdall shakes his head. "Impressive, child. Very well, you have convinced me." I return and stand beside Loki. Heimdall activates the Bifrost and we are flying through a rainbow chasm. I catch Loki looking at me with something that I almost think looks like pride.

The Bifrost spits us out a few miles away from a large city. I glance at a nearby traveling sign. "New York City? You think the Hel soldier is here?"

Loki nods. "The Bifrost will take you wherever you envision yourself going. I envisioned us with the Hel soldier and the Bifrost put us here. That means the soldier is around here, somewhere." He thinks for a minute. "That was a very good imitation of me, by the way. Perhaps you do pay attention, sometimes."

I snort. "Whatever. Let's just find this guy so I can get my wings."

Loki nods and teleports us into the city. I look around at all the bustling confusion surrounding us. I begin to take note that I'm not exactly dressed to fit in on Earth. My brown tunic and leather armor make me look like I just came from a Comic Convention. My sword strapped to my waist only adds to the look. Loki, surprisingly, isn't wearing his green cape. His black and green leather armor and tunic make him look like some sort of theatrical person.

"Um...we're not blending in very much," I point out.

"That's the point. I want the soldier to see us and recognize us as Asgardians. He will then try to escape and in doing so, reveal his whereabouts to us." He taps his head suggestively. "Try to think a little more like me, love. It'll make more sense that way."

I roll my eyes. "Please. As if anything you think is sensible."

"I shall take that as a compliment. This way." Loki leads me through the packed streets and down some creepy alleyways. As some men look us over in one of these alleys, I find myself suddenly grateful of Loki's presence. Something about him keeps the men from stirring. They just stare until we are past.

We step out into another street, though not quite so busy. Twilight is settling over the city and things are quieting down. I spot a group of girls dressed in skimpy, tight black clothes. One girl catches sight of me. She looks me up and down, then looks at Loki, loudly smacking her gum. "Who are you and what are you doing on our street?" She asks, her brown dreadlocks dangling in her face. She pulls them back into a ponytail.