Chapter Text
February 7th, 1983
Loki Oswin was by most standards a prodigy. He was a senior at the age of 15 and set to go to college at 16. Honestly things wouldn’t have been so bad if his parents hadn’t been the over bearing type and decided to follow his older brother, Thor, across the country to be near to him at college. And so now, here he was, the new kid in the middle of his senior year, lost and alone. He adjusted the bag on his shoulder and looked around the hall. The staff had not been helpful in giving him directions to his first class.
He knew there was no way he would make friends; Loki did not 'do' friends in a short period of time; it took him years sometimes to really open up, but there wouldn't be time for that now, especially with less than 4 months until graduation. He wandered down the hallway, looking for any sort of person that could help him. He finally spotted a door open with a light on, and he walked in, “Hello? Uh… C-Can you help me?”
“Oh, have a seat dear! I’ll be with you in a moment!" a cheery voice called from behind a curtain, followed promptly by a younger male voice, “Ow! That hurts!”
“I know sweet heart, but I have to clean the blood off to see if your nose is broken or not, i’m trying to be as gentle as I can. Who did this to you?”
“I.. I didn’t see them.” A hiss followed by a soft murmured apology.
“Anthony, dear, you have to tell me, this is the third time this week you’ve been here.”
“I didn’t see who!”
“Tsk, don’t move so much.”
There was a few more moments of silence, filled with whimpers of pain before, “I do think it’s broken deary.”
“You’re gonna call my dad… aren’t you?”
“It is protocol with an injury such as this. Let me get you an ice pack and then I’ll get you up to the office.”
The curtain was drawn back and a busty woman with a tight bun walked out, leaving a smaller and younger boy sitting looking miserable on a bed. Loki tried not the pry but it was hard to miss the massive bruise blooming across his face and his not quite right nose. The nurse spotted him and looked him over, not seeing obvious injuries, “Yes Sweety, what can I do for you?”
“I… I’m lost.. I’m trying to find the senior physics class…”
“Room 1315?” The younger boy piped up from his spot.
Loki looked at his list and nodded.
“If we’re going to the office Miss Rose, we’ll walk right past that room.”
“Well, then,” she had fetched one of the instant ice packs, a snap of something was heard as she smooshed the pack around in her hand before walking over to the boy and handing it to him, “Put this on your nose.”
The boy took it and gently stood up before holding the pack to his nose.
“Alright, this way you two.”
The two boys fell in step behind her, when they got to a juncture, The boy pointed, “Down that hall, sixth door on your left. I’ll see you there tomorrow!”
Loki tilted his head and frowned, that boy had to be in middle school, but at least he was being nice, “I.. Thank you. I hope you feel better soon.”
“Y-yeah.. Me too…” he waved looking gloomy and followed after the nurse.
Loki slipped into the class room and the teacher barely looked up as he found a seat at the back of the class. He tucked his hair behind his ear and quietly pulled out his book and notebook and settled in to take notes.
The day proceeded on similarly, no one talked to him, and he made no motion to speak to any one. When he got home he was exhausted, and he barely managed a ‘hello’ to his mother before flopping into bed.
“How was school?” his mother, an elegant woman of wheat colored blonde hair and fine features asked as she leaned against his door frame.
“Dumb.”
“Did you make any friends?”
He snorted, “I don’t want to make new friends, I want my old friends back!”
She sighed softly, “I… I know this has been difficult for you, love.”
He didn’t look at her and stayed in his bed, he heard her shift and then she spoke again, “I’m going to make some cookies, would you like to help?”
He groaned and slowly sat up, “No… not really, I’m tired mom.”
“Okay, well rest and once they’re baked I’ll bring you a nice warm one with a big glass of milk, just like you like.”
She walked over and kissed his forehead before leaving him be. He found himself smiling softly despite himself. His mother hadn’t been particularly keen on pulling up roots to follow her eldest son, and she was trying to make it bearable for her youngest the best she could. The move had been mostly her husband’s idea. Loki had always felt like the spare, and never good enough compared to his older brother, at least in his father’s eyes. Thor was tall, athletic and blonde, almost a mini version of their father. Loki flopped back in bed and stared at the glow in the dark stars plastered on his ceiling. He ended up dozing off, and woke up with a start when someone touched his shoulder.
“If you sleep too long you’ll never sleep tonight love.”
“Sorry mom…” he muttered and sat up as she sat down beside him, “Cookies are done, want some? They’re still warm and gooey.”
He looked at her and saw the hopeful look at trying to cheer him up, and honestly it was hard to stay mad at her. It really wasn’t her fault, and she honestly was trying.
“Yeah.. I’d like that.”
She smiled and stood up and headed back to the kitchen and sure enough there was a try of fresh cookies on the counter. She poured them both a glass of milk and served him two cookies while she just picked hers off the try. He was amazed and how she wasn’t flinching from the hot pan - mothers were magical he decided.
“What do you want for dinner?” Frigga asked as she leaned on the counter.
“What ever you want to make, Is dad coming home?”
He watched his mothers unrestrained attempt to hide an eye roll, “No, whatever excuse he gave, I honestly wasn’t paying attention. So it’s just you and me - oh! What about pizza? Or we can go out and get burgers?”
He chuckled, “Pizza in, sounds good.”
“Perfect!” She grinned and went to find her phone book to make the call for ordering delivery. Loki sighed and resumed eating his cookies. He often wondered why his mother put up with his father; more and more she grew frustrated with his choice to put work before his family. Sometimes he felt like she was the glue that held him, his father and his brother together.
He looked up when she finally hung up with the pizza place and gave a small smile when she rejoined him at the counter, “Should be here in 45 minutes.”
“Then, I should go do my homework.”
“I know you probably don’t need my help… but… I feel inclined anyway…”
He chuckled, “I’m okay mom. Thanks… for the cookies too.”
She came around the counter and kissed his forehead, “I love you, you know that right?”
“Yes mom… I know. And, I love you too.”
She gave a smile and sent him off to his room to work.