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Loki had quickly shaken off the Captain's hand, storming off toward the balcony, needing the air.
She had definitely lost it.
Thor was no help at all. Could the idiot never stop meddling? She didn't need this. She didn't need anything. She realized now just why she hadn't tried to contact him when she first heard he was on Midgard— he always made her life more difficult. It's not like he could give her her seiðr back; not like he could bring her home.
Home. Thirty years on Midgard wasn't much in the span of her lifetime, but she had grown comfortable here. Hel, she had more fun teasing her students than she ever did following Thor on his pointless quests. What did it matter if she went home to an empty apartment? She used her earnings for travel, finding simple pleasure in exploring this vast realm and all of its variety, its life. Life that Asgard, for all of its glory, simply lacked.
Gods were slow to change, after all. She was certain that when she returned to Asgard, the All-father would just try to marry her off to secure some alliance with Alfheim or Vanaheim or who knows where. The loss of her seiðr still hurt, but maybe she wouldn't miss it when the time came. There would still be so much left to explore on Midgard.
Earth.
She calmed herself down with a few breaths, and her mind absently drifted to her plans for the upcoming spring break. Calm. She had planned to go back to Japan again, this time to a quieter place, in the mountains, where she could sit in the hot water and take in the scenery around her. A chance to breathe. Clear her mind. Enjoy the silence, without feeling any loneliness. Maybe buy that very nice fountain pen she'd had her eye on before she returned, the special edition that was exclusive to that shop in Kobe, the one that sold the beautiful ink she loved to use when writing out her lesson plans. It was good that the Allspeak didn't depend on magic. She could indulge her hedonistic tendencies with these materialistic pleasures, easily asking the sales associates for exactly what she wanted. A small smile crossed her face. It was these creature comforts that made life on Midgard more than tolerable.
She didn't need to share it with anyone. Because she wasn't lonely.
She sighed when Thor came to bring her to dinner, his eyes telling her he wanted to continue their earlier conversation over the meal.
This dinner wasn't nearly the crowded affair of the previous week. Apart from MJ, Peter, and Loki, it was just Thor, Mr. Stark, and the Captain.
Since the point was mostly for Thor to see Loki before he left, he was monopolizing her. Peter and Stark were deep in discussion about some engineering project, which left MJ and Captain Rogers as awkward conversation partners.
“So, uhh, MJ, right? Are you and Peter good friends?”
Well, this certainly didn’t match the public image of Captain America. This man was self-conscious, hesitant, shy, any number of things. Not at all what one might imagine.
“Oh. Yeah. I mean, we’ve been classmates for a while, but I guess we’ve fallen into our little friend group.”
“That’s nice.”
An awkward silence returned as he took a bite of his mashed potatoes.
MJ did not think dealing with emotionally constipated senior citizens was going to become such a regular occurrence, but since when was her life anything resembling normal?
“So what do you think of Ms. Odinsdottir?” She asked in as casual a tone as she could manage, willing her face not to reveal the smirk threatening to spread on her lips.
He spluttered a moment, luckily having already swallowed his potatoes. “Loki? I mean, your teacher, right? Well…” A range of thoughts seemed to pass his features before he settled on a cautiously neutral answer. “Thor is a very honourable man, and a good friend. He has always spoken highly of his sister, and is nice to finally put a face to the name.”
MJ couldn't stop herself. “That is such a cop out, Captain.”
He gaped at her for a moment, nonplussed. “Excuse me?”
“Oh, come on.” Someone had to talk some sense into this guy. “You were just saying facts, giving your opinion about Thor. I'm not blind, I can see how you look at her. You like her, don't you?”
The Captain narrowed his eyes. “I would have expected high school to change a lot since the '30s, but I didn't realize students would be so invested in their teachers' personal lives.”
MJ shrugged. “Most aren't. Then again, most don't have actual deities for teachers, and even fewer get to have dinner with superheroes.” She looked pointedly at him. “And you're still deflecting.”
“I think I get why Stark let you stay.” The Captain said with a hint of mischief creeping across his own features.
“I'm very charming.”
He finally loosened a bit then, letting out a very nice laugh. “Let's start over. This is too weird, even for me. Hi,” he extended his hand, “I'm Steve Rogers. Please call me Steve.”
MJ quirked an eyebrow, then shook his offered hand. “That doesn't offend your old-timey sensibilities?”
“Frankly, I'd rather leave my title out of this kind of conversation. There aren't many people these days who know Steve, without immediately making assumptions based on my public persona.” He looked almost wistful at that declaration.
She nodded thoughtfully. “Makes sense. Makes it easier for me to call Ms. O ‘Loki’, too, except during class obviously. I already get accused of being a teacher's pet.” She twisted her features in a look somewhere between annoyance and disgust.
Steve chuckled again. “Aren't you? After all, Peter is here because he has powers. But who invited you?”
“Hey, it's not my fault nobody figured it out sooner. She wasn't exactly hiding her identity or anything. People would rather ignore the obvious if it seems unrealistic.” The mischief in her smile was one Loki would be proud of. “But, you know, Occam's razor.”
Steve gave her an almost paternal smile. Sure, this guy was technically like 100 years old, but seeing as he was only about 30 physically, it was unsettling. “Definitely a teacher's pet.”
“And you still haven't answered my question, Steve.”
His voice was quieter, and she would swear a faint blush crossed his cheeks. “You sure are persistent.”
“I'm just looking out for her.” MJ was surprised to realize she meant it. “I don't think Asgardians mature as fast as humans. And I can tell she's lonely.”
He seemed to perk up at that. Weird. “She is?”
“Why else would she be befriending her students all of the sudden? I don't think that's normal.”
“I suppose I didn't consider that. It would be hard to have friends if you never seem to age.” Steve looked thoughtful.
MJ just stared at him.
“I think… I would like to be her friend, too.”
Right, this guy probably hasn't been on a date in over 70 years.
“Well then, MJ said earnestly, “you should probably tell her that.”
“All right,” Stark said, clapping his hands together, “getting late. Happy will drive you kids home.” Loki started to gather her things, before he interrupted. “Not you, My Chemical Romance.”
Loki seemed to be considering the nickname in her head for a moment before responding. “Because I have long black hair? I am right in thinking that was one of those so-called ‘emo’ bands, I do believe.”
“Can you start tutoring Cap? Hell, Thor too. They are no fun when they don't get the references.” Tony said with only a hint of sarcasm in his tone.
Loki let out a small chuckle. “I suppose that depends on your hourly rate. Private tutoring is quite time consuming, and I do have a day job.”
Before Stark could give one of his typical smart-aleck replies, Peter cut in.
“It's only eight, Mr. Stark. We don't have school in the morning!”
“FOMO got you bad, eh? You have a room here, but your friend doesn't. Be fair.”
MJ felt a little put out at that. “You can call my parents. I'm allowed to have sleepovers.”
Stark fixed her with a look. “Kids still have sleepovers at your age? Aren't you like, fourteen?”
MJ bristled. “Sixteen. And yes.”
“Well if your kids promise no funny business…” Peter's eyes went wide at the insinuation. “Kidding. Relax. I suppose, you might as well enjoy the drama while it lasts.”
Steve looked up from where he was seated on the couch. “What drama?”
Three sets of eyes rolled in unison at his obliviousness, while Thor chuckled and Loki looked slightly uncomfortable.
MJ caught Peter's eyes and grinned. This was going to be fun.