Chapter 1
Loki navigated the streets with a brisk walk. His gait wasn't its usual elegant self, no, the man was stumping the pavement.
He entered the first café he encountered and nervously tapped his fingers against his forearm, waiting to be served. The poor barista had the misfortune of spelling his name wrong, and Loki all but yelled in his face that he should go back to school instead of working there. Illiterate fool, he spat.
Huffing self-importantly, Loki made his way to a quiet corner and sat down, not caring that someone was already there. He sipped his tea, staring the man down. It was a middle-aged unimportant man with a silly moustache and a crooked nose.
—You look boring, Loki stated, sipping his tea with much noise. His English accent made every vowel pop with disdain.
The man lifted his head and their eyes met. Oh.
—Do I need to look anything other than boring? The man asked, curious.
—Not if your existence is as plain as your looks, Loki replied, trying to get a rise out of the man. But the boring man just went back to his coffee, unfazed.
—Can't you tell when someone's insulting you? Loki frowned.
The man briefly looked up.
—You seem to want to pick up a fight with just about anybody and I'm just here to drink a coffee. Cheers.
Loki huffed, sipping his tea with increasing volume, just to infuriate his quiet companion.
The man chuckled and put his coffee down.
—You know, you must be attention starved for pretending to have gotten the wrong tea three times.
Loki pursed his lip.
—Yeah, I saw that… it wasn't really glorious… 'Loki with an I'.
The scandinavian man was now narrowing his eyes. He was being dissed live by this, this average person.
—And what may your name be, little pathetic man? Something boring like Walter or David, no doubt.
Walter-or-David shrugged.
—I see this is a sensible subject for you, Loki. Your parents willingly chose to give you the name of a cunning trickster…
—Of a god, Loki corrected.
The man smirked kindly at that. Loki didn't even know it was possible to smirk kindly. What the heck?
—So, what's your name? Loki inquired.
—Oh, it's actually Walter, the man replied, sipping some more coffee.
Loki eyes widened.
—Yeah right? What are the odds, Walter added with a chuckle.
Loki couldn't tell if it was serious. That man was infuriating. He was about to say it out loud when a voice interrupted him.
—Mobius! A black woman with a slim nose and short hair said. She was bulky and elegant. Why is it that you always find quiet corners where I can't see you, she added with an unimpressed raised brow.
—Oh well, you know how it is, I like my quiet, Mobius said, smiling briefly at Loki.
Loki stared at that man, "Mobius". It was the most uncommon name he had ever heard, and his brother's name was 'Thor'. An uncommon name for a not so common man.
—You're the new secretary? The woman asked, her sharp eyes staring Loki down.
Loki didn't like her.
—I sure am, Miss, Loki replied with a southern accent and a sickening sweet smile. Mr. Mobius here was treating me to a drink! How nice of him!
The woman's face didn't move.
—Sure, keep drinking your tea, she drawled.
—Ouh, she busted you just like that, Mobius laughed. Well, we'll be on our way, bye.
Loki watched them retreat like a hawk. Once they were gone, he reflected on the whole encounter and let his tea grow cold.