Devilry | Loki x

Chapter One - Interruptions

"A life is a simple thing, but it becomes complicated when that life is more than just an obedient vessel. There are people who live among us whose very being is to be disobedient to 'the laws of nature'. Obedience is not a virtue. It's not a thing to commend. Blind obedience is nothing more than slavery at its core. The will — the tenacity for deviation — that's worthy of praise."

The room was dead silent. Hundreds of eyes wandered; very few were paying attention to the Professor and her lecture.

A hand rose. "What are you insinuating, Professor?"

The Professor turned her focus onto the student. A slight grin appeared on her chapped lips. "Nothing at all. I am simply challenging you all to be different and not to vilify those who are different."

The student nodded, a frown clear on their face. It wasn't a bad frown, more of one that had been provoked with a heavy idea and they were determined to understand it. They then wrote in their notebook attentively with all their coloured pens and highlighters.

The Professor reverted her gaze to her mentally absent audience. Knowing that at least one mind paying attention to her view comforted her at least. "Right then, before I dismiss you all," the room was filled with chatter now. "This lecture is to be on your finals come May fourth. I hope you were all listening." That caught their attention. She grinned to herself as a bellow of whines and groans filled the auditorium.

As if practised, everyone gathered their belongings in unison. In the corner of the Professor's eye, she saw a dark figure move on the top row and exit through the fire escape doors; the alarm failed to go off. Her eyes lingered on the shadowed corner that was gently illuminated by the red glow of the EXIT sign above the door. She had seen this figure throughout the lecture but chose to not interrupt the session to sate her curiosity and uneasiness because of a disturbance only she was aware of. She had a very large class of students but also could tell with certainty she had never seen whoever that was before. It felt as if whoever it was was waiting to be noticed - trying to communicate something with just their presence alone. Their towering posture so asserting and sure, their arms crossed in front of their chest showing they were growing impatient, and then their head tilted in such a way forward, the Professor could recognize a piercing gaze even when their face was shadowed.

"Professor... Professor?" Waved the student from before.

The Professor's eyes snapped to the student, "Yes?"

"Are you okay?" they asked with genuine concern as they looked at the same corner in curiosity.

She nodded. "Yes. I am. Thank you..." She let out a soft sigh and brushed a strand of her raven black hair behind her ear.

The student was hesitant to believe her, but continued, not wanting to push any further. "Professor... I was wondering... are the people you spoke of the ones who, you know... disobey with their very being... Do you mean mutants? And people like Ironman and Captain America?" they asked as they watched the Professor dig in her bag and pull out some chapstick.

She hummed in agreement, rubbing her lips together to spread it, then tossed the chapstick back in her bag. "My, aren't you a bright one?" She grinned. "Yes, I do mean people like Mr. Stark andMr. Rogers. They are both different. Even when compared to each other. If you listen to your history professors, as well as, you listen here, then I am sure you know Mr. Rogers is different due to a military science experiment. As for Mr. Stark... he is normal as far as being a basic human goes. But what makes him different isn't his wealth. It is his brains and stubborn will." She sat down in her desk chair as she watched the student nod in understanding. "They have the tenacity to deviate from the norm of obeying."