A week had passed since the girls moved in to the tower and Marvin had each of their lofts decked out to match their personalities, besides Kelsey's that is. She scrutinized all of the furniture and finally let Em and Kat help her lug it all upstairs. Eve had mysteriously disappeared while the heavy lifting was ensuing and appeared just as quickly when it was time to feng shui Kelsey's loft.

Pepper stocked their main kitchen as well as their personal ones, gave them Stark credit cards for emergencies, and left after that first week.

They were eternally thankful for own beds after sleeping in various spots through the tower. Kat had made a temporary bed in the lab, Ember slept on the couch in HQ, Kelsey on the couch in Eve's loft, and Eve in her own bed.

However, boredom was clawing at them by the second week, so Kelsey took up a new post at SHIELD in the city during the days, Kat continued working on her projects, and Ember accompanied Eve wherever the little Stark needed to go as her official bodyguard, which meant that she also went to the NYU classes that the hacker loved attending.

"Please don't make me go to another class. I don't want to learn about thermonuclear thingies ever again." Ember whined while they lounged in Eve's loft. Em was hanging half on the floor in an exaggerated pose from the sofa as Eve continued working on the file on her laptop.

"Does it really pain you that much?" Eve shut the computer down to see what her friend was doing.

"Why do you put yourself through this agony? I can get you help! You don't have to suffer anymore." Em let herself fall the rest of the way onto the floor while Eve sighed in annoyance.

"You don't have to go with me to every single one. Or don't go in with me. Just stand in the hallway if you must follow me." Eve suggested and Em sat up to face her, shaking her head.

"I am your official bodyguard when we are outside of this tower. I am going to take this job as seriously as Happy did." Determination lit up in her eyes.

"Happy didn't go into the classes with me though." Eve left out the part where he would survey every inch before each class to be sure it was safe and then run every person's name that entered.

"You're not exactly enrolled in the University so what's the point of going?" Em asked in defeat.

"They give me permission to attend their classes and I allow them the right to advertise my presence. It's a win-win that makes both of us happy." She explained and stood up to get her purse.

"Oh no! We just got back! Don't they shut down the school during the afternoon? Please. Don't make me get up." Em sprawled back onto the floor, gravity beckoning her closer.

"I guess I'll have to go shopping all by myself. I thought that I'd reward you for being so loyal, but here I go…Jarvis, send the elevator." Eve slowly strutted backwards.

"I suppose I can go outside again." Em hurdled over the sofa and gave Eve a sympathetic smile. "If it's really what you want, who am I to say no." She finished and grabbed Eve's wrist and ran into the opening elevator.

"I should have suggested you drive a moving truck." Eve groaned as they tucked another couple bags into the trunk of the already overfilled vehicle. "Did we really have to bring the limo to go shopping?" She called out as Ember skipped towards her and put her new purchases in before shoving it closed.

"I like the looks we get, like we're famous." She confessed and jumped into the driver's seat. "Plus, we have more room for bags since you're sitting up here with me! Where to next?" She asked excitedy.

"We are famous. Well, I am. You are by association. Don't you see them snapping pics on their phones? I can already see the boring headlines. 'Stark daughter on an adventurous shopping spree.'" Em exaggerated with her hands and a roll of her eyes. "No more clothes, please. You just made me buy a whole new closet and you have enough clothes now to wear something different every day of the year." Eve complained, shrinking down in her seat in exhaustion.

"Fine fine. No more clothes. What about make-up?" She asked hopefully and frowned when Eve shook her head. "Ok, no more of that either. Fine. How about boys?" She asked whimsically.

"No."

"You're no fun. How about we find some of those thrift stores you like and in trade we can visit the club tomorrow night?" Em pressed and it may have been because they had been shopping for 7 straight hours or from her weak will, but Eve agreed in hopes that this day would end soon. She wanted to go find a couple new outfits, but did not expect the onslaught of clothes that Em had forced her to try on and then because they apparently looked cute, she had to buy them all too. They had everything from scarfs, make up, purses, shoes, casual wear, and dresses.

Browsing some books sounded like heaven right now.

"It's like the city knows what we want." Em said cryptically and when Eve looked out the window, she realized what the girl meant. They were on a street of bookstores and thrift shops.

"It's getting late; I hope they aren't closing soon." Eve said as she stepped out and glanced at the neighborhood. "And this is the worst neighborhood to bring a limo, Em. Maybe we should come back when the sun is out." She added, worried for their safety now. Some of the stores looked ready to close for good with their broken windows and wooden slats. The alleys even seemed darker now and Eve moved to open her door when Em dragged her away from the car.

"Don't worry, I got you. The car is locked and armed, thanks to Happy's criteria and your father's tinkering. And I'm not called a bodyguard for nothing." Em dragged her towards the closest thrift store.

"Ok, you were right. This is nice." Eve confessed as they wandered in to the homey abode.

"I'm always right." Ember responded as she held Eve's bag of bought books and stuck her tongue out playfully.

The store held home to dozens of imaginable artifacts, and the girls would never have guessed how far an imagination could spread for what they were about to encounter.


Guess what store they're in? You're guess is as good as mine. :p Just kidding. You'll see the turtles in the next chapter. Have fun! And wish me luck on my job interview tomorrow morning!