As the weight room was being fixed the next few days, Tony decided to take the Asgardians on a small trip in the city. The rest of the group had learned about what had happened. A few had asked how much money it was going to cost. This sparked an interest in Thor, who had no clue about money. This gave Pepper an excuse to get Tony out of the Tower to take a breather. He was already showing signs of stress. Pepper told Tony to go teach the Asgardians about money. They do know about gold exchanges and bartering in their realms but nothing here.
Tony was showing them around in one of his expansive cars. Thor sat in the front with him, Loki and Sigyn were in the back. Thor and Loki were in Midgardian clothes, while Sigyn was in a pants and long sleeve shirt. She had one of her veils on. Tony parked in a fancy and high security parking garage.
"Okay, the best place to learn," Tony and them started to walk outside. "Is always in the shopping district and the world trade market. Here you each get a credit card, don't go spending too much on your first time."
Tony lead them around showing them how money works within the systems. Sigyn saw several women in burqas, hijabs, and niqabs. There were several men with them. All of them were talking and heading into a certain shopping district. One woman spotted her and she nudged the rest of the women. Sigyn could hear them talking and their thought processes but she did not understand the language. A young Islamic man came up to her and Loki. Loki was leary of what was going on. He spoke to the both of them in Arabic but she did not understand. He then switched to English.
"Would you like to accompany us while shopping?" The young man looked to Loki. "It will be safer. Americans' are not too fond of us."
Loki was confused. Sigyn merely thought to him. In their culture, you are the protector of me. In order to speak to me or want anything to do with me, it goes through you. You are the matriarch. I remember them now, tis a very beautiful culture.
I hear they are not so, Loki thought back. Though I see how well we fit in with them. Shall we discover something new?
Lead the way Sigyn agreed.
Loki nodded his head. The young Islamic man showed Loki the way with Sigyn by him. The group was open to them. The men started to chatter to Loki and the women to Sigyn. The shopping district they arrived to was bustling with all styles and colors.
The women started to tug Sigyn into a building. Loki was about to follow, but the men stopped him with a laugh. He was entering an all women's sanctuary. No men were allowed to enter.
You know how to fight, Loki thought to her. I will always near somewhere.
And I too the same Sigyn thought back to him.
The ladies took her to a seated area where there was a lot of clothing.
"You wear your veil so different," was one of the lines they kept bringing up to her.
"Yes," she replied. "I am not always wearing this veil. I have one that hides my whole face."
"We hide ourselves too," one woman spoke. She was in a niqab. It only allowed her eyes to be seen. "Though we hide for different reasons. Allah, our god, tells us to veil ourselves and be modest in public. We wear a Niqab. It only allows the eyes to be seen. We can show more, but we don't. We wait for someone who is worthy to see our beauty. Those that wear the Hijab are married or they want to show their face. The Burqa covers the whole face. At times our families tell us how modest we must be. It is not only us to be modest but for the men as well."
Sigyn felt similar to them. She kept track of Loki, it turns out they got him to a gentlemen's area as well. Asking him questions about who he is, what God he worships, etc. He was having a quite interesting time. Sigyn went back to the minds around her. It was all fascinating.
"Would you be willing to veil yourself different?" One woman asked.
"Yes," Sigyn smiled. She was lead to the racks of clothing. They showed her how to put them on. She went into a dressing room and put the different types of veils on. She loved them all. It was very fun. She especially like the Niqab. It fit well into her life. The women helped her choose beautiful clothes.
Tony and Thor looked around them. "Where is Sigyn and Loki?" Tony stopped.
"They should be safe," Thor looked into the crowds. "Sigyn would not let Loki make a mockery of Midgard."
"Let's hope not," Tony breathed. "Well looks like its just you and me, let's go get a drink." The two headed off to a pub.
Sigyn bought a bunch of clothes and several different burqinis. She left wearing a blue dress in a Hijab fashion. Her headdress was pinned with adornments and pinned in a way to only show her eyes. She sent Loki a thought come get her. She wanted to respect this culture. Loki was waiting outside the place for her. He too had a couple bags in his hand. Sigyn came out and he caught his breath.
I do like this Loki thought to her. This culture is not as what it seems. I have already been asked several times about our relation. I had to tell them that you were mine. I am glad they asked. I was told I am very lucky to have you. Some hoped that I was your brother, in hopes to woo you or for marriage.
Oh? Sigyn walked over to him. They said their goodbyes to the new friends they had just made. I see you have also have a few items yourself.
Scarves, Loki looked at her before looking straight ahead. One thing about Midgard I can stand to have. Though their garments are also quite nice. I best we should get back to Thor and Tony. The two headed back to where Thor and Tony were.
Tony took Thor to get a few drinks and decided it would be great to go to an art gallery right next to it since Thor did not quite understand what they were. He thought that they were relics.
"Pepper?" Tony was on the phone. While Thor was helping a few people cleanup a mess.
"How is the break going?" Pepper was in her office.
"Horrible," Tony was outside watching for Loki and Sigyn. "Speaking of breaking, remind me not to do this ever again."
"What happened?" Pepper began to type away.
"I don't do Asgardians," Tony sighed. "I need a break from this break. Barbie bumped into a woman who bumped into different pieces of breakable art."
"Oh Tony," Pepper stopped what she was doing. "Do you need me to send help?"
"No," Tony sighed. "Rainbow Brite should be back now with Gumby. Then I can take them all back in my car in let them play with the rest of the toys in the dollhouse." Pepper rolled her eyes. "I might have to send for Raggedy Ann and Polly Pocket over to do damage control. Maybe even get Stretch Armstrong away from his lab with the help of Betty Spaghetti and Ken."
"Tony who are you even talking about?" Pepper was lost. "I know you have adorable nicknames for those around you but I can't keep up."
"That's okay Strawberry Shortcake," Tony spotted Loki and what to be Sigyn walking to him. "You will soon see your He-Man." He hung up on her and walked over to them. "Nice look, but don't leave, not again." He looked to Sigyn. How do you even do it?
Patience, was all what Sigyn thought to him.
Thor came out, he was glad to see Sigyn and Loki. "Your magic card did not withstand the strength." He opened his head to show him. "May I have another?"
Tony was about to lose it. "Let's just pay with mine. Note to self make my credit cards out of metal." He and Thor walked inside. "Don't go anywhere." He looked over to Sigyn and Loki.
Back at the Tower. Janine made herself an ensemble for when she would have to go out and fight with the rest. She had a S.H.I.E.L.D. agents dark blue catsuit, silver boots that reached below the knees, silver gloves that went to the elbows, and a silver breast plate she took from the lab that Bruce was working on. She even had a dark blue mask.
A memory crept into her mind. It was of her and her father. It was before she had the accident. He was watching her dress up in her mother's clothes and be so triumphant in all the things she did. He would always call her his little lady victory. Janine whispered the name out loud. "Lady Victory."
"What?" Steve spoke. Janine did not sense him as she thought she would have. She would have to work on thinking and listening to those around her. Steve saw what she had laid out. "Woah, you are not serious?"
"I am," Janine turned around to face him. "You protect those around you, I have always been protected, why can't I do the same?"
"I never said you couldn't," Steve smiled. "What would be your name anyways?"
"My father always called me his Lady Victory," her eyes softened at the name.
"Hey, he would have wanted you to be happy," he came over to hug her. "Shh. Don't cry."
"I just want to save others as he did," she felt at home in his arms.
"You will," he assured her.