"I'm fine, Maisy," Linn sighed, folding a shirt and tucking it in a box, "It's been three days."
"Yeah, only three days since, well, you know. Since your dad… died. If you want more time off you should take it. If you want to stick around for the funeral in two days and then catch up with us later-"
"No. I don't want to go to the gloomy old funeral," Linn said firmly, "I'm paying for the damned thing. I get to choose if I wanna go or not. And I don't."
"You're sure? What if there is family there that wants to talk to you?"
"No one liked me dad much. He was always borrowing money and never giving it back. It'd only be me and the gravediggers. I fink they can managed wifout me."
"I know everyone grieves differently, but Linn," Maisy sat down on the floor next to where her lady's maid was sorting clothing and packing it into boxes, "You sure you're okay?"
"To be honest," Linn stopped folding, "It's almost a relief. I know dat's a terrible fing to say, but I've been taking care of him for so long. I'm glad he can't get into any more drunk fights and I don't have to drag him home and take care of him."
"I get that," Maisy rubbed her arm awkwardly. How many times had she be hiding in her room from her drunk father, wishing he'd just go away and hoping he never hurt her like he'd hurt her mom. He never did, and he'd been doing much better in recent years, but she knew what it was like not wanting to have to deal with an alcoholic father.
"Plus, he's just been a sad flop since me mom died. I fink he's been wanting to join her for a while," Linn wiped her eyes quickly, "But he didn't want to leave me on me own. Course the drink made him do dat anyway most days."
They sat there, silently thinking about their fathers until Loki walked into the room with more boxes and dropped them loudly on the table. He took a breath to say something, saw their downtrodden expressions, and closed his mouth again.
"You're sure you're okay to come with us tomorrow?" Maisy asked again, glancing at Loki.
"Better than moping around here with Lady Fulla blabbing me ear off about how I'm 'too familiar with Their Highnesses'. What an old bat!" Linn smiled, wiped her face off once more and then got back to work, "Moving to Midgard is going to be great!"
"Maisy," Loki cleared his throat, "Could I talk to you alone for a moment?"
"Sure," Maisy got off the floor and dusted her pants off. She and Loki stepped out into the hall and a few meters away from Bjorn, "What's up?"
"It's about Linn," Loki said, "She could be a target of Tyr's since she is so close to you, and therefore she is safest with us, on Midgard."
"Right."
"However, I just recalled that laws regarding children are rather different in your homeworld. At least in America."
"Laws like what?"
"For one thing, she's going to have to go to school, isn't she?"
"Oh yeah…"
"For another, she's now an orphan. If people find out who we are we may not be allowed to be her guardians."
"Right," Maisy bit her lip and thought for a moment, "We're not going to let people know who we are. Or at least, we're not going to let them know that you are on planet, but not living with the Avengers. Because I feel like we'd probably get attacked. Um, about Linn… Tony will figure something out. We'll talk to him. Maybe we can make him her legal guardian on earth, but she can just live with us and no one has to know."
"I'm sure Stark will have an answer," Loki nodded, "I just wanted to bring your attention to the fact of the matter than Linn will be an illegal minor being cared for by an alien terrorist."
"This, might be difficult to explain to the government if they come knocking," Maisy said, realizing what they were getting themselves into, "We'll handle it when it comes up. And we'll be her fake parents. It will be fine."
"There is something else I wanted to talk to you about while I have you alone," Loki's face got a distinctly uncomfortable look on it, "Housing."
"Yes?"
"I hope you do not wish for us to live in Stark Tower in any capacity, because I am telling you now that it will only end in tears and, perhaps, the building destroyed."
"Okay, here's my plan," Maisy held his hand, "We'll stay there for just a little bit, okay? Just a short amount of time while I do some apartment hunting and get a job that can support three people and pay rent and all that stuff. And as soon as I find work and a place then we are gone. We don't ever have to go back to Stark Tower if you don't want to!"
"You aren't the only one who has to work," Loki said, straightening up somewhat, "I'll have you know I learned valuable skills during my probation. I'm sure I can find a position doing menial labor somewhere as long as I am disguised."
"We'll see," she stretched to kiss his cheek, "We'll sort it all out when we get there. For now, let's finish packing so we can get out of here before Tyr tries to kill me again."
A note from the author: I know this is a really short, long overdue chapter! I'm sorry! :P The next one is longer and takes place on Midgard! Yay!
Thank you for reading! I really appreciate it!
Special thanks to my reviewers:
ferbette: I wouldn't put anything past Odin at this point, but... you're probably right. ;)
sweetreader: Sadly, Bjorn stays on Asgard for most of the story, but he does get to visit in an upcoming chapter! :D
Ninja Squirrel: I'm not saying I'm the one who hired the archer and the actual target was Linn's dad, but... Tyr wasn't the main reason Linn's dad got shot. :P
Dragoncat: If the fangirls are any indication, more people favor Loki already! Lol. XD
Lwolf: You are very welcome! Thanks for the review!
CheetahLover: Glad you're all caught up! Loki's the kind of person who would hate using an iron, but he's such a diva that he'll insist his clothes are perfectly pressed. Luckily, Maisy knows how to work an iron... unluckily, she'll make Loki iron his own clothes and there will be burn marks. XD
You guys are the bomb! Lots of love from me to you!