"How about this one?" Maisy said from her position on the couch in Thor's living room area, "Bus operator. How hard can it be to drive a bus?"
"Seeing as you've been attacked by a lindworm on one bus and nearly plowed down by another one, are you certain you'd want to work on one?" Loki asked. He was also on the couch, sitting on it upside down with his feet over the back, his hair brushing the floor.
"Good point. Plus it's all night hours, blergh."
"Why don't you submit your portfolio to one of those clothing places and see if they'll take you on as a designer?"
"Because I haven't finished school," Maisy sighed, closing the laptop she'd been using to look for jobs, "And the only piece I've ever sold was to Tony for Pepper's Christmas present."
"Does Stark not have some sway with the more esteemed members of New York society? Could he not put in a good word for you?"
"Maybe… but I want to have a regular job first, just to get us out of the tower in case the fashion thing doesn't work."
"It is what you've always intended to go into, is it not?"
"Well, yeah, but, you know… things change."
"You no longer want to be a designer?" Loki did a crunch to face her evenly.
"I do! I absolutely do! But there's so much to think about now. I mean, with that stupid documentary I might be too disliked to sell anything. And there's you and Linn to think about. And we need to get out of this Tower before you go nuts or I go nuts from watching you try to refrain from going nuts. And we need to find an apartment. And-"
"Alright, there is much to think over, I get it," Loki swung his legs down into a normal sitting position and held her hands, "You and I will both find stable positions and then, when we are settled and have distanced ourselves from the Avengers somewhat you will pursue your dreams. Fair?"
Before Maisy could respond, her phone rang. She took it out of her pocket and quickly answered it.
"It's the school," she whispered to Loki, "Hello?"
Loki strained to hear what was being said at the other end, but couldn't make it out.
"You need us to come down there? Why? Is Linn okay?"
More silence.
"I see."
"What?"
"Okay, we'll be there as soon as we can. Thank you. Uh huh. Bye."
"What is it?" Loki asked impatiently.
"Linn was sent to the principal's office!"
"Is that… bad?"
"Yes! Principal Garcia says she disrespected a teacher!"
"That doesn't sound too terrible."
"Loki!" Maisy swatted his arm, "Don't encourage misbehavior!"
"All I'm saying is that I disrespected many teachers in my day and it was never any problem."
"Yeah, but you were literally royalty! Linn's the new kid who could get kicked out!"
"Fair point. I shall inform Happy that we will need his services once more."
Loki did not know much about the American school system, but from what he gathered he assumed that he and Thor would have both been sent to the authority figures regularly had they attended a Midgardian school. Of course, Loki liked to think that he wouldn't get caught on his own, but in their teenage years he and Thor were generally in trouble together. Just as it looked like Linn had already found some friends to get into trouble with.
Three girls sat glumly in the hard plastic chairs just outside of the principal's office. Linn was glaring at anything and anyone defiantly and her two companions on either side of her were watching a male teacher in the corner distrustfully. None of them looked at Maisy and Loki as they walked in and Loki wondered briefly if he'd done their disguises too well and Linn didn't recognize them.
"Mr. and Mrs. Arrington!" Principal Garcia's door opened and she ushered them inside and the two girls beside Linn straightened up and watched them carefully until they disappeared behind the door, which the principal forgot to leave open a crack, causing Maisy to tense up.
"What did Linn do?" Loki asked, gently squeezing Maisy's hand.
"Actually, why don't I let Mr. Pie tell you, as it concerns him," Principal Garcia opened the door again and summoned the male teacher from the waiting area. He glared at them from behind a quickly blackening eye.
"Mr. Pie, please recount what happened in the hallway."
"I assume you two are Linnea's parents?"
"Yes," Maisy said quietly.
"I understand that she was homeschooled her whole life," Mr. Pie said, "And that just reaffirms my belief that no children should be left to just their parents to be educated!"
"Excuse me?" Maisy sat up straighter.
"They won't know how to properly conduct themselves in real world situations if they are kept so sheltered!" Mr. Pie declared.
"Hey!" Maisy looked like she wanted to stand up and get in the man's face, but Loki put a hand on her shoulder to hold her down, "Linn's probably better at handling real world situations than any of the kids here! She's traveled the galax- the world. She's amazing. She's smart and kind and brave and-"
"Mrs. Arrington, please let Mr. Pie tell his story."
"Anyway," Mr. Pie glared at Maisy, "Your child somehow got mixed up with Jessica Carboni and Habiba Farid and the three of them were marching through the halls and Jessica was spitefully breaking school dress code. When I pointed this out, Jessica refused to comply to my order to cover herself and then Linnea started shouting in the halls and defying me!"
"Oh," Maisy looked conflicted, "About the dress code?"
"Right. And then, when I told Linnea that she would have to go to the office she still acted defiant and I had to direct her - gently I might add, no matter what she tells you. Then Jessica and Habiba jumped out of nowhere and Jessica punched me! They assaulted a teacher! And Linnea helped them!"
"They attacked you?" Maisy gasped.
"That does not sound like Linn at all," Loki commented, eyes narrowed, "She does not turn to violence unless it is well warranted."
"Obviously she has been hiding a psychotic streak and with her first bit of freedom away from her weird homeschooling she acted on it!"
"Mr. Pie," Loki crossed his arms and glared at the teacher, "Take it from someone who has been called psychotic many times, Linn is nowhere near being a psychopath."
"As you can see, we need to take some action to discipline Linnea," Principal Garcia said in a more calm tone, "I still believe she can be a fine student at this school, but she needs to learn the rules. And to respect authority."
"She does," Maisy said, "But before we punish her, I want to hear her side of the story."
"Not necessary," Mr. Pie said, "Apart from being a maniac, she is also a liar. She and her friends have said nothing but lies since being brought to the office."
"We will be the judges of that," Loki said firmly, "Bring her in. And her friends."
Principal Garcia shook her head and opened the door, summoning the three girls. At this point a fourth girl had joined them, this one dressed more properly. She looked concerned and was holding Linn's hand as they all walked in.
"Ms. Clary, you don't need to be here."
"Mr. Pie," the newcomer said, "As Linn's tour guide and first day mentor, I see it as my responsibility to be here unless her parents do not want me to be."
"She can stay," Maisy said.
"Linnea, your parents want to hear your side of the story so we can understand why you attacked Mr. Pie so suddenly."
"Oi! It wasn't sudden and it was in self defense!" Linn snapped. If she'd have been a dog Loki could tell her hackles would have been raised. She was obviously spooked by something. There was something not right about this situation.
"Linn, just tell us what happened," Maisy scooched to the edge of her seat, "Also, um, hi girls. I'm Linn's mom, uh, Mary."
"Hi, Mrs. Arrington," the girl who'd recently arrived said politely, "I'm Alexis."
"I'm Habiba."
"Midnight."
"Ahem!" Mr. Pie snapped.
"Oh. The name that was assigned to me at birth was Jessica," the girl's voice was so monotone that Loki could have been fooled to believe that she was bored with the whole situation.
"Nice to meet you," Maisy nodded to each of them, "Linn, what happened?"
"See, I just made some friends at lunch," Linn pointed to Habiba and Midnight, "They're friends of Alexis Clary Senior and she said we could all be pals. So we was walking to class together and den Mr. Pumpkin Pie over here-"
Loki couldn't help a snort of amusement. The man's spray tan did not help his appearance from looking like a pumpkin. When the other adults in the room glared, Loki put on a straight face.
"Mr. Pumpkin Pie jumped outta nowhere and started blasting me friend Midnight about her shoulders of all the silly fings in the world to get upset about he fought her shoulders was offensive to boys of the school!"
"It does go against dress code to have a sleeveless shirt," Principal Garcia commented.
"Sweet Andromeda!" Linn threw her hands in the air, "Den why didn't Efan Jones get in trouble for being near naked!"
"Mr. Pie, was Ethan Jones breaking dress code?"
"Not at all," Mr. Pie shook his head, "Call him in now and you'll see him dressed as a perfect gentleman."
"Pish posh you humarr húnn," Linn growled (Loki had to smother another snort at hearing her use Old Norse), "He was wearing worse than Midnight! And you yelled at her for it and stuff and den I got mad at you and you got mad at me and den you told me to go to Principal Garcia's office so I was walking there and everyfing, but not fast enough you says!"
Loki noticed Linn clench her fists and Midnight and Habiba looked distinctly uncomfortable. Alexis didn't seem to know what had actually happened, but they were all glaring at Mr. Pie hatefully.
"So you grabs me arm and starts pulling me along!"
"Mr. Pie!" Principal Garcia gasped.
"I would never touch a student!"
"Oh yeah?!" Linn shrilled, jumping toward him, only help back by Alexis, "Oh yeah, you rat?! Den why did your other hand squeeze me bum!"
"Hold up! You did what?!" Maisy jumped to her feet and Loki felt inclined to join her, but remained seated and watch Mr. Pie's reaction. He looked panicked briefly, but then shook his head. Loki had seen toddlers lie better. This man was going to be suffering from severe injuries shortly.
"I didn't!"
"Yes he did!" Habiba said, voice cracking slightly with worry, "He really did! Midnight and I saw him do it!"
"That, and no other reason," Midnight's voice was still monotone, but her eyes burned with fury, "Was why Bibi and I felt it our duty as decent human beings to intervene. We approached Mr. Pie and demanded he stop groping our friend. And when he did not we made him." Her voice became so eerily angry that everyone in the room flinched away from her save Linn, Habiba, and Alexis.
"Linn, are you alright?" Maisy was already pulling Linn into a hug and glaring at Mr. Pie.
"Yes," Linn mumbled into Maisy's shoulder, "But I'm not sure I want to go to school wif dis creepy man here."
"I don't blame you! In fact, we're leaving right now! I don't care about what Mr. Pie says, if there is even the slightest possibility that he did what they say then I don't think children should be anywhere near him!"
"This is terribly unfortunate," Loki shook his head and got to his feet, cracking his knuckles just to see Pie squirm, "I suppose we shall have to ask our dear friend, Tony Stark, to rethink donating to this school if they hire men like Mr. Pie."
"T-Tony Stark? As in, Iron Man? As in the billionaire?!" Principal Garcia glared at Mr. Pie.
"Yes, we are staying with him until we find a place of our own," Loki commented, "He and I… were childhood friends. My wife designs for Pepper Potts. Tony is rather like Linn's third parent in a way, he shall be most displeased to hear that the funding will have to go to another school. Someplace that makes the students feel safe."
"Wait, wait!" Principal Garcia glared at Mr. Pie, "I will speak to the board and we can have him fired by tomorrow!"
"What?!" Mr. Pie yelped, "Over the lies of these girls?! You'd believe them over me, a full grown man?"
"And you know," Alexis suddenly spoke up, "My mother won't want to grant donations to a place that keeps pedophiles employed. She'll probably stop funding the football team."
"Not the football team!" Principal Garcia gasped, "Alright! He's definitely getting fired, and I'll report him to the police!"
"You can't do this!"
"I'm calling the superintendent now, if you would all wait outside my office. Except you, Mr. Pie. You wait right here."
Before they left, Loki caught Mr. Pie's eye and ran his finger along his throat. Mr. Pie's hand flew to his throat and under his falsely orange tan he paled. Loki winked.
They filed out of the office and he grinned smugly before pulling both Maisy and Linn into a quick embrace. He leaned close to Linn's ear to whisper.
"Do you want him dead?"
"Not right now," Linn whispered back, "Maybe later."
She turned to her new friends and began talking with them excitedly. The receptionist, who was guarding her intercom from Maisy, told them that they could all go back to class and they burst out of the office to do so. Linn waved to Maisy and Loki and skipped off with her new companions.
"A wild first day of school, I'd say," Loki put his arm around Maisy's shoulders.
"You know I hate violence," Maisy said quietly, "But if that man ever lays another finger on Linn then you make his life hell. Okay?"
"Oh, most certainly. And I do not doubt that the Avengers will want a piece of him once we tell them what happened. The Widow will likely pay him a visit without asking permission."
"I hope she does," Maisy's small frame was shaking with fury, "I hope she scoops out his eyes and chops off his fingers."
"I am truly a terrible influence on you."
He was already making plans to pay the teacher a visit. If they were in Asgard, Pie would have been flogged by now. No one upset the dark prince's friends without paying for it.
A note from the author: Ta-da! Two chapters in one week! Look at me go! Sorry if I was being dramatic in my last A/N. I was in a dramatic mood I guess. :P Also, I'd like to make a point of saying that everything I have learned about public school is from the internet and TV because I was homeschooled... so, yeah. We're all just going to have to deal with that.
Thank you so much for continuing to read! :)
Special thanks, as always, to my reviewers:
Ninja Squirrel: *pets Charlie and hopes he doesn't bite my chin like my cat does* *glares at my cat* Happy Easter to you as well! I was going to wish everyone a happy Easter in my last author's note, but I forgot because I was being dramatic. :P I think Linn would hate DUM-E at first, but then she'd bribe him with hugs and affection and they'd be best friends. She'd probably get him to use the fire extinguisher on Loki if he got annoying. And she'd probably hop on DUM-E and they'd both roll around the tower screaming. XD Also, yes Tom Hiddleston is a myth. No real man could have cheek bones like that! That or he, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Colin Morgan are all sorcerers in real life and they use their magic to make their faces so sharp.
Guest 1: Seriously! How are they not cold? I can't go anywhere without a cardigan. Why don't guys wear more cardigans? Or at least more hoodies! Sheesh.
Dragoncat: Happy is pretty great. I loved him in Homecoming. :)
CheetahLover: We didn't get to see so much of overprotective Loki in this chapter, but he's coming! (BTW, you're new avatar is fabulous!)
Guest 2: I'm glad you like Linn! I always have so much fun writing her!
Guest 3: No pain for Mr. Pie yet, but it's coming! I promise!
You guys are the best! Lots of love to you all! :)