Hello, lovelies! And how are you? I was feeling in a superhero mood, and so this popped out. Hopefully, I'm going to publish an Erik/Charles oneshot soon, but I wanted to write this first. Chapter 8 is already begun, so expect it soon. Love you guys!

-CM

Stark Tower was blazing with light when they arrived. Tony had given up on the large, bright, STARK letters, after the battle for New York, setting on a simple A, instead. A for Avengers, since, she realized, it wasn't truly Stark Tower any more. Now that it was home as well to a god, a super-soldier, two highly trained assasins, and a nerdy professor.

Loki scoffed in distaste as they drove up. A door opened, and they drove in. He watched as Sierra parked the car, tossed her keys into her bag, and stepped out. He stayed sitting down, arms crossed. She smiled. "Coming?"

"I will sit here until you get back. Or perhaps I shall just drive off once you have gone and desert you."

She looked mildly surprised. "You can drive?"

He laughed, scoffing. "Of course I can drive. You take me for some uncultured swine? You humans may pollute my realm, but your outdated modes of transportation have their uses."

She laughed, throwing him the car keys. "Go home if you want. I'm not forcing you. I know you don't like them very much. After all, they did try to kill you."

"That they did," he agreed, putting one foot on the dash and re-tying his green Converse. "Come get me at eleven."

"Why should I?" he asked, sourly.

She smiled innocently. "I ran out of money. And it's a long walk home."

"Kings are not fit to give rides to lessers."

"Then it's a good thing you're not a king. Eleven, please."

He growled, stepping on the pedal and speeding away. She walked upstairs.

Up an elevator, and some stairs, and another elevator put her into a large kitchen. Many of the Avengers were gathered around the kitchen table. Upon her arrival, there were many loud greetings, and cheers.

Stark grinned. "Well, well, well. Little Miss Broadway back with the the likes of us at last. Where's that friend you said you were bringing?"

She smiled, giving him a hug. "He got sick and couldn't come."

Steve smiled. "He'll have to come some other time. I'd be glad to meet him."

"I'm sure you would," she agreed. "If he's ready."

Dinner was a happy affair. Clint, the Avengers' resident cook, had been in the kitchen all day, and there was a full five-course meal ready. Chicken, salad, soup, bread, and a cake for dessert. They ate and laughed, it felt like old times. Of course, it wasn't, because she no longer worked for S.H.I.E.L.D, and they were no longer her housemates. She had a new roommate now, one that was much more prone to destruction and death. And who was... probably waiting for her... she realized, as she stared at her watch. "I have to go guys, early day tomorrow."

"Oh come on, don't leave us!" pleaded Clint.

"Sorry guys, I will come back when I can. And if you don't show up to my opening night, I will be sorely disappointed."

"I bought the theatre, so you'll see us." said Tony, with a cocky grin."

She laughed. "I'm gonna miss you guys, but I'll drop by when I can."

Clint made a pouty face. She laughed, and walked into the elevator.

Downstairs, she was pleasantly surprised to see her car idling. Loki sat behind the wheel, lazily, flipping through a magazine. She got in. He looked over at her.

"I thought you didn't give rides to lessers."

"I don't," he said, driving away. She turned her head, looking into the darkened city, so he couldn't see her smile.

The next morning, her alarm woke her much too early for her own happiness. She stumbled into the kitchen and put a pot of water on the stove. She was about to get in the shower when she realized that the water was already running. She grinned, shaking her head. A few minutes later, Loki stepped out of the bathroom, wrapped in one of her towels and hair tousled like the Tenth Doctor's. She laughed.

"What? You laugh at your king?"

"No, I laugh at my friend. Why are you up so early?"

"You told me you were out of taxi money. And besides, sitting here all day is boring. I figured I'd come along, see what you mortals do with your days."

"People not in the cast aren't usually welcome at rehearsals, but the pyrotechnics department was looking for a new hand. I can... you know... recommend you. If you like."

He didn't reply, and she looked over to see that he had vanished. A few minutes later, she was dressed, and on to her second cup of Earl Gray. "What do you think?" a voice asked. She turned to see Loki standing in his doorway, in what appeared to be her black trenchcoat, a green scarf, and his green Converse shoes.

"That's my... my..." she tried.

"I am your king, therefore, what is yours is mine."

"You can wear it. And you could have just asked, you know. I really don't care."

She extended him a mug of tea, but he declined. "Mortal drinks aren't really my cup of tea."

She stared at him, straight-faced, for about a second, before bursting into uncontrollable laughter. "Loki," she finally managed, face twisting in mirth. "You and I are going to get along splendidly, I see."

"I don't need to get along with you. I am your king." he hissed.

"In this place, you don't need to be. You don't need to be evil."

"I'm not evil, I'm hurt. There's a difference."

She smiled, softly. "I know."

"Do you? Really?"

"It doesn't matter," she answered, quickly. "I didn't mean what I said. Have you seen any umbrellas? It appears to be raining, and I don't see any. I know I have some..." She bustled about, and he watched her, this curious girl whom he knew so well and yet didn't know at all. He could walk out, if he wanted to, never say goodbye and never see her again, and she would let him. But was that really what he wanted?

He noticed an umbrella lying on the floor and decided that it wasn't.

And so soon, they walked out, locking the apartment and down the rainy street, him and this girl. She danced in the rain, carefree and he smiled, or something close to it. He didn't smile, he had no reason to.

In the future, he thought, perhaps he might.