Chapter 3

The next day was Saturday and Niki was just about to walk out the door to go to work (they never let her rest) when said door was thrown open and in walked a tall dark skinned man with an eye patch and a long black coat that made him look ten times scarier than he already did.

"Miss Sorenson," he said. "Nick Fury, director of SHIELD. We have something to talk about. Seems you know too much for your own good."

Niki's eyes widened as she backed up and put an arm behind her to keep Ember back after her little sister came up behind Niki. "What? We did do anything, I swear!"

"Not on purpose at least but you do know the Avengers and their brats. Now we have to discuss security, disclosures, and defense for the both of you."

"Wait," Ember butt in. "You mean you're not going to kill us?"

Nick smirked. "Not yet."

Ember fainted.

Three grueling hours of interrogation and fifty billion papers signed later, Niki and Ember shut the door behind the director and slumped onto the couch.

"Why do we have to take self-defense classes," Ember whined.

"How in the name of heaven above did he know about my boyfriend in high school," Niki groaned. "I think I have writer's cramp from all those papers we had to sign. I'm a publisher and I have writer's cramp!"

"That's what you get for being my legal guardian. How long do we have to take those classes?"

"Will you shut up about those classes? That's the least of my worries right now. Go work on your homework. I know you haven't finished your Algebra yet. I have work to do. Dear heavens! Work!"

Niki jumped up and ran to the phone while Ember giggled and ran upstairs before she faced her sisters wrath.

3x.5-6 x=9

Ember groaned and set her pencil down. She hated Algebra. It didn't help that she was smart enough to get into one of the really good classes. After this question, she had five left. She leaned back in her chair, brooding when all of a sudden, a tall green pillar of smoke appeared in front of her. She fell backwards in her chair. As she tried to get up, she looked up and to see a tall, green eyed, pale man with long slicked back black hair. In his hands, he clutched a staff of some sort, and a helmet of gold with horns. His attire consisted entirely of black, green and gold. Ember fell over again.

"Problems mortal?" the man asked, raising a curious eyebrow.

Ember's hand went to her head. "I knew I should've passed on that coffee."

"What are you ranting about?"

Ember shook her head and looked up at the man. "Are you real?"

"Of course I am!"

"Are you positive? Because I'm pretty sure I'm on a sugar high."

The man sighed in frustration. "You mortals are so useless."

Ember frowned. "Are not! And I have a name."

He glared down at the small mortal girl. "Obviously, I do not know your name!"

"Ember Sorenson. You're Loki… right?" Ember asked. Loki was a pretty hard character to forget; helmet with large horns, slick black hair, and intense green eyes. Yeah, pretty hard to forget.

"How did you know?" he asked, clearly surprised. He hadn't visited Midgard for a few years! Or so he thought.

"Lucky guess." Ember smirked, getting up.

"Hey Ember, Clint and Natasha are coming over for dinner in a bit and-" Niki stopped mid-sentence when she saw Loki. "Who is that?"

"It's Loki." Ember giggled.

Niki gave herself a face palm. "Of course. You get the Avengers and the villain quickly follows. You must get the complete package!"

Loki opened his mouth to say something but dear Ember cut him off. "Don't ask, just don't." Loki nodded in response.

"Why are you here?!" Niki asked, pointing to the deity that had appeared in her sisters bedroom.

Loki sighed again. "I attempted to over throw Odin again, and obviously, it didn't work. I was quickly found out. Odin banished me and sent me here. And somehow I managed to appear in your home. Oh, and he took away my magic. Well, most of it."

"Uh-huh. Okay. So now I have to take care of the villain? Great." Niki pulled out her phone and dialed a number. "Natasha? Yeah, it's me. Sorry, but I have to cancel the dinner. Something unexpected came up. Yeah, I'm sorry. Okay. Thanks. Good night." She snapped the phone shut. "Ember, I'm not sure if this is smart, but stay here and keep Loki out of trouble. I'm going to have a chat with the director…"

"Nick!" Niki yelled, entering the S.H.I.E.L.D HQ.

Nick Fury came down the stairs, growling. "What is it Niki?"

Niki crossed her arms and shifted her weight to one foot. "I meet the Avengers and guess who appears in my sister's room?"

"What did Tony do?"

"No. It's Loki."

"What?!"

"Loki is now at my house. Blame the Allfather if you want to pick a fight. Apparently he's here for a while and we've been tasked with housing him. If I am going to be taking care of him, I'm going to need a few things."

The man sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "Okay."

"First, I need an insurance boost and I need more money so I can afford food and such for us!" Niki said.

"Done, just keep him out of my hands and keep SHIELD on speed-dial."