Chapter 6

For the rest of the drive to pick up Ember, Loki was silent. Niki stared out the windshield, anger melting into melancholy sadness at the reminder of her family's death. It still hurt; a lot. She tried hard to stay cheerful for Ember's sake and to keep them both happy and positive, but unwelcome reminders were, well, unwelcome.

Sighing as they came up to the next stop light, she turned to the silent trickster in her passenger seat. "Look, I'm sorry I snapped at you. I guess I'm just an over-protective older sister. Just, if you're going to stay with us, please, be nice to her."

Loki regarded her silently for a moment before turning to look out the window again. As they pulled away from the light, he mumbled, "Very well."

It was another couple blocks before he spoke again. "I apologize for angering you. Your dynamic with your sister is…astounding. I never had a good relationship with my brot- with Thor. Growing up, we never got along well unless it was late at night or someone other than Thor was abusing me. It is…interesting to see the two of you get along so well."

Niki smiled, "Well when your sisters all you've got left, things are really put in perspective for you. I'm sorry you didn't have a good big brother. You know, that's the only thing I really wished I had growing up, an older brother?" She laughed ruefully. "Now I just want to be a good big sister. I can't be a mom for Em, but I can try to be close enough."

They drove on in silence before Niki almost screamed, "Okay! I've had enough sadness! My friend let me introduce you to the Beatles!"

By the time they got to Embers school, Niki was in a wonderful mood again and Loki was yelling at her to "turn down that infernal racket before the car explodes!"

Ember came out of the school laughing and talking with Shadow Stark just in time to see Loki get out of the car and yell something at a laughing Niki before he slammed the door and leaned against the car.

"Ha-ha they actually came to pick me up!?" Ember turned to Shadow to see her friends face grow very serious before she was whipping out her phone and calling her dad.

"DAD! LOKI'S HERE! AT MY SCHOOL! NO I DON'T KNOW HOW OR WHY, HE'S JUST HERE!"

Ember quickly snatched her friend's phone and tried to calm Shadow down, holding the phone an arm's length away from the irate Stark.

"Whoa whoa whoa! It's fine! He's here with Niki! Fury knows! Loki's staying with us!"

"What do you mean 'it's fine.'? A super villain shows up outside our school in your car and its fine?! This guy has tried to take over the world multiple times and you're just going to let him waltz over here…"

"He was sent here! Odin on high sent him to change! Do you think he wants to be living with us?!"

"He's living with you?! Do you realize how crazy that sounds?"

"It's fine! Niki's got him under tight watch and…"

Their argument was cut short by the loud rush of the repulsors of the Iron Man armor as the great Tony Stark himself came in to land between his daughter and the car that contained an entertained Niki and an annoyed Loki still leaning against it.

"Whoa! Things just became real," Ember said under her breath as Tony raised a hand at Loki and the other behind him to protect Shadow and her friend.

"Alright Bambi," Tony said through his helmet. "I don't know what you're doing back here or why but you have two seconds to send yourself back home before I kick your sorry hide back there myself."

Loki coolly eyed him before rolling his eyes. "Please, mortal. If I wanted to cause any harm to you think I would allow myself to be subjugated to this?"

"Hey! Just because you can't appreciate good music," Niki yelled from inside the car as Tony lifted the faceplate of his armor.

"Dunno, Frosty. You have some pretty out there schemes."

Ember finally broke free of the arm Shadow had thrown in front of her and ran in front of Iron Man.

"Whoa, hey Tony. He's fine. He's with me and Niki. The mighty Allfather sent him here to change. You know, like Thor. So he's staying with us. Fury knows and is paying Niki extra to help us out. Please don't blow him up. We actually got him to watch Lord of the Rings last night and apparently Niki picked out some new cloths for him." Turning to the car Ember yelled to her sister, "Nice choice! Love the green converse!"

Niki opened the door and leaned over the top of the car. "I know, right?! You missed it! Soooo much fun! He hates dressing rooms!"

"How can anyone stand to be shoved into a tiny room and be expected to change their attire," Loki fumed at her. "It was not fun."

Niki grinned at him. "Maybe not for you but I got the best fashion show ever."

He blinked at her before throwing his arms in the air and getting back in the car. "Enough of this. I wish to return to your home."

Niki rolled her eyes. "Yes sir, Mr. Grumpy Gills, sir. Coming Ember? Good to see you again Tony!"

"Wait a second? You mean to tell me that, besides raising your little sister by yourself, you know have to re-raise Thor's destructive baby brother," Tony asked dropping his arm, confusion plastered on his face.

"That's about the jist of it," Ember said before turning to run to the car. "Bye Shadow, see ya tomorrow!"

Both Starks were left in front of the school staring after the car containing their friends and their arch nemesis.