MONSTER

12

Tony didn't return to the floor for several days. The other Avengers reported not seeing him often. When they did see him, he appeared to be reevaluating his entire life in an existential crisis. News about his newfound daughter was scarce, aside from the fact that Tony was, in fact, adopting her after her mother passed away. That is, news was scarce until said daughter arrived at the one floor she was forbidden from going to.

Katerina was sitting on the couch with Loki, as he taught her more magic. They heard the elevator ding and figured it was Natasha or Thor coming to see them. They were wrong.

When the little blonde nine year old girl walked into the room, she looked around, noticed the two inhabitants and gave them a guilty smile.

"Uh..." Katerina's mind went blank for a moment.

What was going on?

"Hi! I'm Aubrey!" The girl chirped.

"What are you doing here?" Loki asked.

"Uh, I got lost?" Aubrey said, but it wasn't very convincing.

"You're lying." Loki said.

"No, I'm not!"

"I'm the god of lies, I would know."

Aubrey poured and crossed her arms.

"Well that's not very fair." She said.

"Life isn't fair." Loki resorted.

Katerina held up a hand and interrupted their banter.

"Okay, what's going on? From what I've heard, children aren't typical roaming the tower, so, are you...?" She asked.

"Tony's daughter? Yeah." Aubrey sighed.

"So you're the Stark offspring." Loki said thoughtfully.

"You're weird." Aubrey scrunched up her nose, "Is he always like this?"

"You get used to it." Katerina shrugged.

Loki glared at her, but she ignored it.

"So I'm guessing Tony doesn't know you're here." She said.

Aubrey shifted uncomfortably.

"Well... not exactly? I mean, he kinda told me directly not to come here, but..."

"Definitely Tony's kid alright." Katerina said.

"So why aren't I allowed here?" Aubrey asked.

"Because this is the floor that houses the murderers." Loki said sharply and Katerina smacked his arm.

"Stop it!"

"Ow!" He complained.

"You're going to scare her!"

"Shouldn't she be?" Loki asked.

"I- don't pay any attention to him. I'm Katerina."

Aubrey looked between them.

"There are murderers here?" She asked a bit nervously.

"No!" Katerina said, "Well... yes, but no! Uh... it's only us two."

Aubrey still looking scared and Loki was doing absolutely nothing to help.

"Look, we're here because we have complicated pasts."

"So you aren't Avengers?" Aubrey guessed.

Loki snorted.

"Did you miss the murdering part?" He asked.