Risky Business
To say that Darcy was angry, was putting it politely as well as mildly.
Once Jane had told her of Doctor Strange's plans to banish Loki, she was in actual fact absolutely fucking furious.
So much so, that Jane had had to calm her down and physically restrain her from seeking the sorcerer out in order to knock his teeth down his throat.
The clever astrophysicist reasoned with her that it would not help Loki's case, especially considering that everyone knew her opinion on the matter would be biased.
Eventually she had calmed enough to allow Jane to take her home so that she could shower and put on a fresh change of clothes.
Well, clothes in general.
Once she'd completed her ablutions, Darcy shrugged-off all of Jane's attempts to persuade her to stay home and get some rest.
She needed to return to the tower, to be closer to Loki. To be on-hand should he need her, and to await the outcome of the meeting/debate that had still been raging on when she'd left.
It seemed to be taking an inordinate amount of time, and awaiting the outcome became increasingly unbearable.
Jane dutifully kept her company, until she at last succumbed to weariness and fell asleep on the long couch in the Avengers lounge, just after 10:30pm
Slipping on her duffel coat, Darcy took the bunch of keys Jane had left on the table and made her way back downstairs and into the secure parking complex.
She desperately needed to be alone to decompress and process her thoughts. And there in the quiet stillness of Jane's car, she sat gripping onto the steering wheel until her knuckles showed white, as she cried her heart out.
Only once she was alone could she allow all of the pent-up fear and emotion to come spilling out, which it did like a river that had burst it's banks.
Now she was crying there was no stopping her. She cried and cried, mostly for Loki. But also for herself. She cried over the daunting prospect of losing the love of her life. The very real possibility of them being so cruelly torn apart just as they had found each other. Just as Loki was finally beginning to shed his old skin. To evolve and grow. To allow love into his heart.
She cried over the complete unfairness of it all.
What would become of him?
Would he ever be free? Would she ever see him again?
So many questions tumbled around inside her head as if they were on a spin-cycle. This couldn't happen. She couldn't let it happen. She had to fight for Loki. Fight for his rights. Fight for their love. And she immediately realised without any consideration that she'd be willing to do whatever it may take to help him win his freedom. Or at the very least, to avoid him being banished to a dimension that he'd highly likely never be able to return from.
There was no telling how long she'd sat in the car for, the seat cold and uncomfortable after her sitting immobile, feeling numb. The smell of the faux leather interior and pine air freshener had become almost sickening to her.
She was still contemplating where she went from there, trying to formulate some sort of plan, when Jane appeared hurrying across the parking lot at break-ankle speed, which prompted Darcy into hurriedly leaping out of the vehicle.
Fearing the absolute worst, her heart beat anxiously in her mouth as Jane reached her, gasping for breath.
"Darcy! There you are! I've been looking for you--"
"Oh god why? What's happened? Have they sentenced him? Is it bad, really bad? Oh shit, no! They're gonna send him away forever aren't they? Because that can't happen. Nope, nah ah. I won't let them do it!"
To Darcy's immense relief her friend shook her head. "No, it isn't that--"
Darcy frowned, bottom lip trembling precariously. "You mean the jury is still out? That's a bad sign. That means that they're--"
"Darcy will you please be quiet and let me finish?" Jane interjected roughly. "It's not like they're a jury deliberating Loki's fate. But it takes a lot of talking over. They're all in disagreement over this. Bruce and Nat called it a night and went to bed a while ago, which is why you should've been getting some sleep too."
"Oh as if I could sleep! And I can't believe those assholes have gone to bed! What about poor Loki?"
"This is about Loki....Tony thinks he's lost it--"
"Lost it? Why what's wrong with him?" In a state of panic Darcy gripped Jane's arms unnecessarily tightly.
"Ouch! Darcy, that hurts!"
"Sorry, but what is it? What's up with Loki?"
"Well he had fallen asleep--"
"Him too? But he's in a cell!"
"Yes well he must have some sort of cot bed in there, because he was sleeping. Security were observing him on the monitors, when all of a sudden he woke up and started raving and ranting about someone called....Thanos?"
Darcy's eyes grew wide, and an icy chill crept over her skin. "The mad Titan." She said almost mechanically, which earned her a look of blatant surprise from her friend.
"You know of him?"
Darcy nodded slowly, her legs beginning to move as if on autopilot. "I know enough. More than I want to know, actually. And if L is dreaming about him again that can't be good."
"L?" Hurriedly Jane hastened after her across the parking lot, the echoing sound of their footsteps bouncing off the asphalt. "Wait, Darcy! Does that mean Loki's dreamed about him before?"
No matter how quickly Darcy tried to run it was as if her legs just wouldn't move fast enough for her liking, as she re-entered the building like a mad woman.
"Where is he being kept, Jane? You know this place better than I do."
Jane hesitated, looking momentarily uncertain if she should disclose the information. "Oh, Darcy. I don't know about this. I really need to get clearance from Tony first--"
"Where is he?" Darcy yelled in anguish. "Screw Tony! Jane, you're supposed to be my friend! Just tell me. Please?"
"Fine, okay. It's the floor below here. One of the rooms at the end of the hall has a holding cell, I think. I've never been down there."
"Thank you!"
"Darcy wait--!"
But Darcy didn't wait. She didn't even wait for the elevator. Instead she took the door which led to the stairs, clattering down them almost two at a time.
How she reached the bottom safely without falling and breaking a limb was anyone's guess, but all that mattered to her was that she reached Loki.
The white-walled corridor was narrow and claustrophobic, seemingly stretching on forever, but at long last she reached what appeared to be a dead-end. Not knowing which was the right room, she took a wild guess and chose the one on the left at random. Her hands grasped and twisted at the handle, surprisingly it opened and she wanted to whoop for joy and punch the air because for once, luck was on her side.
Tony, Thor and Doctor Strange all turned simultaneously, each of them looking equally shocked to see her.
Quick to recover, Tony wasted no time in being the first to speak. "Security breach." He said, dryly. "Darcy, why are you still here? You really need to--"
"Stop! Don't tell me I need to rest, or to go home, or...." Her voice trailed off as she stepped inside without waiting to be invited, and noticed the large wall of glass at the far end of the room.
The familiar figure of Loki rising to his feet behind it was enough to choke her up, and she wasted no time in rushing towards him.
"Now wait a minute, you really shouldn't be in here right now." Strange said haltingly, but Tony was quick to silence him. Not that Darcy was about to pay any attention anyway.
"No, let them have their little, uh....moment."
"Darcy." Loki said simply, placing a large hand on the glass.
"Loki! Oh my god, I missed you."
Tony exchanged a suitably baffled look with Strange. "Missed him? Really? It's been what, like...." He glanced down at his watch. "....five or six hours since you saw him? Wow."
She made a point of deliberately ignoring him. She was already aware of how desperately needy and clingy she sounded, as if she was suffering with serious separation-anxiety issues. But she didn't care. The God of Mischief was still a sight for sore eyes.
And speaking of sore eyes, he looked immensely tired, his handsome face visibly weary. His aqua eyes bloodshot and hampered with dark circles.
"Are you okay? You dreamed about Thanos again didn't you?"
Looking deeply troubled, Loki gave a barely perceptible nod of his dark head. "I can't be certain, but it isn't just mere coincidence. I can sense it means something. It was different this time. At the risk of sounding trite, it was almost like a...a premonition."
"That's convenient." Strange remarked curtly. "The minute you're locked up and being forced to face the consequences of your actions you become a clairvoyant."
Loki's head snapped up so that he could impale the sorcerer with his glare. "You won't be so quick to dismiss and mock me when your world suffers as a result of your blinkered ignorance, Doctor!"
"Enough!" Thor growled, turning his angry gaze on his adoptive brother. "Strange makes a valid point. You have always denied having the ability to be able to see into the future, yet suddenly you claim to know that this Thanos character is becoming a threat."
"He has always been a threat. But he's coming, I can sense it." Loki fired back with an almost eerie calmness. "Don't ask me how but I can. The infinity stones are drawing him here."
Darcy swallowed hard, and placed a trembling hand on the glass, mirroring Loki's, feeling like the pitiful lover of a convict, visiting her wretched beloved in jail. "That can't be good. What did you see in your dream, Loki?"
He held her eyes steadily, and she could see the visible dread in them. "Destruction. The end of life as we know it."
"What exactly is that supposed to mean?" Strange asked, his brow furrowing deeper. "If we're going to indulge this little deluded fantasy of yours and pretend that what you're saying bears some semblance of truth, then you're going to have to elaborate."
"Very well. He's going to destroy half of all life."
A heavy silence fell over the room, as everyone quietly processed the enormity of such a dramatic revelation.
"Half of life on earth?" Darcy asked warily, shattering the tension.
"The universe." Loki replied darkly.
"And he intends to use these...infinity stones....to do that?" Tony turned to face the glass fully, frowning at Loki anxiously.
He nodded, moving away from Darcy so that he could pace around slowly as he talked. "Yes. There are several here. Once he has them all in his possession, your fate is sealed."
"Our fate?" Tony fired back. "And what about yours? I noticed you didn't include yourself there."
Loki twisted his lips into something that resembled an unamused smile, but in actual fact looked more like a grimace. "Oh, I think a different fate awaits me. Should my premonition come true."
Darcy's features crumpled, her heart palpitating with fear. "W-what fate, Loki? Tell me, what is he going to do to you?"
"Kill me, of course." He replied flatly. "But I am destined to suffer profusely as a result of my failure."
"No! That can't happen! Loki, what can we do?"
He paused to look at her all softly and sadly, which damn near crushed what brittle fragments remained of her already broken heart.
"Nothing, I'm afraid. Once he arrives there won't be a damn thing anyone can do to stop him."
At that, Tony shook his head. "Well I'm sure as hell not going to just sit by and let this Thanos guy take out half of the population."
Thor scoffed rudely. "This could be yet another of Loki's tricks."
"And what would I gain from that?" Loki hissed through his clenched teeth. "All I'm trying to do is deliver a warning."
"It could be a ruse in the hopes that we will release you--"
"It doesn't matter if you release me or not, the outcome will be the same regardless. I failed to deliver the Tesseract to Thanos, and he rewards failure with death!"
"But we're not going to go down without a fight." Tony said, with growing conviction.
"Too right!" Darcy added. "And you need Loki. He can help. Nobody else here knows Thanos as well as he does."
This gave Tony pause, and she could see him giving her words serious consideration.
"If he gains access to any airships or portals, he'll be gone." Strange countered most unhelpfully. "Personally I say keep him here, or better still....we put him somewhere where he can't double-cross anyone."
Having heard enough now, Darcy marched right up to Strange and poked him angrily in the chest. "If you don't stop with all the 'Loki-is-a-threat' crap, I swear it'll take a frickin' good surgeon three or four hours to get your magic wand back!"
He stared down at her stoically. His expression irritatingly deadpan. "I happen to be a very good surgeon myself."
"Great, you can operate on yourself then can't you? Although I won't need to shove your wand up there, seeing as you already have a gigantic stick up your ass--"
"Hey, c'mon guys. Let's play nice." Tony interrupted before the argument could escalate further.
But Darcy was super pissed now. Which was rarely a good thing. Her anger impaired her ability to think clearly, and without giving any consideration to how Loki may object, she rounded on Thor next.
"And you! You've no idea what your brother has actually been through--"
"Adopted." Loki snarled, but Darcy ploughed-on regardless, flapping her hands around wildly.
"I don't give a rats ass! You're still brothers! Thor, have you ever actually given one single moments thought to how Loki might've suffered at the hands of this Thanos dude? Have you?"
"I....I never thought to ask." He admitted honestly but with reluctance.
"No, of course you didn't ask. Well, shame on you!"
Amazingly, the rugged blonde stared down at the floor in the manner of a scolded child. "Yes, I see now that was wrong of me."
An awkward silence followed, and Darcy suddenly felt bad for having said what she'd said, as Loki was looking distinctly tight-faced.
Oops.
"Well, I'm sure you guys can figure stuff out. All your family issues and so on. I have the number of a very good therapist, I'll be sure to pass that on to you later, but right now we need to stay focused on Thanos. He's been the one pulling the strings all along, right? He's definitely the bigger potential threat here."
Loki snickered. "How peculiar a feeling it is to not be considered the biggest threat any longer."
"Silence, brother." Thor griped, folding his broad arms tightly across his chest. "Now is not the time for your barbed remarks and warped sense of humour. What I want to know is if we were to grant you clemency so that you might aid us, what assurance could you give that you can be trusted?"
Loki looked at Thor, his mouth set in a grim line. "Your world hangs in the balance, if you're truly desperate enough to require my assistance, then perhaps a leap of faith on your part is what's called for."
"I have mistakenly trusted you before. Each time you betray me."
Tony took a step between the Thunderer and Loki, even though the quarrelling brothers were already thankfully separated by the wall of protective glass.
"But this time his life is on the line too." He pointed out, gesturing toward the trickster God. "Maybe that's all the incentive he needs to be on our team."
"Are you seriously considering letting him out because you expect him to be on our side?" Strange exclaimed with increasing agitation. "He wouldn't hesitate to jump-ship if Thanos gave him another chance."
"It is true that Loki fights only for himself." Thor joined in, making Darcy want to slap his stupid, handsome face. "Past experience leads me to fear he will make a bid for freedom as soon as an opportunity arises."
"No you're wrong!" Darcy cried, darting a nervous glance over her shoulder at Loki, who now stood stock still, hands clasped behind his back, his feet shoulders-width apart. "I'll admit he had plenty of opportunities to leave when we were in London, because I wasn't as careful as I should've been, but he didn't. He even left once in Paris, but he chose to come back of his own accord." She turned again to face him. He didn't look angry, which was reassuring.
"You came back didn't you?"
"I did."
Encouraged, she gave him a hopeful smile. "And why did you? Tell them."
His face creased with discomfort, but he obliged her by answering in a low, leaden voice. "To be with you."
Darcy's heart swelled in her chest. Having him openly confess to the others was a bold move on her part, one which she knew he wouldn't have found easy.
But he had.
And that meant everything.
To her, and to his cause.
Hopefully this act of emotional bravery would prove to be his redemption.
Strange rolled his eyes, suggesting that he was unmoved, which earned him a look of utter disdain from Loki. Thor looked almost comically stunned, his blond brows raising in surprise.
"Well, that's real sweet. So what you're saying is that Reindeer Games here is a reformed character now because he's earned himself the love of a good woman?" Tony grinned, his voice heavily laden with playful sarcasm.
Loki bristled uncomfortably, his pale complexion visibly colouring.
"You don't know Loki as I do." Thor was saying now, as he stared almost disbelievingly at the mischievous God. "He would never willingly surrender his freedom for anyone. For him to do so would be an enormous self-sacrifice."
Tony raised his eyebrows, as Strange looked on with interest, opting to remain silent.
"So basically he's got it real bad?" Tony smirked.
Thor approached the glass, looking irrefutably guilty. "Brother, have I misjudged you? You must care very deeply for Darcy."
Loki regarded him with cool contempt, hackles rising. "You have always misjudged me, brother."
"He cares enough to get my name tattooed. I don't think he'd have marred his precious, beautiful skin like that if he didn't care for me." Darcy threw-in for good measure, which earned her incredulous looks from everyone except Loki.
"You're absolutely right. I wouldn't." His face remained shuttered, but as he turned his gaze toward Darcy, his beautiful eyes settling on her with concentrated focus, tears of bittersweet joy and pride begin to cloud her vision.
"And just like that, we're expected to be all good?" Strange remarked sardonically.
"Look, no ones suggesting he gets a clean slate." Tony said patiently. "But hey, it can't hurt to have another God fighting for team earth, can it?"
"If I'm going to do this, it won't be solely for your precious earth." Loki interjected. "I'm doing this for Darcy."
*****************************
And just like that, Loki became an Avenger.
Even though nobody officially said the words, or even acknowledged it, once he was released from his holding 'cell' and had accompanied the others up to the main conference room, his transition from enemy to ally was complete.
Darcy had hugged him tighter than she'd ever hugged him before, not giving a damn what Thor, Strange or Tony may or may not have thought. And to her delight, Loki did not shy away from engaging in the display of affection. On the contrary, he hugged her so tightly in return she almost feared for her bones, as his strong arms almost crushed her with his powerful embrace.
She shrugged off all attempts by the others to cajole her into retiring to bed, wanting to remain in the room, not only to be present for the meeting -- she wasn't exactly able to contribute anything helpful to the discussion -- but mainly to offer Loki her support simply by being there, as he was understandably still regarded with a measured amount of suspicion.
Banner and Nat had been sent for, and they joined the rest of them at the long table whilst Loki stood leaning over it, drawing-up their various proposals for battle tactics. He predominately lead the discussion, answering questions concerning Thanos and the Black Order, whilst attempting to deduce what their game plan may be. He made brilliant strategy suggestions, reached conclusions by using impressive logic, and mostly acted as if he'd never found himself at odds with any of the others in the room.
Natasha amazingly managed to behave in a civil manner towards him, and Bruce surprisingly was the one who seemed to be most at ease with having Loki on board. But he was also the one who was most panic-stricken by the impending threat that loomed in the possibly not-too-distant future.
As the ageing scientist voiced his ever-growing list of concerns, Loki subtly manoeuvred himself around the room until he'd sidled up beside Darcy, leaning over her shoulder to whisper into her ear. She was at first girlishly giddy having him slink over to her, but he hadn't simply done it just to murmur sweet nothings in her ear...
"You know, I would absolutely love a coffee, earth girl."
She pursed her lips. "Would you really?"
"Mm. And no one makes it as splendidly as you do. Would you be an angel and--"
"Listen buster, I've told you before....flattery will get you everywhere. But everyone will want one, and I'm not a frickin' tea-lady!"
Just then Tony looked up from the plans that Loki had drawn-up. "What are you two lovebirds whispering about? I don't like it when people whisper."
Loki retaliated accordingly. "Why are you deaf?"
"No it's rude. You're royalty, right? Now that's not exactly the behaviour one would expect from a prince."
Hurriedly Darcy pushed her chair back, forcing Loki to step aside. It was late, her nerves were frazzled, and she couldn't stand to hear any more bickering. Even if Tony wasn't being entirely serious. "He just wants a latte, don't worry. He's not planning to conquer the world."
Begrudgingly, she left to make coffee for everyone, and when she returned Banner was still talking. But this time he was pressing Tony, touching on a very sore subject it seemed.
"Tony, whether you like it or not you're going to have to call Steve in. We need him on this."
Tony looked decidedly uncomfortable, but Natasha was quick to back-up the scientist's observation. "He's right. We need all the help we can get. That also means Vision, Wanda, and whoever else is available."
Strange leaned forwards, indicating towards Loki with a nod of the head. "Stark, if I can work with him, then I'm sure you can find it in you to swallow your pride, set your bruised ego aside and make the call."
Throwing his hands up in an expression of exasperated defeat, Tony let out a long sigh. "Fine. I'll get on it."
"How long do you think we have before Thanos makes his move?" Strange asked, turning to Loki.
Loki rubbed at his forehead with his free hand. "I can't say for certain. I don't like to surmise. But I don't think he's going to remain idle for much longer."
"So it could be weeks? Hours even?"
"I don't know." He insisted, taking a sip of his coffee. "It may be months.....I wouldn't like to hazard a guess. What's important is that we're fully prepared when the time comes."
"We'll be ready for him this time." Natasha said calmly. "Not like when you rocked-up with your Chitauri army."
"Who we still beat." Tony added. "We thwarted Thanos' plans once, we can do it again."
"The Chitauri were child's play compared to Thanos and the Black Order." Loki pointed out grimly. "It's imperative you do not underestimate how astonishingly savage they are."
"We shan't." Thor said, his face stern. "However we can't live each day in a state of constant dread. If there is no telling when they will come, as long as we are ready then what have we to fear?"
There was a few mumbled words of agreement, and nods of heads, and then Tony spoke again...
"Wise words, Point Break. Well, I say we call it a night for now. I don't need beauty sleep obviously, but if I drink any more coffee I'll be back and forth to the bathroom for the rest of the night, needing to pee. Which is exhausting."
Everyone got up from the table, at which point Tony called across the room to Loki, who was making his way around again to where Darcy still sat.
"Hey, Rock of Ages, in order to appease the Wizard Strange, we've agreed you can have your old room back on three conditions."
Loki tilted his head, eyes narrowing slightly. "Which are?"
"One, the security locks will still be active on the lounge doors, can't have you wandering the corridors alone unsupervised.....Two..." He counted each point off on his fingers. "....the obedience disk stays in, just as a precautionary measure for now....and three, you'll need a minder to stay with you throughout the night."
Loki's hands gripped onto the back of Darcy's chair, his aura quickly spiralling towards rage. "I beg your pardon?"
"What? Did I stutter?"
"You expect me to share a room with some jack-booted imbecile whose neck is wider than his head? Which incidentally no doubt encases a brain with very few cells. I think not!"
Tony grinned devilishly. "No actually, I was hoping for your sake that your girlfriend might still be open to mixing business with pleasure. That is if you're happy to have her bunk over? Which leads me to one final condition...." He paused for added effect, then gave Darcy a flirtatious wink. "....just don't do anything I wouldn't do. Which doesn't leave a lot. Except for maybe Pilates, and shellfish--"
"All joking aside." Strange cut-in, turning to look at Darcy as he stood poised in the doorway. "Are you sure you can handle him?"
Darcy opened her mouth to speak, but Loki beat her to it, his voice sounding unmistakably vexed. "Handle me? You--"
"Oh I dunno, you are more than just a bit of a handful." Darcy broke in quickly, curling her fingers around Loki's wrist. "But I've managed before, right babe?"
She saw Loki's face waver between a look of surprise and distaste -- the latter most likely being due to her having deliberately referred to him as 'babe' -- but his expression was tempered by a trickle of satisfaction. Her blatant suggestiveness was not only a burn for Strange, with his unrelenting jabs, but it was also the first time she'd given any outward indication of their relationship in front of him and the entire group.
"There's your answer." He supplied with a crooked grin, delighting in the others shocked expressions. "Rest assured I am in capable hands. Extremely capable hands I might add--"
"Okay, too much information." Tony commented, as he held the door ajar for them both. "Boy am I glad I'm not in the room next door."
As they filed down the corridor, the group disbanded, each of them going their separate ways. The tower had allocated guest suites for everyone in the event that they should all need to regroup and work late, such as on occasions like this.
To both Thor and Darcy's delight, Jane met the God of Thunder by the elevator, and accepted his invitation of taking a drink with him in his room.
"To what do I owe this unexpected pleasure?" Thor smiled broadly at his love interest.
She shrugged and smiled shyly. "Oh, you know. All this stuff with Thanos got me thinking. Life's too short isn't it? I don't want any more regrets. Being an Avenger is risky business."
Her words hung in the air like a thick fog. Carrying with them an ominous, foreboding finality.
Then suddenly Thor turned to Loki, his deep blue eyes glazing with emotion. "I owe you an apology, Loki."
"Do you?" He clenched his jaw slightly.
"Yes, so at least have the good grace not to mock me when I'm trying to apologise."
"Very well. I'm listening."
Thor sucked in a deep breath, swallowing against the tightness in his throat. "Darcy was right to reprimand me. I ought to have asked what happened to you after you fell from the bifrost."
Shifting slightly to rest his weight on one leg, Loki's demeanour suggested he found the topic stiflingly uncomfortable, and Thor's honest remorsefulness, disconcerting. "Yes well. You've always been staggeringly ignorant." The sharp humour in his voice dispersed, as he placed a hand on his brothers' shoulder, and managed to muster a genuine, heart-warming smile. "Apology accepted."
Beaming, the God of Thunder pulled Loki into an unexpected, spine-cracking hug. "I know mother will be proud of the risk you intend to take, the potential sacrifice. And it will be an honour to fight by your side once again." At that he released him just as quickly, then clapped him so hard on the back Darcy was sure she saw Loki's eyes bulge. "Now, go. I'm sure you are eager to get to bed....I mean, because you are tired. The hour is late."
Darcy felt herself blush slightly, but when Jane met her eyes she gave her friend a conspiratorial wink, which made Jane blush much more fiercely than Darcy ever had.
A few minutes later and Darcy found herself in Loki's room, and this time she could fully appreciate the abstract splendour of it. Taking the time to browse the shelves that groaned under the vast weight of books, and admire the unfathomable, organised neatness of it all.
"I'm going to shower." Loki informed her, as he began stripping out of his many layers of metal and leather. "Make yourself comfortable."
There was a detectable twinkle in his eyes, knowing full well how shedding his garments effected her. Her pulse began to race, and she struggled to swallow as the breath caught in her throat. Grinning like a fox, he padded into the bathroom enticingly naked, and it took everything in her to refrain from following.
Sweet holy mother of Jesus.
But no, she had to resist. If not only to just prove to him as well as herself that she still possessed a fraction of self-control. So instead she slipped out of her own clothes, until she was wearing nothing but her pants and the T.shirt she'd thrown on under her sweater to add an extra layer of warmth.
When Loki emerged like a glistening angel, hair dripping and a towel wrapped around his slinky hips, he found her sitting cross-legged on his large bed, marvelling at a set of precious little gems she'd found on his bedside table.
"These are beautiful. I hope you don't mind me looking at them?" She said, holding them carefully in one small palm, as she picked each one up in turn to examine it. "What are they?"
Loki's eyes darkened. "They're rune stones. My mother gave them to me." He said not sounding entirely happy.
Darcy felt a pang of instant regret. "Oh, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have touched them." She took great care to slip each one back into the small velvet pouch, but then he joined her on the bed, and clasped his hand gently around hers as she still held the bag.
"No it's....it's fine. I'm not angry. They're just very precious to me and...."
"Loki, it's okay I get it. Of course they're important to you--"
"As are you." He blurted. "You're also very precious to me, Darcy."
Smiling dreamily she reached out to tuck a lock of wet hair back behind his ear. "Wow. You're such a sweetheart sometimes, space boy."
To her confusion he didn't smile in return. Instead his eyes traversed her face, as if trying to read her thoughts again. "I'm being serious now. I want you to know that I appreciate you having defended me. Not that I need anyone to defend me of course, but it was moving nonetheless and I thank you for it."
"Hey, of course I'm going to do that. Look at how you stood up to Greg for me when you sent him that text. I think I pretty much decided in that moment that I wanted to have your babies."
Loki looked comically shocked, his dark brows arching almost into orbit.
"Chill out, that was a joke. It's just something we humans say when we fall for someone pretty hard." She clarified quickly, unable to suppress a giggle.
The crease in his brow softened, as he visibly relaxed. But then a thought occurred to her....but perhaps now wasn't the best time, was it?
"Actually....about that." She ventured, trying to sound as blasé as possible. "Just out of curiosity.....what are the odds of a space boy like yourself getting an earth girl like me, um, pregnant?"
The crease was back now on his forehead, as his brows knitted together. "They're actually alarmingly high. Apparently Jotuns are renown for being exceptionally fertile. But I presumed that you'd be taking necessary precautions, seeing as you were involved with a man already."
She made a pained face. "Yeah, usually I do--"
"Usually?"
"Yeah I take a pill everyday but....well, I haven't while we've been away."
"I thought your methods of contraception were more advanced here now!" He exclaimed, shaking his head in disbelief. "Are there not implants and injections available--?"
"Yes but not every woman wants that." She told him defensively. "I'm sorry L, it totally went out of my head. But you shouldn't have been so presumptuous either!"
Rubbing his face with his large hands, she watched as his shoulders sagged in apparent dismay. Shit. She really shouldn't have said anything. Oddly, the idea of him being stricken at the prospect of fatherhood bothered her more than the actual idea of her being pregnant.
"I'm not completely horrified by the notion of fathering a child." He said eventually, his tone laced with unmistakable sorrow. "It's just unfortunate timing."
He leaned back against the headboard, and she twisted herself around to face him. "You mean because we haven't been together very long?"
"No. I am referring to Thanos. He could arrive at any moment, and...." He faltered, pausing to collect his thoughts before giving voice to what he wanted to say next. And what he said made her blood turn icy cold. ".....we don't know how much time we have left together."
Darcy sat up straight, heart instantly hammering in her chest. "Don't talk like that, Loki. You're not going anywhere."
"When the time comes I'm going to have to."
She absently began chewing on her bottom lip furiously, an action which always betrayed her nervous anxiety. "Okay so you'll have to fight with the others, but what I mean is you're not going anywhere. You're not going to....to die."
"Darcy, we must be prepared for every possible outcome. Regardless of how bleak it may be."
"No! You won't die! You guys will come up with something and you'll beat Thanos, and then you'll be safe. There's a whole bunch of superheroes, and you and Thor, you're frickin' Gods! You'll kick that bastard's butt together. You have a plan--"
"Yes we do, which involves us fighting the mad Titan in the mirror dimension. Damage limitation, you see. If we are fortunate then we may be able to trap him there....long enough to slay him."
Darcy was breathing rapid now. It sounded like an excellent strategy, but her instincts could sense there was a 'but' coming real soon. And she knew damn well that she wouldn't like it.
"And?" She urged, the anticipation pushing her beyond the limits of patience, and even sanity.
"And in order to lure him there....like with any trap, bait is a necessity--"
"Please tell me you mean the infinity stone thingies. Please tell me you're talking about using them, and not you!"
"I mean both I'm afraid."
"Why? Why Loki? Why do you need to be the one to lure him?" She yelled in anguish, her stomach lurched violently.
"Because he still has unfinished business with me. It's natural that I be the one to volunteer--"
"Volunteer? For fucks sake, Loki! What are you some sort of sacrifice? An offering? You're crazy!"
"Possibly."
"There's no possibly about it. And when was this decided? Did you suggest this whilst I was out of the room?"
He raised remorseful eyes to hers, and her temper erupted like a volcano. But instead of spewing out molten lava, in her case it was hurtful accusations and hateful words. "Did you deliberately send me out to make fucking coffee so you could discuss this? You fucking manipulative, sly asshole! I can't let you do it. I won't!"
He scowled at her. "I'm not asking for your permission. What I need is your support!"
"But what if you die?" She wailed, and suddenly she was like a woman possessed by a malevolent spirit. Her small hands raining blows against his bare chest as she was overwrought by frustration, anger and plain old fashioned fear.
The fear of losing him.
"Darcy, Darcy enough!" His long fingers clamped around her dainty wrists, and he pulled her into him, his arms encircling her tightly.
She ceased struggling and collapsed against him, her body softening like butter in his embrace. Then she found herself sobbing uncontrollably, as he shushed and rocked her soothingly.
"What would I do without you?" She whimpered, closing her eyes tightly shut. Hoping this was all some terrible nightmare that she'd soon wake from. "I can't lose you, Loki. I just can't."
"And I shall do whatever it takes in order to avoid that from happening, my love."
Her eyes snapped open of their own accord, as she realised what he'd just called her. "Did you just say....my love?" She asked, voice audibly shaky.
He stilled. "I did. What of it?"
"Well, was that like just a figure of speech? Or does it mean that you--?"
"Yes, Darcy. I love you." He said stiffly. "Please don't make a fuss over it."
"I don't mean to, it's just....I didn't think you actually....holy shit....and it's so weird hearing you say it." She babbled, sniffing loudly.
"Yes well. I've come to realise it does more harm to leave such things left unsaid. And one must do so whilst they have the chance."
His heartfelt proclamation was as painful as it was a comfort. She wept silently in his arms for several minutes, until he succeeded in convincing her that to succumb to melancholy would be an unforgivable waste of emotion and time.
As Thor had pointed out, there was no telling when Thanos would arrive, and they couldn't spend every waking hour in constant dread or floods of tears.
What they had to do was accept their current circumstances for what they were, and make the most of each moment.
Unable -- or perhaps reluctant -- to sleep, Loki indulged Darcy by reading aloud to her from a book of poetry. His divine voice was calming, and she found that being curled against his sinewy, naked body could be just as relaxing as it was arousing. He lay beneath the covers on his back, propped against his pillows, one arm draped lovingly around her shoulder as she cuddled up next to him, resting her head on his chest.
At some point she must've dozed off for awhile, her sore eyes which were puffy from all the excessive crying, blinked open just as it was coming light out. At first she thought Loki had drifted off too, but then she felt him stir, as he tenderly stroked her hair.
He had stayed awake, holding her.
Drawn by the silky warmth of his body, she caressed his chest and stomach, tracing each well-defined abdominal muscle.
Their affectionate ministrations progressively became more heated, and inevitably escalated to intimate touching, culminating in a blissful, languid bout of lovemaking.
Darcy wasn't fully awake, and Loki himself was ironically half-asleep. But as he rolled over lazily and pulled her beneath him, their exhaustion was soon forgotten.
"Mm...shall we make babies, love?" He purred, tucking his face into the crook of her neck and kissing it with exquisite sensuality.
Okay, so this seemed like an impulsive, reckless, irresponsible proposition as neither party were awake or lucid enough to make such an enormous life-altering decision.
But instead of pushing him away or dismissing his suggestion as preposterous, Darcy welcomed it.
"For real?" She smiled sleepily, fingers tousling in his raven locks.
He hesitated for only a split second, but still she felt the fleeting pause. As though he was giving her time to reconsider and object. "Does this feel real enough for you?"
She squealed, then gasped loudly as his morning erection seemed to find entrance into her body of it's own accord, until he was sheathed up to the hilt.
"Hell yeah. You....aaah, God....you did say if you made me pregnant I'd definitely know about it."
"Precisely."
Her arms threaded beneath his, and she parted her legs further, wrapping them around his slender waist, trapping him against her as the weight of his luscious body pressed her into the mattress. She held onto him like she wanted to absorb him, until it felt as if he'd become a part of her, until she felt powerless to let go even if she had wanted to or tried.
Keening, and trembling, she writhed beneath him as he completed the act with a series of slow, determined, rocking thrusts which ended in a simultaneous, glorious, shuddering orgasm for them both.
Darcy's nails sunk into his soft, ivory flesh, back bowing and arching up off the bed as the sensation engulfed her. This climax was deeper somehow, erupting magnificently slowly from deep inside, filtering outwards until she felt it in her very bones, seemingly lasting for minutes rather than moments, which was utterly sublime.
"I apologise unreservedly for my poor performance." He said hoarsely, as soon as his breathing steadied. "I am rather tired."
"Poor performance! You're kidding, right?" She panted, as he carefully lifted himself from her. "That was....well, there are no words. It was like ten frickin' orgasms all rolled into one! I shit you not, it was that intense, let's put it that way."
Loki rolled his eyes but grinned. "Hold me." He commanded sleepily, as he turned onto his side
And she readily agreed. More than happy to forgive his peremptory tone, because what he was asking was so unexpected and disarmingly sweet.
She snaked an arm around his middle, and he fell into an almost immediate peaceful slumber. Darcy lay awake behind him for awhile, taking in everything, memorising every little detail. The long, elegant sweep of his spine, the way his black hair curled where it rested on his broad shoulders. She wanted to take a photograph with her mind, and to hold him in her memory, forgetting there was ever anything but him.
Loki was far from perfect, but he was perfection to her in every sense of the word.
He was more than a extraterrestrial. More than a trickster. More than a God even.
He was the man she loved.
A man who thoroughly deserved to be loved, and wanted it now that he realised he could be.
A man who loved her in return.
A man who alleged that he wanted to fight for her world in order to keep her safe, even though he knew what was at stake.
A man who had (if not before, then perhaps now) quite possibly just impregnated her.
Well, there was definitely no way she'd stand for any harm coming to him now. Even if it meant kicking Thanos' sorry-ass herself.
Because as her scientific studies had taught her......hell hath no fury like a hormone-imbalanced, expectant mom.
THE END