Earbuds and an iPod were the greatest spy tools ever created. Of this, Darcy Lewis was completely convinced. Sing a few lines of a song out loud enough times, and people will believe you aren't paying attention.

By now, all of New Asgard knew every single word of Darcy's favorite song. And everyone thought she was oblivious.

Including Jane Foster.

Oblivious. That was the word Darcy would apply to Jane these days.

So many things had happened since the Asgardians arrival on Earth. Jane and Thor had sort of rekindled the old flame. Darcy would call it a sympathy fling.

And then, there was the unspoken relationship between Jane and Loki. Darcy would call that one a cosmic entity about to explode.

And that's how the word OBLIVIOUS became a neon sign over Jane's head blinking in God of Mischief green.

Darcy had known for a very long time. They thought she wasn't listening, but she was.

((The First Indication))

Darcy sat at her computer terminal, glancing across the lab to where Loki and Jane were elbow deep in a machine. She sang out a few bars of her favorite song then went silent while bobbing her head to music. She'd turned off her iPod ten minutes ago. There was something interesting going on with her boss and her newest assistant.

"Do you really think she listens to her music so loudly?" Loki inquired while working a piece of equipment to a location here Jane could complete the wiring.

"Yes. She's going to be deaf by the time she's forty," Jane replied.

Darcy ignored them. She wanted them to believe she was deeply involved in listening to anything but the two of them.

"Darcy?" Loki inquired over his shoulder.

The plucky intern-turned-assistant ignored him and continued tapping away on her keyboard.

"I told you," Jane laughed.

"Good, there's something I wanted to speak with you about, but I can never seem to catch you alone."

Darcy dared a quick glance in their direction. The duo were still working. Interesting.

"Yeah, what's that?"

"Thor."

"What about him?"

"You dumped him last time, correct?"

Darcy moved the mouse on her computer as she heard the question. She'd heard Jane drop some kind of tool on the floor.

"Yeah, why?" Jane asked as she recovered quickly.

"Then, why are you involved with him now?" Loki asked bluntly.

'Good question' Darcy thought to herself as she shuffled some papers as if she was looking for something.

Jane must have given him a death glare or something because Loki explained himself.

"You are a great mystery to me. Most of Thor's flings haven't a brain cell between them, and yet you are the most intelligent woman I've ever met," He paused, "Other than my mother, of course."

Jane must have been rendered speechless. Darcy couldn't hear a response at all.

Loki continued on, "So, I find myself surprised that a woman wise enough and intelligent enough to turn Thor's affections away once would look to find herself at the center of his attentions again."

Loki was able to release his part of the contraption they were working on as Darcy could barely make out his movement to crouch on the floor below.

Jane lay on the floor, working overhead. Darcy would have to tease her later that she looked like a mechanic.

"Why are you involved with him again?" Loki asked casually.

"Why are you asking? Brotherly love?" Jane replied tersely.

'Another good question' Darcy thought to herself as she began typing again.

"Perhaps I am looking out for my brother," Loki replied, his tone one of complete sarcasm. Suddenly, his tone became lighter and yet serious, "No, actually, I'm much more interested in you."

Darcy's eyes widened as she looked up to openly behold the scene taking place in front of her.

Jane has dropped her tool. Again. She scrambled from under the machine and stood to her feet, "What did you just say?"

As soon as Jane had stood, Darcy hid behind her computer screen.

"I want to know just what end you seek. You are not enamored with Thor. Not as you were before. Is it Asgardian technology you're after? I assure you it will be made available without you sharing a bed with Thor."

"Who I share a bed with and for what reasons are none of your business," Jane declared before gathering her tools and walking away from Loki. Or at least she tried.

Loki fell into step directly beside her, "A tad sensitive on the subject, aren't you?"

"I'm not having this discussion with you."

"Yes, you are."

A gentle yelp drew Darcy's eyes above the computer screen just long enough to see Loki had not only stepped in Jane's path but was touching her arms.

Darcy fully expected to hear the sound of flesh cracking from a slap or the thud of a punch. Neither came.

Instead, Loki spoke again, "I do not want to see either one of you heartbroken, Jane. I've grown almost fond of you."

Jane grinned sideways, "You almost gave me a compliment."

"Almost? I believe I did several times in this conversation. Did I say you were intelligent? I'm having second thoughts now."

"Oh shut up and let's get back to work," Jane groaned as she turned away from Loki.

That had been the first time Loki and Jane had ignored Darcy's presence, but not the last. And thank heavens, because Darcy was having too much fun following along.

((Subtle As a Bull In A China Shop))

A long night of failed simulations had led Jane to a bottle of coconut rum at sunrise. Which led to day drinking. In the lab. Which led to sitting on the floor leaning against cabinets. For all involved. Which included his royal highness, the God of endless booze.

Darcy had known where the first bottle of rum had come from. Jane always kept one for days like this. The usual limit was one quick shot before Jane would reel herself in, take a nice long shower and pass out for ten hours.

This was much different. Loki had been pouring drinks for a while. Jane was blitzed. And as much as Darcy hated to admit it, she was feeling a subtle buzz herself. When Loki offered to refill her glass, she waved him off.

"Water. I need water!" Darcy groaned.

Loki turned to retrieve a bottle of water from the refrigerator. When he looked upon Darcy again, she was laying back in a peaceful drunken sleep.

Little did he know...Darcy knew the God of Mischief was up to something. And she was determined to find out what it was.

"Jane, would you like another?"

"No..." Jane nodded in direct contradiction to her spoken reply.

Loki chuckled softly, "Perhaps you have had enough."

"Have you been drinking at all?" She groaned as she noticed how normal he seemed.

"Yes, but Human alcohols do not affect me."

"That's..." Jane trailed off before adding, "Sad."

"I suppose you could look at it that way," Loki's reply was a subtle laugh.

That smug bastard had gotten Jane and Darcy drunk intentionally. Darcy would never be able to prove it. But she had a hunch.

"Jane, I need to ask you something."

"Nothing about Thor. Please. I really do not want to talk about him."

"Trouble in paradise?"

Jane groaned. Darcy was fairly certain she heard a soft belch. Not good.

"Loki," Jane pled, "I really can't talk about this with you."

"Why not? Of all people, I know him best. If there is something troubling you, perhaps I can offer some advice or assistance."

Darcy would have rolled her eyes at his overly chivalrous proposal...if only she wasn't supposed to be unconscious.

"It's just..." Jane slurred her speech, "He's a good man. A really good man. That's so rare. He's just...he..." She groaned, "He's...he's..."

"What is he?"

"Boring. A total Jock. Not my type. I should have known better," Jane rambled before drinking what remained in her glass.

"Are you saying you are having second thoughts about your renewed romance with Thor?" Loki asked innocently.

"I did not say that," She muttered while lightly dropping her glass to the floor where it spun in a circle to her amusement.

"You said he is not your type. What is your type?"

Darcy wanted to grin to herself. So...the God of Mischief was fishing for information. With Jane in her current condition, he was likely to get whatever answers he wanted. Though probably not the answers he expected.

"I have no idea any more," Jane replied honestly.

"Then, you have to ask yourself 'what makes me happy' and go from there, I suppose."

Darcy wondered when Loki had started watching Dr. Phil. She'd ask him later. Or just hack his tablet and find out what else he'd been watching.

An eerie silence pervaded the room. Darcy wondered if Jane had passed out too. She blinked her eyes quickly, only to get a glimpse of Jane and Loki staring at each other.

If Darcy heard anything that sounded remotely like a kiss, she was ready to vomit all over the God of Mischief. No way she was gonna let Jane get taken advantage of...even if it was probably what Jane wanted and exactly what she needed. Darcy would let sober oblivious Jane do whatever she wanted. Drunken, sickeningly sweet Jane, however, was a no fly zone.

"What would make you happy?" Jane asked timidly.

Darcy inwardly squealed at Jane's question. 'Finally'

"I believe you should answer the question first," Loki replied.

'Nice deflection' Darcy sank further into her corner of the cabinets without giving any indication she wasn't sleeping.

"We answer together," Jane announced happily, "Like a game. I answer and you follow immediately."

"Just this one question? Not much of a game," Loki answered simply.

Darcy saw it for what it was. Loki was dragging Jane into a game of Truth or Dare...the only Dare being to play a game of Truth with the God of Lies. She wanted to smack him already.

"Fine. I'll ask a question. Then you ask a question. How's that?" Jane relented.

"Fair enough," Loki's voice rang with a smile, "So, answer the question."

Jane was silent for a brief moment, "What was the question again?"

Loki's chuckle permeated the words, "What would make you happy?"

A pause then Jane answered, "Science makes me happy."

"Magic makes me happy."

"But that's not really the question, now is it? What kind of partner would make you happy?" Jane followed quickly, her words stumbling over themselves.

"I thought I got to ask a question now."

"Yeah well, sue me. Answer the question."

"You answer that same question first."

Loki was daring Jane again. And poor oblivious Jane couldn't help herself.

"Someone who could do more than talk about battles and fights. It's not that Thor isn't intelligent. He just doesn't really value that intelligence nor does he appreciate it in others."

Darcy could practically hear Loki's smile grow upon his lips as Jane continued.

"It's like he thinks my work either isn't important or he doesn't even think about my work at all. All he cares about is what he's doing with the training of New Asgardian Warriors and what he's doing with the Avengers. He never asks about anything important to me," Jane sighed heavily, "Not like you do. He doesn't have conversations with me the way you do. You listen and then reply. I feel like every time Thor speaks to me nowadays he's already formed his reply before I ever started to speak."

Darcy was sure she heard Loki's smile break his face...especially when she heard him clear his throat in order to speak.

"He's never been known as a good listener. He prefers to act, often foolishly and rashly."

"But you," Jane was slowly nodding off, "You..."

"Jane?"

Loki must have nudged her or something because Jane began speaking again, "You are...so different than Thor."

"Noticed that, did you?" His voice full of amusement, "In a good way or a bad way?"

"Oh it's a good way," Jane slurred as she slowly lost consciousness, "Someone like you."

"Excuse me?" Loki asked, clearly not ready to end the conversation, "Jane...what about someone like me?"

"My type. It's more someone like you," Jane mumbled in a barely audible utterance.

"Jane? Jane?!" Loki sighed before speaking to himself, "Well, you won't get to hear my answer, Dear Jane."

Darcy opened one eye to see Loki had lifted an unconscious Jane in his arms and was carrying her to the lab's cushy sofa. She heard him finish his thought however.

"You are my type too," Loki had said.

Darcy waited for the fallout of the day drinking episode. It never came. Either Jane remembered nothing at all. Or Loki was a glutton for punishment. Or it was both.

Either way, one week later, Darcy became witness to a whole new side of Jane Foster she'd never seen before.

((The Little Green Monster))

Darcy sat with Jane on the balcony overlooking the Palace Gardens of New Asgard. Jane had demanded they have lunch there which was odd...especially they'd never eaten outside the lab for lunch since they'd arrived.

Jane kept looking around the gardens and doing a horrible job trying to hide it.

"I could help, you know," Darcy offered while pushing pieces of grilled chicken around her salad bowl with a fork.

"What?!" Jane asked in surprise.

"Jane, you can't hide anything from me. Haven't we established that?"

"I have no idea what you are talking about," The genius astrophysicist stammered before taking a gulp of water.

"Yeah right," Darcy rolled her eyes and sat back in her chair, "Please tell me even you aren't that oblivious!"

Jane started to reply but cut herself off. She instead deflected by way of insult, "Been reading the dictionary? Or did you discover a thesaurus?"

Yep. Jane had been spending entirely too much time with Prince Sassypants.

Then, Darcy had an idea. She snapped her fingers, "You're not oblivious. You are in denial."

Darcy had seen this guilty look every time Jane had eaten the last pop tart without putting it on the grocery list. The assistant had caught the scientist red handed.

"Well, well," Darcy continued, "How long have you known?"

"I don't know what you..." Jane trailed off and fell silent as her attention was drawn to the gardens below.

Darcy followed Jane's line of sight. Loki led an Asgardian woman through the gardens to a marble bench amongst an arbor of flowers.

Darcy glanced back to Jane who looked both heartbroken and enraged.

"Who is she?" Jane asked through clenched teeth.

Darcy grinned, "Jealous?"

"No!" Jane was clearly lying through her perfect teeth.

"Really? Because I know jealous. I practically invented jealous."

"I am NOT jealous!"

"Sounds like you're jealous."

"Darcy," Jane growled.

"Jane!" Darcy declared firmly, "We are having lunch somewhere other than the lab. You've been looking for someone in the gardens since we got here. And when you finally see what you were afraid you were going to see, you are pissed off. That sounds like stalking followed by jealousy."

From the look on Jane's face, Darcy had practically slapped her boss with the truth.

Jane looked back to the gardens and saw this blonde Asgardian woman fawning all over Loki. She cringed as she looked back to her barely touched food.

"This is bad," Jane sighed to herself, "What do I do?"

"Dump Thor for starters," Darcy offered, "You two are only together out of familiarity. He needed someone to console him over Asgard and you felt bad over all he'd lost. It happens. But don't force something that was never really there, Jane."

"But this..."

"You fell for his brother. Big deal. Also happens all the time."

"But Loki...and what he did to Erik..."

"He's explained he wasn't in control either. What part of Loki isn't a real villain did you not get? He's definitely a big mess of chaos, but he's not all bad either."

"Are you actually being Loki's cheerleader?"

"Maybe a little. He makes you laugh Jane. And I've never seen anyone but Erik who can keep up with your scientific mumbo jumbo the way Loki can. You are good for him, and he for you."

"This is ridiculous," Jane groaned as she dropped her face in her hands, "I can't believe I'm even thinking this..."

"I believe it's more what you're feeling instead of thinking, Babe. This isn't a time for that genius brain to work, but your heart."

Jane glanced back to the gardens and saw Loki and the Asgardian woman engaged in a passionate kiss.

Jane groaned in frustration as she stood and walked back into the palace.

Darcy watched as Loki's illusion faded. He turned and was surprised to still see Darcy seated on the balcony.

"You are so busted," Darcy called out.

Loki smiled as he approached the balcony, "As are you. You don't think I can tell you've been spying?"

She shrugged, glancing down to him, "What if I tell Jane this was all for show?"

"You won't."

Darcy felt dared. Of course he was right. She wasn't going to tell Jane anything. It was too much fun watching Jane trying to figure this all out.

"You're right. I won't. But I swear...if you hurt her...I'll find a way and I will kill you."

Loki nodded, "Fair enough."

Darcy shook her head with a grin. This wasn't over. Not by a long shot.