A/N: You will not enjoy this. That is your only warning.
Linear Nonthreshold
Chapter 1
Loki blinked, letting his eyes adjust to the dim light of the room. A pale glow seeped in from under the door, keeping the cold dark away and creating only a few shadows in the sparse space. The quiet beeping lullaby still played softly, its melody ever-present. He rubbed the tired from his eyes and stood, letting his muscles stretch, having been too long in the vinyl padded lounger. He walked to the window, his eyes following the flashes of lightning that peppered the night sky, coloring the invisible clouds lavender. A storm had already come and gone; perhaps another was brewing in the distance? Loki sighed a breath and returned to his place next to the sleeping figure.
Darcy's hand was warm and soft in his and he let his fingers memorize every detail of the skin there. A small pinch knitted his brow at the sight of the plastic tubing that looped and trailed up to the head of the bed. He couldn't stay mad at it long. He was selfish and it kept her here with him for just a little longer. A fingertip smoothed over her fingernails, the glittered green still fresh and unchipped, a sign of his meticulous perfection.
Loki's eyes caught movement from the slit of light under the door. A shadow was stopped and lingering. Had they come to disturb the still of the room again? As they so often did every few hours. When the door opened, he knew they had not.
Midgardian in attire but Asgardian in posture, Thor Odinson blocked nearly as much light as the closed door had, but what light he did not block poured into every crevasse of the small room and Loki squinted at the intrusion. The first born prince looked to his exiled brother, then to the very mortal form tucked in the bed beside him. When Thor spoke, Loki felt as if the air had been pulled from his lungs. He wanted to rage against his brother's words. Instead, he calmly stood and called for a nurse. Tonight would be Darcy's last night in a hospital. He was taking her home.
Author's Note: Just to let everyone know, this will be a multi-chapter story. I'm taking some creative license with the content but mixing that with personal experiences and professional knowledge. As always, feel free to leave a comment or PM me.