Chapter 2

Darcy Lewis had no idea how she came to be in the same cell as the God of Mischief yet here she was staring at the god that had tried to take over her world. She had to admit he was rather good looking. What with his jet black hair that hung down to his shoulders in soft waves, his piercing green eyes that reminded her of a cat. She wasn't sure how tall he was but if she compared him to his brother then he had to be at least as tall as Thor. He was lean and not as muscular as his brother which she found she liked. He was the embodiment of the cliche Tall, Dark and Handsome. She wondered silently what his lips were like and if SHIELD would allow her to remove the muzzle they had placed on him or not. It certainly would make talking to him easier.

Loki was also staring at the woman they had brought into his cell. He couldn't quite believe that it was her though. The woman that had haunted his dreams from the moment he had seen her through the eyes of the Destroyer. The woman that he had found he wanted with every fiber of his being, even if she was mortal. She was the reason he had come to Midgard in the first place. It was not only the tesseract that had drawn him to the mortal world. Even though he had been possessed by the mind control of the Chitari, he had known that Midgard was the place he wanted to rule, because of her. He wanted to posses her completely and wouldn't be happy until she pledged herelf to him in every way possible. He knew the only thing that had kept him even slightly sane, while being controled by the tesseract, had been her image in his head.

Ever since he had seen her through the eyes of the destroyer when trying to kill his brother, he knew that she was the one he wanted to have at his side as his queen. He liked her spark, her fire and even her snide comments that were directed at him not more than a few minuters before. She could match him word for word without backing down and he liked that about her. She may have been a mortal but she was different from the others. He had planned to take over the realm and make her, as an alliance between himself and the realm he had wished to rule, his queen. Her beauty alone was enough to lure him. Now his plan had been ruined and all because of those pesky Avengers.

"Loki," she said his name with just a slight hitch in her voice. "I'm going to remove that damn muzzle. It's impossible to have a decent conversation with someone when it is only one sided. I don't care if it gets me in trouble. Just don't kill me okay."

He waited as she removed the offending thing from his face and then proceeded to un-cuff his hands as well, completely freeing him from all his bonds.

"Thank you," was all he said as she returned to her chair.

"You are welcome, but just so you know you try anything I will taze your ass," she threatened as she placed her tazer on stun so it would be ready if he did try anything.

He had heard tales of her tazing his brother when he first came to Midgard and had no doubt that she would follow through with her threat.

"Lady Darcy, you won't need that thing, besides it won't do any good," he stated using the title she would have been given had she lived on Asgard.

"It's just Darcy, Loki. I am no Lady."

"Very well then Darcy," he began then continued, "Why have they sent you to me?"

"Now that is something I myself would like to know, Loki. All I know is they brought me here and told me that I was to keep you company indefinitely. Why, I do not know they wouldn't tell me."

"You are a horrible liar you know," he stated knowingly having seen through the lie she had just told though he knew parts of it were true. They had told her to stay with him indefinitely.

"Fine, oh God of Mischief. Your brother, Thor, told me that I was to make sure that you were comfortable for your stay on Midgard. Apparently, you will be staying for quite some time. I am to stay with you and then as per your father's orders you are to begin the cleanup of the mess you made of New York City. Does that satisfy you your highness?" she asked sarcastically.

She was well aware, she was not supposed to tell Loki of his father's punishment for him but he had goaded her into it, the damn man/god.

Loki was surprised by the fact that he would not be returning to Asgard. At least not at the current moment and wondered why. What could have happened to lead Odin into leaving him on Midgard as his punishment? Not that he was going to complain about the decision. His plan to get the woman before him to kneel before him in supplication would work so much better if he was here instead of in the realm eternal, in some prison.

"Yes, mortal that does satisfy me," he said, his last thought emerging to the forefront of his mind as he spoke.

"Hey! You can stop with the mortal crap. I may not be a god but I do deserve respect and I will not be looked down upon just because you happened to be born a god and I a mere mortal. Do I make myself clear?"

He looked at her, a smirk finding its way onto his handsome face. Oh yes, he could tell that teasing her was going to become his favorite pastime. He enjoyed seeing her riled up with the way her eyes flashed and her cheeks took on a becoming flush in anger. Yes, he was going to have some fun with this mortal he could tell.

"I am sorry, Darcy. You are right of course."

She wasn't sure if he was playing with her or not but decided to let it go.

Xxxxxx

Meanwhile

Thor was explaining the plan to the Avenger's and it was not going the way he thought it would. He had expected animosity towards Loki, he did after all try to take over their world, but they did not believe that he could be redeemed and by a woman no less.

"And why not a woman?" he asked them "I was redeemed by a woman so it only goes to show that he will too be redeemed by a woman that he has yet to realize he is already in love with."

"This is different Thor, you didn't try to enslave mankind," Fury said.

"No, I tried to destroy an entire race and was banished by my father for it. Loki is just trying to find where he belongs. Ever since finding out his true heritage, he had been angry at our father for keeping it a secret from him. Angry at me for living in my shadow all his life. He feels like and outcast and he wants to feel like he belongs somewhere. Taking over Earth, which is the only realm that does not have a single ruler reigning over the people, was his way of trying to prove himself to our father that he too could be worthy of Asgard's throne. He may have gone about it all wrong but in a way he did prove to father that he could rule though only with the help of his chosen mate. Lady Darcy is his mate. Whether you like it or not she is the one who will essentially save him from himself."

"But he can't know this can he?" Barton asked.

"No, my brother must never find out that the reason he is to remain on Earth is to woo the Lady Darcy. Nor is she to find out either. I have told her that Odin wants him to repair the damage he has done to New York but that is it. She is to stay by his side indefinitely."

"Are you sure he will not harm her?" Steve asked a little worried when they saw that she had removed his bindings.

"No, Lady Darcy is quite capable of defending herself, though I do not think the weapon she carries would do any damage to my brother. But she has a sharp wit and is sarcastic enough to keep Loki on his toes. She isn't going to put up with my brother's pride and if anything she will bring him down a peg or two."

"I guess we shall have to wait and see what happens," Tony said, "The room they are currently in is not very conducive to romance if you ask me. It's barely even furnished."

"And what do you suggest we do Stark? Set them up in their own private apartment?" Fury asked sarcastically.

"Well, yes and no. No, offence director but the room they are in currently would not induce me to anything romantic. I understand that Loki is under house arrest right now but I think that given what Thor has said it would be more feasible to allow the two of them some time alone. Thor is right. Darcy is more than capable of taking care of herself. And from the looks of it, Loki has no intention of hurting her. If anything he looks like he wants to eat her alive, in a purely sexual way, I might add."

"Very well, where should we put them then Stark?" Fury finally asked

"I say in one of the apartments in Stark tower. Jarvis can keep an eye out on them there and so can I."

They all nodded in agreement and so it was decided that they would be moving Darcy and Loki to their own private apartment in Stark Tower the following day.