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The flight back to New York was tense. Darcy kept her earbuds in and ignored the group. Loki was watching a movie and slyly texting Banner and Pepper. Jane was in the back of the jet refusing to talk to Thor. Thor was drinking with Tony and Clint. Steve was sleeping next to Maria. Natasha was trying to figure out how to stay out of the whole ordeal.
Once on land Loki grabbed Darcy's bag and led her to his car. "You have a Jag?" she shrieked.
He laughed as he opened her door, "What do you drive?"
She shrugged, "The subway."
A new car was added to his mental list. He started the car and they left for home. "So what do you expect?" he asked.
She closed her eyes and sighed. "I guess going online and seeing a way out of this. Surely a lawyer would take my case."
He rolled his eyes, "And what excuse will you give? I was sooooooo drunk that I accepted a bet to get married. Not to mention that my opponent would have lost his dwelling to me if he lost. That should work."
She choked back a laugh that almost turned into a sob, "You don't have to be so sarcastic. I would find a way."
"How would you pay for it?"
"Savings and tax refund," she responded lamely.
"Oh really. Please how do you plan on paying off your credit cards?"
"How do you know so much about my finances anyways?"
He smirked, "I have my ways. And don't forget about your student loans."
"If you weren't driving, I'd punch the crap out of you."
"Here we are," he announced.
"Where are we?" she asked.
"Our new town home," he smiled. "I wanted to surprise you. I have a few calls to make. Enjoy."
She took the key he tossed her and stepped out of the car in surprise. He bought her house? She sighed to herself. Why did he have to bring up her debt. She wasn't a shopper. She just finally got a mildly decent paying job. Her credit card debt was mainly bills. Those student loans. She rubbed her eyes. Living the life of lower middle class sucked. Her parents didn't make enough to pay for education, but she didn't qualify for financial aid. Way to kick her while she was down. She turned the key and gasped in surprise.
The vaulted ceilings accented the large living room with a fireplace. She walked around in a daze. The kitchen was state of the art and huge. There was a library, three guest bedrooms, and two bathrooms. The master suite was gorgeous. The colors were green and gold, but so well combined. The bed was the biggest she had ever seen. There were His and Hers walk in closets. She noticed that her belongings had already been moved. The bathroom had a sunken tub and shower that rivaled the hotel's.
Silently he watched her reaction. He wanted her to like it so much. Quietly he slipped his arms around her waist, "Welcome home," he whispered.
She gasped, but let herself melt into his arms, "Its everything I ever dreamed of."
"I was hoping you would say that."
"What happened to you apartment?"
He shrugged, "I gave it to Steve. I figured he would need something larger when he moved in with Maria."
"Just gave it to him?" she asked confused.
"Sweetie you need to understand something. I know this will be very hard for you to wrap your mind around. The apartment was worth nothing to me. The value of that place is less than the limit on some of my credit cards."
"That place was easily worth over three hundred thousand dollars! Maybe more!" she gasped.
"Let me take a shower and we can talk."
"I could use one," she sighed.
"You could always join me," he asked with a devilish grin.
"I think I'll use one of the guest bathrooms."
He pulled his shirt off and winked, "Suit yourself."
She groaned and went off in search of her clothes.
After a refreshing shower she went in search of Loki. She found him cooking in the kitchen, "You are rich and you cook? Stop being so damn perfect," she groaned.
He grinned, "Don't forget I'm a god, royalty, and amazing in the bedroom. Aren't you glad you married me?"
She laughed as he leaned over and kissed her cheek. "Whatcha making?"
"Curry," he replied.
"I love curry," she sighed.
"Good," he replied. "Do you want to eat in the dining room or the family room?"
"Family room," she said as she opened the fridge looking for a soda.
"I have wine or a mango juice spritzer."
"You had me at mango," she laughed.
She sat at the bar and watched him cook, "What made you take up cooking. I'm sure you never had to do this on Asgard."
He shrugged, "It was this or spend more time in my office. I found it relaxing. It reminds me of mixing potions."
"What is the extent of your magic?" she asked curiously.
"He smiled and refilled her drink by looking at it, "Extensive."
"Oh shit dude!" she exclaimed.
He ruffled her hair, "Dinner is ready."
She sat on the couch and took in the setting. Loki was wearing dark green plaid pajama pants and a tight black t-shirt. She let a slight moan escape her lips. Damn it.
He raised an eyebrow, "Do I want to know what is going on your mind?"
She felt her cheeks turn red, "No."
He patted a spot on the floor, "Come down here. This is a conversation I would rather have in a more shall we say friendly environment."
She slid off the couch and sat on a pillow. Taking a bite of the curry she let out a groan, "god this is amazing!
He beamed, "I'm so glad you like it." He took a deep breath, "Ok. You can ask me anything."
"What is your net worth?"
He scrunched up his brow, "Not exactly sure. I guess somewhere around twelve or thirteen billion. I could be off by a bit."
Darcy coughed and took a swig of her juice, "Did you just say twelve fucking billion dollars?"
He sipped his drink, "Yes. Some of it was investments while I was looking for the tessarat, some a pay off from SHIELD and the rest from working for Tony."
"Why investments while looking for the tessarat?"
"I was planning on setting up my monarchy on Midgard. I knew that I would need to understand how finances worked and have some of my own. There is no such thing as a poor monarch."
"Wow. Just wow. So are you upset the tessarat thing never worked out?"
"I was originally," he sighed. "Now I am glad it worked out the way it did."
She paused. She needed to know. "Why me?"
"Do you want the quip 'Why not you'?"
"I want the truth."
"When I was ruling as Odin I often went to visit Hemidal. I was able to check in on Thor and insure he was oblivious to my trickery. One evening I saw Thor mediating a fight between you and Ian. It was painfully obvious that your lover had cheated. I felt so sure you were going to spurn his lame attempts of apology. You accepted him. It bothered me. Why would a seemingly independent woman take back a man who was so oblivious to the treasure he had. It bothered me. I would use Thor as an excuse to watch you. It didn't take much for Hemidal to realize I was not the mourning king. Thankfully he kept silent. For a year I watched you. I became attached to you. You had such a unique beauty. You were never perfect and very unaplogetic about it. I found you captivating. I could not understand why I was so blinded by your beauty. Finally Hemidall confronted me. After I assured him that Odin was just asleep, he encouraged me to make a new life for myself. I have never expressed my gratitude to him. I gathered my courage and woke up Odin."
"Was he pissed?"
"That was putting it mildly. It took Volstagg, Fandral, and even Lady Sif speaking on my behalf to calm Odin down. Hemidall suggested sending me to Midgard to do some good. Thor was thrilled at my being alive. He told Odin it was my best trick yet. I think the true forgiveness of Thor is what finally melted Odin's heart."
"When did you decide you wanted to marry me?"
"After your final break up with Ian." He ran his fingers through his hair, "You were so sad. I tried to comfort you, but you wouldn't listen to me."
"Did you send me the daisies?" she interrupted. She recalled a beautiful vase of daisies had arrived on her desk a few day after her break up. She thought it had been Ian or Jane.
He nodded, "I knew you liked them. I thought they would make you smile again. Do you remember the first time we met?"
She furrowed her brow, "Was it at Jane's place?"
He laughed, "It was at Stark Industry. I had an appointment with Tony and Pepper."
"You were that rude asshole who wouldn't wait!" she shrieked remembering that afternoon.
"I was running behind schedule. You were trying to make me late," he smirked.
Darcy laughed as she recalled the tall attractive man sail past her reception desk. She tried to stop him and he gave a once over and kept walking. He barged right into Pepper's office like he owned it. "You caused me much aggravation that day," she remarked.
"Allow me to offer my sincerest apologies," he drawled.
"So I broke up with Ian six months ago and you plotted the demise of my singlehood. So you got what you wanted. Why buy this house? It looks like you are trying to plan a family without the sex."
He chuckled, "I already told you. We will make love when you are ready. You are not. I am enjoying getting to know you."
"But you still want to share a bed with me?"
"Oh sweet Darcy. You have no idea how lovely it is to wake up with you in my arms."
"So where do we go from here?"
"Define here?"
"Like the annulment or divorce. What happens next. I have a job and bills to pay."
"An annulment will not be happening. If you choose to file for divorce I will use every legal loophole to keep it out of the courts. As for you job, you may continue if you wish. I have no desire to see you unhappy. Your debts have all been paid. Your student loan company should be sending you a paid in full notice soon."
"You paid off my student loans?" she asked flabbergasted. "I owed like eighty grand on them."
He smirked, "Need we rehash my financial assets?"
With a shriek she tackled him and kissed him full on the lips, "Thank you."
He gave a contented sigh and kissed her back, "I told you. There is nothing I wouldn't do for you."
She sat up a bit self-conscious, "I should probably go to bed."
"Why?" he asked.
"Well I have to go to work…" her voice trailed off. She tried to discreetly get off of him, but he held onto her.
"Pepper gave you the next two weeks off. Why don't we turn on the fire and play a game of cards?"
"And what will we bet this time? Sexual favors?"
"Vacations, cars, massages. There is no limit to what we can bet on."
"Does Thor have as much money as you?"
"Oh god no!" Loki laughed. "Now Thor is wealthy and well paid in his own right. He risk his life daily caring for this realm. But to directly answer your question, he does not have the knack for financial gain as I do. I have studied your stock market, banks, and other forms of financial opportunities."
"So will the IRS be auditing us?"
He rolled his eyes, "They do every year. I swear Coulson put them up to it. Pay back for attempted murder. You would think the vacation home in Jamaica I bought him would have been sufficient."
"You were an asshole," she informed him as she disappeared into the kitchen.
"I saved your best friend's life," he countered as he trailed her.
"Oh yeah thanks," she smirked as she punched him in the shoulder.
"Where's the ice cream?" she whined.
"I have whip cream," he replied innocently.
"Fuck you," she snapped.
He pulled her to him, "With pleasure."
She let herself relax in his embrace. Everything about him was so perfect. Almost too perfect.
"So what's the catch?" she asked.
"Hmm…" he muttered as he began exploring her neck.
"You are almost too perfect. What's the catch?"
"You mean my bad traits?" he hummed into her throat.
She groaned, "Yes those."
"Well," he purred as he nibbled his way up to her ear. "I'm am horribly jealous. I have a very quick temper. I am prone to using tricks and manipulation to get my way. And I spend more time staring at your beautiful breast than at your eyes."
She laughed, "Ok fair enough. Now stop seducing and find me some ice cream. I know you have some."
"But you taste so much better," he whined.
"Move it mister."
He sighed, "Only if you play cards with me."
She rolled her eyes, "Fine."
Darcy went to bed very content. She ate a huge helping of chocolate malted crunch ice cream, and won a vacation to London. Loki also owed her 2 massages and a shopping trip.
Loki smirked as he cuddled Darcy to his chest. Tonight had been perfect. He won the right to plan their honeymoon. He also got to pick out her car. She had been wanting a Jetta. He figured an Audi would suit her better. He kissed the top of her head and drifted off to sleep.
Author's Note: I know there is some concern about Darcy being so accepting of her situation. There will be fireworks in the next few chapters. She is overwhelmed and exhausted. Loki is like her security blanket. She will figure out what she wants on her own.
