IV.
Darcy was not amused. Her eyes refused to leave the mischievous god, as he stood leaning against the bedroom door with a look of boredom stretching across his sharp features. Thor acted as a buffer between them—sitting at the foot of her bed, while she sat opposite of him. She didn't know what was going on, but all she knew was that Loki was suppose to be dead. At least, that is what she had been told months ago.
The brunette sat with a pillow on her lap, letting the warmth from it pacify her uneasy stomach for the time being. She hated the fact that the two had heard her vomiting a few minutes ago. She blamed the bumpy ride and her nerves for the sudden purge of her stomach contents. The ex-intern would have been embarrassed about it, if it were not for the situation at hand. Thor had not been completely honest with her and Jane about many things, including the fact that Loki was still alive.
It would have been great to have been informed that the god that had tried to take over and enslave the Earth was still kicking and now free to frolic around in her presence. The thought of it made her both sick and angry. She had an inkling that Jane would feel about the same too—however, she probably would become even more angry with Thor once she found out they weren't so welcomed here as Thor had led them to believe.
"So, why isn't he locked up?" Darcy asked, as her blue eyes remained glued on the villain in question. She refused to let him step any further into the room, and so he stood by the door looking mildly smug now that he was the topic of conversation.
"Good behavior," he chimed before Thor could respond. The blonde Asgardian glared at his brother, before turning to the woman next to him, "He is not as free as it seems. Do you see vambraces he wears? They weaken his magic and prevent him from leaving the palace grounds."
The disgraced prince seemed disgruntled at the reminder, as he absentmindedly tapped his fingers against the accursing cuffs. It was true to say he wasn't completely free and that the bands restricted his powers quite significantly. But he had to accept it for now if he wished to remain out of the dungeons of Asgard. Odin had a change of heart after losing his queen and when Loki had returned severely injured he seemed genuinely concerned at the aspect of losing his son too.
However, Loki was no son to the king of Asgard.
That was not to say he did not take advantage of the situation. While he despised any ounce of pity thrown his direction, his desire to remain free held higher importance. He did not want to rot away in confinement, especially now that his mother was no longer around to visit him. He frowned suddenly and placed a hand delicately on his abdomen. He had nearly died to avenger her. Kurse had left his mark, but this was a battle scar that he would wear with accepted regret. This burden was his to bear. After all, her death was on him.
"Jane is going to be so pissed," Darcy declared, shaking Loki from his thoughts.
Thor seemed distressed at the mention of his beloved, as he stole a glance at the dark-haired god. "I was not going to keep this from Jane. It just felt like a topic for later."
"I'm not talking about him," she motioned blindly, causing the god of mischief to scowl at the dismissal, "I'm talking about you lying to your girlfriend that we're welcome here."
"But you are!" Thor exclaimed as he gripped his thighs, "The only thing to change is the length of time. The All-Father did not expect his guests to be staying very long."
"You mean guest. I know I wasn't part of the agreement," Darcy bit out the reminder. She knew that the thunder god had convinced the king to bring Jane, but he had nowhere stated she could bring company. As per usual, she felt like the awkward third wheel. Her hands twisted around the pillow in her arms. She suddenly felt upset with herself.
"You are my guest. I will speak to father."
"I'm sure all this will go fetchingly when you do," Loki quipped, causing his older brother to shoot him a dark look.
"Why are you still here?" the brunette frowned, growing annoyed by the snide commentaries. His presence did nothing to soothe her inner turmoil. She felt like a burden to Thor. She already had trouble accepting that she wasn't one to Jane— considering the astrophysicist had promoted her to an assistant shortly after the Convergence fiasco. Darcy had earned it, right? She had been, after all, interning for Jane for more than a year now. Granted, she could have just gone back to Culver after that summer in New Mexico, but she hadn't especially when she had heard the Hulk had trashed part of it. And after dealing with the Destroyer, she didn't want to deal with anymore rampaging monsters. Instead, she found herself taking a semester of online courses, before deciding that maybe it would be for the best if she took some time off from school completely.
But monsters seemed to have a penchant for finding her. She scowled at Loki.
The trickster tilted his head, gauging her expression. Her feelings were sprawled out like an open book and he had seen so many emotions flicker across her face in just the last few moments. It was fascinating, but he seemed to be the only observer. Thor had his mind elsewhere—more than likely focused on how he would address things to the king and how he would avoid the incoming wrath from Jane once she found out all the details he had failed to mention to her.
"That is a very good question," his green eyes flickered, "Why am I still here, Thor?"
The thunder god scrubbed his face with one hand. "I want to make it clear that you are to not cause any trouble to Jane or Darcy."
The disgraced prince rolled his eyes. He had no reason to even trouble himself with them. They were simply there and as long as they did not get in his way, he really had no reason to associate with them. He was never much for small talk, especially now with his limited freedom.
"I have no business with mortals," Loki was quick to blurt out, before turning and pushing the door open.
The blonde prince rose at that. "I also acquire a word in private with you."
Loki paused at that, casting one final glance over his shoulder before exiting the room. He would not linger too far. He was intrigued to know what words Thor possibly had to say to him that he had not heard before.
The moment the trickster had stepped out, Darcy looked upon her alien friend. "You're going to talk to Jane and your dad, right?"
"Of course. Please, do not fret."
"I'm not fretting," Darcy stated as she tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, "But if you don't tell Jane, I may have to myself."
"I will, I promise. Just please let me speak to her. It is best if she hears it from me," Thor said before he slowly stepped towards the door. "And Darcy, I know you said Loki does not bother you. But, I would like you to know he is much more compliant now. I can reassure you that much."
"It's whatever," she muttered, as she motioned bye at him, "Goodnight."
"Goodnight Darcy and thank you for understanding," he said before leaving the room. As soon as the door closed behind them, she threw herself onto her back in exasperation. She was really tempted to run off and tell Jane everything, but she had to wait and see if Thor would keep to his word of telling her himself. Darcy would not remain mute about the matter for longer than a day or two.
However, there was another problem now—or at least, someone who had a history of being problematic. While she may have been dismissive of Loki, she didn't know how else to feel about the man who had caused a number of issues on Earth. She hated him for all the bag things he had done. He didn't seem like much of a threat in the presence of Thor. However, considering his track record, she knew he could be dangerous when left to his own devices. It would be for the best if she didn't see much of him during her stay here.
Darcy shuddered and hugged the pillow tightly against her chest. She was so over today.
Loki stood outside in the corridor, waiting impatiently for Thor. If he had known his little stroll down this wing would have resulted in a confrontation with the warrior prince, he would have avoided it. He much preferred the other wing where the Asgardian Hall lay—where all the diplomats came to speak with Odin about the ongoing issues plaguing their cities and countryside.
However, he could never linger long enough to hear everything. Ever since he had first been shacked and confined to the grounds of the palace, he could do nothing to hide his presence from the king and the older prince. He assumed it was the magic they had infused into the vambraces, which unfortunately made his invisibility spells useless in the presence of his adoptive family. It was the reason that Thor had detected him listening in on his conversation with the human girl. He had been interested to know why mortals were in Asgard and he was surprised that it took his adoptive brother that long to notice him.
Unfortunately, Odin had a much more keen perception when it came to his youngest son. He could snoop nowhere near the king's presence without being caught in the act. It was a setback, but it did not stop him from spying on others outside of his royal family. There were many conversations within the walls of Asgard and the number of people who spoke ill of the All-Father seemed to have multiplied.
He snorted. He would have time to think about everything he has heard later. Thor emerged from the mortal's room with an expression of turmoil on his face. He already knew an inkling of what was wrong, but he had yet to know the entirety of the story. The blonde prince wasted no time and ushered the trickster away from the guest hall.
"I would prefer if you would just be out with it," Loki stated as the two headed toward the other side of the palace. He knew Thor long enough to know that he bide his time when he had a request to be made. He was curious to know what the thunder god could possibly want from the likes of him.
"Do you remember what you told me about Jane?" he asked as he came to a halt and looked upon his younger brother. Loki paused, trying to recall what in the world he was talking about. There had not been much to say about her, so it only took a few seconds for it to click. Her morality was surely what he spoke of.
"What of it? I warned you that you'd never be ready."
"But what if I can stop it?"
Loki narrowed his emerald eyes at him, his mouth twisted with scorn. "Is that not why she is here? Because your father decided to pity your pet and extend charity to her?"
The dark-haired prince is suddenly pushed roughly against the nearest pillar, his shoulders pinned down as Thor growls lowly at him. He had struck a nerve. Loki stood impassively, his expression silently challenging him to do more. It is much too easy to rile up the warrior prince, especially when his thrall is mentioned.
Thor does not loosen his grip. "Do not speak of Jane like that."
Loki decides to forgo the goading—he is much more interested in what the god of thunder was getting at, "Again, is she not here for a cure for her mortal ailment?"
It was one of the things he had overheard.
Thor slowly released his hold on Loki and took a step back. He rubbed his beard in thought. "She is considering it," he continues, "but she is stubborn. I do not wish for her die."
"She's mortal. She will die eventually. It's what they all do," the god of mischief claimed as he adjusted his collar and dusted himself off.
The blonde prince stiffened, raising his blue eyes at his younger brother. "You know very well that can be prevented," there is a pause, "with a golden apple."
Everything suddenly fell into place. Loki narrowed his eyes—his statement of stopping the inevitable made much more sense now. It had been a while since he had seen such desperation coming from the thunder god. The trickster did not what to make of it, but it brought him no pleasure.
"And let me guess, you require my services to attain one?" he snidely asked.
"You are the only other person, other than Idunn herself that is capable of getting one."
Loki laughed. He could not believe that Thor had succumbed to such ideas over a human woman—and not just any human, but a dying one. While they both have had their fair share of mortal lovers these past centuries, this was the first time one had truly taken ahold of his brother's rationality. It is pathetic and the realization that someone as soft and weak-hearted was heir to Asgard made him want to lurch with distaste. He sneered and turned away.
Thor grabbed his arm before he could walk away and began to please. "Please, Loki."
The trickster yanked his arm away from the thunder god's grasp. He whipped back around to face the older prince. "And why should I care? She has no value to me."
"You are my brot—"
"Do not," Loki hissed in warning, his hand raised in a gesture of silence. His green eyes suddenly shifted, falling upon the band around his wrist and causing him to grow even angrier. Thor had no room to play that card. He was not an Odinson, but a stolen war relic. He was not allowed to step a foot outside of the palace walls. A prisoner of the kingdom he had once felt proud to call home. While his loathing for the subject had lessened over time, it had never disappeared. But at this very moment he felt nothing but white, hot anger. Thor could never understand, for he was free to come and go as he pleased. He was, after all, the true son of Asgard.
And he was asking the god of lies for help.
The blonde warrior raised his arms in peace. "We may not share blood, but we share a bond."
Loki scoffed, giving his back to his adoptive brother. His fingers skimmed over the enchanted runes of his binds as he willed back his temper. The reality was, the trickster really could not do anything with these on and Thor seemed to have forgotten that. Even if he agreed to steal an apple, he would not be able to set foot into Idunn's orchard when he could not leave the palace grounds.
But the warrior prince seemed to have read his mind. "What if I release you of your shackles?"
At this, Loki's interest piqued. He glanced over his shoulder, his eyes falling upon the Asgardian.
"I'm listening."
Author's Note: Everything is not as it seems though, but you'll see in due time. Next chapter may not be coming so soon, just cause I do go to school and work part-time. But, I'll leave you with this for now. Let me know what you think.
Feedback is highly appreciated!