Chapter 6: An Unexpected Reaction

AU: This is kinda a heavy less funny chapter but it sets up the rest of the story. And lengthy since the other chapters have been so darn short. Please give feedback if you have any and enjoy!

Three Weeks Later

Darcy reapplied her lipstick, foot bouncing as she waited to be called into the office. She rolled her shoulders, nervous. What she was going to ask was going to make her friends most likely angry if he agreed to it, but it needed to be done.

Her phone buzzed and began playing Riptide by Vance Joy, the song Loki picked for his ringtone for her phone. They had danced to it the third night they spent together while star gazing, she had taught him the art of dancing non-Asgard style, even doing the chicken dance, laughing to the point of tears on the rooftop of their building. Music was one of the biggest things he took an interest to, other than books since he got here. She glanced at the receptionist, and frowned. Did she have time to answer?

"Take it, he's going to need a few more minutes." She informed her as if reading her mind. She hadn't even look up from her laptop.

"Thanks." Darcy stood up and walked to the corner for a bit of privacy.

"Hey, Loki how are you feeling?" She whispered, not wanting the receptionist to eavesdrop.

"Much better today, thank you. Jane wanted me to call to see if you'll be attending dinner tonight with Jane and Thor and I. She says its fondue for we are doing a, house warming? I'm not sure what it is or what we are eating but Jane is insistent especially after Svartalfheim."

She shivered at the name of the realm feeling sick to her stomach. He said it so casually, something she would never understand.

"Heck yeah. Your place is finally decorated to your taste and it's oh so you. I especially love the Captain America poster Fury sent you."

"Yes. It's… Amusing." He rolled his eyes on his end of the line.

"Just be happy it's only a poster. Oh, and Loki. Fondue is… Well how about you just see when we eat. Just know it's delicious and I'm going to introduce you to something that sounds gross, cheese and pickles. And a housewarming is basically a gathering of friends and family to celebrate your new living place. It's to create good memories from the start and set a good atmosphere from all the good vibes."

"Atmosphere? Vibes?"

"You know, a place you walk into and feel comfortable and relaxed and enjoy going to. Vibes are how you feel when you walk into certain places. For instance I know when you walk into S.H.I.E.L.D you tense up, which I don't blame you. Especially after..." She trailed off, let the silence hang. "But when you walk into Starbucks and get that pumpkin spice latte, you're relaxed. It's hand and hand with atmosphere. People can give you vibes too. Someone whose angry might rub off on you or vice versa."

"Oh, I understand and know what you mean. We just don't have those kind of words or slang as Jane has taught me, on Asgard. And as far as atmosphere and good feelings go, that's how I feel about your apartment Darcy. It feels like home." He responded and she could swear she could feel him smiling through the phone.

"Oh. Well thank you." She was taken aback. He had complimented her on her place many times but she didn't realize it felt like home. His home.

"Ms. Lewis, he's ready for you." The secretary spoke shaking her from her thoughts.

"Hey, listen I got to go, rest up, I'll see you in a bit. Even got you a gift."

"I look forward to seeing what it is, although it was not necessary. As long as it is not Iron Man shirts I will love it. Goodbye Darcy." He clicked off.

Coulson opened the door, "Come on in. I hope you're not bargaining for a new taser." He teased.

"No sir, I'm happy with Mr. Sparky." She smiled at him. He was looking spiffy as always in his suit. She took a seat, the same one she had taken when she was told she was going to be babysitter to Loki. It felt like a lifetime ago.

"Mr. Sparky?" He sat back down on behind his desk and she noticed he had new trinkets sprinkled around the office. She wondered who gave him what.

"Oh. I named my taser. It's Mr. Sparky. Has a good ring to it don't you think? Hey, digging the new stuff."

"Thanks, this is from Odinson, Thor brought it back when he brought back the ring for Jane." He pointed to a small gold box with the same symbol on Mijorn, Thor's hammer. "And yes it's a good name for the taser. But if you haven't tried it yet, I think Lightening would be better."

Darcy pondered that. She hadn't actually used it so she didn't quite know how powerful this one was.

He smiled at her, reading her mind like he always does. "Yes. It's that powerful."

"Yeesh. Need to get mugged or something so I can try it out. And Jane is going to freak out, in a good way, once he finally decides to give it to her. He's been grilling me for the best way to propose and I honestly have no idea. It's a gorgeous ring though. Not sure if that's how they do it there in Asgard, proposing and marriage I mean, but hey it'll be a long time coming. I'm glad their parents finally approved of Jane. I was worried I was going to have to go up there myself and smack some sense into them now that they fixed the Bitfrost."

"We all want to go up there I think. Loki especially. But he's here for a reason."

She nodded silently, thinking of how far he's come since being banished and how badly he must miss where he grew up.

"You know, Loki, he's well-" She stopped. This was why she was here. For him. For her friend.

"If you're here to complain about Loki, and another incident about someone stopping him on the street, I'll listen but Ms. Lewis… I think you've been doing great with him. Despite the whole, incident overheard in the break room a few weeks back." Coulson smirked.

Darcy's face turned red. She was the joke of the office still. Even Loki teased her when they had dinner together one evening. Her hand had brushed against his and he asked if she was going to grab it and kiss him and drag him into bed. She wasn't sure how good of a sport she could continue to be about this, but she brushed it off. Loki wasn't an interest to her romantically, sure he was sweet, handsome and smart, but what the two of them shared was strictly a very good friendship. It was nothing like Jane's situation where she drooled over Thor the moment she saw him drop down from the sky. Granted, Darcy had drooled at the eye candy herself, and how ripped he was and still is. Hell, she had even offered to give him CPR when he got the wind knocked out of him when he first hit the ground.

"No that's not why I'm here. I'm here because I want to learn how to shoot a gun." She stated, hands tight in her lap clutching the sleeves of her green cashmere sweater Loki had bought her. Him and green. It had become his trademark and lately hers too.

"A gun?" Coulson echoed.

"Yes."

"Why? The taser not good enough?" To say Coulson was surprised would be an understatement. He was unsure if he had even heard correctly.

"Please hear me out. And please say yes. Natalia told me she'd help me train and get in shape and learn to fight. I want to become an agent. I want to go off world with Loki if he needs to go again."

Two Weeks Prior

"We figured it out!" Jane exclaimed for the 50th time today.

"We figured it out!" Darcy jumped in excitement. She danced to the door and pulled off her boots, placing them next to her thick coat, beanie and mittens. She danced back to the table and sat down, Jane poured her champagne laughing at her little disco move before she plopped into place.

They were at Thor and Jane's apartment, having dinner celebrating their achievement earlier that morning. Between Jane, Darcy, Stark, and even Banner since he was in town, they finally repaired the Bitfrost. It had been a week since Thor and Loki had left for Svartalfheim, so in attempt to not consume herself with worry, something she did best, Jane had buried herself in work and Darcy followed suit helping out however she could.

"Actually you figured it out." She raised her champagne glass to Darcy.

"I did not! I just noticed you guys got a few numbers wrong since you all insisted on staying up for 48 hours straight. Sleeping is good for you you know. And that the system needed a better core to run it. The only reason why I knew that is because of you Jane, so YOU figured it out." She clicked her glass with Janes.

"Give yourself some credit. You always see what we don't. You're an asset. I told you weeks ago you don't just get coffee. You're brilliant."

"You know what? I'm awesome and brilliant." She took a sip of champagne and grinned. "Just not Stark brilliant. He almost popped a blood vessel when he saw what I saw and that I beat him to it."

"You do not want to be Stark smart. He's cocky, Pepper said the higher the IQ the higher the ego."

"Ego? What ego? Oh wait. You mean it's the IQ and not something else? I was assuming it was the money thing and you know, inventing or finding a new element. Whatever he did. Plus, well being Iron Man." She giggled and took a bite of the pasta. She loved Stark but he was what he was, a bit of an egotist. Yet, like the rest of the Avenger family, she embraced it and loved making fun of him for it and he was a good sport about it. He was one of the few people she could deal out the witty banter and get plenty back in return.

"Thor is going to be so excited when he gets home. The Bitforst is repaired, he can go back and see his parents!" Jane grinned. Then her face fell as she realized what she said.

"Jane. He isn't going to leave you. He has his own closet. And a toothbrush. You guys are in the middle of binge watching a show on Netflix. He works for S.H.I.E.L.D. Which if someone had said to us in New Mexico we would be doing years later, I'd deny it considering how they stole my iPod."

"You're never going to let that go are you?"

"Nope. But I mean it Jane. Thor seeks you out whenever you're in the same room and it's romantic and I vomit a little each time…" She continued to console her, taking another sip of her drink.

Jane laughed and began to smile again.

"I miss him, I hope he and Loki are okay. Do you think they'll be back soon? It's been a week…"

"I'm sure they are fine and will be back any moment."

Although she said it'd be fine, Darcy had a bad feeling in her stomach ever since Loki had told her he was going to another realm. She was confused to how they were even going to get there but apparently there was a link from Earth to get to Dark Elf Planet, as it was easily referred to. She really needed to make a map of how each realm connected to each other. Although now it didn't really matter since they had solved their Bitforst problem. Loki got sent down right before Odinson, to make the banishment permanent, destroy Earths link, despite knowing Thor was going to stay too. Thor had made his decision a long time ago that his place was with Jane, even if she did have her doubts from time to time`.

"Jane, to the Bitfrost, bacon bits and those cronuts Pepper brought us!" She toasted her friend once more, shaking off her bad feeling.

"Magic Mike once we finish?"

"Orrr why not both? Food and a show!" She laughed, it was Jane's go to movie when Thor was away and it seemed fitting now, especially since her big project just wrapped up, she needed a distraction until Thor returned.

Three hours later, including a half hour nap from Darcy, the duo were half asleep on the couch, flipping through channels trying to find something remotely interesting, volume on low. It was a Friday and they didn't need to worry about getting up early.

Just as Jane was about to suggest they share a bed and crash, the door to the apartment was thrown open causing them both to sit up, startled. Thor and Loki stumbled inside. Thor kicked the door shut with his foot, gently set Mijor down on the end table and shifted his weight. He was barely scratched whereas Loki was cut and bruised, could barely stand, leaning on Thor just to be semi-upright.

"What happened?" Jane screeched rushing to their aid. Darcy, who had jumped up upon realizing who it was, stood there taking in Loki.

"I told Coulson. I TOLD HIM!" Loki screamed and then hissed at the pain his rage caused.

Darcy broke out of her trance, darted to the bathroom, grabbing a hair tie from the wash basin, and the disaster kit under the sink Jane had insisted they both have after the New York incident and a bunch of towels.

"Get him on the couch." Darcy said pushing up her glasses, tied up her hair and began rummaging through the kit.

"Should we take him to the hospital?" Jane asked as Thor helped lay Loki down on the couch.

"Yeah because the last time we took a God or demi-god -still confused about that, remind me to ask you later Loki- it went ohh so well…." Darcy rolled her eyes, finding all first aid stuff and putting it on the floor next to the couch.

"It wasn't that bad." Jane muttered.

"You hit me with your car twice, and I broke out of the hospital hurting some of the staff and breaking glass." Thor reminded her.

"Oh yeah. The car! I take zero responsibility for that. I still am sorry I tasered you." Darcy mused remembering their first few encounters while pulling out the hydrogen peroxide and rubber gloves.

"Darcy…" Loki interrupted.

"Sorry, sorry focusing on you. Can you take off your shirt?" She saw how he was clutching his ribs, and the blood on his shirt. Something was severely cut and bruised.

Loki attempted and just huffed in pain clutching again at his ribs.

"Can you cough?" She asked.

He frowned unsure what she was asking.

"Try to cough." She thought she already knew the answer but wanted to be sure.

Loki forced a cough and groaned heavily at how his ribs throbbed.

"Okay you have at least one broken rib. Try to never cough again until that heals." She thought for a moment the best plan of action.

"I'll do my best." He said miserably.

"Jesus Thor what happened out there?" Jane asked again/

Darcy was whispering to Loki, and helping him yank off the t-shirt swiftly to hopefully minimize the pain.

Loki looked up at Darcy, as she lifted off his shirt. Her hair pulled up, eyes focused on the task at hand, the lipstick she normally wore was faded and she was in a tank top, showing off her beautiful porcelain skin. He noticed the apartment was warm and comfortable due to the fireplace crackling across the room. He watched her face as she gently set him back down, biting her lip at what she saw was underneath his shirt. His focus was not on the pain though, but the delicate touch she had, her beautiful face, all her mannerisms. How lucky he felt to have someone be so kind and forgiving after his episode on the planet he now called home. Her presence was soothing, he knew he was falling for this mortal, he had thought of her often while gone, and apart of him hated him for it. All the crap he gave Thor and here he was doing the same thing. She smelled like lavender, which he had learned was from her shampoo. Well now you've gone and done it... You're falling very hard for her.

"Loki?" She said quietly, her hand hovering over his arm clutching the side of his ribs.

He was brought back to reality and the pain in his ribs began seething, even more so after she had him cough, he tightened his grip on the side, unsure if the pressure was helping or making it worse.

"Yes?" He swallowed, one lock of hair had escaped her up-do and framing her cheek bones. He resisted the urge to brush it out of her face.

"You disappeared for a minute, does it feel as bad as it looks?" She saw the bruising all on the left side of his ribs, as if someone had kicked him repeatedly. And a large cut on his chest that clearly needed stitches. He had a black eye and a small cut on his forehead.

She looked up at the ceiling, trying to focus on damage control and not what had caused this.

"If I tell you the truth will you think less of me?" He gave her what looked like sad puppy eyes with a slight grin.

Jane and Thor were off to the side watching the two of them interact, feeling at a loss of what to do. Jane was holding her breath, Loki was in terrible shape. Thor let his head drop on top of Jane's, still not answering her question. He couldn't look at his brothers battered body. Coulson had been right to ask Lady Sif and the Warriors Three to come with them. The only good thing out of this was the dark elves no longer wanted to conquer Earth, yet now his brother laid in tatters due to the lack of defense he was not able to give. He had not protected him, and he was at a loss at how he could even forgive himself.

"Nope. At least not now, I may judge you later though once you're better. I mean come on, it's just a scratch." She looked back at him, grinning and pulled out the sterilized sewing kit.

"Comforting Darcy. Truth, it hurts as much as it looks." He said and grimaced as she brushed his arm away and placed her hand gently on his ribs feeling the heat from the welts.

"That's saying something, his pain tolerance is better than mine." Thor looked up the guilt hitting him hard.

"What happened?" Jane asked once more squeezing Thor's hand supportively.

"It was an ambush by Malekith. That's why they insisted they wanted Loki too. They knew he was without his magic. I had no idea people knew. It was my fault. I didn't get to Loki in time…" He spoke low, the anger trembling in his voice.

Darcy glanced up at Thor, jaw clenched, anger at seeing Loki laid out like this bubbling up into her throat her calm in the storm of chaos lessening as he told what happened.

"Brother, it all worked out in the end." Loki didn't want to be considered a defenseless man, not in front of Darcy at least. If they ever were to be together, look at him thinking that way he mused, he would want her to feel safe in his presence. He was given throwing swords before they left and he had fought as hard as he could, took down a few of the troublesome elves but without his magic, and the fact that it was all done by surprise it wasn't enough. He couldn't defend himself, not like the others.

"Worked out?" Darcy spat out, pulling the coffee table right next to the couch for her to perch on while she worked on Loki. She placed all the first aid stuff in reach, and turned on the lamp for better light. After rubbing Purell on her hands from the kit she grabbed the gloves.

"Earth is no longer in danger thanks to Loki speaking with the Queen, and Malekith is being sentenced." Thor answered.

"Hold on cowboy. How long has he been like this? You guys got into a fight, then went to the Queen before even helping Loki? He could have died! If his ribs are that broken they could have punctured his lungs and he would have bled out!" She shrieked, facing Jane and Thor, the anger bubbling over.

Thor leaned her head on Jane again. She could feel the guilt radiating from her love and she wish she knew how to fix it. Her best friend was pissed, her boyfriend was guilty, and she had no idea what to do for any of her loved ones.

"Darcy, look at me." Loki pleaded.

She turned to him gritting her teeth.

"I'll be fine. Clearly you intend on fixing me up." He nodded to the supplies.

She nodded blinking back tears. This was to much.

"How can we help?" Jane asked, lacing her hand in Thor's feeling completely useless. She was also wondering if Darcy was seeing how Loki was looking at her. It was the same way Thor looked at her. Knowing Darcy, she was oblivious. Even to her own feelings about him because she wouldn't be this angry if she didn't care for him on more than friend level.

"Get me some ice, bengay if you have it, a trash bag for the debris and some whisky."

"I don't think you should drink while you do this…" Jane stammered.

"It's not for me, it's for the patient. It'll kick in faster than aspirin. Unless you have a pain pill or something."

"He's going to have to drink the whole bottle, we both don't really metabolize liquor like you do." Thor chimed in, feeling lost, extremely guilty, and exhausted.

"Well figure something out because what I'm about to do is going to hurt like a bitch." She threaded the needle, then pulled on the rubber gloves.

"Give me the whisky brother. I don't drink like you do." Loki was staring at the needle as he spoke.

"Good choice." Darcy smiled at him and waited for him to drink a bit and wash two aspirin down with some water. Probably not the best mix but this situation was unique.

"Where did you learn how to do this?" Jane asked bringing a bag of ice and bengay.

Darcy took it and placed it on the bruises on the ribs. Loki hissed but then relaxed as it numbed the pain a bit more. Jane opened the trash bag and put it to the side.

"I took a class on trauma emergency medicine from S.H.I.E.L.D. It was when Thor got back and you guys were gone for like a week. Seemed like the smart thing to do. Glad I did it now. After I finish up I'll put the bengay on you Loki and that'll smell super funky, but you'll feel alot better." She glanced to Thor and Jane, "We can take him to S.H.I.E.L.D tomorrow for a better check up but this needs to be taken care of now since you waited like what, days?" She glared at Thor and his blue eyes looked like they were getting watery.

"Sorry, just on edge. Never sewed someone up before." She mumbled, recognizing how upset he already was. He gave her a half smile and a nod in return.

Jane had returned to Thors side and gave him a small smile to which he returned. They both walked over closer to the couch.

"Thor go to his shoulders, you may have to hold him down. I'm sorry Loki. But are you ready?" She motioned to the deep cut and the needle in her hand. Loki nodded, ignoring the comment of it being her first time doing stitches on a person.

Darcy got to work, fixing him up as best she could, desperate to heal him. Desperate to take away whatever pain she could. Over an hour later she cleaned everything up, and wrapped his ribs in a bandage, swearing to herself she would never let him be alone like that ever again.

"You want to go off world?" Coulson echoed again for the third time.

"I'm sorry but is there a parrot?" She snapped, the memories of Loki screeching in pain as she had sewn him up, as she had helped him into bed each night, as she knew he had three broken ribs all because no one was there to protect him. Thor had meant well, she knew he did, the feelings of resentment from a week ago were gone, but it had got her thinking. There was safety in numbers and she would stay next to Loki at all times. She needed to do this. It was her job to help him acclimate and to protect him. So this seemed the practical next step.

"He needs someone watching his back. Thor, Sif and the three warriors. They aren't enough. And all your other agents are dealing with other things. I'm not saying I want to go travel the world just because like your other agents. Although if you ever need me to go to Italy… I'm free. It's just to help protect Loki. You know what happened to him, you sent him there defenseless in a situation that had no recon. It was a blind situation. So if there is a next time, let me be his defense. He can take classes too once he's better. But I know you don't want him to because that would mean he's a danger. So again, this is the logical next step." She argued.

Coulson stared at her with his creepy grin thinking it all over.

"Romanoff agreed to train you?" He asked.

"Yes, she said every girl should be able to kickass."

"Alright then. Start training with her, and when you're ready we will revisit it."

"So you're giving me a maybe? A maybe means no. I had parents. And I will not leave your office until I get a yes. I'm a political science major. I was meant to deal with different cultures, I can learn the languages, the cultures, Thor can bring books on all the realms. I'm quick on my feet. Coulson... I'd be an asset not a pest. You know I'm right."

They sat in silence for a few minutes.

Finally, he put his hands up in defeat. "I'll talk to Fury. Do your training for a month, you'll need that long to get to 1/3 of Romanoff's level, I don't mean that to be offensive but if you haven't seen her in action you wouldn't know what I meant. And for the record, I know you'd be an asset, you already are. Congratulations on figuring out the Bitfrost. I know it was you who figured out the final piece of the puzzle. Stark told me, he was a bit peeved. Now go, before I change my mind."

She got up, smiling, knowing she had won if he was willing to bring it to Fury. If Fury had a problem, she'd reason with him too. But if Coulson didn't even think it was a good idea he wouldn't bother him with it.

"Thank you. You won't regret it." She turned and went to open the door.

"Darcy?" Coulson said.

"Yes?" She said turning her head to look at him. He never called her by her first name.

"I'm sorry Loki got hurt, you did a wonderful job taking care of him too. Tell him I say to feel better."

"I will." She suppressed the urge to vomit, the night flashing back into her mind once more. The screams of pain alone still haunted her dreams and made her want to cry.

She brushed the thought away, reminded herself she was getting what she wanted. She nodded to him, turned the handle and went to go to her apartment and change and attend the housewarming.