AN: I know I said that I would have this up quicker, but I got hung up on how I wanted the last few parts of this chapter to play out. I'm still not even sure if I like it 100%, so let me know what you guys think.

And BOOM! There goes my fic length! HACHAA!

Your reviews and favorites mean so much to me! Thank you!

Recommended listening: American Beauty (the title song)- Thomas Newman

Mamihlapinatapei

Yagan, an indigenous language of Tierra del Fuego. It means the wordless, yet meaningful look shared by two people who both desire to initiate something but are both reluctant to start.

Darcy woke up at the first tingling and softly groaned. She absolutely hated traveling while she was asleep. Although it didn't happen often, she was always super annoyed by it. She was never dressed, being stuck in whatever she decided or didn't decide to wear to sleep. Thank God she had the common sense to at least keep her bra on for a little longer. Having the girls flop around in the view of strangers always made her uncomfortable, regardless if she was wearing a shirt or tank top. And if it was cold? Well, she would just look like she was poorly concealing a couple daggers on her chest.

She traveled to an apartment in some high rise overlooking some metropolis. The sun was just peaking over the horizon, but she couldn't tell if it was dawn or dusk. She examined the rest of her surroundings. The size of the room was enormous. There was a bed to her left, the headboard resting against the floor to ceiling windows. A walk in closet could be seen at the far end, along with a closed door that must lead to an en suite bathroom. The room was homey, and familiar, with decorations that she would have chosen for herself. This was most certainly not the scene of a boring day in her past. Had Darcy finally traveled to the future? She walked towards the window, gazing at the cityscape around her. New York, she surmised recognizing the Hudson River and Central Park in the distance.

There was a faint sound from the far end of the room, but she was too busy looking up at the platform just out of view from the window. Was she in Stark Tower?! Her neck was starting to hurt from the strenuous way she was craning it around.

"Darcy, you're back," an accented voice came from behind her. She instantly whipped around and gasped, pressing her back against the glass. Loki was on the other side of the room, clad in nothing but a loose fitting, rather low rising, pair of cotton pants. She could smell the clean scent of the shower wafting from the now open door of the bathroom. Moisture clung to his body, making his skin glisten and her mouth water. And oh my, was it a body; muscles rippling everywhere as he rubbed the towel through his hair. He hadn't seen her awestruck expression yet. "It is now September 14th, 2015. You have been gone for three days." His voice was slightly muffled as he continued to dry his hair.

"What?" she whispered, her gaze still locked on him.

His skilled hands lowered the fluffy towel from his face. "Oh," he said, taking in her appearance; black sweatpants with "Culver" printed down the side, and a loose fitting knit sweater. Her hair was a little unkempt, high on her head in its messy bun, and she felt nervous under his gaze, tucking as many errant strands behind her ears as she could. Her unwavering concentration on his exposed physique did not go unnoticed. He trailed a hand down his well-cut abdomen. Her gaze followed his movement and she quietly whispered his name. Loki's lips broke into a mischievous grin and he gave a small chuckle.

"You're not quite my Darcy yet, are you?" His question broke her gawking and her head snapped up at the inquiry, feeling a little embarrassed that she'd been so distracted. His hair was much longer than the last time she'd seen him, falling below his shoulders in feathery wisps.

" Your Darcy? I'm- I'm in the future?" she stammered. A wave of dizziness rushed over her, and she started to sway. Loki was at her side in an instant, easing her over to the bed. "We're...together... in the future?" She looked absolutely pale.

"Yes, love. When are you from?" He knelt close to her, one of his hands resting on top of hers. Despite what he'd done in New Mexico, she just couldn't be afraid of him. Not when he was being so gentle and was so…exposed.

"May 2012. I don't remember the day. Jane and I are in Tromso for some reason." She was finding it difficult to hold eye contact. Darcy was itching to continue her examination of him, and his bare chest was within touching distance… she pulled her lower lip between her teeth to keep her tongue from hanging out or making any kind of licking motion.

Loki was silent for a moment. "It's because of me, I'm afraid," he sighed. Loki took a couple steps back and sat on his haunches, giving her room. She looked at him with a harsh gaze, her eyes now focused on him instead of appraising his form.

"What?" she asked pointedly. Loki looked apologetic. "The last time I saw you, you destroyed Puente Antiguo and tried to kill us. So, when you say that Jane and I are in Tromso because of you, I can only assume the worst." She flopped down on the bed, covering her face with her hands.

"I'm sick, Darcy." He said quietly. "I was sick," he repeated as he slowly rose from his knees and sat in an armchair on the other side of the room. Darcy rolled on to her side to listen. Loki rested his elbows on his thighs and ground the heels of his palms into his eyes. "I'd given up hope on you―which is something you made me promise not to do," he added, almost as an aside which she didn't understand. "And when Thor returned to Asgard… I believed that I'd lost you―you; the only person who would ever come to truly understand me. And then when he destroyed the Bifrost… I felt that death was more preferable to loneliness and the punishment of my crimes." His hands dropped from his face and twisted in knots in his lap. "How I wish I could take it all back.

"I was lost in the void between realms for millennia, ripped apart and tortured over and over again. I was begging for death when he found me."

"When who found you?" Darcy sat up on the bed. Her voice was soft, a hint of sadness in its tone.

"An adversary far more powerful than even the Allfather." She rose from the bed and began pacing around the room, her arms crossed over her chest, biting her lip. Loki looked at her then, his eyes rimmed red, making the green of his irises stand out in contrast. "He reduced me to a shell of a being, a puppet which he could control. He poisoned my mind with my basest desires; a throne and acceptance."

"This sounds bad. This sounds really bad." Loki stood as well, meeting her in the middle of a stride, taking her hand in his.

"If I remember correctly, you end up staying here with me for a couple days."

Darcy rolled her eyes, annoyed. "You keep telling me things that I don't want to hear."

"You are the one person who can save me, Darcy Lewis." The gravity of his words felt like cold water sliding down her stomach. His demeanor turned into something resembling desperation. "Let me show you that I am not the monster that you have seen. Let me prove that I become so much more." His voice was soft, gentle; filled with an emotion she wasn't sure she was familiar with.

Darcy sighed and decided that she couldn't look into his pleading eyes another moment; worried that she might fall into their vulnerability like a spell. So she took in her surroundings with more detail than she had when she first arrived. It was then that she really noticed the pictures on the walls, the stills in the bookshelves, and the frames decorating the small vanity. Smiling faces stared back at her. They were of herself with people she knew and people she did not; Tom and Adrien, and a handful beautiful brown-haired children, sprawling on Darcy's lap, looking both like their fathers, and at the same time, not; Thor, holding both she and Jane far off the ground in a tight bear hug, the laughter on their faces jumping from the photo. And there was one picture she couldn't stop looking at. She walked over to it as Loki continued.

"This is your apartment, after all. If you would like me to leave, I completely understand. All of this must be confusing for you."

Darcy sat on the bed and took the ornate frame from the nightstand, holding it delicately in her hands. It was a candid photo, looking to have been professionally taken. The backdrop was of an unfamiliar place, a gilded great hall. She didn't recognize the dress either; red lace in a beautiful floral pattern; a decorative chain resting upon the soft curls around her crown; or the ornate jewelry decorating her wrists and fingers. She did, however, recognize the expression on her face. Her bright red lips were parted in a frozen smile in the middle of laughter; and her eyes were shut tight, eyebrows turned up. It was an expression that she attributed to her happiest moments. But the real reason the photo caught her attention was because Darcy was standing with Loki, who didn't look much different than the one next to her. They looked to have been in the middle of a dance, Loki's hands resting possessively on her waist. Darcy's hands were on his shoulders, almost pushing him away, like whatever he had just said to her was one of the funniest things in the world and she couldn't contain herself. And Loki had a proud smile, artfully curving from his lips, which were pressed against her forehead. The vibrant olive of his eyes seemed to sparkle through the photo, his expression matching her own uncontainable mirth.

"That was in celebration of Thor and Jane's coronation." Darcy was so caught up in the beauty and emotion of the picture that she had no idea when he sat next to her. "You looked absolutely radiant in that gown. I wanted nothing more but to leave that celebration for a better, more private one; but you were adamant that we remain in support of Lady Jane and my brother. In contest, I was constantly whispering sweet nothings into your ear to try and change your mind. When you continued to hold your resolve despite the palpable tension in your body, I threw you what you Midgardians call a 'curve ball'. I told you some obscene joke that I can't remember now, but all of your energy at deflecting my hushed temptations converted into hysterical laughter." He chuckled, and it was a delightful sound to which Darcy found that she just couldn't help but smile.

"If this is too much for you, I can leave and give you some space." She could feel his concerned gaze on the side of her face as she continued to look at the picture, tracing her thumb in a comforting motion along the side of the frame.

"I've never been to the future before," Darcy replied. "And there must be a reason that I'm here… some learning experience." She turned to look at him then, his innocent expression giving him a boyish countenance. "I'd like you to stay." The smile he flashed at her was contagious, and she could feel her lips turning up as well. "I want to have a taste of the life that I'm going to live." His eyes had dropped down to her lips, then, and his innocent demeanor had turned heated.

"Well, I shall do my best to please you…" Their breathing had slowed to a languid pace, and some distant part of her brain recognized that he was gradually moving closer to her, causing her gaze to slide down to the expanse of skin so close, her hands reached for him on a subconscious level. "Letting you experience anything short of knowledge leading to time traveling paradoxes." His hands clasped around hers just before she could touch him, and she broke out of whatever trance his body had set her in. "Darcy..." She sighed in defeat, not sure if she'd ever get used to the sound of her name on his lips.

"Hmm?"

"You should get some rest. It's still rather early and you don't look like you've slept a wink." At his mention of sleep, she nodded with a yawn. "I'll have breakfast for you when you wake." He helped tuck her under the comforter, lowered the shade with a slight of hand, and bid her sweet dreams before closing the door.

Darcy woke an indeterminable amount of time later to a heavenly aroma; eggs and bacon frying, and coffee freshly brewing. Odd. All of Jane's sophisticated culinary attempts resulted in setting off the smoke detector. When she opened her eyes, the room was dark and it was hard to see anything. Darcy ground her knuckles into her eyes to try to fight away the last remnants of sleep and bring her surroundings into focus.

"Would you like me to open the blinds, Ms. Lewis?"

"Yes, please, JARVIS," was her automatic reply. As the mechanical sound of the blinds broke the silence of the room, Darcy opened her eyes in alarm, the brightness burning her retinas for a moment before she could take in her surroundings. In her sleep-addled mind, she recalled the sound of the British AI from when she and Jane stayed at Stark Tower to meet Dr. Banner and the Iron Man, Tony Stark. It only took her a moment to remember why she was back―well not back back, necessarily.

Darcy got up from the impossibly comfortable bed and headed towards the bathroom, finding a clean, fluffy towel, set out for her along the way. The marble tiling and frameless glass shower with its gold fixtures had her oohing and ahing. She ran her hand along the countertop, noticing the "his and hers" sinks, and the little cup holding two toothbrushes. She giggled at her discovery. Gods, probably, were above tooth brushing, but it gave her warm fuzzies to see an extra brush anyway. She laughed trying to imagine Loki brushing his teeth next to her. Eying the two utensils, she didn't know which one was hers, so she simply picked one up, squirted toothpaste she'd found in a random drawer on it, and went to town cleaning her mouth. If it didn't end up being hers, it was obvious that her future self and Loki were intimate enough that sharing spit would be the most innocent of their interactions.

She turned on the shower, setting it to a warmer setting than she usually preferred, still slightly chilled from Norway, and was amazed at the waterfall feature, water cascading from the ceiling. My, oh my, she could get used to this. After emptying her bladder and flushing the toilet, Darcy undressed and wrapped the towel around herself, waiting for the water to heat up. She allowed her curiosity to take over and began opening the rest of the drawers and cupboards she hadn't yet explored. You could tell a lot about someone by the cleanliness and contents of their bathroom. Hair spray, leave in conditioner, tampons, new razor blades, extra toilet paper, body lotion, nail polishes, lipsticks, glosses, and other makeup products―typical female bathroom supplies. She picked up a bottle of bath oil and inhaled the soothing aroma, jasmine and a scent she couldn't recognize. She was very excited to get to try it out, but was disappointed at not having a bathtub. Oh well.

There was one last spot she wanted to explore, a door at the other end of the bathroom, a linen closet, she was sure, but she was giddy with the newness and sense of possession. These were all her things, after all. She pulled the golden handle down and opened the door. "Damn." She hadn't quite realized that she'd said that out loud, but damn. Curiosity did kill the cat.

Well, she found her tub. It was an expansive claw foot, at least six feet long, if not more; probably custom made to accommodate the height of a certain Frost Giant. It seemed more like a pool when she approached it. The tub room was a little piece of paradise tucked away in the corner of the building, two walls being nothing but floor to ceiling windows highlighting the sprawling city outside. A plethora of potted plants turned the atmosphere into a tropical resort; the green adding so much life and character to the room. But the real crème de la crème was that the two inside walls were nothing but bookshelves overflowing with some titles she recognized as her favorites, many that were new to her, and also a good amount in a language that she didn't think was "Midgardian", so to speak. Oh, she was going to love enjoying this room during her stay.

Darcy skipped out the door with a stupidly happy grin on her face; like a kid who just found all the hidden Christmas presents and discretely peeled back some wrapping paper to find out she'd gotten everything she'd wanted. She was beginning to feel impatient for the future.

Back in the shower room, she hung her towel and stepped under the spray, a moan of pleasure escaping from her lips. This was most certainly the life. When she felt good and soaked from the spray, she picked up each of the bottles lining the wall. She recognized things as products she would use, and there was also a set for those of the male persuasion. She instantly blushed, remembering that Loki had been in this very shower mere hours ago. Darcy opened each one, inhaling the enticing aromas she recognized from earlier. She would bet good money that they at least shared a couple bathing sessions together and the thought caused heat to pool between her legs. The shower was certainly big enough for two, and she imagined feeling the contrast of the cool marble wall at her back, warm water dripping over her skin, and Loki holding her up. Her fantasy made her shiver and goose bumps raced down her skin.

Hair properly squeegeed, and towel tucked back around her, she left the bathroom and headed straight for the closet―Holy walk-in, Batman! She had so many clothes! So many shoes! Ugh! She definitely couldn't go through it all now! Her stomach grumbled and she remembered another familiar smell wafting into the bedroom. Quickly, she found her bra and panty drawer, smirking and whistling at some of her discoveries, and pulled a more modest set on. After that, she slipped into a pair of black leggings and a comfortable Culver baseball T-shirt that she recognized.

Darcy walked out of the room in search of the kitchen, her nose as her guide. She found, instead, a quaint dining table filled with a fresh stack of waffles, a plate of sunny-side up eggs, and at least a pound of bacon. There was freshly squeezed orange juice looking tempting in a glass pitcher, but her eyes searched the room for the source of the coffee aroma. She walked through an open archway and into the kitchen, where she found Loki―sadly clothed― in a soft cotton, green, V-neck, pouring coffee into a mug she recognized, "World's #1 Grandma" printed on the side―it was a gift Darcy had given to her Gramma when she was in elementary school, saving up all the change she could find between the couch cushions and feeling proud when Iva delighted in it. A sad pit formed in her chest at the realization of why it must be back in her possession.

Loki turned to her and held out the mug; she didn't register that he'd prepared her coffee just the way she liked it, lots of milk and sugar; she couldn't stop staring at it. She hadn't reached for it yet, and that's when Loki recognized the look on her face. "Oh Darcy, my sincerest apologies." He turned away, reaching for another mug in the cupboard.

"No, No!" She said, reaching out to stop him. "It's okay. I know it's going to happen someday." She fought back her tears and forced a smile onto her face, bringing the mug to her lips and taking a sip of the hot liquid. "Thank you."

Loki joined her at the table for breakfast. Most of the food was piled high on his plate and he was sucking the orange juice down like a fish out of water. It put a smile on her face to see him so domestic; definitely a contrast to the high and mighty Oh Prince of Asgard that she was used to. And god, the man could eat- or rather―Man, the God could eat. It would suffice to say Loki put the Phelp's Breakfast to shame and then some.

When they had finished, Loki refused to let Darcy help in cleaning up the table, encouraging her instead, to explore her apartment. With a new wave of excitement and wonder, Darcy left the dining room. She opened various closets and cupboards throughout the rooms, stopping in the living room.

A large flat screen television was mounted above a grandiose fireplace; the hearth clearly the real feature of the room. To the right of the ornate masonry of the chimney stack was a large tapestry that warmed the wall. Darcy was examining it, her hand rubbing at her chin, when Loki came in beside her, hands placed behind his back like a curator at an art exhibition.

"My mother's tapestry..." he trailed off. They stood in silence for a moment before he continued. "It was a gift."

"It's just amazing to see it finished."

Loki turned to her, confusion written in his expression. "Finished?" he asked.

"I traveled there about a month ago. She was working on it then, and had just started to add this beautiful blue thread to it." Darcy walked towards it, stretching out her hand to touch the fabric, "You were there, too―just really young," she said over her shoulder. Darcy pulled her fingers back just before contact, not wanting to damage the ancient work. "You had just enchanted Sif's hair to turn it black, and she was admonishing you for it. I was hiding behind the bookshelf." Loki was rooted to the spot, speechless. "But I remember there being so much more blue..." She sucked in her bottom lip and concentrated on the piece.

"There is." Loki walked up to the piece, lowering the blinds on the walls with a wave of his hand, and touched the fabric. When the room was filled with darkness, a vibrant blue glow emanated from the tapestry, the light dancing off the walls like reflections of water in a pool. The scene had also changed as well. The golden hall was replaced with an icy one, and in the center of the celebration was a beautiful and surprisingly blue-skinned Darcy, and next to her a regal and Jotun Loki.

"Oh, wow... It's breathtaking."

"One of her finest works, no doubt." Darcy nodded, awestruck.

"How is she doing?" Loki dropped his hand from the fabric and walked back to the middle of the room, raising the blinds as he went. His face looked lost, and his eyes shone brightly. "Loki?" Darcy walked over and gently placed her hand on his arm. He released a large exhale, seeming to muster up the courage of what he was about to say.

"My mother's soul sailed through the gates of Valhalla last year." At his words, Darcy felt her heart break. She had only just met her... and she would soon be gone forever? Tears threatened to spill over her lashes at the broken expression on his face. Darcy knew all too well the hopeless feeling of losing a parent.

"I am so sorry," she whispered, trying to keep her voice steady. Darcy hesitantly wrapped her arms around his midsection, not sure if she was crossing any boundaries, but was reassured when Loki enveloped her in a cool embrace, holding her tightly. His lips softly pressed into her forehead, making butterflies swirl in her tummy. She was smiling contently when they parted.

"Would you like to go on a walk with me?"

"Sure! Just let me change." she replied enthusiastically.

"Change? But what you're wearing is fine." He raised an eyebrow.

"Are you kidding?" She threw over her shoulder as she skipped out of the room. "You can't expect me to not change my clothes every opportunity I get when I have so many things that I've never seen before! And the best part―They're all mine!" His laughter followed her as she raced down the hall.

Twenty minutes later, Darcy returned, dressed in a willowy blue sundress that she felt accented her eyes perfectly in combination with the light makeup she'd also applied. The complimenting cleavage wasn't hurting, either, his eyes ever so slightly roaming over her new appearance. Darcy crossed the room to him, approving of his new attire as well; a pair of slim, dark wash jeans that fit him perfectly. Do he got da booty? He do, he do. She thought, not realizing that she'd licked her lips. This walk would be so much more pleasurable if she could walk a few paces behind and remain unabashedly fixated on his rear.

"Radiant, as always, Miss Lewis." His eyes had darkened, and he didn't bother trying to hide his mischievous smile, all the while holding out his elbow. "Shall we?" Darcy looped their arms together and they headed for the door.

The walk to Central Park only took fifteen minutes. Darcy was glad to feel the sunshine on her face from the warm summer day. It was almost bizarre: walking around the park, enjoying the weather, and passing people by; everyone oblivious to the true identity of whom she accompanied: Loki, a true god among men. She slid her hand down his arm and linked her fingers in his, holding him a little tighter. He pulled her a little closer in response, seeming to enjoy their languid pace.

They maintained a good banter of small talk and meandered around the many paths before he led them off the paved walkway. It wasn't entirely easy to make good conversation, since there was so much that he couldn't tell her, but for some reason, talking to him wasn't as hard or as nerve-wracking as she had expected.

They came to an unpopulated, secluded clearing; and Darcy walked a few paces forward to take in the view of the sunshine sparkling off the small lake. "Excuse me, my dear lady, but would you care to join me?" When she turned around, she found Loki, regally reclining on a soft blanket, accompanied by a picnic basket, plates and wine glasses.

It was not exactly his first display of magic, but she was excited all the same. She nodded, a big grin on her face, and took his hand as she sat down. Darcy had a notion to ask what all he could do, but she didn't want him to feel like a common street magician. All in good time, she was sure he'd display more of his power.

The dinner he'd conjured was simple, but she constantly made shifty eyes at him, wanting to question how he'd procured such alimentary heaven. He could read the suspicion on her face and called her out on it.

"Nothing," she replied. "I'm just not sure about you, yet." He shrugged, taking a drag from his wine glass, the red wine staining his lips.

"So, Oh God of Mischief," she began.

"Yes, Darcy?" When he made eye contact like that, with that devilish look in his eyes, the command of a deity behind them, her pulse raced and she felt feverish.

"Tell me something about me."

"You know that I can't-"

"-I know, I know. But what about something mundane? I'm pretty sure boring info won't begin a butterfly effect and rip the very fabric of my timeline."

"Alright," he conceded. "What do you wish to know?"

"Well, what do you know about me?"

"I know everything, love."

"Everything?"

"Everything," he reiterated.

Darcy was silent for a moment, chewing her lip. "I don't know... start with something random."

"Hmm..." He thought for a moment, his eyes far away in concentration. "On nights when it storms on Midgard and I am away on Asgard, to atone for my absence, you still cuddle your precious Sammy at night." Sammy was the stuffed elephant that she'd received as a gift from her parents when she was a kid. She could picture his floppy ears, worn with age; his sunken neck, from being held tightly over the years; and his sparkling blue eyes, the paint having chipped over time. She grinned at the thought of him; he always smelled like childhood. That little nugget of information made her feel happy; certainly not paradox inducing information.

"What else?" she asked eagerly. Loki continued with trivial details until the sun was low in the sky.

"We should head back." Darcy whined in opposition as he got up and looked down upon her, drinking in her comfort. She was lying supine on the blanket, hair fanned around her head, running a hand through the cool blades of grass next to her, completely content to stay all night if she could.

"One more? Pretty please?" she begged and stretched out her hand, wanting him to help her up.

In a display of his inhuman strength she was on her feet so fast, her stomach dropped and she had a bout of vertigo. He pulled their entwined hands to the small of his back, her body becoming flush against his, feeling the contour of every muscle. His other hand caressed down the length of her neck and her breath hitched. Loki brought his lips close to her ear and the proximity made her tremble. "You revel when I use my silver tongue to eloquently express my carnal desires for you-whether it be in the language of my people or yours; but, as time has come to prove, over and over again, you love it most when I take you in my Jotun form; the difference in body temperatures rendering you completely wanton for the release only I can deliver."

And with that, Loki simply strode away, dematerializing their picnic setting, hands in his pockets, tongue in cheek; as if what he'd just said hadn't just left her body on fire, or her jaw on the ground with rapid, panted breaths coming from her parted lips. When she regained her composure, Darcy heatedly marched to catch up with him and kept her distance; arms crossed tightly around her chest, a few feet away, not even daring to look in his direction. But oh, she could feel his pride at completely flustering her.

"Come now, Darcy," his voice was saccharine and dripping with trouble. "It's not like you won't find out for yourself, eventually."

"Loki," she warned, but the god simply chuckled a heart stopping "eheheheh". Darcy was doomed.

When they got back to her apartment, she walked straight to a bookshelf, grabbed something she recognized as on her "to-read" list and plopped on the couch, rightly ignoring him. Eventually, Loki joined her with a tome of his own, sitting in a nearby rocking chair; one of his long legs crossed over the other in a completely oblivious display of his power. Darcy inwardly groaned when she realized that she was reading more of his body than lines on the page: the latent strength in his wrists; the corded muscles wrapping his forearms; the pull of his T-shirt across his deliciously visible pectorals as he took each relaxed breath... She was growing weary from the constant distraction. Come on, just a few more pages. She forced herself to keep reading. And then, she got to a sex scene. Oh, the odds that she picked up erotica. Of course... "Their slick bodies writhing together in ecstasy." Nope. She did not need that. Loki was already right where he wanted to be, firmly rooted by sexual desire in the back of her mind, and she did not want to make things any harder on herself. She closed the book with a little more force than she had meant to apply, the sound echoing throughout the room, and she got up abruptly, informing him that she was going to bed.

"Rest well, Darcy," he said with a knowing smile. Smartass, she thought. She definitely wasn't going to get any sleep tonight. She shut the door behind her, a wordless warning that he was most definitely not welcome in her bed. He'd have to sleep on the couch, and she didn't give a damn if it wasn't long enough for him, either.

Darcy woke the next morning to full sun, and she felt like shit. Sure enough, she hardly slept all night, constantly twisting and turning, sometimes writhing in vexation. She was pretty certain that she'd literally tried every position to try and fall asleep and nothing was comfortable; even attempting the ole "face down, ass up" awkward position that little kids always seem to find comfy. She woke up countless times, entangled in the sheets and drowning in the heat of her body.

Stretching a little and wincing at the tension in her body, she stomped to the shower, turning it on the coldest it would go and hoped that the water would help reduce the bags under her eyes and rinse off dried sweat. Darcy was eager for the instant relief she felt on her fevered skin as she stepped under the spray. However, she wasn't prepared for the suddenly painful arousal, either; the icy water puckering her nipples, her lust-addled mind instantly bringing a recall to Loki's words from last night.

"Fuuuu" she cried and slapped the wall and tightly crossed her legs. "Goddammit." Fine. If this is how it's going to be... She slowly slid her fingers down her stomach...

Darcy joined Loki for breakfast again, and her mood hadn't really improved. He attempted at cordial conversation, but all she could do was give terse replies. She felt sorry. Well, not really. Her sour disposition was his fault, after all.

After breakfast, he invited her to join him in a round of grocery shopping. He wanted to make a special dinner for her tonight, and they needed to pick up supplies. Darcy conceded. And if she thought he seemed domestic before, he was downright humanized as he navigated the aisles of the local grocery. Instead of carrying all their purchases back to Stark Tower, or hailing a cab, Loki simply magicked their bags away so they could stop at a little bistro and grab lunch.

When they got back home, Loki gave strict orders that she was not to enter the kitchen. He wanted whatever he was making to be a surprise. She filled a large glass with ice water to be sure that she could handle the wait.

"So you're not making honey mustard chicken strips with hash-browns and a side of peanut M&Ms? Because those are some of my favorite things and all you seemed to really pick up at the store."

"No, Darcy," He laughed, eyes crinkling at what she said. "You were low on those things anyway―And it's not like I would make your last dinner something as simplistic and as tasteless as Midgardian food."

"Hey, I happen to love Midgardian food." she interjected, mocking offense.

"Ah, because you've yet to have had anything better. No, love, your meal is going to be fit for gods―better yet, fit for a queen of the gods." Loki was exhibiting so much excitement at making dinner for her; happiness was a good look for him. She left him to his devices, shaking her head with a smile on her face. She walked out of the kitchen, his last words almost not registering- and when they did, her stomach lurched. He was making a meal "fit for a Queen of Gods". Did he just accidentally reveal something about the future? She didn't want to think about it.

Darcy changed into yoga pants and an athletic tank top she found amongst her clothes and headed to the living room. She instructed JARVIS to play her meditation playlist and unrolled her mat on the floor. She was eager to work out some of the kinks she'd felt in various places after her uncomfortable night sleeping. After a few hours of deep stretches, static and dynamic poses, and meditation, Darcy finally had a clear head and a pliable body. She got up, feeling much better, put away her mat, and headed towards the bathroom for some more relaxation. She was finally going to enjoy that tub.

Steam was rolling off the water when she toed into it, bringing a favorite book from the shelf with her. The scent of jasmine and something else soothed her nerves and she sighed into the relaxing atmosphere. The water was just up past her breasts, and she felt weightless in its volume.

She wasn't sure how long she had been reading, but when her eyes felt weary, she simply put the book on the side and looked out the window at the world around her. This was the life. And when her eyes became droopy from the calming aroma, she adjusted her head and neck on the little towel she brought with her and took a nap.

Darcy came to when she felt the water level shift around her. She had been enjoying her nap too much to open her eyes, but they sprang apart when she heard water splash onto the tile floor around her. She wasn't alone anymore.

"Loki?!" The Trickster God was sitting at the other end and she brought her knees to her chest, trying to cover herself as much as she could. "What the fuck do you think you're doing?!" She was most certainly surprised, but she was secretly really hoping that he was there for the reasons she wanted him to be there. The look he was giving her was absolutely predatory, and confirmed her suspicions.

"You see, pet, as a deity I can hear the prayers of others..." He slid a little closer to her. She couldn't retreat any farther, her only option being to hop out of the tub and completely expose herself to him. "And when I pick your voice out of the endless chatter, I listen carefully to every plea as you pleasure yourself, begging for me to bring you release." Oh no. Her face had to have turned a completely unique shade of red now―probably one Crayola hadn't even had a goofy name for yet; you caught me red handed, maybe- and she could feel the flush spread to her chest. He got closer still, and she was vaguely aware that his sex was within inches from her, but she was trying her hardest not to look. So she stared into his eyes, swallowing hard when she saw his pupils were blown, no trace of green to be found. He was so close. So very close. He gently took her chin in his hand and slid the other down to part her legs, his hand resting on her inner thigh while his thumb made tantalizing circles by her core. His lips met hers with a surprisingly soft intensity; once, twice, pulling back to read her expression. "I have come to answer your prayers, my little supplicant." His ministrations were driving her crazy and somewhere in her lust-addled mind she recognized that he was sliding between her legs, positioning himself at her entrance. "And in doing so, I, Loki, God of Mischief, Chaos and Lies, King of Asgard, shall bestow upon you a most precious gift-" he was up against her now, ready to enter her at a moment's notice, feeling impossibly big. He traced kisses around her jaw and down her neck before whispering in her ear. "―A true reason to cry out 'Oh God' when you feel the rapture of climax course through your mortal body." Suddenly, Loki changed into his Jotun form and drove into her, a blur of blue skin, hard ridges, and soft black hair; she lost her breath at the sensation. The room echoed with the sound of their unified moans and water splashing onto the floor.

Darcy was writhing beneath him, trying to meet him thrust for thrust, but she couldn't keep up; not with the slickness of the tub in combination with the relentless pace he had set. She was staring into the crimson of his eyes when he started to call her name. "Darcy...my sweet Darcy."

She could feel a mass of tension coil low in her body; she was on a precipice and he was unyielding. "Oh my God, Loki!" she moaned. She could feel it, she could feel it, so close.

"Yes. Your god, Darcy." She was about to explode... about to-

"Darcy?" She jolted awake, one calf was numb from hanging over the side of the tub, and her hands were between her legs. "Darcy, is everything alright?" Loki called from the other side of the door. She was so disoriented. A fucking dream? Are you kidding me!? She groaned out loud, rolling her head along the edge of the tub. How long had she been in there? She could tell it was much later in the afternoon from the position of the sun; and the water had turned to room temperature, making her feel chilled.

"Yeah. I'll be out in a minute." She raised her hands out of the bath and frowned. She hated pruney fingers. Absolutely hated them.

"Dinner will be ready in about half an hour, if you'd like to meet me in the kitchen when you're ready. And formal attire, if you would, please."

"Sure thing, boss" she called to the door, eager to step out of the water, but feeling soreness in her muscles from her cramped nap. So much for yoga.

After applying makeup and feeling proud of her winged eyeliner, Darcy tamed her curls with the wand she found in the drawer, giving herself an Old Hollywood chic. She slipped into a floor-length dress that she saw in the walk-in; the sleek, black material held a simple elegance while the gemmed belt added a hint of flare. But, the real eye-catching feature was actually the shoulder sleeves, which added a dash of sex appeal, yet not enough to make her excessive cleavage seem trashy. She slipped on some sexy stilettos and matching earrings and made her way out to the kitchen. Loki was there when she arrived, waiting faithfully in regal Asgardian garb, and led her through a doorway she was pretty sure wasn't there before.

It was almost like she'd stepped through jello, the thickness of the atmosphere changing around her. But on the other side...

"Is this... Asgard?" She asked, taking in the view around her and heading to the rails of the balcony overlooking a lush garden, ignoring the beautifully set.

"Not exactly," he mentioned from behind her. Darcy turned to face him, but instantly craned her head back as she took in the overwhelming site of the palace, stretching high in the sky, the gold reflecting the setting sunlight. "I merely created a portal to a dimension where I've projected the palace and its immediate surroundings."

Darcy turned and turned trying to take it all in. She could see the a rainbow bridge in the distance, assuming from Jane's descriptions, that it was the Bifrost. "It's so... beautiful."

"Yes," she turned to him, a smile on his face, looking nowhere else but at her. "Absolutely breathtaking." Darcy felt her cheeks darken at his compliment.

Loki pushed her chair in when she sat down at the table; a breed of chivalry that most certainly was dead in her world. Dinner was served in courses and she had no idea what to do with herself. She was timid to try some of the strange foods, but with Loki's proud gaze, she didn't want to let him down. He watched her every reaction, laughing at the scrunched faces of the things she didn't find quite to her liking, and focusing on the curve of her lips, as she hummed in satisfaction for the things she did. He introduced the main course as one of his mother's favorite dishes, truly fit for a queen of the gods. Darcy couldn't really figure out what he was calling it, but it was some meat marinated in peppercorns and a complimentary sauce served over perfectly al dente pasta. It was absolutely, regally, divine.

After dessert, they headed to the balcony to take in the view. Loki stood a few paces away from her while Darcy marveled at the stars above, shining brightly in the night sky. She rested her elbows on the marble and twisted her hands, wanting to ask him a question that she'd thought of earlier, but was feeling like chickening out. He seemed to read her mind when he called her name.

"Hmm?" she replied.

"What are you thinking about?" Darcy shook her head, a pit forming in her stomach that she wasn't sure she was brave enough to conquer. "Come now," he encouraged, brushing a strand of her hair over her shoulder, his hand gently caressing her bare skin as he did so. "Don't make me read your mind."

"You can do that?" Darcy blanched and visibly tensed, what if he'd heard the things she was thinking earlier? How sexually frustrated he'd made her?

"No, no." He laughed and she exhaled deep like she'd dodged a bullet. "And you are relieved at that information. I give you my word, it was only a jest." The smirk on his face was irresistible. They were silent for a moment, soaking up the comfort of each other's presence.

"Do you love me?" Darcy finally asked. She couldn't bring herself to look at him.

"Beyond reason." His answer was without hesitation.

"Why?" She didn't mean for her voice to break, but none of this made sense to her. She kept her gaze far away. "I'm just a human. I'm nothing special. I...I-" she started stammering, but Loki's hands cupped her face and turned her towards him.

"You are gorgeous, strong, funny, and courageous. You aren't afraid to put me in my place, and you are always there as my voice of reason. What you are means nothing to me, but who you are is everything. Never before has anyone sacrificed so much on my behalf. You have irrevocably changed me, Darcy Lewis; from the moment I met you thousands of years ago, until the moment your beautiful soul travels to Valhalla, I will never be the same. The only things that I will have to hold on to after you're gone are the memories of my Time with you, and to know that I was truly blessed by the Gods to be loved in return by someone who gave me everything they could give and more."

Darcy's heart ached at his confession and her eyes had begun to water. Loki's tone of voice expressed sadness and fear that she couldn't place, and it was all mixed with an overwhelming happiness. The air between them had become charged, and for a moment, she wasn't sure what to do. But in the end, she crushed her lips onto his, and he responded to the fire in her body. He pressed her against the balcony railing, and she delighted in the feeling of him pressed into her curves.

Eventually, their fervor had her sitting on the railing with a Norse God between her legs. Their tongues were fighting for dominance over one another; something she doubted he would give up. Her nails buried deep into his back, trying to pull him closer as he caressed a hand up her thigh, the soft skin exposed from a lengthy slit in the material of the dress. When Darcy couldn't hold her breath any longer, she broke away, panting as she tried to fight for air. Loki paid no mind, ghosting his lips over her neck and breathing her in.

Instantly, he froze, the grip he'd had on her leg and his other hand at the small of her back grasped her tightly, becoming almost painful. "Oh, Darcy," he moaned. "What have you gotten yourself into?" The look he gave her was the same predator's gaze from her bath-time sex dream. Darcy became nervous and began stuttering, confused at the sudden switch of character. He looked absolutely feral. Loki pressed into her, and she could feel his straining erection against her stomach. If she wasn't turned on before, Darcy's lady-bits had just received a flash flood during the height of a monsoon. The sensation made him moan as he closed his eyes, and blue ridges ghosted over his skin.

Loki leaned into her neck, breathing in more of her. His cool breath on her skin made all the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end, and a tingling sensation rushed over her skin, giving her goose bumps. He brushed his lips along the column of her neck, and his relentless grip on her leg changed from cold to cool, as if he was fighting for control.

"During your bath," his strained voice began to whisper in her ear. "Did you happen to add the contents from an ornate vial found under the sink?"

Darcy had started to nod, afraid to answer him outright, but the next thing she knew, there was an unsettling feeling, like when you tip your chair over just a little too far, and you're going to fall over―and then her back hit something soft, and she recognized the room around her. Loki must have teleported them back to Stark Tower. He held his body over hers; slowly opening his eyes to reveal bright crimson under his long, dark lashes. Oh boy, she thought, I'm in trouble.

"Darcy," Loki breathed her name, sounding pained and began a sensual assault on her body; his hand cupped her breast through her dress, and she moaned at the sensation. Her muscles sang as his powerful legs parted her thighs, and he settled his weight on her. He was suckling at her neck, but in the frenzied feeling of his sex pressed against hers, she grabbed his face and thrust her tongue in his mouth. Oh, she was so desperate and impatient for him to be where she ached for him, deep inside her. Darcy had never felt a need like this before; wild and untamed. She clawed at his clothes, managing to divest him of his vest and tunic, leaving him clad in only his pants. Darcy moaned at the ever changing temperature of his skin, cold and warm against her fevered flesh. She could see blue skin washing over him and fading away. When she traced her nails over the ridges... Loki's hand immediately cupped between her legs, a growl erupted from his lips that she could only attribute to the discovery that she wasn't wearing any panties. He slipped a finger inside of her and she reeled against him. Loki began to thrust with long strokes as he ground against the sheet below them, desperate for his own relief. Darcy demanded more and was rewarded with another skillful digit, crying out as he spread her wide. At some point, she realized that she had begun to chant his name, pleading for release, and lifting her hips to try and accomplish it herself. When his other hand gripped her hips and forced her in place, she cried out in frustration. But he began to lower his head, and she screwed her eyes shut praying for what would come next; there was a cool breeze over her sex, and all she could hear was her heart pounding in her ears.

"Open your eyes." It was a distant command, but she shook her head.

"Please, Loki. I need you. Now. Please." She couldn't hear her voice begging for him, but she felt the words leave her lips.

"Look at me, Darcy." Somehow, she heard him then, and when she looked down, her breath hitched. Loki was full-on Jotun, the blue skin cooling her fevered body and his red eyes glowing in the moonlight. As he began to stroke her clitoris with his icy, wet tongue, she screamed out, and he was unyielding, thrusting his fingers in time with his torturous mouth. Her body convulsed around him, but his eyes never left hers.

After multiple pleas for him to stop―she couldn't take anymore sensation―he finally pulled his fingers free of her quivering core, licking her essence from them while nuzzling the soft flesh of her thighs. Darcy was a languid puddle below him, but when he started climbing up her body again, she became frenzied once more. Her hands reached for the waist of his pants, desperately trying to find a way to free him and bury his length deep inside her.

It was almost like a light had switched off. Loki's demeanor flipped back to the sincere gentleman who made her dinner in a replication of Asgard. His body was still changing between Jotun and Asgardian forms, but he seemed to have come to his senses. One of his hands clasped around hers, and he brought the delicate skin of her knuckles to his lips. Darcy whined when he lifted himself from her, and lied down on his side next to her, still holding her hand.

"Sorry, love." He began; his other hand rubbed at his forehead. "But I distinctly remember our first time, and this isn't it. I have no intentions of spoiling that experience for the two of us." The smile he gave was soft and sweet, and he kept kissing her hand. Darcy felt a little deflated, but nodded in agreement.

"You mentioned something about a vial?" She turned towards him, and watched with interest as his body kept changing between his forms.

"Ah, yes…. That." His grin had turned mischievous. "It was a gift from Lady Jane." Loki fought his lips to try and bat down his smile, and she noticed that he'd started to blush. Darcy raised an eyebrow and waited for him to continue. "The vial contains a rather potent…aphrodisiac from Asgard."

Darcy immediately snorted and covered her face. She tried her best to hide her laughter, but Loki joined in with her, and she couldn't help it. "Woops. My bad."

"No apology necessary." Loki's eyes sparkled with contentment and they stayed like that, looking into each other's eyes until Darcy started to fall asleep.

Darcy wasn't sure how long she'd been out, but she absolutely didn't want to be awake. She was having the most wonderful dream, she couldn't really remember what it was about, but Loki was with her and kissing her into distraction. Damn. She hadn't opened her eyes yet, but she was complacent to just lay there and listen to the steady rhythm of Loki's breathing. Their hands were still entwined and she smiled at how well they fit together.

Her eyes popped open when the familiar tingling set in her body. "Loki," she whispered, afraid to wake him, but afraid to leave. He didn't stir, and she felt the beginnings of the pull. "Loki," a little louder this time, her voice wavering on the verge of tears.

"Darcy? What's wrong?"

"I don't want to go." tears were falling silently down her cheeks, now and her grip tightened on his hand. "I want to stay with you." She had never fought the pull of Time before, but she was holding on to the current time with desperation.

Loki smiled and brushed her tears away. "But that's the thing, love." Loki enfolded her into a tight embrace. "You are with me." The last thing she felt was the cool press of his lips against hers.

Darcy found herself standing in the great room of her cabin with Jane. The astrophysicist was eating cereal at the breakfast bar, still in the pajamas that Darcy left her in. How much time had gone by?

"Darce?!" The spoon clanged on the table, as Jane rushed towards her. "You're finally back! I was getting worried! You were gone for a couple days." The tiny brunette was so happy to see her, she tried to pick her up; and settled for spinning them around when she couldn't. When they parted from their hug, Jane's eyes widened. "Is everything okay?" Darcy realized that she must have horrible raccoon eyes, her mascara had probably run all over the place too, not to mention she was still in her dress from dinner the night before.

"Everything's fine." Darcy said, not convincingly. Jane gave her a pointed look, and she sighed. "I went to the future."

"You went to the future?" Darcy nodded, tears starting anew. "And what happened? What did you find out?"

Darcy cleared her throat before answering, and forced a smile on her face. "I was happy."

Darcy showered and helped Jane in the lab the rest of the day. When they got back to their cabin, Jane mentioned that her laptop had chimed. She'd almost forgotten about the program that she'd been running, trying to find out exactly why she and Jane were in Tromso. She went over to the computer, and scanned through the information it retrieved.

After her visit to the future, she knew who was behind their temporary relocation... but the why? Her blood turned cold and she felt faint. Trying to take over the world? She wanted to laugh; Pinky and The Brain, anyone? And she wanted to cry... the security footage from the top secret, underground facility in the Mojave desert... a chill ran down her spine. Darcy informed Jane of the discovery and then excused herself. She had so much energy coursing through her, she needed to get out, get away, clear her head.

The snow crunched under her boots with each step. It was late at night, but the midnight summer sun kept everything in a perpetual twilight, the snow glowing blue around her. She passed under the snow-logged pine trees and ambled around the forest. She had a destination in mind, but wasn't concerned on how she was going to get there. She just wanted to be alone. Her eyes watered a couple times, but the biting cold she could feel on the moisture kept her from letting them spill down her cheeks. She didn't need to get frost bite from tearcicles.

Her long coat and thermal pants kept her warm, and her knit hat fought the slight breeze. Darcy liked being out in the cold. She kept her hands tucked in and her nose was hidden behind her scarf, but the frosty air was soothing to her lungs. Crunch, crunch, crunch. She continued her languid place until she finally reached her destination: a lake in the valley between two mountains.

She walked up to the shore and sat down, ignoring the chill permeating her clothes. She stared at the lake for a while; the water was still as glass, and she could see the reflection of the sky in it. A few snowflakes had started to fall, she noticed. Not very many at first, but then enough snowflakes for a full shower floated down around her. It was her favorite kind of snowfall: big flakes lazily making their way down to the ground. Darcy lied back and let the crystals kiss her face, feeling a peace come over her. She could make out a few constellations, and the whirring silence of the cold was soothing.

She wasn't sure how long she had been there, but she knew that she had to get up. It wasn't that she felt the chill, that didn't bother her; but she was getting sleepy and knew how dangerous it would have been if she had completely nodded off. Before standing up, she let out a long sigh, and spread her arms and legs, making a snow angel with a big grin on her face. When she was back no her feet, she dusted herself off and looked at her handiwork, a smile on her face, before she turned to head back towards the cabin. She hoped Jane wasn't worried about her.

She took a few paces staring back at the lake, wanting to catch a last glimpse before leaving. When she turned back around, she saw him. He'd come out of the trees a mere twenty feet from where she was. At first, she didn't move, only quietly said his name. He didn't seem to want to come any closer to her. In fact, he seemed to want to hide from her. Save for his helmet, he was in his Asgardian regalia.

"Loki?" She said again, louder. She stepped towards him, shrinking the distance between them. As she got closer, she could see how sickly he looked, a little too small and malnourished to properly fill out his attire. His demeanor had changed entirely, as well. Instead of the self-serving prince with the boyish charm that she met a year ago, he now looked lethal, predatory, and something radiated from him. Power, maybe? Upon closer inspection, she could see old bruises fading, dark spots under his eyes.

"What did he do to you?" Darcy reached a gloved hand towards his face, still comfortable with the Loki of the future and completely forgetting about the mental state of the man in front of her. "Torture?"

One of his hands gently closed over hers and pulled it away. "What do you know?" he asked softly, and the green of his eyes seemed a little more innocent.

Darcy's stomach dropped when she remembered the when of who she was talking to. She shook her head slowly. "Why are you here, Loki?"

"Freedom is life's great lie," he whispered; the phrase sounding wrote, like a mantra he'd repeated over and over. Darcy wasn't sure how to respond. "I am here," he began, "to rule as a benevolent god." Darcy gulped. "And I would have you at my side."

"That's not going to happen." Nope. Fuck that. She took a couple steps back, shaking her head. He met her eyes with a hard stare, animosity returning to them, all innocence lost. "You're still a good person. You don't have to do this."

"And what would you know of my nature? Whereas I have spent far more time in your company, you've hardly been in mine. You don't know me." He wasn't quite yelling at her, but he'd raised his voice.

"I may not know who you are now, Loki, but I know who you'll become." He cocked his head in confusion, drawing his brows tight. "I just spent the past three days falling in love with you." She could feel that tears had finally unloosened from her lashes, and were trailing down her cheeks, but Darcy was smiling. It felt good to confess the way future Loki made her feel, to finally put a name to an emotion she was unfamiliar with.

"What?" he stepped closer to her. "You've been to the future? When?" Loki was talking over her, trying to get answers, but Darcy wasn't going to give anything away.

"You weren't power hungry or vengeful. You were happy, passionate―excited to be alive! You were the Loki that I've heard so much about in Thor's stories.

"You told me that I'm the only one who can save you, Loki, but that's the thing. You don't need saving. You just need to come to terms with yourself and who you are, don't let anyone else define you. You're the only one who can make decisions about the kind of person you want to be."

Feeling emboldened, Darcy intertwined their fingers, and smiled that they felt the same as they had yesterday, a perfect fit. She sobered her expression and looked him square in the eyes. "I'm impatient to be with the real you again, Loki, but you can't expect me to wait around forever. We mortals just don't have that kind of Time." She walked away from him, then, letting their hands fall at the growing distance. She wanted so badly to look back, but she didn't let herself. Either he was still there, or he wasn't; and she was afraid of both possibilities.

When she got back to the cabin, Darcy pulled on her favorite comfy pajamas and curled up on her bed, snuggling beneath the mountain of blankets and holding on tight to the black dress she'd come back with―it still smelled like him, a minty pine lingering on the fabric. She smiled through the sore pain of heartache. She held it close and cried herself to sleep, praying that he would do the right thing before it was too late.

AN: P.S. I'm submitting a couple of those sexy Loki lines to Loki's Dirty Whispers... soooo hotttttt.