Do not fear
The monsters that stalk
In the darkness.
Fear the monsters
Who stalk in the light
And call themselves men.
Darcy couldn't keep still.
Her fingers tapped a fast, rhythmless beat on her leg, her body shifting from foot to foot the more time passed. Eyes darting to the door for what felt like the 100th time in the past few minutes, she let out a distressed huff of air. A hand landed on her shoulder, and she nearly jumped out of her skin.
"Easy, my friend," came the familiar booming voice of Thor. He grinned down at her, a joyous look upon his face. "I simply wished to know if you'd like to be reintroduced to Sif and the Warriors Three."
She perked up at the thought of remeeting Thor's friends: she had not seen them since the battle in Arizona. But as quickly as she perked up, she slumped back down. "I wish I could, but I can't. I have to wait here."
"Oh?" Staring at the door with a puzzled expression, he asked, "I thought my mother was giving you a tour of the grounds: why are you waiting alone outside of the throne room?"
Huffing, she quipped, "Because apparently your dad wants an audience with me." Laughing at Thor's panicked expression, she added, "That's why your mom left me here. She said she wanted a word with him. I'm assuming that means she needed to prep him on how to handle my Darcy-isms."
Thor still looked unsure. "Darcy… a warning. My father… he can be a bit…"
"Strict?"
"That is an understatement." Seeming unsure of his words, he simply stated, "Just keep in mind that he is a bit… old fashioned, would be the best terminology. He demands proper respect."
The young girl suddenly looked nervous. "...well I might be screwed."
"Darcy-"
"I know, I know!" she interjected, gesturing wildly in the air. "But I'm nervous, and you know how I get when I'm nervous!" Her hand fell to her side, resuming its rapid tapping from earlier. "Maybe I should just make a run for it-"
But as she spoke those words, the doors to the throne room swung outward, and Frigga stepped out to greet them. "Darcy, he is ready to see you know."
Grabbing Thor's arm with a panicked expression, Darcy asked, "Can I bring my emotional support Thor with me?..."
Smiling sadly, Frigga shook her head. "He can wait out here, but my husband wishes to speak to you alone."
"...this is not going to end well…"
She should have run.
Sitting atop a giant golden throne, Odin stared down at her, his expression calm but clinical, seeming to dissect her. She felt very exposed in this moment, and distantly wished she had brought her taser with her to Asgard… Jane had wisely disallowed her from bringing it, but still. Having the weapon always helped to calm her nerves.
Now, she had nothing but her wit and her bare hands, and she doubted that either would serve her against the King of Gods.
"Lady Darcy Lewis of Midgard." His voice rang out across the empty throne room, save for him, herself, and the few guards standing at the doorways. He nodded his head in greeting. "My wife, Frigga, and son, Thor, have both spoke highly of you. It is an honor to have someone they hold in such regard bare their marks."
Something heavy settled in her gut at the way he phrased that, how he focused on Thor and Frigga, but she squelched the concern and nodded her head the same way he did. "Thank you, sir, but it's more of an honor for myself to have gotten to know them so well. I owe them both a great deal."
He stayed quiet for a few moments, and just as Darcy began to wonder what he was waiting for, he stated, "You do not kneel."
"...I beg your pardon?"
"It is customary to kneel before the king."
She felt her eyebrow twitch. "Huh. Interesting." Her voice was clipped, and she struggled to push down the building irritation. "Where I am from, kneeling is not customary."
"Is that so?" he drawled out, his face betraying no emotion. "Well, considering you are a guest in this place-"
"Is it a habit of yours to make demands of guests?" The words slipped out before she could stop herself, and she vaguely noticed the horrified looks of the guards in the background behind the throne. She imagined the ones posted at the doorway behind her held similar looks. Realizing she had likely already dug her own grave, she continued. "And on the matter of being a 'guest', I am not exactly here by choice."
Odin's composure cracked momentarily, his brows furrowing. "You are here to be honored-"
"I am here, sir, because your little 'honor' mark was killing me." Her fingers began to tap against her leg as she felt her blood race through her veins. "In case you have not noticed, I am not exactly the usual 'warrior' material, and being 'honored' is not exactly something I care about."
Odin looked on the verge of being wrathful, but with a heavy sigh, he merely shook his head and remarked, "I have not even seen your marks yet, but I can already tell you bare Loki's chaos mark. Its as second nature to you as it is to him."
"Uhhh... " she began slowly, tilting her head slightly. "Thanks?... I think."
Straightening in the throne, he announced, "Let us skip the formalities and discuss the true issues at hand. Now, Lady Darcy, I ask you this: do you wish to keep your marks."
Frowning for a moment, she ventured to ask, "What all does it entail if I keep them?... I know about the ceremony, but what about after?"
"Should you keep your marks and choose a patron," Odin declared in a booming voice. "You shall be bound to the patron for one year on Midgard-"
"Wait that's it?" she interjected. "Thor made it sound like it was permanent."
"No. It is only a temporary partnership," Odin explained, a little annoyed at the interruption. "We might live longer than humans, but being bound to one for their full life cycle would still be a hindrance. Now, at the end of the year, should you remain bound to the patron and they deem you worthy, you shall have the option to be tested."
"...what kind of test?"
"A test to earn one of Idunn's apples of immortality."
Pacing outside the door, Thor could not wipe the worried expression from his face. Darcy had been speaking with his father for a while now, and the longer time passed, the more concerned he grew. His mother had left him with reassurances that all would be fine, but still…
Darcy did not receive her chaos mark for nothing.
"Thor!"
He spun around at the voice and easily caught the woman in his arms. "Jane…" Holding her close, he pressed a kiss to her hair. "I apologize for not coming to find the rest of you."
She pulled back, offering a smile as the Avengers, Sif, and Warriors Three approached from behind her. "It's fine, Thor. Though I was wondering if you knew where Darcy was? We haven't seen her since she left with your mother."
Frowning, he let out a nervous cough. "Well… you see…"
Sif stepped forward, looking concerned. "Is there a reason why you are standing outside the throne room?"
"...Darcy is currently inside speaking with the All-father."
Everyone shared nervous looks, all finally understanding why Thor was acting so off kilter. Stark broke the silence, asking in an attempt to break the silence, "So… your dad isn't one of those 'smite any who offends him' type of god, right?"
Jane let out a distressed gasp, and several glares were shot towards the billionaire. Before Stark could defend himself, the doors to the throne room opened up. With a hesitant walk, out came a non-smited Darcy, and though she was in one piece, she certainly looked shaken up.
Darting forward, Jane immediately set about fussing over the younger girl. "Are you okay? Did everything go well?"
Darcy didn't even protest to the fussing, seeming lost deep in thought. "I'm fine. I think."
"You think?" Natasha asked.
"Things went well at first. Well, it sort of did. It was rocky, but we were talking," she explained, sounding unsure of herself. "He explained the binding a bit more, mentioned the fact that this is only for a year and that this whole thing was only optional. But the longer we talked, the more… frustrated I grew with him. And I… I eventually pulled a Darcy." Shifting nervously under the waiting gazes, she quietly mumbled, "I called him a douche canoe."
Silence. Then everyone erupted at once. Staring wide eyed at the varying emotions from the group, Darcy began to nervously tap her hand on her leg again, her shoulders trembling as the stress began to build. She wanted to speak, to defend herself, but before she could think of the proper words, a pair of hands rested on her shoulders.
"Will everyone please calm down?" The arguing ceased immediately, and everyone stared at Frigga, who stood resolutely behind Darcy, who still trembled. "Now then, Thor, I just spoke to your father and he wishes to speak with you and Jane. As for the rest of you, Darcy has a meeting to attend."
"Meeting?" Jane asked curiously. "What kind of meeting?"
"During her… talk with the All-father, my husband suggested to Darcy that she had the option to ignore one of her markings." Clearing her throat as she added, "Apparently Darcy… colorfully denied his suggestion. So, this means that she needs to meet with her final patron."
The Avengers all paled at the thought, Jane gripping Darcy tightly, while Sif and the Warriors Three stared in confusion. "What patron does she have that the All-father would suggest her ignoring him?" Volstagg in genuine surprise.
Everyone was quiet for a beat, and then the four warriors seemed to realize all at once. "You cannot be serious?!" Fandral shouted in a horrified tone.
Sif grabbed Darcy's arm. "Why would you not deny that monster?" Her tone was demanding, her grip tight. "He is a murderer, a trickster. How could you even consider-"
Darcy yelped in pain, and Sif jumped back, releasing her arm as the Avengers swarmed in between the two women. "Hands off, Xena!" Stark snapped defensively.
Frowning deeply, Sif asked, "What mark does she bear? The mark of a liar?"
Glaring angrily, Darcy yanked the scarf off her neck and pulled on the neck of her sweater. "Look for yourself," she snapped showing her chaos and mischief mark. Then, she added, "And while your at it, want to see my other marks?" Not waiting for an answer, she pushed up her sleeves and showed off her wrist marks. "I have marks for both Thor and Frigga. Gonna continue to accuse me?"
Sif went quiet, eyes darting between Frigga and Thor. Both flanked either side of Darcy, and neither seemed too pleased with her actions towards the young girl. "I just… why defend him?"
Huffing, she crossed her arms and shrugged. "I've spent the past nearly three weeks with his nightmares. I have questions for him."
Sif's eyes widened in understanding, and slowly, she nodded, placated for now.
"So, if the drama is out of the way," Darcy quipped, glancing around the hall at everyone. "Who wants to accompany me to have a little chat with the resident jailbird?"
"Did you really call Odin a douche canoe?"
Frowning at the grinning billionaire, Darcy crossed her arms with a huff. "It's not like I meant to do it. He was just seriously pissing me off. I'm no longer surprised that Loki ended up the way he did."
Natasha lifted a brow in surprise. "That's quite the statement."
"Seriously though!" she half shouted. "He was being a total jerk! He talked about Loki as if he were nothing to him! I get that Loki pulled some serious shit, but just… he's his son."
"Thor did mention that Loki was adopted," Steve chimed in.
Darcy smacked Steve on the shoulder: the Captain barely felt it, but still looked offended about it. "That's even worse!" she snapped.
"None of that justifies the murder spree," Tony pointed out.
"Have you seen this culture?" Darcy countered. "Warriors are basically heralded as heroes for their kill counts. Hell, Thor was banished to Earth because he declared war on another planet with the intent to commit genocide." Shaking her head, she added, "I'm not justifying Loki's, but at least he was trying to conquer us, not wipe us out."
"Stop arguing with the Political Science Major, guys," Natasha chimed in. "She's just going to keep countering any points you bring up."
"Thank you-"
"Besides, let's just let her opinion change when she meets him."
Frowning, she muttered, "I was beginning to think you were on my side."
Staring down the younger girl, she bluntly stated, "You haven't dealt with him personally like we have."
The doors to the spare hall they were in began to open up, the sound of the Asgardian guards marching and chains clanking filling the room. Swallowing heavily, she remarked, "Well… that's about to change."
Comments:
Anareris: He will be here in the next chapter! Promise!
