Okay, so this chapter breaks the mold a bit. Normally I switch between Darcy and Loki centric chapters, getting their full emotional response to the same situations, which is what I did in the first half of this one. The second half goes back and forth between them, and I hope it isn't confusing or distracting, but I felt like it was time for a little less inner monologue and a lot more action! ;) Ask and ye shall receive! Enjoy!
Darcy hated the rooms on the helicarrier. She really shouldn't complain, since convincing everyone she didn't have any internal injuries or an infection had taken hours, and she was glad to have the IV out, but dang. Was it really necessary to the cause of protecting the world to paint everything grey? She huffed a breath, trying to get comfortable in the military-type cot with its grey sheets and her grey pillowcase, staring at nothing but grey walls. Her ribs were still pretty sore, but she was feeling restless, never being one to stay put for very long especially since SHIELD still hadn't returned her IPod. She'd promised Jane that she would stay in bed, but patience wasn't Darcy's strong suit, and she doubted laying here obsessing over a certain God of Mischief who took her breath away despite being totally off her menu counted as respiratory therapy anyway. Getting up, she finger combed her hair and checked out her colllection of bruises, noting that the swelling had gone down on her forehead, even if she still looked like a rorschach test. At least she'd gotten to take a shower and put on her own cothes, though her sweats and t-shirt weren't much of an improvement over the scrubs. Shoving her feet into tennis shoes, she left the room and wandered down the hall, standing as straight as she could so no one would make her go back to bed.
Her mind wandered with her legs, reliving the moments with Loki in the infirmary, wondering if she would ever get that close to him again. Considering how fast he'd beat feet out of there at the first halfway polite opportunity, and considering how she looked right now, she had to doubt it. There was definite heat between them, even through his distant aloofness she had felt his stare like a wildfire on her skin. Bruce had cleared his throat a few times before they'd noticed and he had bounced his eyes between them like a cartoon character. Later he had come by her room to check in and she had grilled him about Loki; he didn't know much more than she did but warned her not to believe all the mythology about him. Vikings were heavy drinkers and legends tended to get exaggerated quite a bit. She'd already figured as much, but giggled anyway, remembering some of the more outlandish tales about her two favorite Asgardians. Bruce clearly knew she was into Loki, and he'd plainly seen the chemistry between them, and while he'd been uncomfortable as the middle man he hadn't really seemed to mind the thought of them together. Then again, he most likely thought it was a girlish crush and that a millenia-old god wouldn't lower himself enough to date a human, and he was probably right. Darcy had an immature thing for bad boys, and he'd saved her life in dramatic fashion, and Loki was not like Thor, who had fallen for Jane in just two days. Darcy really needed to get real and leave the fantasies for her dreams.
She sighed, the squared her shoulders as much as she was able, walking into the Situation Room, as she'd brilliantly dubbed the conference room with the comfy chairs and the best snacks. She frowned. Didn't there used to be one of those glass walls that SHIELD seemed so fond of there? Were they redecorating? Maybe they'd gotten as bored with the grey paint as she had.
Nick Fury was there with Tony, Pepper standing at his side, holding his hand and looking worried.
"The helicarrier is on complete lockdown as soon as we land. No unauthorized personnel are to depart, for any reason other than a direct attack. Is that clear, Ms. Lewis?"
The one-eyed pirate in black leather glared at her, and she nodded even though she wanted to tell him not to order her around. She wouldn't be much help to anyone in this condition though, and had enough sense to know it. Fury and company left and she leaned against the table, fiddling with the remote to see if the battle had started yet. She didn't like the ball of worry in her stomach, worse this time than usual, and liked the reason for it even less. Loki was a god, he would be fine, and she didn't think he'd appreciate her getting all girly about it. Her friends were superheroes; they put themselves in danger all the time to save the world and had always come back okay and she told herself that today would be no different and that was that.
As he headed down the hallway with Banner, Loki was wound tight and could sense the same in the other man, the Hulk becoming more obvious in his face and movements, both ready for a good fight. His temper was still simmering under the surface from Banner's speech, and he let it rise to boiling, infusing his body and magic in closely restrained anger, the muscles in his arms and legs tense and cold energy snapping in the air around him. He hoped the Hulk didn't end the battle so quickly this time, hoped he had time to release the sudden bitter fury that filled him.
He noticed Darcy in the conference room and stopped short, Hulk too close to the surface for Banner to wait for him, which was most likely for the best anyway. Loki didn't really want to scare her, but he needed to make sure she stayed inside this time, out of harm's way, even if he had to be less than cordial to do it.
"Stay here. Do not leave this room. Do you understand."
Darcy had been watching the satellite feeds when Loki stalked into the room, her earlier panther analogy strikingly appropriate to the way he looked right then. His golden armor gleamed menacingly, and his eyes burned with unholy fire, and she was reminded of his power and the things he was capable of, fear overriding her attraction for a moment. His voice was low, harsh and sharp as a dagger and his tone brooked no arguement, only acquiesence. Darcy knew she should just nod an answer like she had with Fury, get him out of this suddenly small room with her and on his way into the fight he so obviously wanted. She swallowed hard instead, trying to find her voice and her courage.
"I'll stay, but only if you promise to watch your back out there."
"You will stay regardless, mortal."
Darcy shivered, his voice was dangerously low now as he reminded her of their differences. She pressed though, forcing herself not to shrink away from him as she shook her head.
"Promise me."
Loki's temper blazed in the face of her defiance, and he stepped closer, intimidating her even as he respected her bravery. He loomed over her slight form, leaning in, crowding, wanting to see the fear in her eyes now. And she was afraid of him in this moment. He planted his hands on the table on either side of her, effectively trapping her in front of him, and he leaned down further, whispering evilly in her ear, letting his breath frost in her hair.
"Do not test me, little one. You will not like the results. I am not a mortal man to be manipulated. I am a god. And you will do as I command."
He heard her gasp again, her head nodding, and he knew he'd finally gotten through to her fear. She was shaking and some part of him knew he'd regret that later, even as it thrilled him now. He looked at her face and grabbed her jaw firmly enough to make her meet his eyes, another scare tactic but not enough to actually hurt her. She was breathing hard, her mouth open, and she licked her lips and suddenly his mind wasn't on frightening her anymore.
Darcy was glad for the table behind her because without it she would surely be a heap in the floor. Loki was terrifying like this, his anger barely leashed, his big body and intense face so close, and his hand on her face and throat a reminder that he could snap her neck without a second thought. He was the mad God of Lies like this, the evil God of Mischief, and while she was truly afraid of him, she had the passing thought that he still managed to be beautiful even as his icy breath brought to mind his true nature. She felt stupid for wanting him in this situation, fear and intimidation didn't get her off, but he wasn't hurting her and something told her he wouldn't. Her body relaxed a little so that she wasn't leaning away from him anymore and their faces were a mere breath apart, another movement and their noses would touch, and she wanted that to happen.
"Promise. Me."
Loki didn't know who made the first move and didn't care, couldn't think beyond the feeling of her mouth under his. Lips, tongues, teeth, crashing together in an intoxicating combination of rough and tender, her taste an explosion in his brain, a kaleidescope of colors behind his eyelids, her passion a fuel to his fire. The kiss went on and on and he knew that even if he'd had a thousand kisses hers would be extraordinary, and when she licked his teeth and bit his lower lip he groaned, trying not to crush her against him so he didn't hurt her, but she was pushing him past his control.
Darcy tasted a bit of blood when his teeth knocked against her lip but she didn't care because he was kissing her like he'd never kissed anyone before and wouldn't get the chance again. She was overwhelmed by him, by his ferocity and his tenderness and the way his breath was cold but his tongue was warm and how he tasted like apples and spice. She slid a hand to the back of his neck, dipping her fingers under his collar and tangling in his soft hair, pulling a little when he turned his head to kiss her from a new angle. He growled into her mouth and nipped her again with his teeth, swiping his tongue over her lip to sooth the little punishment.
When they finally broke apart they were both breathing hard, faces flushed and lips swollen from the passion of their kisses and he rested his forehead against hers.
"I promise."
And then he was gone.
