Chapter Eight: A Misunderstanding Understood
Thor was restless, not knowing for sure where his brother was. His mother hadn't actually told him, but from what he had been able gather from the conversation with her, was that Loki was on Midgard. Though he had no idea where exactly. To matters worse, he had been ordered to remain on Asgard, his mother refusing to allow him to find Loki until the time in which she told him was right.
It had been too long, weeks, months, too long without word of his brother. During his days he tried to keep busy, training with his friends and dodging Sif's advances. She just couldn't understand his attraction to Jane, and not that he felt like explaining it either.
But even keeping busy didn't help, there was tension in the palace. His mother and father barely spoke to one another anymore. He knew his father was angry for what his mother had done, but Thor couldn't help but be thankful. It wasn't that his father didn't love Loki, but when it came to disciplining him he could sometimes be a bit harsh. Thor wasn't sure what his father had planned before his mother stepped in, and he really didn't want to think on it.
Thor was currently lounging in the great hall, watching as his friends joked, laughed and ate as though nothing had happened. It struck him then, how little they missed Loki. Not one of them had shed a tear when they thought him dead. They had given condolences to him and his family, but thinking back on it he realized they had not been sincere. Even now they didn't mention him.
Growing up it had always been the six of them, the princes and the warriors. Only now did Thor notice certain things. How they always followed him around, but refused to do anything Loki wanted unless Thor agreed. How their teasing was more cruel than anything, intended to hurt and offend. How they always tried to exclude him from things and were quick to blame him when anything went wrong. Sure, Loki had been behind a lot of the mischief through the years, but not everything. And certainly not some of the things Sif had blamed him for. It hurt to realize that his brother hadn't had any real friends growing up. He hoped that wherever he was he had someone, a friend.
Darcy had overslept. That was apparent the moment she opened her eyes and saw the glowing red numbers of her alarm clock. Damn, she hadn't slept past noon since the summer after high school.
She quickly jumped from bed, ran for her bathroom, washed, dressed and went in search of food.
The moment she entered the living room, poptart in hand, Darcy knew something was wrong. The chair in which Loki normally sat and read during the day was empty. In fact looking around the room she realized he must've never left his room. Not even to eat.
Darcy sighed, this was stupid. Everything was stupid. Her feelings for a war criminal, said criminal's confusing behavior. Clint, Fury, all stupid. And she was tired of it all. Though her job at the law firm had been boring, at least there was no emotional turmoil involved.
Marching back into the kitchen, she threw the poptart in the trash and got to work on making pancakes. It was something her father had done while she was growing up. When Darcy was down her dad would whip up a batch of his famous pancakes and the two of them would eat them while watching cartoons. She wondered briefly what her father would think of Loki, but stopped that train of thought before it could go any further. That was a subject for another day.
Once she had finished, she made a plate and went to Loki's door. It was still locked so she used her foot to knock on it since her hands were full.
"If you don't open this door in the next three minutes I'm going to borrow one of Tony's robots to come and knock it down." And she would too, even if she had to hijack the damn thing. She was just so tired of everything, and she really didn't want to put up with anymore of Loki's confusing behavior.
At the three minute mark the door clicked open. Darcy stood in the doorway watching as Loki walked back to his bed completely ignoring her. She figured she was going to have to do the talking. She walked in, set the tray down on his lap and smiled softly at him.
"What is this?" He didn't look angry at least, though he did look like a kicked puppy. It definitely did help things that she now wanted to hug him and not let go.
"They're happy face pancakes! No one can be sad when they have happy face pancakes." Her smile was bit forced, but she hoped Loki didn't notice.
Loki didn't smile, but still dug into his breakfast.
"Loki…I don't understand what happened yesterday…." Before she could continue Loki looked sharply up at her, that kicked puppy look increasing.
"I'm sorry, Darcy. I never should have presumed to kiss you. Just because you've been nice to me doesn't mean that you want me that way. I was wrong to act the way I did." Darcy was speechless for a moment, how could she tell him that his kiss had been the most romantic and wonderful thing that had ever happened to her? That if she had her way, he would toss that plate across the room and take her right there in his bed?
"There is nothing to be sorry for. Had I not liked it, I would have pulled away and slapped you." Loki looked at her confused for a second. Coupled with the kicked puppy look, she almost expected him to cock his head to the side.
"What about your lover? Would he not have a problem with my advances?" She was the one to look confused that time. Lover? What the fuck was he talking about?
"What in the world do you mean? I don't have a lover."
"Is not Barton your lover? I have seen you two together many times since I've arrived. The way he looks at you, his possessiveness of you. I have even seen him kiss you." Darcy frowned, she hadn't realized that Loki had noticed any of that.
"We're not lovers."
"Then what about the kiss, the way he treats you? I am sorry, but I do not understand. If you are not lovers, then why?" Why indeed. That was a questions she had been asking herself since Thor first landed in New Mexico. She still hadn't found an answer.
"Clint does have feelings for me, I know that. But because of personal reasons he refuses to act on them. It doesn't matter anyway, because I don't want him. I want….." She trailed off before looking up at Loki who was watching her closely. That pitiful look finally gone, instead replaced with the most hopeful expression she had ever seen on him.
"I want you." Loki breathed a sigh of relief, set the plate of pancakes on the side table and grabbed a hold of Darcy's face.
"Barton is a fool." And with that he proceeded to kiss the ever living shit out of her.
A few floors up, Clint sat at a monitor watching as Darcy and Loki kissed. He was just as mad as he had been the day before, but he was also more hurt than anything. Darcy had been right, he had feelings for her, and by the pain in his chest they were strong feelings. Stronger than he realized. But he had missed his chance, and it was his fault.
He clicked off the screen unable to watch where the scene playing out might go, and leaned over, placing his head in his hands. He hadn't let fear rule him for so long, priding himself on being able to get the job done no matter what. If he had just been able to apply that to his personal life, it could have been him in the arms of Darcy. He would have been the one kissing her, loving her, waking up beside her. But he had been scared and had let that hold him back. Now it was too late.
He remained hunched over until he felt two little hands trying to pry his own off his face. He looked up to find Carli standing in front of him, looking at him with a face so similar to her mother's it actually hurt. She had been a good woman, she hadn't deserved to die. Hadn't deserved what he had done to her by leaving her and their daughter.
Carli climbed up on his lap, put one of her tiny hands on his cheek and pressed a kiss to the other. She then wrapped her arms around his neck and curled up against him. She didn't go to sleep, just held onto him as though she realized that he was upset and this was her way of saying she was there for him.
Clint wrapped his arms around her and held her tightly against him. He may have lost Darcy, but he still had his daughter, and that he wasn't about to mess up.
Frigga looked out over Asgard from the balcony of her chambers, awaiting her son. It wouldn't be long now before both of her children were there with her once more. She could feel it, could see it. Life in the palace would soon be filled with laughter again, and love, always love.
Author's Note: Ok, short chapter, I know. But I thought this was better if it stood alone. So misunderstanding now understood, Clint realizes he was an idiot, Frigga is still planning stuff, let's see how all this pans out, shall we?
Also, thanks Sugars, for all the reviews. I love reading them, and to the guest reviewers since I can't reply, thank you all as well. I'm happy all ya'll are enjoying the story.
Disclaimer:
All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
