Chapter 9

Marvel owns everything (well, technically Disney owns everything...). Remember, I still don't have a Beta reader, nor a vast knowledge of the English language. Enjoy !

Soooo sorry for the delay - well, the main reasons for this interruption is that I had to study for my FCE and then I started to write other multi-chapter stories, so it's been a little hectic lately, for me...as always thanks to all the followers, the reviewers, the ones who put this story in their favorites-thanks for bearing with me ! And without further ado, the next chapter !

The next few days were a little hectic for Loki and Darcy : still no news from Thor, who was still in Asgard , plus the day of Darcy's return to work was getting closer . They had discussed about this, and still they had not reached a decision : Darcy was determined to stay at home until the disclosure of Hal's mystery, while Loki obviously disagreed .

" If Fury and the others didn't see you back in a few days, they're going to be suspicious...we can't allow it, not until we'll have more insight on the reason why Hal's parents left their baby to us " Loki declared, but Darcy disagreed. " Au contraire, mon ami : they're going to suspect that something is wrong if I return ! They have already verified the false background Kitty prepared for my fake cousin and her baby - my friend is monitoring them , just to be prepared, in case...And in one week I'm suddenly ready to leave my cousin's baby at home alone ? No way ! They're not going to fall for such nonsense, Loki - not with Fury as S.H.I.E.L.D's boss " the girl explained , trying to remain calm when in fact she was terrified of S.H.I.E.L.D. finding out about Hal being a Jotunn.

" What do you suggest, then ? " Loki asked, and Darcy quickly replied " We are going to take him with us ! "

The God didn't know if he was supposed to laugh : he still couldn't catch every joke Darcy said, so he decided to reply with a blank glare.

" You don't get, don't you ? It's brilliant ! Fury will see that it's nothing strange in Hal, plus " she added in a conspiratorial way " it will be great for your reputation ! A former villain who is at ease with a little baby...imagine the possibilities !"

Loki couldn't restrain himself a minute more : his patience was very thin . " Are you crazy ? What if Hal is going to turn blue while we are outside ? How are we going to justify that ? Don't worry, sir, he's not a Jotunn, not at all ! Do you want to test on him ? Well, why not ? How can you be such an idiot, Darcy ?!". The young woman was trying to reply when her cellphone chimed, and after a moment a loud thunder resounded in the sky . " I think your brother is here, dear God " Darcy said, and left the room to reach Hal in his nursery.

Just a second after that, Thor knocked on the door, and Loki went to let him in . He didn't give him time to greet him , shooting his questions all at once . " What have you found out ? Who are his parents ? Does someone suspect something ? Is it safe here for him ?" . Thor chuckled at his brother's eagerness, but this seemed to anger Loki. " Why are you laughing at me ? "

"I'm not laughing at you, dear brother" Loki glared at the blonde God, as usual " but never in my millennial life I have seen you so preoccupied for another living being . It's just curious, but not in a negative way, I assure you ".

" Things change, as the midgardians say . And now tell me what you've discovered " Loki barked.

"I'm sorry , but none in Asgard is aware of Hal's existence" Thor said, and his face fell a bit.

" And what about the other realms ? " the mischievous God prompted .

" As I said, I'm sor-" Loki interrupted him, his face grim and his tone disappointed . " You're sorry - but it's my fault, I sent you to do my job, and I had to take in account your complete ineptitude in the most difficult tasks...why am I forced here ?"

" Because you tried to annihilate your own race and then to subjugate my world..." Darcy emerged from the nursery, Hal already awake in her arms.

" Lady Darcy, I hope I didn't frighten little Hal..." Thor smiled at the girl - she must possess some hidden strength, to bear my brother like she does... the God of thunder pondered. Or maybe there's something else...

" What now ? We have no clues about his parents, and little Hal can't tell us anything...Thor, are you sure Heimdall didn't see anything ? He's supposed to see everything, isn't he ? " Darcy asked, but Loki was quick to answer back " Not when someone is very keen to hide his or her real motives..."

" Well maybe Thor can give us his opinion about my earlier proposition of bringing Hal with me when I will return back at work the day after tomorrow - what do you think, Thunder God ?" the young woman ignored Loki's snort and smiled to Thor.

" I thought Jane had already told you...she spoke with Fury, and assured him that you can do your work from home - isn't it simpler and safer for both you and little Hal ?"

Darcy was surprised : why both Loki and she had not thought of this ? We were too busy arguing and proving our points...damn pride !" You're right, Thor - this is the best for all of us". Hal's silent yawn interrupted her thanks, and she went towards the kitchen " I think someone here is hungry - do you want to stay here for dinner, Thor ? We will show you Hal's new room , it's amazing !"

Thor smiled at Darcy's enthusiasm. " I would like it, but Jane is waiting for me, and ..."

" Yes, I get it - sexy times, you naughty God !" she laughed, while Loki made a rather disgusted face.

" We don't want to keep you here. Goodbye, Thor " Loki told his brother, and swiftly left the room.

Darcy looked at Thor : the poor guy still had faith that one day Loki would return to treat him like a brother, and every time Loki decided to ignore him , Thor's heart seemed to break a little more. " Give it time, Thor - he just needs to forgive himself" Darcy whispered while giving Thor an awkward one-harm hug, and Thor nodded. A few seconds after, he was already in the air, on his way home.


That night, Hal couldn't sleep. He was fussy, and his cries were more insistent, like he was in real pain. Darcy and Loki tried to console him ,but everything was useless, and they were starting to worry .

" We need to take him to a doctor " Darcy stated, but Loki shook his head . " We can't . It's too dangerous "

" Hal is suffering, Loki - I don't care if someone discovers us, he needs a doctor !" she started to pick the baby up, when she found something strange . " He's hot, Loki, really hot. He has a fever!" Darcy started to panic, and Loki made a decision . " Alright. I will call a doctor - now stay calm, ok ?" Loki noticed Darcy was silently weeping , and he started to caress her slightly wet cheek. " I need you to stay focused, Darcy - for Hal , do you understand me ?" Loki soothed her, and Darcy stopped crying. She looked into his eyes and nodded . " For Hal".


Half an hour later, a sleepy Bruce Banner crossed their threshold . " Loki, it's two in the morning - I beg you, tell me this is not one of your strange prank, because I will get angry, and you know what happens when I get angry...especially when you're involved "

" It's not a prank, Dr. Banner - we need your help, and we trust you to not tell anybody what you're about to witness " Loki said, and only then Bruce Banner observed carefully the scene before his eyes : the God of Mischief was near Darcy, who was holding a crying blue baby in her arms .

" What do I need to know ? " Bruce asked .

" Nothing; only that he' s been crying for three hours, he has developed a high fever and he seems to be in real pain" Darcy offered, and Dr. Banner went instantly in doctor mode . " Alright, I will bring him in the nursery - prepare some cold towels , and a bottle of his formula for later " Darcy sprinted towards the kitchen, and Loki started to follow him in the room, only to be stopped by Bruce ." You're too worried . I need tranquility to see him "

" But I-" Loki began , but Bruce interrupted him. " Do you trust me, Loki ? As a doctor, and as a friend ?" .

Loki gave him a hard look, but nodded .

" Stay with Darcy . I think you both need to stay together " Bruce instructed, and closed the door of Hal's room .

The God of Mischief approached his flatmate in the kitchen, and without a word he took one of her trembling hands. Darcy squeezed his hand in return, and after a moment she felt Loki pull her towards him . " It's going to be fine, Darcy - trust me ".

After ten minutes, Bruce opened the door and called them . He was smirking . " Your boy is perfectly fine, aside from an ear infection . Did you noticed him behaving strangely ? Tugging at his ears, or had he difficulty in sleeping ?" he inquired, and both Darcy and Loki nodded . " Yes, I noted also a strange whitish fluid draining from his left ear, before you arrived" the girl added .

" There's no need to worry . I will give you a prescription for antibiotics , and you just need to check his ears for the next two weeks. For the blue skin , instead , I suppose you're the ones who are going to give me an explanation...if you want " Bruce prompted.

" Maybe later" Loki conceded. " For now, thank you, Dr. Banner "

When Bruce left them, Hal seemed to be calmer, and he fell asleep swiftly . " He's so tiny, and vulnerable" Darcy murmured, looking at him . Loki was besides her . " He has us, to protect him. A disgraced God and a fierce student . He's safe with us ". Darcy sighed, and suddenly her arms were around his upper body . Loki grinned and returned the hug . " As long as we are together, we will be safe"

Hope you liked this chapter - I gave you not one, but two Avengers ! Updates are going to be every three weeks, so let me know what you think, and again,sorry for the delay !