A/N: I couldn't help myself.

Disclaimer: I do not own the characters and I am making no money off of this story.

XXXXX

It was actually a few weeks before Darcy was able to get away for her trip to visit her parents. The airport security was a breeze, which was surprising. But once they scanned her drivers license, something SHIELD related must have popped up on their screens because she was whisked through the line without even having to take her shoes off.

Her seat was a cramped little middle-seat she managed to purchase last-minute, in between a chain smoker (who reeked) and a businessman (who snored). Darcy put on her headphones and turned her iPod up and resigned herself to an uncomfortable flight.

About an hour into the flight, the smoker, on the aisle, stood up to use the lavatory. Deciding to use that time to stretch her legs, Darcy stood and walked towards the front of the plane. Ahead of her a flight attendant was standing in the little galley which separated the cramped economy class from the swanky, leather-upholstered luxury class. She was abnormally tall, and as Darcy approached, she turned. The woman had been speaking with a dark-haired man in a finely tailored grey suit … who also had amazing green eyes.

"Loki?"

He did not look surprised to see her. "Darcy! I had no idea you were on the same flight as me!"

"Uh huh. Why don't I believe you?" But she couldn't help smiling anyway. It was just like him to crash her visit. He had been on his best behavior with her recently - he had not stolen anything or broken anything of hers in quite some time. In fact, he'd even seemed ... distant. He would smirk at her in the hallways, as per normal, but he was often rushing somewhere and their interactions were brief. That was what she had wanted… right? A professional relationship?

"Wishful thinking?" he grinned. "Where are you sitting?"

Darcy pointed back the way she had come. The flight attendant fluffed her hair and gave Darcy a nasty look. "I'm sorry, but only executive passengers are allowed in the executive area."

"Actually, I purchased an additional seat, in the executive area, for my brother who declined to make this trip with me. Would you be interested in taking it, Miss Lewis? I'm sure no one would mind." He gave the flight attendant a wink and she practically fainted.

"That would rock!" Darcy exclaimed, before she thought better of it.

"It's settled then. Charlene here will gather your things and you can come right up here with me." He took her hand and at the contact her hand caught fire. Her entire focus centered on that touch. His hand was warmer than she expected, but it was firm. With her eyes she followed up the line of his arm to his shoulders and then into his face. His stupid, perfect face.

Loki lifted one eyebrow in amusement. He gave her hand a tug and she followed.

XXXXX

Loki accepted a glass of white wine from one of the servers and glanced at the woman pretending to sleep next to him. He allowed himself a smug smile.

After the debacle when the Avengers had over-reacted at his use of magic on her, several of them had made it their personal mission to meddle in his plans regarding Darcy. Dr. Banner was the surprising one. He acted unexpectedly over-protective and came close to threatening him. Loki had to promise not to use his magic upon Darcy - against her will. The last caveat Loki insisted upon. What if they were in the middle of a battle? What if Stark Tower was attacked? For that matter, what if he wished to whisk her away to his bedroom at a moment's notice?

Tony Stark's interest had not been a surprise. If there had ever been a nosier Midgardian, Loki had not met him yet. Stark had given Loki a few pointers - unwanted - on Midgard women. "Apologize for being a dumbass, then leave." There were various other pieces of unwanted advice thrown out as well, which Loki had chosen to ignore. But one had stuck with him - play hard to get.

So Loki had "given Darcy her space" after he smoothed things over with her. Her glances in the hallway had indeed grown less hostile and wary, and more appreciative. She actually looked pleased to see him today. Which only reaffirmed his belief in her desire for him. Even now she feigned sleep so she could caress him with her eyes.

Loki picked up one of her hands and watched her face closely. So she was going to remain pretending to sleep? That was fine with him. He brought up each of her fingers and places kisses on them. He reveled in the way her breathing sped up and turned shallow. Her lashes were dark against her pale skin and if he were not in a plane full of people, he would be sorely tempted to seduce her right there. As it was, she would never allow his attentions in public, as far as he could assume, and there were too many witnesses for him to disappear with her. While he could successfully leave a double of himself in the seat, he could not render the same for her.

Loki's pager went off. His phone was properly turned off (he now used a new phone every 3-4 days to prevent being tracked by it anymore) but he had the emergency Avenger pager with him. It could display alphanumeric messages, and access to send to it was highly limited.

LOOK OUTSIDE YOUR WINDOW

Loki did, and was greeted with a view of Tony Stark's metal ass. He sighed.

Loki leaned down into Darcy's hair and allowed himself a moment to enjoy its soft scent before speaking. "You might want to wake up, Dear. We have company."

"Hmm?" She kept up the ruse of being sleepy.

"Tony Stark is at the window."

That got her awake and the top of her head almost collided with his chin. "What on earth? Why?"

EMERGENCY. NEED YOU.

Still holding her had, Loki lifted her palm to his mouth. He breathed on it gently, then kissed it. Her pupils dilated. Damn Tony Stark and his emergency.

"I have to go. There's an crisis the Avengers need me for. I'm sorry to cut our afternoon short."

"You're leaving now?"

He nodded.

"It is dangerous?"

"Likely."

He didn't even see the decision in her eyes before she acted on it, smashing her lips against his. Sweet victory coursed through his blood at the feel of her - he wanted to reach out and hold her to him - but she pulled back almost instantly.

"I'm sorry," she started. "Well, no, I'm not, actually. Be safe, save the world, yada yada."

He grinned, aware that it might have seemed very toothy and predatory. "I for one am glad you are not sorry, because I intend a repeat of just that at a time in the very near future in a place much more private. However, in order not to alert the other passengers and crew here, I am going to leave a doppleganger in my seat for the duration of the flight. He will disappear once you begin to disembark. And if you start kissing *him*, I will be most jealous."

She grinned mischievously at him, and licked her lips. He leaned in and whispered, "You look delicious right now, hair mussed and still slightly sleepy. I will think of you like this while I am away." He placed one more kiss on her hand, this time on the back of it, and disappeared. He knew in a split second another version of him would appear, but it would be insubstantial.

"Nice, Slick! I saw that kiss! I guess I really do know what I'm talking about when it comes to women!"

Loki had transported himself to the main flight deck of the helicarrier, where Tony Stark met him a few moments later. It was flying west, coincidentally along a similar flight path to the plane Darcy had been on. He presumed the other Avengers were already on board.

"I told you I required several hours. I can join you wherever you are, you know."

Stark sobered instantly. "Well, our timetable got pushed up. Come on - Fury's ready to debrief as soon as we get there."

With a last look outside in the vague direction of Darcy's plane, the two of them headed inside.