The damned stubborn girl had moved her 'camp' back into the lab after the confrontation. Though she had relented and ceased her jokes, he would have much preferred that she maintained the careful avoidance they had developed. But no, she had not only moved in, but discovered Tony's 'trash can' hologram and spent no less than an hour each day creating new files for the sole purpose of throwing them at the glowing ring. Loki found it rather distracting, especially given the way aspects he did not wish to notice would bounce when she danced in victory each time the rings displayed praise of her aim. And yet that was still better than when she attempted to speak with him. Or when she and Thor both would beg conversation of him.
It was not that he did not desire the interaction. Which was entirely part of the problem.
He would feel guilt when he left. He knew that now. Despite that it was right. Despite that he would feel far more for staying. Despite the woman waiting for him. He would feel guilt for leaving these two behind with the knowledge of what might have been.
This was one of those moments when he felt that weight strongly. Darcy had brought the brothers a box of donuts, and somehow ended up perched between them as she and Thor ate and he pretended the white powdered sweets were not the least bit tempting. He was close now. Another day. One day. He sighed and settled the glowing orb into its unit. He would spare at least a moment more before he would leave. He held his hand out to the pair, which caused Darcy to make a loud sound of triumph and turn back to the box.
The treat had only touched his fingers before the glass exploded. Loki threw his barrier around the girl, shielding her from injury. Still her eyes were wide and frightened and she was offering up a steady prayer. "Shit. Shit shit shit shit shit." He turned to follow her gaze, not at all surprised to see himself standing in the gaping remains of the window.
"Impostor." The man in the window looked little better than he had in the cell, and his voice was still rough with disuse.
Loki stood, drawing Darcy up unintentionally by her grip in his arm. "One would think," he drawled in a far calmer tone than his double expected, "That you would at least manage to see to your own hygiene before setting out for your… is this revenge? Or simple jealousy? I'm not entirely certain."
"Loki!" Thor's shout was loud and too near Loki's ear. "What-"
"I am not here for you today, brother." He stepped through the hole he had splintered in the glass and froze. Loki could feel him test the web of spells and knew they would not hold long. Like magic was a poor entrapment. But he would make use of what advantage he could, and pulled his sleeve from the grip Darcy had upon it.
"Thor, if you would take Darcy from this place. It seems I have business to attend to." Loki never took his eyes from the man his power held trapped, the spells weakened too quickly for such a mistake, but he felt the girl pulled away from what shield she'd made of his own form.
His twisted shadow, however, focused only on her retreat. "Such sentiment. You may wear my face but you are no better than any of the others. Pathetic. Weak. I-" Loki didn't allow the double to voice whatever threat he might have made. He pinned the man to the side wall in an instant, blade of his scepter against the man's throat.
"Let me make this very clear. Should you imply even the smallest breath of threat against that girl I will grant to you a greater agony than this realm, or any other, has ever conceived. And when at last it is more than your mind and body can take and you think death a blessed release I will venture to Helheim itself and draw you back to live that pain again and again until the end of all worlds. All this so that you may know, my dear friend, that such sentiment has not made me weak." He could hear Thor ushering Darcy from the room, knew his - their - brother would not take long in his return. As the door shut, he eased his grip by only small amounts.
"And still too soft to finish it?"
"Perhaps my pity is greater than my anger."
The retaliation for such a remark was swift. Stabbing pain brought Loki nearly to his knees.