21. Clear as Day
Hello readers, I hope you all enjoyed the emotional chapter twenty. Can you believe Odin was even considering not saving Daya? What a meanie, at least he made the right choice in the end. Excuse any typos I may make, just trying to get you guy's new chapters of the story as fast as I can so I end up rushing and probably make so many mistakes, please forgive me for that. I hope you enjoy this chapter, I will be submitting an author's note on something soon as well so make sure you take a glance at it I own nothing but Daya, so, enjoy.
Steve had been given guest chambers during his stay at Asgard and as he waited impatiently to see if Daya would wake, he glanced down at the note she had written for him. He was curious to read it but a part of him held back, unsure if he wanted to know what Daya had written for him. After a few more minutes of pacing the room, his curiosity got the better of him and he opened it up and began to read.
My dearest Steve,
I did not want to leave Midgard without you knowing how I really feel. I would first like to apologize for the things I said to you back on the helicarrier before Loki and I escaped. It was so very wrong of me to turn your love down so rudely, you must think I am the most unfeeling woman in the universe. Please know that although I am Loki's mind, body and soul I love you very much. Without you I fear my stay on Midgard would have been the thing that had pushed me to end my life without Loki.
I really did mean it when I said I would never forget you Steve Rogers, and your place in my heart will forever remain strong. In another life, one where perhaps Loki and I had never met, I would have chosen you to be with me for the rest of my life, even if you would not outlast my own existence. Loki was wrong when he spoke to you about not having anything to offer me, your love would have been more than enough to make me happy.
I am sorry things turned out the way they have, I will always be happy with Loki, he is everything to me, but you have become such an important part of my life now I feel I couldn't live without you either. It is a tragic circumstance that our worlds cannot be one, and that you could never make a new life in Asgard. I really do wish with all my heart that we can go on being friends, and that this note is not our final goodbye.
Should we never meet again I want you to do something for me. I want you to move on Steve. I want you to find someone to love in the same way I love Loki. I want you to find true happiness, have a family, have love, I want you to have everything you could ever want for, my dearest friend. When we are apart, do not weep, do not despair, think upon the memories we share, and how nothing can take those away. I am sure we will meet again, I have a strong theory that when love is strong, it cannot be broken, Loki and I are proof of that. Promise me you will find love Steve.
All my love, from now until forever,
Daya.
Steve smiled at the words as he read them, he didn't think he would ever get over Daya, he felt so strongly about her, even more so than Peggy. The note was a comfort to him despite it all, at least he knew Daya cared for him and probably always would.
Meanwhile in Loki's chambers he still lay with his head down on the bed, sleeping lightly. As Daya's eyes finally fluttered open it took her a moment to contemplate her surroundings, as she realised where she was she smiled hazily, she was home again. She could barely believe she had made it back home. The Odinforce veil around her faded away slowly and she turned her head to the side to see Loki sleeping. She ran her fingers through his hair softly not wanting to alarm him too much.
He moved his head to the side, mumbling in his sleep, but didn't stir much more, causing Daya to giggle.
"Loki, sleepyhead, wake up" she whispered very quietly, sliding her hand to his to hold it.
He held her hand tightly, as if it was instinct for him to reach out and hold her when he could, and opened his eyes to face Daya. He frowned, his vision still hazy, still thinking he was in the grips of a dream, he blinked several times. She smiled widely at him and his vision quickly cleared, until the sight of his wife, became as clear as day.
She looked paler than usual, her crystal blue eyes seeming more glassy than normal, her lips pale and dry looking, but still she was beautiful and the most important thing still prevailed, she was alive.
"Daya, is this real? Are you really here with me? Alive?"
She nodded and Loki moved to cup her face in his hands. "Oh by the gods, my beautiful wife, my Daya, oh Valhalla did not claim you, you are still here, oh thank you, thank you for not leaving me, oh my wife" Loki sobbed happily as he held her. Daya giggled and wrapped her arms around Loki, pulling him closer, just as glad as he was she was still alive to be with him. He pulled away to look at her again, just to make sure she really was there and he kissed her lips gently.
"I love you Daya, I know I tell you that often but sometimes I feel I don't tell you enough, I love you" Loki smiled.
"I love you too darling. Did you read my note?"
Loki paused and then shook his head. "No, I didn't want to believe that it would be the end, I didn't want to read your goodbye because I didn't want to say goodbye".
She nodded. "I understand, but you should read it anyway, in case anything ever happens, we must not have words unsaid between us".
Loki looked at the chamber doors. "Guards! Guards in here".
Three guards entered the chambers, weapons at the ready. "Daya has awoken, she is safe. Could you let it be known throughout the palace, but do make sure the mortal Steve Rogers is told first, please" Loki demanded them.
One guard left to inform every one of the good news, while the other two remained in the chambers, keeping watch over Loki to make sure he didn't leave now his wife was safe. Loki continued to stroke his wife's hair and kiss her softly as he whispered sweet things in her ear.
A few minutes later, Steve, Thor, Odin and Frigga burst into the chambers, all but Odin with grins on their faces as they approached Daya's bedside. Steve held back and Daya looked at him questioningly.
"What is it Steve?"
"Can I, can I hug you, just to check you are there? If you're too weak I don't want to hurt you, I won't" Steve asked.
She nodded and smiled as Steve held her tightly in a long hug. After he pulled away Frigga rest a hand on her shoulder gently and smiled. "We are so glad you could make it through Daya".
Daya looked to Thor who gave her a friendly nod and small smile, which she returned as a mark of respect. She did really have to party thank Thor for her survival, he was the one that had allowed them access back to Asgard.
Odin crossed his arms and stared over at Loki. "I am glad you made it through alive Daya, however Loki's crimes against Midgard have not yet been forgiven. He will receive punishment for his actions, regardless of this touching little scene we have here before us. Guards, arrest him, arrest my youngest son".
Daya sat upright completely and frowned, opening her mouth to speak but was stopped by Loki.
"Darling it's alright. We knew this would happen, just, keep calm and stay with Steve. I will be alright" Loki told her as he allowed the guards to take Loki away, presumably to the dungeons near Odin's vault. Frigga and Thor followed Odin out of the room, leaving Steve with Daya. Steve held her hand gently as he moved to sit on the bed with her.
"I'm sorry about that Daya, I know you just want to keep Loki safe".
She shrugged. "We couldn't stay separated when we were in different realms, I doubt this will keep us apart either. This is merely a wrench in the works, I will make sure his punishment isn't too severe, perhaps if they know the truth about Thanos and his hold over my husband they will forgive Loki. Odin owes Loki really, after all the lies he kept from him about his origins he really was the one pushing Loki away."
Steve smiled faintly. "Odin told me I had to leave if you recovered. I don't want to, it's going to be the hardest thing I will ever have to do. I'm sorry I can't stay to see you and Loki get back to normal Asgardian life again. I feel like I'm abandoning you".
Daya rubbed his shoulder. "You are not abandoning me Steve. It's dangerous for you to stay here any longer really. Besides, I think after everything that's happened it's a safe assumption to say Loki and I will never be one hundred per cent the way we once were. We will adjust though, slowly."
Steve nodded. "You promise me if that Thanos shows up again you will not hesitating in contacting me and the other avengers so we can end him quicker than he stabbed you in the first place."
Daya frowned. "I had almost forgotten about Thanos. What if he knows I have recovered? What if he comes back?"
Steve widened his eyes. "You want me to stay? I will stay if you don't think you are safe".
Daya shook her head and sighed. "No, I don't want to risk your own life. I will alert the council of Thanos, make sure security in Asgard is tight. I will hold you to your word about helping us if he returns though" she smirked.
"You got it. I will always be there if you need me. I read your note by the way".
Daya grinned. "You did? What did you think?"
"I forgive you for what happened on the helicarrier, and about moving on. I promise you I will try, I can't promise I will succeed, you are after all the most memorable woman I have ever met Daya. I think you will always have a hold on my heart, as cheesy as that sounds."
She laughed. "I am glad it didn't upset you too much. Just promise to keep the note, and hold it close to you when you cannot hold me."
He nodded and rose from the bed. "Listen I will leave you to freshen up and get used to your room again. I'll meet you just outside the palace, to say goodbye". He said the last few words with great sadness before leaving Daya alone.
Daya stumbled out of bed clumsily, and walked around the room slowly until she gathered herself together and was able to walk properly again. She then took a quick bath, but bathing in the waters of the large pool felt wrong without Loki by her side. As soon as Steve left, Odin would probably call for judgement on Loki's crimes, and Daya would be ready.
After bathing she wrung out her hair and placed a new set of robes on before going down to the entrance of the palace to meet Steve.
He had gotten his costume fixed by the Asgardian servants and was standing there patiently with his hands firmly by his sides. He beamed up at her when he saw Daya approach him.
"I wasn't lying when I said I hated goodbyes" Daya told him, tears already forming in her eyes.
"You take care of yourself Daya, and if you ever get bored of Asgard, please, please, please come visit me in New York" he smiled as he pulled her into another hug.
"Believe me Steve I will visit you regardless of me getting bored of home or not, at least I know where to find you on Midgard, I will find Tony in that absurdly huge and ridiculous home of his, Stark tower? I know wherever he is, you won't be far away from" Daya grinned.
"Stark? Daya, you and I have sense and you should know that wherever he is, I will be trying to get as far away from as my feet will possibly take me."
They both laughed and hugged again. "Right, so I'm going to go before you burst into tears any more than you already are waterworks" Steve said.
She nodded and watched as some guards escorted Steve back to the Bifrost, knowing in her heart she would see him again, but for now, she would have to prepare for the Asgardian council and their decision on Loki's punishment.
Aww how sad is it that Steve has to leave but it was inevitable, Daya and Loki had to return to Asgard at some point and humans go crazy if they stay in Asgard too long. In the comics, (spoiler) that's exactly what happens to Jane, it's so sad, they end up erasing her memories of Asgard, and of Thor when they return her to earth to give her back her sanity. That won't happen to Steve, even if he returns to Asgard to visit Daya, don't worry. The next chapter I am excited to write, it involves Daya going BADASS on the Asgardian council members. After that Loki and Daya should go back to some sort of normalcy, which means more Loki loving, I know you guys have been very patient waiting for some hotter scenes and I promise you I will deliver. Until next time lovelies, reviews make me happy, very happy and follows and favourites just make me want to write more and more for you all