Lyrics used from A Drop in the Ocean by Ron Pope. Please listen to it! It particularly sets the mood for Loki's POV in the beginning of the chapter. Enjoy!

A drop in the ocean a change in the weather
I was prayin that you and me might end up together
it's like wishing for rain as I stand in the desert
but I'm holding you closer than most
cause you are my heaven...

"How did you lose her?! This is SHIELD HQ for god's sake!" Instead of being helpful, Steve was just complaining- something that was very annoying for the rest of the team who, as Natasha pointed out, were actually being useful, and Steve might shut up (for once, Tony muttered under his breath) and give it a try.

Jane gritted her teeth. "For the millionth time, okay, I didn't lose her! I didn't know I was Darcy's babysitter, and anyway, in case you hadn't noticed, she's still a person capable of doing whatever she wants. Maybe she went out for some coffee, or maybe, just maybe, she got sick of being watched 24/7 and wanted to feel like an American citizen again." Jane shot a look at Nick, who had quietly entered the room a few minutes before and was leaning stoically against the wall.

"Look, our most recent intel is more than worrying, especially for somebody like Darcy-" Steve said and both Jane and Tony frowned at him. "-what? I just mean, somebody who isn't- who doesn't have-"

"Darcy may not be a superhero, Steve, but she's still more than capable of looking out for herself. Do you think I could have somebody who wasn't in my lab?"

"What the Captain is trying to say," Maria broke in, "is that our latest intelligence is dangerous for Darcy in particular. Factions within SHIELD have been clamoring for power since our beginning. Political squabbling is annoying, but nothing new, and something that is usually easily handled. Until Loki leveled New York."

Jane's stomach prickled uneasily. "And what does Loki have to do with your interoffice pissing contests? He's on our side if you hadn't noticed." At least, she believed he was. Thor was quick to trust the goodness in everyone, even his brother who had betrayed him so many times. Jane was more pragmatic; she would rather see Loki's allegiance through his actions than his words, which were very pretty when he wanted them to be.

"Loki, whatever he himself is, has become an icon for the more contentious of our agents to rally behind. He brought the scepter, the tesseract, to general knowledge. He upended our entire operation and showed the world that without the Avengers, SHIELD is nothing."

"Flattering, agent Hill, but hardly a reason that Darcy should be implicated in all of this. While an integral part of Stark Industries and one of the very few people whose musical tastes I respect, she isn't an Avenger." Tony pointed out.

Nick scoffed from the sidelines. "They don't care about labels, Stark. They care that Lewis is, from what they can see, Loki's soft spot. They're very base. They assumed Loki would be be scheming, conniving, to escape. To pick up where he left off. We're well aware of their old allegiances to organizations like Hydra. All they need is some- any- encouragement. So yes, maybe Loki screwed up before, but well, he's still a god, isn't he? He still caused catastrophic chaos, didn't he? Better to be at the right hand of the devil, than in his path. So, they would be his earth army, until..." Nick trailed off into silence, his hands spread before him as though something was obvious.

"Oh my god," Jane sucked in a breath, gripping the console in front of her for support. A beat behind her, Natasha chimed in with a faint "you can't be serious."

"Deadly."

"Something you want to share with the class, guys?" Steve asked, looking from Fury, to Jane, to Nat.

But it was Tony who answered for them, his usually kind, joking eyes harder than Jane had ever seen them. "They're trying to reopen the wormhole."

oooo

The room was scarcely less opulent than any part of Odin's chambers, though Loki suspected it was rarely, if ever, used. Tall pillars, gold leaf scroll work, marble rafters, heavy drapes and carpets made of the finest textiles from across the galaxies. Odin was a vain fool and this very sitting room was proof of that. How could Loki's own life have come to this? To Darcy, his precious, strong yet human Darcy, left alone, defenseless, at Odin's mercy? It was supposed to have been him! His life at stake, his life put on hold while he attempted to clean up his own mess. His plans never did come to fruition and those he truly cared for seemed to be the ones hurt by it. First his mother, his brother, his only family...and now, the only woman he could ever, in his thousands of years lived or in the thousands of years to come, truly love.

There was a tray laid out on a sideboard of ripe fruit and salted meats, and two cups of Frigga's preferred dark red wine. Mother urged son to eat, but food had never held less of an interest for Loki. In fact he viewed it as an insult, that he should sit here in any sort of comfort, should have any of his own needs met while Darcy's own fate hung so precariously in the balance. Loki was capable of defending himself against the Allfather, and though he did not doubt her fortitude and strength, Darcy should never have had to worry about Asgard at all- it had been the whole reason he came back, that he put himself in this position. To keep Darcy safe and on Earth was all he had wanted, and yes, perhaps later- for time moved differently on Asgard, and when his debts had been repaid, fueled along by whatever sentiment, imagined or otherwise, Odin had for him, or that he used to have for him, he could be with her again. Years might pass, but Loki would take that risk, if it meant making himself free of his sins. He would then be as clean and honorable as Darcy deserved. These were Loki's own fantasies, his desires laid bare. One day, after retribution and redemption, he would seek her...she had promised herself to him, before he and Thor left Midgard, promised to wait for him, and she'd sworn her love for him and it was something that, though his self-loathing and doubt had vehemently denied, his instinct was to believe her. She would have a comfortable, happy life with Jane and Thor- for Loki knew his brother would see to Darcy's safety and contentment. Her friends were numerous, and she was sure to be liked and welcomed where ever she went. And now, this, this reality, always strangling his hopes, always decimating his wants. And who was to blame but himself? Across the room, as a warm fire blazed in the large hearth, neither the proceedings of the court nor her son's dark thoughts could hamper Frigga's appetite, and she helped herself to thinly sliced pork and plump grapes.

"I had always wished you to find somebody to touch your heart, my son. It pleases me that at last you have done so."

Loki refused to look at her, and was debating on answering her at all when there was a rapt knock on the gilded door, and Heimdall appeared, giving Frigga a bow and sparing Loki a serious, though not unwelcoming, glance.

"They are still in chambers."

"If he touches a single hair-" Loki began, murderous rage crossing his face, but Frigga pushed him firmly into the nearest chair.

"Do calm yourself, you will do her no favors by losing your temper."

"She would not even be here if it you had left well enough alone," Loki snapped, making sure with a cold glare that Heimdall knew he shared in the blame of Darcy's appearance.

"Watch your tone, my son. Do you not know that Darcy wanted to be here?"

Loki huffed. "Darcy wants a lot of things she should not have."

Frigga made no reply, knowing (as she always had throughout his life) that he had more to say, and would say it in his own good time. Pushing him would get her nowhere- it never had, and it certainly wouldn't now with a subject so sensitive.

"The mortal has a will of her own. A will of iron." Heimdall remarked, "I have but rarely seen such selflessness from her kind. Know this, Friggason, that scarcely my gifts could have kept her from coming here. Not with what is at stake." Heimdall bowed again, then left the room.

"There, you see? Interfering mother though I am...I could not simply stand by. If a smart, strong, capable woman wishes to speak for my son, I would do anything in the cosmos to aid her. I cannot be faulted for that." It wasn't a question, merely a self-assured statement.

Loki opened his mouth, very plainly to argue, when there was a banging on the door. "Are we not to have a moment's peace?!" He growled, his mood only darkening when Thor burst into the room, Jane, wide-eyed and windswept, behind him.

"I see I am to meet both of the most important women in my sons' lives." Frigga, with barely an acknowledgement to Thor, pushed him out of the way and embraced Jane as she had Darcy.

"Oh, okay, you're a hugger, I can handle that," Jane said with a nervous laugh, as Frigga pulled back to smile at her.

"I did not have the time to ask young Darcy, but how do you like our kingdom? Will it suit you ill, do you think?"

"Oh my gosh no, it's perfect, I mean I've hardly had any time for real observation but Thor promised me-"

"Yes yes, there will be plenty of time for scientific reflection. I assure you. But we must celebrate! Asgard will show her soon-to-be princess all of its splendor. A feast!" "Mother-" Thor groaned, and Frigga nodded vigorously, "Yes of course my son, a feast is hardly fitting. What is more common, after all? We shall have a ball! Jane will eat, drink, and meet her fill of all that Asgard will offer her. There! I am quite determined, and I must go to begin preparations. The kitchens will be put to use for once." And with a small wave at them all Frigga went to the door, turning at the last to look at Loki. "Be still and certain, my son. Where one like Darcy loves, mountains will be moved." There was a loud click, and the brothers exchanged a glance, recognizing the sound as Frigga's own magic locking the door.

There was silence at Frigga's parting words, though Jane readily would agree to them, if she had been asked. Thor stared into the glowing fire in contemplation, and Loki might as well have been back in the lab on Earth for all the attention he paid either of them. Loki was still glaring at a tall pillar when Thor finally turned to him, demanding that he relate everything that had happened in the court chamber, while Jane inspected every corner of the room.

"And so you think that Odin is what, interrogating Darcy? Deciding if what she said is a general truth, not a personal one? Perhaps that is not all bad, brother."

"I am not so naive, brother. Odin's entire purpose will be to discipline me. First and foremost for my insolence- even you cannot deny that his wounded pride is what will be the most unforgivable."

Thor shrugged, though he could not disagree, and his brother certainly did not give him the chance. Loki's words poured from him, angry and rushed and loud, though to Jane, again if asked, he honestly just sounded scared. And fear, she knew from New York, from Thanos, made Loki dangerous and desperate.

"He will do everything to poison Darcy against me, tell her every selfish thing I have ever done, bring to light every time I brought those around me any kind of pain. Odin will not rest until she hates me as he does. And if that is not his game, if he cannot persuade her as easily as he thinks, then he will use her- he will punish her, he will demand his vanity be satisfied! He will do what he can to cause me the most agony!" Loki flung the chair at the wall, and it shattered into a thousand splinters. Jane had never before appreciated his physical prowess; she always associated such strength with Thor, but here Loki was, pure might emanating from him.

"Brother," Thor began, but Jane placed a hand on his bicep, pulling him back. If ever Loki looked willing and able to throw some punches, it was now.

"Do not patronize me," Loki snarled, reaching for the next piece of furniture.

"They're just talking," Jane began, but Loki threw her such a dirty look that she closed her mouth with a small sigh.

"I know what he is doing, what he is asking of her! Nothing else could keep them so long. It is the swiftest and most accurate way to destroy me forever. Odin is many things, but stupid is not one of them. He will piece together very easily what it is I hold most dear." Loki wasn't yelling anymore, but then he didn't need to. He'd never been the booming type; his wrath and anger were quiet and cold. Here was the most emotion Jane had ever seen from him, as he banged his fists against the tightly shut door. Frigga's magic was strong indeed to withstand Loki's.

"And you are sure of her answer?" Thor asked, blocking Loki's way as he turned to wildly pace the room. He wanted to believe that Loki was mistaken, that Odin would never be so cruel as to take what, who, Loki loved; but though he was the more optimistic brother, he was not a fool. The Allfather had much that needed to be satisfied.

Loki could not bring himself to speak the affirmative aloud; not even to the one who had never ceased to believe in him. His budding feelings for Darcy, his heart thawing, the, at times, agonizing slowness that he had pursued her...he had taken so much precaution, tried to show her in every way that he could be trusted, that he would never force himself, in any regard, upon her. He felt her frustrations, shared in them, but he would, where Darcy was concerned, exercise every modicum of self-control he could muster. And for all of his care, of his albeit chaste constancy, here was every chance for Odin to rip from him the only thing that could ever bring him true happiness.

"What answer? What is he doing to her?" Jane piped up, pulling on Thor's arm.

"You are sure of her answer, then?" Thor asked again, refusing to move though Loki's icy glare would've sent any other man running for the hills.

"What are you talking about?!" Jane all-but shrieked, and Loki directed a furious glance her way.

"Loki thinks that my father is granting Darcy a...bargain." Thor said, his eyes not leaving Loki's face.

"That's good, right? Darcy will do anything to get him out of here." Jane said, wondering what all the fuss was about. If Odin was willing to deal, that was a good thing! And if anybody had the endurance to haggle with the Allfather, it was definitely Darcy.

"A bargain always means somebody is losing." Thor said softly, now tucking a piece of Jane's hair behind her ear.

"I don't understand," how could there be a loser? From all accounts Darcy had defended Loki brilliantly, yet again, and Odin had granted her a private audience. If he was going to banish Thor, or do something awful to Darcy, or keep Loki here forever or any of the horrible things that had run through Jane's mind a million times, wouldn't he have already done it? "Who is going to lose?"

Loki turned then, and Jane's jaw almost dropped at the sight; his eyes were wrenched with pain, with regret and agony and, unwilling though it must be, hope. How was it possible he could feel all those things so strongly, and all at once?

"Darcy won't let you down, Loki. She won't let you stay here. I truly believe that."

"So does Loki. That is the problem." Thor said, taking Jane into his arms.

The door burst open then, and Frigga entered, looking frantic. "Darcy has just sworn her life to Odin in return for your freedom." She said, and Loki took a faltering step toward her. His face had gone ashen, and Jane was sure he was either going to throw up or faint.

He did neither, but followed his mother swiftly from the room, Thor right behind him, Jane herself bringing up the rear.

oooo

Well, okay. It wasn't the most awesome situation she'd landed herself in, Darcy reflected, as the guards descended on her, but she'd kind of made her own bed here. There was no use in complaining about something she'd agreed to. Besides, if she started whining, Odin might rethink his offer and then what would be the point? And well, if she was going to end up living out the rest of her life as a POW, or whatever she'd be called (she'd have ample time later, she figured, to decide), at least it was on another world. Sure jail was jail, and she expected no luxuries or favors or even decent food, not from Odin, anyway. Frigga might make things a little better for her, so there was that. Maybe Frigga could smuggle letters to Loki and Jane and Thor? Maybe even Tony and Steve would write to her. That would be some form of entertainment at least. She wondered if anyone on Asgard had heard of the Geneva Convention.

"There is still time, Darcy Lewis, to change your mind. You need not be bound to living out the rest of your years as my captive just for Loki's sake." The guards, who had started to pull her from the room, stopped, though they held her arms tighter, as if expecting a fight.

"I can live with my choice." Darcy looked over her shoulder at Odin, "can you?" She might as well enjoy being a smartass. What else could he do to her? He wouldn't execute her, she was sure. What would be the point in that? Odin would want her to suffer, to do to her what he had always wanted to do to Loki. Well he fucking could try, but Darcy knew that if it had been Loki in her place still, Odin would never break him. And he sure as hell wasn't going to break her.

"Take her away." Odin snapped, and Darcy was roughly pulled through the door and into the hallway. Here were yet more guards waiting- she wondered what all the fuss was about. Surely they had to know she was a weak human, and even if she did feel like taking a few swings at them, they were still military trained, juiced up Thor wannabes. Like she could even land one blow?! Ugh, the people in Asgard needed a serious reality check.

"We have to chain you," A guard to the left said, not unkindly. Though how nice he could be while locking her up was debatable.

"Alright just do it. But no funny business," Darcy jabbed the guy in front of her, who held wrist irons, in the chest. "If you even think about frisking me, I'll send my steel-toed boots so far up your-"

"Darcy!"

Loki. Loki, and he was rushing to her, and her heart suddenly felt like it would burst. Was this her chance to say a final goodbye? Was she really that lucky? Did Odin have a speck of sympathy somewhere inside him? Had she changed his mind, at least a little bit, and he'd gone all Grinch on her, and his heart had grown and-

"Darcy." His arms were around her, his face buried in her neck, and she could feel tears there, against her skin. "My brave, beautiful, self-sacrificing Darcy."

"Hey, what's with the water works? Stop that." Darcy said, trying to laugh, trying to make light of this situation. He couldn't leave here blaming himself. This had been one hundred, one million percent her choice, and her choice alone.

"If only you had stalled more, you headstrong, precious girl." Frigga appeared on their right, and though Loki loosened his grip on her, he didn't let go.

"Well, you know," Darcy shrugged. "What's done is done. And it's not so bad. My mom was sure I'd end up with a life sentence for something. Loki," Darcy pulled from him, to be able to look up into his face, "swear you'll leave. I don't want you to stay here, okay?" It was important for him to move on. Out of sight, out of mind, and even though her heart broke a little more at that thought, of worlds being between them, Loki would never stop blaming himself if he stayed in Asgard.

"Yes," Frigga agreed, with a significant look at her son, "he will. There will be nothing left for him here."

"And I know you'll be best man at the wedding, so I totes get if you need a date, but if you even think of asking that Alexa chick, I have a standing appointment with the Big Guy to go all green and pound you into the ground again, you got that?" In spite of himself, of the situation, Loki laughed. An actual, honest to god laugh, and Darcy reveled in the sound, in what was surely the purest one in the world. At least she got to hear it, once.

"There will be no need for that, I assure you." Frigga said, waving her hand. "Odin will be prevailed on, of course. This will not-"

"Darcy!" Jane skidded to a halt in front of her, throwing herself at both Loki and Darcy, and Thor on Jane's heels, not one to miss out on any familial affection, wrapped the whole group in his wide embrace.

From his stance at the entrance to Asgard, Heimdall smiled. Seeing all rarely had many joys, but this one, he would remember.

oooo

"I don't know how much time-" Darcy began, after Jane and Thor had untangled themselves from her and Loki, but Loki cut her off, cupping her face and pulling her towards him, kissing her with a heat so strong that she could her feel her limbs tingling. Every kiss of his left her completely winded, her heart hammering, her head spinning. She could forget, in those cherished seconds their lips burned against each other, where she was, who she was. It was reckless abandon, an indulgence she would never be strong enough to deny. Their foreheads pressed together as they finally parted, Loki's fingers twisted in her hair, Darcy lost all track of time, lost all presence of mind until Thor clearing his throat loudly brought her back to the current moment.

Loki's eyes were greener than Darcy had ever seen them- she had long ago connected the dots that their color deepened according to how strongly he was feeling something, to how intense his emotions were, and though the idea that the emotion he was currently feeling could be pain at her loss completely and utterly sucked, Darcy found herself lost in the depth of his gaze for a few seconds before tearing herself away from him.

"Sorry," Darcy panted, "Loki just laid one on me so I'm a little disoriented. Where were we?" Jane gave her a totally knowing, I-told-you-so smirk. Well, okay, yeah, Darcy may have scoffed at Jane's assurance that pretty much anything and everything physically to do with Thor was, ironically, otherworldly, but until she'd had her own chance to partake of making out with a god, how was she to know the difference?

"We were," a voice behind them gravely announced, and Darcy jumped, startled, looking around to see all the guards on their knees, as Odin himself descended upon the group, "at what I believe Midgardians call an impasse." Frigga moved silently over to his side, as a softener to the impending blow, Darcy was sure. "You refuse clemency, and would be my prisoner in Loki's place, and Loki would refuse you to be my prisoner and demand your clemency."

"And what does the king wish?" Thor asked, before Loki could get a word in. Darcy threw him a grateful look; Loki was surely so angry, so unable to think rationally in a direct confrontation with his father, that anything he could say would only make things worse for himself.

Odin was slow in replying, taking a second to look each of the four fully in the face. "That is immaterial. Wishes are for fools. And none of you," here Odin only looked at Loki, though his son would not return his acknowledgement, "are fools." Silence fell upon them all, and even Frigga, with all her previous talk of persuading Odin to be reasonable, looked surprised. "Your sentence, therefore, Darcy Lewis of Midgard, will be to attend your friend Jane's engagement ball, which I am already told by my Queen's servants will be of special magnificence. Add to this that you, henceforth, for any present or future duration of time on Asgard, must be under the complete protection of my so- of Loki. If you are found to be unattended, be it known that the consequences will be severe."

Darcy swallowed thickly, her mind, still hazy from Loki's breathtaking kiss, struggled to keep up, to actually understand what Odin was saying.

"And after? If she should choose to return to Earth?" Loki said, his voice steady and though not civil, not dripping with hatred, either. He and Odin stared at each other, each of them stoic, each of them refusing to be the first to yield to Frigga's pleading looks that they be more warm to the other.

"That would be entirely under Heimdall's jurisdiction. Should he send her back to Midgard, I would assume that any who wished to follow her there, would."

And without saying another word to her, or his two sons, or Jane, for the rest of their stay, Odin whirled away, Frigga on his arm.

oooo

At long last, the entirety of what had happened over the last two days hit Darcy, and she fell onto the nearest bench, more worn out than she could ever remember being. Almost unable to believe their good luck at Odin's decree, the four of them could talk of nothing else for hours. Thor, saying how he always knew, in the end, everything would work out, Jane beaming up at her future husband for his pure goodness, for his loyalty to not just his brother, but to Darcy, and Loki himself unable to let Darcy out of his grasp, all were still in the middle of animated conversation when Darcy fell asleep, right in Loki's lap.

He scolded himself for not thinking of her exhaustion sooner, and gently lifting her in his arms took her to his room, while Jane and Thor left to explore the delights of nightfall in Asgard. Placing her on his bed caused her to wake, and Darcy groggily asked him where they were, a slight panic seizing her as she no longer felt the solid warmth of his body against her.

"You are safe, my Darcy. My goddess. Forever, I promise."

Darcy smiled sleepily up at him. "I know. Wait," She sat up, her face flushing, "did you just- did you just call me a goddess?"

"My own, actually. Can you think of a more fitting title? I confess that I cannot."

Darcy sputtered. "Um, let's not get too carried away to crazy town, mmkay? Darcy Lewis is a lot of things, but-"

Loki shook his head tenderly at her, moving away from the bed. "If you are no goddess, then why do I kneel in worship before you?" And he did, and Darcy's face felt like it would burn off her skull, even though it was by far the most flattering, the most romantic, thing she'd ever experienced in her life.

"You're being ridiculous!" She hissed, reaching over the edge of the bed to grab his arm. "Stand up, sheesh!"

"Do you not know what you were giving up for me?" Loki, confused, asked. Surely even with all her disbelief in herself, Darcy could not be blind to the sacrifice she had, without a second thought, been willing to make.

"Oh yeah," Darcy rolled her eyes, "being your date to an incredible party that is going to make Tony so jealous is a real doozy. Get real!" She pulled harder and Loki finally stood, taking a seat next to her.

"And yet you thought you were giving up your life for me." Loki's intense stare was back, and Darcy had to drop her gaze from his before answering, just so she could remain coherent.

"I mean, it's not...look, it's-" Embarrassed, she tried to stand, to move away, but Loki took her hand in his, his other at the apple of her cheek.

"You would have done as much for any one you cared for, I know." It was still so incredible to him that he should be counted among those people to somebody as truly good as she was.

"No." She shook her head, meeting his eyes once more. "I wouldn't. I mean, I'd like to think that. That if anyone needed it, I could do it. But the truth is, I would only do it for the person I loved more than anyone else." Loki's smile was soft and was made softer still by the tears in his eyes.

All at once, Darcy felt a wall fall down between them, felt that he was actually listening to her, hearing her words,believingthem.

"And I, you."

And wouldn't you know it? Darcy believed him, too.

oooo

Darcy was sure she would wake up to a cold stone floor, a threadbare sheet, to bars on the window and whatever other horrors she had, the previous night, assumed her future jail cell would hold. Instead, she woke up to warm light pouring into the large room, and she saw, as she rolled over, that Loki stood with his back to her, over a huge tub filled with steaming water. He had a bowl in his hands, and was scattering colored petals along the surface.

"Morning." She said, stretching sleepily as she sat up, hurriedly trying to brush her hair back with her fingers. Looking around the room (she wouldn't even try to understand how she knew what the bed felt like before she'd slept on it, how she could trace the jeweled constellations that adorned the ceiling before she'd actually looked up at it).

Loki smirked as he turned to her. "Late afternoon, actually, and our presence is very impolitely demanded within the half hour by both the future bride, and her future mother-in-law. Both of which have completely lost any of the few shreds of sanity they ever had in the first place."

Darcy laughed. "Yep, sounds about right. Damn, they aren't wasting any time, are they? Then again, who knows when Jane will make it back here? With all of her science and Thor's avenging. Can't blame Frigga too much I guess." Loki grimaced, showing he did not agree on the last bit.

"I was told you would not be fit to be seen until you had thoroughly- er- washed. Jane picked you out a costume for the ball, which must happen with the utmost expediency, in just a few hours." He flicked the last few petals into the water in annoyance.

"Well, it could be worse," Darcy said, shrugging, "You could be banished, or both of us still prisoners."

Loki narrowed his eyes at her. "And what use am I as a suitor, then, if I cannot take the time to properly thrill you, as I once denounced men for being unable to do? How am I to seduce you? We must spend this precious time with those idiots, instead of just us two."

Darcy's cheeks burned. She was unused to Loki being so forward, so accepting, so quick to label what they were. It was a very pleasing change, but it would take some getting used to. They had hardly been able to be a real couple back on Earth. "Your creativity is not something that's lacking my dude. And if you hadn't noticed, you've been seducing me since...oh, how about, "I can help you. It won't hurt you. I won't hurt you." Sound familiar, hm?"

Loki sighed in compliance. "Fine. I will leave you to ready yourself, then."

"Or you could stay." Darcy shrugged, her stomach full of butterflies. "I'm not supposed be without you, am I? You won't find me violating the terms of my sentence."

Loki looked like he hardly knew what to say, but Darcy didn't give him the chance to argue with her. "Where can a girl get all prettied up?" He wordlessly pointed her through a door that turned out to be a simple bathroom, surprisingly even less luxurious than what he had in his apartment back at SHIELD. Laid out on the counter were already things that must have been for her- a toothbrush, a wooden comb, a thick bar of soap- anything she could need to make herself presentable for getting into the bath, completely naked, in front of the man she was in love with. After a few minutes of desperately needed hygiene (and of composing herself), Darcy stepped out of the bathroom, ready to strip her clothes off quickly and hop into the sweet smelling water, but Loki had other plans.

If Darcy had ever regarded him as sexy, or hot, or even beautiful before, every past thought of his appearance and physique was shot to hell as she took him in now. He had removed all of his clothes except for a pair of very Earth-looking dark green boxers, and she had to force herself take a few slow breaths as she ogled every taut inch of the god before her. The dip of his hips, the sculpted biceps, the broad shoulders and flawlessly smooth chest. His silky black hair seemed to drip down his collar bones, and his thighs, thick and ropy, left no room in her head for any kind of rational thought. How would it feel to have him against her own body!

"Let me." Loki said, his voice low and full of emotion, as Darcy started to lift her shirt over her head. He moved towards her, gazes locked, as he took over pulling her shirt softly over her head. It was discarded, then her pants, and when Loki reached for the clasp of her bra, Darcy was pretty sure she was going to faint. Her breaths were shallow, and every nerve in her entire body was burning. Exhilaration was coursing through her veins as her bra fell to the floor and Loki, for the first time, dropped his eyes to her body.

Darcy, under his scrutiny, couldn't feel at ease, but his fingertips brushed her skin then, as though she were revered, worshiped, as though Loki really did, cupping her breasts with both hands, consider her a goddess. Unable to think or move or speak, Darcy could only hold on for dear life as Loki's long, nimble fingers unhinged her. Every stroke, every tender squeeze, took her farther to the edge that she knew they didn't have time to fall over, but neither of them seemed willing to step away.

Loki would not have left the soft handfuls of her chest if the temptation of her supple hips, of her exquisite (in his expert opinion on the matter) ass, had not been just as overpowering. One thumb under the satin waistband of her underwear was enough to pull them down in a swift motion, and Darcy had brought her own wandering hands to his chest, eager and hesitant at the same time to explore him, as he was exploring her.

"You're shaking." Loki whispered, and without further ado, he lifted Darcy in his arms, placing her into the tub as gently as any man, past destroyer of human cities or not, could have done.

oooo

Hours later, engaged in some meaningless drivel with whoever it was, a cousin or something of Thor and Loki's, Darcy would only be able to think of Loki hands on her skin, of him taking it upon himself to delicately wash her back, to, very cheekily, spend extra time lathering her breasts, her stomach, her thighs. Darcy doubted, at this point, (though she was anxious AF to find out) whether actual sex would make Loki more acquainted with her body. The bath had been the most sensual thing she had ever experienced, and it left her aching, hungry for more.

The entirety of Asgard seemed to have been invited to the ball, and if Darcy hadn't been attended by Loki, though she was unaware of it, she would not have had a free moment from dancing with a new guy every few minutes. Word of her had spread like wildfire, of her boldness, of her beauty, of her quick tongue. All anybody seemed to care about now was that she was in alliance of Thor, who would, at some point, be their king. Only Jane was talked of with more interest, but as she was totally engrossed in diplomacy for the time being, Darcy was the hot topic of conversation. She indeed looked very pretty, her formfitting dress a green and gold mirror of Loki's usual costume. Every kind of makeup and hair piece Frigga had made available to her, and with her chestnut hair pulled up from her neck, and her lips painted a dark red, Loki was not the only one to think less than polite thoughts about the bride-to-be's best friend.

The ball would not be confined to either indoors or out- Frigga had made sure her lavish gardens were being completely utilized, and there was a wide, flat lawn being used as the dance floor. The dining room, a marbled, vaulted space, opened out onto this lawn, surrounded by flowered hedges and perfectly manicured trees. While an orchestra of sorts struck up a song and people started to dance, Jane finally made a quick getaway to where Darcy and Loki stood, against a trellis covered in roses.

Thor, unluckier than Jane and stuck talking to a high ranking guard, glanced moodily over at the party, where he would much rather be. Jane couldn't even feel bad, and she let out a breath of relief when she saw nobody follow her over.

"Blink twice if you want me to mercy kill you." Darcy said, and Jane glared at her.

"Shut up. I'm having the time of my life." Loki snorted into his drink, but said nothing as both girls threw him reproachful looks. "I'm just not used to being the center of attention is all. I mean, if I'm lecturing on quantum theory it's one thing, but this? How am I supposed to do this?" Jane looked around, clearly distressed.

"Just...pretend you're begging for money. Like, getting funding for all those weird telescopes we used in Belgium, remember? You had to schmooze the heck out of that creepy museum guy."

"Catadioptric telescopes aren't weird, Darce. They're far more useful, actually, because of the wider aberration-free field of-"

"Yeah yeah, see?" Darcy interrupted. "That's what I mean. I'm betting most Asgardians don't have halitosis and a gross toupee."

"Yeah, okay. You're right." Jane looked back over to Thor, who still hadn't been able to shake off the talker. "I can totally do this. How's this?" She smiled at Darcy and Loki, and Darcy, with a click of her tongue, handed Jane her own drink.

"Chug, then try again." Jane didn't need telling twice. The wine was sweet and potent, and she drained Darcy's goblet, smoothed her hair behind her ears, and turned back to her friends.

"What a pleasure it is to meet you! I'm really looking forward to getting to know Thor's friends. He never stops talking about you all!"

Darcy patted her on the back. "That's my girl. You definitely got this."

Jane smiled. "Thanks Darce."

"Anytime." Darcy shrugged, shaking the now empty goblet at Loki, who sighed but left to get her a new one.

"No, I mean it. Thank you. For everything. You've been more than a friend, more than a sister, to me. And you've given Thor back his brother. I don't...I don't think he would've ever been truly happy without Loki. If Thor is whole, it isn't because he loves me. It's because he loves him."

"I didn't-" Darcy started to argue, but Jane whirled around, her hands over her ears, pretending she couldn't hear her.

oooo

In the time to come, Darcy would think back to the few days on Asgard with wonder, with disbelief. She still couldn't think calmly when she remembered she'd been to another world, escaped a lifetime as a prisoner, and left it sure that she was as loved by Loki as he was by her.

Yeah, she could talk about it forever. She could say, looking back, that things added up. That it made sense that it happened, that back at SHIELD clues, if they'd all opened their eyes sooner, had been numerous and, at times, even obvious.

But there are some days that there are no words. No anecdotes or cliches or inspirational quotes to sum everything that had happened before and everything that had happened after, up.

There were no words, when Loki, Darcy, Thor and Jane left Frigga, when the girls sped across the bifrost for the second time, back to the home they had left in pursuit of a second chance for Loki.

There were no words when they landed, not on the roof of the SHIELD building, but back in the desert, back at Area 86, ending Darcy's journey to Asgard where it had begun.

And there were no words when the deafening shot rang out, when Brock Rumlow and his followers, double crossing agents of Hydra, ambushed Loki, when they punished him for turning his back on them, when they took their revenge by hoping to kill the one thing that had destroyed their hopes in following his tirade against the Avengers, against the world.

A single shot, but then only a single shot was needed. If he was anything, Brock was efficient, his marksmanship never wavering. If Loki was not to descend once again into madness of his own choosing, then they would make him. How better to turn Loki insane with rage, to bring him back to the realm of chaos, than to shoot Darcy Lewis through the heart?

Wow, are we really getting so far in this story that we've arrived at this?! As ever, feedback is greatly appreciated. Thanks for reading!