Author's note: Sorry for the late update! Thanks for all comments, etc. They make me happy. 3
Chapter 5
Let the light in
The next day found Darcy without a TV again and she walked out of her little apartment, turning right to see whether the door would open. Nope. She looked back towards Loki's door before walking to the end of the corridor, looking at the little Jarvis box.
"Jarvis, is Tony around?" Darcy asked.
"I'm afraid Tony is out right now. If you would like me to notify you of his return, I can do that, Miss. Lewis," Jarvis said.
"Nah it's okay," Darcy said, waving her hand at the AI before walking back towards her room, staring at Loki's door before shrugging and trying the door handle. It worked, and she stepped inside, going straight to the spot she had occupied the day before, switching on the TV to a low level so that she would not disturb the cranky God and started watching. An early showing of the Time Traveller's wife…oh God, she was going to be bawling by the end of it and she was in Loki's apartment. Screw it, she'd come this far.
"…You are back," a familiar voice spoke from behind her and she jumped in surprise, but otherwise didn't turn around.
"Yep, my TV's still broken," Darcy replied simply. He moved into her line of vision, coming slowly around the couch. He didn't look too happy.
"Why not go elsewhere?" Loki asked.
"Locked or…would you want to attempt Jane or Thor's room? I don't really want to risk seeing or hearing anything I don't want to hear," Darcy said.
"I care not for your plight; you should leave," Loki said.
"But I'm already ten minutes into the movie! I'd miss some," Darcy said, as if it was already decided. Then the asshole stepped in front of the TV and she scooched over from side to side to try and see past him before glaring angrily at him. "C'mon!"
"I am not moving," Loki said. Darcy made herself more comfortable.
"Me neither," Darcy said. They stared at each other for sometime and Darcy couldn't help but notice that although he still looked like shit, with the slight evidence of dark rings underneath his eyes and a few lingering cuts and bruises, he had handsome features. It made her want to know what he looked like without the defeated villain look. That and his hair could do with something. An idea suddenly came to her. She huffed. "If you're not going to move, at least come and join me? It's a good film, sad though." The God merely narrowed his eyes. Darcy decided to be brave (or stupid, but he was powerless, right?) and stood up, walking up to him and ignoring his inquisitive expression in favour of quickly pushing him towards the couch. He stumbled a little towards it before straightening up and glaring at her. At least she managed to budge him a little. He might not be muscles like Thor, but he sure didn't look easy to move. She must have taken him by surprise. Score one to Darcy.
"Come on, just sit down. I'll leave when this ends, so you might as well sit," Darcy said. She had no idea what was running through her head, being so blasé with him. This guy blew up half of Manhatten and tried to kill Thor.
The guy just wouldn't budge so she managed to push him the rest of the way, landing unceremoniously onto the couch, glaring at her with those vivid emerald green eyes. Who was he, Harry Potter? Darcy smiled and sat down next to him, picking up the remote and rewinding the TV so that he could watch it from the start too. "Good, now stick around and watch this film with me, okay? You might find you like it. You seem like the kind of guy who likes a confusing and complicated plot," Darcy said. "At least, it's somewhat complicated. Just…a strange relationship. Eh, just watch it." Darcy had the feeling he was glaring at her for a little while, but he eventually started watching the TV and it fell silent between them for a while.
"So, have you watched a movie before?" Darcy asked, taking her eyes off of the screen for a moment to look at him. She saw him move his eyes to hers as he answered.
"No, I have not. Your…TV…is a mystery to me," Loki replied reluctantly. Darcy chuckled.
"It shows all kinds of things. These movies are like visual books, like a play…do you have plays? Operas? Musicals?" Darcy asked.
"We have some theatre, mostly from Vanaheim, as well as opera. However, I have seen numerous Midgardian pieces as well," Loki said. Darcy paused the movie, so glad for these rewind channels, and stood up.
"So you don't completely hate us, then?" Darcy grinned. "I'm going to get a drink and some snacks…hope you don't mind me raiding your kitchen. D'you want anything? A drink?"
"You are awfully bold for an average Midgardian," Loki said.
"And you're mighty boring for a God of Mischief, buuuuuuut you don't see me complaining," Darcy said, nonchalantly. She knew she'd regret her words if he were to take her up on what could be perceived as a challenge.
"I think my last piece of mischief is still being dealt with," Loki said dryly.
"That's not mischief; that's chaos. There's a difference. Mischief is planting whoopee cushions in people's chairs, rigging showers, changing ringtones, drawing moustaches on people while they sleep. Trying to bend people to your will and having an army trash the city is so not mischief," Darcy said, neither telling him off nor so nonchalant as before. Loki raised an eyebrow at her and she closed the fridge door, leaning against it holding two bottles of juice for a moment as the two just stared at each other. Blink. Damn, well, she knew she wouldn't win a staring competition with a Norse God (what hope did she really have to begin with? She could dream). Darcy finally placed both bottles in one arm before grabbing a bag of Doritos and walking back over to the couch. She sat down and gave Loki one of the bottles, opening the Doritos before placing it between them.
Darcy noticed the way that he just stared at the cheesy snacks. "They're tasty, try one," Darcy said. Loki looked down at the bag and reached into it, trying one. Darcy watched his expression, but the asshole was Fort Knox. "Well?"
"It is…acceptable," Loki responded. Darcy couldn't stop herself from whacking him on the arm.
"Dude they're way better than acceptable, you're just too proud to admit it," Darcy said, unfazed by the way he just stared at her.
"You have some nerve hitting me, mortal," Loki said, giving her an intense look. Darcy shrugged and settled into a more comfortable position on the couch, unpausing the TV.
"Considering I know that tasers work on you, I'm not really scared of you," Darcy said simply.
That shut him up.
Of course, the next day the door was locked.
Darcy huffed as she stood outside the door, unable to turn the handle. She looked around for the little box on the wall that had Jarvis in it and walked towards it.
"Jarvis, are you able to open doors?" Darcy asked.
"I can override the lock mechanism, yes, although I am not authorised to do so," Jarvis responded.
"Understandable…though can you open Loki's door? Surely his privacy is limited? Or, you know, something. Damn, that sounded so wrong," Darcy muttered. She was just curious, though. She hadn't bothered to go down to Tony about it because she knew he was busy with a lot of things. And Loki's company was…interesting, to put it one way. Darcy wasn't really sure why she wanted to bug him again; the fact that he was the only one available to speak to that wasn't busy with the city or kissing their boyfriend could not possibly be it.
"I'm afraid his door is locked with what must be magic, Miss. Lewis. I cannot override his door," Jarvis said.
"Damn, figures. Thanks anyway," Darcy said.
"You are most welcome," Jarvis said. Darcy walked back down the corridor and re-entered her apartment. Walking further in, she noticed something that hadn't really registered much in her mind.
A random cupboard, one for coats and such. She knew that on the other side of the wall, where Loki's room lay, was the very same cupboard. The cogs turned in her head and she had a rather crazy idea. She just needed to find the little gadget that would do the trick for her. It must have taken her ten minutes to locate the little laser cutter. She assumed it was for emergencies. This was an emergency; she had no TV. Okay, so it wasn't for that reason. She was just bored and the idea of bugging the God of Mischief was oddly tempting, even if she did run the risk of him deciding to get some sort of revenge on her. Thankfully he couldn't hurt her. So she cut a hole through the back of the cupboard, then through the wall and finally the back of his cupboard, carefully taking the bits out each time to clear the space. Finally, she had a way in. She might not be a scientist, but she was resourceful in her own way.
Darcy closed her cupboard doors behind her before stepping through the hole and opening Loki's cupboard door, peeking out and seeing no one in the living area, even after poking her head out some more. She closed the door quietly and made her way over to the sofa, sitting down and turning the TV on. Hogod, Marley and Me. Was this channel the torture of tears channel?! She paused the TV, stood up and turned to walk into the kitchen before nearly jumping out of her skin at the sight of Loki just in front of her.
"How did you get in this time? I have sealed the door with magic," Loki asked, in a calm and yet slightly irritable voice.
"Magic," Darcy quipped, before walking past him and grabbing some things from his kitchen. This guy really knew how to sneak up on people. Darcy ignored his scowl as she returned to the sofa. "C'mon, I'm watching another movie. Maybe you'll even cry at this one." She doubted it, but she could never resist a remark like that. She unpaused the TV and it didn't take long until she felt the presence of her grumpy acquaintance sit down next to her. Somehow Loki seemed like he would be more of a cat person while Thor would be a dog person. Not that she knew the crazy one beside her that much, other than very brief exchanges, but those were her impressions. They watched the movie in silence until it was nearing the end and Darcy found herself blubbering like a baby. Sure, the Time Traveller's wife was sad, but it didn't reduce her to tears as this movie always did.
"Damn, I should have brought some tissues," Darcy said, unabashed. She didn't care if Loki thought she was pathetic. However, she was quite surprised when she saw a box of tissues from the corner of her eye and she looked over to see Loki was holding it out to her with an unreadable expression. Of course he hadn't been reduced to tears at all. She took them gratefully, cleaning up her face and chuckling a little as she shut the TV off. "So, come on, what did you think?"
"It was…not bad. It was better than the last one," Loki admitted, seeming reluctant.
"Really? I would have pegged you for a lover of confusing plotlines," Darcy said.
"Yes, however, it was a doomed relationship and that was obvious from somewhere in the middle. Not knowing the outcome is far more exciting," Loki responded. Darcy raised her eyebrows at that before grinning.
"You're secretly a hopeless romantic, aren't you?" Darcy teased. Loki shook his head.
"Hardly; I have no faith in love and relationships. It is merely boring to be told the end before you have seen the middle," Loki said, standing up before she could respond. "If you please, Miss. Lewis, I would like to ask you to leave."
"So you can cry without anyone knowing, huh?" Darcy grinned.
"No, I do not have any urge to weep over a fictional story, now if you do not mind…please leave," Loki said, as politely as he could. Darcy sighed and stood up, mock saluting him.
"Okay boss, whatever you say," Darcy said, before leaving through the front door. Loki was left with a puzzled expression.
Damn, Loki had figured out how she had gotten into his apartment and fixed it completely. Magically sealed it too, from the way her laser cutter didn't work this time. So Darcy had spent that day bored until she decided to just go ahead and knock on his door, taking him by surprise and walking in past him. He must have realised that resistance was futile because he shut the door and sat down next to her as before. She went on catch up TV and found the sad film that was on this morning. Titanic. All these films created specifically to kick you in the tear ducts. Needless to say, she cried again, he offered her tissues and they discussed whether or not the panel could have supported both of them, though in reality it wouldn't have. She left of her own accord that time, probably surprising him since he usually had to tell her to leave. She liked to keep him on his toes. Hot damn, this was getting far too familiar.
Darcy took hold of her door handle when she heard the door opposite hers open and she looked around to see Jane exit her room.
"Oh, Darcy! I was just about to knock for you; do you fancy grabbing a coffee?" Jane asked. Darcy smiled brightly, so glad Jane hadn't come out a few seconds before.
"Of course! I feel like we don't talk enough these days," Darcy said. She watched Jane flush sheepishly.
"I'm sorry Darcy; I know they've shut you out of the loop since they don't realise how useful you are—" Jane started, before Darcy flapped her hands.
"Hey, hey, I'm not a scientist, remember? All that technical jargon kinda flies over my head, mainly because I never really took it seriously in school. Too busy heading up debates in philosophy class and exhausting the library's many books," Darcy said.
"Exactly. I was always rubbish with debate and analysing literary marvels," Jane said, with a smile. "I'm sure we can find something that you can do; right now they don't want either of us far from our rooms, and I guess I've been stuck to my computer."
"You seriously need to take breaks more often, Janey! Thor's not gonna like a girl who gets early wriiiiiinkles," Darcy teased, making Jane swat her in the arm before they both laughed. When they stopped, Darcy became more serious.
"You really don't think of me as a pain in the ass? I mean, I—" Darcy started.
"You might not understand everything that goes on in my field, but you're still plenty smart, Darce. If I've implied otherwise, it's because my head's up in the clouds," Jane said.
"When isn't it?" Darcy grinned, earning another swat. "Kidding, kidding. Thanks, Jane. Now how about we get that coffee?"
The next morning Darcy felt cheerier than before; her coffee with Jane had turned into having a meal together, just the two of them, as they talked. Of course, over the year that Thor was back in Asgard, they'd become closer and felt more need to be around each other as friends, rather than just because they worked together. They'd found out they had a lot more in common than originally thought and bonded over Ben and Jerry's ice cream. Because who could resist that, especially when it was chocolate flavoured? It was only when they were stuck in Tromso when they became truly reliant on each other. Best friends, even. Jane didn't really have many friends. The odd one she caught up with here and there, but it left much to be desired. Darcy had a number of friends, but ever since Thor landed, she'd had little time to truly hang out with them between S.H.I.E.L.D. keeping an eye on her and her final year of college.
Unlike per usual, Darcy didn't even bother checking the television in her room. Somehow she'd become just a little fond of watching TV with Doom and Gloom, even if she really shouldn't. She knocked on his door and waited, but it didn't take long before the door opened and she didn't give the guy a chance to stop her before ducking inside. However, the downside of this was the lack of foresight to his mood. Darcy turned around to see that Loki was positively seething. Sure, he was usually all scowl and no smiles, but this was a different thing entirely. Darcy couldn't help but feel just a little bit scared by his expression. Just a little, mind. He still couldn't hurt her. She found she couldn't move as the God stepped closer to her, towering over her.
"I tire of your presence, mortal. Do you think that because I am powerless to physically harm you that I am free to be mocked and treated as though my privacy and personal space can be ignored? I know that if I appeared in your room whilst you were changing your garments that you would scream and insist that I leave, even attack me with that weapon of yours. Therefore, you will leave and never return, understood?" Loki hissed.
Darcy blinked at him. She never really thought about that before. Really, it had just been a case of her wanting to watch TV, then he had appeared and she'd freaked…and the next day, well, it was almost like a self-imposed dare. "I didn't think—" Darcy started, but Loki cut her off.
"No, you did not; none of you ever do. I would have thought someone such as yourself would respect those around them," Loki spat.
"What do you mean someone like me? What are you trying to say?" Darcy asked, her eyes narrowing.
"A shadow. A useless assistant who merely serves those with more talent and intelligence. Those destined for more than simple, menial tasks. How many here in this building actually know your name?" Loki asked snidely. Darcy blinked, this time her face full of hurt and she couldn't help but feel the prickle of tears. She wasn't usually taken by insults. Normally, she would just ignore them, argue back or simply flip them off if it was that bad, but this was an issue she had been trying to push out of her mind. It was one of the reasons why she had asked Jane yesterday whether she truly thought she was worth something. Working around someone like Jane, who pursued her dreams and worked so damned hard, even when things were tough, was difficult and made her feel like a useless gopher. Having a God say these things out loud…
"You're wrong! Jane—" Darcy spoke.
"Miss. Foster will say anything to soothe, I am sure," Loki spat. "Someone to speak to when she cannot speak to Thor." Darcy scrunched up her face, hurt, before rushing out of the room and into her own, slamming the door and throwing herself onto her bed.
