"You can stop them!" said Darcy almost immediately. "Like what you did yesterday, you know when you saved all of those people from the Dark Elves and stopping a ton of them in the process with a super epic fight scene."
Loki stares at Darcy in disbelief, that she honestly think that he is going to get out there and stop a robbery voluntarily. He is now even asking himself, if Darcy keeps forgetting who he is and if she has been watching the Avengers and Thor's heroism a little too much? There is no way he is going to make this a habit and it is against his nature to help others, not only because of what he is, but it isn't who he is. Loki is not the type that would do this, he wouldn't even dream of going out and saving the day for anyone. He needs to make Darcy see once and for all that he is not a hero and he will never will be and there is nothing that Darcy can say to convince him otherwise.
"No, I am not going to run in and stop a crime." said Loki. 'Even if I wanted to, I can't, I am a wanted criminal and if I get caught then there will be great consequences for both of us."
"You're a wanted criminal who can make yourself disappear and use magic to do something so incredibly awesome." said Darcy. "I know that you can do it and you managed to do it yesterday and that was so cool and you were able to save all of those people without being caught."
"You still figured out that it was I who went out and saved those people from a horrible picture on a screen." pointed out Loki. "Besides I can't keep drawing attention to myself, yesterday was a mistake on my part. It was foolish of me to leave your home and to have intervened, from now on I am simply going to stay at your home and be careful to avoid another scenario like that again."
"Great, now you decide to be careful. Come on I know you can do it, you can make a difference if you just give it a chance." said Darcy trying her best to be encouraging. "Then maybe if you start going out there and be a hero, then maybe if your brother, the Avengers, Asgard or S.H.I.E.L.D ever finds out then maybe they won't be so hard on you and can see that you are trying to change and that you actually helped stop a couple of crimes and saved a ton of people. I mean who wouldn't be grateful for someone going out there and making their lives easier?"
"That or they will be more than happy to arrest on the spot simply because they suspect an evil plot that doesn't exist." said Loki stubbornly. "Darcy, I am not going to go running around and put myself at risk to save hundreds of strangers. There is nothing that you can say or do to convince me otherwise and that's my final word on the matter."
Darcy stares at Loki in disbelief, she can't believe how hard it is to convince him to do something as simple as going out there to help out some people and try to do a good deed. But she knows that if she is going to convince Loki to go out there and save the people and stop crime then she is going to get further and try to be even more persuasive than she has ever been in her life. She has the perfect idea on how to get Loki on the move and get him out there, though she is going to be more than persuasive...
"Alright, if you don't do it then... I guess you better start looking for a real estate agent or find some way to look for available housing." said Darcy. "Since... I'll kick you out of my place if you don't do it."
"Darcy, you can't be serious." said Loki. "You can't evict me from your home just like that."
"Watch me, I think I can handle kicking you out, I have my ways." said Darcy rather confidently. "Unless you would rather go out and save the day, then it would totally save us all the trouble. So what do you say?"
Loki turns to stare at Darcy in complete shock by the sudden demand by his roommate. He wasn't expecting her to do it or ever think that he would be at risk of being homeless for not even stopping this crime. Loki thought hard what might be the best option, he can't threaten Darcy to back off and even then he wouldn't want to, she has been nothing but kind to him and that is something that he appreciate. He doesn't know how to approach this problem or if he can find a way to get around it, he doesn't want to put himself at risk of being exposed or to make this a repetitive occurrence where it will never end. He thinks hard on the situation and soon realize that he doesn't have that much of a choice, if Loki wants to make sure that he doesn't get discovered if Darcy dares tell Thor or anyone that he has been on Earth in the past few days. He still can't believe that Darcy just got up and dared to order him to do this, he is slightly impressed by her determination.
"You are not going to give up on this idea are you?" asked Loki seeing the clear determination in Darcy.
"Nope." said Darcy simply.
"Fine, I will do it for you and the fact that I would need a new place to live if I use common sense and refuse to do it." said Loki. "Just this once, I hope that we don't make this into a regular occurrence."
"Whatever you say Loki, just go already!" said Darcy excitedly. "You have a crime to stop and a day to save!"
Loki gives Darcy a sigh of annoyance, as he takes a glance at her and begins to head right towards the crime scene. He is just doing this to get Darcy off his back and to make sure that he's not sleeping outside in the Midgardian parks tonight. He doesn't want to go around and continuously go out of his way to save people that he doesn't even know or would even bother saving if it were up to him then he would just leave the entire scene and head back to the apartment. But Loki knows that he can't risk anyone knowing that he's here, alive, he doesn't know what anyone would do with that information or if he wants to find out. He quickly cast an illusion of himself to make sure that no one sees him and to do it as discreetly as he can possibly can. He is going to make sure of that and races over to the crime scene, with the hope that he will get it over with as quickly as possible.
A few minutes later
The thieves are blocking the entrence of the door, in hopes that there is no one coming in or out of the store. The eight thugs are making sure that they get all of the jewelry that they can carry and the people still trapped inside are desperate to find a way out. The thieves are ready to make a run for it and to make sure that no one leaves the store alive. They are just about done and ready to end the screams of the terrified wanting nothing more but to find a way to get out, that is if there is even a way to get out. Before it got completely out of hand...
All of the sudden, there is suddenly a giant blast that came out of nowhere, the thugs start to look around to try to get a good look of what might possibly cause that blast. Before they can even have a chance to do so, they all been hit by something or someone, that is something that they all can't fight off, since if they are not being blasted to the wall then the next thing they all knew is that one by one of them is taken down and every single one of them did not see what was coming as the flashes of magic surrounds the store and the people trapped inside is now trying to see who their savior might be and if they can find a way to escape. The fight continues on, as the felons continue to put up a fight and yet they are failing in everyday.
After a brief moment of flashing light, magic and screams from the crooks, eventually Loki manages to defeat every single one of them and carefully tied all of them up as he undos the spell to allow the people trapped within the building to see him and to make it look like he didn't use magic to make himself visible just now. He might as well gain some recognition and besides Darcy is going to want some proof that he actually went out of his way to do it. Making sure that there is no sign of any evidence that could lead to any possible theories that might lead to someone figuring out that it was him who stopped this entire store and the people trapped inside. Though from one look at the sacks, right after he dumps them on to the table, he is more surprised and disgusted by the mere sight of what the thieves were trying to steal and it was an endless amount of priceless jewelry.
Loki can't believe that these people would cause a commotion for nothing more than worthless trinkets and it nearly got him exposed for no good reason that anyone can come up with or if he can think of it. He quickly make sure that the ropes are tied tight and that none of these crooks are able to escape from the store until someone takes over and apprehends them. Before Loki can have a chance to make it out of the room, he notices that the people are still staring at him, admiring the hero that went out of his way to save them. Loki stares awkwardly back for a brief second before he becomes annoyed and turns to the people, part of him wishes that he can simply scare them off and get away with it. But he is not going to simply because he is above all of this and simply wants to leave and never look back, he hopes that these Midgardians feels the same.
"Move along, nothing to see here." said Loki rather simply as he makes his exit. "You are all free to go."
Without another word, Loki simply leaves the store, then the wall and uses an illusion to make sure nothing could detect him or anyone else can see him. But before Loki can have a chance to cast the spell and little does Loki know that he is not alone and that there is something or rather someone keeping an eye on him. As Loki is about to leave the mall, there is someone that has been looking for Loki for a while. One that would be the last person that Loki would want to know that he's on Earth and the very creature that will alert to his master and will cause more trouble that would eventually catch up to Loki. To pay a debt that no one would ever want to pay and one that terrifies Loki than any punishment that Odin might come up with. The creature begins to leave the mall amiss of all the chaos, ready to tell his master that their search is finally over...
A couple Hours later
Loki manages to find his way back to the apartment, remembering the way and yet surprised to see how much closer it is to get there by simply walking over and it was nothing more than a thirty minute walk and one that he feels that it wasn't necessary to ride the contraption that he and Darcy rode earlier. He quickly goes inside of the building, with the hope that he would somehow get in without drawing any more attention to himself and quickly makes his way towards the floor where Darcy lives and knocks on the door and confirm his identity and is relieved that Darcy wasted no time in opening the door, though concern about her lack of security and suspicion. He quickly walks in and is about to say something, that is before...
"Now that was awesome, they have been putting your superhero action on the news ever since I got back and the whole scene got cleared up." said Darcy rather excitedly. "I can't believe that you're now a-"
"Wait, hang on just a minute, are you telling me that device is reporting everything that I just did?" asked Loki. "Does that piece of technology report everyone's daily activity all of the time?"
"Not exactly, only the important things and the things that would excite people the most." said Darcy. "But enough about that, just take a good look at yourself on tv!"
Without another word being said, Loki turns to see the tv screen and from one look, he can tell that the Midgardians are always on track on anything that might alert them to report it. That the image is blurry, but it is obvious that there is someone trying to fight off every single one of the thieves. That there is something pushing them and it's creating an impact and one that actually helped the situation and from one look at the screen, everyone who was trapped was describing what they saw and giving their gratitude in case whomever saved them is watching. Grateful on the new opportunity to live their lives, wanting nothing more but to thank their hero and to let him know that they appreciate it.
Loki doesn't even know what to make what he is seeing on the screen and all of the people happy for what he did. Of course, he is enjoying the praise, but he's more worried about possibly being exposed if he keeps this up. Besides he doesn't even know what to make of the entire situation within itself, since all of them are grateful for his acts of heroism and them giving him this much attention, positive attention and he does not know what to make it. Not only because he doesn't even remember ever having this much positive praise for something he did, even if it's something as absurd as heroism. Even if the people didn't know that it was him and he tried to take over their planet once, he does find this positive attention pleasing to say the least.
While Darcy on the other hand is happy to see Loki's reaction and hopes that he is now starting to see things from her point of view. That he would be motivated in going out and be the hero that she knows that he can be. Plus there is also one thing that she is now proud of and she is impressed by the fact that she is able to do it singlehandedly. She was able to get Loki to go out and be a hero by doing something that no one, not even Thor ever thought or even bothered to do... Blackmail Loki to do something against his will.
"Doesn't it feel good, Loki? Going out there and saving the day?" asked Darcy excitedly as they continue to watch the news. "I mean, come on you're practically a superhero now! A actual superhero who goes out to fight crime and save people, you're basically the Joker and Batman all put together!"
Loki turns to look annoyed at Darcy for even suggesting that what he did is a good thing and the idea of him doing it as a regular occurrence is exactly the last thing that he wants. The whole point of him coming to this planet is to stay for a couple of days and later leave, without drawing any attention to himself and if anything he has been doing the exact opposite. He is not going to go out and do anything that anyone may deem as heroic every day or worse. He may not know what a Batman or a The Joker is, but he knows that he has had enough of this childish tomfoolery.
"Darcy, look I am just glad that I had all of this done and got it all over with. All of this was never going to be a reoccurring event and what I did tonight was simply as you Midgardians would put it 'a one time thing.'" said Loki. "Now that I did my part, I no longer have to worry about the situation, all of those strangers are now safe and we can move pass all of this."
"But you can do more, you know there will be more crime around in the future and you can still go around and do a lot of good things to help people." said Darcy. "I'm sure that once you start then you would build a good look for yourself and everyone will be more willing to give you a chance once they find out that it's-"
"I know where this is heading and I am not going to do it." Interrupts Loki. "I am not going to head out everyday to save random strangers, stop crimes and put myself at risk everyday. It's a fools errand to do it, especially knowing that the trouble will never end and one simply wastes their time in doing so. Besides I have a list of good reasons why I shouldn't bother to go down the path that will never end and anyone who dares to do so is fulfilling a illusion that will never become a reality."
"Ok then list them to me." challenged Darcy. "I actually want to hear these reasons, don't worry if you have a long list, we have all night."
"Well for starters, one: I'm supposed to be either dead or be in the Asgardian dungeons inside a cell with no hope of ever seeing the outside world ever again." said Loki. "There is also the fact that I would gain unwanted attention for myself and it could result in Thor, Jane, the Avengers, your world's officials or someone who might contact them. That would result in me ending up in a cell here or in Asgard or worse executed."
"Good points, can't argue with those." said Darcy seeing Loki's concerns. "Anything else?"
"Yes, there is one more thing, I won't get anything in return for my doing any of that except more trouble." said Loki as he is already imaging all of the possible scenarios.
He doesn't know what Darcy would make of his attitude, but he finds not getting something in return or a reward that could benefit him in the future or at the moment. Loki doesn't see the point of going out of his way to risk himself in order to do a good deed and he wonders what is he going to have to do in order to convince Darcy of it. If she is going to continue to go out and try to make him something he's not then it might be better if he gets up and leave this planet. Before all of this continues and it will eventually get out of hand, then they will be right back where they have started.
While Darcy is more surprised that Loki is more busy of thinking of himself then trying to help people and even care of doing so. She knows that this is going to be tough and that Loki will be stubborn and won't hear her out when it comes to the whole becoming a hero and trying to make things right thing. But she knows that she is going to do everything to make Loki see that he can be a hero and somehow convince him to go for it. All Loki needs is a little push and one that she is going to give him and that is going to get him to see that.
"You know, being a superhero isn't all about you and there's more to it than personal gain." said Darcy. "It's about going out there, fighting the bad guys and following the virtues of truth, justice and courage."
"What?" said Loki in disbelief at how the conversation is going.
"I read a lot of comic books, I practically know a thing or two about the whole superhero gig and plus knowing Thor also helps." said Darcy. "But my point is that-"
Before Darcy can continue, the phone suddenly starts to ring and catching the two of them by surprise by the sudden call. Darcy quickly goes over to see who it might be, already missing the luxuries of having a cell phone. She really needs to see how much money she has if she wants to buy a new one, she doesn't know how some people can live without a cell phone for easy convenient contact. But Darcy's annoyance quickly turns into a moment of panic as she sees who the caller id is and she doesn't know what to do except play it cool as she tries to get through it without accidentally let something slip out. She takes a deep breath, as she quickly grabs the phone and place it right on her ear, with the hope that everything will go smoothly.
"Hey Jane..." said Darcy rather nervously. "What's up?"
"Darcy, I just wanted to call and check up on you from yesterday. Plus why haven't you pick up your phone?" said Jane."I have been calling you for hours now, is everything alright?"
"What? Oh, it's just that I have been having some technical difficulties with my phone and might have to get a new one." said Darcy. "Just call me on this number for now, that is until I give you future updates when it comes to my contact info. Everything is great, thanks for calling and see ya-"
"Wait, hold up Darcy. Are you sure everything alright? You seem really jumpy and-" starts Jane.
"I am not being jumpy and I am just doing perfectly fine." said Darcy with Loki facepalming in the background. "Not hiding anything that you might want to know or anything."
"Ok... Here's a head up, Thor and I are going to come over to check on you and we'll be there in an hour." said Jane causing Darcy to immediately go into panic mode.
"You guys don't have to come over to check on me, I'm fine really." said Darcy hoping desperately that Jane would drop this idea. "You don't have to come over and see if I'm still alive. I mean wouldn't you rather spend time with Thor? You guys haven't seen each other for a while, shouldn't you guys spend the time to catch up?"
"He's coming with me and we spent the whole day together," said Jane "it was actually his idea to check on you, Erik and everyone else who helped us stop the invasion yesterday."
"But my place is far from yours, it's across town and wouldn't you rather have me come over to your place, isn't it getting too late?" asked Darcy nervously. "I mean I wouldn't mind going over there and it wouldn't be any trouble."
"We're already in the neighborhood and we don't mind coming over to see you." said Jane. "We're really close by your place anyway and we might as well stop by, so see ya then."
"Wait, are you inviting both Thor and yourself to my place?" asked Darcy in disbelief in how the situation is getting out of hand.
"Yeah, since right now it really sounds like that you really need to talk and we are heading over." said Jane who can tell that Darcy is hiding something.
"Uh... Ok bye." said Darcy as she quickly hangs up the phone.
A million thoughts is now swirling through her head as she stops to think about what is about to happen and how this might possibly lead to Loki's secret in being exposed and then they will see her holding an Asgardian fugitive. That would result in being in an awkward situation and them having to give a long explanation that would result in them ending up in Loki getting a long angry lecture. One that will later turn over to her and they would be paying the big consequences in Loki or worse both of them ending up in a cell or house arrest until they figure out what to do with this information or if Loki is up to something. How can they possibly explain all of this or let alone how Loki survived what happened in the Dark World? She needs to hide Loki right now and fast!
"Thor and Jane are on their way over here to make sure that I'm alright and check in on me for yesterday." said Darcy hastily. "There is also a high possibility that you might be exposed since the chances of them finding out drastically increased."
"I just heard the conversation from your end, I also share that same concern as you. So what do we do now?" said Loki before quickly coming up with an idea. "Couldn't you just call her back and ask Thor and her to not to arrive and say something that would convince her to reconsider?"
"I've already tried to do that and I don't think she is going to take no for an answer." said Darcy. "Jane probably thinks that I am hiding something, which I am but I don't want her to know that I am."
"Perhaps it might be best if I hide somewhere, that is until they leave or to buy us time to think of a plan?" suggested Loki. "But where would be a perfect place for me to hide during that time? One where they would never bother to look?"
"I am trying to think, Loki and-" starts Darcy before her face brightens up. "That's it! I got an idea, follow me!"
Darcy quickly begins to head down the hall and is pleased with herself for her quick thinking and hopes that Loki would be just as happy with this plan as she is. Loki follows Darcy, already dreading the situation and hopes that she knows what she is doing. But all of the hopes that Loki has all shattered, as he sees the plan and what Darcy is thinking is something he finds really undignifying to say the least. He stares at the room in disgust and in disbelief, that he doesn't even know how to make of this and only have one thing to say...
"You can't be serious." said Loki as he stares at the bathroom and not pleased by the idea.
"Do you have a better idea?" said Darcy. "Come on, we have to hide you before Thor and Jane comes here."
Darcy doesn't waste a second as she tries to push Loki inside the bathroom and wants nothing more but to get him inside. She didn't have to put that much effort, as Loki simply roll his eyes and just voluntarily goes inside, though that doesn't stop Darcy in continuing to push Loki inside. Once he's inside, the only thing that Darcy is on her mind is what to do next afterwards. Right now she doesn't even know how long she is going to have to keep Loki in there while she deals with her unplanned house visit. Before she can even say anything...
"So what's next in this brilliant plan of yours?" asked Loki sarcastically.
"Just stay here until I come back and... pretend your not here." said Darcy as she tries to find the words to sound that she has it covered. "If we're lucky then maybe... they won't know that you're here... But I don't know what I am going to say if either of them needs to use the bathroom though..."
"That it is temporary out of order." suggested Loki.
"That can work and it's the perfect cover story anyone would believe, I know I'd believe it." said Darcy. "Now just be quiet and I'll deal with them, I might check in on you later or at least give you a status report. I just hope that they don't suspect a thing or we can somehow pull this off. Maybe while you are in here, maybe you can think about what I said and decide to be a hero by the time I get back, see you in a bit."
Darcy quickly closes the door and while she is doing so, she catches a glimpse of Loki rolling his eyes as he thinks of the idea of him being a hero. Darcy can't help but giggle at the response and heads her way to prepare for Thor and Jane's arrival. That maybe if luck is on their side then they might be able to pull it and they will be home free. She just hopes that they won't stay any longer than a half hour and they will be off to catch up and do whatever romantic thing for the rest of the evening. But still she can't put all of that trust in a blind hope, she doesn't even know it might end up a long evening where the three of them might have a good time while Loki is trapped in the bathroom, waiting for them all to be done. All she has to do is spend time with them, hide Loki and pretend that everything is fine. How hard can that be?
The eight chapter rewrite is here and I have the first of this round done. Now we have nineteen chapters left in the first twenty seven chapter rewrites, talk about awesome progress, nearly reached the tenth chapter mark.
Ok I wanted to expand this chapter and fix the grammar, to allow us to see an expansion of the chapter and for us to see Loki fighting the robbers in greater detail rather than have a small snippet of it before we transition to the moment with Loki and Darcy. Along with to show a more of expansion and a chance to see what is going on through the minds of these charecters. A closer look on their conversation and for us to get ready for the future chapters and the main plot.
I have already started working on the fifty second chapter and I am trying to aim it on a late April and early May release date so I can have the nine other rewrites for this round ready. It's basically part two of the finale and will serve as the most important part. Since it will be setting up the plot points and moments that will resolve the story. Moments that will set up the ending that I have been planning for a while, that I am still working out on all the details and I am aiming it to be satisfying and yet have some lose ends if I ever go for a sequel.
But at the end of the day, it will be an ending where there's room for more but at the same time, give us closure of the story that we have been following for this long. An ending that I am hoping that you guys would like and one that will be worth the wait.
But just because the main story is ending, it doesn't mean that this will be the end of Redemption. The rewrites will allow us to see a expansion of the story and to see more development and scenes with in the story and growth as a whole.
I'm also thinking of possibly doing one-shot chapters for Redemption that takes place during the time skip and it can be anything like slice of life fics, Loki teaming up with the Avengers or just Thor and Loki as Mysto of course. teaming up (it can be a midquel story with multiple chapters), maybe even a Loki and Hiemdel team up or maybe even Loki and Darcy's adventures of searching for the Infinity Stones. But it has to take place during the time skip and not be something that would add more to the main story that it would be necessary to read them. They are mostly would be stand alone stories that still in the Redemption canon and yet still be part of the story (think of it like a spin of series of a movie that the story takes place between the previous movie and the sequel like How to Train your Dragon (the first and second) or Tangled (for the movie and Ever After short) for example.) I'm open to any idea that you guys might have, just put a review or pm me with your ideas and I'll be happy to use your ideas to write them into one shots. (Maybe even a Guardians of the Galaxy prequel/midquel before Gamora got caught by Thanos or even one before she even met Loki or went through the events of the first Guardians of the Galaxy movie?)
Though I would be mostly doing Loki ones but I am open to the idea, but I was also thinking of having them to be more interconenctive than one may think, that it would be telling an overall story which would serve as a prequel, but at the same time they would be stand alone stories and within them, they will have a story arc that will lead into the rest of Redemption after the Age of Ultron arc. But the Gamora one is definitely going to be stand alone and I am open to doing more Redemption, but before I make any decisions I want to finish this story first before I get started on one shots or any sequels. Especially since the next two chapters and the rewrites are my top priority at the moment. :)
If you guys want to share a favorite moment or have any questions, you guys are so welcome to leave a review or pm me. I'd be happy to answer any questions and be happy to hear from you when it comes to anything you all may have to say. :)
Special thanks to Brigitta for giving me the whole Thor and Jane coming over to check in on Darcy and she has to hide Loki. I really appreciate it and you will see how things play out in the following chapters. :)
Lastly, I want to say is that I am dedicating the Redemption fanfic to a good friend that has been there for me for the last couple of years. One that I will always appreciate that our friendship happend for the rest of my life. I am dedicating this story to Brigitta Pekelharing, a friend that helped me out of the darkness that I often take for granted. But I want to thank her for everything and helping me during the darkest time of my life, her friendship has made me grow into a better person and writer. I am always going to be grateful for the friendship that we shared and the impact that it made on me. In a way if it weren't for our friendship then there might not even be a Redemption because she got me into Marvel movies and helped me at the beginning of writting the fanfic. Thanks Brigitta for everything :)
So will they be able to survive Thor and Jane's visit without anything going wrong? How is Darcy going to make sure that both of her friends don't suspect a thing about Loki? What is even following Loki? What trouble will they bring to him? Who is their master? What does he want with Loki and what will he be planning?
You guys can either check out the next original chapter or wait for the next rewrite to find out. See you in the next update. :)