Dressed but feeling no less exposed, Darcey Lewis sat on the couch with her arms crossed over her flannel shirt. She shot daggers at the raven-haired man sitting with perfect poise on the broken down recliner; her recliner. Darcey hated everything about him at the moment. Who wore suit pants around Chicago on a Saturday afternoon? Okay, maybe some people did, but there was no reason for him to come to her home and gawk at her as she tried to make her morning cereal and then have the audacity to look so good sitting there with those perfect cheekbones. "So you're here because why?" she snapped. That'll show him.
"I'm seeking assistance from Jane," Loki explained again. "And you, as it were." A charming smile flashed in her direction.
Her heart seemed to skip a beat, but she hoped it was just gas and not flattery. "And why can't you ask Tony Stark for help?" Darcey narrowed her eyes. "Are you sure you're not up to something? I feel like we should let the Avengers know. Steve really wouldn't like that you're back without a babysitter." She reached over and slapped Jane in the arm. "Call Thor."
Huffing, Jane shook her head. "I couldn't if I wanted to. No phone, remember?" She looked to Loki. "What do you need my help with?"
Loki pressed his fingertips together. "I thought you might repay the favor for our little charade on Svartalfheim." He offered a kind smile. "I'm only asking for room and board."
Shit. I forgot he saved Jane's life. "That's only a lot toask for," Darcey snapped. "Thor lived with us for a while. We know how much you alien gods eat. You think I can afford a box of Pop-Tarts a day for however long you're here?" She laughed, then pulled an intense face. "We can't. Sorry, no room in the inn. Move along."
"Darce," Jane said, raising an eyebrow. "I'm sure he wouldn't be here if it wasn't important. Right?"
The sincere look on her face perplexed Darcey. This dude tried to take over Earth. What's up with the puppy dog eyes?
Chuckling, Loki nodded. "Yes, of the utmost importance, I'm afraid. Asgard has been destroyed and all of its people essentially kidnapped by Thanos. Thor and I were-"
"Is he okay?" Jane gasped, jumping up from the couch. "What do you mean Asgard was destroyed?" Her mouth hung open and she looked from Loki to Darcey.
"I obviously don't know," Darcey rolled her eyes. She turned to Loki to gauge his approval on her sass, then suddenly wondered why. The smile fell from her face and she replaced it with a scowl.
"It's a long story," Loki sighed. "And I don't know, to be honest. The last I saw Thor, he was fighting with guards and I was on my way to an escape pod." He shrugged. "I'm sure he'll be fine."
Jane stood and jabbed a finger at Loki as she stormed toward him. "You abandoned him?"
Growing solemn, Loki put his hands up. "You could say he abandoned me. It wouldn't be the first time."
The petite scientist put her hands on her hips and glared down at the prince. "You just said you left him to escape!"
Darcey leaned forward, studying the prince's face. Is he scared of Jane?! "Let him have it, Jane."
Loki cleared his throat and leaned back in the chair to escape her index finger as she jabbed it toward him. When the recliner rocked backward, Loki let out a yelp. He jumped to his feet, nearly bowling Jane over. Darcey cackled as Loki smoothed his suit and cleared his throat. "I seem to have broken your chair contraption," he said.
"Sit back down!" Jane snapped, jabbing her finger in his chest.
Loki took a step backward, his hands again hovering near his face. "Listen. Thor's fine. Always. He should have been dead a dozen or more times by now, but he's not! Trust me. He's out there fighting for the greater good somewhere."
"Then why are you here and not helping him?"
Loki glanced to Darcey as if for help. "I'm of more help here. If I could just-"
"No!" Jane screeched.
Loki sighed in exasperation. "I only ask for a place to stay- somewhere away from SHIELD and their cronies. I must talk to the Avengers but I-"
"Go to hell!"
"Thanos is on his way to take over this realm-"
"-he never would've left you anywhere, even if you deserved it-"
"-he will die if you don't-"
"Don't tell me what to do!"
Darcey stood up. "Stop, stop, stop." She put an arm on Loki's chest and Jane's collarbone. "Back up. I'm not sure which of you would turn out worse for wear if you duked it out."
Jane's chest heaved as she panted in anger. Loki was perfectly still.
"That's better. Jane, sit," Darcey cooed. "Now, listen here, Space Man. Jane's obviously going to let you stay, 'cause astronomy and science and stuff."
Jane shrugged begrudgingly.
"Right," Darcey continued and looked back to Loki, who was listening attentively. "If you so much as think about pulling any shit here, I'll show you my little friend- the one that put Thor flat on his ass." She nodded triumphantly. "Yeah. He actually compared me to you a few times, saying I had my own tricks he had to watch out for." With a dramatic hair flip, she shrugged. "So those are the rules. You even think about doing anything shitty? I'll taze you. You can have my room. There's a futon in there under my bunk."
Loki raised an eyebrow. "In your chambers?"
The frivolity of the idea suddenly struck Darcey. Don't let him see you sweat. "That way I can keep an eye on you. Got it?"
Looking pleased, Loki nodded. "Understood. Are there any other house rules I should be made aware of?"
"And don't eat my Lucky Charms." Darcey mimed shooting her tazer. "Or else."
Later that evening, a howl of pain pierced the apartment walls with the sharpness of a Asgardian dagger.
Loki looked up from Darcey's desk as swearing, thuds, and more miscellaneous commotion continued from the direction of the bathroom. "Are you in peril?" he called.
Jane was at her university, teaching a night class, leaving only Darcey as the culprit. The scenarios playing out in his head were each more humiliating for her than the last. The prince figured Miss Lewis would best be left alone to solve her own misfortune. A moment later, a sheepish call made him raise an eyebrow.
"Loki?"
He sighed and sat back. "Yes?"
Darcey's voice was filled with hesitation. "Could – could you bring me the gauze? It's in the first aid kit in the linen closet."
Admittedly concerned, Loki quickly retrieved the pack and let his hand rest on the bathroom door. "Are you decent?"
Darcey's milky white back and shoulders greeted him. With naught but a fluffy yellow towel tucked around her body, the woman sat on the ledge of the tub, feet in the water, cradling her arm. Tearing his gaze from her long neck, Loki took in the rest of the scene. Shards of glass from a broken candle, small puddles of water and fat droplets of blood covered the tile floor. Loki perched next to Darcey, cringing at the sight of the ruby bathwater. "You mortals are pathetically fragile. What happened?" he asked as he took her arm and inspected the deep gash running up her wrist.
She snatched her arm away. Heavy blood drops sprinkled into the bath. "I can do it," she snarled. "I just needed the stuff. Jane would kill me if I got blood on the carpet." Her fingers trembled and the gauze tumbled out of her grasp.
Loki snatched the roll midair before it hit the bloody water. "Allow me," he said firmly. "I've assisted in treating battle wounds. I assure you I can manage a scratch." He offered a smirk, but her distress was masking her usually humorous approach to problems.
"The bath was way too hot," she explained impatiently. "Jane always messes with the temperature dial. Anyway, I jumped back out and knocked the candle over and landed on it, I guess? Stupid." She pursed her lips and cleared her throat.
"May I-?" Loki suggested.
"Fine," Darcey bristled, flinging her arm into his lap. Blood trickled onto his black trousers and he pretended not to notice. Not only was her arm still bleeding, but an agitated red burn welt was rising near her elbow. Unafraid of trivial human contamination, he ran clean water and rinsed clean her arm. "Truly, you mortals are concerningly fragile," he joked as he pressed his hand over her forearm.
Suddenly she hissed in pain. "It hurts!" She sucked in a breath. "What are you doing? That stings!" She opened her mouth to protest further, but instantly quieted. Wonder filled her eyes as Loki's hand faded to a midnight blue and coolness spread from his fingers. "Holy shit," she whispered.
"I hope this will perhaps win me brief consideration before you decide you want to taze me, hmm?" He pulled his hand away and nodded at his work. The bleeding had stopped and the burn had calmed to a pale pink shine. "There. I'll bandage this and be on my way."
"Thank you," Darcey muttered, clutching at her towel fiercely. "That was embarrassing."
"Not at all," the god replied easily. He tucked the first aid kit under his arm and stood. "Enjoy your bath."
"Watch out for the-" Darcey exclaimed. Loki stepped over clean tile and exited the bathroom. The blood, glass, and broken candle had all gone. She stared in wonder, then noticed the bath water had gone clear again. In her wonder, the only thing she could think to breathe was "Holy shit."
