Loki silently wrapped a thick rope around a pole in the ground, securing the boat so that it wouldn't float away.
Darcy looked over her shoulder, and looked back at Loki, her doubt in his plan growing. ''So we go in, we leave in the morning?'' Darcy confirmed, trying to make out his expression in the darkness of night.
''I have everything figured out. What's wrong with you?'' Loki asked, standing up slowly and taking a large bag from off the ground.
''I'm not worried! It's just a healthy concern.'' Darcy replied, folding her arms across her chest and looking away, towards the direction of the UNICORN INN . What lind of inn name was that? Certainly nothing she'd see in New York.
''Right...'' Loki looked at her thoughtfully and took her hand in his.
''Wha-'' Darcy tried to take her hand back but he stopped her.
''It's dark, we're going into a bar/inn. I'm not going to lose you when we've already come this far.'' Loki told her quietly, glancing up at the sound of a door slamming open.
They both froze and looked in the direction of the door. But when nothing came into view, Loki slowly relaxed and looked at Darcy again, ''I don't want to lose you.''
Darcy hesitated, then nodded, ''Okay.''
Then they were walking through the dim lighted alleyways of the floating way station. Loki stopped at a big door, was about to open it, then paused, muttering a small incantation that Darcy assumed would cloak them both.
Loki glanced at her, smiled, and opened the door to the inn.
The Jotesei, Stephen Strange.
''What are you doing here? You are every far from home, 'Wizard'.''
Stephen shuddered and tried to lock the voices out. The land had changed and ice sprites roamed the island, trying to convince him to sleep and more importantly, die.
''Close your weary eyes. Rest. Sleep. PERISH!'' Their wispy voices called, whispering to him, confusing him.
''Leave me alone!'' Stephen cried, his eyes flashed silver and he folded his arms across his chest, ''The Shield of the Ceraphim!'' A blue shield formed around him, protecting him from their silky voices.
''What?''
''How can he focus?
''He is strong.''
''But not strong enough.''
''No one is strong enough to defeat him.'' One of the silver beings whispered.
''He will take care of him.''
''After He takes care of him the sorcerer can sleep forever.'' One Sprite cried.
''We will taunt him as he sleeps!''
''let us depart!''
''We will tell!''
''We will tell Him!''
Stephen listened to their chatter. Who was this He? Stephen shivered and continued on, until he came to a great hill.
Before he could even start to climb the hill the earth began to shudder and he nearly toppled over.
WHO DARES TO COME HERE!?''
Stephen froze, ''Oh no.'' He whispered.
It was no normal demon or otherworldly being. It was Ul'roche. Created to serve Surtur and Surtur alone, this was a deadly foe, and Stephen feared he could not overcome it alone.
Music filled Darcy's ears and she looked around for the source.
Loki smiled and nudged her, getting her attention then pointed up at the chandelier.
Four very small men sat on the chandelier, swinging their legs and playing on their small fiddles.
''Dwarves.'' Loki whispered in Darcy's ear, smiling at her shocked expression, ''It really is secluded in Midgard isn't it?''
Darcy glared at him, but didn't really feel angry. And she slowly realized they were still holding hands.
Loki led her to a small secluded table and hailed a barmaid, ''Two ales.'' He said politely.
The barmaid nodded and walked away, her hips swaying as she walked and her hip length blonde hair shine in the dim light.
''Ale? Oh no, you mean something like beer. No. I'm not having that.'' Darcy said, looking at Loki in shock.
''It's okay, you don't have to drink it. And it's not like anyone would know if you did...'' Loki replied. a mischievous glint in his green eyes.
Darcy blushed and took her hand away from his, looking away from him. What are you doing? You can't fall in love with him. But in truth, Darcy wanted to give in... To let him hold her hand.
''Here you go...'' The barmaid had returned and looked like she was making a big effort to show off her looks. And her emerald eyes strayed to Loki's multiple times.
Loki flinched and looked away. But Darcy saw him steal one last peak.
This angered Darcy and she took her mug. At first she was going to dump it on the bar maid, then Loki, then she just decided to drink it.
The bar maid had left and Loki was staring at her in shock, ''Only a couple moments before you were adamant against drinking that stuff. Now you're drinking like there's no tomorrow.''
Only after a few more gulps Darcy began to feel strange, Her eyesight blurred and she felt like she was falling.
''Darcy? Dear are you alright?'' Loki's voice faded into her dreams again. Had he just called her Dear?
Darcy shot upright. ''Where are we?!'' she asked, looking at Loki.
''Thank goodness you're alright. I was so worried about you.'' Loki leaned in closer, looking at her with compassion.
''Wha- what, what's going on?'' Darcy asked, confused by Loki's concern.
''You got very drunk and passed out on me. I had to carry you back to the boat, get supplies, and now I've been guiding the ship back on course.'' Loki replied, slowly standing up and looking at the floor.
''Oh.'' Darcy was still confused by his compassion towards her but she shrugged it off, ''I'm sorry for passing out on you.'' She stood up and straightened up her clothes, unsure of what to say. ''Well- wait... What's that?''
Darcy went over closer to him and pushed his collar down lower.
''What? No that's nothing don't-'' Loki began, trying to squirm away.
''Are those... scars?'' Darcy asked, looking at his eyes.
''It's nothing, an old battle-. Wait, you actually... Care about that?'' Loki asked, looking at her thoughtfully.
''Maybe... Kinda.'' Darcy said shyly, readjusting his collar.
''Well that is better than when you didn't like me at all.'' Loki replied, smiling at her.
''Yeah, much better.''