I have more written in another notebook, I simply have to find it, type it, and upload it. Soon, I promise.
I own only this particular arrangement of words, but none of the characters or entities it contains.
Darcy Lewis was not happy. Jane and Thor had gone back to the city earlier in the morning. They were allowed to continue working on base. Darcy had been unofficially relegated to "babysitter." Director Fury had told her that she could continue handling SHIELD's PR and the Avenger's media appearances from an office in the new house and avoid the commute. Darcy had replied that it wasn't a long trip and Jane would be making the commute every day, they could go together. She really didn't mind. According to Fury SHIELD did mind and she would work from home, case closed.
Now she was wondering if she should check on the god who was apparently in her care. He had spent the night in the stable the horse. Thor had seemed fine leaving his brother there, but surely Loki would need something to eat by now. After a brief debate with herself Darcy decided that Loki was a grown man and until Fury officially made her a nanny, she was not going to act as one. The brunette settled into the plush leather couch and turned on her laptop, intent on doing her job even if she was stuck in the middle of nowhere.
It was nearly noon when Loki finally entered the house.
"Your room is upstairs, first on the right," Darcy offered. Looking up, she realized he was still wearing his heavy Asgardian garb. "I think there's clothes in the dresser." Loki gave no reply, and walked by the couch without acknowledging her presence.
"Fine, whatever. I'm making lunch in twenty minutes. There'll be enough food to share if you want some." Darcy simply rolled her eyes and looked back at her computer when he continued ignoring her. She was still trying to figure out how to best communicate with the rest of her department, and that was way more important than whatever his current problem was.
New message from Jane Foster popped up on a small window in the corner of her screen. *Hey Darce, how are things going?*
For a moment Darcy wondered how Jane had learned about SHIELD's instant messaging system. As brilliant as the scientist was with the tech she developed for her research, she had a less than ideal relationship with computers.
What could she possibly tell her friend? Loki was closed off, extremely so, but considering what he had been through it wasn't unexpected. The Avengers, after hearing all that had happened, had shifted most of their malice to Thanos and his army. The group had expressed sympathy and compassion towards Loki, but Darcy thought much of it was hollow. Except for Clint and Natasha, they didn't truly understand the horror of being completely unmade by someone, being controlled as easily as a puppet.
*As good as can be expected,* Darcy replied, *But I don't know how Fury expects me to monitor the merry band's public image without a way to watch the news.* There. Satisfactory answer and subject change. Hopefully Jane wouldn't press the issue.
*Thor's going to talk with Fury about it now.* The young woman tried, unsuccessfully, to contain her glee. There was no way Fury would be able to refuse Thor.
Darcy danced her way into the kitchen, where her joy immediately died. To say the pantry was less than well stocked would be an understatement. There was canned and condensed chicken noodle soup in a cupboard, and cheese, milk, and apple juice in the fridge.
Well, chicken noodle soup was supposed to make people feel better, so she supposed it would be good for Loki. If he came down.
Darcy hummed as she found a large bowl to make the soup in. As she was adding water to the condensed soup, Loki quietly entered the room. Not immediately acknowledging him, the brunette continued humming as she put their lunch in the microwave.
"We need to find a grocery store," she spoke casually, rolling her eyes. "SHIELD didn't leave us anything to eat." Her hand made a large gesture to the bowl turning in the microwave. "This is the last of our food, so let's head out after lunch."
Loki looked uncomfortable at her suggestion. "I don't think it wise to be seen in public."
Blue eyes studied the god closely. Was he worried that people would recognize him and retaliate, or did he feel guilty and didn't want to face people he may have hurt?
"Wear normal clothes and wash your hair. No one will be able to recognize you."
A frown pulled at Loki's brow as he accepted a bowl of soup and a spoon from Darcy. As he slowly started eating it, the crease between his eyebrows smoothed. "Very well."
Cupping her soup bowl between her hands, Darcy smirked as she gently blew the steam from her bow. Jane had suggested that it was too early to take Loki out of the house and start introducing him to modern culture, but Darcy firmly believed that letting people sit and stew in their thoughts was not a good way to help them heal.
As the subject of her thoughts headed back up the stairs Darcy stared blankly into the remains of her soup and thought about the problems he posed. Acceptance, if not forgiveness, had been granted to him by SHIELD. The organization was willing to help him by providing somewhere to live, but that was because of Thor's presence. Any further help – such as the therapy he desperately needed – would not be offered. Not that the god would be likely to actually talk with a psychologist.
Shaking her head, Darcy dismissed her thoughts and started making a list of what was needed from the store. When Loki finished changing, the pair bade goodbye to Svadilfari and headed out for the Asgardian's first venture into the normal world.