AN: uh something is better than nothing as far as updates go? I'm trying to get back to this but quite frankly I was really depressed when I started it and I'm struggling to recapture the feel it has now that I'm better mentally. Plus school has been very time consuming. Nevertheless, I will try.
The closest town of reasonable size wasn't too far from the safe house. Darcy supposed that agents in a small town would be too obviously strangers. It was easier to maintain a low profile in a group – no one had given her or Loki a second glance yet. Loki had been quiet, but Darcy could see him processing every aspect of the new environment. Darcy kept up a steady chatter, as she always did when shopping; commenting on the quality of produce, selection of cheeses, and why were there so many craft beers? Through it all the Asgardian remained quiet, always a step behind her, never meeting her eyes when she turned to look at him. Darcy was picking up the last items from her list when a small child – a boy – ran into Loki's leg, crying.
Darcy turn quickly at the sound of crying, but froze when she saw Loki kneeling to speak to the child eye to eye.
"What's your name, young one?" His voice was strangely soothing, but stronger than Darcy had yet heard it. The distraught child didn't answer, but cried that he had lost his mama. Loki took the boy's hand. "I don't think you have wandered far from her." He led the boy an aisle over, Darcy trailing silently behind.
"Charlie? Honey where did you go?" Loki gently pushed Charlie towards his mother, who immediately drew him into a hug. "Thank you for sending him back to me," she said, smiling at Loki.
He merely shrugged in reply, but Darcy didn't miss the flash of pain in his eyes or the way his arm had lingered in the air half a heartbeat too long, fingers stretched towards the child.
Loki disappeared as soon as Darcy began unloading groceries from the truck. She thought about the incident at the store as she put away the food and started preparing dinner. He had shown more emotion in just a minute or two than Darcy had seen from him since he came back to Earth with Thor. He was completely closed off to everyone he met. Not surprising considering what he had been through. If she could figure out why his shell cracked today, maybe she could find a way to help him – SHIELD definitely wouldn't be sending the therapist he needed.
Lasagna in the oven, Darcy went outside to find Svadilfari grazing behind the barn, grey coat mottled with shadows from the trees around her. Darcy sat beneath one of the trees, leaning against its wide trunk.
"Thor told me once that there is a grain of truth in all the stories of Norse mythology."
Svadilfari didn't reply, except to flick an ear in acknowledgement. "Loki has children, doesn't he?" Darcy questioned softly, eyes fixed on Svadilfari. The grey mare raised her head sharply.
"Yes"
"Could they visit him here? We saw a child in the store today and, well, I think he must be missing them."
Svadilfari pinned her ears. "It is a kind thought." She sharply shook her head before meeting Darcy's eyes. "But I think you'll find there is more than just a grain of truth in the stories of Loki's children."