A/N: So sorry that I didn't post this sooner. I was waiting for my beta to get back to me, but school is apparently swamping her and so I'm posting this without her proofreading. Hopefully there are no glaringly obvious mistakes. Enjoy!
Darcy was in no mood for a lecture from anyone as she stormed into the apartment. Today was the day she was supposed to go to Asgard again, but with the three papers, two exams, and the crap she got at her library job, Darcy didn't want to go even though she knew Thor was waiting inside for her. She was prepared to cut off Thor before he got started with the sad puppy eyes and the "but Lady Darcy, you promised" spiel. The angry rant she had been ready to spew caught in her throat as she found not only Thor in their living room, but Nick Fury as well. The young woman didn't know what to make of this situation, and so she approached with caution, slowly setting down her bag and stepping toward the two men who seemed to be waiting for her.
"Lady Darcy," Thor greeted, a small pleased smile on his face.
"Hey dude…Director Fury, what's up?" she asked. The head of S.H.I.E.L.D turned to focus his gaze on her before speaking.
"It has come to my attention, Miss Lewis, that you have agreed to travel between Asgard and Earth once a week to…talk, with Loki, correct?" he demanded.
"Uh , yeah…Odin thought it would be a good idea. I'm not so sure since I only have a minor in psychology and the dude is way messed up. Like, he needs a whole team of highly regarded experts to work on his psyche, not a Poli Sci grad student," she rambled, mouth clicking shut when Fury's stern expression hardened into an outright glare.
"You should have notified S.H.I.E.L.D of this immediately." Thor frowned at the man's tone, shifting slightly as if preparing for an argument.
"With all due respect your Director-ness, if someone called the Allfather asks something of you, you kind of do it with or without the permission from the world's scariest babysitters. Besides, I don't think there's anything harmful to it besides, you know, screwing up an already screwed up individual," Darcy explained.
"Lady Darcy, I hope you did not feel obligated or forced into these visits because of my father. If you feel uncomfortable with the arrangement it does not have to continue," Thor interjected.
"Nah, its ok Thor. It's not like the dude can get any worse anyway," she assured him. Darcy immediately felt bad for saying that when she saw the miserable expression cross his face. Fury cleared his throat to get the conversation back on track.
"The point still stands Miss Lewis, you should have notified S.H.I.E.L.D immediately of this arrangement."
"So what's going to happen now? Would be kind of difficult for you to step in now since I've already agreed and I think Thor wouldn't take too kindly to you trying to keep me from fulfilling an agreement," she said, raising an eyebrow in challenge. The Asgardian stood straighter, eyeing Fury as if ready to rise to her defense if the man decided to disagree. The Director grumbled, throwing his hands up in the air.
"It's a stupid ass decision, but I suppose I can't stop you if Sparky here is going to back you up. I hope you know what you're doing Miss Lewis and I expect you to keep S.H.I.E.L.D updated from now on." With that, Director Fury swooped out of the apartment, leather jacket flaring out dramatically behind him.
"You think he plans out those dramatic exits or do they just happen?" Darcy wondered aloud. Thor shrugged, turning to face the young woman with a worried expression on his face.
"Lady Darcy, I did not mean to cause you such trouble, but I believe you can truly help my brother. He has shown great improvement after each of your visits. He is eating again. Just two days ago he requested his grooming instruments and has cut his hair to how it was before…" He trailed off, looking either lost in a memory or simply lost for more words. Darcy sighed, somewhat dramatically if Jane were there to judge, but proceeded to gather her things.
"It's ok Thor, I'll keep visiting. I even found a book he might like to borrow," she told him, holding up the mythology book before shoving it into her bag. The Asgardian smiled, offering to help her carry her things before they were whisked away by the Bifrost.
Because Loki still refused to speak to anyone but Darcy, excepting the time he requested his personal items, Thor did not escort Darcy down to his cell. For that reason, when she arrived, she was juggling way too many heavy textbooks. The guard gave her a strange look, but lowered the wall so that she could enter. As soon as she was locked inside she dropped everything. Loki startled, apparently having been napping. He gave a small smile, standing to greet her.
"Lady Darcy, how nice to see you again," he said. Darcy looked at him closely, surprised to see such a change from last time. His hair was the shortest she had ever seen it, slicked back and stopping just above his shirt collar. His face had filled out some too, eyes no longer looking gaunt, but his cheeks still looking drawn.
"Nice to see you looking less close to dead," she finally replied, stooping to pick up some of her things. There was a nice wide circular table in the cell now, probably courtesy of Thor, and Darcy decided to set up there.
"What shall we do for your visit today?" Loki asked, slowly stepping closer to look at the books she had.
"I am going to study because my schoolwork is killing me right now. I brought you a book I thought you might like so you can read that while I'm essentially ignoring you. My visit today basically lined up with the worst week of school ever," she explained. He didn't seem particularly perturbed at the idea of being ignored and he moved even closer, looking over the titles of the manuscripts before them.
"Which text have you brought for me?" he asked eventually.
"This one." Darcy pulled the mythology book from her bag before making herself comfortable at the table and settling in to do her work. She heard Loki chuckle quietly before taking a seat on her right. It was the quietest visit they had so far. Darcy stayed much later than previously. She also left the book for Loki to finish reading, warning him that she did need it back eventually and if there was any damage to it, even a bent page, there would be hell to pay.