So sorry it's been forever my faithful readers! this was supposed to be a holiday treat but life got in the way, and then I was going to post on New Years' Eve at midnight (my time) and I ended up falling asleep after work, lol. anyway, I'm posting it now and I hope you enjoy! as always, a wonderful, huge, loving THANK YOU to my proof reader TheYoshinator.
Darcy was feeling pretty good for someone who was muddling through helping the psychological trauma that was Loki. He seemed to be doing much better now that he was back in his rooms, though he spent a lot of time just sitting and staring at his work bench. That worried her slightly. But other than that odd habit, he seemed to be doing much better. He and Thor talked regularly now, and better yet, there was less antagonizing involved. She was a little worried that Odin had yet to visit, but she'd give it another week before talking to the man again and telling him that ignoring Loki was probably worse for everyone.
"Hey Heimdall, how're you doing?" Darcy asked conversationally as she stepped from the Bifrost with Thor just behind her. Traveling the bridge still made her super dizzy, but it wasn't so bad now that she kept her eyes closed.
"I am fine Lady Darcy. Will you be staying long?" the gate keeper asked.
"I'm here for the weekend. Thor got me after my last class. Jane's going to be here tomorrow. She's really looking forward to being in Asgard without the deadly free-flowing dust making everything terrible. Oh! I almost forgot. These are for you," she said, pulling a box of chocolates from her bag. She enjoyed bringing gifts from Earth every now and then for some of the people she had become closer to. Heimdall always got something sweet because the first time she ever brought him candy, the look on his face was priceless. He still gave her a small smile every time she caught him eating a treat.
"Lady Darcy, if you are ready…" Thor trailed off, motioning to the city at the other end of the bridge.
"Yup! Lead on big guy." She waved to Heimdall as she and Thor walked off, chatting amicably and briefly greeting familiar faces as they made the usual trip to Loki's rooms. When they got to the younger prince's chambers, they were greeted by the guards at the door and let in without another word. Darcy sighed as soon as she saw him. Apparently, it was one of his bad days again. The man hadn't changed from his pajamas, his hair all in disarray and he was sitting at his workbench. He didn't touch anything on the surface, but every now and then he would raise his hand and let it hover above the piece of furniture before letting it drop again. Darcy walked through the space and into what she claimed as a guest room. Loki had assured her that it wasn't meant as a bedroom, but as a lounging area to entertain intimate festivities with friends. She had rolled her eyes and told him well now it was her room. He hadn't argued further.
"Hey Loki, I finished setting up my stuff for the weekend. I also brought you some more books. I have a book about the Salem witch trials, one about ancient sacrificial practices, and a history book about Woodstock. I think you'll get a kick out of the last one," she told him, placing the books next to the pile he had by his bed. She started walking around his space, picking various things up and placing them elsewhere, lightly touching his shoulder as she would pass by. She had found that light touches over a period of time were better for drawing him out of his melancholy.
She was sprawled out on a couch reading a few hours later, when she heard her name being called softly. Glancing up, she found Loki still staring at his work bench, but his body had turned slightly toward her. Smiling slightly, she marked her place and got up to stand beside him, placing her hand on his shoulder. She found it was best to wait him out when he wanted to tell her something on his bad days.
"Do you…do you know why I sit here and stare sometimes?" he finally asked, only stuttering a little.
"I couldn't even begin to guess," she answered honestly.
"Magic…magic leaves traces sometimes, depending on the spells used."
"Ok, so I assume your workbench is absolutely covered in magical traces then," she mentioned, not seeing where he was going with this yet. Loki's mouth quirked up at the corners a bit, but he finally turned to look at her fully.
"I have cast so many spells and enchantments at this workbench that my magic is ingrained into it. I highly doubt it will ever fade, no matter how long I am away from it," he explained.
"But I highly doubt that's why you're explaining magic to me."
"It is not. I…am not a tidy person when working. I tend to leave half-finished projects lying around. When I fell from the Bifrost in a fit of madness, I had many such projects left here. I hadn't been back since until you and Thor brought me here. My…my mother had cleaned this workbench. Half-finished magic is very unstable, and can be quite dangerous. She must have come in here to clear it out. There are traces of her magic here still, just barely detectable now." Loki was visibly unsteady by the end of his explanation, the hand above his workbench shaking. Darcy resolutely rested her hand above his, easing the tremors.
"Can you show me? I can't do magic, but you can and I'm sure…" she trailed off, not sure if it was the best thing to ask of him. "Only if you want to Loki."
Silently, he threaded his fingers with hers, dragging her palm along the smooth wooden surface before letting rest in what seemed to be a specific spot. As rash as the young woman could be, she knew when to keep still and observe. The man seemed to be staring off into space for the longest time before Darcy felt a static shock run through her. The strange electrified feeling eased into a sort of warmth. It was that type of feeling you got when drinking warm cocoa on a cold day. Finally, the warmth settled into an easy feeling in the center of her palm before tapering off. Loki withdrew his hand slowly, letting the tips of his fingers drag along the back of her hand before letting go.
"That's what my mother's magic feels like," he said finally. Darcy realized she had tears in her eyes as she turned to look at him, grinning.
"It's beautiful Loki."