So...it's been forever. I'm aware. So when I received yet ANOTHER review today, I knew I couldn't give up on you, because you'd obviously not given up on me. Also, I am fully aware that most curator's don't make gazillions of dollars, but I'm going with Darcy's mom's family having money. Lots of it. Because I'm reading tons of Larcy's, and most of them put her in a lower-middle class background, but that doesn't work for me, so I'm making her rich. Because I can. :)

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It was nothing like bathing on Asgard, but Loki had to admit that the shower he was standing under currently was definitely helping soothe his tense muscles. The day had been strange. After her mother had left, Darcy had shown him to the guest room. A smaller affair than the room she'd dropped her luggage off in, but certainly not uncomfortable, and it did come with it's own bathroom. His privacy would certainly be respected here. The other joy his room had held was a small bookcase-filled with volumes on history and mythology, which was much more than the trashy romance novels he'd expected. Darcy had left him, and when he's prowled to his hearts content, he found himself looking for her, though he had no idea why. She'd been in the kitchen, as it turned out, making tea. She offered him some, and he'd accepted. They'd sat at the island, and she'd chattered away at him for a while. A small bald man had burst in, looked him up and down, then pulled Darcy away. He'd heard a quiet discussion involving the words "winter" and "jewel tones". Then the little man had scurried off. Loki had passed it off as simple human eccentricities, and went off to figure out how to use the shower.

Loki finally opened his eyes and looked down at his hands. He had to have been in there for a while; his hands were pruney, and as a god, that took some doing. He turned the water off, and stepped out, grabbing a towel on his way to the bedroom.

That was how Darcy found him, white fluffy towel hung low on his hips, water sliding from his hair and down his chest. She blinked, swallowed, and blinked again. He stared at her as she hastily dropped the bags she'd been carrying on the bed and retreated back to the door.

"There should be everything you need in there to get dressed." She managed to choke out before making her way back to neutral territory.

Loki smirked to himself; her attraction could prove useful if necessary. He didn't want to cause trouble; he was quite ready simply to return to Asgard and live in his family's shadow. He was sick of being a villain, and if they wanted to take him back, he was more than willing to go.

He wandered over the bed and started looking through the bags. He found clothing, toiletries and some other things he'd apparently need for his year here. He pulled out some of the clothing. Most of it was simple and black. Black dress shirts, dress pants, some dark jeans. He bypassed the underwear, slid some of the jeans on, and buttoned on one of the shirts. In one of the bags, he found a silver watch, and a rather well made belt. Also on the bed was a leather jacket, which he left there for the time being. He recognised the names on the bag, and realised that the things they'd bought him had probably cost a small fortune. He left his room in search of Darcy; he needed to thank her for her family's generosity.

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Darcy was slipping on a pair of pumps when Loki walked in the door. She took her time straightening, wanting to school her features before looking at the trickster. She pulled on her blouse, finally looked at him. He looked good, she realised. The jeans sat well on him, and the shirt was unbuttoned carelessly at the top in a way that would make a hundred girls drool. But he was looking at her rather intently.

"Thank you," he murmured. "Your hospitality is exceptional."

She blushed. "Don't worry about it. Mom's not concerned. She loves the idea of spending money, and the chance to study you is far too good for her to pass up."

"May I ask why, exactly, you decided to take on...guarding me? You were in University, weren't you?" Loki was unsure as to where this curiosity was coming from, but he also knew that the upcoming year would be much easier if he extended the proper courtesies, and getting to know this young woman would hardly be a burden.

"I'm not sure. I wasn't going to, not even Odin owing me a favour was worth what I thought I was going to go through with you." Darcy mused.

"Go through with me? What did you think I could do to you in this state?" Loki was taken aback. He certainly wouldn't hurt this woman. Not only because he wanted to go back to Asgard with little fuss, but also because he had been raised to treat ladies with care. And as sarcastic as she could be, Darcy was still obviously a lady. Much more so than Sif or even Thor's Jane. He didn't know why. Perhaps in the way she carried herself? Or maybe it was the idea that while she'd never held a weapon, she was strong, with a body much fuller than those he was used to.

"I don't know," Darcy's voice startled him out of his reverie. "Screwing with my mind, destroying my self-esteem, and otherwise making this upcoming year a living hell."

"I see."

Darcy shrugged, uncomfortable. "Yeah, well, whatever. But if we actually plan on going for supper with Mom, we'd better get going."

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So there's another chapter. Make me as happy as I hope I made you and review?