The Darcy Lewis Story

Author: daxcat79

Rating: R

Pairing: Loki/Darcy, Tony/Pepper, Thor/Jane

Genre: Drama, Humor, Romance

Warnings: Non-Explicit Sexual Content

Summary: We've heard the stories of superheroes and assassins, but no one really knows Darcy's story… until now.

A/N: I blame this story entirely on my internet wife "sunny_serenity" who actually inspired me with this story while answer a meme. So Sunny, I guess this one's all for you! One more chapter… omg! I'm soooo ready for this fic to be done! Yays! Thanks to everyone who has been reviewing! I appreciate the support so much! :)

Disclaimer: I don't own these characters, but I enjoy borrowing them.

Part Eleven "Somewhere I Belong"

Nothing is ever perfect in this world, but you can find something special that perfectly fits you. Maybe it's the perfect job (you've been dreaming about it since you were five). Maybe it's that perfect guy (or girl) who makes you feel different and you know your life will never be the same or whole unless they're with you. It could be anything, I guess. It's rare that we find what we're looking for in life. It's rare that we see what we want and we actually get it. People spend their whole lives building up this list of regrets… all those perfect moments they let pass by. I can honestly say everything perfect that I have… it found me. I didn't really have to search for it. It all just kind of… fell in my lap. I can't explain it and I wouldn't want to try, but I am grateful for it. I don't think I ever would have found it on my own.

My head aches like it's been hit by Thor's hammer. Like it's literally pounding, and I'm coughing because there's something caught in my throat and it takes me a minute to make sense of what brought me here. Dust everywhere, and shards of broken glass… broken brick surround me. One second Loki and I were arguing over what to do about Thanos' lapdog, and the next minute… nothing. No, not nothing. Something definitely happened, and that something pretty much destroyed my bedroom. I'm just kind of glad we were getting dressed when we were having this argument because I have a feeling the Avengers are on their way and I really don't want my birth father or Thor seeing me naked and bleeding.

I force my eyes to open to take in my surroundings. Grunting pulls my eyes from the gaping hole in my bedroom wall and I gasp as I see an armored man holding Loki by the neck. He's right across from me, pressing Loki into the wall so close to that giant hole… his feet are even dangling. Loki's eyes glance over at me, and I know he wants me to stay out of this… but it's Loki. What am I supposed to do? Just sit here and wait for this monster to kill him? This jerk practically destroyed my apartment! Hell no… I am not just going to take this sitting down. Sure, I'm afraid… no, I am absolutely terrified… mortified, and every other 'fied' word in the dictionary. I still won't just back down. I won't just watch this creature kill Loki… his bluish grey skin and heavy armored outfit such a stark contrast with the rest of my surroundings. I struggle to stand, mind racing with some idea of what I could do to help.

"Thanos will be most pleased once I have brought you to him. Did you really think it so easy to break from his control, boy?!"

Loki's eyes are begging me not to move, but I refuse to obey. He glances back at the man trying to crush his windpipe. He looks pissed off. "I… am… no… boy, Annihilus," he gasps with his last strength. Fuck… Loki knew this psycho?! "I am the son… of Odin!" he shouts and I pick up the wooden chair lying beside me on the floor and smash it against the bounty hunter's skull. I know it won't do much, but it's enough for Loki to escape his grasp, and they're fighting now with me trying to keep out of the way so as not to get myself killed. The jerk who dared destroy my apartment growls angrily even as he tries to reach for Loki's throat once more, flashing a glare my way. Loki keeps him busy though.

"Ha! Do you need a girl to fight your battles for you, Loki? Just how far the would-be king has fallen!" Annihilus sneers.

Loki's eyes narrow. I stiffen angrily. "Hey! I'll have you know I'm all woman," I reply, and throw a brick from my broken wall at his head. It even dents his armor just slightly.

Annihilus grunts angrily, and Loki laughs. "I can attest to that… she is most definitely all woman," Loki agrees before sending a fist flying into the other man's face and his helmet falls off from the blow.

Loki rushes towards the bounty hunter with one of his knives, and the struggle continues. This time it's Annihilus fighting off Loki, just barely keeping himself from being stabbed in the face. They seem evenly matched and I know Loki's not quite himself just yet. His powers are weak, but maybe I can help. I focus my mind. What did Odin say? I'm a goddess. I hold power as Loki's bondmate. I harness all my energy, and the pounding in my head slows… when my eyes open there's another me standing near Thanos' bounty hunter… the projection catches him by surprise long enough for Loki to shove the blade in his shoulder and send him flying out of my building. Loki looks shocked when he glances back at me. I shrug. "We're bonded… remember?"

It seems I still have a few of his abilities… I wonder how long it will last… if it will last. Loki grins. "How could I forget?"

Iron Man is flying in the hole in my wall seconds later and I can see Thor and Captain America going after the bounty hunter who's just barely survived his fall. They look extra pissed, and I know that jerk is gonna feel the full wrath of the Avengers. He really had no idea who he was dealing with apparently. "Everyone all right?" Tony's face-piece is pulled up to reveal his face and his focus is on me as he walks over and grasps my arms. The cold metal is a shock to my system, and I watch my projection fade. Wow… that was actually exhausting.

"I'm okay… he didn't hurt me!" I assure him. I love the fact that Tony Stark is worried about me. He's practically searching my exposed skin for bruises and cuts. I know there are a few. Little pieces of glass imbedded in my skin. My lungs still feel clogged with dust particles and my throat is dry. I'll live though, and Tony seems to realize that.

"I'm just fine too, by the way," mutters Loki with a quirked eyebrow. He's dusting off his pants which are mostly ruined, and there's a small cut over his left eye. It should heal fast, but he's worn out too. Neither of us were ready for this.

Tony pauses and glances over at him. I have to laugh at the glare he's giving Loki. "Oh shut up…" he grumbles.

"Is that anyway to speak to your son-in-law?" I tease.

Stark grimaces. "I will never call him that. He's lucky I haven't handed him over to Thanos myself."

"Oh come now! We used to be such good friends!" said Loki with a playful grin. I can't stop laughing because this is kind of fun teasing Tony like this. My boys… such a twisted family we've become. John Lewis would be proud I'm sure. My mom would have been down-right giddy. I wish she were alive to see this… to see what has become of me. I'd like to think she would have loved this. No… I know she would have loved this.

"That was before you slept with my daughter!" argued Stark. "Friends do not sleep with friend's daughters!"

Loki frowned. "Is that really a rule?"

"It should be!"

I roll my eyes at them both. "Meanwhile, I have a giant hole in my wall… what the hell, Stark?! Couldn't you have come here before that asshole destroyed my house?" I groan. I have no idea what I'm going to do about all this. I don't know where I'll live. I'm pretty sure it won't be here. The owner of this awesome apartment will not be too pleased with me I'm sure.

"You can live in Stark Towers… obviously," Stark assured me with a roll of his eyes.

"Me too?" asked Loki.

Tony groaned. "Jesus… just… don't talk to me." I can't believe it's that easy for him. For a guy who is obviously 'the world's worst father'… he seems eager to look after me all of the sudden. Is he trying to make up for lost time? Does he feel like he owes me? He doesn't, but the way he just throws it at me… just live in his building… because I'm family… not even a moment's hesitation.

"You would do that?" It's not exactly what I meant to say, but suddenly both Loki and Tony are staring at me. They both seem surprised by my question, as if they don't even comprehend why I'd ask. In my head it all seems perfectly reasonable. Stark doesn't owe me anything, does he? He's only known about me for a few days. How is he jumping into the role of father this quickly I'll never know. It doesn't seem to fit the box I put him in… then again, Tony's always been so unpredictable.

Tony's eyes soften. "Darcy… you're my daughter," he says as if that should explain it. "You really expect me to let you live on the street?"

No… I suppose that wouldn't do. Stark's long lost kid lives in her car with an ex-villian… yeah, I don't think he'd appreciate that. I smile. "I guess not."

He doesn't seem to like my wording. "I thought we talked about this… about you… expecting things from me."

I nod, and I think I understand. Stark knows who and what he is. He knows he can be a screw up, but he's always wanted to do the right thing. I hold his gaze and I see it… the need there. He wants to do right by me. I'm grateful.

"Stark! The bounty hunter is on the run! We need you!" shouts Thor from somewhere outside and I can hear his hammer spin as he flies.

The helmet slips back down and Tony's face is gone, hidden behind his iron mask… wait… is it iron? Whatever… I can't see his face anymore. "Give Pepper a call and she'll set you up somewhere nice. I better go!" Just like that his thrusters burn and he's leaving just as quickly as he appeared… and it's quiet once again. Loki's walking towards me slowly and his eyes betray his worry.

I try to smile, but I'm not sure I can. "You okay?" I finally ask.

"Are you?" he replies.

I shrug, and there's a warmth I'm feeling at how easy this was… the Avengers… looking out for me and Loki. We're really like a family. When I meet Loki's gaze he finally seems to understand and he pulls me into his arms and kisses my forehead. He's holding me like he's still waiting for me to disappear, especially after what we just went through. When I close my eyes I can almost reach out and touch those emotions swirling in his gut… guilt, anger, fear… so much fear. I don't know what he could be so afraid of, but I won't press it any further because I know we have time. We have time to learn each other the proper way. I try my best to reassure him the only way I know how. "Loki… I thought I was going to lose you."

It's the right thing to say and he's still for a moment, as if trying to absorb my words. "At one time it was certainly a possibility, but it appears I have a protector."

I glance up at him and smile. "Thor's your brother… of course he would protect you. You're just now figuring that out?"

His face wrinkles in confusion and he shakes his head. "Thor? My protector? No… actually, I was referring to you." For a minute I think he's joking, but the mirth is lacking in his gaze. He's dead serious. I can't believe it… I think I actually blush.

"Loki… we protect each other." I can tell it's a new idea to him, but he accepts it with a nod.

"I think I like the sound of that…."

To Be Continued

A/N: I kinda name drop the bounty hunter as Annihilus (who some believe was actually supporting Thanos in the Avengers movie but who knows, he's mostly known as 'The Other' and I didn't want to call him that.) Basically, Annihilus is a bad guy (often fights the Fantastic Four I think), but I'm no expert. Just saying this now in case someone throws a fit about that. *shrug*