And, I promise I'm still alive though I'm not completely sure I'm functioning at the moment. Due to a family emergency/death I'm probably going to try to write really uplifting stuff right now and, though I will attempt humor, I can't promise anything will be exceptionally funny. This prompt is probably a good example of it, as it didn't turn out as funny as I wanted it to but it establishes a concept that I wanted to for potential future use so it serves it's purpose. Again, I apologize and the next few should be more fun.

Anyway, hope you guys enjoy this!

- Illusinia

Prompt: understanding

From: avengers-tables .livejournal under 50-word prompt (yes, I do intent to use all 50 words)

Pairings: Clint/Darcy (hopefully we all know this now)

Clint paced uneasily before the one-way mirror that overlooked the conference room. Natasha stood beside the glass, staring in at the strange sight before them. Thor was seated across the hallway beside Jane who looked about as uneasy as Clint. Steve stood to the other side of the glass and Tony had his ear pressed against the conference room door.

Inside, Fury, Darcy, and Loki all sat around the table looking at each other. Fury had his hands folding in front of him and was glancing back and forth between Darcy and Loki. For her part, Darcy was leaning back in her chair with a leg thrown over one of the chair arms. Loki just kept looking back and forth between Darcy and Fury, back straight and a look of pure curiosity on his face. They didn't think anyone had said a word yet, but it was hard to tell. Coulson had disabled the exterior audio personally.

"You will wear a hole in the floor with your pacing Clint," pointed out Natasha calmly. "Relax."

Clint glared at the Russian ex-assassin. "Easy for you to say Tasha. It isn't your pregnant girlfriend who's in there with Fury and a supervillian!"

Jane shook her head slowly. "I still can't believe Darcy is pregnant and didn't tell me."

"How far along is she anyway?" asked Tony, his head momentarily leaving the door to look up at Clint.

The archer sighed as he turned back towards the glass looking into the room. "Almost two months. We were going to tell people after three."

One of Natasha's hands came out to squeeze Clint's upper arm, a comforting gesture meant to sooth him. "Fury will not allow her to come to harm."

"And Loki will not cause her harm," assured Thor. "Of all the Asgardians I have known, Loki is the most respectful of Midgardian women, especially ones with child." A faint smile fell across Thor's lips as he looked towards the room where all three individuals still sat. "Besides, Lady Darcy has earned my brother's respect."

Tony snorted. "Yeah, I guess getting lit on fire by someone when you're a god probably requires some kind of respect."

Inside the room, Loki suddenly leaned forward as Darcy held out her hand. Fury leaned closer as well, one visible eye going wide. Both men stare at something Darcy's hand but no one could see what was happening. Fury was saying something, then Loki was doing the same, but without sound it was impossible to tell what was being said.

"Damnit, I wish Fury hadn't disabled the sound," muttered Clint in frustration as he resumed his pacing.

Darcy grinned and leaned back again, closing her hand and extinguishing the flames that had been dancing there. She'd gone though several of the different types she could create, shifting between them as easily as if the action was natural. Which, well, for her it was.

Across the table, Loki's eyes assessed her with mild interest. "Curious. You are a strong Midgardian Witch, are you not?"

Darcy shrugged. "I wouldn't know. I don't met a whole lot of people like me."

"She's strong by our standards," confirmed Fury who was looking at her with a new respect. "I haven't met many who can work with raw energy like that."

"I hate processing energy," muttered Darcy. "It always feels unnatural."

Loki snorted. "It is unnatural if you have processed the elements."

Fury nodded and sat up more. "You're stronger than I expected. How much of this do you actually understand?"

Darcy raised an eyebrow at Fury. "Everything. I've been working with this stuff since I was little. Why?"

"I have an idea," explained Fury as he leaned back, steepling his fingers together. "Through the years, I've met others like us, Miss Lewis. Individuals who can utilize energy. Some are powerful, some less so. A good number of these individuals had no idea they were any different from other humans."

"But we are," confirmed Darcy with a nod, leaning forward and crossing her forearms one before the other. "We aren't mutants, our abilities are too old and don't have a visible effect on the world."

Fury nodded. "Yes, but we can have an effect as you proved yesterday."

Darcy snorted. "Lighting someone on fire only works if they can feel what's happening."

"Believe me, I could feel your magical flames," muttered Loki with a shake of his head. "It burned to my very soul."

"Exactly," explained Fury. "There are others that can effect the physical realm much as Miss Lewis did and never get caught because no one can see them. Furthermore, many individuals capable of working with metaphysical energy do so without realized and run the risk of hurting others as a result."

"So what are you proposing?" asked Darcy. "That we start a support group?"

Fury shook his head. "More like a school similar to Xavier's, a place where individuals who are capable of working with metaphysical energy can learn and gain support."

Loki nodded, seeming to understand. "I am familiar with the idea of the mutant school. It seems very successful."

"It is," confirmed Fury. "I want to-"

"No," cut in Darcy, shaking her head as she started to stand. "Sorry Fury. I agree with S.H.I.E.L.D's mission but I refuse to have any part in a school meant to allow people to be tagged and convinced into joining an underground defense organization. No matter how good their mission is."

Fury blinked at Darcy in surprise. "I wasn't suggesting we create a school so I could gather additional agents, Miss Lewis. I was proposing it because by creating a school for this very reason, we can actually reduce the number of incidents that S.H.I.E.L.D has to deal with but can do nothing about. We get calls frequently because a metaphysical energy user loses control and accidentally hurts someone. It isn't right to punish someone who hasn't caused intentional harm to another individual. Rather, I'd like a way we can help them. Growing up, much as you did I'm certain, without anyone to explain what is happening or why its happening can be disorientating. This would be a way to help those individuals while reducing S.H.I.E.L.D's workload and protecting the world."

Darcy slowly sat back down, laying a hand on her stomach in thought. She wasn't anywhere near showing, but the action was comforting. "You want to help people like me?"

"Yes," confirmed Fury. "I've spoken with Professor Xavier extensively about this, to see if there was any way he could mentor them. However, he believes that would be a bad idea because there is no visible manifestation of this particular ability."

"They could be shunned or mocked by the others," confirmed Darcy with a sigh. "Which would be bad for them because they might begin to believe they have no power."

Fury nodded. "Or they could retaliate and cause more damage than any of their mutant classmates could ever imagine."

Darcy nodded, dropping her head to rest against the back of her hand. For several moments, she was silent. Fury just waited with patience while Loki began to shift in his seat.

"Alright," agreed Darcy at last. "I'll teach them, or at least help teach. But, you have to swear that you won't try to recruit anyone Fury."

"Agreed," swore Fury as he reached a hand toward Darcy who took it with caution. "Welcome, Miss Lewis, to the S.H.I.E.L.D School of Metaphysical Energy Manipulation."

"No," corrected Darcy. "The Metaphysical Institute."

Fury nodded with a smirk, shaking her hand. They'd come to an understanding that would help a lot of people. Plus, maybe he could finally have a meal without receiving an emergency call from the hospital.