The Lewis' sailboat, Pas De Chat, rocked gently on the mostly still water of the Northeastern Pacific ocean. Darcy was propped on the railing, the feeling of nausea ebbing at her stomach like the water lapping the side of the boat. She was wearing jeans and a blue v-neck sweater, the strings of her bikini top poking out at the neckline. Glancing at Loki, she snickered. Before arriving at the marina, they had made a side-trip to get him sailing clothes. So there he stood, like a carbon-clothing-copy of Preston Lewis; khaki pants, a dark blue polo, and a yellow sweater with the sleeves tied around his neck. He hadn't been happy about the clothes, but Darcy's parents were awfully…persuading.
Preston and Nicola Lewis were laying out on the bow of the boat, giggling and teasing each other like highschool sweethearts. Darcy had pushed herself into one of the back corners so when she threw up it wouldn't end up on anyone. Loki strode over to her and she couldn't help but laugh at how ridiculous the god looked dressed like a rich kid.
"You look like an idiot, dude."
"You know I didn't choose these…Clothes."
"You still look like an idiot."
"At least I'm not green."
"It's not my fault I get seasick!"
"Yes it is. You're just too weak for your own good." Darcy glared at him. "That's why I'm here to protect you," Loki leaned down and kissed the top of her head. Crouching to be at Darcy's eye level, he studied her face.
"How you've managed to not get sick after traveling between realms is beyond me."
"It's only on the water. I can ride rollercoasters and be just fine, car trips are nothing. But the second I'm on a ship I get sick."
"Curious."
"What about you? There's no way you can be perfect. What screws you up?"
"Pardon?"
"Y'know, your Achilles' heel, your flaw, your weakness."
"I don't have any," he blinked at her.
"Liar."
"You don't believe me?" a small smile crept at the corner of his lips.
"Not a word," Darcy leaned so close their noses were nearly touching. Loki closed the distance and rubbed his nose from side to side against Darcy's. She burst out laughing, throwing her head back and…
Throwing herself off of the boat.
Darcy had absentmindedly placed herself in front of a gate in the railing. It led down to a small platform that was normally used when the family went snorkeling or diving.
"Darcy!" Loki was on his feet when she rolled back and off of the landing, splashing into the water. Preston and Nicola ran to the back just in time to see Loki dive after her.
He plunged into the water, broke the surface and spluttered, sinking back down. Darcy, just a few feet away, waited for him to resurface but he didn't.
"Shit!" She swam down, feeling rather blindly for the god. He couldn't have sank that fast. Just as she was about to run out of air, her fingers brushed across something. They curled around it and pulled as she kicked her way back to the surface. Hauling him up, by his hair, Darcy kicked back to the landing where her parents were ready to grab Loki. As Darcy climbed out, Preston and Nicola dragged the god out of the water and back to the main area of the boat.
"Loki!" Darcy yelled at his still face, slapping his cheek repeatedly. No response. "Loki!"
"Try his name, dear." Ignoring her mother, Darcy straddled Loki's waist and compressed his chest a few times before leaning down to perform mouth to mouth. It was in the middle of the second set of compressions that he finally spat out the sea water, glancing around like a frightened animal.
"Jesus, Loki. What the hell were you doing?" Darcy slapped him.
Loki blinked, "I…I thought you were in danger."
"I can swim, dum-dum. Apparently you can't."
"I can too. I just…"
"Sure, buddy," Darcy stood, grabbing Loki's hand and guiding him to his feet.
"At least you're both okay," Nicola beamed. "But next time, Darcy, try using people's names. I know you like to make up nicknames, but it probably isn't a good idea when you're trying to bring someone back to consciousness."
"Yeah, 'kay mom." Her parents returned to the front of the boat.
"What did she-"
"I called you Loki."
"Right."
"Well hey, at least one good thing came from this."
"You got to have your way with me?" he smirked.
"Nope. I know your weakness."
The return trip consisted of sing alongs and another side trip to buy dry clothes for Darcy and Loki- more so an excuse for Nicola to watch Loki try on different outfits and show them off. When they finally arrived home, Darcy's parents had purchased a modest wardrobe for each of them.
"Pumpkin!" Nicola shrieked from the kitchen. Preston, Darcy and Loki had been in the living room talking about the academy awards. Nicola ran into the room, her face pale.
"What's wrong?"
"We completely forgot about the fundraiser!"
Preston leapt to his feet and the two ran off. The next few minutes consisted of Darcy's parents changing their clothes and explaining that they would be attending a presidential fundraiser and would be back late, and not to bother waiting up.
Darcy sat on the couch, still processing what had just happened.
"Your parents are ridiculous."
"Excuse me?"
"You heard me clearly."
"They're not ridiculous! They're…different. And different isn't bad."
"They sing in the car, they prepare unprecedented amounts of food, and they refer to each other by useless names."
"Those are pet names, and it's adorable. You just don't get it," Darcy stood and walked toward the stairs.
"And what is it I don't get?"
Darcy wheeled around on the spot to stare at the god, "That's love, okay. My parents are completely and inescapably in love. They have something most people only dream about. But I guess a guy like you just wouldn't get that."
The human was getting dangerously close to becoming unbearably difficult again.
"A guy like me?"
"Yeah. 'You are truly beautiful, Miss Lewis.' 'That's why I'm here to protect you.' Please! I've heard better game from boards."
"Oh so this is a game to you?"
"What?"
"You think that just because poor excuses for men have bastardized the sincerity of a compliment, it's impossible for anyone to say it honestly?"
"I-"
"I knew it would be a mistake to expect a Midgardian could truly feel like that."
"Don't you dare make this sound like it's my fault!"
"Oh right, so it's mine!"
"Yes it is! You think being in love is serious business? It's not! Being in love should make you feel giddy. You should look like an idiot because you go out of your way to do special things for your partner. But I guess gods wouldn't understand a concept like that. It's all brute force, lies, or ominous one-liners for you guys!"
"Don't you dare insult Asgard!"
"Why not? Oh I forgot, you're such a high and mighty being that a lowly mortal like me should be groveling at your feet, right? I should be so grateful that it was convenient for you to fuck-"
"I didn't fuck you because it was convenient!"
"Oh yeah? You're a total jerk to me and then you just do a one eighty and you totally have the hots for me? Please, I've seen more convincing acts on Sesame Street."
"What the hell is Sesame Street?"
"It's a kids' show with puppets and- That's not the point! The point is that I know you, okay?"
"You don't know a thing about me."
"Oh don't I? You're cruel, you're dishonest, you're manipulative, and you're a monster!"
Darcy's cheek stung, and she wasn't quite sure how she had gotten to the floor. When she looked up and saw Loki, frozen in his place, staring at her, she put it all together.
"Point proven." The tears stung in her eyes as she ran to her room and closed the door, sliding to the floor against it.
Why are you crying? she scolded herself, You knew his plan the whole freaking time, this was going to happen sooner or later! But…but he seemed like he was…No! He slapped you! Good men don't hit women, ever!
"Darcy," his voice was barely a whisper through the wooden door. "Darcy," his voice was louder when she didn't respond. "Open the door."
Darcy glanced around. The scene seemed all too familiar- her, braced against the door in tears, Loki on the other side trying to get in. Except this time she wasn't afraid for her life, she was just…Heartbroken? No! She wasn't heartbroken. You can't be heartbroken in a situation like this. Darcy's eyes fell on a ballerina music box. It had been a gift from her mother when they moved to this house. After the invasion, her parents decided to move to a safer, more exclusive neighborhood. For the most part they had avoided showing off their money, but after Darcy's Halloween experience they tried to use it as a distraction. And it had worked, for the most part.
"Darcy," his voice was louder again, this time a normal speaking voice.
"Go away." He could hear the tears in her voice.
"I'm sorry, Darcy."
"Don't say my name," she spat through the door. "Don't you dare say my name ever again."
On the other side, Loki leaned his forehead against the door, "I'm sorry. I never meant to hit you, I swear."
"Yeah like I can believe anything from the Prince of Lies?"
He had liked that name. Until now. Before, it had been a title of recognition, of his unmatchable ability to convince. But from her lips, it sounded evil.
"I've never hit a woman before, I didn't want to. I just lost control."
"It's hard to keep control when you don't have your leash on, huh?"
"Darcy-"
"Don't say my name! Everything that comes out of your mouth is tainted."
After a while, Darcy had locked the door and lay on her bed. When the tears stopped, she fell asleep curled up with her pillows. A few hours had passed and she woke. Sitting, she glanced at the foot of her bed and saw a bouquet of roses with a card. She almost didn't touch it, for fear it was something bad, but her curiosity got the better of her and she grabbed the card.
'I'm sorry, Darcy. I swear I didn't mean to.'
The card wasn't signed, but it didn't need to be. How the hell had he gotten into her room? Oh yeah…He was a god. Did this mean he'd left? That would sure make things a lot easier for her.
Darcy climbed out of her bed and walked to the door. Unlocking and opening it, she saw Loki sleeping on the floor in front of her. It was strange to see his tall frame curled up so small. She had the overwhelming urge to both kick him and get him a blanket, and wasn't sure which one to follow.
She decided on both.
She grabbed a blanket from her closet and returned to the door and kicked Loki right in the stomach before throwing the blanket- a pink and blue sheep-patterned baby blanket- onto the Asgardian and slamming the door.
"Well then we're even." Loki was standing between Darcy and her bed.
"Excuse me?"
"I slapped you, you kicked me."
"That's not how it works."
"That's awfully sexist."
"It's not sexism, it's chivalry. I thought you Aslanians would know all about that."
"Asgardians," Loki gritted his teeth. "We are from Asgard, we are Asgardians."
"Whatever." Darcy made an attempt to walk past Loki and get to her bed, but he reached an arm out and stopped her.
"Darcy-"
"I told you-"
"-I am not a monster."
"Oh yeah? Prove it."
"I have had several opportunities to do unforgiveable things to you. I have restrained myself quite successfully until today. I apologize for that, I never intended to-"
"Save it for your campaign speeches."
"Excuse me?"
"I'm sick of this stupid polite speech. You're good with words, too good. If you're gonna say something just say it and be done. Otherwise just don't talk."
"I don't know what more I can say, other than I'm sorry."
"Then I think we're done here." Loki grabbed her arm again, keeping Darcy from reaching her bed.
"For the longest time, words have been all I've had. Thor had his strength. His friends. I had my words. I'm talented at manipulating people, tricking them, I'll admit that freely. I may have used you in the past, but it was never my intention to hit you. I am truly sorry."
He looked down into her warm, brown eyes. They were slightly bloodshot and swollen, and he had done that. Her cheek bore no mark from his hand, but he could see exactly where he had hit her. He could feel his lip quiver as he thought about what he had done. Loki was many things; liar, murderer, traitor- but he had never hit a woman. It probably shouldn't be affecting him like this.
Darcy shifted, "Oh god you're not gonna cry, are you? That's so not you."
"Darcy, I…" he trailed off, remembering he wasn't supposed to say her name. But she made no effort to correct or scold him. Instead, she squeezed his hand lightly.
"You're not allowed to be like this. I can't hate you properly when you're all mopey and shit."