CHAPTER 12

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After a fitful night's sleep, Darcy ended up sleeping in past her alarm. Not that it mattered. She'd missed seeing off Thor and Jane, and aside from the small list of tasks Jane had left her with and her training with Lars, she had basically nothing else to do all day.

Nothing to take her mind off the night before and the creepy feeling that just wouldn't leave her even in the light of day.

She didn't want to go and see Loki, but something inside her needed to check and reassure herself he was okay. To see for herself that he didn't have those bruises around his wrists from the manacles, and to see that confident expression back on his face, instead of the disheartening fear.

She held off the urge most of the day, but as she showered from her training in the waning light of the day, she couldn't put it off any longer. Dressing in comfy slacks and a sweater, she headed the familiar path down to the balcony overlooking his glass prison.

When she got to the metal door, she rested her forehead against the cool surface and took a deep breath, steadying her nerves. Nothing was wrong, it was just a dream. When she stepped onto the balcony, she would see the same glass cage she always did, with those same dark green eyes gazing knowingly up at her. She had to.

Steeling herself, she stepped inside.

The sound of her footsteps on the concrete seemed louder than normal. When he came into view, he glanced up at her sharply, expression unreadable as he studied her.

She looked down at his wrists. They were free of any marks. She let out the tiniest breath.

He looked her up and down, then met her eyes again. There was a wariness there that reminded her of the first time she'd ever seen him. She couldn't completely relax. Neither broke the silence, each studying the other.

Something felt different.

She tried to clear away the heavy atmosphere by finally greeting him.

"Loki."

"Darcy." Was it just her imagination, or was his voice the tiniest bit shakier than usual? The weight in her stomach wouldn't lift.

"Are you okay?"

His eyes flashed with recognition before he turned away. Something felt very wrong, though it made absolutely no sense.

"Why wouldn't I be?"

She saw a flicker of vulnerability in his eyes before it was replaced by the familiar steel. Suddenly, somehow, she felt it was real. Which was insane. Not willing to go down that road, she tried to act as though everything was normal.

"No reason, I was just worried."

"Worried? Why should you be worried?"

He was testier than usual, that was for sure. His dark eyes glared at her.

"Clearly I shouldn't be." She leaned back with her arms folded over her chest, torn between concern and frustration. It wasn't his fault she'd had a crazy dream, but did he really have to question everything she said?

Everything fell silent once more, so quiet she practically hear her own heartbeat if she focused hard enough. She didn't know what would allow her to finally shake off her fears and relax. Clearly, spending time with the frustrating Asgardian below was not the answer.

She didn't have anything else to do for the evening, and she really didn't feel like being alone. But was this really any better?

His voice broke the silence, and this time his voice was even and calm, almost soothing.

'Why are you worried?"

The accusation was gone from his tone, replaced by curiosity. Still, she felt silly for even taking her dream seriously.

"It's nothing. Jane and Thor left and I don't have anything to do."

He didn't seem pleased with her answer, but he didn't push her. Loki was halfway through the month Fury had given him, and didn't seem to have changed much from when she'd first sat down for lunch with him. What was she going to do with him?

"They left?"

"Went off exploring without me. I'm stuck here. Again."

"My sympathies."

The sarcastic tone was unmistakable, but Darcy didn't take it to heart. She stuck her tongue out at him playfully. He looked so taken aback she couldn't help letting out a small laugh.

And somehow, just like that, the anxiety started seeping away. She was feeling playful, on edge.

"You don't have to be stuck here if you don't want to. All you have to do is help us out here and there and you can do as you please."

"As I please?"

"Well, almost. No killing or threatening people, but other than that, sure."

He stared at her as though she'd grown two heads. Something was making her bolder, bringing everything to the surface and she let herself continue before she lost steam.

"And if I have the urge to kill or threaten people?"

She couldn't tell whether he was serious or joking. She decided she didn't care.

"Then as long as you take it out on someone bigger than you, like those crazy aliens, you'll be fine."

Loki placed a hand over his mouth for a brief moment, covering the smirk he didn't want her to see until he got his expression back under control.

Somehow, she was mocking him and making light of everything that weighed on him, and it was making him feel better. He couldn't explain it.

After the harrowing night he'd had, the threat of Thanos hung over him like a dark cloud. Once again, she'd taken him by surprise, daring to bring up tenuous subjects and casually tossing out comments that would have enraged him coming from anyone else.

But she didn't pry at those subjects because she wanted to manipulate him, or because she was trying to get something out of him. And suddenly, he badly wanted everything to be as simple as she made it sound.

"In fact, killing or threatening them would be another great way to help us out."

"And what do I get in return?"

"Eternal gratitude? Superhero status? Fangirls? Or fanboys, if you prefer."

"I prefer neither."

"Suit yourself. It's not a bad thing for SHIELD to owe you a favor though. You never know when that might come in handy."

And yet again, she'd managed to shock him. The simple truth behind that statement hit him more strongly than before. She'd managed to kindle the faintest hope in him that he might be able to survive Thanos. That he could escape, and regain his freedom. The torments of last night's dream had made him doubt again, but she'd reappeared beside him, brushing away the dark cobwebs of doubt that had bound him and making him hope once again.

Still, it was never as simple as she made it sound.

"I will not be anyone's lapdog."

She outright laughed at that statement. Her look was playful and complicit when her blue eyes found his again, and against himself he was mesmerized. Her smile made him want to smile, which was preposterous.

She wiped a tear of laughter from the corner of her eye as she continued to smile at him. "I'm sorry, I just… I can't imagine that. Just the thought…." She giggled again before regaining her calm. He missed the way her laughter echoed and lit up the sterile room.

'I mean, can you imagine Thor, or, worse, Tony, being at Fury's beck and call? Well, maybe you can't, since you don't know them that well but…man… you know, I'm not even sure how Fury does it to be honest. Lapdog is definitely not a word I'd use to describe any of them."

Her positive energy was so infectious; he could feel the impotence of his captivity lightening slightly, the noose around his neck loosening the faintest bit. Was there truly a way out that might not end with his death? Was such a thing possible?

Then he thought back to his nightmare; one that might very soon become a reality.

And he finally allowed himself to confess to the fear that ate at him day and night.

"What if something worse than those aliens comes? Something too strong for even SHIELD to fight?"

A sliver of fear trickled into her expression, again reminding him of her presence in his latest nightmare.

She didn't try to soothe him with false platitudes. The raw honesty in her answer made his chest ache.

"Then we might be completely screwed. But we won't be going down without a fight."

Again, her words flooded his mind with what ifs. It wasn't fair, the hope she was restoring inside of him, but it was like an infection, spreading and growing every day, taking over his mind and seeping into every thought.

She countered his doubts with possibilities. And she didn't seem to realize she was doing it.

How was it that she could do this, when every other option and thought he'd had had felt so hopeless? It had to be more than the fact that she'd been with him, in his nightmare, fighting to free him of his chains.

She had no magic, no powers, no special abilities. She was a simple human.

And yet, she was something else entirely. Something unique.

Her blunt honesty didn't cloud her words with false reassurances or hollow encouragements. The fact that she conceded they might fail was not the hopeless truth it should have been. It helped him to believe there might be other options, and it made him not want to give up without a fight.

He might be without his magic locked away in his cage, but he still had his will. He would not let Thanos overtake him, in dreams or otherwise. He would fight against him until his last breath. He would break free of the chains Thanos bound him to, and finally be restored.

The glass cage was not his true prison. It was merely another reminder of the chains Thanos had bound his soul to. Chains he would fight with his last breath.

"Perhaps you are right."

She glanced down at him in puzzlement. Completely oblivious to his inner thoughts.

"Right about what?"

"There are many different ways to fight back."

She didn't pry at his cryptic comment. As she looked down at him, he seemed to change in front of her. She couldn't quite put her finger on it, but there was more power in his dark eyes, and he seemed more open. Though maybe that was just her imagination.

She took a moment to think and realized she'd shaken off the weight that had been on her shoulders all day. He was so serious most of the time, yet he'd helped her to shake off her fear.

Maybe he was good after all. Maybe her instincts about him had been right all along.

"Does this mean you will talk to Fury? About helping us?"

"I have more important battles to fight."

"More important? What could be more important than your freedom? All you have to do is reason with him and he can free you from here."

"I thought you weren't trying to win me over to help your friends."

She was taken aback, her expression instantly cautious as she remembered their previous argument. His tone was calm, but she still stiffened her shoulders as though expecting a fight. He didn't like the hesitance on her face. He wanted her unguarded expression back, her playful smirk playing at the corners of her lips.

"I'm not. I'm saying this for you, not for them. When was the last time you reached out and honestly asked someone for help? The world is not out to get you."

"You are too naïve."

"No, I'm not." She stood, her cheeks flushing as the anger he always seemed to bring out rose to the surface. He did not want her anger.

"I know there are horrible things out in the world, and people that are more than willing and able to take advantage of anyone, any chance they get. But not everyone is like that. In fact, it makes them all the more precious when they aren't. As difficult as they can be, SHIELD is trying to make the world a better place. They can help you, if you need help."

"And you believe I need help?"

"I think that you don't want to accept help, whether you need it or not. But I'm not asking you to talk to Fury because I want you on his side, or because I work for SHIELD. I only said it because I want you to have your freedom back."

"Because you believe I deserve it."

"Yes."

"How can you be so sure?"

"I can't."

She shrugged. She did not know the truth about him, but she let her instincts and convictions guide her and her passion made him want to believe her words.

"Thank you."

Her blue eyes widened sharply at his statement. Clearly she'd been expecting a rebuttal or an argument. His next words shocked her even further, and somehow that gave him even more pleasure.

"I can see why SHIELD recruited you."

He'd so easily dismissed her when she'd first come to see him. How arrogant he'd been.

"You can? Umm… thanks?"

She seemed as uncomfortable with his compliment as he knew he'd been when she'd offered kind words. He'd dismissed her as Jane's assistant, but she was much more than that, and he had no doubt a man like Fury was well aware. Her honesty, her intuition and her intelligence made for a powerful combination. The fact that she was so easily underestimated made her even more incredible.

"I don't think my work as Jane's assistant is that invaluable really. In fact, they wouldn't even let me go with her on her expedition this time. I'm starting to think they're having second thoughts about me… talk about useless…."

She didn't realize her strengths, because they were so natural to her. She saw everything in colors and nuances, and looked at the world around her without judgment. She could cut into his violent emotions with logic, honesty, or her random, spur-of-the-moment thoughts that completely disarmed him. She was infuriating, vibrant, and incredible.

"I am sure she will need you when she returns."

"Let's hope so."

She shared a kind look with him, and again, he was struck with the urge to touch her. It was happening more often of late as she visited him, to the point he was almost getting used to it.

"Speaking of which, I'd better get back. I have a couple last minute things to do before the sun sets. Jane might not be here, but she'll probably log in to check on the progress."

"Thank you for your visit."

Again, her large eyes widened as she studied him, and he kept his expression carefully neutral. She seemed satisfied and smiled down at him after a moment.

"I'll be back tomorrow."

And he found the positive energy that always seemed to buzz around her stayed with him for long after she'd left.

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Something was definitely different with Loki. She felt so light and positive when she left him that she started worrying. Was something wrong with him? Was he near the edge of some kind of breakdown?

He'd thanked her, been civil with her, and even complimented her. It was so unexpected, yet it had been so lovely she'd barely been able to tear herself away. When he'd looked up at her today, his eyes had been more open and honest that she could ever remember them before. Her gut had been right about him all along, she knew it. There was good in him, and the emotions she knew he locked away were slowly starting to come out into the light of day.

She was liking it far too much. Reminding herself of who he was and what he'd done, she tried to calm the hope that was steadily rising within her, but it wouldn't seem to stem the tide. She was too invested in the outcome of his situation, she had to admit.

And when he'd looked straight at her, open and honest, she'd never felt so close to another person in her life. Now that had scared her. Pushing the thoughts away, she forced herself to focus on the last bit of data entry she had left, then heated up some of Jane's leftover lasagna.

Even one day later it was still delicious. The day wound down pleasantly, and as she began to feel tired, she got ready for sleep and tucked herself into bed. It wasn't until her head hit the pillow that the dream from the night before came back to her in full clarity.

Shaking her head to dislodge those thoughts, she focused on the positives and let herself drift slowly into sleep.

Again, she was met with the barren wasteland that stretched out in front of her, and again Loki was bound in thick chains that chafed at his wrists. Her dream faded in and out as she again tried to tear him free, failing miserably. The terrifying presence from the night before returned, and just as she felt the chain on his left wrist give way the slightest bit, a searing, white-hot pain exploded on her right wrist as she was shoved and tossed across the dirt violently. She hadn't seen what hit her, and when she glanced around, there was no one but herself and Loki lost in the endless void of dirt.

The pain jolted her awake and she sat up in bed, sweating and shaking. It wasn't until she looked down that the terror truly set in her bones.

Along her right wrist, where she'd felt the pain in her dream, was a raw, open burn across her forearm.