Okay, I'm finally ready to move this ship forward- and I mean that literally! Hope you love this!
Darcy had accepted her place in Asgard as the world's biggest third wheel, and she'd also accepted that she'd probably never be in a stable, healthy relationship with anyone- forget about romance with a man. It was tough, but she was mostly over it. The only real thing to bother her was her embarrassingly infantile crush on Loki. She'd gotten a handle on the whole "mind meld" issue, to the point where even if she called out to him in her sleep, her subconscious would shut it down before the message went through. It was a difficult process, involving intense reading of Asgardian scrolls at all hours of nights, but she was determined to keep control of her feelings and thoughts. The idea of Loki knowing how she felt about him, however convoluted her emotions were, was unacceptable. Besides, she had other matters to attend to.
Jane, Thor, and Lucy, plus the royal in-laws were on a royal tour of Yggdrasil , exploring their neighboring realms and maintaining ancient alliances, as well as forging new ones. The palace was empty without the golden family, but Darcy was content to simply snoop around and discover the secrets of the Asgardian royal family. Although she failed to find out what was beneath Odin's eye patch (sadly none of his personal servants would talk), Darcy did begin a case study on the Asgardian culture. Considering her rather unpleasant initial encounter with the people, Darcy was going at it with an open mind and clear eyes, aware that she wasn't about to make any new friends any time soon.
Her method of learning was simple.
Darcy wasn't really big news on Asgard- she was Princess Jane's crazy cripple friend who caused scenes- but she would have one or two royal guardsmen escort her to some part of the city, like the market or the harbor. The bustling, colorful crowds and loud merchants made her feel like she was in New York City again, and for a few days Darcy was having the time of her life. She would try new foods, explore the exotic shopping stalls, and haggle with vendors who were more often than not spectacularly good looking. Darcy relished arguing over the price of a shawl softer than a butterfly's wing, fulfilling an unknown craving for human/Asgardian contact. Best of all was the fact that her mind was stimulated for the first time in months. Though she adored caring for baby Lucy, Darcy missed her psychologist's office and the challenge of discovering and aiding someone whose mind was a little (or a lot) twisted.
The conclusions she drew from her anthropological endeavors were written in a leather bound journal she had received as a gift from an overly enthusiastic shopkeeper.
Day 1: I saw a fat Asgardian today. I was shocked, as this was the first I've observed in over 6 months of residence. Also, they have fruit that moves by itself.
Day 2: It seems that the culture here dictates a very gender-fluid kind of fashion and society. Women are free to roam and dress as they wish, and they're all very dynamic sort of people.
Day 3: I wish there were more imperfections here. I stick out like a sore thumb and everyone stares. My chair seems louder and my boobs seem obscene compared to these graceful people.
Day 4: Things aren't as rosy as I imagined. Underbelly of city is rotten to core- thriving sex trafficking, sadly, and there are a lot of illicit substances here too. I can't imagine what a god must smoke to get high…
Day 5: I realized that Loki has been gone since last week. Asked Heimdall where he was, all I got was that L was still in the palace. Where could he be hiding? Also bought a lovely perfume from the nicest old man in an ancient looking apothecary. Gorgeous place, I wish I had a camera.
Her chronicling ended there- a wave of some kind of flu struck the city and Darcy was amazed once again at the vulnerability of the gods. Somehow they could get sick?
Anyways, she was tired of watching people walk and run and dance and even have sex. As fascinating as the city was, Asgardian people were prejudiced snobs at the end of the day and she couldn't comprehend why Loki was so desperate to gain their approval. A mean, petty part of her was glad that she was completely immune to the mysterious flu, and then she felt bad, mostly because she was confined to the palace.
After attempting to amuse herself by rolling around the palace hallways at breakneck speeds, Darcy decided to try and find Loki. She was miserably bored, and a sick part of her desperately wanted to see his face again.
She began by discovering the whereabouts of Loki's bedchamber- which was, surprisingly, unlocked. Upon entering however, Darcy discovered the god of mischief's true capabilities- the room was empty, bare to the bones. She was about to turn around and leave when she imagined a low chuckle- Loki's chuckle. Darcy peered even more closely at the vacant space, and suddenly the illusion was revealed to her. The room was clearly enchanted to render its contents invisible to unwanted visitors!
Laughing to herself, Darcy rolled out of the room, vowing to one day see Loki's innermost sanctum. She was intent to return to her search when a serving girl delivered a letter from Jane to her, and distracted, Darcy forgot her miniature quest.
Days passed, and Darcy grew increasingly concerned.
Loki was still missing, Thor and Co. were still on vacation, and the flu had become a bit of a pandemic.
Her nights were sleepless again; her days were long and listless.
The darkness was beginning to pervade her life once more, and for the first time in years, Darcy wished she could see her mother. At night when she could sleep, dreams of burning houses and crying babies overwhelmed her- when awake, gnawing feelings of guilt and horror pulled her down. The depression she had fought off so valiantly was making a comeback, and so Darcy made one last desperate attempt to fix things.
One evening, she reclined her bed and shut her eyes, clearing her mind of worries and thoughts. Opening her mind and removing her inhibitions, Darcy flung her very conscious out around her- she wasn't sure how she was doing it, but it seemed to be working. Mustering up all her inner strength and spirit, Darcy called out for her last hope.
Loki? Loki, I don't know where you are, but I need you.
I'm getting blue again, and I can't stop it. I can't stop it alone this time and no one else is here.
Her conscious thoughts faded away into a deep slumber.
When she awakened, she was on her feet in a library, just as before. Loki stood before her, tall and lean.
Wordlessly, Loki took in Darcy's image. He seemed to swallow her up with his eyes, and Darcy could feel herself melting with an old, unfamiliar sensation.
"You came." The statement came out more like a pitiful question than a fact, but it seemed to have an effect on Loki.
"You called. It seems you are unwell, my lady. I know it cannot be the illness which ails our fair Asgard, thus I know not what troubles you." He sounded like a Shakespearean dream, and Darcy barely heard his words.
Absentmindedly, she replied, "I'm depressed again. I told you, I feel blue- Didn't I say that when I reached out to you?"
Suddenly the smooth grin contorted into a snarling grimace-
"And I suppose you think yourself witty? A play on words as your pitiful mortal scholars call it?!" The ferocity with which Loki spat out his words frightened Darcy more than she could have imagined. Stumbling backwards, Darcy fearfully attempted to placate Loki.
"I have no idea what you're talking about but I'm sorry, I'm sorry! Please don't…"
The snarl faded to a frown but Loki's brow remained furrowed in anger.
"I'm supposed to believe that you didn't say that on purpose?"
"Say what?" Her incredulous tone seemed to piss off Loki even more, and he seemed to grow in size as he puffed up with fury and stalked towards her.
Seizing her by the arms, Loki looked Darcy straight in the eye, so close she could see flecks of gold in the muddied green eyes.
"Blue. I'm feeling blue, blue, blue like the ocean, blue like the sky, blue like fucking Jotunheim!"
Darcy gasped- A) The hissing, sing-song tone of his reply was so acidic and venomous- had she doomed herself? B) He had cursed, for the first time ever as far as she knew.
It was terrifying.
"Loki, I'm sorry- It's an expression, a Midgardian expression, and it's stupid and I know, and I'm stupid, and I'm so sorry- please, forgive me!"
The words flew out in a rambling stream and without realizing it, Darcy had begun to cry.
Loki immediately released Darcy, looking thoroughly abashed at causing her so much pain.
"I apologize. There are parts of me that even your Midgardian mind-studies cannot heal. I am this way… I am called a snake, a scorpion for a reason. I sting. I poison. I kill."
Gently, Loki wiped away a tear with the pad of his thumb, and Darcy had to keep herself from shuddering.
"I accept your apology. The fact is, Loki, that I'm lonesome. I can't sleep, I can't read, or anything. When I say I'm blue, I mean that I'm depressed, and in need of help. I've struggled with this for years now, but it doesn't get easier…"
His soft sigh at her explanation tugged at her heartstrings. She belated realized then that "blue" was definitely NOT one of Loki's favorite colors- hadn't it destroyed his life and sanity?
Still… she was curious.
"Loki, where have you been for the past few weeks? I'm all alone in this big golden palace- I might run off with the good silver."
He looked puzzled but less morose and more amused.
"I have recently been returned a modicum of my magical abilities, and I have been re-honing that which I had thought lost."
Instantly Darcy's interest was piqued- she was a card carrying diehard fan of Harry Potter, and would kill anyone who criticized the idea that magic existed in their world. Although she hadn't really believed before meeting Thor, Darcy had always imagined worlds and powers greater than what they knew of…
And wasn't she right?
She was so engrossed in the possibilities that she didn't see Loki smiling crookedly at her vacant expression.
"Oh wait! Sorry, zoned out. Loki, tell me- what kind of magic can you do?"
Loki's dreamy expression shifted to one of interest, like a little boy explaining his favorite Pokemon to his mom.
"Well, I focus majorly on illusionary arts and deception- half the battle can be won by controlling what one enemy sees."
They passed hours talking and arguing- Darcy often defending her poor human race against the verbal attacks of the disdainful Gods.
They parted, promising to meet again soon, but Darcy wasn't satisfied. When she came to in her bed, it was 2 in the morning and she was determined to find out where exactly her friend Loki had been hiding for the past two weeks…
She was dreaming- a raven was flying before her and she was running after it, swiftly, carelessly- she had to catch up to it.
For what felt like hours Darcy followed the bird, until she arrived at a chamber of dark gray stone, with ancient hieroglyphs scribed upon the walls from top to bottom.
The room was redolent with the very feel and scent of magic, and Darcy realized that she had found Loki. With a shock, she recognized certain chains and books- it was the original location of Loki's capture.
She awoke with a start, and quickly she maneuvered herself into her chair and out the door.
Lights flickered in the space between the bottom of the door and the ground- Darcy had had to carefully roll herself down the stairs, managing to bring herself down step by step (Thank god for ancient Viking stairs that were 4 feet wide).
Tentatively, Darcy opened the door before her, surprised to find it slightly ajar.
Peering into the crack, Darcy could see a crackling fire, lessening her fears and giving her the courage to further enter the chamber.
Inside was every Hogwarts student's dream-
Cauldrons upon cauldrons of bubbling liquids, and plants growing from wall to wall, brimming with obvious magical properties. Smells of herbs and spices filled the air and Darcy was thrilled to her very core- magic.
She couldn't see Loki, but she could hear something. A faint rumbling, almost impossible to catch, came from a corner of the room. There lay Loki, sprawled in an armchair with his head leaning against an ancient spelltome as a pillow.
Darcy felt her breath catch in her throat, and her stomach did a nerve-wracking flip.
Loki's face was peaceful, like an infant asleep in its mother's arms. The brow was smooth, the lips curved serenely up. His stupid armor had been discarded for simpler clothes of linen, in the deepest shade of green.
Darcy was still panicking- her heart was pounding and something was about to explode in her mind…
Loki's skin was a startling, frighteningly bright cobalt blue.
That wasn't the worst of it though…
Behind him stood a canvas, about 5 feet tall and 3 feet wide. On it were two sketches-
One was of her asleep, eyes heavy lidded and shadowy…
The other was of her, running- her hair streamed behind her, her arms were stretched about her- she was on her feet, her legs were working…
Something inside her clicked, and with a frightened gasp Darcy backed up into a cauldron, spilling its contents all about her. Her wheels slipped on the slick liquid, and Darcy nearly lost her balance. The problem didn't subside though, as the potion seemed to eat away and corrode at the metal of the wheelchair- without thinking Darcy screamed and Loki seemed to appear out of nowhere, lifting her carefully from the melting chair and running out of the room.
Darcy looked up at the man carrying her to safety, and his red eyes were merely unsettling. Not frightening, not demonic… just… Loki's.
Ok
I'm trying but I really want and need someone to beta at some point in the future. Like really I want you all to have the best possible writing. :D lots of love, please please review and like!