Idk why but I've been listening to "Can't Hold Us" by Macklemore/Ryan Lewis and it's really inspiring me to… write?
Read and review honey buns! And thank you all so much for your sweetness.
A few kisses went a long way.
Darcy could feel herself overflow with initiative- she wanted to do actual things with her life again- like practice psychology, and rent an apartment, and make new friends. She wanted a new job, away from SHIELD (fat chance sadly), and most importantly, she wanted to be happy again, with or without Loki.
After the initial high of professing their feelings for one another faded, a smaller, more contained glee emanated from Darcy, despite the fact that the earlier Russian attack was under intense investigation by SHIELD, the Avengers, and most importantly Thor, who had broken an entire floor of the tower in his anger at discovering that Lucy was a target.
Jane and Thor had elected to remain on Earth for a few months at least, considering that Odin was going nowhere any time soon and Thor clearly had unfinished business in Midgard.
Loki was forced to stay as well, bound to remain near Thor for the safety of all of mankind, even though most were aware that Loki was definitely a threat with or without the Thunder God.
Darcy personally was pleased to be back on her third rock from the sun, in the best city in the world, New York. Since she was technically a dead woman, SHIELD allowed her some freedoms such as the privilege to roam the city as she pleased, so long as she maintained a constant link with SHIELD through one of their tapped cell phones. Darcy didn't dare disagree at that, knowing that her safety was paramount for once and that wasn't always the case.
The overall mood of Darcy's life had changed- once dreary and without end, now Darcy could imagine a future.
Maybe Loki would actually create a potion to fix her legs- and then they could maybe figure out some convoluted way for them to be together.
Hell, maybe she could have sex with him- it'd been more than five years and Darcy knew there was a tumble weed rolling in between her ovaries and her uterus.
With Fury's permission, Darcy was allowed to live in her own apartment, still in the SHIELD facility but far enough away that she felt some autonomy. Together she and Jane furnished a lovely one room suite with a kitchenette and bathroom, enjoying trips to IKEA with baby Lucy and even once Thor (who got too excited over the Swedish Meatballs)- decorating was therapeutic and calming and mundane, all the things Darcy craved in her life.
Living alone again was also refreshing, especially knowing that someone was out there trying to help her.
By help her, of course, she meant concocting a complicated potion to cure paraplegia.
And by someone, she meant Loki.
He was living in the Avengers Tower with Jane and Thor, working in a lab day and night, according to Jane. Although Darcy knew better than to let her hopes get too high, she could not resist lying in bed at night, dreaming of the places she would go if Loki's potion would work.
Top of her list was a park- any park, with beautiful tracks that were smooth and perfect for a steady run. She doubted she could immediately return to her pre-wheelchair speed soon, but the notion was pleasing.
Another perk of being on Earth this time was that SHIELD was taking her abilities as a psychologist seriously- apparently, word had gotten around that she had done the proverbial impossible for a counselor, and had "fixed" Loki's psyche.
It was one thing to get a new, bigger office than before- it was another to have clients the like of Captain America stopping by for a little "chat" and coffee.
Although Darcy was unsure of the ethical legitimacy of her listening to the worries of the various heroes smattered around the building, she was excited to be of aid to the world again. Her usual office hours were ignored especially as time passed and her clientele became more established. For example, Tony resumed his habit of popping up once or twice a week with something stupid and shiny to attach to her chair, as well as a plethora of underlying insecurities and fears which he refused to admit he had. Darcy loved to listen to his problems, because they usually went something like:
"Hey kid. How've ya been?" His legs would be propped up on the coffee table, some kind of gadget in hand, and eyes constantly observing his surroundings.
Darcy would give a neutral reply, gauging his response.
His eyes would light up immediately, as he would launch into a narrative on how he had spent hours the past few nights watching reruns of the Cosby Show, and how he was always confused about how someone as hot as Clair Huxtable would marry a fucking weirdo like Cliff- the greater the amount of cuss words, the greater the distress was Darcy's most common prognosis.
He never once mentioned that he was upset, or worried about anything, but Darcy could immediately sense the underlying insecurity he felt regarding his relationship with Pepper. Despite the fact that they had been "going steady" for years Tony was still unsure of his worthiness for Pepper, and to Darcy that was a gladdening sign of how seriously Tony took his relationship.
Loki on the other hand was NOT flourishing.
His ability to enjoy Midgard was greatly diminished by the fact that he had tried to destroy it quite persistently not long ago, and everywhere he looked in New York reminded him of his failure, and more importantly, his madness.
He purposely avoided Darcy, hiding in the labs of the Avengers tower as best as he could. Sometimes he succeeded and was able to work for days uninterrupted; unraveling the mysterious compound he would need to complete his potion to fix Darcy.
Other times his work would be stalled by complications- sometimes the lab would explode, or worse sometimes Thor would pop up unannounced. Loki didn't begrudge Thor's presence very much considering how much leeway he was given on Earth, but his brother was still a pest of the highest degree. Loki simply could not function with the constant exclamations of a grown man over the way a certain chemical would "turn blue!" when combined with red- it was shameful.
Occasionally Jane would accompany him, and that was slightly better because that meant Thor had a babysitter who was not Loki. Although he still could not fathom what the genius astrophysicist saw in Thor, he was glad to observe her effect on him. For example, Thor was no longer mocking Loki- in fact, he was astounded by the fact that by combining certain elements and ingredients one could alter the very fabric of reality- and deep down inside, when Thor asked an asinine question about anything, Loki was joyful because before no one had even cared.
It was better when Jane or Thor would bring Lucy because then he had a real reason to take a break. Although not entirely comfortable with children just yet, Loki felt an immense affection for his brother's daughter- his niece, who was beginning to lisp out the beginnings of sentences in the most adorable voice Loki had ever heard.
Those were the days when Loki would follow the royal family to the playroom or the green house, where Lucy was safely away from chemicals and able to frolic as she wished.
Despite the increasing sense of right, Loki still knew that chunks of his heart were yet to be filled.
One of those chunks belonged to the beautiful brunette who was apparently taking SHIELD by storm, helping the psychological department reach a higher standard of service. He was unreasonably proud of her success, aware as he was of the fervent desire she had had to be of use in society.
He now shared her desire- plus a growing desire to play a greater role in her life.
That was impossible, however, until he righted his previous misdoings- which meant countless weeks working on perfecting his potion.
Darcy began to grow impatient soon though. The time spent in the office was only so fulfilling, and her inevitable fear that Loki's words had been false reared its ugly head.
To allay her fears Darcy decided it was time she surprised her potential boyfriend/whatever the hell they were with a visit- and a new look.
After literally years of rocking the big, disheveled curly look, Darcy was ready to streamline her style and her life, gearing up for any potential changes in the future.
It began with an updated wardrobe- gone were the heavy sweaters and corduroy skirts with the boots- with a little advice from Pepper and Jarvis, Darcy created a modern, updated wardrobe with flowing dresses and comfortable skirt sets, all in shades of bright jewel tones and pastels.
Darcy also decided it was time for a new 'do which meant a trip to a salon somewhere upscale and overpriced- two of her favorite things about New York.
She came out looking much younger, with a shoulder skimming bob that made her cheekbones look fantastic, and bangs that emphasized her eyes.
The hair and the clothes were such a refreshing change for Darcy, who for so long was incapable of finding pleasure in any aspect of her life. Now, the possibility of enjoying the little things seemed like a blessing.
Jane's reaction to Darcy's makeover was everything a best friend was meant to provide- support, compliments, and suggestion for future shopping trips! It made Darcy even giddier to hear Thor tell Lucy that "Aunty Darcy looks lovely like the spring time in Asgard", a surprisingly poetic compliment for the blonde hero (although it gave insight to why on earth Jane loved him).
Even Tony said she looked "fantastic, like the girl whose number you'd wished you'd kept from high school".
Loki's reaction was critical- she had essentially changed her appearance for her personal pleasure, but also to judge his response.
It began like this:
Darcy wheeled her way down ramp after ramp to the underground floors of the tower, where Loki's lab was clearly set apart and labeled. She was able to open the heavy door only to find Loki sitting on the ground, holding a small phial and rubbing his forehead. He didn't hear her which clued her into how lost he was in thought. Afraid of scaring him and causing him to drop the substance, Darcy announced her presence with a gentle clearing of her throat. Loki immediately got to his feet, setting down the potion on a table and approaching her. He stopped short of two feet before her, absorbing the lilac silk shift she wore with strappy white sandals as well as her swinging short hair.
"Darcy, I didn't expect you- your hair, it's… shorter." The melancholy in his voice was so palpable that Darcy had to ask, "Is it that bad?!"
Loki shook his head and softly laughed, clarifying that he "liked the change, it was just that… in all the years they had known one another, Darcy hadn't changed one bit."
The reply made her sad and happy simultaneously for some reason, but she ignored that and asked how his progress was.
Loki shook his head again, this time genuinely upset. "I don't know Darcy… I can't tell if this will work. All I have been able to ensure is that even if the potion does not have its desired effect on your body, there will not be any side effects- none whatsoever. Beyond that however, I have made the most precise approximations I could, but this kind of potion is unheard of. Frankly speaking, this is moving to the territory of discovery and innovation, both of which I am dismally slow and dull at."
"How do you know it will work though? Or how rather how can you guess?"
Darcy must have looked pretty worried because Loki sat back down in front of her, legs crossed and head in hands.
He looked so morose and self-pitying that Darcy couldn't hold in her laugh- "You look like a pouty teenager- albeit a very cute one, but sulky nonetheless." Loki's response was shocking- he actually stuck his lower lip out and pouted- first of all making Darcy extremely hot and second of all surprising her with the playfulness of the move.
She questioned where he had learned it and was further amazed by the fact that to have learned that trick from baby Lucy, he actually had to have spent time with her!
The thought of him holding a baby made her giddy in the stupidest way, so she changed the subject by saying, "I'll try the potion."
Effectively killing the mood, Darcy made to take the phial, but Loki withheld it and raised his eyebrows. "You do know, Darcy, that the effects are unknown? Not dangerous, not fatal, but unknown? My magic has its bounds in certain areas of use and potion making is one of them."
Persisting, Darcy replied "I know this is stupid and rash but I wanna try!" Something in her eyes must have convinced him of her desperation or Loki may not have ever handed her that potion.
Before she could stop to think she downed the liquid in a single swallow and felt a slight pressure beginning at her temples, growing into a pounding sensation that began to travel all over her like tremors in an earthquake-her eyes rolled back in her head but she was still conscious, and her fingers felt tingly and her stomach was cramping and her back muscles were seizing and her buttocks clenched and her eyelids twitched and her gums ached and her forehead burned feverish and her shoulders ached and her fingers cracked and everything was black and white and red and suddenly she knew she had fallen to the floor and Loki was trying to revive her with something but it was unnecessary because with the pain and pounding came a warmth, emanating from her chest and traveling past her ribs and across her pelvis and down to the tips of her toes and back up to her face and then everything stopped.
Loki was frantically trying to revive Darcy, and she realized that she wasn't in her body anymore but next to it, standing, observing her body's convulsions.
For a moment Darcy could hear something- or someone- calling her and she could feel herself grow lighter, and she knew that if she followed that voice she would find peace for all eternity. She could feel her interest in the writhing body below her dimming as the call from above grew more persistent. Darcy was ready to take off towards whatever it was but then she heard a new voice- his voice, the familiar and beloved voice, begging her unconsciously to please, please don't die, please don't make me your killer, come back, I love you, come back, wake up, I love you, I love you, I love you.
And in a flash Darcy felt her eyes flutter open to be blinded by the white lab lights SHIELD favored so much, only to be shaded by Loki's face above hers. His face was awash with relief and Darcy was glad to be awake. She sat up, and laid a hand on Loki's face, happy that the pain, the pressure, the pounding was all gone, only to be replaced with a slight depletion of her energy. Loki leaned into her hand and she let them both rest, supine in each other's presence.
Darcy only stirred when pins and needles began to prick at her legs and feet. Irritated, she forced herself to shift her position and disturb Loki-
And then she realized it.
Loki too was shocked silent, and the hand that rested on Darcy's knee tightened in reaction. Darcy could feel every inch of Loki's hand, gripping her knee with each finger- and she began to sob.
It had worked.
Loki slowly stood and offered a hand to Darcy, who paused a moment before taking it. Like a baby deer Darcy stood, getting up first on one leg and then the other.
Tottering, she fell into Loki's arms but she could move her legs and they worked and she was free again and there wasn't emptiness in her anymore and she could run and she could jump and she could walk-
She felt wetness on her face, but the tears were not her own. In response, Darcy kissed both of Loki's cheeks, standing on tiptoe to reach him.
Darcy finally felt steady and made to move away but Loki would not let go- he simply pressed her to him tighter, crushing her to his chest. She didn't move, unsure of what was happening but then Loki whispered something-
And she asked what he said and he whispered it again.
It wasn't until Darcy put her ears to his lips that she heard Loki fervently utter "thank you", over and over again like a prayer.
She silenced his mantra with her lips, and for the moment all stood still.
WAAAAAAAAHOOOOO! I'm so excited!
Read and review and enjoy this good stuff because just like in Westeros, WINTER IS COMING.
Xoxo author