A/N- Sorry for the uber long wait! The stupid internet installation in my new house got delayed and I had to live without internet for over 2 months … shocking, I know. To make up for it, I've been writing like mad, so expect the next chapter very soon!

Thank you for your reviews, too! It's always great to know you guys stick around and support this fic despite me going awol for a while… :) Enjoy!

Chapter 17

"Lady Sif." Odin began gravely, "notify Thor. His presence is missing from this meeting and I am sure he would rather hear of his brother's fate from family than through the rumours of serving-folk."

Odin stared down at Darcy from his throne, seemingly bored. Despite his haughtiness, he clutched Gungnir tightly in his fingers, almost nervously. He could've sworn he felt a pain in his heart in the very small space Loki had somehow managed to reserve there.

"You again."

The news was surprising, to say the very least. If anyone were to die in combat, Odin would have wagered on the fragile-looking girl in front of him, covered in burns and blood, eyes red and watery. But she stood proudly in front of him despite her shaking hands and broken expression, though he could not ignore how her eyes flicked almost fearfully to the small balls of fire that lit the room, or the whispering court in the balconies above her.

Any warrior would be drinking and celebrating their victory now. But this girl was not a warrior, by any standards. He would have felt sympathy for her if not for her snarky attitude and disobeying nature.

Darcy bit her lip, remembering the last time she was here. "Listen, I'm sorry about the shit I said to you a couple of days ago. I was angry, annoyed-"

"My wife sent you on a 'rescue mission.'" He said lifelessly, cutting her off with a wave of his arm. Darcy suppressed her impatience as the King slowly repeated the obvious. Apology not accepted, Darcy Lewis.

"The Queen sent a newly-turned Aesir possessing little combat knowledge into another realm in order to save our son."

She stared defiantly at the King of Asgard, who finally looked down to her for an answer.

"Yeah." She said quickly. "But-"

"Why in the nine realms would she permit you to lead a rescue mission? We possess warriors, soldiers for those purposes. Not little girls playing dress up."

Part of Darcy wanted to sass back, to have another discussion that ended with her swearing and being dragged out by the guards again. "Ask her that! I don't have time to-"

"My wife is currently sleeping."

"Then wake her up." She glared at him. "Shake her or something. I think she'd understand."

"She is experiencing her sleep. She collapsed moments before you burst into this hall."

He was two seconds away from ordering her out of his throne room, but stopped when he realised it was exactly what she wanted. How she and his dark haired son were two and the same in matters like these. Tricky, but subtly so. He wasn't finished with her until she had given up her little resistance against him. He was the King, after all- to watch a young, fresh Aesir trample over his words would be a sign of weakness. Even after the bitter news of his son's and grandson's death.

"Oh. That sleep. How long until she wakes up?" Darcy ran a hand through her hair anxiously. Without Frigga here to defend her, she was done for. Politeness it was, then. Or as much as she could muster.

"We do not know."

"Helpful." She rolled her eyes.

"Forseti has also perished..." Odin continued.

"Yeah. That's what Sif told you. It's the truth. Can I please go now?" She gritted her teeth. She was yo-yoing from anger to sadness in each moment, and seeing Odin interrogate her so condescendingly made her want to walk up there and hit some sense into him. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath to calm herself. It didn't help that the image of Jotunheim was burnt into the backs of her eyelids. She snapped them open and blinked furiously, ridding the tears that threatened to fall. She would not be weak in front of Odin.

"According to the account given by Lady Sif, you murdered my grandson, Forseti Baldrson."

Darcy's mouth dropped open. "Your son was murdered by him. He tried to kill me, like, a bazillion times. I don't like what I did, but I did it to survive…"

She paused for a second, her eyes widening in realisation. "Wait… Are you trying to…"

"I am merely pointing out the circumstances."

"Are you serious?" Darcy looked at him imploringly.

"It is fortunate we have Idunn's testimony on such a matter, otherwise the court would classify your actions as murder."

Darcy took a step backwards, her armour suddenly hotter and heavier. Was that a threat? God, how she just wanted to go to home and be reunited with her bed and TV- not sit here in front of a grim, old God trying to accuse her of murder. She sighed heavily, her body aching, her mind spent.

"Well." She swung her arms around wildly, looking around at the congregation that had gathered in the balconies above her. "It's been a great chat. You have… funeral arrangements to make-"

"-And you have travel arrangements to make."

Odin finished her sentence with a grave tone, and a quiet muttering was heard from the balconies of the throne room. Her arms fell flat at her sides, her whole body deflating.

"You're kicking me out?" She scoffed. "For what? Being treated like dirt under your roof? Poisoned by your piece of shit grandson? Having to babysit the son I'm so… apparently 'smitten with' just so he doesn't go psycho again?" The last part she spat bitterly, the words feeling strange on her tongue. Probably because they were lies, but they had enough substance for Darcy to watch as Odin's eyebrows raised amusedly. "Yeah, your wife decided to give me that job at my friend's wedding of all places! You talk a lot about diplomacy, but the way you've treated Midgardians in the past and even now, in your own home, kinda suggests you're looking to rule us or something. Which is exactly the shit you say you're above and against!"

Odin looked furious at this, and Darcy took a step back with a visible gulp. Shit. Not again. Jane was going to murder her.

"I will not be told how to rule my kingdom by a girl as young as a seedling!" He growled. "It was not permitted for you to enter Jotunheim. It was suspected that Forseti had an army of Frost Giants, though Lady Sif has informed us that this was folly. Such plans had my son, Thor, banished from Asgard years previously. Be thankful I have spared you the pain of a prison cell for your interference and rudeness."

Thor started a war- I did nothing! She wanted to scream at him, but stopped herself. Why the hell was she arguing with Odin of all people?

"Fine." She said through gritted teeth.

"I will alert Heimdallr. You will say goodbye to your loved ones and you will leave immediately."

"What about the funeral?"

"You will leave immediately." He repeated himself.

"Father?" Thor's booming voice filled the cavernous throne room, the double doors swinging open with a bang. Darcy jumped at the sudden noise, looked around and saw him marching up behind her, his scarlet cape flowing like blood behind him. She made eye contact for a second before looking down guiltily. Why did she feel so anxious? His eyes widened as he took in her dishevelled state, broken armour and bruised skin. "Darcy? What in the nine realms happened? We were searching for you… Jane was worried…"

For once, she was at a loss for words.

She didn't want to tell Thor that his brother was dead. She didn't want to tell him of his dad's stupidity. She didn't want to admit to murder, even as self-defence. Hell, she didn't even want to tell Jane, but felt as if she'd be the only one who'd give her a hug and tell her everything would be fine in that comforting, motherly voice. So instead of replying, she took her chance and bolted, hearing the clunk of the guards armour as they raced to her.

It was cowardly, running away. But at least out here, in the cold, deserted (for now at least) hall, she had the peace to collect her thoughts and touch the pendant that hung from her neck. To Jane Foster.

"Jane?" She stepped out from the corner slowly.

Jane wore a long silk dressing gown that pooled around her as she sat on the stone floor cross-legged. Her expression reminded her of the good old days, when Jane was immersed in her work on the Einstein-Rosen bridges, before Thor came along and complicated it all. Jane looked over what used to be an ornate metal sphere, parts broken off and laid carefully on the ground. She surveyed a smaller, golden part in her fingers before jumping at Darcy's voice.

She turned to Darcy with exasperation, dropping the golden contraption.

"Darcy I swear, there's a thing called knocking-"

She finally looked at Darcy fully. Properly. Jane inhaled a deep breath before running to Darcy's side.

"What… What happened?! We've been looking everywhere for you!" She took Darcy's face in her hands and guided her to the sofa on the balcony. Darcy took off her blood-soaked gloves and felt the soft velvet under her fingers, dazed.

"What? Is that blood? Darcy-are you hurt?!"

"You know, I really thought I hated him. Honestly."

"What? Who? Darce?" Jane looked puzzled, watching Darcy get up and pace the room.

"He was a bastard. He murdered people, and he was crazy- like, American Psycho but you couldn't help but admire the hotness of Christian Bale, ya know? And then I started feeling bad for him and wanted to help him… It doesn't help that someone let him loose from that goddamn prison for your wedding. And then when everything was getting weird, a crazier psycho space dude came along and tried to poison me, but he actually gave a shit enough to go out of his way to save me! It had me thinking- what if he has a heart? Ya know, then there was the sleeping together, and talking, and kissing, and oh God, I probably shouldn't have even gone anywhere near the dude thinking about it now…You told me about picking up strays. Like that cute little puppy tied up outside the lab, remember?"

Darcy stripped off her armour bit by bit as she ranted, heading over to Jane's wardrobe and borrowing a dressing gown to cover the thin clothing beneath the metal plates.

"Darcy? Is this about L-"

"And then he's dead and I'm actually sad."

"Wait- Loki's dead?"

Darcy stopped her rant to nod reluctantly, sitting herself beside Jane again. She was weirdly calm for someone who had just gone through the horrific experience of watching someone burn to death. However, Jane noticed Darcy fidgeting nervously in her seat, her knotted fingers shaking.

"What?" Jane's mouth dropped open.

"Loki-"

"I heard what you said, Darce. I'm just surprised, that's all."

"He wasn't immortal, you know. He was an idiot. Jerk…"

Darcy had never seen Jane look so tenderly at her, and watched as she reached out and brushed the tears from her eyes. Darcy flinched and wiped at her cheeks, choking out a chuckle. She hadn't realised she was crying.

"Oh, Darce…"

"I have to stop crying like this. It's embarrassing. You can say I told you so if you want. You were right, I should've stayed out of this mess."

Jane just shook her head and opened her arms, awkwardly hugging her sideways on the sofa.

"I didn't realise…" Jane started, before shutting her mouth as Darcy buried her neck into her shoulder and closed her eyes. She told Jane everything with her arms wrapped around her, and felt her body stiffen in shock when she mentioned Forseti's death.

"And now I've been ordered out of Asgard because Odin's being a little bitch about everything. Again." Her voice muffled against Jane's clothes. Jane drew back and stared with wide eyes.

"Why?" Jane jumped to her feet. "You had another argument with Odin? I need to fix this-"

Darcy grabbed her arm and pulled her back, calmer now. "It's cool." She said, resignedly. "I don't think I could have any more arguments with King Joffrey senior. Seriously, now I know how Loki felt. 'Say goodbye to your loved ones. Leave immediately'" Darcy imitated the King's voice with a stern expression and watched the brief smile playing on Jane's lips.

"But Thor could change his father's mind!" She chewed on her bottom lip, clearly doubting anything could sway the King's decision.

"I doubt Thor would want to. He'll be in mourning for his brother."

"Then what about the funeral? There's bound to be something for him."

"Odin doesn't want me here." Darcy wiped at her eyes again and smiled briefly. "I need to go home. Despite how much I want to do the opposite of what Odin says, I'm going. I swear I've had this conversation with you, like, six times here. I'm sticking to my guns. I'm leaving this time, and I'm going back to the world of normalness. You can stay here with the crazy."

"I'll come with you, make sure you're okay-"

"What? And leave here after you finally got married to Mr Tall-Blonde-and-Ripped? I'll be fine, I swear."

Jane seemed very interested in her fingers all of a sudden, her eyebrows knitted together in concern. "And your… y'know… immortality?"

Darcy sighed. "I'll deal with that later. Procrastination is definitely my forte."

Jane nodded, realising it was stupid to even try to bring up the topic. "I'll help you pack."

"Thanks."

"But… You'll be okay back in New Mexico by yourself? I mean, the rent is paid by SHIELD, but they'll-"

"I'll be fine, mom. Stop worrying."

She forced a smile as her fingers curled around the necklace at her throat absentmindedly. She tried to ignore the guards that had forced their way into Jane Foster's room and were making their way toward her, but as soon as they grabbed her forearms, she rolled her eyes and complied, waving to Jane as she was escorted out.