Warning... Darcy has a potty mouth when angry...

Pain… His head was throbbing; all around him was a rush of noise. He went to cover his ears but his hands were bound. The Other must have summon…

“I swear I will kick your goddamn mother fucking ass if you don’t let us go, right this fucking minute you stupid scaly son of a bitch!” Darcy growled.

‘Well at least she is doing better’, he thought. He sighed heavily. Of course, The Other would summon his consciousness when he was incapacitated and would drag Darcy along as well. He grunted as a blade dragged through the flesh of his back, and so it began.

“LEAVE HIM THE FUCK ALONE!!” she screeched.

He hissed as the blade crossed through his flesh again. He opened his eyes with great effort. They were on the same bit of rock, the same platform as he was always summoned to. Squinting he saw her, sitting across from him, tied to a large outcrop of rock. He was bound spread eagle this time, his feet hanging several inches from the ground and his arms pulled taut above him, lashed to an overhang. The Other did not cease his work with the blade and Darcy continued to shout at him.

“Enough.” He growled both at The Other and at Darcy.

“Oh my God! You’re alive! Geez, you look awful I thought you were dead!”

She was pale and still had blood matted in her hair. “Well you don’t look so well yourself.” He said flippantly.

“Hey, unnecessary rudeness!” She gasped.

“Oh, do shut up. You’re not helping matters.” Loki rolled his eyes.

“Well sorry,” she grumbled. “Next time I won’t say a damn thing when some ugly S.O.B. decides to carve you up like a Christmas ham.”

“Yes, because screeching at him like a wounded animal was going to make him stop.”

“I had to try right? Wasn’t like you were being real helpful, taking a little catnap.”

“Arrgh, I was unconscious you daft woman!”

“Don’t call me stupid!”

“If the boot fits…”

“You will both cease.” Suddenly The Other was behind Darcy with his hand extended, to Loki an obvious threat of harm. Loki gave her a hard look; hoping to convey the need for her silence.

He had to be careful with his words, she was still healing and fragile, one wrong move from The Other and she would be dead, but they did not call him Silvertongue without reason. “Why do you continue to summon me? I have explained before, my body is imprisoned; I have no contact with Asgard, nor any means of escape. I am no longer of any use to you. Release us.”

“Ah yes, god of lies, you also told us that she was hidden from you and protected by the one that destroyed the Chitauri. It seems she is not so far away now.” The Other growled and hovered over her bound form.

“This will not end well if she is hurt. What sits before you is but a shadow of her consciousness. Her body remains in the care of the Iron Man and his Avengers. You can do no true damage to her, and any attempt will invite their wrath.” He was gambling heavily on The Other’s previous reluctance to encounter any of The Avengers again.

The Other looked at her as though she was some foul thing, “You shall remain safe if you stay silent.” She looked up at The Other with a burning hatred as he moved away from her. Loki watched him carefully, The Other was a dangerous being, and torture was his specialty. Suddenly he was before Loki again, the blade in one hand and the other hand outstretched. Loki could sense the power radiating from his outstretched hand; he would rather feel the bite of the blade than the pain from that noxious power. The Other lingered for a moment, dragging out the torment. “If you cannot help us, then you are of no more use to us alive. The girl will be ransomed and our desires will be granted.”

“You can’t use me like some stupid pawn!” she shouted.

“Be silent!” Loki ordered her and turned to The Other. “The Avengers are not so foolish to risk the whole of humanity for one noisome asinine child.”

She complained but both of them ignored her. “If she is of no use, then she will die as well. Though since she seems to care a great deal more for you than you do for her, you shall die first.”

“Try it and you will regret it. Kill me and you will risk the wrath of Asgard. As for the girl; The Avengers may not trade for her, but they will hunt you down if she is hurt. She is of no consequence, her presence can do nothing but bring you trouble, get rid of her, but do not injure her.”

The Other seemed to contemplate this. “To kill you is to risk to wrath of Odin and Thor… Is the risk worth the pleasure of feeling your life slip away under my grip? Perhaps so, perhaps not, but either way you shall squirm like a meager animal…” The Other wrapped his empty hand around Loki’s throat and began to crush him with that deleterious power. Loki couldn’t breathe; he heard her call out to him in fear. The debilitating pain coursed through him as his body convulsed. He wanted to tell her to shut up, that The Other would not truly risk killing him, that he could survive a little torture, but as his mind disengaged slightly from the situation he began to wonder if The Other would actually kill him this time. Black began to creep into his vision. His heartbeat began to slow and his thoughts became muddled. He could hear her screaming as the black took over his vision completely. His eyes rolled back in his head and he convulsed one last time.

“LOKI!” she screamed as he convulsed and went limp. The Other released him and paced in front of her.

“Perhaps you could be useful to us after all. No matter what the disgraced prince said, if you are important to The Avengers they may be willing to bargain for your life.”

She hardly heard him as she watched Loki’s body hang limp. He wasn’t moving, his bloodstained chest wasn’t expanding. “Loki…” Tears coursed freely down her cheeks as she screamed and cried until she was hoarse. The Other was still going on and on about some bullshit plan to take over the universe but Darcy only had eyes for Loki’s unnaturally still form. He was beautiful even in death, pale like alabaster, his body lean and muscled like a swimmer. His hair covered most of his face but she could see one of his eyes through the curtain of his hair. A faint tingle went up her spine, it didn’t matter what The Other had planned, she was sooo gonna make sure Tony killed him in the most brutal way possible. She straightened up and glared at The Other.

“You have no idea what kind of enemy you just made buddy. I am friends with The Avengers, Thor the god of thunder, The Hulk, Captain fucking America. And Iron Man and me? We‘re like family. I won’t be used like a bargaining chip. I’m about to leave here and when I come back I’m bringing The Avengers back here to kill you.” Her voice was a wreck from screaming.

The Other laughed, “You will not leave here. You have no means of escape, you are our prisoner, and we shall do with you as we please.”

She felt the tingle once more, she spoke to The Other but continued to stare at Loki, “I never thought I’d get to use this line but, You have no power over me.” She giggled madly and just before she left she saw Loki wink at her.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

That little shit! He wasn’t dead! She was in the void again, that kinda confused her. Loki’s body hung taut spread eagle. She floated over to him and began to whisper in his ear.

“Hey, you ornery little shit. I really thought you were dead. When I left, I thought I was going to wake up at home, but I’m still here in the void. I hope that scaly guy can’t hear me or see me.”

“No he cannot.” His body relaxed and he floated back a bit to look at her better.

Darcy shrieked in surprise as Loki spoke. “Dammit! You nearly gave me a heart attack back there!” Her voice broke a little and she wrapped her arms around him and whispered, “I thought he’d killed you.”

He wrapped his arms around her in return, “If being tossed around like a ragdoll by that green menace didn’t kill me then the likes of The Other bears no true threat. You sounded concerned for me. I’m touched.”

Tears of relief sprang to her eyes. “Of course I was.” She pulled away from him narrowed her eyes at him. “Hey, you called me stupid! Twice!” She lightly slapped at his bare chest.

He gave her a lopsided grin as her ran his hand through his hair. “I would have said almost anything to spare you the pain I endured at his hand, but rested assured I know you are far from unintelligent. Your health is still fragile, and I could not bear it if you were injured further, not when I could prevent it.”

She gave him a puzzled look, “What do you mean injured further?”

He tilted his head to the side as he looked her. “What is the last thing you remember before you awoke on that rock?”

The question threw her, “Umm, well I remember working in the lab and Tony brought me a coffee, and, umm, we were joking around, and umm anything beyond that is kinda fuzzy. Why?”

He frowned in thought, “I think it would be best if I show you.” He floated around behind her, pulled her back against him, wrapped his arms around her, and threaded his fingers loosely around hers. She giggled and was about to say something but he shushed her, “I need to concentrate, my magic is not yet fully restored and for this to work I need you to be quiet.” She nodded and went still. His magic moved sluggishly as he pushed it through the viewing spell. He held their entwined hands open before her so she could see as well.

Her body was lying in a hospital bed, hooked up to monitors and I.V.’s. It was night outside. Jane slept close-by on a bench under the window of her room and Tony was barely awake slumped in an uncomfortable looking chair right beside her. He was holding her hand and mumbling something when Pepper came in and gently touched his shoulder. He looked up as she asked him a question. He shook his head and buried his face in Pepper’s stomach. Pepper ran her hand through his hair and whispered to him. And all the while Tony continued to hold Darcy’s hand.

Loki’s hands shook slightly as he ended the spell. Darcy wrapped his arms around her and laid her head back on his shoulder. “I got hurt pretty bad didn’t I?” she whispered. He nodded. “You fixed me up though, right? That’s why your magic isn’t fully restored or whatever?” He nodded again. “Thank you.” They floated like that, him wrapped around her, for a long time. She may have drifted off for a bit, but she had never felt more comfortable, more safe than in his arms. She could spend eternity like this, but there was still the massive elephant floating around them, that they had yet to discuss.

And so she reluctantly pulled slightly away from him and turned so she could face him as she spoke softly, “Look, I know what you were doing the other day when your magic returned. I’ve watched enough movies, read enough books. I know you were trying to push me away because you thought I was going to reject you when I found out who you really were. I get that it was some kind of defense, but it seriously pisses me off. I also get that your way smarter than me, but you didn’t even give me a chance to form my own opinion about it.”

Her voice began to rise as she went on. “I’ve spent the last four days trying to figure out what the hell happened. You went a little cray cray on me. Say my name? Really? Want a side of evil villain to go with your megalomania? But, I guess my biggest question is, what the hell did you mean you’d do it all again? Like you wouldn’t change what you’ve done in the past or like if you were free you’d kill more people and try to conquer earth again? ‘Cause I’m not gonna lie, if you try that shit again, you and me are gonna have problems.”

She heaved a sigh and turned her back to him, it would be easier to say the last bit if she wasn’t facing him. “But whatever… My feelings for you developed before I truly knew who you were, but that doesn’t mean that knowing your name or what you’ve done changes my mind. Human hearts are silly and fickle things, but once they’re set on something they tend to stay there.” She closed her eyes against the tears, and took a deep breath, “You killed so many people in New York and I really want to be pissed about that but you’ve also been brutally punished for it. Right or wrong… whether you feel the same way or not… I love you.”

He had remained quiet during her whole rant and was quiet still. She wanted to turn around and see his reaction but she was unsure of who she would be faced with. Would he be the snarky lonely guy she fell in love with or the crazy guy who tried to conquer New York? She took a deep breath and finally turned around. His arms were wrapped tightly around himself, his head bowed, his eyes squeezed shut, and a single tear had coursed down his face. She floated closer as her heart did flips in her chest. Why was he doing this, what did this mean? She reached out and softly brushed the tear from his cheek. “Loki?” she whispered.

His eyes popped open and for the first time she could truly see him, he hid nothing in his gaze. “I am a monster. I have done truly evil things and I hate everything I’ve done, but I would change nothing of my past. Because everything I have done has led me here, to this moment, to you. And you are worth all the pain and sorrow, min elskede.” his voice was thick. “Min elskede, min elskede.” He repeated it over and over. He pulled her into his arms and buried his face in the crook of her neck. In his bright green eyes, she had seen the truth, he was afraid to love, afraid of being loved. He had been hurt so terribly, had hurt others so terribly. None of it mattered. She loved him and no one, not even he, could change that. Even the fact that he had never said that he loved her, to her face didn’t matter. She had heard him mumble it to himself and for now, that was enough.

His tears bathed her neck, and in spite of herself, she began to cry as well. She shook her head, and began to giggle. He pulled away from her with a hurt look. She smiled brightly through her tears and laughed that much harder. “You know what babe? It’s never gonna be easy between us but it’s gonna be one helluva ride!” She choked out between the tears and laughter.

His face broke out in the brightest warmest smile she’d ever seen. It took her breath away. She gently laid her hand on his cheek and his eyes slid shut as he leaned into her palm. She gave a shuddering sigh, and his eyes popped back open. The bright grassy color of his eyes had deepened to a darker emerald and his smile had slipped to something far more carnal. His hands slid around her waist and pulled her close. Her hands skittered lightly over his chest, his very naked, slightly bloody, but completely healed chest. “You’re not wearing a shirt…,” she mumbled.

He chuckled darkly, “No I am not.”

His skin was pale and still cool to the touch, and if she really concentrated, she could almost feel the ridges of his scarification under her fingertips. Maybe it was because his magic was weakened but still she wondered. She leaned forward gently ran the tip of her tongue over the place where the swirling ridge at the hollow of his throat had been. Though unseen, the sensitive ridge was definitely still there. She heard his sharp intake of breath, felt his hand tighten on her back, and though he held himself still, she smiled. She gripped his shoulders, hitched her knees on either side on his hips, and slowly dragged the flat of her tongue up a ridge that ran the length of his neck.

With a quiet growl he was in motion, kissing her fiercely, one hand buried itself in her hair, and the other slid under the waistband of her blue jeans to grab her ass, pulling her firmly against him. His hands were large and his fingers like his body were long and lean. This time there were no restraints to hold him back. She moaned from the way fit together, her softness to his hardness. As she ground against him, his tongue, his still gloriously cold tongue, invaded her mouth. A whimper crawled up her throat as they moved together, clutching at one another.

His hand slid upward taking her sweater with it. He tugged roughly at it trying to pull it higher. She leaned back slightly, quickly pulling it off. His smile was nearly feral as he gazed at her exposed flesh. She barely had the chance to breathe before he was against her, his lips and teeth moving along her jaw and neck. She pressed against him, one hand in his hair the other across his shoulders holding them together. Her breath stuttered as his teeth came to the sensitive junction of her jaw and neck. The hickey from five days previous was finally beginning to fade. She could feel his smirk against her skin as he nipped at his fading mark. A soft moan escaped her lips as he bit and sucked at the spot, bringing it again to full bloom. His hand held her head and neck still as he kissed and sucked at her. His other hand was far from still, it swept along her spine drawing shivers from her; it cupped her ass pressing her yielding notch against his growing hardness.

She sighed his name and pulled lightly on his hair. He raised his eyes to meet her and she felt undone by the sheer want in his gaze. She smiled softly and tightened her legs around his narrow hips. With her hands on his shoulders, she ground against him. His hands dropped to the curve of her ass, and pulled and dragged her against him. Eyes locked they moved together in an instinctual rhythm pantomiming the motions of sex, her breath became a mantra of his name as he panted and growled. Her fingernails tightened on his shoulders digging into a ridge and his straining erection pressed harder into her. She gasped and breaking eye contact arched her back and threw back her head.

She felt another shiver run up her spine and she recognized it for what it was. Tears sprang to her eyes as she clutched him tighter. “I’m about to wake up,” she whispered brokenly. He shook his head and held her closer, kissing her with an almost frantic need, their bodies meeting once more and…

and…

…she couldn’t breathe, she was coming apart, she clutched at him,

…she was waking up, she was drowning in sensation, and her head throbbed like she’d been hit with mew-mew. Tony was holding her hand but then he wasn’t. All around her was light and the sounds of shouting, but she knew everything would be fine because Loki was still with her and for the moment that was all that she cared about.

Notes