AN: Written for the "095. - I knew you were coming" prompt at 100_fairytales on Livejournal. This chapter was heavily influenced on the various spoilers of the new Avengers movie, which I twisted to my advantage. Please enjoy.

Mischief and Tasers

Part Twenty-six: Epilogue

The battle was over; at least, it was for now. Darcy hadn't heard anything about Loki from S.H.I.E.L.D for awhile, but the moment they dropped their surveillance of her and told her they wouldn't be needing her anymore, Darcy knew that something was up.

She didn't know if Loki was alive or dead. S.H.I.E.L.D wouldn't even release that information to the public through the news feeds, and they blacked out and confiscated any media on the subject before it could go viral. S.H.I.E.L.D definitely overextended their power on this, and all the public had to know was that the Avengers had saved the day, and they would continue doing so with similar threats.

And Loki was soon forgotten. Once in awhile a crazy story would pop up about him in the tin-hat conspiracy theory blogs, but Darcy knew that stuff was never true.

She still stayed on as Jane's assistant, but Jane was moved to a different facility away from S.H.I.E.L.D and Darcy soon followed her to Washington D.C. where they carried out research before they moved again. Darcy enjoyed being with Jane, and she enjoyed her job. She knew it was better than she could ever get with a political science degree, and after seeing how S.H.I.E.L.D abused their power in the government, Darcy didn't want to go anywhere near political office.

She was deluded to think she'd be totally free of S.H.I.E.L.D though. They put some poor sap on her detail, and she sort of felt sorry for the guy. It had to be a punishment to watch Loki's girlfriend, and she'd caught him enough times following her that he didn't hide it anymore. She waved to him sometimes, and she even thought about asking him over to dinner to fuck with him, but in the end, she decided against it. The poor sucker had it bad enough. She couldn't imagine the things he had to report about her. Her life was boring. All she did was watch Bravo and order too much take out. If the agent ever shot himself in the head from tedium of this job, she'd hardly be surprised.

As mundane as things were, she still held out hope for Loki's return. For awhile it was plausible, but as months rushed by, it seemed more and more impossible. Especially since nobody was allowed to tell her anything about him, not even Jane and Thor, and she knew they were holding back the real story.

She was starting to lose hope that she'd ever find out anything about the elusive Trickster god, until Thor finally showed up at her doorstep one Tuesday evening. He must have called off the poor S.H.I.E.L.D agent who was watching her, and he looked like an eyesore in his Asgardian regalia standing on the stoop of her apartment.

"Ah, I bring you good tidings, Darcy Lewis. May I enter?" he asked politely. Darcy held out her hand and let him inside. She ignored the nosy neighbors who'd poked their heads out to ogle at her visitor, and Darcy shut the door.

When he turned around to face her, Darcy leaped into his arms for a hug. "Thor! It's been forever. Jane doesn't stop talking about you."

"Aye. I apologize for avoiding you, but I have been busy with my comrades. I was also called back to Asgard recently."

"Yeah, Jane told me about that. We got drunk one night and gossiped about you. Fun times," Darcy said slyly, winking at him as his face turned slightly pink.

"Well, yes, I am aware of that as well," Thor said. "I have come to finally tell you about my brother. I was prevented from telling you the truth for some time because we were unsure about Loki's fate."

Darcy gaped at him, staring with anticipation. "He's alive," she said, releasing the words in a relieved breath.

"Aye, that he is, and as I know now, he is a Frost Giant that has gained much magic, so he is not easy to kill. Plus, the Avengers have agreed not to kill him as he turned against his allies and helped us."

"Wait... he defected? Loki helped you?" Darcy almost couldn't believe it.

"'Tis true. My brother switched allegiances and helped us at the last second. Whatever his reasons were, he helped us, and we defeated the enemy. We saved the world," Thor told her.

"So, this is what S.H.I.E.L.D has been hiding," Darcy said, finally understanding the need for censorship and silence about Loki for so long. "They don't want to admit that an enemy turned around and helped them. They don't want to give him proper credit."

"You must see their side. Loki brought this force to Earth. He did so much destruction," Thor said.

Darcy laid a hand on Thor's arm. "But he changed. He helped you!" She smiled with excitement and relief.

"Darcy, I believe Loki was losing, and his enemies had meant to betray and manipulate him," Thor told her.

Darcy frowned. "So he realized this and decided to switch sides." She met Thor's clear blue eyes. "He realized he was better on the winning team."

"S.H.I.E.L.D has not forgiven Loki's sins entirely. He disappeared when the dust of battle settled and we were picking up bodies and tending the injured. I came to tell you the truth, but also let you know that my brother has disappeared. He may never come back."

"Come on!" Darcy said with a laugh. "You really don't believe that, do you?" Thor stared at her stonily. Darcy was sure he didn't. He was just letting her know in case she had any false hope that Loki would return to her. She could see it all over his face.

"Please understand, Darcy Lewis, I am grateful for what you did for my brother. He was always loved, but did not know it. I suppose our love was never enough for him, not even mine. But take comfort, child, that you gave my brother something meaningful when all he intended was to use you. If he had many reasons for helping my comrades, I would like to think one of those reasons was you," said Thor.

Darcy felt a lump form in her throat. She was speechless, and her emotions were starting to break. Had she really had a hand in changing Loki, even if it was only slightly? Had she really affected him that much?

"Thank you, Thor," Darcy said finally, and she felt his large hand squeeze her shoulder. She pulled her brown sweater closed and hugged herself as a million thoughts swirled in her brain.

"I should leave you now to your thoughts. Fare thee well, Darcy Lewis," he said, and he grinned at her. "I believe we will see each other again."

Darcy nodded, and Thor let himself out as quietly as a cool breeze. Darcy closed her eyes, feeling lonely without his imposing presence. Then, she felt a strange yet familiar weight in her living room.

Turning around, she met his green eyes, and her heart raced in her chest, stopping only for a moment as he stepped toward her. He smirked at her, delighting in her stunned reaction as she held her hands up, trying to find the energy to embrace him.

He moved toward her, and she jumped from her spot into his arms. "Loki!"

"Stupid mortal," he said affectionately, and she laughed against his chest, happy for even the rudest endearments from him.

"You came back," she said, and she pulled away from his embrace to meet his eyes. "Wait, you're a fugitive now, aren't you? S.H.I.E.L.D, the Avengers..." He put a finger to her lips and ceased her talking.

"Am I not ever a fugitive? Really, girl, did you forget who I am?"

"No," she said, and she tilted her head and leaned her cheek against his palm. She traced her gaze over him, soaking in his appearance, for it had been so long since she'd see him. He was dressed like Agent Tom Hill, probably as a joke to her, but probably convenient to him as he had no need for battle armor now. His shirt was a dark green under his smoky gray coat with his stark black pants, and she tugged on his hounds-tooth scarf and pulled it off his neck. As usual, he looked too suave and sophisticated against her sweater and jeans, but she didn't care. He was here, and more importantly, he had come back to her.

He said very little as he brought her flush against him. She didn't need words to celebrate his return. She needed only him, his body against hers, and his mischievous and silky words against her ear. She pulled at his clothes, finding his mouth as he took her quickly, ravishing her lips and skin. He was barely gentle, tugging off her sweater as his hands itched to hold her flesh.

"Darcy, love," he whispered softly, and she was already driving him toward her bedroom. She squealed as he picked her up, carrying her to the bed.

"You know, this is so cliche, having sex after being apart for so long. I wonder if you really mean it or this is just a random booty call before you try to take over some other poor planet," Darcy teased him. His lips stopped over her nipple, and she pouted as his pulled away to speak. His green eyes gazed at her mockingly.

"I can stop any time, girl," he threatened her.

She glared at him, and pushed his head back down. "The hell you can!"

The rhythm never broke after that, and time hushed to a stillness, sucking them into their own world as they sank into one another, discovering what they'd missed and recovering what they'd lost.

He'd taken her, loved her, and bruised her so many times that night Darcy didn't want to let him go again. She wouldn't let him. She wouldn't give him up so easily as before.

He'd have to kill her first.

Feeling his arms around her, skin on skin, his tongue teasing her ear, her body shuddered, still aching from the lovemaking not moments ago. She could go again, if he wanted. When Loki touched her, her body turned to ancient fire.

"Will you stay with me now that I've returned?" he whispered to her, his soothing voice numbing her as it vibrated against her ear.

"Yes," she said simply. She could no longer imagine a life without Loki; didn't want to, and as evil as he was, she hoped to never find out. Silently, she promised her loyalty, and she was sure Loki knew it.

"Even if the world ends? Even if someday I bring its destruction?"

Darcy blew out a strained breath. "Yes, even then."

He pulled her against him, embracing her tightly. "Oh, my sweet, foolish mortal. Do you really know what you're getting yourself into by trusting me so blindly?"

She turned in his arms, and she watched as his eyes close as she kissed his forehead. "Of course," she said nonchalantly. She knew the gravity of everything, of him, but she didn't care.

She had her Loki back, and he wasn't going anywhere - not now at least, and having him in the present was all she could ask for. He was all that she needed.

With that moment in his arms, the world seemed to sigh into a calm, comfortable peace as Loki spared it his darkness. In the end, Darcy liked to believe that he'd given up everything just for her.

END

AN: This is it folks! Thank you so much for your support! I intend to write more Loki/Darcy in the future, and please check out my current 3-part Loki/Darcy story "One Good Deed." Thanks again, and please check out the author notes post of this story on my livejournal. Cheers!