The end is here! I really appreciate all the amazing reviews I've gotten for this fic, so thanks for sticking with it! I have a new oneshot I'll be posting shortly, so keep your eyes peeled for that :)

Six months later

"Holy mother of Oprah, what is that?!"

Darcy's voice was high and shrieking as she and Jane stood side by side on the sidewalk outside of Stark's New York office.

They had been in the middle of their usual lab research when JARVIS' cool, accented voice had calmly asked them to evacuate the building. Darcy had assumed it was some kind of routine fire drill but now she could very clearly see the reason for JARVIS' call.

Only a few short blocks away stood a massive metal beast, tearing apart buildings and crushing cars Godzilla style. It walked on all four feet with a long sweeping tail full of tall, sharp spikes. It reminded Darcy of some freakish steampunk lizard as it stomped around, swinging its heavy tail back and forth across the street.

Wide eyed and thoroughly freaked out, Darcy turned to Jane. The astrophysicist was also staring at the creature, only her expression held awe instead of panic.

"Amazing," Jane breathed, craning her neck to watch the massive beast move towards them. "The mechanics are phenomenal."

As Jane started muttering about battery reserves and perpetual motion, Darcy grabbed her wrist, pulling her away as the two of them narrowly avoided being crushed by a chunk of falling concrete.

"You can watch the How it's Made episode later," Darcy huffed, tugging at a reluctant Jane, "right now we've gotta boogie before that thing flattens us into pancakes."

The ground shook as a tall building only a block away crumbled to the ground, sending a storm of thick, dusty air towards Jane and Darcy.

"Yeah, okay, now might be a good time to run." Jane coughed as the dust settled around them. Fear was finally starting to creep into her voice.

They took off in the opposite direction of Steampunk Lizard. A haze of dust and dirt settled over the streets like thick fog, and Darcy squinted fruitlessly as she tried to read street signs to figure out where they were.

"Jane, I can't tell - holy hell!" Darcy ducked as a large blur of red, white and blue sailed over her, just narrowly missing the top of her head.

"Sorry, ma'am. You ok?"

Darcy looked up from her crouched position to see none other than Steve Rogers watching her worriedly.

"I'm fine aside from your shield almost decapitating me." Darcy grumbled.

Captain Spangly Pants at least had the decency to blush at that.

"Sorry again." He said apologetically, "You ladies need help?"

"We're fine," Jane interjected, "but I would like to know what the hell is happening."

"It's some lunatic's attempt at confronting Tony," a female voice called out. Darcy looked up to see the Black Widow step out from behind a crushed car with a gun in each of her hands, "Apparently he thinks New York isn't big enough for two genius inventors – genius being debatable – so he's issued a challenge."

"Yeah, well your timing sucks, dude!" Darcy yelled at the robot lizard, "Tony isn't even here, he's in Hong Kong all week! So suck on that!"

"...and now you just gave away his location. Thanks." Natasha scowled at Darcy.

"I assume Barton and Doctor Banner are with you, does that mean Thor's here too?" Jane interrupted, looking around hopefully.

"Fury put in a call. He should be here any minute. In the meantime...Cap?" Natasha looked to Steve, raising her guns.

"Let's do it." Rogers confirmed with a slight smile. He nodded a goodbye to Jane and Darcy before he and Natasha ran straight for the metal beast.

"They should change their code names to Death Wish One and Death Wish Two," Darcy commented with a baffled shake of her head as she watched them eagerly head into the fray. "Superheroes, man."

"Let's go, Darce." Jane pulled at the sleeve of her jacket, "If that thing comes down it'll take out at least a three block radius which, right now, includes us."

"Right. Commence running for our lives. God, I hate running." Darcy sprinted down the sidewalk, following Jane's lead.

Her feet pounded on the pavement and her breath was starting to come out in quick pants. When she glanced down, Darcy saw that below her feet a large, deep crack was beginning to split the asphalt.

"Shit!" Darcy cried, veering away from the crack as it opened up into a sinkhole, eating up the ground behind her.

In the distance she heard Jane call her name but the hole had already separated them, leaving Darcy alone on the far side of the street.

She looked over her shoulder, seeing that Steampunk Lizard was now only standing on two unsteady legs. Black smoke poured from it as it stumbled down the street in a drunken, zig-zag pattern.

Exhausted and so fed up with this mass destruction crap, Darcy took refuge behind a dented mailbox, sinking down onto her butt on the hard sidewalk.

"God dammit, Tony." She grumbled to herself, "I'm totally demanding a raise after this. I deserve danger pay for this shit."

She leaned her head back against the mailbox, gazing up at the hazy, smoke-filled sky. Her eyes were starting to water from the gritty air and her throat felt scratchy and bone dry. Maybe she could-

"What the hell?" Darcy's dry throat was totally forgotten as she watched a flaming car sail through the air.

A car.

On fire.

Coming right towards her.

"Oh for fuck's sake, really?" Darcy scrambled up from her seated position, "Why me?"

She ran as fast as her legs would carry her but it was no use, she could tell that the car was coming too quickly.

So this was how it was going to end. Death by flaming, falling car. There were certainly less glamorous ways to go, she supposed.

Darcy was trying to resign herself to the fact that she was likely not going to make it out of this alive when a startlingly bright burst of light erupted in front of her. She stumbled backwards, arms flailing as she tried to keep her balance.

The lights looked familiar and Darcy felt a surge of excitement in her chest. She knew only a few certain space vikings who made an entrance like that.

Sure enough, when the lights faded, Loki was standing in front of her. He had his arms spread out wide and a shield of gleaming light surrounded him, stretching out to encompass her. When the flaming car finally reached Darcy, it hit the protective shield and disintegrated, leaving nothing but a pile of dust that fell to the ground harmlessly.

"Miss me, pet? Loki quirked an eyebrow at Darcy, a grin on his face. He dropped his arms and the magical shield vanished.

"Hurry your ass up next time," Darcy complained, though a smile was tugging at her lips, "I was almost toast."

She launched herself at him then, throwing her arms around his neck and making Loki stumble back a few steps.

He chuckled, wrapping his arms tightly around her waist, "I would slay all the motor vehicles on Midgard to ensure that no harm ever came to you." He vowed solemnly.

"You can't kill a car, Loki. It's not alive." Darcy rolled her eyes affectionately.

"I would do it though. For you." He dropped his head, murmuring the words against her ear.

Darcy shivered, pressing herself closer to him, "You big ol' romantic."

A loud, forced cough interrupted them and Darcy turned her head to see Thor standing off to the side, awkwardly shifting Mjolnir from hand to hand.

"Hello Darcy. I trust that you are well?" Thor greeted.

"Hey, big guy. I'm just dandy aside from the whole 'burning city and narrowly avoiding death' thing." Darcy replied, reluctantly stepping out of Loki's embrace.

"Ah, well we shall take care of that, won't we, Loki?" Thor looked to his brother, sounding excited at the prospect of a good fight.

Seriously, Darcy wondered, were all of these Avengers completely bat-shit crazy? No sane person ever got giddy over the thought of throwing themselves face first into danger.

"It has been some time since I was able to put my knives to good use." Loki mused, fingering the hilt of a long blade that was strapped to the side of his thigh.

"Alright, go save the city." Darcy shooed him away, "Come find me when you're done...and stop that thing before it hits 48th street. I would like to still have an apartment to go home to tonight."

It was after nine o'clock when Loki showed up in Darcy's modest one bedroom apartment. He materialized in the middle of her living room just as she was walking out of the kitchen stirring a mug of hot chocolate.

"Holy shit!" Darcy nearly dropped her mug when she saw him. "Can't you use the door like a normal person?"

"No." Loki answered simply.

He approached her couch and with a look of great distaste, he picked off all of her mismatched throw pillows before sitting down heavily, arms and legs stretched out until he was taking up nearly the entire couch.

Darcy rolled her eyes at him, taking a sip of her hot drink before setting the mug down on the coffee table.

"Scooch over," she instructed, pushing at Loki's thigh until he shifted enough that she could sit beside him. She plopped down on the couch, folding her pyjama clad legs under her.

Loki eyed her outfit with mild repulsion, "These are your typical Midgardian sleeping garments? I much prefer you in my tunic. Or nothing at all." He raised an eyebrow suggestively.

Darcy looked down at her baggy flannel pants. They were bright yellow, covered in a pattern of cartoon pigs who had top hats and mustaches.

"This is my favourite pair!" She exclaimed, pointing at her leg, "Look how dapper these little guys are."

"They are horrid and I think I shall rid you of them." A quick, sly smile flashed across his face.

"You can try." Darcy challenged, letting out a squeak of surprise when he suddenly grabbed her leg, causing her to flop over onto her side. She struggled against him, kicking her feet uselessly as he tugged the pyjama pants down her legs.

"No fair, you're bigger than me," she pouted as Loki won their battle, bunching up her pants into a ball and tossing them over his shoulder.

"Apologies," he murmured, sounding anything but sorry as he lowered his head to kiss a line up the inside of her thigh.

"Well," Darcy panted as his mouth continued to move higher, "I guess I can deal with losing if it means you're gonna keep doing that."

Loki chuckled and she felt his smile against her skin. He placed one last kiss on her thigh before raising his head to look at her, "Tell me what you want, Darcy." He purred, his voice low and seductive. His eyes were dark and burning with promise, making Darcy shiver.

"Bedroom," she demanded.

"Hold on to me." Loki laid his body along hers, his arms wrapping around her as he used his magic to transport them to Darcy's bedroom.

When they landed on the mattress in the same position, Darcy rolled away from him, moving to sit on the edge of the bed.

"Ugh," she made a face, "Teleportation always makes me feel icky."

"It gets easier with time." Loki stroked a hand down her back, "Here, come lay down."

Darcy settled back on the bed, resting her head on her pillow.

Loki sat next to her, leaning his weight on one arm. He pushed up the hem of her black tank top and placed his hand on the soft skin of her belly.

A soothing wave of warmth flowed into Darcy's stomach, chasing away any of her lingering discomfort.

"Mmm, that works better than Gravol." She sighed blissfully, closing her eyes, "Can I take you with me the next time I get car sick?"

"Whatever you need." Loki said seriously. His hand slowly inched up her stomach until his fingertips were skimming the underside of her breast.

Darcy's eyes popped open, "Speaking of needs...you know what I need right now?" She arched her back as his fingers continued to brush against her teasingly.

"I have a fairly good guess." Loki replied with a slight smile, "Shall I show you?"

The word 'yes' wasn't even fully out of Darcy's mouth before his lips were on hers, hard and needy. She moaned into his mouth, wrapping her legs around his hips as she tried to line him up with her core. It had been too long; she needed him desperately.

When she felt the thick fabric of his pants brush against her, she pulled her head back, "Those need to come off right now."

"As soon as this comes off," Loki replied, plucking at the fabric of her tank top.

"So take it off." Darcy shot back with a grin. She raised her arms, letting them rest on the pillow above her head. The position made her chest look even more prominent than usual.

"Minx," Loki growled, his eyes roaming over her heatedly. He deftly peeled off her top and panties before cupping her breasts with his hands.

"Oh my God," Darcy groaned at the feeling. His work with Thor and the other Avengers had left his hands rough and calloused. As they moved over her skin, she felt her whole body flush with pleasure. When his mouth closed around one nipple, she moaned out his name loudly.

"You are far more sensitive than I remember." Loki dropped his head to her other breast, giving it equal attention with his mouth.

"Yeah, well," Darcy panted, trying to form a coherent sentence, "It's been a long six months."

At that, Loki raised his head, looking surprised but pleased, "All of this time, you have gone without...?"

"Of course," Darcy replied, "It's called monogamy, look it up." Her eyes narrowed suspiciously, "Why did you sound so surprised? You haven't been boinking other chicks while you've been gone, have you? Cause that's gonna be a problem."

Loki shook his head, "No, Darcy. I have not been boinking anyone."

His cheeks went pink, like he was thinking of something embarrassing.

"What?" Darcy prodded him.

"There have been a few occasions where I desired you greatly," Loki admitted, sounding hesitant. He cleared his throat uncomfortably, "I satisfied my need by my own hand...ah, using memories of you."

"Oh my God, Loki." Darcy burst out into a fit of giggles.

"I fail to see what is so funny." Loki grumbled.

"It's nothing to be embarrassed about," Darcy couldn't help but grin at him. She put her hand on his neck, guiding him down into a kiss. When they broke apart, she whispered seductively, "It's actually pretty hot, knowing that you were jerking off to me."

"Darcy," Loki groaned, dropping his head onto her shoulder. "Gods, how I've missed you." He ground against her, his arousal hard against her leg.

"Take off your pants," she instructed, "and do it without your magic. I want to watch."

Loki pressed a kiss to her lips before he complied, pushing himself off the bed and slowly beginning to undress before her.

Darcy's mouth went dry when his shirt came off. He was still as lean and pale as she remembered. All that had really changed from the last time she saw him was his hair. It looked shorter now; the ends of the dark strands just barely brushing the tops of his shoulders.

When his hands went to the clasp of his black leathery pants, Darcy had to squeeze her thighs together to control the hot pangs of desire shooting through her. "Little faster please," she said weakly.

Loki quickly rid himself of his pants and boots before joining her back on the bed. He lay on his side facing her, gently grasping Darcy's hip and encouraging her to roll over until she was on her side rather than her back.

"Put your leg here." He murmured, guiding her thigh over his leg.

They had barely even begun and Darcy's breath was already coming out in short, breathy pants. God, she wanted him so bad.

When he finally slid into her, Darcy cried out. The solid warmth of him was so intense, it almost felt unbearable. She hadn't truly realized just how much she missed him until he was inside of her, the familiar fullness making her chest pang with emotion.

"Am I hurting you?" Loki's voice sounded strained as he stilled against her.

The position was incredibly intimate, their faces only inches apart, so Darcy leaned in and kissed him soundly.

"No, but please start moving before my lady parts explode," she begged.

He smiled and Darcy felt her heart do a flip-flop. It was a wide, easy smile that made him look young and untroubled.

As he moved, his pace was languid. Each of the slow, shallow thrusts made Darcy let out a little sigh of pleasure. Loki's hands trailed down her back, stopping to cup her ass and help her move with him.

"Fuck," Darcy hissed, her eyes fluttering closed, "Keep doing that."

Loki dropped his head to her neck, kissing the skin over her pulse point. When he spoke, his voice was ragged with want, "You are divine."

"God, Loki," Darcy said breathlessly as she directed one of his hands to her chest, "Touch me here. I'm so close already."

Loki palmed her breast, his thumb moving over her nipple until Darcy cried out loudly, her body arching against him as her orgasm hit her, sudden and intense. As she tightened around him, Loki made a low, choked noise deep in his throat.

The sound caused a wave of goosebumps to break out over her skin. She could feel him shudder against her as he tried to restrain himself, not wanting to be too rough with her.

Her fingers ran along his shoulder blades, stopping to linger at the back of his neck. She didn't want his restraint, she wanted to see him come undone with raw, true feeling. "Faster," she whispered, grinding her pelvis against him, "just let go."

Loki's mouth slammed down on hers as he rolled them over until Darcy's back was flat against the mattress. She gasped into his mouth, quickly reaching up to sink her fingers into his hair as she kissed him back greedily.

Where their first round had been slow and sensual, this was desperate and needy.

Loki's pupils were large and black, his eyes never leaving Darcy's face as he moved his hips in time with hers. His lips were parted, the occasional small moan of pleasure escaping between them. He was gorgeous, Darcy thought, and she would be quiet happy if this moment were to never end.

She could feel his body tensing, nearing release. Her legs were loosely wrapped around his lower waist so she shifted positions, raising her legs higher up and locking them around his torso. The new angle was deep and incredibly stimulating, causing them both to moan. Darcy felt her own pleasure building yet again, a second orgasm simmering just beneath her skin.

"Darcy," Loki choked out her name, his eyes half-closed with pleasure as he increased his pace. A bead of sweat rolled down the side of his neck and Darcy bent her body forward, leaning up to catch it with her tongue as she dragged her lips across his skin.

She wasn't sure if it was the way she bent her body or the work of her mouth but suddenly Loki was coming inside of her, his hips stuttering with a few final, jerky movements that set off her own orgasm. Her arms tightened around him and her breath stalled as she made a low noise of pleasure.

Loki was murmuring into her ear, a long string of words that sounded foreign to Darcy but from the tone of his voice she understood that they were tender and meaningful, likely the closest thing to a confession of love that he was able to give her.

When they had cleaned up and returned to bed, Darcy rested her head on Loki's chest so she could hear the steady, soothing thump-thump of his heart. It felt really good to be near him again.

"You looked like you had fun today." She commented, using her index finger to draw random patterns against the pale skin of his stomach, "Working with the Avengers hasn't been totally awful, huh?"

Loki was quiet for a minute as he thought of an appropriate answer. "It has its moments." He finally replied, "Although I do not particularly care for the woman or the archer. Perhaps I will be fortunate enough that our next mission will find them meeting their untimely demise."

"Loki!" Shocked, Darcy sat up and leveled him with a hard glare, "Don't say stuff like that!"

"Why not?" Loki retorted, "They quite obviously hold no fond feelings for me either."

"Yeah but Barton and Romanoff are your partners. Your allies. You can't just go around wishing death on everyone you don't get along with! " Darcy argued.

"Why not?" He repeated.

"Because...because you just can't!" Darcy fumbled for an explanation, "Good people don't do that."

Loki raised an eyebrow skeptically, "And what makes you think that I am a good person?"

"Well, you did just give me two orgasms." Darcy smiled sweetly.

Her joke had the intended effect and the growing tension between them dissolved as Loki let out a deep chuckle. He rolled over, gently trapping Darcy beneath the weight of his body.

"Perhaps I should add one more to that total," he murmured, brushing her hair aside so he could place a string of hot kisses down her neck, "In fact...I think I will give you a total of six. One for each month I have been absent."

"Loki," Darcy panted as his hand traveled under the blankets to part her thighs, "I think six is kinda physically impossible."

"I am a God," he slowly eased himself into her, making Darcy gasp, "Impossible is not in my vocabulary."

"And neither is humble." Darcy teased, laughing when Loki leaned in to nip at the skin of her shoulder. "Okay, Tall, Dark and Godly, give it your best shot."

Many hours later, exhausted and deliciously sore, Darcy had been proven wrong.

...not that she really minded.