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Darcy didn’t know why, and didn’t ask why, but she was more or less grateful that Erik wanted her to join him on his super secret SHIELD project.
Director Fury had not been too pleased about her tagging along…right away. It took a couple weeks of cajoling, ignored friendly chattering, and a guessing game of how he took his coffee, but now he’d come around. It also really helped that he loved Nana’s snickerdoodle cookies. (Darcy was 100% convinced he’d sent an agent out to try and recover the recipe.)
Each time Director Fury came to check on their study of the tesseract, Darcy would welcome him with, “Hey Director, how’s the matrix holding up?”
And his response would give her an idea of where his mood was.
This morning he replied, “Stable today Ms. Lewis. How are my researchers holding up?”
At some point in her trying to warm Fury over, he’d decided her official job was “Scientist Wrangler.” Seeing as she was the only one forcing all the egg heads out the door at a reasonable hour every day. She made sure everyone had warm drinks or water at hand at all times, and even left them small snacks within easy reach. If one of them ever seemed to be struggling, she’d wheel them out the door and make them take a walk for some sunshine and fresh air.
Apparently Clint, aka Hawkeye, had reported to Fury that he’d never seen happier, more efficient nerds. The results that Fury was seeing confirmed this, and hearing it from one of his best gave it some gravity.
Along with her fun job title, they’d given her a slight pay raise. So she’d printed out a sign for her work station that read “Darcy Lewis, Scientist Wrangler.” Agent Maria Hill found this infinitely charming.
Darcy pointed to Erik, “He’s concerned, which is why you’re here. He can tell you all the babble. I’m going to the bathroom.”
Fury rolled his eyes, and moved along to speak with Erik. Darcy gave Hawkeye a little wave and called out, “You want more snacks for your perch?”
Clint gave her a thumbs up to acknowledge and answer the question. Darcy knew he’d been on edge since things had gotten a bit weird with their machine lately. Something about doors, and powering itself.
Clint was great. When he was relieved from his post, he’d hang out with Darcy and shoot the shit. Darcy unabashedly praised his arms, and he complimented her on worming her way into Fury’s good graces. They’d swapped perspective stories back from when Thor had crash landed in New Mexico, and bonded over how crazy their lives were these days. Sure he was a super spy, but, Norse Gods/aliens? That sure trumped a lot in the way of weird.
Darcy made a note to grab him more snacks, and hurried on her way to do her business.
She’d been gone for a whole 10, 15 minutes tops. During which time she’d felt the base tremble, causing dust to sprinkle down from the ceiling. And somehow, everything went into crazy bananas land in that short span of time.
As she’d been coming up on the doorway to the lab, she heard gunshots, yelling, and an eerie blue light was glowing from the other side.
Putting down her armful of chips and granola bars, Darcy stuck to the wall and inched her face around the door frame to peek inside the cavern.
The first thing she noticed were the bodies on the floor, some which were pooling blood, and clearly not breathing. Parts of the lab were on fire and sparking dangerously.
This was followed by the sight of Clint standing at ease, and rather close to the source of the violence.
She latched onto his getup of green and black leather. Recognizing the fashion for Asgardian, Darcy immediately dug through her recently built memory of Norse mythology. Which God had come calling with brutality?
“I am Loki of Asgard, and I am burdened with glorious purpose.”
Nice of him to answer her question without her having to ask.
Erik was crouched next to one of the scientists that weren’t moving. She waved a little, and managed to get his attention. He moved his head the slightest bit, indicating she needed to leave.
She shook her head, and motioned for him to come to her. She wasn’t just going to go running without him, Jane would never forgive her.
As Loki began to turn in their direction, Darcy ducked back out of sight.
“We have no quarrel with your people.” Fury’s voice rang out, and Darcy could kiss the man.
He’d been standing towards the machine, which was away from her. She leaned forward and watched Loki turn to face Nick fully. Taking the chance, she pointed at Erik and angrily pointed to the spot next to her.
Erik stood slowly, and much to her frustration shook his head, and motioned for her to get going.
“An ant has no quarrel with a boot.” Loki’s voice was far too calm as he said this. It made her skin crawl.
“Are you planning to step on us?” Director Fury countered back, sounding non-too amused.
Movement from the corner of her drew her attention to Clint. He was looking directly at her, with eyes glazed over with a burning blue edge. Something had been done to him, and as much as she’d love to help him, she didn’t think she could.
“Loki? Brother of Thor?” Erik’s question made Loki stiffen, and turn a hard stare in Erik’s direction.
There was no helping Erik now. But maybe she could get help? Maria had to be around somewhere, she always travelled with Director Fury.
Slowly she inched back out of Clint’s immediate sight. He must have gauged her not to be a threat, that, or whatever had possessed him was making him stick close to Loki.
She took off at a run, needing to find the first person with a comm piece. Or some kind of alarm.
No one knew there was danger in the form of a psychopathic Asgardian.
A spot of red in the middle of a wall caught her eye. A fire alarm! With this being a SHIELD base, she’d bet all her sweaters on this being the noisiest damn alarm ever built.
She just hoped Erik and Director Fury could keep their crazy guest distracted long enough for her to -
“Hello Little Mouse.”
Something with a sharp edge whizzed by her ear, leaving a shallow slice in its wake as it embedded itself just above the alarm. As it settled she saw it had been a dagger. A very lethal looking dagger.
She heard four sets of feet approach her at a quick clip, three of them continued on. Knowing who the remaining set belonged to, she forced herself to take a deep breath and slowly turn around.
He practically loomed over her with his ridiculous height. Roughly around the same stature as Thor, except he was all lean and coiled. Manic amusement bore into her through those green eyes.
Fear took the steering wheel in her head and honked the horn, making her say weakly, “Welcome to Earth…er…Midgard?”
Yea she was totally going to get stabbed to death.
“You don’t appear to be an academic, nor a warrior.” He scanned her up and down, taking in her baggy cardigan, Taco Tuesday shirt, jeans, and knit hat. Smug condescension edged into his eyes and smile.
If it had been anyone else, she’d give them an earful and maybe a taser prong to the nuts. But this was Loki, a sociopath that had managed to brain wipe Hawkeye and make him their best friend.
Thinking fast and kicking down her pride, she dropped onto one knee and kept her head bent down in a bow, “You’re correct. I’m nobody, just a coffee fetcher.”
From Loki’s feet, she could see him lean back, relaxing just a touch. “A mortal with some proper sense at last.”
She hadn’t gotten a good look at it when she’d been watching the show down earlier, but now the tip of his weapon moved beneath her chin.
Loki used the slightest bit of pressure to make her tip her head back, forcing her to meet his gaze, “Tell me Coffee Fetcher, would you like to keep your life?”
She swallowed hard, “If you saw fit to grant such a mercy, I would be eternally grateful.” It was amazing how eloquently someone could speak when their life was hanging by a thin thread.
His smile radiated with his pleasure at being acknowledged for who he thought he was. ‘That’s right Crazy Alien, feed that raging ego and get on with your day.’
Of course, this would be the point when Erik came into view. He had apparently been one of the other three that had been travelling with Loki. Like Clint, his eyes had become glazed over with blue fire.
Seeing what was holding up Loki, Erik smiled fondly (eerily) at Darcy, “That’s Darcy. She’s my friend, she’s Jane and Thor’s friend too. She’s no trouble to us.”
Darcy would have slapped a hand to her face if not for the very pointy spear tip under her chin. Said spear had more pressure applied, forcing her to stand if she didn’t want it piercing into the underside of her jaw.
“Well well miss Coffee Fetcher. It seems you will be of some use to me.” Before she could even think to move, the spear was spun in his hand and pressed against her chest.
Blue light spread across her vision, wiping away all her fear and panic. Loki wasn’t some psychopath, he was her friend!
He placed his arm around her shoulders and led her along behind Erik, “Let’s get to work shall we?”
“Just let me know how I can help.” Darcy chirped back, thrilled and eager to help Loki.