Chapter 1: The heart wants what it wants


*AUTHOR UPDATE*

I've edited the existing chapters for spelling issues and such. This story is being picked back up due to recent interest. Thanks!

Hello, friends! I was watching a few different movies, which gave me inspiration for this story. I don't know how long it will be or how short. I'm just going to do installments as they come.

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Jane was not a terribly social creature.

Jane rarely made friends. Hell, she barely kept up with her current circle!

An astrophysicist too caught up in her work, Jane actually believed in curses.

Perhaps not curses.

There was only her curse in which she fervently, faithfully believed.

Among her friends, she was, quote, likable enough to catch someone to overlook her eager devotion to her research, end quote.

Among her family, well, she was a pariah: a "spinster" set up on a shelf too high to be worth the struggle of reaching for.

Among her peers and fellow scientists, Jane was a troublesome paradox. They said she was a beauty. They said she was a marvel in her field. They said they could not fathom why she did not at least have a steady boyfriend, let alone a husband by now.

In reality, Jane just wanted to live freely with her cat, Hydrobius (Hyde for short), in her comfortable, mediocre-sized loft rented to her by her aunt, who was presently out of the country for "work" reasons. Whatever that meant...

The curse had begun sometime around the start of her undergraduate freshman year at Culver University.

In her first semester, she began a rather awkward relationship with a man named Richard Davison. Neither of them had a clue of what they were doing. He was the first of few boyfriends she had become involved with during her undergraduate years.

Jane focused more devoutly on her studies, throwing away her dating life in exchange for internship and network opportunities. When her professor, Erik Selvig, recommended her to Tony Stark, she immediately received the most highly coveted position for Astrophysicists of all calibers and experience.

That's when the trouble started.

Although she hadn't particularly liked any of the three men she dated during her scholastic adventures, Jane hadn't expected that all of them would marry as soon as they had.

Still amicable acquaintances with them, Jane Foster had been not only invited to their weddings, but also asked to be a bridesmaid for their lucky brides: to which she accepted on the principle of being asked.

All three weddings were stunning, and she was more eager to seek out "Mr. Right."

She should have never gone to any of those damned weddings.

"Ms. Foster," someone interrupted, thus bringing her out of her reverie.

"Yeah?" she responded absently.

The woman Jane recalled as the bride's mother cleared her throat, "I was sent to collect you. It's time for the rehearsals."

Jane just nodded and followed behind the more mature woman. What was her name...

It didn't matter. At least, not for the time being.

Time slowed down a bit as she approached the large double white doors leading into the large church. A pair of dim, dull brown eyes matched the enthusiasm of the older woman when she tugged the left door open. A wash of electricity forged Jane's features, brightening up the otherwise diminished, tired qualities.

It was always a mask.

The entire wedding party turned around to see the disturbance. Their smiles illuminated the space. Jane was the center of this occasion: other than the bride, of course. Although she was not the official maid of honor, Jane had pulled strings with friends in high places in order to secure this occasion.

Everyone said her name. Jane stretched out the right corner of her mouth and uttered the proper apologies for her tardiness.

And the rehearsal began.

Jane turned her head to view her date for the event.

Thor Odinson.

He was everything she ever wanted.

Powerful.

Polite, somewhat.

Loyal to a fault.

Charismatic.

And protective.

He was someone who rarely hurt anyone.

And she was fooling herself to fall for him.

He was a safe bet to place. She'd been placing that bet for seven months now.

His bright blue eyes scaled the crowd from the far door he stood before. When his eyes met hers, they lit up. A shine danced around the ocean under his intent gaze.

But as she calculated that his eyes were a bit too high for her stature, Jane bashfully followed his gaze to the approximate destination.

Jane's smile fell.

Sif, the bridesmaid standing next to her.

But Jane had to smile for photos, so she diligently fought for her heart to shut up and her eyes to remain her puppets. However, her gaze settled back over Thor's. Now, he gazed over her not quite so majestically.

Either he saw something on her face he didn't appreciate.

Or he noticed the words sparking in her eyes.

As his smile fell, hers stretched when the flash ignited about the space.

That was another moment forever immortalized in pain, not that anyone would ever know about it.

The curse was always in effect.

No matter who she dated, the men always found their soulmate while she dated them. Thor was no different.

And when they broke up amicably, she found out that he had not been unfaithful to her.

He was a good man, but, once again, she discovered he was no man for her.

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Two months went by without much noise.

Jane was able to focus on her research more.

Thor was able to enjoy his time with Sif without the burden of being caught up in a relationship with another woman.

A F.R.I.E.N.D.S. episode was on tonight. The show always brought Jane a small piece of joy. It was her favorite.

In the time since the wedding, Jane only accepted one date, but only because she was hungry at the time. The astrophysicist decided it was best to take a break for a while.

A knock at the door snagged her attention away from the television for a moment.

Jane bounced up and opened the door.

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"Take off your jacket. Now," Jane ordered the man on the bike.

He complied and she threw it over her shoulders.

She cast a sparing glance over her left shoulder, "Your helmet! Take it off."

As he was lifting it from his head, the man spoke, "Anything for a lady."

The young grad student playfully smiled, "I'm no lady."

And she reached for his helmet as she found his lips with hers. Jane moved her mouth over his cold, dry lips and closed her eyes just as a door slammed in the distance.

The small female climbed over the man's motorcycle and straddled his legs, her hands commanding his face to follow her vulnerable gaze. She set the helmet on one of the handles and then turned to him again when she heard footsteps aimlessly wandering around the bar.

Her mouth claimed his again. This time, her eyes remained open so she could try to see if Robert was near her, but her attention was abducted by the mysterious, sinister, and electric gaze underneath her. He moved his hands from the handles and enveloped her in a strong embrace.

His eyes were the first to close, succumbing to an unexpected spark fueling their actions. Finally, Jane fell victim to a strange wash of magic seizing control of her. Her eyes closed, too.

His tongue demanded entrance into her mouth. Attempting to gasp, Jane's mouth fought for dominance, but her lips unlocked and opened. He slid in and tightened his hold on her.

He moaned loudly when he parted to breathe.

He pulled her forward so he could rest their foreheads together. His eyes closed, and his expression appeared pained. "Is he gone?" he asked.

"What's your name?" Jane countered.

He chuckled and tsked. When his lids opened again, mischief danced in his hues, "Is your boyfriend gone?"

Jane bit her lip as she exhaled wildly, "I just broke up with him."

"And he couldn't handle it?"

She shook her head, "I kicked him in his testicles because he cheated on me."

"Remind me to never cross you, then," he joked.

"Where are you from?"

"You ask a lot of questions, don't you?" he hesitantly asked.

She nodded, but said, "It's in my nature."

"Why's that?"

Jane smiled, "I'm a scientist."

"Really?"

She shrugged, "Well, I will be."

"I believe congratulations are in order, then," he mocked. He stretched his neck so that his lips brushed hers again.

"The moment's gone. He left," she chided.

The young man knowingly smiled arrogantly, "Then, why are you still astride?"

"Seriously, where are you from?" It was her intention to avoid his question entirely.

He laughed. "London, England. I'm sure you've heard of it."

"I don't believe I'm familiar with that place. Is that in Europe?" Jane sarcastically said.

His smile infected hers, causing her to mimic him. He inhaled deeply and closed his eyes and placed his forehead back against hers. "I am Loki."

"You have such a strange name."

"That," he murmured, "is quite intentional. My family's Norse-mythology fanatics."

"My name is quite plain..."

He cupped her cheek, "I am sure it's not."

"Jane," she whispered. "It's Jane."

He shook his head, and moved his thumb over her face, "It's extraordinary." He claimed her gaze with his own intense stare, "You are extraordinary."

And in that moment, Jane knew the night was only the beginning of something...extraordinary.

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How is this? I watched 27 Dresses & Good Luck Chuck recently, so I thought I would blend them to create a Lokane story! Tell me what you think by PMing me or reviewing this chapter!