Thanks to JaninaM8 for your help and encouragement!
Loki slammed the telephone down on the receiver. What an idiot! He abandons the company when it hits bottom, then he nearly kills himself. Just like Thor to fuck it all up beyond reasonable recognition. Dick.
Of course, he likely didn't realize that he was going to kill himself this morning when he left for his ridiculous new job at that ludicrous company.
Loki wasn't resentful, though. And he smirked to himself.
Thor had been the CEO of Asgard, a fairly simple trade company with a few international offices. He had mucked things up enough that he, Loki, needed to step in. Offices were closing all over, and by the time Loki inherited Thor's mess, the only office left standing was Boston. They packed up and left London and headed for the States.
Odin had wanted to attempt to salvage things in London, but he knew that it would never work. Loki could be rash, but he was wily, and he knew that Boston was where the most money could be made, what with its proximity for trade and such.
But his brother. Gah! Now he needed to detour to the hospital. Exactly what he wanted to be doing on a Friday night.
Not that he had much else to do, but it was the principle. Asshole.
Loki grabbed his things and walked out of his office. It wasn't the meagre place he had started with in Boston, but it certainly wasn't the lavish place he had in London before he called it quits when Thor became CEO.
"Goodnight, Sigyn," he said to the receptionist.
"Night, sir. Um…" she began. "Are you…are you doing anything? It is Friday."
Oh my god. This scene was out of some cheesy romance novel…Sigyn was pretty enough. Very capable. But he…well. Loki wasn't much into romance. "Actually, my brother is in hospital. I'm on my way to see him now."
"Oh! Oh, Mr. Odinson! I'm so sorry!"
"It's fine, Sigyn, and please call me Loki. We have known one another quite some time now," and he swung his coat around his shoulders.
She blushed.
Shit…fix this. "I mean to say…Sigyn, I am not terribly interested in taking our relationship out of the office. I am sorry," and he smiled, nodded, and left.
He hailed a taxi and jumped in.
Across town they sped, and Loki watched the lights whizz by.
He seldom had time for reflection.
And he wasn't about to start now.
He paid the cabbie and got out of the taxi, hurrying up to Massachusetts General and went inside. He took out his mobile to check the room number Odin had given him.
307.
He went to the elevator and went up to the third floor; he hoped he had the correct wing. Loki walked in long strides down the hall, never stopping nor looking beyond his purpose.
Finally, he reached his destination. But as he began to slide into the room, he stopped.
A woman was there, sitting next to Thor's bed, muttering to him.
….
What she was doing there, she couldn't say. Something about checking in on him. Never mind that she didn't know him at all. Never mind that she totally saw herself in love with him, even though they had never spoken.
So, she was sitting there, muttering to him, Thor Odinson.
"Yeah, so. I guess it's just the time of year, ya know. Thanksgiving was just a week ago, and now Christmas. It makes a person lonesome," she fiddled with the blanket on the hospital bed. "But then, there you were…and you just…were there, you know?" she paused. "No, you wouldn't know."
"I'm sorry," came a deep, soothing voice from the doorway. "Sorry…I don't believe that we have met."
Jane looked at the man. He was tall, had dark, raven hair, sharp features, wearing an impressive overcoat…he was looking crookedly at her. "No…no we haven't," and she stood. "I'm Jane."
"Jane…?"
"Foster."
He nodded and cleared his throat. "And you know my brother?"
"Your brother," she whispered, and looked at Thor Odinson.
"That's right. My brother, Thor."
"Oh…well…"
And Frigga appeared in the doorway. "Loki! Thank goodness," she kissed his cheek. "He hasn't woken, and we are all in a state. A coma! Can you believe it? And just before the holidays." She went to Thor. "Poor Jane. It's good to see you again, dear."
"You know this person, mother?" Loki went over to stand next to Frigga as Jane shifted her weight and swallowed, looking anywhere but at the Odinson's.
Just give yourself up, already. "No, Mr. Odinson…I…"
"Loki. Call me Loki. I loathe my last name."
"Loki…" Frigga began. "Please. It's been ages."
"Doesn't feel like ages," he returned.
"Um…look," Jane began.
"Stop it, son. Jane is a sweetheart, and Thor is engaged to her."
"Engaged?" and his gaze found Jane's.
Her eyes were wide. "I…"
"I know…but Loki. After all of those women…it's so nice to see Thor with someone…well. Nice."
Loki shrugged, and appeared to be examining Jane. "It's curious, though. What of Sif?"
"Don't mention her."
Jane held up her hands. "Look, I really feel like I need to explain here. First of all, you keep saying I'm nice. You don't even know me."
"Are you suggesting that you aren't nice, Jane Foster?" Loki smirked.
"Well, I mean…"
He laughed. "Why was Thor only two weeks ago talking about Sif if he was engaged to you?"
"Maybe he wanted it to be a surprise," she suddenly felt defensive.
He nodded. "Doesn't sound like Thor, does it mother?" and he sat on a chair next to the bed.
"Well…no. But maybe he did wish it to be a surprise."
"You forget your son."
Jane's face hardened. She didn't want to get in the middle of a family thing, but this Loki was annoying. "Hey. Maybe he's in love with me. Maybe he was just waiting to tell you guys. Why is that so hard to believe?"
"Because I know my brother."
"I don't like how we are speaking around Thor like he's not even here. Just because he's in a coma…well…" Frigga looked at Thor with care and concern.
"What? He can't hear anything," began Loki. "Thor! Wake up you great oaf!" he laughed and looked at Frigga. "See?"
"You are impossible. Jane, why don't you come to dinner at the house?"
"Oh! Um…" and all sorts of things rushed through her head. She was lying…a home cooked meal…a family…she was lying…a warm home…"Ok," and she smiled.
"Wonderful! Loki, will you join us?"
"No. I think not. Perhaps tomorrow…."
Frigga nodded. "Alright, then," and she gave him a hug. "Come, Jane."
And Jane followed Frigga as they left the hospital room.
And Loki watched them, but stayed behind.
He looked at his sleeping brother. "Well, Thor. This is a turn, isn't it? You. Engaged," and he sat once more at Thor's bedside. "How are you going to marry? You can hardly stay faithful to one of the most gorgeous women I've ever seen. Not that looks are everything, mind…but to you…the golden boy," he shook his head. "Well. Looks like I've got my work cut out for me," and he stood. "I'll be getting to know your Jane Foster. We shall see just how she won the heart of the massively impressive Thor."
"Frigga, you know how I love your lasagna," Odin was tucking in.
Jane was sitting with Frigga, Odin, Heimdall, and Fandral. She thought that it was odd that these friends dined with one another, but then, she thought that she was so alone that of course it seemed odd. Heimdall was laughing, "Where is your little one, Fandral?"
"Oh…she is with her mother this weekend."
"You have a daughter?" asked Jane.
"Mary. She is my light and delight," answered Fandral.
"Wow," Jane whispered. To be someone's light and delight…
Heimdall was looking at Jane, watching her reactions. There was something…"So, Jane. What about your parents?"
"They are," she cleared her throat. She laughed uncomfortably. "They died. My mom passed when I was just four, my dad when I was eighteen."
"Oh, Jane," and Frigga handed her some more garlic bread. "That's awful. I'm so sorry."
She shrugged. "Well…it's hard sometimes, but you know. You get used to it," and she bit into some bread.
"No one should need to get over something like that."
"She's a sensible girl, Frigga. Let her alone," and Odin drunk deeply of his wine. "Thor has yet to select a sensible girl. Let's not stir things."
His wife rolled her eyes. "I'm merely remarking how unfortunate it is that Jane is alone. Will you be alone for Christmas, Jane?"
"Yeah," and her eyes fell.
"Not any longer," and Mrs. Odinson appeared to be very pleased with herself. "You shall have Christmas with us. Thor would want it that way, isn't that right, Heimdall?"
The great man nodded, but was looking quizzically at Jane.
Jane swallowed hard. It was indeed quite odd to be under such a scrutinizing gaze from such a man.
The company was all standing, helping put the dishes in the kitchen. Odin and Frigga were bickering a touch, and Jane supposed that this was per usual for the pair, though they were obviously in love. She smiled to herself.
"It is something around here, isn't it?"
"Oh! Yeah. It is," Jane replied to Heimdall's inquiry. "So…ah…you've known them long, I guess?"
"Quite some time."
Jane nodded and went to put plates in the sink. When she returned, Heimdall had not moved, and was watching her still. "Jane Foster…allow me to see you out."
"Ok," she whispered and swallowed her unease.
He handed her her coat. "You aren't engaged to Thor, are you?"
"How did you…?" oh no. Oh no! She would need to come clean now. But, she reminded herself, it was probably for the best.
"I see a great many things. The Odinson's, well, it's not so much that they see what they want, except in relation to their sons."
"I'm sorry," she began. "It was a huge misunderstanding," she paused. "I'll go tell them," and she turned to leave.
But Heimdall took her arm. "You'll do no such thing, Jane. I love this family, and you are just what they need right now."
"I am? Me?"
"That's right. Now, I do not wish to hurt you either. That wouldn't be fair, but I think it's safe to say that you are lonely," he looked at her steadily.
The hallway they were standing in was dimly lit. It was a bit more drafty than the rest of the house she had been in…the dark colors on the walls suddenly became darker. He saw much, and though anyone could surmise easily enough that she was lonely, the way he said it, and the gaze she could barely see spoke volumes about his understanding. "I am, yeah."
"Right. So, it might be nice to have a family for Christmas, wouldn't you say?"
"You mean lie, for almost a month? What if Thor wakes up before then?"
He shrugged. "Tell them, then. But these are warm souls, Jane. They won't be angry. I'll make certain that Odin doesn't lose his temper if Frigga can't check him."
"Oh my god," and Jane buried her face in her hands. "I dunno, Heimdall. This seems like it could get messed up really quickly and have a terrible ending."
Heimdall laughed. "Perhaps. Or perhaps it will end with a wedding," he remarked suspiciously.
"A wedding!" she hissed. "Thor will never love me! Look at me!"
"Maybe not Thor, then."
He was infuriating. "Oh no? Who then, you?" and she laughed.
"Everyone loves a wedding, Jane Foster," he replied.
"What are you two doing out here?" asked Frigga, who was entering the hallway. "Jane, are you leaving so soon?"
"I am, yeah. Yeah…but thank you so much. Everything was great."
She nodded, and Heimdall left. "Well…will we see you at the hospital tomorrow?"
Jane fidgeted a bit. Shit. "Um. Yeah. Tomorrow," and offering a smile, left into the cold Boston night.
What was she doing? She pondered, as she walked down the sidewalk, the ice crunching under her feet. She was taking advantage of a perfectly nice family. Her dad wouldn't want that.
And Jane's mind wandered to her dad. He had been a smily kinda guy, always happy, no matter what. He wouldn't want her to be alone for the holidays if it made her unhappy. She shoved her hands into her pockets, and her breath steamed before her. Winter was descending on New England. Unsurprising.
She reached her place and went inside.
It had been so nice to be part of a family…
Maybe Heimdall was right. Just until right after Christmas. She wanted this so badly, she felt it in her spine.
Jane poured herself some water and went over to the window overlooking the street. She hadn't turned the lights on, so she could see clearly into the night. Yes…just for a few weeks. And she would then tell them everything. They'll probably laugh, she thought.
And if Thor wakes up beforehand, well…she would just deal with that should it present itself.
The moon was on the rise, and Jane smiled.
And Loki was in his apartment across town, looking at the same moon. Something was going on here with this Jane Foster. Perhaps she was Thor's new receptionist, and she had developed an infatuation. Perhaps she was a corporate spy, and she was distraught over Thor's accident, so she had visited him, thinking he would be able to instruct her.
There was something definitely amiss with all of this, and Loki was going to discover what it was.