Chapter Three: Abhorred Agreement

Loki held his breath. The moments following his exposure were slow and dreadful. Her eyes - her shocked, frightened eyes - trailed over him as if he were a morbid display piece for all to see. He clenched his teeth. His eyes stayed fixed on the small woman, who became speechless at his presence. He shouldn't have, but he felt uncomfortable under her gaze. Judging him, accusing him. He swallowed hard, pushing down the uneasiness and grinned, knowing he exposed jagged, black teeth. "Jane Foster, what has caused the renowned astrophysicist to have gone mute?"

The woman shrunk back, not taking her eyes from him. She opened and closed her mouth like a gasping fish before any words came out. "Who are you?"

Loki wondered if he was that unrecognizable or if she hadn't seen any detailed photos of him invading Midgard. "Don't you recognize me?" he asked, stepping closer into the light, prompting her to take a step back and Thor to again insist she run, which she ignored. Loki found that last part interesting.

Leaning forward, she squinted as if trying to place him and then her eyes widened. "Loki." It was not a question. "I thought you were supposed to be furniture."

Furniture? His brow furrowed. He wondered how much Fandral told her as the woman clearly wasn't prepared for this. Not that he thought she would be under any amount of prepping. "What brings you to my humble abode?" he asked, switching subjects.

Jane didn't answer. Her eyes were fixated on him, on his everything, not focusing on a single area. "Have you…?" She stopped. Then she started again. "Have you always looked like this?"

Loki consciously stopped himself from startling back. That was unexpected. What did she mean by that? The skin around his eyes tightened as he focused on her. Then he straightened up. She thought he wasn't affected by the curse. Perhaps she hadn't seen any photos of him. Loki couldn't decide if that was good or bad. "More importantly," he said, regarding her carefully. "what is the mortal woman, Jane Foster doing in Asgard?"

"I'm…" She fumbled her words and stopped, her face set in shock. Then she swallowed and a stronger resolve passed over her. "I'm here to help Asgard. With this curse," she added as an afterthought.

Loki shook his head. "There's nothing you can do."

Her fear melted away the longer they spoke like an iceberg drifting into warmer waters. "How about you start by releasing Thor?"

Loki scoffed, smiling bitterly. The mortal and her god. "He's no use in or out of the cell." He turned from her, beginning to ascend back into the shadows. "And neither are you."

He took slow steps, one after the other as he directed his hearing behind him, detecting the woman's subtle movements. A faint breath. Her feet scuffled. She was watching his retreating form, he knew it. There were no options for her to take. It was only a matter of time. His shoulders and upper back were cast in shadow and he began to feel a stab of doubt, when she called after him.

"Wait."

He halted, but did not turn.

She hesitated. "Let Thor go…" Her voice trailed off, unable to finish the sentence. Another faint breath. "Let Thor go and take me instead."

Loki grinned, relaxing. There it was. That was what he wanted to hear. The imprisoned man let out a cry of protest, but he went ignored as Loki pivoted on his heel and faced the woman who was standing defiantly, every ounce of her in rebellion against him. That would change, he reasoned. She would learn. He only needed time. Five years. The prospect was a blink to him. It would have to do.

"Jane, no," Thor pleaded, frantic. "You can't do this. Do not take my place."

She didn't look at him. Instead her sole focus was on the monster in front of her. In the back of his mind, Loki wondered what her thoughts of him were. Ugly. Hideous. Unworthy. What else would she think? You are unlovable. Loki clutched his jaw to hold back more of a reaction. A voice, thin and whispery, shot through his mind. The owner of it, he couldn't clarify. You will always be cursed. You are a monster. He swallowed thickly, forcibly pressing that voice to the back of his mind and realigned his thinking back to her offer. She stood, waiting. "What are you asking?" His face fell into a mask once he faced her and he was careful not to let a hint of triumph color his features. "You think I would give up Thor's capture for yours?"

The woman's demeanor faltered. That wasn't the best thing he could say. He wanted her to believe this was her idea, but he didn't want her to doubt too much. He was thinking of what he could say to amend this, when she spoke again. "Banish him to Earth, uh – Midgard – and, and keep me here…" The next words that fell from her mouth must have been the hardest thing for her to say. He could see the line where she set her jaw. "As your prize," she finished. Once the words were out, she flushed, but her determination remained fiery in her eyes. She muttered, "What better way to taunt him." The 'him' was implied and Loki knew exactly who she was talking about.

Thor cried out in denial, but remained ignored. Jane shuffled her feet uncomfortably. Her eyes locked in front of her.

Loki forced back the grin attempting to break free and maintained his neutral expression. He tapped a finger against his lips, making a show of pondering. His mind was made up from the time he set eyes on her in front of Thor's cell. "I accept this offer."

"Release him."

Clever girl, Loki mused, stepping closer to her. "I will once I know he won't put up a fight."

Thor glared at him. "Why would I let you send me to Midgard willingly?"

It happened in a blink. Jane didn't register what happened until it was over and her back was flushed against something icy. Cold pressed delicately against her throat. Loki had an arm encaging her middle. A knife glinted in his other hand.

"I can give you a good reason," Loki replied coolly.

"Let her go," Thor demanded.

The anger on his once-brother's face did little to sway him. If anything, it furthered his amusement. "Thor, if you would only come quietly…"

Thor's face clouded in fury, but he made no other comment. He lifted his hands in a sign of resignation. Loki grinned, loosening his grip on Jane, but kept her in his arms. "That's better."

Loki lowered the cell's energy field, allowing Thor to saunter out. He moved with Jane, placing her where Thor had stood moments ago. When he let her go, she struck her hand at him, but he pulled away in time and turned the energy field back on. Eyes burning, she seared him with her glare. He forced his mouth to remain flat. That would change. He needed time. Now he would have that. Facing Thor, he waved his hands over the man's wrists, smirking at his surprise. "In case you thought to be brave and try something."

Enchanted handcuffs held Thor's wrists together. "Loki," he muttered.

Loki waved his hand dismissively as he began walking towards the exit. "They'll fall off once you reach Midgard. They're only a precaution."

Thor stepped towards the cell and Jane smiled at him sadly. "I'll be okay," she said quietly. In a softer tone, she added, "Do what you can on Midgard. I'll see what I can do here." She almost opened her mouth to tell him three words she had been meaning to say, but never knew if the time was right. She decided now would be the time. But, as she was about to, Loki interrupted.

"Are you going to stand there and rot or move already?" he hissed, narrowing his eyes at them.

Thor tossed his head in his direction before softening his gaze on Jane. "I'll be back for you." Without another word he followed Loki out of the dungeons.

"You've said that before," she murmured to no one. His red cape was the last she saw of him. Then she was alone.

/


/

"Loki."

"No."

"Talk to me."

"No."

"What has happened?"

Loki wouldn't listen to Thor as he led him to the Bi-Frost. Matching stride for stride, Thor paced next to him, determined to get him to explain the situation. But, Loki's mouth was clamped firmly shut, save for a word or two of refusal.

"What about Jane?" he insisted. "Why must you use her against me?"

Loki tilted his chin minutely, letting those questions mull around his head. The answer was clear. She was a means to an end. Hurting him was a bonus. Thor didn't have to know that. The entrance of the Bi-Frost loomed over them as they approached.

"Heimdal," Loki called.

Thor searched the observatory with his eyes, confused. "Heimdal?"

"Hidden in plain sight," Loki said as way of explanation as he stepped onto the platform.

Thor faced him, his eyes a torrent of emotion. Loki identified several key emotions warring for dominance: anger, sadness, defiance. He dismissed a fourth one, deciding he misread it.

"Loki, if you hurt Jane…"

"Do not worry, Thor," he assured him. "Your mortal is in fine hands." He smirked, reveling in the double meaning his words had. His final taunt. He would let Thor make whatever he could of that.

Thor's face twisted into startled horror. Before he could voice protest, the bridge opened and grabbed hold of him, dragging him realms away from his mortal.

"The curse demands a willing heart."

Loki glared at the hilt of the sword in front of him. "She will love me," he growled in determination.

Heimdal blinked his metallic eyes slowly. "I did not say she wouldn't."

Loki stepped closer, holding out his hands as a green glow encased them. "Do not open the Bi-Frost for anyone." Once he cast a spell that would force the guardian to obey him, he pivoted and headed towards the palace, intent on retrieving the mortal from the dungeons. She wouldn't warm up to him right away, that was for sure, but he would have to begin somewhere. Now rather than never, he supposed.

Heimdal, as he observed the prince's cape, thought it funny that Loki was convinced he needed to put the guardian under an enchantment to keep the Bi-Frost closed. Little did the prince know that he wouldn't have opened it, not for a single person.

/


/

In the shadows of the dungeon, a candlestick lingered as he watched the cell now occupied with the mortal woman. Frail, weak in the physical sense. She would never measure up to the strength and vitality of the Æsir women. A disease, a short fall, a stiff breeze could cause her to perish. She was their only hope.

"Traitor."

Fandral rolled his eyes as he heard the clink of a teapot hobble its way next to him. He didn't know until that moment that a teapot could sound angry while shuffling. "Lady Sif. So nice of you to join me. Where has your loveliness been hiding?" The strong, powerful woman warrior being transformed into a near defenseless piece of delicate kitchenware never ceased to be amusing. He knew it vexed her incessantly.

"Hold your traitor tongue," she hissed. "How can you assist him? After all he's done."

Without taking his eyes from the cell across from them, he replied, "Sif, has anyone ever told you that anger does not become you?"

She scowled. "What you've done is dishonorable. You tricked the mortal into coming here and now she's subject to whatever tortures his sick mind can conjure up."

"Out of everyone, I thought you'd be most pleased to have your competition out of the way."

Maneuvering a body made of glass, let alone a limbless, rounded body, was difficult in every move. She made the effort to sit beside him and rotate her face until it aligned with the side of his, so she could glare at his wax. "You are a despicable person, unworthy to be of Asgard."

Fandral finally looked at her, an unamused expression on his face. "Sif, I am not proud of my actions-"

"You shouldn't be."

"But, I do not want to stay a candle for the rest of eternity. And if I were to guess, I'd think you wouldn't want to be stuck as a teapot." Sif's face relaxed minutely, but her resolve remained strong. He sighed. "Lady Jane won't be harmed. I'll see to it."

"I'll see to it."

"We'll both see to it."

Sif was ready to say something more, when a chill in the air stopped her words short. The dungeon was one person more crowded. Loki approached Jane's cell.

Fandral placed his candle holder on Sif to stop her from shuffling after the prince. She glared at him. "Nothing will happen to her."

"Nothing will happen if I'm there to stop it."

"Loki wants this curse lifted as much as we do. Would he really jeopardize our chances by harming the only one who can possibly fix this?"

"He's unpredictable."

"We'll intervene if we must, but I don't know what you think you can do, Sif. You're not yourself anymore. You're a teapot." He looked at her pointedly. "You're a lot more breakable."

Sif glared at him and then sighed. "I will stay to the side, but I will not hold back if he lashes at her."

"You're a fierce, little teapot."

The mortal woman was studying the force holding her in her cell. Her brow was furrowed and she stared at the force with intrigue. Holding up a hand to touch it, her fingers were about to graze it, when Loki spoke, startling her. She hadn't noticed him.

"Lady Jane, I will show you to your room." He stood stiffly as if he wasn't familiar with how he should act in this situation. Fandral thought that was a good thing, since this wasn't a situation someone should be familiar with.

Staring at him, she brought her hand to her side and asked, "Aren't you keeping me here?"

"If you so prefer to dwell among Asgard's finest criminals, so be it." The force holding her inside the cell dissipated as he hit a switch. "But, if not, then I can take you to your room." Not waiting for her answer, he began to head towards the staircase.

"If she was smart, she would stay put," Sif mumbled.

"She is smart," Fandral said. "Which is why she'll follow."

Jane stood there, watching Loki's back. Then she started after him.

Fandral smiled. Sif scowled.

"This will end badly," she insisted.

"We will see."

/


/

Yes, yes, Sif is a teapot and no, I am not sorry.

Okay, so Loki is obviously not off to a good start with Jane. But, really, why would he be? He's Loki. Fear not, faithful readers. Fandral and his romance experience to the rescue. Maybe.