Show me what it's like
To be the last one standing,
And teach me wrong from right,
An' I'll show you what I can be.
Savin' Me by Nickelback
Chapter 6
"Loki Laufyson," the voice hisses.
It had been calling him from across the dungeons for the past millennium. And as much as he tried to ignore it, he couldn't. The grating of his nerves proved to be too much.
"Speak," Loki snaps.
"Don't you dare order me. I only came to retrieve you, but on the slight chance I could not, I am to deliver a message. The mortals hold something of value in their world and my master wishes for you to retrieve it."
"What is it?"
"You'll know."
"And let me guess, he will make it worth my while?"
"No," it growls in sharp distaste, "You failed last time. This is your second chance."
My only chance, Loki understood.
"Do you not remember how much fun he had? The motivation he used?" The alien's voice droned on in a way that brought unbidden images to Loki's eyes. "He reduced you to a human in mere seconds and I relish the thought of seeing it again. You were ready to puke till the moment we released you."
Loki's trembling hand wipes down his face. "Shut up." He remembers the day well. His first official trip to Midgard and his mission to intercept the Tesseract. Nothing went as planned, but that was how Loki liked it. His ability to roll with the punches was one thing he admired about himself.
"...He is on his way and when he arrives, you better have it or you will die along with everyone else." The rasp fell blessedly silent and Loki enjoyed the peace while it lasted. But all too soon he noticed that they were not alone. From the sound of it, Thor was paying them a visit. Well, not Loki, as Thor continues to walk past his cell and deeper into the dungeons.
"How is she?"
Thor pauses with a surprised expression, one Loki can feel even without opening his eyes. His bored tone annoys Thor most days. This is precisely why Loki uses it whenever he can, like now.
"She is well," says Thor, "Someone gave her medical attention before the healers, I hear."
"Oh?"
"Though it was a shallow cut, it could have been dangerous, maybe even life-threatening for a human."
"Hm."
"It was you, wasn't it?"
"I haven't the slightest idea what you are referring to," Loki drawls.
Silence in the darkness tempts him to open his eyes. Thor was still there, he knew, but he was so quiet; so thoughtful. When would he stop surprising Loki? The change that had overcome Thor in his time on Midgard had made Loki question himself. Perhaps a self-sacrificing Thor was ready to rule. This was unlike anything Loki knew before; however, it was only a trick. His fake brother only pulled complete turnarounds for two things: glory and women. And neither lasted very long.
"You care for her."
Loki slowly pulls himself up and subjects Thor to a glare. "Bite your rock of a tongue."
"I hear rumors that it was you who told her to hide in the first place. That doesn't sound like someone who doesn't care for a mere mortal."
Loki stretches arms over head and speaks blandly. "She is merely a tool."
Thor glances to the right and then to the left, his mouth moving but words hardly forthcoming. This was the pathetic excuse of a brother he had to put up with for a number of years. Loki was able to deceive Thor so easily that it was child's play. But, as of late, the big oaf hardly believed a word that came out of his mouth, taking all the fun out of it. Loki tends to tell him the truth now, only to build up a reputation worth ruining again.
"A tool?"
"Thor, please don't allow your weak, romantic sentiments to run away with you. She is my ticket to freedom. Do you truly believe I don't care enough about myself to let her die? No." Couldn't Thor be a little bit quieter? They weren't alone down here anymore. Loki moves to his desk, placing his weight on the corner.
"You're so selfish. Why did I never see this before?" The blond jabs an accusing finger Loki's way. "You only care about you and yourself-"
"Of course. Who else is there to trust? Tell me that, Thor."
"Me, for one!" Thor pounds his chest as his throat quivers. "Mother cares, Eir, father, and even Jane will once she gets to know you. You can't keep pushing us away forever."
Loki raises an eyebrow as if to say, watch me.
"Where does your hatred come from?"
"Tell Odin I will marry the mortal, but forgiveness and loyalty are not part of the package."
As the blond exits the prison Loki couldn't help the humorless chuckle that left him.
"It would seem I'm getting married," he calls from the perch on his desk.
Silence answers him.
- 1 Hour Later, Throne Room -
"How did this happen?"
Watching Odin speak to Heimdall, Jane folds her arms from where she stood. Two guards stood on either side of her. Now she knew how her president felt on Earth with his Secret Service. She had been followed ever since last night. With fingers playing with her bandaged neck, Jane wonders if she was spared death for such a time as this, to protect the Aesirs and her people. Her brown orbs trace over the three warriors gathered, Thor, and his parent's in attendance. Add her two guards and herself and they had enough to throw a party.
"I do not know. His presence was hidden from me by a power which rivaled his Majesty's," everyone's eyes, but Jane's, grow in size, "But the fault is mine. It has been said there are other ways into Asgard, some I do not know where to look for. I have failed you all and willingly accept any punishment."
"Loki didn't sense him either."
All heads whip in her direction.
One of the men, part of trio called the Warriors Three, spoke up. "What were you doing with him last night?" One of his comrades hit him on the arm. Thor steps towards her.
"I am curious to hear this, as well."
Jane closes her eyes. That'll teach me to bite my tongue, she thought, taking a breath. It's just like giving a seminar; just speak clearly. Frigga gives her a look of encouragement.
"I wanted to get to know him..? We were talking and then he told me to hide, and then that guy came and Loki was trying to strike a deal with him-"
"He what?" Thor roars.
"-for his freedom, but the guy wouldn't unless Loki swore to the guy's master. Join him, or, or something..."
"Who was the master?" demanded Odin.
"Ah, that's," she searches her mind, "I believe is was something like Thane- no, Thana, Thano, Thanos?"
She looks to the Allfather, but he merely grunts. "Never heard of him. But if you are sure, I will look into it. Thor, have you questioned Loki?"
"I have."
"And?"
"He... accepts the match." When the words touch her ears, Jane suddenly feels the need to sit down. That devil of an Aesir is going to merry her. Even now, her mind rebells at the idea. "And he didn't seem to know that the enemy was coming."
"It wouldn't be the first time he has deceived us," someone spat.
"Peace, Volstagg. Thor, question the prisoner. The rest of you, leave me."
She didn't very much like the idea of that, but it was hardly her place to say so. Jane was learning very quickly she did not so much have a place, much less a say, in anything. She didn't fit, though that was nothing new. Silence was becoming a fierce ally and wisdom was in great need.
"Get some rest," said Frigga, nodding in her direction. Nodding in return, Jane follows after Thor, posse in tow. Funny, she never dreamed she would require body guards, secret service, knights... Someone to fight for her. So she didn't really know how to use a gun, big deal. It was simple mechanics. Plus, there wasn't much of a need to know how to defend yourself when one majored in the stars. Jane always figured she could talk her way out of every situation. Like the one time she decided to skip class and was caught in the twelfth grade.
She comes to a sudden halt and her eyes reflect a red cape. Thor vanishes down another hallway, one she knows leads to the dungeons. Unbidden, the memory of their kiss came to mind.
A fierce longing to be held by him had overcome her when the knife kissed her skin. She could vaguely remember voices calling out to her when she had been injured. Some of the voices sounded a lot like Loki, but she shook that thought then and there. He had no reason to worry for her, she was the reason he was getting married... And she knew all too well what men thought of marriage. Use Blake, for example.
She squeezes her eyes shut as her fists tighten. No, don't think about that.
"My lady?" Questions a guard.
Without a word, Jane begins to walk.
Thank you wintercandymints, carlita stoneheart (We must be soul sisters or something!), DarkFay, Elphaba117, Mrs. Marple Poirot, vampgirliegirl, meilimingzi, and (the mysterious) Guest!