Chapter 7
Jane wasn't exactly feeling up for walking on her own two legs yet, but there was nothing for it. So, bracingly, she grasped Thor's proffered palm and pulled herself off the ground in one swift (hurtful) movement.
''Geez...'' she moaned lamely and Thor frowned at her. He didn't say anything though and led the way outside. The blaring sun was a startling contrast to the dim interior of the decrepit building. Jane had almost forgotten that it was still an earlyish morning outside and that, for most people, it was just another regular workday. Thor hailed a taxi when they had reached the main street, for which Jane was silently grateful. She suspected that Thor was not at all convinced by her reassurances that she was alright. She'd have to work on that. Their ride to the police station was only shortly interrupted by Thor bouncing out of the still half moving car to grab their breakfast order from Sif's. As the smell of freshly baked muffins filled Jane's nostrils, she realised that she was not only starving but unbelievably tired. Her adrenalin levels had instantly shrunken to zero as she had folded herself into the leather backseat, leaving her with nothing to go on but pain and stubbornness. She briefly allowed herself to close her eyes and wondered how she'd survive the rest of the day. A converstion with Loki in her current state was not exactly at the top of the list of things she'd like to do right now.
''Where have you two been? And why do you look so...powdery?'' Fandral asked and stared at them, as Thor and Jane entered the station. He was leaning back in his chair, with his feet on the table in front of him and was throwing a small blue ball from hand to hand. ''Don't tell Volstagg I've got his stress relief ball. He's going to go mental if he doesn't find it.'' The thought seemed to greatly amuse him and he pondered it for a second, a content smile grazing his handsome face.
''We got into a situation'' said Thor and threw him a muffin. It hit Fandral in the chest and he snatched it before it reached the floor.
''What, getting breakfast?''
''Oh, sod off, Fandral'', Jane huffed and sank into her chair.
''Well, don't expect me to tell you about my next adventure, then.'' Fandral said and pouted. ''Oh shit, I gotta go.'' And he left his place rather hurriedly.
A second later Volstagg slouched over. ''Aven't seen my ball 'ave yer?'' he grunted.
''No.''
''Fandral's got it.''
''Jane!'' Thor exclaimed. He looked scandalized.
''That bastard! I 'ave told 'im a million times! Thanks Jane.'' As he spotted Fandral in the far side of the office a murderous glint shone in his eyes. ''I will remember this, traitor'' he offered to Thor, before he slouched away again, in pursuit of Fandral.
''Bit agressive'', Thor said casually and bit heartily into a muffin. ''Why'd you tell him?''
''Because he needs that ball, for obvious reasons.'', Jane answered and rolled her eyes. She sighed and heaved herself off the chair. ''Come on, no point in waiting. Lets talk to your brother.''
Thor grabbed their coffeecups and let her lead the way. In front of Loki's office, Jane hesitated. She had slept in there mere hours ago and the memory of Loki, with his bare arms folded, staring down at her, was still quite prominent in her mind. She composed herself and knocked.
''Yes?'' came Loki's muffled reply and she entered, closely followed by Thor.
Loki was just as surprised as Fandral by their ruffled appearance, but this only translated into a slight tilt of his head. He stopped stacking the folders he had in front of him and motioned for them to sit. Jane was very conscious of him scrutinizing her as she lowered herself down carefully. She hoped very much that no signs of pain flitted across her face. She took the coffee that Thor held out for her and folded her hands around the cup tightly. If she only made it out of this chair without giving herself away, Loki didn't need to know what had happened to her, she told herself and looked up into Loki's face. He was staring back at her intently, knowingly. But this was how he looked all the time, so Jane couldn't be sure if he actually suspected anything.
''So?'' Loki asked mildly and Jane closed her eyes against a wave of annoyance. Loki sounded exactly like her mother had whenever she had wanted Jane to admit to doing something wrong. Thor saved her from speaking. ''Jane tailed a man this morning. She thinks he was watching her -''
''He wasn't watching, he was observing me.''
''Where was this?'' Loki asked.
''In front of Sif's. He was no amateur, I could tell. I followed him to an empty house. I wasn't sure if he was luring me there, but I – me and Thor, we went after him anyways. And, well, it was very dark, but I still got a glimpse of his face, before he got away.''
''He got away?'' Loki asked, raising his eyebrows.
''Yes, er, he jumped out of a window, you see? We didn't dare follow him, it was pretty high up, right Thor?''
''Yep. Pretty high. Must have known parcour or something.'' Thor offered. He sounded convinving enough to Jane. But you could never be too sure with Loki. He had a talent for seeing through lies, which was admittedly a useful quality for a policeman to have, but just now, Jane wished he wouldn't be so observant.
''This isn't good.'' Loki said and looked at Jane, a crease on his forehead. ''You saw his face? Can you describe him?''
Jane hesitated and looked at Thor. He regarded her just as expectantly as his brother. ''I don't need to describe him, because I think I know who he is, Loki. Well, I don't know him personally but I know of him and you do, too, at least I think so...''
''You're rambling, Jane, spit it out.'' Loki demanded and folded his arms.
''I'm pretty sure it was Tony Stark.''
The reaction that followed was not what Jane had expected. Loki did not move a muscle and simply stared at her. Thor, on the other hand, violently surged upwards, loudly scraping his chair over the linoleum floor and knocking over his empty coffeecup. ''What?'' he barked and the look on his face was absolutely livid. Jane was quite alarmed and pressed back into her seat, unconsciously trying to put more space between herself and Thor. She blinked back at him, trying to comprehend his violent reaction.
''Are you quite sure, Jane?'' Loki asked in a carefully level voice.
''Y-yes?''
Loki closed his eyes and sighed. He looked at Thor. ''Thor...'' he murmured, and his voice was strange. Something seemed to simmer under his controlled demeanor. A question seemed to hang in that one syllable of his brother's name. He gazed at Thor, still not moving, not blinking...
Thor swivelled around. ''This is bullshit!'' he hissed through gritted teeth. Jane had never heard Thor sounding that angry, that venomous. What was going on?
''I think Jane and me should pay Stark a visit.''
''Do you, now?'' Thor ground out and balled his hands into tight fists. He seemed on the verge of punching Loki.
''Brother...' Loki said and this time he definitely sounded imploring.
''Fuck you Loki!'' Thor spat. And he turned around and left the office, slamming the door behind him.
Hello readers (?)
I have no idea what came over me, but I felt like writing something and I thought of this long abandoned story and thought, what the hell? Why not.
