I do not own Thor, Marvel or any of the known characters in this fiction. If known characters and their lore are different, it is simply my own take or idea.

Anthem of the Lost

Eyes and Remembrances

Chapter Seven

With a sigh of relief, Jane relaxed her tensed shoulders. She couldn't help her reaction. After Vanaheim, could anyone really blame her for worrying that a very sharp and pointy object would be thrust under her chin again? No, she thought not.

Jane found herself breathing heavily, her body feeling weighed down. She slumped to the ground, trying to catch her breath, unsuccessfully.

Thor was kneeling by her side then, a hand on her shoulder. "What is it?"

Jane shook her head, struggling for the energy it took to speak. "Hard to.." She breathed, forcing her words as quickly as she could. "..breathe.. Feel like I.. ran for miles.."

Thor squeezed her shoulder lightly. "Father told me of the effects the Bifrost has on Midgardians, that it will exhaust your body but will eventually become used to it's travel. You need simply rest and you will feel yourself once more."

Jane nodded minutely, so tired she could curl in on herself and sleep for ages, her eyelids, slowly growing heavier.

"Can you travel? We are not far from-" Thor's lips were still moving, but she couldn't hear him very well. His voice sounded as it were muffled and far away. Thor stood, holding his hand out to her.

With trembling hand, she took his and found him pulling her to stand, only to find that the world had tipped strangely, still moving forward and past Thor's shoulder.

The next thing she knew, she was staring at a leaf covered earth and a pair of brown leather clad legs wearing a pair of trousers a lot like hers. Slightly puzzled, she lifted her head, only to find it spinning once more. She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to fight off the nausea when she was suddenly moved. Something was moving her arms strangely and a weight from her back was removed. She struggled to keep her nausea in check.

Somehow she kept herself from losing all the food in her stomach and found herself in Thor's arms, held against his barrel like chest, her pack slung over his shoulder. The soft swaying motion he caused in her as he walked was comforting and she felt herself being lulled.

She forced her eyes open. No, she couldn't sleep now. She had to find Loki, they had to keep moving. She tried to use anything to keep her awake. Her eyes roamed almost unseeing over her surroundings. It looked like another forest, but not a tame forest like the one on Vanaheim. No this one was feral, shadowed with patches of sun shining through the enormous trees. It looked like a fantasy. Vines hung from above, linking from tree to tree before falling through the air.

Jane thought she was beginning to hallucinate. It almost looked like there were stairs running up the trees and at the end of the stairs were intricately carved planks.

She blinked a few times, finding it harder to keep her eyes open the more she did so, so she tried to stop, unsuccessfully.

There was darkness and that relaxing lulling motion Thor created, accompanied by the sound of heavy foot falls on wood. Even the sound of knocking.

It wasn't until she heard another voice that she realized that she had drifted off. Ripping her eyes open, she found herself in a different setting. Wooden walls surrounded her, vines and carved swirls decorated them and the ceiling looked like it had some kind of netting on it, holding lush leaves of all different colors, even some colors she had never seen on a tree before. It looked as if there were tree limbs growing from inside the house, but that couldn't be right.

The voice spoke again, distant and hollow to her ears. She glimpsed someone for a moment before it turned, gesturing. The lulling motions started again as it lead them further into the house.

Jane tried to find the strength to speak, find the strength to make Thor realize that they couldn't stop. She just needed a few minutes and then she would be fine. They had to keep moving. They had to find Loki, now.

But nothing she wanted to convey could be voiced, even as Thor looked down at her. He had laid her on a bed of furs. His lips were moving, and a deep voice buzzed, unable to be understood. She tried to shake her head, tried to tell him with her eyes that they couldn't stop, to no avail.

Someone stood over his shoulder, speaking to Thor. She could have sworn she heard the phrase 'protected here' but she wasn't sure. She tried to focus on the stranger, but her eyes refused to adjust.

The person was all a blur of olive, caramel and pale wisps, strangely. She couldn't make her brain function. Everything seemed jumbled, seemed wrong.

After too long of a delay, Jane noticed that Thor had placed a hand on her head, moving close.

'Sleep.' Is that what he was saying? She tried to shake her head, to say no, but again had no strength to do so.

The figure behind Thor stepped around him and Thor stepped back. The stranger lifted a hand to her, and she was gone.


Thor sighed heavily, too much responsibility bore down his shoulders.

"She will be fine, Thor."

Thor looked to the man. He had hoped Jane's mortal body could have sustained at least one more trip through the Bifrost, but apparently not. "I know this and I thank you for what you have done, Keir. She would never have slept. She cannot find it in her to abandon my brother for even a moment, even for herself."

Keir smiled. "A ferocious one, is she?"

Thor scrubbed his hand over his face. "You've no idea." Thor took a deep breath before releasing it slowly. "I must continue in our search. I thank you for your aid and generosity."

Keir shook his head. "Think nothing of it. I could not very well turn away the brother of one of my closest friends and his woman. I will look after her, go do what must be done."

Thor nodded, turning on his heel and leaving Keir's home, never noticing the gleam in the elven man's eyes.


He was dreaming, dreaming of his memories. He knew they were, he knew he shouldn't be dreaming of her. That it would only give them more to use against him, but he couldn't bring himself to let the dreams go.

Loki had made a new discovery, which led them to where they were now.

Jane sat beside Loki on her couch that had been situated to face the 'tv'. Jane had shown Loki the tv out of boredom but he found himself intrigued with the device. She showed him how to turn it on, flip between channels and raise and lower the volume and that was all it took. Loki now sat fiddling with the tv's remote, switching from channel to channel. He was captivated by the magic inside of the box, but was too proud to openly show it.

"Can I ask you something, Loki?" Jane spoke suddenly, pulling Loki's attention from the moving pictures.

His gaze turned from the tv, a playful smirk on his face. "Ask? Yes, though whether I give an answer? We will see."

Jane rolled her eyes, but was unable to stop her smile. "Fine. All I wanted to ask was why your eyes keep changing color. One second they are almost ocean green and then for a moment, I swear they are slate blue. Am I just seeing things or is it the light or-"

"Actually," Loki cut in as he knew she was beginning to ramble. "you are correct. From my understanding my eyes do change, though few know of it. It is a certain.." Loki grimaced. "-weakness of mine."

"Weakness? How could that be a weakness?"

"Because in battle it could be the one tell that a foe, if they know of it, could use against me."

"How exactly?" Jane questioned.

Loki sighed and settled himself more comfortably on the couch. "My mother was the first and only one to notice this. She told me at a young age, when my magic had matured enough to be learned, that while I am utilizing my magic, my eye's color melt to what you called 'ocean green'. The natural color of my eyes is indeed 'slate blue'. All mages have one tell that would show whether or not they are using their magic, mine just happens to be my eyes."

Jane pondered that for a moment, brows furrowed in thought. "But, that would be simple to hide, just use magic all the time."

Loki shook his head as he spoke. "Not quite. A temporary fix, yes, but there is a limited supply of magic in one's body. Exhaust that reserve and they would find themselves aching, hungry and in desperate need of recuperation. And if the battle could go for an unseen amount of time, then uselessly wasting one's magic could prove fatal."

"I see. That could be really bad."

"Yes. I am quite fortunate to have my eyes be my only tell, and very little difference in color at that."

Jane's lips parted, ready to speak once more, but the dream slipped from Loki's mind, a new picture began to paint itself. One he treasured yet did never fully understand.

Loki was walking down the empty streets of Midgard, his fingers interlaced with Jane's, the woman of his heart. He was dressed in Midgardian clothes, a habit Jane had him form while he was in her company. He couldn't say that he minded much, it was a nice reprieve from his leather and armor though he did feel slightly vulnerable and unprotected.

He wore a pair of faded jeans that hung low on his hips, combated with black leather boots. He wore a white collared, button up shirt with the top two buttons undone. The cuffs of the long sleeves were rolled up his forearm. Somehow he managed not to feel overheated in the Puente Antiguo heat without his magic, though how he didn't know.

Jane squeezed his hand with her own. Once his eyes found her, he couldn't pull them away.

Jane walked leisurely by his side, gesturing with her free hand as she spoke. He had asked her about her work, though to him it seemed a primitive thing, but he tried to understand their technology and machines, if only for her.

Jane slowed to a stop, her eyes searching his face. "You're doing it again."

Loki smiled as he stopped with her. "And what, my dear Jane, am I doing?" He pulled her left hand to his lips and kissed it, over the vein that ran closest to her heart, feeling his magic meld into her flesh.

"Staring at me with that look you get when you're lost in thought." She turned to stand before him. "What is it?"

Loki couldn't stop the fluttering in his chest. Only she could do that to him. Only she looked carefully enough to really know him, other than his mother, and he could do nothing but love her for it. Yes, he loved her. He had known he did for some time now. He kindled the flame, let it grow and grow inside him until he felt he would burst with the emotion, an emotion he thought he would never truly feel.

The words flowed from his lips, unbidden. "I love you."

Her eyes widen. He had never spoken the words aloud, though he hoped she knew that he did even if he hadn't said it.

He leaned down, his lips brushing gently against hers. She responded instantly, lifting herself to meet his height, pressing up into his kiss. Her arms came around his shoulders, pulling him closer.

His hands snaked around her waist, and that was how his short but sweet kiss that was planned came to be more.

His tongue prodded her soft lips, which she opened for him. Their tongues stroked, licked and caressed one another, becoming a game that they both loved to play, a game of dominance. He nipped her bottom lip, causing her breath to hitch, before smoothing his tongue over the sting. Her answer was to nip his tongue and hold it between her teeth, looking up at him with playful eyes.

Loki couldn't help the smile that formed before pressing his lips over hers, one hand moving to cradle the back of her head. She released his tongue, returning his kiss. Her arms untangled from his neck only to be replaced by her hands. Her delicate fingers ghosted over the flesh of his throat and moved up, her hands cupping his face, fingers caressing his suddenly burning skin. He broke their kiss, taking much needed air into his lungs.

"I know." She replied, her heavy breaths mingling with his. She smoothed her fingers over the features of his face, over his eyebrows, across his closed eyelids, following the curve of his cheekbones and nose to his thin lips. Her eyes traced after her hands before coming back up to meet his eyes.

"I love you too, Loki." She whispered.

His breath caught in his throat. Never in his wildest dreams had those three words sounded as beautiful as when she spoke them.

Loki pulled her closer, crushing her small frame against him as he captured her lips in a hard kiss. All the love in his heart, all the love in his soul was held in that kiss, and her answering kiss held the same sentiment. Her fingers ran through his slicked back hair, disheveling it, before curling in the locks behind his neck. He tried to suppress a groan at the feeling. Opening his eyes he took in the look on her face. It was pure innocence if he had ever seen it.

Her long lashes fluttered open, her eyes holding his as she tipped her head for better access to his mouth. Innocence? No, she was pure seduction.

He suddenly felt a pang of something unknown through his chest. He broke their kiss abruptly, pulling her head to his chest, hiding her from anyone's sight.

"What is it?" Jane questioned, pulling her arms from around his neck to press against his chest with her fingers splayed over his shirt, trying to look up at him. He didn't respond.

His eyes scanned the street, the windows, the doors, but there was no one. His mind revolted at the thought of someone seeing her like this. Instantly he magicked himself and Jane back to the lab, specifically, the closed off office made into a living room.

Once inside, with a flick of his hand, the door locked, along with the windows, whose drapes fell closed.

"Loki?" Jane spoke, finally able to raise her head from the protection of his chest.

Loki's ocean green eyes met hers of amber, and suddenly the flimsy Midgardian lock and drapes felt insufficient. With a growl, he quickly placed his own safeguards around the establishment and then, on impulse, more around the room.

Jane's hands were on the sides of his face, bringing his gaze to hers once more. "What. Is. Wrong?" She spoke slowly, over pronouncing her words.

He opened his mouth to reply, but came up short. Why had he done all this? Yes, he didn't want anyone to see Jane looking as she did. But- this?

"Protection." He found himself saying.

"Protection from what?"

Loki's eyes moved to the blinded windows, he still felt that she was too vulnerable, too visible.

"Too many eyes." He growled before he lifted her off her feet. She squeaked her surprise as he moved her to the one place in the room that was not visible from the windows. In that particular corner was housed a couch.

Loki moved Jane to the corner of the couch, using his own body to block any possible view from the damned windows.

"Loki." Jane spoke softly, slowly. "There are no eyes. No one is here. It's okay. It's safe here." She coaxed, her hands moving over his chest, around his back, trying to comfort him.

Even as his eyes roamed over the room, his mind tried to understand the reasons for this feeling. Why he felt it was so abhorrent for anyone to look at Jane. He couldn't understand why, he'd never felt like this before.

"Loki, look at me." Jane coaxed. He couldn't, he felt like if he looked away from the room that a million eyes would see her, would lust after her.

"Please," She whispered, her fingers knotting in the fabric of his shirt. "look at me."

Slowly, and with many attempts, he ripped his eyes from the room, turning his gaze back to her.

"We're safe." She whispered through swollen lips, swollen from his kisses. Something inside him purred at that thought. "We're okay."

Her large amber eyes stared straight through him, through his very being, fanning the unbearable burning he felt throughout his body.

Her tongue moved to wet her lips, automatically catching his attention, and he found himself doing the same, wishing he could taste her again. Her eyes seemed to heat, trailing after the movement. She lifted herself a fraction closer and Loki closed the distance.

Their lips met, and this time Jane was submissive under his assault. His tongue slicked past her lips, tasting her sweetness. His hands moved over her small form, down her neck, over her shoulders and arms, to her hips, before he pulled her flush against him. Her arms circled his neck, fingers buried in the curls at the nape of his neck.

He needed her, in the most primal of ways. His fingers smoothed under her shirt, breaking his invasion of her mouth to pull it over her head before abruptly taking her lips again. He touched her, caressed her, committing every minute detail to memory, but it just wasn't enough. Some damned piece of fabric blocked his way to her ample breasts.

He growled low in his throat as he tried to feel for a way to remove it. Jane giggled into his mouth, placing her hand over his, guiding it around her back and directed his fingers to pinch the fabric, causing it to go slack. He removed the straps from her shoulders, tossing the thin material to the floor. He released her mouth, trailing licks, nips and open mouthed kisses down her slim throat, over her collar bone and to the swell of her breasts. His gaze turned to hers, looking up into those lustful eyes of hers as he flicked his tongue over the swell of creamy flesh. He felt her jolt of pleasure at the caress, a soft intake of breath.

"Loki.." She breathed.

He took one erect peak into his mouth, lightly grazing his teeth over the sensitive flesh while he played and pulled with her right nipple with his fingers. She arched into him, urging him closer. Never in all his years had Loki felt such pleasure in the act of pleasing another. His jeans were becoming more and more restraining, painfully so, but he couldn't bring himself to stop his ministrations long enough to remove them.

Loki nipped his way to Jane's right hardened nipple as his hands skimmed down her sides, over the flat expanse of her stomach and to the fastenings of her jeans. He undid them quickly, pulling them free of her legs, leaving her naked of all but her underwear.

He leaned back, pulling a whimper of protest from Jane. He took in the sight of her, her ample curves, her flushed skin, the slight trembling in her frame from the continuous tension of her body. She was gorgeous like this, perfect. Too perfect.

With a glare sent to the prying eyes he felt at his back, he moved closer, covering her with his larger frame, another growl coming from low in his chest.

Jane's head was tucked between his neck and shoulders, her arms kept by his chest and her legs hidden behind his own. With his attention so strongly held on the room, he forgot what was to happen next.

Jane's hands began to move over him, smoothing down his chest and unbuttoning his shirt. Her sinful little mouth, hot and oh so soft, plagued his jaw line, his earlobe and throat. Loki found himself gritting his teeth, a soft hissing sound escaping, which she answered with a soft, breathy moan against his skin.

His shirt was pushed over his shoulders, down his back and thrown to the floor with her discarded clothing, but she didn't stop. As her mouth tortured him, she undid his jeans, shoving them from his hips as he lifted himself enough to allow her to do so. He did not wear Midgardian undergarments, it was unnecessary on Asgard, and it was unnecessary here.

Loki kicked the pants to the floor and found Jane looking over him with hooded eyes. "Good god.." She panted, pulling a smile to his lips.

He took her in his arms, pulling her close to his chest, still lost about the ever watchful eyes. He pressed his lips to hers to devour her hungrily. She arched into him, his throbbing member pressed to her abdomen. He bared his teeth for a fraction of a moment, a groan pulled from him before he took her mouth again.

Jane writhed against him, a delicious friction heating his skin to an unbearable heat. He needed her. Now.

He broke their kiss, hands trailing to her legs opening them wide to allow him the access he so desperately needed. Positioning himself before her, he felt her tense as she balled her hands into fists, taking in a sharp breath.

She was obviously struggling to say something, suddenly his raging desire subsided a fraction. He bent his head to brush a soft kiss over her lips.

"What is it, my Jane? If you do not speak it I will not know." She didn't speak.

"Jane."

Jane looked up at him through her lashes. "I-" She swallowed thickly.

He remembered this moment; this was the closest he had come to claiming Jane as his own. He knew what she would say next. Her nerves would get the better of her, his strange possessive reactions frighten her. She meant to distract him, calm him, not take it that far. And truthfully, he was glad that he did not bed her that night. Whatever ailed him did not feel.. right. It felt natural, but alien to him, and he did not know why.

Jane's eyes moved over his face with urgency, as if she were trying to memorize his every feature, every minute detail. Slowly, her trembling hands rose to his face, feather soft fingers caressing over his skin.

"I'm sorry." She breathed, a soft sob escaping as tears trailed down her face. Her arms flew around his neck, circling him and pulling him close, her hold as tight as she could manage.

Shock took over him. This wasn't right; this wasn't how the memory had gone. Loki tried to pull back to look at her, but she would not release him as she sobbed uncontrollably.

"Lok-" She choked, a strange guttural sound that was ripped from her throat, silencing her.

Loki's brow furrowed, finally using his superior strength, he forced her back from him, looking into those soft amber eyes and he understood.

This can't be possible... She was here.. His Jane... was here.

To be continued...

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Merry Early Christmas or Happy Holidays or whatever you prefer! I hope you guys have a great holiday with lots of family and gifts and love to fill up this months and coming New Year! Consider this a present and more to come soon hopefully.

With this chapter it kind of bugged me, but it makes sense in my head, how Loki used (or thought) the terms shirt, pants, ect. In the memories he's obviously been with Jane long enough to be put in Midgardian clothing and know what they are called. I don't know. It just feels weird to have him adapting to our time. lol I'm weird.

And yes, the memory came out a bit animalistic, and I'm sure a lot of people are going to understand what was going on with Loki, but I had to include it. Jane was accommodating what Loki needed, trying to ease whatever it was that plagued him. If it seems OOC, get over it, it fits.