Loki led Jane up to his flat at the top of his building on Central Park West.
They hadn't talked much, Jane too amazed that she was friends with someone who lived in such an expensive building.
He opened the door for her, and she walked in.
Light flooded her vision. The windows were enormous. She walked in, and took in the atmosphere.
It was, she observed, a bit much. There were a pair of white marble columns to her right, they stood on either side of bookshelves. The furniture was quite lush, pale green in color, and heavy dark wood furniture was to be found stationed among the sofas (there were two) and an obscene chaise lounge.
The floors were practically mirrors, they were so sheen…
Jane walked over to the bank of windows, her footfalls loud on the floors, and the sound all the more noticeable with the high ceilings and rather sparse furniture, and looked out.
Gorgeous.
"Wow, Loki. This is something."
"Would you care for some refreshment?" he was certainly out of habit in the entertaining area, but he thought that it was the thing to do…
"What do you have?" and Jane followed him into the kitchen.
Wow.
Wolf appliances.
Granite countertops.
Deep, dark cabinets.
Though everything else was remarkably bright.
"How much does this place run you a month?" and Jane slid her fingertips along the counter.
"Ah…I cannot recall," and Loki looked into the fridge. "Let's see…I have…water….I can make tea…I do have some wine."
"Is it empty? Completely?" Jane was behind him, peering into refrigerator.
He didn't want to explain that he employed magic to summon food (it required but little effort, so he used it occasionally), or that he seldom required such nourishment.
"I enjoy eating out," and he went to the pantry where he stowed his wine.
"Can't you cook?"
"I can, but only when pressed. Red or white?" he felt like she was hovering over him, and he was left feeling uneasy.
"Red, please," Jane went into the sitting room, and settled into the sofa. Jesus. She sunk half a foot. "We should cook together sometime."
Loki handed her a glass and sat on the chaise.
"This place is very bright…I rather thought it'd be darker…"
"Why is that?" and he sipped.
"Dunno…you seem the dark type…and no artwork to speak of."
"I am no such thing. And I have some art, I just haven't had the inclination to set it out."
Jane nodded. "Why are you in New York? Where are you from originally?" She had wondered why she never thought to ask these things before; they always talked easily, and now he seemed tense, so she thought she'd ask.
Wrong thing to do.
His face hardened a touch. "North. And I told you, I had a falling out with my parents."
"You moved out just before I met you?"
"More or less."
Jane nodded. "North…like, Canada? Aren't you from England?"
"Originally, yes…" fix this quickly… "We moved to Maine when I completed university."
"Oh," and Jane spotted "American Gods" on the coffee table. "Hey! Did you like "The Ocean at the End of the Lane," then? You got another of Neil Gaiman's books."
"I did…it was unlike most literature I am familiar with, though this one," and he looked at the volume. "Is much more to my liking," he took another sip.
"I loved it. The ending, not so much. But he is great," and Jane finished her wine. "So…why don't you want to go out with Darcy? She's really pretty, kinda funny…"
Loki sighed. He disliked this topic. "Jane…I honestly do not want to date your friends."
"Why?"
"Because…I have no desire to enter into a relationship at present, and if I merely had an evening with her, you'd resent me, and I would rather not jeopardize our friendship."
That was sweet. And honest. "Ok…it's just that I like her, I like you, and you're both unattached…"
"Matchmaking is an unattractive enterprise."
"How?"
"It's a meddling muck of dubious motives."
Jane looked at him a moment.
Loki got up to procure more wine. "We should eat soon…it's nearly dinner time," he said, reentering the sitting room.
"How did you do that?" and she took the glass.
"Do what?"
Jane sipped. "A meddling muck of dubious motives? All that stuff last night at the club? Are you a writer or something?"
"No," was his abbreviate reply.
"Ok…but it sure sounds like you are."
Loki laughed. "Are you hungry?"
"Where's your artwork?"
"I can show you…but I don't think that it'll be terribly appetizing."
Jane laughed. "I want to see it."
Loki sighed and stood, put his glass down.
He led her down a wide hallway, passing a few doors along the way.
"How many bedrooms do you have?" Jane asked with a hint of awe.
"Ah…" he paused. "Four?"
"Don't you even know?"
"I'm only ever in one of them."
"But…but…"
And at the end of the hall stood a door.
Loki opened it and walked inside.
There was a bay window opposite them, and the place was much more messy than the rest of the apartment, though that wasn't really saying much.
Charcoal drawings were spread out on a table.
They were haunting, surreal…they looked like a fairy land…but dark… much, much more dark.
A castle.
A sea with a tall bridge connecting the land and a strange looking structure that resembled a really, really big football helmet.
The cosmos.
At this, Jane stopped and gazed upon it.
"Oh wow," she whispered.
"You like it?" Loki asked next to her.
"I love the stars…my job at Stark is temporary…one day, I'll work for NASA or something…and I'll study the stars in the desert."
"You love the stars…" Loki repeated, and he looked at Jane as she admired the drawing. He thought it serendipitous that she was the one he had sought out…she longed to study his home.
No.
Not his home.
Not any longer.
"Joe liked the stars…" she whispered. "But in a strange way."
"How so?" he leaned against the table to look her in the face.
"I can't explain it…he was selfish about them…about all things which inspire wonder…" Jane shook her head an shrugged.
She gently touched the star picture…some were more obscure than others…but the shading was nearly perfect, for even though there were only three colors to speak of, there appeared to be so much more…"They are lovely, Loki. I cannot understand why they aren't on your walls."
"Well," and he looked at the art. "I suppose I linger long in selfish pursuits…I think that it would be narcissistic in the extreme to hang my own drawings on my walls."
"Your drawings…" of course…and Jane looked around. It was a studio. How stupid she was! "You made these…" she smiled. "My god, Loki. Sell them!"
"Absolutely not. I am no prostitute."
"You're a prostitute for selling your beautiful drawings?"
"Indeed, yes…"
"You are so weird. People would pay money for these…" Jane looked once more. Yes. She knew that people would. Maybe not tons of money, but then, he certainly didn't need tons of money.
Loki stood and handed her the star drawing. "Here. If you like it, you may have it."
"Seriously?"
"Absolutely."
"Wow, thanks Loki…" and she took the drawing, and kissed his cheek.
He cleared his throat. "So…food…" and he set to leave the room.
"Actually, I'm not hungry…I should probably get going…" and Jane took the drawing with her.
"Oh…well, in that case, allow me to roll it for you…it's been treated, so it won't smudge."
Loki left to roll the paper.
Jane stood by the door.
She felt odd.
She felt closed in all of a sudden, and she really wanted to leave.
He returned with the picture. "I'll…"
"I'll text you tomorrow…thanks, Loki. You're place is lovely," and she left.
Loki stood there for a moment.
She had been very abrupt in her departure.
Their conversation had been different…not as playful….
What had changed?
He went through what had happened in the past 24 hours…
He sat down.
It must have been at the club…when he sent that ridiculous date of hers away.
Could she perhaps, have enjoyed that a bit too much?
And why did he feel uneasy at the prospect of her reacting thus?
He should ascertain what was bothering her. It wouldn't do to have her pulling away.
Did you make it home safely?
-Loki
Why was he texting her? She told him that she would do that tomorrow.
Oh, yes. But just barely…traffic can be so fatal.
-Jane
Ah…she's being her usual playful self once more.
Excellent.
I would hate to have someone administer life-saving techniques on you without me present…
-L
Jane giggled.
What a incorrigible flirt.
I need to go…I'll talk to you later.
Jane
Loki put the phone away and thought about going out, then thought not. No…he needn't engage in such frivolity tonight.
He picked up the book and began to read.
And Jane unwrapped her drawing and stared at it.
It was beautiful.
"That thing is hella creepy, Jane."
"It isn't! It's beautiful."
Darcy was looking at Loki's charcoal drawing.
Jane had it framed the very next day, and it was hanging in her sitting room, but she was toying with the idea of moving it.
"It's like, really, really, creepy. And you wanted to fix me up with that guy?"
"Oh my god, Darcy. It's not creepy. It's beautiful. It's haunting, it's…"
"The first indication of a psycho."
"What is?"
"Creepy charcoal drawings."
Jane laughed. "That's your opinion…but I think I'm gonna move it."
"To the dumpster?"
"No. God you're rude."
"What is with you two, anyway? And how come I haven't met him yet?"
"I…" Jane thought about that. Why hadn't her two best friends met yet?
Yes, Loki was one of her best friends…she'd be lying if she thought otherwise.
"Um…I dunno…maybe we could all go out and have a drink this weekend," Jane suggested.
"Yes, let's do that. I really need to see the two of you together."
"Why?"
"Because…it's weird, Jane. Here's this guy, you two spend tons of time together, you've said he was cute…he's like crazy smart, unimaginably rich, he makes you laugh, and he gave you a fucking drawing he fucking drew. Why the two of you aren't married already I have no idea," she paused in her diatribe. "And if you say it has anything to do with Joe I swear to god I'll punch you in the face."
Jane laughed, but she was a bit uncomfortable. Everything Darcy had just said was true. "I'm not interested."
"And what if he told you he had fallen madly in love with someone and they were gonna get married?"
"I don't understand your question."
"What would you say to him?"
"Congratulations?"
"No…how would you feel about it?"
"I…" and Jane paused. "I guess…" and she hesitated. "I dunno…" and she didn't know.
Part of her thought she would be elated at the thought of Loki settling down, finding someone to reign him in a bit.
Part of her thought that she'd throw up at the thought.
But she couldn't decide if she would throw up because she couldn't imagine anyone taking on that daunting task.
Or if she would be sick because that person wasn't her.
And Loki stretched as laid out on his bed…
He felt his arousal stir, and he sighed…he loathed having to take care of this himself.
He closed his eyes, and began to see to it, slowly at first…
She was buxom and had full lips…they fitted so nicely around his erection…he sighed as she made her way over it…
And then she was on top of him…her warmth taut and her movement quick…
Loki flipped her over and settled between her legs…he slipped inside of her…and when he reared up, she had changed her appearance.
Petite.
Chestnut hair.
Olive, but fair skin.
Round, sepia eyes…
Jane.
He was startled out of his masturbation…he couldn't finish.
Damn.
He had thought that he was past this…
Evidently, he had been mistaken.
