Night Sky

Pairing: Loki/Jane; mentioning of Thor/Jane

Rating: M

Description: OH MY GOSH; JUST GOT MY FIRST REVIEW ON HERE AND IT CAME WITH A REQUEST! EEE! Thank you so very much, IWouldHaveFoundYou, for taking the time to both review and follow this story. The next two chapters will contain IWouldHaveFoundYou's request and then I'll be back to the present.)

(Request: could I ask for some flashback of when Loki meet Jane, how they felt in love, their first kiss, first time...that would be great seeing that. These two chapters are dedicated to you! :) )

Chapter 10

"Are you truly certain this is a good idea, Thor? While she and I have held polite conversation during her visits to Asgard and I've enjoyed her ability to keep up with me in dozens of topics, I cannot fathom why the Allfather wanted me to spend time with Jane Foster." Loki stared anxiously at the Bi-Frost; the fingers of his left hand fidgeting with his right palm. While he truly did admire the astrophysicist and was willing to admit that he had a crush on her during the first meeting when Thor had brought her, the idea of 'spending time with the Lady Jane to help you appreciate her unique charms' as the Allfather put it last night during dinner was something he was not expecting. Even after everyone had either retired or gone off to their own activities, Loki was visited by his mother. The elegant, well loved Queen of Asgard had spent nearly an hour discussing Jane's various likes and hobbies; her love of constellations and the 'delightful way she spends hours upon hours toiling over her various projects' as his mother put it. She even had gone as far as to bring up how beautiful Jane was; the way her eyes gleamed as she was caught up in an argument about anything to do with science and its various methods.

Allowing himself a slight exhale, Loki had to admit that with everything that his mother had brought up in her topic of Jane Foster, nearly all of it reminded him of himself. His need to understand everything that came his way; the way he tirelessly worked to accomplish his goals. As he stood next to Thor who had remained silent, Loki knew he needed to admit that all of what his mother had mentioned about Jane were things he found pleasing. What he felt his mother had left out was the way Jane smiled when she figured out a tough equation or the way she felt in his arms the night she and Thor had ended their relationship.

The night began to replay itself in his head as he was allowed to remain silent for the time being. Angry words that echoed from the great hall had greeted Loki as he had been in the process of walking from the throne room to his room to rest from a long, frustrating discussion with Odin. Following the sounds coming from the familiar footsteps of his brother, Loki reached the large room only to pause as he found his brother on the floor; the typically smiling blonde letting out an angry sob as he lay on his back. The continuation of emotion filled words was going to be the reason he moved forward before the sight of their mother rushing from the stairs that led to her room. Watching from a nearby pillar, Loki witnessed their mother dropping to her knees beside her son; she trying to convince him to sit up while asking him what had happened and where was Jane. The sound of Jane's name was, apparently, a bad choice on their mother's part as Thor rolled away from her.

"I left her, Mother. I left her when she needed me the most. Her mother's birthday is today and instead of going with her to the grave, I demanded she come with me to Asgard instead of allowing her to go with Darcy." He whimpered; anger at himself for his clumsy ways and anguish for hurting Jane. "I lost her, Mother. She hates me now."

No longer wanting to hear the rest of Thor's poor choice, Loki transported himself to the Bi-Frost and requested to be sent to Jane's home in London. Once the gatekeeper had approved his request, Loki allowed the Bi-Frost to drop him off a mile from her home. The cool, spring air that greeted him as he landed eased the anxiety and worry for Jane quickening his pace. The thought of his friend being alone during one of the hardest parts of her life only to be left by the supposed man she loved infuriated Loki immensely. If his mother hadn't decided to check on Thor, he knew he would have found a way to inflict bodily harm on his idiot brother. Angrily walking past large crowds of people who stared curiously at the man who looked as if he had just left the set of a medieval television show, the sight of Jane's apartment greeted him; his knowledge of where the building was located having been revealed to him during one of Jane's visits as she walked with him past one of the many gardens in Asgard. Stepping lightly past an elderly couple, Loki made his way up the steps of Jane's apartment building. Once he reached the door, he reached for the knob and tried to open it before frowning as the lock designed to keep unwanted visitors out prevented the God. Annoyance from learning that Jane was currently alone and in pain from Thor as well as being unable to be allowed entrance into the building filled Loki as he looked up at the building. Taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly, he closed his eyes and used his magic to locate Jane. His eyelids snapped open as he felt not only her presence, but the sheer agony that was filling her. Casting a look around so he wouldn't be noticed performing a non-verbal spell that would allow him to vanish and reappear in her apartment, Loki was grateful when the coast was clear. Closing his eyes once more, he again focused on Jane's room and wordlessly transported himself into her apartment.

Staring at her reflection in the mirror before bowing her head to gather water from the running faucet and splash the warm water along her soap covered cheeks, Jane busied herself with rinsing the suds from her face. Once she could no longer feel soapy bubbles on her skin, she turned the faucet off and grabbed at a nearby towel; the comfortable terry cloth brushing along her face as she patted it dry. Hanging the towel on the hook next to the off white porcelain sink, Jane again caught herself staring at her reflection; a pained smile forming on her features as the sight of her puffy eyelids drew her attention. Of all the days for a break up to occur; the God of Thunder had chosen to pick today. Today marked her mother's 54th birthday; a day that was usually celebrated by her going to the cemetery to place a bouquet of forget-me-nots and lily of the valley on the grave before having dinner with Erik. Given that he was, unfortunately, called away to assist S.H.I.E.L.D. with a project, Jane had originally planned to go with Thor who had agreed to go when she brought up the significance of the day last week. But, she would find herself in a predicament that had been a similar theme for the past two months: he was either too busy with assisting The Avengers, was needed in Asgard, or had simply forgotten. The first few times had been easily forgiven as she understood the demands of The Avengers from spending time with Tony Stark and Bruce Banner who had told her of Nick Fury; someone who could match Odin if there was ever a competition for demanding too much from people. But, after having to listen to Thor spend the entirety of the date that had been meant to celebrate their first year anniversary as a couple talking about the Warriors Three and how he would rather have spent the day with his closest friends, Jane had begun to wonder if their relationship was on its way out. It didn't help that Thor was getting upset with her feeling uncomfortable with being intimate with him; he grumbling and leaving before she could explain herself. Her reason for feeling uncomfortable about being intimate with him had more to do with the fact that she could only imagine the women on Asgard who had been able to satisfy him sexually. The fact that he would talk continuously about Sif made her feel as if he was trying to make her jealous. While it never did, she found that she was starting to lose attraction for the God of Thunder. So, after feeling like he was going to bail on her again, Jane had asked Darcy if she was willing to go. Almost immediately after sending Darcy the text, she had received a phone call from the dark haired intern who promised her that she would be there ASAP.

Allowing herself a faint smile at Darcy's kind heart, Jane began to once more feel regret for having to tell Darcy that she wanted to be alone; that she was planning on visiting the cemetery tomorrow instead. Grateful that technology had not advanced to the point of ones' emotions being correctly intrepretated through words on a screen, Jane had wished Darcy a great night and had opted for turning off her phone for night; not wanting to be disturbed. Taking a deep breath with plans of making a cup of tea and going off to bed, Jane opened the bathroom door and stepped out; her eyes staring down at the pair of socks that had been a gift from Erik. Due to her downward gaze as well as her decidedly occupied thoughts, she was caught unaware as she found herself staring down at a pair of pitch black boots. Frowning at them curiously, she followed shoes up to a pair of legs that were covered in equally black pants. Thinking momentarily that Thor had come back, her eyelids widened in surprise as she raised her head to take in the sight of his brother, Loki. "How did you get in here?"

"Magic, my dear Jane," he murmured with a faint smirk while taking in the woman standing before him. His heart squeezed tightly at the sight of her swollen eyelids; the thought she had been left alone to cry at a time like this making him long to return to Asgard only to kick Thor soundly. This woman, this amazingly brilliant mortal did not deserve his idiot brother's lack of consideration. "I came here because I wanted to check up on you."

"Check up on me?", it was her heart's turn to squeeze as the dark haired Prince who had managed to become her friend during the handful of times she spent on Asgard standing in front of her worrying about her. With the stories Thor had told her about Loki, the two of them had been thoroughly surprised when Loki took an immediate interest in her. Thor had made it seem as if Loki had such disdain in humanity as a whole and yet as Jane watched Loki stare down at her worriedly, she began to wonder if any of what Thor had said about his brother was true. "You didn't have to come all this way, Loki, but I'm glad you're here. Would you like something to drink? I was going to go make some tea."

"Let me, Jane. Sit down, all right?", he demanded gently as he grasped onto her left arm and tugged her gently to a nearby sofa before nudging her gently onto the soft cushions.

"Do you even know how to make tea, Loki?", she asked; watching him curiously as he made his way to her pocket sized kitchen.

"My dear Ms. Foster, you should know by now that I'm a man of many considerable talents. Plus, you did once tell me how to use your gas stove when you last visited us in Asgard." He murmured while retrieving the silver kettle from on top of the stove top to fill it with water.

"Ah," Jane murmured while watching Loki occupy her kitchen; the sight of her tall friend standing in her apartment alone was something that surprised her immensely. But, as she continued to watch him light the gas stove while placing the full kettle on top, she began to recall when he had questioned her relentlessly about her apartment here in London; his curiosity surprising yet endearing. Seeing him in the kitchen almost felt right, Jane thought; as if he belonged. "Well, I'm glad you're here."

Her last comment caused Loki to pause as he reached for two mugs that he had spotted on his way to the kitchen. Gulping faintly while being grateful Jane was unable to have heard his heart skip a beat, "You are?," he managed to get out as soon as his heart started its working once more.

"Mm; yeah. While I had told Darcy I wanted to be alone tonight, a part of me started wishing I wasn't. Then you showed up." She emitted a faint chuckle. "Must be fate's doing, huh?"

"Must be," he murmured before sneakily looking over his shoulder at the young woman sitting on the couch behind him. Would he ever have the courage to tell her that she was starting to have a place in both his day and night dreams; thoughts of their previous conversations replaying themselves in his head as well as the moments when he found himself watching her staring out at Asgard and wondered what her lips tasted like or what the inside of her wrists tasted like? It couldn't be love, he had concluded, last night when he stared at the book on Midgardian constellations that she had brought him during her last visit. There was no way he wanted Jane Foster to look at him like he was a book on constellations, right? Then why, he asked himself, did he come all this way to check up on her; something that he had only done for his mother. Love, his mind all but screamed at him. The God of Mischief was in love with Jane Foster. The whistle that meant the water in the kettle was hot and ready to go caused Loki to jerk and nearly drop a mug to the floor. Grimacing at the trail of his thoughts; the fact that he was having this particular moment in his head on the same day his brother and Jane had ended their relationship was decidedly absurd and inappropriate. Grabbing for the screaming kettle with one hand while turning off the gas with the other, Loki forced himself to steady lest he wanted to have hot water all over his shoes. While still holding onto the kettle, he used his free hand to grab the cups before making his way over to the couch. Noticing, however, that the end table that was in need of was situated on behind the couch, Loki focused on the table with his magic and convinced it to move in front of Jane. "Better," he murmured before setting the kettle and cups onto the aforementioned table. "Ah; the sugar," he said while turning around to collect the pale green sugar bowl and a spoon. Making his way back to Jane, the dark haired Prince proceeded to make the tea just as she had once did on Asgard; a spoonful and half of sugar slipping into the empty mug before he dropped the lemon ginger tea bag into the cup and added water carefully. Once he was done, he offered the surprised looking mortal the cup before preparing his own. Smiling faintly at Jane's continued surprise at his proficiency at making tea, he took his own cup and moved to sit next to her.

"You didn't have to, you know," Jane said after taking a slow sip of the very warm tea.

"Jane, there are a lot of things in life that I don't have to do. Making tea for you and being here with you in your time of need are not part of the list." The God of Mischief murmured before reclining along the soft cushions.

"How did I manage to have someone like you as a friend?"

"Is that meant to be an insult or compliment?," he asked; a smirk finding its way on his features as he looked at her curiously.

"What do you think?," she retorted; a gentle smile forming.

"That you like having me around." He had, originally, meant that as a tease, but he found himself hopeful that she would agree. What she did, instead, surprised him extremely: her free hand had found its way to his before squeezing the appendage lightly.

"Loki, you know I do. Aside from your mother, Fandral, Heimdall, and Volstagg, you've made me feel at home in Asgard. I imagine, however, that I'm not going to be going back anytime soon." Her expression dimmed as she began to recall the breakup.

Frowning curiously, Loki looked at her, "What do you mean?" Thanks to his unexpected thoughts about Jane, he had forgotten about the breakup.

"Your brother and I- we-" Jane paused in mid sentence as she looked at Loki; her lips curling downward before she continued, "we've decided to end our relationship. It's over. No more Thor and Jane," she added; humorlessly laughing as she shook her head.

"What happened, Jane?"

"He- we - Loki, I'm starting to think it was beginning to be over the last time I went to Asgard. You noticed it, right? The way he ignored me through most of the visit. He was too busy wanting to go into town with Sif and the others. Don't get me wrong; I actually like Sif a lot. Heck, I'm impressed with the way she carries herself and makes her point known, but when he and I were here, he would always make it a point to promise to be here. That was, at least, how it was when we first decided to make things official; flowers whenever he showed up from a mission or from Asgard. But, soon the flowers ended and we started having fights. While I understood how important his work with The Avengers was just as he understood the times I was needed whenever Nick Fury wanted, it got to a point where I saw him once or twice a month. So, as today is my mom's birthday and I had asked him to be here for that day, he told me that he had apparently forgotten and was wanting me to accompany him to Asgard. I just - I couldn't go along with it anymore. I told him what day it was; I told him that I couldn't keep up with the idea of having a boyfriend who I saw three or four times a year. What scared me is that he agreed; that he hadn't been happy with the relationship for a long time. So-" she made a sweeping motion at the apartment with the hand holding onto the mug before continuing, "he took his stuff and left. That was a couple of hours ago. I imagine he's made it home to Asgard by now." She ended her telling of the event, taking a long sip of the gradually cooling tea before looking away from Loki.

Putting the cup of tea onto the table, Loki wordlessly closed the distance between him and Jane; his long arms gathering her gently and pulling her toward him in a soothing embrace. All throughout the time that she had spoken, Loki's heart had ached for the woman sitting next to him.

(Ok! So I've decided to split this as I don't want to overwhelm any of you. See you all in the next chapter of Jane and Loki's past! :) )