Author's Notes: Congratulations to LilTinyBee for posting the 100th review to this story! And thanks to you all, this feedback exceeds all my expectations (but please don't stop! I welcome even negative feedback, as long as it's constructive!) Also please know there will be another reward for the 200th review! I'm already excited; "Giving In" was a lot of fun to write. My apologies for the late update: December is a hectic month both at work and in my personal life. I'll try to post another chapter before 2013 as a "Christmas present" to you. Stay with me though, I'm not abandoning the story!
Want a heads-up before I post chapters? Find me on tumblr (just search for Shared Silence or Lokane)!

Music: "Strangers when we meet" by David Bowie and "I Grieve" by Peter Gabriel

Chapter 10: Strangers When We Meet

"All our friends
Now seem so thin and frail
Slinky secrets
Hotter than the sun

All my violence
Raining tears upon the sheets
I'm bewildered
For we're strangers when we meet

Steely resolve
Is falling from me
My poor soul
All bruised passivity
I'm so thankful
That we're strangers when we meet"
- David Bowie

Jane was sittting down at the table with the royal family, minus Loki, as she was explained the current situation. Odin's magic was crippled for the time being and someone or something had been spying on the Æse for some time. Whether or not this was the same who wanted Loki for one of his many crimes didn't matter much; a threat to anyone on Åsgard was considered a threat to the entire kingdom. The main problem was that it was near to impossible to prepare for an enemy that was seemingly invisible. Even Heimdall could not see anything.

What they recounted for her made her blood freeze. She couldn't react, she went completely numb.
Jane slowly stood up and backed away from the table. It wasn't what they had told her, although that was more than alarming enough. What really made her head swirl was the worry on their faces. They really had no idea what was coming. That was more disturbing than anything else; these beings, these wonderful magical people that she had learned to trust and care for, were suddenly helpless. And that scared her more than the threat of an alien invasion. It also made her position in all of this very unclear and insecure – that was painfully clear to her.

"Jane…I swear to you that you will be safe, no matter what comes." Thor said, raising himself from his chair carefully, as to not give her a reason to back away.

"I know you mean that." Jane replied, struggling to keep her voice calm. "I know you all mean that. This is just…I don't even know how to react. Too much has happened in the last couple of days."

Frigg stood as well, only Odin remained in a relaxed sitting position, resting his eye on her. She could tell he was trying to convey ease and tranquility to her, but it was too little too late.

"Dear Jane, it is alright. Go; go to wherever you feel the safest. Just know we are here should you need us." Frigg told her, giving her the silent permission Jane wanted to turn around and walk away. She needed something. She needed the forest.

This time she was better prepared. She had packed extra clothes and blankets – a courtesy of Frigg, bless her – food and her old mp3 player, which she had forgotten had been in the pocket of her jeans when she came to Åsgard. She had missed music, and was glad she had brought at least something from Earth with her. Although what she would do when the batteries ran out, she had no idea.

In spite of her plan and managing to keep herself calm enough to get her things before leaving for the forest, her feet brought her in a completely different direction when she headed out.

She was breathing quickly. She felt strangely detached from her body and she was half-curious, half-scared of where it was taking her.

Loki saw her walk across the courtyard of the palace. He was standing on one of the many balconies overlooking Åsgard, leaning forward on his arms on the cold marble. She was walking almost mechanically. Frowning, he decided to follow her when he saw the direction she was taking. She was going out on the broken Bifrost.

He had almost caught up with her when he saw her standing right on the edge, where the centre of the Bifrost had once stood. He froze for a second. She wasn't thinking about jumping, was she? He continued his walk towards her, taking slow steps as not to startle her.

"Jane?" he called out carefully.

She didn't reply, she only stood there as still as a statue looking into the abyss, her hair tossed up behind her by the gentle breeze. Loki walked up to her, ready to grab her if needed.

"Tell me Loki, what did it feel like, to fall into and through the Universe?" she asked him without looking at him. Her voice sounded strangely calm and abandoned.

He considered her words, taken off-guard by both her question as well as the resigned tone in her voice.

"It felt liberating," he told her honestly. "At first." he added quietly.

She looked at him then, surprised by the honesty of his answer.

"At the time, letting go felt like the only possible choice," he continued, staring into the abyss thoughtfully.

"And as I fell, I finally felt free – of everyone's expectations of me, free of my past, free of my future." Loki turned towards her swiftly, and she looked up at him with wonder in her eyes.

"But that lasted for mere seconds, the feeling of freedom quickly vanished. Instead I felt trapped, perhaps more so than I had ever before in my life. I could not breathe. I fell for what felt like a lifetime. I was in Helheim –being flayed alive, burned by fire, drowned by water, smothered by vacuum, recounting all my regrets, feeling all the disappointment everyone had ever felt about me. It does something to you, falling in there. Even should you survive, which you will not." His voice was hard and sure, and his green eyes burned.

Jane was trembling. He wasn't trying to scare her; he was telling her the truth. There was no malice nor lies in his eyes. He had lived through it and by some miracle, survived. How it had changed him, she could not comprehend – maybe he didn't understand it himself.

She shook her head, and the unfamiliar detachment fell away from her.

"I am sorry you had to go through that. I wasn't…I wasn't planning on doing anything stupid, I just…I don't even know why I am here. Guess I just had a small hope it could be a way back home. You ended up on Earth, after all," she said, not looking at him.

His eyes were impossible to read, and it made her uneasy. He considered her for a moment.

"Midgard was not where I first landed after falling. There is no way to your home now. The sooner you accept that, the easier this will be on you." Loki turned around and walked away, leaving her at the edge in solitude.

LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL

Why had he told her that? Loki was kicking himself mentally. He had meant to discourage her from whatever stupid reason she had for standing at the edge of the abyss, he had not intended to speak so freely of what he had experienced. He had sworn to never tell anyone about that. His familiar friend Rage flared in him, and he watched more than one passer-by practically jump out of his way, after looking his dark appearance. He turned to the palace gardens, keeping his feelings under control – but when the entrance to the ancient forest fluttered and changed into the entrance of the maze, he almost lost it. Do not toy with me, damn you! he shot at it silently, and luckily, it obliged him. Fuming, he pushed through and disappeared inside.

LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL

Jane stood in silence, considering Loki's words. He was right, she knew. She had to accept this impossible situation. She just didn't know how. And she so desperately wanted someone to talk to; all the while she wanted to be left alone. It might be the craziest idea she had had so far, but she wondered if she could talk to him. They had talked properly just now, so why not? The thought took root in her, and she left the bridge behind, barely noticing the colourful footprints underneath her. She rushed through the city with an urgency she could not explain. Her instincts told her he might understand somehow.

As she got to the courtyard of the palace, she stopped to think. She didn't know where he was; and from what she had gathered, Loki preferred to stay away from the rest of the Æse. No one ever seemed to know where he was. "Shit." she exclaimed to herself.

She would not run around and look for someone who did not want to be found. Jane stuck to the original plan of going back to the ancient woods. The entrance was there, as if it was awaiting her return. Enjoying her welcome, she felt herself relaxing among the trees and bushes as she walked deeper within.

Suddenly, she saw something flash between the trees in front of her. Something of bronze and green, moving away from her.

Loki.

Moving as quietly as she could, she tried to follow him. He was walking fast, his movements tense. Jane decided to keep her distance for a while, and hoped she wouldn't be discovered. He was obviously angry – not that that was very surprising to her. He had depths of anger within that would be enough for 10 people at least. And while she did not fear him anymore, she didn't particularly wish to be in the way when he lashed out; she'd tried that in the maze and it hadn't exactly been enjoyable. On the other hand, when he was calm he was, in his own way, quite pleasant company.

So she followed him, hoping he would not disappear and that his anger would dissipate by the time she was discovered.

LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL

The mortal obviously had not learned how perceptive he was. She kept thinking she could come within a mile of him without him knowing. How curious! Why was she foolish enough to follow him? He was still angry with himself and with her, but some of the anger was slowly replaced by the urge to take advantage of the situation. He was one for mischief, after all. And this was one game he could play in which he didn't need his magic. He kept himself within her range; slipping from her sight now and then, only to reappear and encourage her to keep following him.

At one point, he hid to let her pass him, and suddenly he was following her. There was something strangely exciting about it, hunting her, toying with her this way. And it gave him plenty of time to observe her. She looked tired, he noted. Tired and mentally exhausted. Still she kept looking for him, with an air of need that intrigued him.

She had lost him, she knew. Jane stopped, wanting to scream in frustration. She felt so drained, and this was just one more disappointment that threatened to push her over the edge. She turned around, and noted how surrealistically quiet it was. Like the forest held its breath. Jane moved around again, and this time saw something behind her; another flash of green amidst the green.

Anger welled up in her too then: he knew very well he was being followed by her, and now he was teasing her! Muttering insults under her breath, she followed him, not wanting to be fooled by him.

As the roles shifted yet again, she realized it was a game to him. And even though she was dog tired and wanting to give up, something stirred within her. On a strange level, this was actually kind of fun. They were trying to outsmart each other, and they both took it as a silent challenge. The hunter became the hunted, and then shifted again. She never lost him completely, but he was obviously in his right element. Her optimism faded, and eventually she came to a small clearing. He was guiding her around in circles. She recognized the place; she had been there before. Another flash of green on the opposite side of the trees attempted to lead her on once again. Enough, she thought.

"LOKI! Stop horsing around!" she called out, exasperated.

The forest hummed in agreement, that's what she chose to interpret it as, anyway. She leaned tiredly against one of the trees, crossing her arms over her chest.

Then silence fell, all she heard was her own heart beating from the chase. Jane almost smiled. It had been rather fun, for a while.

"What do you want, mortal?" A voice came from…above her?

Jane looked up, and gasped. A little ahead of her, casually lounging on a branch just out of reach, was Loki. His body language suggested he was bored, his feet spread out along the branch, but his eyes were sparkling. Oh he had been enjoying this, the cheek.

"I have a name you know." she told him, managing to raise an eyebrow at him.

Loki smirked.

"Yes, Jane. And yet, you are still a mortal as well." he replied nonchalantly, not looking at her. "I repeat, what do you want?"

Her courage and adrenaline left her body suddenly. She just felt tired and sad again. What did she want? She had been openly chasing him around in a dark forest, she didn't even want to think about what that would indicate to him.

When she didn't reply, he turned his head towards her. His eyes glittered dangerously. He was angry – again. Apparently, he had some bad mood swings. He changed from nice and caring to angry and outright mean so fast she had no chance of keeping up with him.

"I value my privacy. If you chase me around like a child, you better have a damn good reason for it!" he almost snarled at her as he jumped down from the tree and moved towards her threateningly, like he had in the maze.

Jane couldn't take more of his scorn. She was already vulnerable as it was – she could not stop her eyes from filling with tears. Ashamed, she batted them away with one hand.

"I don't know, ok? Maybe I just wanted to talk to someone!" she pressed out, hating that her voice sounded so…thin.

"And you wanted to talk to me?" His voice was incredulous. "Do you not have any concept of who – what – I am?"

She cast a brief glance at him before returning her eyes to look down.

"I don't care what you think you are! What you said on the bridge, in the forest…you know what it's like!" she said loudly, her voice almost breaking. She did not want to cry in front of him, but it was a battle she was losing by the second.

Loki turned away abruptly, like he was leaving.

"I can't go home!" she whispered, her voice filled with intensity.

Loki froze in his steps.

He turned his head first, and then the rest of his body followed. He looked at her with part detached interest, part sympathy.

"I know," he murmured softly.

The kindness in his voice, even if it was reluctant, finally broke her. She sat down heavily with a sob and hid her face in her arms. She expected him to leave then, and surely he had no interest in bawling mortals; but he surprised her and himself by leaning against a tree. Loki was highly uncomfortable. He had no idea what to say, which was rare for him. And yet, he instinctively knew she would find comfort in his mere presence – though the reason for why he should care escaped him.

LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL

Meanwhile, Thor was in the company of Siv and their friends. He might as well have been sitting alone, he did not pay attention to their usual banter and was instead looking into a fireplace, lost in thought. Volstagg and Fandral kept looking at him worriedly, but stuck to their normal routine of friendly insults of each other. A little normalcy would be what their friend and prince needed. Siv came over to him and sat down. For a while, neither spoke. He knew she was there, and grateful for her company.

"What troubles you so?" she finally asked.

"Everything, it seems" he replied, still not looking at her.

"It is Jane, is it not?" she asked again, almost hesitantly. "You worry about her again."

"How can I not? This is not what I intended when I brought her here." Thor said with a hint of bitterness in his voice.

"Thor, she knows that. I doubt she blames you for what has transpired!" Siv said. She wanted him so much to give himself a break from the guilt that was eating away at him.

Thor looked at her then, a small comforting smile on his lips. She would always love him for that; even when he was down, he would always try to reassure those around him.

"It is not just that. She does not blame us, but she cannot stand to receive any comfort from us either. Yet…." His voice drifted off and he looked uncertainly at her. "It would seem that Loki is the only person who can keep track of her. Do you not find that peculiar?" he said.

Siv thought about it before answering.

"Yes…and no." she said slowly. Thor's head jerked up to look at her with surprise.

"Thor, Loki is…many things. I would not trust him with my life, not after everything that has happened. But he does seem to have changed somehow. I would like to believe that he has become wiser. And I think he knows very well what Jane is going through right now – something we cannot quite understand even if we try." Her voice was soft; so unlike the merry jabs she usually came with.

Thor gave her a considering look. "You do not hate him? I would think that you all did." he asked her.

"No, I do not hate him. My trust in him might never recover, but I do not hate him. We did share our childhood lives together, all of us. And I know he is capable of good – more than capable." Siv replied, smiling a little at a memory of a dark haired boy showing off his magic tricks of conjuring up butterflies for the rest of them to chase around on a big field outside the city of Åsgard.

Thor shook his head. "You have never ceased to amaze me Siv."

"And I never will!" she told him confidently with a sly grin, but inside her chest, her heart was skipping a beat.

AN: Helheim = a word for hell, or the underworld.
I do hope you enjoy even though it's a bit short. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think!