Author's Note: Sorry so sorry for such a long delay! This year is so busy! I'm going to say to expect weekly updates rather than biweekly. Apologies :( But hey, I wrote you guys a poem this chapter, so there's that.
Songs for this chapter: "Call of Duty: MW3" by Brian Tyler; "MW3 End Credits" by Brian Tyler
Chapter 13
Jane and Fandral touched down lightly on the fresh snow of Jötunheim, followed closely by Tony's massive metal form falling into a roll. They smiled at each other before going to check on Tony.
"Not bad for your first time!" Jane assured him.
Tony shook himself out, trying to get all the snow off his suit. Jane motioned with her hand and swept it off with magic.
"Thanks," Tony said. "Guess that's quicker."
"Yeah," Jane said brightly. "Just rearranging molecular composition. No big deal."
"Right, Utgard is that way." Fandral said. He looked at Jane before setting off, "You're certain about this?"
"I have to talk to Nál." Jane said. "In person."
"They cannot know about Asgard." Fandral said.
"Fandral, trust me. I know." Jane said.
"Forgive me, Jane." Fandral said and gave her a slight bow. "Last time I saw you, you were a very different person."
"Fandral," Jane began. "I have changed so much since then."
"I can tell." Fandral said, touching the cloak Jane had conjured for him on Asgard for emphasis. "Tell us what happened to you after Loki took you from Asgard."
"They do not know yet?" Nál's voice said.
Jane looked to find Nál and some guards approaching.
"Holy shit." Tony squeaked out.
Fandral lowered into a deep bow.
"Rise, Warrior of Asgard" Nál commanded. "No formalities are required on this visit."
Nál moved to Jane and touched her face while saying, "My child, you look unwell."
"Sick with grief." Jane said as she changed form under Nál's touch. Her voice became Jötunn and its tone matched Nál's in its regality. "My home realm of Midgard is dying."
"The black fire?" Nál asked.
Jane nodded.
"Come, let us get inside before your friends die of shock." Nál laughed.
Jane looked down at Tony and Fandral. While Tony's face was hidden by his visor, she was certain it mimicked Fandral's slack jaw.
"You're..." Fandral tried to say.
"Yeah, I get the change of heart now, Foster. Facial hair does not work with that skin type." Tony said. He turned to Nál and flipped up his visor, "I'm Tony Stark."
"Nál, Queen of Jötunheim." Nál said without emotion. "Shall we proceed?"
"Please," Jane said.
After they had walked half the distance to Utgard with Tony flying alongside them to keep up with their pace, Nál asked Jane, "What does he mean by 'change of heart'?"
"Nothing," Jane lied. "He thinks I've forsaken Thor for Loki, but nothing could be further from the truth."
"Hm," was all Nál said.
"You know what role Loki is to play. Why I cannot kill him yet." Jane said.
"The weave has not yet been pulled from the loom." Nál said.
Jane could feel Fandral's eyes on her though he said nothing.
"What is that?" Tony asked. He was looking at the massive sphere of orka in the sky.
"It's our main export," Nál explained. "It's called orka."
"Orca? I didn't realize Shamu died and became a moon-star. I guess all whales go to heaven, too?" Tony joked to Jane.
"It's an energy source," Jane explained. "But all forms of energy, not just electricity."
Tony nodded, still staring at the orb. "And the emissions? Its atmospheric loss?"
"None." Jane said. "Truly sustainable energy."
"Like the—" Tony started.
"Yes." Jane cut him off quickly. Bringing up the tesseract on Jötunheim was not a wise idea.
Tony did not understand the conflict, but at Jane's tone he didn't press further on the topic.
"We will give you some this evening, Tony Stark." Nál said. "It is all we consume here."
Jane gave Tony a smile and he gave her a thumbs up to show his excitement. She wondered how afraid he was under his suit. It was hard to remember Jötunheim under mortal eyes and strength. The place was so different to her now. It was still beautiful, but lacked its previous shadows of menace.
When they reached the cliff face gate, it opened automatically for its queen. The hall was vast and Jane could see every crevice with her Jötunn eyesight. She put a hand on Fandral's shoulder as he began to reach for his sword. It would be impossible for him not to feel threatened here, surrounded by the monsters of his childhood.
"You are safe with me." Jane told him softly.
Fandral nodded and dropped his hands to his side reluctantly, still wary of the race he had only learned to hate.
"Night vision, JARVIS." Tony said, making Jane smile. Tony hardly had the same mortal restrictions she'd had.
Skaði emerged from one of the side paths and gave their group a nod.
"Jane, Fandral," she said. "Nice to see you both. How fares Asgard?"
"Skaði! It's been ages!" Fandral exclaimed and moved to hug her. She shrunk into Vanir form at his touch and Tony let out a gasp. Fandral pulled from the embrace continuing to touch her skin and added, "Asgard fares well."
"I am glad to hear it. What brings you to Utgard?" she asked.
"Me," Tony said, flipping up his visor.
"Oh," Skaði's surprise could not mask her attraction to Tony. "A mortal dressed as a tiny destroyer."
"No fire breathing." Jane assured Skaði.
"Good," she replied and gave Tony a look over.
"Loki sends his regards from prison." Jane said. She couldn't resist.
"Tell him to go fuck himself." Skaði shot back before composing herself. "Sorry, that was out of turn."
"Not sure it was, actually." Tony grinned as he looked between the two women who shared a look.
The group laughed and Skaði gave them a quick nod before saying, "I will see you this evening at the festivities."
As she left them her Jötunn form returned and Jane saw her throw another glance down at Tony.
Not my business, Jane thought.
~.~.~
Nál led Jane, Fandral, and Tony to the guest quarters, which were much nicer than the laboratory Jane had been stuck in the last time she was there. Everything was made from ice, but there were piles of fur blankets in every room.
"Will there be an orka shell for Tony?" Jane asked Nál after the brief tour was complete. There was no way he could survive the night here just under blankets.
"Arrangements are in place for your mortal friend." Nál said.
"Thank you. And the library?" Jane said, not forgetting why they came.
"Yes, you are of course welcome to the library at any time in Jötunn form. Your friends' thermal energy is not permitted, however, as they would melt the collections."
"Of course." Jane said.
"Is she calling us hot?" Tony joked.
Fandral laughed and Nál and Jane exchange a polite look of annoyance.
"Jane, if it is not a burden, I would like to speak with you privately before you enter the library." Nál said.
Jane nodded, knowing that Nál was not asking, and turned to Tony and Fandral to say, "Behave while I'm gone. One billionaire playboy, I can handle. But the two of you together? Who knows what trouble you'll get into!"
"I believe Skaði was planning a game of chance in the Hall of Skrýmir." Nál said to them. "I'm sure she can accommodate you both."
"Game of chance? Sounds good to me." Tony said. "You in, Fandral?"
"Skaði's games are always worth it." Fandral replied with a devilish grin.
Jane couldn't help but wonder if Skaði was carrying on with Fandral, and if that were the case, had it been going on before she was with Loki? Too many men. Jane thought. How does she juggle it?
"It sounds as if everyone has occupation. Shall we retire to my chambers, Jane?" Nál said, her red imploring.
Jane smiled and nodded, waving to the two men before she followed Nál through an icy labyrinth of tunnels that led them back to the Chamber of Truth.
"Not actually my chambers," Nál said once they were inside behind closed doors. "I wished to speak to you without the distraction of magic"
"It's fine." Jane said. She wondered how Nál knew about her magic. Did she see me remove the snow from Tony's suit when we arrived on Jötunheim? "What do you know about the black fire? What couldn't you tell me telepathically?"
"It is an ancient plague." Nál said. "I only know of its existence, but nothing of its details. You will have to research it here."
"So you don't know of a cure?" Jane asked.
"It's complicated." Nál said. "The cure is Jötunn blood, but its administration does not work on all species."
"How do you mean?"
"Your mortal Tony, while he seems unaffected, let us pretend he is ill. Now say Fandral as well is ill with the black fire. They could both receive your blood directly and both still die." Nál explained. "Jötunn blood is toxic. It contains chemicals that help our species continue. For instance, in a battle if you are wounded to the point of bleeding, this would chemically trigger feelings of rage inside of you."
"Yes, I have experienced that." Jane said. She felt almost relieved to learn her murderous impulses were technically normal. A mere chemical reaction she had no control over. Yet Loki had controlled his urges on Alfheim.
"It is unsettling in times of peace." Nál said, reading the emotion on Jane's face. "But our blood's properties also release a layer of protection. Perhaps you've experienced that as well?"
"I don't think so." Jane said. She couldn't think of any shield that her blood had enabled while fighting Loki. Nál's subtle reaction was one of relief and Jane felt more comfortable.
"But there is another matter we need to discuss." Nál said. "Your visions from the Well of Mimir. As I explained when you were last here, the Well of Mimir shows you fate. These visions are the ever moving fates of Yggdrasil, while the prophecies you have received from those who practice völva are specific events that will unfold."
"That's what I thought." Jane said. She cocked her head slightly and her tone became indignant as she asked, "Why did you not tell me you were giving me water from the Well of Mimir?"
"I apologize for the lack of transparency." Nál said. "It was my duty to fulfill within the prophecy. I did not want to risk you not accepting it."
"What prophecy?" Jane asked.
"I suppose you have experienced so many visions by now that prophecy becomes muted." Nál said. "I mean the prophecy of the Triad. Surely your time in Vanaheim shed light on this?"
"Some light," Jane was cautious with her words. "Nothing about you giving me the waters of the Well of Mimir, though. What prophecy is that?"
"Valfreyja has withheld information from you." Nál said with worry in her voice.
"What information?" Jane asked. If Nál was worried that was not a good sign. Nál seemed unfazed by everything.
"Frigga foresaw that you were the next long-term ruler of Asgard and the Nine Realms." Nál said. "You've not seen this?"
"I suppose I have. I just did not understand." Jane said, thinking of her vision of Odin's death when Frigga spoke to her.
"It was clear before to the Triad. Frigga wrote us to express the prophecy of your uniqueness some years ago, just before Skaði's hasty return from Vanaheim with Loki in tow." Nál said. Based on such a timeline, Jane wondered if this prophecy was the reason Frigga was willing to sacrifice her life to protect Jane's. Nál continued, "We needed to get you into an immortal state though. When Loki came with you, I knew what I had to do. He just made it so easy."
"I don't understand though. Why me? Why not Thor? Or even Loki? He is next in line if Thor dies." Jane asked.
"As I so often tell my small council, nothing is certain until the weaves are pulled from the loom." Nál said. "But like you said outside, Loki's purpose is limited. He only serves to lead you to the throne, not to take it."
"It's ironic." Jane said, thinking how desperately Loki wanted to rule Asgard.
"Fate often is." Nál replied.
"What happens if I refuse?" Jane asked. "I never wanted to be queen, even when it meant marrying Thor. So, what now?"
"Nothing is certain." Nál said again, her tone was hard this time. "But many have sacrificed to get you into this position. Even Thor himself, though he may not be aware. Your destiny is unfolding Jane, you would be foolish to fight it. I made my small council aware of your fate and we all are here to support you."
Jane contemplated this. Could she be Queen of Asgard? It seemed a ridiculous notion. Plus what would stop Loki from killing her if she was ruler instead of him? Jane knew that answer already; her prophecy had never been about Thor. As she remembered Loki's recent kiss, she became even more determined to save Thor. Otherwise she would be pitted against Loki for the one thing he truly wanted. Otherwise she would be fated to kill Loki.
"I'm not even Æsir. This could never happen." Jane said to Nál, trying to find another reason to avoid becoming queen.
"Has Loki perjured you this much?" Nál asked. "He did not make your guise as mortal, Jane. He does not even possess the ability to do so. No, you are Æsir under guise. He could only breathe into you one of his two forms—Jötunn or Æsir. Do you not notice the difference in your own self?"
"I thought it was just the effects of my true Jötunn form." Jane said.
She felt ashamed that she'd entertained the idea that Loki had intended to make her more striking than she had been before.
"No, Jane. You are now Æsir to all but those who know the truth. Loki changed you. In its guise your skin even radiates the glow of the Æsir lifeforce."
"I see." Jane said. She was still lost in thought process of how Loki saw her, based on this new information. Perhaps she had perceived his actions inaccurately. She reflected on the inner thoughts of his that she had read within the past two days and decided that she was being insecure. As complicated and vast as Loki's emotional experience was, Jane knew that he cared for her. He cared more deeply than he might care to admit.
"So you see how your future must unfold?" Nál asked.
Jane hesitated. The future she had seen thus far was quite bleak. It was not something she wanted to experience, let alone accept.
"Jane?" Nál pressed.
"Yes." Jane said finally. "I do not agree with everything, and I will save Asgard best I can, but I do see my future."
"Jane," Nál began. Her red eyes were grave. "Do not let us down."
"You must understand what you're asking of me." Jane said, aghast. "I am from Earth. We don't even have this kind of stuff there."
"That's untrue." Nál replied. "I sense fear in you. Your hesitancy to embrace who you are is unfounded."
"Yes, I am scared. But wouldn't you be? How did you even become queen? Through another's death?" Jane asked.
"How does anyone become queen? A man must always die." Nál said. "I was born into a noble tribe at the exact time a mate for the royal tribe was needed. Timing was the only reason to lead me on this path. Perhaps it is your timing with Thor that leads you on yours?"
Jane said nothing. She had not only not explained that she and Thor were no longer together, but in fact had expressed the opposite. She did not want Nál to have reason to distrust her though.
"Perhaps," Jane said finally. "If I am to marry him, to become queen—"
"No Jane!" Nál interrupted her. "Your fate was never to marry Thor. Your fate is to rule the Nine Realms. No marriage has been woven into this."
"Why can I not see this?"
"Give it time. The Well of Mimir is not always swift, but its accuracy is undeniable."
Jane thought of Loki's future suffering. She did not want to believe that was accurate.
"And what about Loki?" Jane asked after a moment.
"What about him? He's nearly completed his purpose with you. Then he is disposable." Nál said more coldly than Jane expected.
"He's your son." Jane protested, recalling Loki's painful memory of being forcefully taken from Nál's arms by Odin.
"Is he? I never see him. He never calls me his mother. No, he was lost to me a long time ago. He is Frigga's son. Even if she did not give birth to him, she underwent all the pains of raising him. I imagine that was a far worse labor."
Jane looked away from Nál. There was too much emotion in these words for her to respond calmly.
"I will take you to the Well of Mimir tomorrow, Jane." Nál said. "Perhaps seeing the looms with your own eyes will help you accept your future."
Jane nodded, still unable to speak. She worried to see the Norns in person. If they were what she truly hated, would she be able to control herself? Perhaps she could remain in Æsir form while there.
"We are all meeting in an hour's time at the Hall of Skrýmir. I will take you to the library in the meantime." Nál said.
Jane followed her out of the Chamber of Truth and across the main hall. Nál introduced her to a guard who would escort Jane the rest of the way to the library and left them.
"This way." The guard said in a gravelly voice. His face was deeply scarred and Jane knew others would find him intimidating, but she did not.
Once they were alone in an icy corridor he spoke again, something the Æsir guards would never do, "You are connected with Thor?"
"Yes," Jane said. "Why?"
"Last time he and his petulant gang were here, he killed my father." The guard growled.
"I am sorry for your loss." Jane said coolly.
"You are not." The guard said. He stopped walking and faced Jane. "You may be in Nál's favor, but you are not Jötunn. I will gladly kill you to avenge my father."
Jane saw the guard's hand growing a sword of ice and she backed up while fixing him with a stare.
"You dare threaten me?" she said, unsure where the power in her voice came from. "When I rule the Nine Realms, you shall regret this moment."
The guard laughed and lunged for her. Jane transported herself behind him and pressed the space behind his ear with the tip of the dagger she conjured.
"Again," she hissed. "I am sorry for your loss. Shall I kill you here or will we move past your indiscretion and continue to the library?"
She could feel the guard's heart racing and she was careful not to spill any of his blood. That would send him into a frenzy at his current level of anger. Like Nál had explained, the exposure of blood would chemically trigger the response of rage for the wounded Jötunn. From her time fighting Loki on Alfheim, Jane knew that heightened emotion only served to worsen the feelings of rage.
"You would trust me now to escort you?" the guard finally managed to say.
Jane gripped his neck and turned him to face her, her form changing to Jötunn. She bore into his red eyes with her own, the dagger still behind his ear.
"You may think I am not Jötunn, but as you can see, you are mistaken." Jane said. "I will trust you because the Jötnar will always care for our own. We are not the monsters that Thor Odinsson takes us for, and you will learn to act accordingly. You are not the only one without a father. Understood?"
"Yes." The guard growled.
"Good." Jane said and tossed him a few feet away from her. "Now take me to the library."
He turned, the ice sword gone from his arm and led them through the icy corridors. Jane felt the exhilaration of power course through her with every step. Once they arrived at the library, she remembered why she was there and her excitement faded. She wondered if there would be enough information to reason out a functional cure. She could not let Thor die. Not now. He was her only remaining hope of avoiding her fate.
Jane nodded to the guard to dismiss him, holding his eyes a long threatening moment before he averted his gaze.
"You will need to change form to enter." He said.
"Then give me your blood." Jane commanded.
The guard pulled his claw through his wrist and offered it to Jane. She took some of his blood and smeared it onto the back of her hand. Her form quickly changed. She held her hand over the guard's wrist and healed him. His eyes widened at this magic.
"Forgive me." He said to her with a bow.
Jane just stared at him passively until he left.
She turned to the final tunnel that led to the library. It was colder than the main halls and only Jötnar could survive it. It was an acclimatization vestibule, Jane realized as she moved through its final section. The tunnel opened to a vast cavern. From up here it looked like a massive record store, but all the album covers were uniform and transparent. There was no stairwell down from the platform at the end of tunnel, so she jumped. Her landing was graceful and catlike and she began her search for the index. The library appeared empty and she wondered if everyone was already at the Hall of Skrýmir.
She went to a case that housed ice sheets and began to thumb through them. Everything was in Jötunn, chiseled into the sheets. There was no immediately obvious system, and not wanting to waste her time before what sounded like mandatory evening activities, she focused on extending her illusion to a particular cell in the Asgard prisons.
"Not dead yet?" Loki smiled at her.
"Nearly." Jane said. "Thanks to your training, I think I converted a new follower."
"Oh? Planning to lead Jötunheim now? I wouldn't mention that to Nál. Or Skaði for that matter." Loki frowned.
"Ah, yes, Skaði says hello." Jane smiled.
"I bet she does." Loki laughed. "Though with Fandral there, I'm sure she is very well occupied."
He gave Jane a wink and she laughed.
"They are together now in fact." Jane said mischievously. "She gets around, that one. She was even eying Tony."
"A mortal? Her standards have dropped."
"Hm, most people would say anyone is a step up from you." Jane said.
"What do you have to tell me, Jane? Or did you just miss me so much you needed to come tease me?"
"Have you been to the library?" Jane asked.
"Once. They don't have an index." Loki said, guessing Jane's reason for reaching out.
"That's problematic." Jane said.
"Are you there now? You must be, given your form." He said.
Jane nodded and said, "Can you help?"
"I can try. What has Nál told you?"
"Basically nothing. Our blood is the cure, but if we administer it, we are more likely to kill everyone than heal them. The good news is that we are immune as Jötnar."
"So the disease is of Jötunn origin?" Loki asked.
"I guess. She said it was ancient."
"You may be in more danger than I realized, Jane." Loki said.
"I don't know. Nál seemed to not know much about it. I don't think she's involved."
"She is a better liar than me." Loki said. "You need to be careful."
Jane cast a look around, seeing no one.
"I don't have much time until the evening's events begin. Can you help me with the library?"
"Have you consumed the orka yet?" he asked.
"No, should I?"
"Yes, the orka will reveal where you need to go in the stacks." Loki said. "There should've been some when you first went in, on the platform."
Jane looked up to the platform and saw what she'd assumed to be a lamp before.
"Just climb the wall." Loki said seeing her glance upwards. "Why else do you have claws?"
Jane let out a growl as she extended her claws.
"Wait," Loki said. "Once you consume orka there, you'll be linked automatically with your tribe."
"What's the next step then?" Jane asked. No one could know that she was working with Loki.
"Consume the orka, think about what information you seek, and then look to where the light falls. The library will link telepathically with you."
"The library is sentient?" Jane asked.
"Of course." Loki said. "Did Nál explain nothing?"
Jane shook her head, suddenly feeling worried for Tony and Fandral's safety.
"Find the information, Jane. You need to get out of Jötunheim as fast as possible."
"Okay, I'm going." She said and started towards the wall to climb it. After taking in Loki's trim body a moment longer, she retracted her illusion and scaled the wall.
At the top of the platform sat an ice cauldron full of orka. She took a scoop of the orka and swallowed it. As her tribe's voices filled her head, she focused her thoughts on black fire. After a minute of nothing happening, the far left section of the stacks began to glow. Jane jumped from the platform and hurried towards the light.
She started flipping through the ice sheets, trying to find anything that clearly read 'black fire'. Being entirely self-taught, she was not fully fluent at reading the runic Jötunn writing, so her progress did not move quickly. Finally something appeared relevant. She pulled the sheet from the ice crate and began reading. The writing was all in poetry and she was amazed at how much more sophisticated Jötunheim was than Asgard. She tried to control her thoughts, fairly well practiced now from all the time spent around Loki, and no one seemed to take notice of her. She realized that they were all in a constantly linked state and ignoring each other was second nature.
As Jane translated the text, she found a particular passage to note:
Underneath the Deathless
Acre within affable
Gudmund's Glittering Plains
Lies free open black flames.
Moved in fluid, further
By air, love's embrace ends
Those who dare. Only cure:
Jötunn bloodlines of mates
Who make the stolen heir.
Nál's voice came through the link, reminding everyone of the night's festivities in the Hall of Skrýmir, if they were not already there, and that the mortal and Æsir guests were to be respected and considered friends.
The tribe mentally murmured their understanding, Jane included. She put away the ice sheet and memorized the section of the library she was in so she would not need to consume orka the next time she came. She wanted to understand the text privately given how defenseless Asgard was currently.
To avoid suspicion, Jane remained linked to the tribe for now and climbed the wall back up to the platform.
"Thank you for your patronage." A voice thought into her brain in Jötunn.
Jane thought back the Jötunn word for "You're welcome."
Sentient library. She thought with a laugh.
She realized after emerging from the acclimatization vestibule that she had no clue where the Hall of Skrýmir was.
"Go right and follow that tunnel to its end. On your left is the Hall." A voice who didn't belong to Nál thought into her mind. Jane followed the instructions and soon found herself in a very crowded and noisy hall.
There were no banquet tables like in Asgard and Vanaheim, instead an empty space surrounded by rock chairs and ice cauldrons of orka filled the massive room.
"You found it!" a teenage Jötunn girl said to Jane.
Jane recognized her voice as the one who gave her directions and she smiled at the girl. She noticed her forehead markings matched her own.
"I'm Jane." Jane held out her hands to show respect.
"You don't need to do that with your own tribe!" the Jötunn girl giggled. "I am Gerðr, Nál's daughter. I'm so glad to finally meet you, Jane. They wouldn't let me before when Loki was here."
"Are you his sister?" Jane asked.
"No!" the girl laughed. "Siblings are only counted of dual parentage on Jötunheim. Our fathers differ."
"I see." Jane said.
"They say you know real magic, not just Æsir magic?"
"I do." Jane said.
"Can you show me?"
Jane smiled and debated what to show Gerðr.
"Anything is fine." She smiled at Jane, able to read her thoughts.
"Okay," Jane said and then conjured a purple crocus and handed it to Gerðr.
"What is it?" Gerðr asked, gently taking the stem of the flower to examine it.
"A crocus. It's a Midgardian flower that is first to bloom in the springtime." Jane said with excitement. "Sometimes they even pop out of the snow."
"I've never seen a flower before." Gerðr said softly, turning the crocus over in her icy hand.
"Never? Have you never left Jötunheim?" Jane asked
"Of course not." Gerðr said with wide red eyes. "It's unsafe."
Jane smiled and nodded, saying, "I cannot disagree with that, Gerðr."
"Foster!" Tony's voice called. He sounded more jovial than usual. "Where you been, Babe the Big Blue? Busy with Bunyan, I assume. You missed all the fun!"
As he approached, Gerðr bowed and left thinking to Jane, "Nice to meet you, Jane."
"You too" Jane thought back.
"Hey Tony!" Jane said with a grin as Gerðr walked away. "You having fun? Is everything okay?"
"Yeah! I basically conquered this place." He replied.
Fandral walked over to them with Skaði at his side. Their expressions wore amusement.
"You conquered it?" Jane asked with a laugh.
"Totally! I beat that guy, that one, the dude over there, that chick there." He said pointing to various Jötnar who looked wounded. Once Tony noticed Fandral and Skaði had arrived he added, "Fandral wouldn't fight me, the coward, and of course Skaði was the judge so she couldn't."
"Oh," Jane said, nodding. "So the game of chance was just a fight?"
"No, we tired of the game." Skaði said with a devilish grin that reminded Jane of Loki.
"Tony has been consuming orka." Fandral explained to Jane.
"Jane, it's amazing! You have to try some." Tony grinned sloppily.
"I have, thanks." Jane said. "Tony, are you intoxicated?"
"Maybe. Maybe not." He grinned and put his hands on her arms as far as he could reach on her Jötunn form. "I'm telling you, this shit is amazing. JARVIS loves it. Loves. You can't get enough, right buddy?"
"Sir, we are powered 157,622 percent." JARVIS's voice said quickly, as if in hyperdrive.
Jane looked to Skaði and Fandral with some alarm and asked, "How much has he had?"
"Not much." Fandral said.
"He's acting like he's on drugs." Jane said. "Will he come down from this?"
"In time." Skaði said. "Direct consumption kills many mortals."
"And you let him have it?" Jane growled, getting right in Skaði's face.
"Watch yourself." Skaði growled back.
"Ladies, ladies, there's plenty of Fandral to go around." Fandral said, pushing them apart.
"Don't let him have any more." Jane said icily, boring her eyes into Skaði's.
"Oh, am I to control your guest then?" Skaði said.
"Handling men seems to be your talent." Jane replied.
Skaði gave her a murderous glare and then burst into laughter.
"If this is about Loki, you can have him. No respectable Jötunn would want a thing to do with the murderer of our king. From what I hear, he's murdered your king, too. When will he stop, Jane? Do you not think he will murder you as well once you ascend the throne?" Skaði's eyes flashed. "I hope he does."
"If this were about Loki, which I assure you it is not, then I would tell you not to worry because I will kill him before he has the chance." Jane said easily and then steeled her voice to say, "This is about protecting my friend, however, which is not something I take lightly."
"Skaði, come. Let us go enjoy the festivities from another vantage point." Fandral said, attempting to pull Skaði with him. She wouldn't budge until she'd shifted to Vanir form at his touch.
Finally in a haughty huff she gave Jane another threatening look and turned to go with Fandral, allowing him to wrap his arm around her coaxingly.
"It's totally about Loki." Tony said, stepping next to Jane and giving her a light nudge.
"Shut up." Jane said.
Tony laughed and said, "Well, he's got style, I'll give you that. Apart from his psychopathic tendencies, of course."
Jane said nothing. She couldn't allow herself to think while linked to her tribe. Finally she turned to Tony and put a finger under his chin to make him look her in the eye.
"No more orka, okay?" she said.
"Yes, mom." Tony teased.
"I am serious." Jane said.
"I can tell." Tony said. "You're being a real spoilsport."
"If you want to die on Jötunheim, that's your prerogative. "Jane said. "But I'm not going to be the one to tell Pepper."
Tony's face drew into a frown. Jane wondered if he'd forgotten about Pepper until right then.
"Hey, come on," Jane said more softly. "You won all those fights, huh? That's impressive. I suck at fighting."
Tony looked at Jane, "You're so scary though, I doubt you ever have to fight."
Jane laughed and asked, "Why am I scary?"
"You're a giant blue thing with creepy red eyes!" Tony waved his hand over the expanse of her Jötunn body. "I don't know, Foster. It's more than that. You've changed. You just seem dangerous."
Jane frowned. Am I dangerous? She wondered.
"And this business with Crazy Pants?" Tony continued. "He's a bad guy, Jane."
Jane's eyes narrowed at Tony and she said icily, "I know him better than anyone. I know what kind of a man he is."
"Are you sure?" Tony asked. "Maybe you just want to see him a certain way."
"Tony," Jane said. "I have seen his most hidden memories. The things that stitch together a person's soul over time. I know how it feels to be him. What his pain feels like, his anger, his lust, his greed. I know his outrage and frustration, his pleasure, the never ending reaches of his intellect. I know how he feels regret and how he feels awe. I have seen inside of his heart and I know what sort of man he is. So please, keep your mortal judgments to yourself."
"That, right there." Tony said, snapping his fingers and pointing at her. "That's not the Jane I know."
Jane held his eyes a moment before averting her gaze. His words clawed at her insides.