Continued appreciation for all the kind words people offer me. I'm glad my fiction seems to bring happiness to people.

The Art of War

Chapter Twenty: Defend

"Defense if a definite part of the game, and a great part of defense is learning to play it without fouling."

-John Wooden

"Well, that was unexpected..." Loki remarked as he leaned on his door to push it closed, looking toward where Jane was curled in his bed. Yet, she didn't appear to still hold the same conviction she had outside. "I apologize you were forced to get involved."

"It's not your fault...I wanted to stab him a little myself." Jane replied, looking up and glancing over Loki. Sniffing and wiping at her tears, she didn't want him to see her cry – well anymore than he just had. He still looked quite the part of a royal. The helmet was a bit much but she still liked it, much like most things about him, it was impossible to just overlook. "Thanks by the way, for stepping in with Sif...I don't think I would have made it otherwise. How did you know to help me?"

"A report came to the palace that you were being chased through the markets...I didn't remain to find out who it was...I'm lucky to have reached you before she did. What possessed you to hit her?" Loki had to admit now that the subject had changed he was curious. Not to mention he had to give her credit for having struck the woman so soundly. Loki would enjoy the mental image of the broken nosed Sif for some time.

"About the same things Thor just said...just much less polite. Is everyone going to think I'm a whore? Or that you've somehow taken over my mind? Or that I only am close to you because you helped me?" Jane asked with a sigh, already tired after today of fighting the mindset of others. She pushed herself to the edge of the bed. It wasn't hers after all, she shouldn't get too comfortable.

"Does it matter if they do?" Loki returned a question for the question. As he moved into the room the finer regalia faded to his usual clothing – maybe he'd teach her that trick sometime. It'd be nice to just will on or off new clothes whenever she felt like it.

"Well, no, but it would make life easier on me if they stopped pissing me off so much...it's really hard not to slap people when they talk like that." Jane replied, smiling a little despite her words. "Are you all right? They're your family..."

"I have come to expect this sort of behavior." Loki answered, settling near her on the bed to stare at his prize. "I will be fine. I am more concerned for you."

"That's a change." Jane remarked, it was true. Before today she would have second guessed anyone that told her Loki had feelings for her – or that he cared about anyone other than himself. It seemed that the world had changed as much as she feared since their sleeping together.

"A lot's happened today." He shrugged lightly at the answer, even though it echoed her own thoughts. Taking off his cape and setting it over the side table before the wide necklace he wore joined it. "It is late, I would like you to join me for sleep if you don't mind. I don't trust your safety in a room by yourself. I can't know if Sif or Thor, or some other fool, will try and harm you."

"Right...that's fine." Jane could hardly say it would be inappropriate after their encounter earlier that day – it felt like such a long time ago now. Weeks as opposed to hours and yet she felt all the more resolved to see this through when everyone around them seemed intent to tear them down. Yet, she couldn't help but also feel for Thor. He had remembered her...even against the odds that he wouldn't. She turned slightly, letting her back face Loki.

"Can you unzip the dress? I should probably clean up before I sleep." Jane asked as she pulled her hair out of the way. As sore as she was she really didn't want to go to bed smelling of sweat like she did.

"Yes. Of course." Loki reached over, smoothly undoing the fasteners on the back of her clothing. "I apologize that we didn't get to stay longer at the cottage, the pools would have been better for your injuries..."

Loki pulled her dress down, despite her half-yelp of protest she couldn't grab the fabric fast enough to pull it back up. Jane was considering punching him this time but when she turned she realized he was inspecting the bruise on her right side. The one that still ached incredibly. Jane swallowed and resisted the urge to scoot away, he was just looking over her injury after all. At least he wouldn't have to stay right next to her the entire night; thankfully the beds, like the architecture, were massive.

"I'll be all right," Jane stated, though she hissed lightly in pain when he pressed her side even gently. Her hand raising to his to stop him. "But don't do that."

"You should have told me it was this serious." Loki retorted, his voice much more serious than a moment ago. He was chiding her...Jane was about to snap a little when she noticed out of the corner of her eye that her side had turned a nasty purple color – it wasn't just bruised, she had to have been bleeding internally for it to be so dark.

"God..." She remarked about her own wound. "...it must have been when I was running away from Sif. I did slam into things a few times. It didn't look this bad earlier."

Honestly, for as horrible as the wound looked it probably should have hurt a hell of a lot more than it did – had she done nerve damage to it?

"Yes I recall." Loki answered, though he was scowling at the wicked apple sized blemish on her body. "This discoloration is serious, I'm concerned you have done more damage than you realize. It felt as if one of your ribs was dislocated. We'll need to take you to a healer so they can set it."

"You can't set ribs." Jane answered, she mostly wanted to sleep and if they left she had to get dressed again...it had been painful enough taking the dress off.

"Perhaps your doctor's cannot, we can...but it will be painful." Loki offered a hand. "Do you think you can walk?"

"Yes." Jane replied, pulling her dress back up before accepting his hand. Even then she fumbled more than she should have. Some Asgardian she was turning out to be...she was still in constant need of protection. She blushed as Loki picked her up, she wanted to fight him but that just would have made it hurt more. She instead buried her head in his chest so he couldn't make fun of her for blushing.

"No reason to be so bashful." Of course he'd tease her anyway. "I'll figure out a way for you to repay me for all of this trouble."

"Somehow I don't think I will get the better end of that kind of a deal." It was just natural now to drop back into bantering with him. She liked when he laughed, even lightly, his chest rumbled just a little with a genuine humor that often seemed to be lacking in his jests.

"I wouldn't be too certain of that," Loki replied, though left the remark vague enough that she only blushed more. Fairly certain he'd won that exchange when they reached the room she'd seen once before. The table where Thor had once lain her. "She was injured in her escape from Sif...I believe one of her ribs could be broken and pressing on an organ."

"Wait, what?" Jane stared at Loki's calm explanation of what he thought was wrong. "Shouldn't you have told me you thought I was still bleeding internally?"

"I thought you'd of realized, aren't you a doctor?" Loki retorted, smirking at the small glare she shot him.

"I'm not that kind of doctor." She repeated, following their looks up at the golden glittering image above her showed them what her skeleton and internal organs looked like. Indeed one of her right ribs was busted – twice, and one of the breaks was sticking so deeply into some of her muscle tissue that it was still releasing blood. The image paled her, she never wanted to be this kind of doctor – there was something inherently wrong with seeing your own internal bleeding.

"The wounds won't start to regenerate til we straighten her ribs." The woman who had zoomed in on the damage to look at the uncomfortable reaction of splurging bodily fluid close up announced. Jane closed her eyes, she didn't want to see what was happening to her. She was more keenly aware of the pain now that she could picture exactly what was going on. She didn't open her eyes until she felt fingers wrap with hers.

Loki was holding her hand. Then he was also holding out a small piece of leather toward her mouth...Jane jumped slightly and stared at him. Was now really the time for whatever weird...whatever...

"It's going to hurt when they fix it. You'll wanna clamp down on that." Loki explained, smirking at the expression she offered. "I'll be right here."

Jane only nodded a bit, certainly concerned but if they didn't fix it then it wouldn't heal. They'd just said so. She opened her mouth and bit down on the leather now that he had explained what it was for. The slight anxiety on Loki's face bothered her more, she was really in for it if he was showing his worry in that way.

"I will start then. Try to stay relaxed." The woman announced a moment before agony tore through her. Jane grasped Loki's hand with abandon as her nails dug in. She half-heard her own muffled scream while her teeth ground into the leather he'd offered her. Tears stung at her eyes but she pressed them shut, trying not to shutter or move too much, fighting to keep her whole body from tensing up. Then before five seconds had passed the torment was over. It still throbbed but the horrible stabbing sensation lifted. "Finished."

Jane let go of the leather when there was a slight tug, her eyes opening again and she released Loki's hand as well. "Sorry...I wasn't..."

"Prepared." Loki finished for her, retrieving his hand and rubbing it – she could see marks where her nails had made themselves a home. "It's never an easy process, thankfully it's not needed all that often."

"I'm sorry..." Jane stared at the small scars she'd left on his hand. "...I didn't mean to hurt..."

"You'll need to be careful for a few days while the healing sets. The damage is repaired but any large impacts in the next few days could shatter it again." The doctor interrupted, the middle-aged woman seeming incredibly serious. "No sparring for at least a week. I'd recommend after your stunt today getting a lot of rest. Any, and I mean any, strenuous activity could undo the work we've done here. Am I clear?"

The woman glanced to Loki as well and Jane got the distinct feeling she was indicating the rules for both of them. Had the rumor about them having sex reached absolutely everyone? Jane just nodded, unsure how to respond to that. She certainly didn't want to end up having to go through that again no matter how fast it had been.

"I'll take care of her." Loki gave a token remark, lifting her gently again from the table. Jane wanted to protest as the doctor rolled her eyes – it was the sort of expression that screamed 'and there they go not listening to a word I say'. The woman clearly thought Loki was going to carry her off and sleep with her then and there. Jane resisted the urge to groan at the fact that she might have inadvertently become the palace whore; she really wasn't like that.

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Thor was the only person still left in the bar, he'd picked a fairly quiet area of town in which to drown his sorrows. They were probably only staying open to accommodate him but he didn't particularly care, if he didn't numb his pain with alcohol he was going to do something else stupid. Perhaps he really was the fool his brother always took him for...

Jane had really picked his brother, for some insane reason...she didn't seem to be under the effects of any sort of potion – and even if she were Loki appeared to be taking care of her. In his own demented way his brother seemed to have finally found someone to love. Yet it was the same woman Thor loved – even though he wasn't as sure about that now...

He'd remembered Jane, but his body was still augmented by the poison Sif had fed him. Even knowing she'd betrayed his trust he couldn't help but love the battle goddess. It was built into him now, unless he figured out a way to cancel it and he wasn't sure anyone in the realm except his brother could craft something so complex. He certainly didn't want to seek his brother's help now, not after the scene earlier. He didn't believe Loki wasn't involved in father's death but he felt no less betrayed by this...even if Loki hadn't intended it or Jane had pursued him first. It was too much, this cut so much deeper than even the times when Loki had attempted to slaughter him.

Still, after all the pain he'd caused Jane, what right did he have to tell her who to love...perhaps she would help his brother the same way she had once changed him. He could only hope that might be the outcome, for he would not hesitate to kill his brother if he somehow harmed Jane – no matter what her choice was. Thor glanced up when someone sat next to him, and frowned despite an initial desire to smile. He ignored his bodies wants to look back at his glass. "I don't want to talk to you Sif."

"Thor...I know that I don't have a right to speak to you after what I did but please understand, I really believed your father when he said it would be for your own good." Sif remarked. "It doesn't excuse me, and I know I still deserve nothing but your hatred...but I still wanted to apologize. I wanted to try to explain that I screwed up but because I wanted to..."

She kept talking and it became harder and harder to ignore her, the pained edge in her voice was so clear to him after the weeks they'd laughed together. He wanted to hate the memories but he'd been happy, it felt like the same kind of happiness that Jane had just told him she felt for Loki. If the spell hadn't broken he wasn't sure he'd ever have stopped loving Sif even for a moment. Even now his body wanted her...why did she have to keep talking? Sif might have gone along with it, but perhaps she was just as much a victim in all of this...

Thor shook his head, he couldn't do this. If he still wanted a chance to win Jane back he couldn't pay attention to the venom that was augmenting his brain. "Sif, get out. Now."

"Thor..."

"Sif, I know you tried to kill Jane. Don't try to tell me why, I don't want to hear it right now. I don't want to hear anything other than my glass being refilled. Get. Out." Thor snapped, if she didn't leave then perhaps his resolve would break. He couldn't just surrender to this magic, how could he really trust Sif after she'd poisoned him? When it was that same poison trying to convince him he should forget and forgive her betrayal?

She nodded, seeming about to cry – god he hoped she didn't. Thankfully she was at least out of the building where he couldn't see her if she'd allowed tears to fall. It was easier when she wasn't near him, he could breath without the fog taking over his mind. Thor held up his empty glass, he wanted more. Perhaps the alcohol could take away the day – the shattering of his world...his father had died, he'd betrayed the love of his life, and had been betrayed by his family, his best friend. Truly it was one of the most miserable days of his life – his time as a mortal didn't compare...

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Jane had fallen asleep quickly once they'd returned to his room, whatever the fools around them thought he wouldn't do anything to risk her health. Loki lie awake, listening to the steady breathing of the woman that was so ready to champion despite being so unaware of the truth about him. He couldn't tell her, to be honest with her was to lose her, she would as assuredly leave him as day always eventually turned to night. He had gotten through his plots without being caught but now he had to be more wary than ever. Not for his own conscience, but for hers...if he made a misstep now then she could choose to walk away.

He'd lost the game, he'd failed it so completely that he might be penalized for centuries to come...yet to come clean, to admit all the things he'd done – all the mistakes he'd made. It was a fools errand even his brother would have to shake his head at. He already possessed the woman, she was his. If she ever changed her mind he could always brew her a potion as he had for Thor – but without the chance of her remembering anyone else she cared about. But then that could eradicate the very thing that he most cherished about her...memory potions were dangerous that way. Besides, it seemed so...wrong.

The word felt foreign, even just thinking it made him second-guess. He eyed the small marks her desperate grasping of his hand had left – he'd let the woman mar his flesh – even if it would regenerate the presence of such marks now bothered him. How long had it been since he had felt misgivings about any foul play? He did what was needed, he got the job done. He didn't balk or back away where others would call themselves on moral hesitation.

Except now, this woman pulled from him all manner of emotions he wasn't sure he had ever even possessed before her presence. She had stood and defended him, had claimed in her own way to care about him. She didn't state she loved him, Loki doubted anyone would ever do that...not even Jane Foster. But it was so close he was content with what he had now. He didn't want more, he had the crown, he had a woman that even if she never fully loved him that would at least stand by him – which could possibly be better. There was little else he could ask for other than to simply keep what he'd already acquired.

He leaned down, taking a breath of her hair, what was it about this creature that had him so ensorcelled? He couldn't afford to be careless again with her safety, if Sif had killed her then everything he'd worked on would have been undone. He wouldn't have given the warrior goddess the slightest hint of mercy...nor anyone that would have tried to speak for her. He would have slaughtered his brother – likely been killed himself. She would never know it, but she'd saved him even from himself this day.

If Jane was now his, then it was his duty to keep her safe from those that would harm her. He kissed her forehead. He could never be honest with her, that much was obvious. But he could try to do the one thing she claimed he did already – make her happy.

End Chapter

Yeah, it's a bit sappy, I felt a little sappiness was needed. This story has absorbed my life. I swear I spend every free moment working on it. Or stuff for it – I finished my second AMV (Loki x Jane, Beautiful Lie on youtube) which I'd love feedback on! Otherwise I worked on this more. I wonder if that makes my life sad?

-Aura