I really liked 'dis-' words this chapter for some reason. Thanks again for all the kind words/reviews. I really appreciate that other people don't just think I'm nuts for getting so into a fandom like this. You guys understand me *wipes at tear *.

The Art of War

Chapter Twenty-One: Friends?

"An insincere and evil friend is to be more feared than a wild beast; a wild beast may wound your body but an evil friend will wound your mind."

-Buddha

"Uh...how are you?" Thor asked, he felt absolutely horrible, but since his brother had allowed him to visit Jane he figured it was as good a question as any. He noted the slight eye-roll his brother had over at the desk where he continued to work from his room while Jane was ill. Thor resisted the urge to hammer him as at least Loki was taking great precautions in keeping her secure.

"I've been better." Jane answered honestly, she felt fairly nervous with the two brother's in the room. She expected them to come to blows at any given moment. "But I'll be all right, I'm probably lucky Loki noticed the damage or it could have been worse."

Loki resisted the urge to grin as Jane complimented him. That would have only caused an augment, or an all out brawl, and he didn't want Jane to get caught in the crossfire. Not that he doubted his ability to strike down Thor with precision but the barbarian had a nasty method of blowing up everything around him.

"Well, I'm glad he did. I'm sorry Jane, for Sif, for what I said, all of it...it was wrong of me. I should not have dishonored you in that way. Can you forgive me?" Thor stated, he'd been out into well after noon from how much he'd drank and then it'd taken him several hours the night before to even convince Loki to allow him to visit today. That had been under the condition that Loki was present for the meeting. It bothered Thor but he had chosen to not argue it – in truth Loki was doing an admirable job of shutting up.

"I appreciate you coming to see how I am, and you apologizing, but to honest I don't know what I think right now." Jane answered with a sigh. This was so much worse with an audience... "Loki, can we have a moment?"

It was Thor's turn to smirk at his brother, and Loki kept himself from smiting the muscled orge for Jane's sake. Instead he nodded lightly to Jane's request, picking up a few papers he needed to discuss with some of the ministers regardless. "I'll return in a few minutes."

Despite his misgivings, he knew Thor wouldn't actually harm the girl. Strict orders had already been given not to allow Sif anywhere near the royal quarters altogether. Still, he was highly uncomfortable the moment the door slid closed – and his steps were quicker than usual as he went to finish the needed business as quickly as possible.

"Jane, I really didn't have a choice. Sif betrayed my trust, she poisoned me with that vial potion, even if was at my father's behest I never agreed to it. I know that doesn't excuse that I..." Thor paused a moment, trying not to break down in front of Jane given how much the poor girl had already been through. "That we were intimate, but please understand I never would have willingly betrayed you in that way."

It was hard to watch him, Jane swallowed a bit, it would have been easier if Thor hadn't remembered at all. Her heart did want to reach out for him, even though he had betrayed her with Sif. He was right, he hadn't done it by any decision of his own. Still, it wasn't that simple, Jane was with Loki now – and her heart reached out for him as well. She really cared about Loki, and she still wanted to get to know him more than she had.

"This whole situation isn't fair for anyone." Jane replied, sighing and running a hand through her hair. "I know it's not your fault Thor, but you can't blame me either. I cried for you, and then I realized how little we actually ever knew each other. You swept into my life and it was only for days – any time I saw you. I've actually spent less time with you than I have Loki."

"We've known each other for years." Thor replied, "I thought of you always when the bi-frost was shattered, I couldn't come visit you. I didn't want you to be in danger. Then when you were I came to help you."

"I didn't mean how long we've known each other. We've spent a total of a week and a half together. I'd already spent longer than that with him on earth when I found him before we came back to Asgard. We've had nearly double the time to get to know each other that you and I ever did." Jane was trying to reason with him, if she could make it gentle then she hoped they could still remain friends. She imagined that Thor would be a good friend.

They were unaware that outside Loki had walked back up, he'd forgotten a paper he needed to sign for one of the projects on another world. Though he stopped short when he heard his brother trying to undermine him just as Loki feared he would. His hand paused on the door as he listened to what was to come. Uncertain when Jane would decide to change her mind...

"So, we could have that time now. Loki is a desperate soul Jane, he will hurt you and lie to you and I fear for your safety. I know he is my brother, and I will always love him, but I cannot trust him." Thor replied. "I don't want to see you get hurt by him."

"I know Loki isn't exactly the boy scout of the year." Jane answered. Considering how much of an understatement that really was before adding. "But he's not just some devil either, I've seen parts of him that are genuine, kind. And so have you, he saved both of us in the battle with Malekith. I care about him Thor."

"I know, that makes me all the more worried – you know what he's done to me, to your world. I don't want to see you as broken by him as our family was." Thor answered, frustrated at his own inability to convince Jane of the danger she was in. "Certainly you must understand the sort of heartache you set yourself up for."

"Any relationship comes with a danger of that." Jane replied, shaking her head. "That's part of living, I can't just walk away cause people tell me negative things about him. What sort of person would that make me? I'm not going to walk away from this now. If it goes south then I'll have to deal with the pain when it comes. I think he's worth the risk."

"I hope you are right." Thor answered, he'd already known before he broached the topic that he wouldn't win Jane back.

"I'm a little insulted that you would ask to be honest." Jane stated, "I mean I know it's hard for you but he's your brother, aren't you even a little happy for him? Perhaps you think I'm doomed but I'm sure you've noticed – he actually seems happy on occasion – beneath that mask of his."

She was too honorable to turn her back on even his brother. Thor actually felt all the more like a cad for even attempting. Was he any better than his parents if he was so trying to dissuade someone from what they wanted? Or at least wanted a chance for.

"You are right Jane Foster." Thor answered. "I should not have asked. However, I continue to hope my brother doesn't destroy his chance at something as good as you. He has a way of corrupting everything pure that he touches. I do not want us to hate each other. I would like to remain friends."

"I'd like that too." Jane smiled a bit, proud of Thor for coming around in at least some small way. He was still of course throwing out insults but Loki always did the same thing. "I'd like to get some sleep though, if you don't mind."

"Of course. I hope you recover soon." Thor wished her well and got up from the stool he'd been provided, resisting the urge to bend and kiss her. It wasn't his place any longer. He instead walked out of the room, still troubled but glad that he had not lost Jane completely. If she would still be friends then Thor could be there for her when Loki inevitable ruined everything.

Outside Loki materialized from the illusion keeping him invisible near the wall after his brother's footsteps had faded away. Jane continued to surprise him. She knew his nature all too well, she'd seen several of the horrible things he had done. Yet she continued to grasp onto this dream of hers that his occasional benevolence would somehow mend the mistakes. Would her virtuous views preserver if she knew the method by which they had come into contact?

Of course not. The question was an answer by itself. Her hope was in part crafted by some of the very illusions that she would be oh so swift to condemn. No, he could never let her wall of resolution blind him to the fact that should she be put before his true face she would tremble like all the rest. He took a breath and opened the door, prepared to put on the easy act that he'd just returned for a paper but she was already unconscious. Just as well, he had taken to the distressing disorder of disfavoring dishonesty when it came to Jane Foster.

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"What do you mean you didn't find anything?" Sif sounded just as annoyed as she ever did lately. "I thought you were good at getting information Fandral."

"Don't take out your poor decisions on me Sif." Fandral replied, his own expression sour at her reaction to his news. Despite having spoken with nearly every maid that had interacted with Jane or Loki since their return Fandral hadn't found a single thing out of place. "Loki's still the dick he's always been, but much as usual, never completely needlessly. If anything the only bizarre change is how little he's used his magic to torment those that have annoyed him since his return. Seems that this Jane Foster has been as good for him as she had been for Thor."

"That's not helpful." Sif snapped. "I know he had something to do with it. Do you really think that his return just happened to co-inside with the all-father's death? Isn't that a bit too much of a coincidence? What about the potion makers?"

"It all checked out, according to them they were commissioned for the potion and they delivered it only a few days before you retrieved it from Odin. I believe you're right, that there was probably something more to it. You know I don't trust Loki anymore than you but you said yourself that you almost believed he had feelings for this human turned Asgardian." Fandral sighed as this conversation seemed to be the only one he'd had with Sif lately. He gestured toward a barkeep, in grave need of a drink if the evening was going to repeat this again.

"I said 'almost', he's become even a better actor during his exile and imprisonment." Sif snapped back, she could hear herself but she almost couldn't do anything about it. Not being able to be near Thor was physically painful. She'd partaken of the potion as well – and she cared about him more now than she ever had in the past. If anything it spurred this quest of hers to prove Loki was involved all the more – she had to focus on something. She couldn't bring herself to beg Thor to take her back when he was still pining over another woman.

"I understand that you're hurting Sif, I don't really agree with what you did but it's not something you did to me to forgive." Fandral said bluntly. "I know you really wanna find something on Loki but I swear to you if he did something he covered his tracks perfectly. I think you need to focus on something else before you get yourself killed or you end up in more pain."

"So Loki can just get away with all of his sins?" Sif shook her head, she couldn't let him...she knew he had to somehow be behind the all-father's death if nothing else.

"Loki will get what's coming to him, he always ends up screwing up eventually. You need to worry about you right now, and Thor not his brother." Fandral stated, pausing long enough to take a fair draw of the ale he'd been served. "I know it sucks, but apologizing can be that way. You've always been the most stubborn one of all of us but you need to keep at it. Eventually Thor will listen to reason and forgive you."

"I have tried Fandral." Sif answered, motioning for her own ale now. Sighing in defeat as she realized her friend was likely right. If there was nothing she could find on Loki obsessing over it wouldn't do her any good. She still didn't trust him but apparently there was nothing to be found as far as his wrongdoing so she'd have to make sure people kept a closer eye on him in the future. Which left her with the more than distressing thought of needing to deal with Thor. "There isn't enough drink for this."

"There's the sort of talk I like to hear." Fandral answered, holding up a hand for more rounds. "Let's get wasted and you can try again tomorrow."

End Chapter

I always pictured Fandral as sort of the stand up friend of the group. No idea if that's how it is as I've never read the comics but that's just my personal opinion. Anyway, whew, another chapter down!