Chapter 13 - Jane

Jane foster sighed as she stared at the monitor in front of her, watching news footage numbly. She had been sent to Norway as a guest astronomer at Tromsø Geophysical Observatory, and while it was a great honor, the timing was suspicious. From across the Atlantic Ocean came reports of an alien invasion taking place in New York. Images if destruction was displayed on every channel, the team called the Avengers taking front and center. The only one she had eyes for was Thor. His hair was longer, and his face looked more worn than the last time she had seen him.

Even though only a year had passed, it looked like Thor had aged years. He wore his armor as a second skin now, looking more like the warrior he was compared to a boy play acting in his father's clothes. Immediately part of Jane felt bad for thinking that, but it was true. Before, in New Mexico, the armor and the power didn't seem to fit him quite right. Now, it seemed to suit him better, but he still had a slight awkward edge to him.

Jane continued her research into cosmic energies and the signatures that they left on Earth, news reports continuing to run in the background.

"This just in." One of the more popular reporters from New York spoke as video showed the Avengers leaving the remains of Stark Tower. Thor led a man gagged and bound in chains out of the building. Something about him drew her attention, and that was when it hit her. Loki. Thor's brother who had tried to kill them all in New Mexico. Chills ran down her spine.

"The group known as the Avengers have managed to capture the person responsible for the attack on New York. This is the man who ripped open a hole above the now badly damaged Stark Tower and ushered in hundreds of aliens that ravaged our city. At this time, we do not know the plans for the criminal known as Loki, but we will keep you informed as details develop."

Silence fell over the lab as Jane muted the television. She sat staring at the images rolling across the screen, so lost in her thoughts that she didn't hear her energy detectors beeping in warning. Behind her a dimensional breach opened, and Loki stepped out.

"Hello Jane."

With a startled shriek, Jane toppled out of the chair she was in, heart racing. She would have landed on the floor, but a pair of arms caught her and steadied her. Brushing her long hair out of her face, she looked up and into the face of the man she had just seen on the television. Fear and anger lanced through her, and she raised her hand to strike him. He caught her hand, and held it in a surprisingly gentle grip, green eyes shimmering in the light.

"You! How did you get here?" Jane glanced back at the television, seeing a bound Loki being led by Thor to a bridge in Central Park. The tall man flicked his glance to where the television was before the machine went dark.

"That is not me." Loki replied calmly, hand releasing her as he stepped back. "At least, not the me you see now. I am from the future. The Loki you saw in your screen is the version of me that resides in this timeline."

The gears in Jane's mind began to whir. Her research had stumbled upon a theory where Einstein-Rosen bridges could be bent and warped, doubling back on themselves to allow travel not only through space, but time as well. She had just barely scratched the surface of regular space travel, and was nowhere near ready to tackle time travel. Even now it made her head hurt.

"Time travel?" Jane whispered, staring blankly at the man before her. Now that she was looking at him properly, she could see that the man in front of her was indeed not the man who was currently half a world away.

This Loki looked worn around the edges. He had seen much and lived through much. The cockiness that oozed from the Loki of today was absent in the man before her. There was an aura of calm that wrapped around him, yet underneath she could still sense power bristling. Wordlessly he held out his hand to her, a green shimmer dancing across his fingertips.

"Among other things." Loki quirked a half smile before turning serious again.

"I know you have an unquenchable curiosity inside you Jane Foster, and I know that, in time, you and my current self will cross paths due to this. I wish to give you a gift, a way to survive what is to come."

Jane, curiosity peaked, stepped closer to the man clad in black and green leather.

"It won't hurt, will it?" She felt like she was under a spell. There was something that drew her to Loki like a moth to a flame. Her usual reserves crumbled before his wicked smile and warm voice.

"No, my dear. This time it won't hurt." He wiggled his fingers and the magic in his palm danced, drawing her in. "I can't promise that it won't hurt in the future, but the gift I will give you will help you handle the pain better."

Something inside her whispered that she could trust him. Part of her wanted to trust him. Stepping toward the tall man in front of her, Jane felt a rightness settle over her like a warm blanket. It felt like coming home. Wondering at the feel of it, she placed her hand in his. Gently she was drawn to him, the green magic in his hand sinking into her skin. When she was close enough to feel the armor of his clothing, she watched his head dip, coming closer.

Eyes sliding shut, Jane offered herself up to Loki, standing on tiptoe. Long, strong arms wrapped around her, even as cool soft lips caressed her own. Inhaling his scent Jane opened herself up, letting herself drown in the magic of the man holding onto her. Soon, the gentle kiss turned hot and frantic, hands gripping each other tight. A fire had been lit deep inside Jane, and she knew only Loki could quench it. She craved more; she wanted it all.

Even as she sought more of Loki, she felt him pull back. Confused she let him go, looking into eyes the color of dark emeralds, golden flecks of magic sparking within their depths. Green light flashed around her, and instantly Jane fell asleep.

Loki, body raging with hunger, picked his Jane up gently, and silently padded through the lab to the couch on the far side of the room. He inhaled her scent even as he sent his magic to hide the memories of this night from her. When the time was right, they would resurface, and they would be together forever. After laying Jane down, Loki bent and placed a soft kiss on her forehead, whispering,

"My magic, my life force is now within you Jane Foster. You and I are one, now and forever. With all the power I possess, you will survive the coming trials and war."

Another portal opened and Loki was gone, as if he had never been there at all.