A/N: Please be aware that this chapter contains some dub-con stuff, though the story is still rated T. Jane doesn't really know who Kai is, after all.

Thanks for reading and reviewing! And thanks to dristi5683 for her great advice and encouragement.


Day 140/141

Puente Antiguo, New Mexico

She had to spend more time with flesh-and-blood people. She must focus on what is real. She could not keep living in a dream world.

In that instant, with Kai sitting across from her, Jane tossed all those "shoulds" aside. She had been damaged and useless, and only Kai had rescued her from the Destroyer. She was alone and afraid, and only Kai had come to her. Erik kept pulling her deeper into the belly of the beast, ignoring her fear and hesitation. Thor had not answered her plea for help. Kai was here with her. Jane didn't care if he was her own creation or not—she would not let him go again.

"I'm so glad to see you." Jane unzipped the sleeping bag and sat up to face Kai.

His mouth curved into a warm smile. "I am glad to see you, love," he said.

Then the dam broke, and Jane blabbered on and on. "It's been awful! SHIELD is coming in the morning." She filled him in on nearly every detail: the increased threat to Earth, the forced move to the research facility, her frustrations with the project...

"I've figured that if we use scraps of the Destroyer, we have a shot at containing bursts of energy from the Tesseract."

Loki raised his eyebrows and nodded. "That idea seems sound."

"Thanks. But we don't want to just absorb or diffuse the energy, we want to be able to use it. And I'm at a loss. I've considered every material used for storing radioactive substances, but they each have serious drawbacks. If we can't harness the gamma spikes, then possessing the Tesseract is like sitting on a ticking bomb."

Kai listened patiently. At the end of her tirade, he motioned to her bandaged hand. "And what is this?"

Jane shrugged. "I threw a temper tantrum. I guess this is what I get."

"Ah. I regret that you had to face these days alone. I—well, I was under the impression you no longer welcomed my assistance."

Jane looked away, up to the skies. Meteors continued to flash while Jane considered her reply. After a long moment, she said, "I told you to let me go because I was afraid of losing my sanity, of getting trapped in a dream world."

Kai leaned forward, spearing her with his stare. "And now? Are you still afraid now?"

Jane slowly shook her head. "No, I'm not afraid. Real life," she said, drawing quotation marks in the air, "is going to keep throwing crazy stuff at me no matter what I do. I don't want to disconnect from reality, but I don't want to lose you. You're the only one...the only one who understands, the only one who helps me."

Kai stood and held out his hand. "Come here, love, you're too far away."

Jane took his hand and stood. She looked up—way up—at him. "Have you always been so terribly tall?"

He motioned behind her, and Jane turned to find the green velvet lounger had appeared on the roof of her lab. But dreams were crazy like that.

oooOOOooo

"You won't need this," he said, and slid her bulky jacket off, mindful of her injured hand. The small shield he'd put up ensured she would stay warm. Loki sat first, and tugged her down on his lap.

Loki held still, absorbing the sensations. If Jane's skin was soft in her dreams, it was the finest satin in reality. If Jane's eyes were pretty in her dreams, they were bewitching now. Taken aback by his strong response to her, he commanded himself to go slowly, to wait for the right time.

"Kai?" Jane whispered.

"Yes?"

"What kind of dream is this?"

Loki cleared his throat before he trusted himself to lie. "Isn't a dream just a dream?"

"You seem different."

"Do I?"

Jane looked up at him. "Yeah. Your eyes are brighter. You feel more substantial, warmer. It's like—it's like you're real."

"Hmmm," Loki delayed. She was more perceptive than he had expected. "Maybe it's because you've decided that you want me to stay." He held his breath, waiting.

She didn't answer immediately, appearing to be deep in thought. And then, incongruously, "My hand hurts."

"You're still bleeding." He ran his hand lightly down her arm.

"Yeah. I should probably get stitches. I'd ask you to heal it for me, but..."

"It's not a dream injury," Kai finished for her.

"Right," Jane said. She rested against his chest.

Loki breathed more easily. He wrapped his arms around her, relishing her warmth. Now is the time. This is perfect. "Would you allow me to unwrap your bandage? I know something that might help."

Jane shrugged. "I guess. It's just a dream."

Loki unwound the white gauze and exposed her damaged flesh. The cut still weeped blood, the adhesive bandages doing very little to hold the torn edges of the skin together. He disliked imagining her in pain, but this was exactly what he needed.

"Close your eyes for me, love."

"Why? What are you going to do?" Jane whipped her head up to stare at him.

"Trust me, Jane. Have I ever done anything to harm you? Haven't I always protected and rescued you?"

Jane studied him for a beat, then answered, "Yes."

Loki tilted his head to press his lips to her temple. He breathed in her sweet scent, then murmured, "Then close your eyes."

This time Jane complied, her lashes fluttering to meet her cheeks. Swiftly he summoned his dagger and drew it across his right wrist, stifling a gasp, until the rich blood welled up. He slid his palm across her injured left one and down, grasping her forearm and pressing wound to wound. Jane flinched. He flicked the fingers of his left hand, casting a painkilling spell. She relaxed fully against him, and said, "It doesn't hurt anymore."

Under his breath, Loki murmured, "Kostr. Ey."

Jane said, "What did you say?"

He kissed her temple again and whispered, "Look at me." He wanted to look into her eyes when he spoke the words.

She obeyed. He could drown in the depths of those whiskey eyes.

"I would be bound to you forever, Jane Foster."

Her eyes widened. "Wow. That's...so dramatic." Her gentle smile took away some of the sting of her words, but Loki found himself unexpectedly insecure.

"My words are sincere. I don't know how else to tell you. Did I misread your actions? Do you feel differently?"

Jane sobered and raised her good hand to cup his cheek. "I feel the same. Stay with me, Kai. Forget what I said the other day. Don't ever let me go."

Loki suddenly loathed his assumed persona. He wanted to hear his name, his real name, on Jane's lips. A pang of jealousy—for himself!—made him drop his eyes.

Jane tenderly patted his cheek. "Hey. Now you look at me."

He did, and she brushed her thumb over his lips. A pang of a different sort jolted him. She slowly whispered, "I mean it. I would be bound to you forever, too."

Loki gathered Jane to him with one arm, their other arms still clasped. He rested his chin on top of her head, closed his eyes, and breathed the words again, "Kostr. Ey."

A heavy peace settled over him. His wound began to burn as it healed itself, like he had expected. The ritual had taken! He stole a glance at Jane to see if she was uncomfortable. The painkilling spell seemed to be holding, though, and she looked as content as he felt.

Loki, who possessed the ability and knowledge to walk the stars, who was named among the most powerful mages in the Nine Realms, who could twist space and reality, was made whole, not by conquering worlds, nor by carrying a king's mace, but by this woman.

His woman. Forever.

This was a most satisfying victory. He had completely vanquished Thor, and the musclebound oaf didn't even know it yet. Cold, cruel joy drew his lips back to bare his teeth in disturbing mimicry of a smile. He pictured Thor's stunned face when he eventually realized what his not-brother had done. He imagined Thor having to explain to Jane that he had been bested by Loki, he saw Jane's confusion...and with that, regret unexpectedly clawed him once again.

She would despise him, utterly and completely.

He hadn't killed Jane, but he had taken her life, as surely as if he had smothered her breath or stopped her heart. This peace, this contentment couldn't last. It was destined to be shattered. And when it was, any love Jane felt for Kai would surely be turned to hate for Loki.

The burning abruptly intensified, commanding his attention and driving out all other thought. Loki gritted his teeth until the burning coalesced and arrowed into his veins. He drew a deep breath, head swimming and heart pounding. His skin sang where it touched Jane and his mouth watered at her scent. The attraction he had felt for Jane transformed into a terrible need.

Control yourself. Slow. As the one who had executed the ritual, he could not initiate the consummation, and it might take some time for Jane to experience the effects.

oooOOOooo

The pain, the fear, the confusion—they all dissolved as Kai cradled her in his arms. An inexplicable surge of happiness washed over her. A small part of her mind protested. It didn't make sense, that was true. But she had found her soul's home. She knew this as absolutely as she knew the patterns of the constellations: she belonged to Kai and he to her.

And she wanted to demonstrate that to him. Her injured hand no longer hurt, but liquid fire coursed through her body. The scent of evergreen teased her and the press of his fingers on her flesh as he re-bandaged her arm tantalized her. She longed to touch his bare skin. Jane squirmed involuntarily. This was embarrassing. Kai didn't seem to be affected by her nearness the way she was by his.

"Is that better, Jane? Does your hand still hurt?"

She moved her fingers inside the gauze wrapping. "It doesn't hurt at all anymore. Whatever you did was magic. It might hurt when I wake up, but it feels lovely now."

Kai rested his forehead against her temple. "What do you want, Jane?"

She wanted him, of course. He'd already made her forget the pain in her hand, and she wanted him to take away the pain in her head caused by SHIELD.

Crap. SHIELD. She could indulge in a lovely dream, but they were still coming for her in the morning.

She sighed, trying to push away the gnawing in her belly. "It's not what I really want, but I need your help with the Tesseract."

Kai groaned—in frustration?—and nipped the upper shell of her ear. "Ah, Jane, must you always think of work?"

She moaned in response, but managed to say, "SHIELD is basically going to take me hostage in the morning. I need to be prepared."

He ground out another curse, but then growled, "How can I help?"

Jane patted the couch next to her, then twisted slightly one way, then the other. "Where's my notebook?"

oooOOOooo

A bit of magic, and Loki slid the book onto her lap. His outer calmness masked the frenzy inside.

"Thanks. So I've told you the gist of my current dilemma. Any thoughts?" Jane said, awkwardly opening to her last page of notes.

"May I?" he asked, motioning to the notebook. Jane nodded. Loki took the notebook and scanned the pages over her shoulder, reading rapidly under his breath.

oooOOOooo

She tried to focus on the very serious issue of the Tesseract and gamma radiation. The Earth's survival might depend on it. It was challenging, though. Kai's body surrounded her, strong and solid. As he read her notes, little explosions of warm breath danced along the extremely sensitive skin of her neck. The sensations built up until she shuddered.

oooOOOooo

He cleared his head enough to think about the Tesseract. Jane was right; she had exhausted the options for storage. But what if she considered the puzzle from a different perspective? What if—

Jane shivered.

"Are you cold?" he asked.

"No."

He sent a wave of warmth through her anyway, for good measure, then resumed reading. Jane shuddered again, then arched her back like a cat. Perhaps the healing wasn't complete and she needed a stronger painkilling enchantment.

Lowering his lips to her ear, he whispered, "Are you in pain?"

She choked out, "No."

Understanding dawned. Chuckling, he persisted in teasing her. "Then why are you shivering?"

"It—I—"

Loki's eyes swirled and flashed, though Jane could not see them. A dark grin spread across his sharp, handsome features.

"Are you shivering because I'm doing this...?" And he deliberately fanned his breath across her exposed neck.

"Ahh," Jane cried softly, and her back arched again.

"I see," Loki purred, pleased. "And what if I do...this?" Leaning closer, he nipped her earlobe.

In response, Jane gripped his thigh with her unbandaged hand and tilted her head to allow him greater access. He buried his nose in the recess behind her ear, nuzzling the velvety skin, before pressing open-mouth kisses to her neck.

Jane squirmed against him. "I want—" she said.

"What, my love?"

"I want you."

The night caught fire around them. Patience ran out, playfulness evaporated. Loki lifted and turned Jane so he could look straight at her.

"I want you, too."

She flushed and tried to turn her face to his chest, but he held her chin.

"Look at me, Jane." She slowly met his eyes. "You will be mine, and mine alone. Do you understand me?"

Loki knew that she could not truly understand, but he was compelled to give her a warning. Jane shook her head. Loki continued, "Forever."

She reached up to take his hand from her chin and move it to her lips. Bold now, she stared steadily at him and repeated, "Forever."

Steady. But the acute yearning in his blood spiked, severely fraying his control, leaving him with a single thought and purpose: to claim his mate. He roughly gathered her to him, shielding her eyes, and threw them through space-time to his hotel room. Jane gasped and clutched at him. Too late, Loki remembered that Jane had never experienced that type of travel.

Loki kept his arms around Jane, covering her eyes. "Shhh...it's all right."

"What was that? What happened?"

In a flash, he scanned their surroundings, while formulating a lie. He had reconstructed the room after his last blast of destruction, but it was still shabby. A temporary glamour transformed the space into a bedchamber fit for royalty...which they were.

He released Jane and said, "You tell me. It's your dream. Remember?"

High vaulted ceilings, tall arched windows, large stone fireplace, a bed with massive dark wooden posters and heavy green drapes...Loki had but an instant to cast a glamour, and he recreated his own bedchamber in Asgard. He rolled his eyes in exasperation at his foolish attachment to his not-home.

Jane held her head and squinted. "I don't know where we are."

She stumbled, and Loki caught her elbow. "Seriously, what just happened? It felt like an earthquake trying to suck the marrow from my bones."

Loki remained silent and merely anchored her while she recovered from the too-violent transition. Jane shook her head and blinked her eyes wide several times, peering owlishly around the room.

"Oh! An old astrolabe!" Only weaving a bit, Jane made her way to the brass astronomy instrument, a souvenir from a much earlier trip to Midgard. After examining it, Jane trailed her hands along the rich bed linens, rubbed the strong wood of the posters, and stood at the robust fire, warmed by another wave of magic. If she began to test and experiment, as was her wont, she would discover the room was much smaller than it appeared. Loki was confident, though, that she would not question the "dream."

Loki stood still, his pounding blood warning him that time was short, but unable to bring himself to rush her inspection. It was only an illusion, and yet he illogically wanted her to approve of his personal space. Jane stopped in front of him, eyes dancing.

"Kai, this is gorgeous. I've never been anywhere that looks like this. I must have seen it on TV or in a movie. Can you imagine someone actually living here?"

His eyes fixed firmly on Jane, Loki answered, "It is a beautiful sight."

She flushed prettily, but shook her head in denial. "Don't be silly. I'm no match for this...grandiosity. I'm wearing dirty old work clothes."

Loki took one step toward Jane. His eyes must have belied his intentions, because Jane took one step away from him. So he repeated the motion, and so did she. A third time, and her legs hit the side of the bed. She skittered away and stood staring at him. How to gentle her?

"Are you nervous, Jane? You weren't nervous a short while ago." His voice was calm and low.

Jane glanced to her side, as if looking for the way out. "Yes, I guess I am nervous. I...I don't have much experience."

"In what, love?"

"You know. Don't make me say it."

"Dancing? You don't have much experience dancing?"

"What?"

"I'd simply like to dance with you, Jane."

"What?" she repeated dumbly. "I'm really not dressed for…"

oooOOOooo

Jane's voice faded as she glanced down at herself. Her work clothes were gone, replaced by a deep green silk gown. The dress fit her like a second skin, but was modest, long sleeves extending past her wrists, neckline rising high to just below her jaw. Gold edged the skirt molded closely over her hips before flaring out to sweep the floor. Jane caught the reflection of her profile in the enormous window and realized that her hair was gathered in an elegant twist, a few stray curls framing her face. She wiggled her toes and raised the hem of her gown to see her feet clad in simple green slippers.

Jane glanced up at Kai, searching for an answer. But Kai also was transformed, and they could only stare for a long while, eyes hungrily roaming each other. He stood straight-backed before her, broad-shouldered and regally tall. Gone was the all-black uniform he'd worn. Instead, gold armor formed a high collar, crisscrossed his chest, and traced down his arms to his bracers. Snug green breeches, edged with gold, and high mirror-shiny black boots emphasized the unbelievable length of his strong legs. Midnight waves tumbled away from his patrician forehead to brush a floor-length cape, the identical shade as her dress. He radiated dominance and danger. The effect was stunning.

"You—" Jane's voice failed her, and she cleared her throat and tried again. "You look magnificent. There should be a crown on your head."

Kai closed his eyes for a moment, and Jane fidgeted, uncertain. But then he opened those magical, swirling eyes and met hers. Jane knew he could see right into her soul.

"No, my love, it is you who should wear a crown." Jane felt a slight weight on her head and she reached up to feel a gem-encrusted tiara.

He stared unblinking at her, then answered her unasked question. "It's your dream, isn't it? Dance with me...your Majesty."

It was a command, not a request, but Jane hesitated.

Kai said, "Is dancing no longer part of this realm's courtship rituals?"

Transfixed by his piercing stare, Jane raised her arms to him. Kai stepped to her, clasped her right hand with his left and slid his right onto her back—her bare back. Jane flinched, and craned her head to inspect the back of her gown. She whipped her head around to meet Kai's gaze accusingly, but he simply raised his eyebrows and quirked the corner of his beautiful mouth.

A single clasp held the high neckline together, then the dress was backless—and practically sideless, Jane found. She felt with her free hand and discovered that the material draped low on her back, low enough to verge on indecent.

"This dress is—"

"Fit for my queen. You are so beautiful, Jane."

And he brooked no more arguments as he pulled her to him, one hand spanning the width of her naked back, the other clasping hers high. His shoulder was too high to reach comfortably, so she rested her left hand on his upper arm. From somewhere a lovely waltz began to play and their feet began to move. Jane found that she followed flawlessly—but then it was a dream, wasn't it?

The crackle of the fire, the haunting music, the caress of the strong hand on her bare skin, and the taut, shifting muscles under the armor intoxicated Jane. Their gazes locked together, they slid and turned gracefully around the flagstone floor. A sudden burst of joy crinkled her eyes and tipped her mouth up in a smile. She wanted this dream to last, to stay locked in the arms of this dangerous, mysterious, wonderful prince.

oooOOOooo

Loki couldn't return Jane's smile. The weight of the want had carried him past levity. He wanted to savor this dance with Jane, almost certainly the only one he would ever have. If, by some miracle, he survived his next crusade, she would never let him touch her again. But this moment was perfect. Jane was breathtaking, draped in a gown to match his dress armor. He had to know if she tasted delicious, too.

Slowing their steps, Loki pulled her up as he bent to her. Jane rose on tiptoes, her small hand grasping his arm. Their lips brushed gently once. Only once, then the kiss was gentle no more. Both of them moaned and both reached for more of the other, crushing, grasping, molding, seeking to slake the vicious thirst. He needed her closer. Loki kept one arm around Jane's back and bent to hook his other arm around her knees. Effortlessly, he lifted her. She snaked her arms around his neck and brought her mouth to his, giving as much as she was taking.

Jane murmured something against his lips. Pulling back slightly, he asked, "What did you say?"

"Bed. Now."

He was compelled to obey. Three long strides brought them to the side of the bed. Loki flicked a finger: the curtains parted, the rich bedclothes folded back. He lay Jane carefully on his bed and started to stand, to give her a moment to adjust, but she darted a hand out and tugged at him.

"Please," she begged sweetly.

He was lost.

oooOOOooo

Jane slept soundly, on her back, small hands thrown palm-up on the bedclothes. Loki reverently trailed his eyes over her form: her hair silken across his pillow; the long lashes resting on her flushed cheeks; her parted lips, slightly swollen from his fervent kisses; the graceful lines of her throat; the delicate bones of her neck and shoulders, smudged by faint bruises.

Her peaceful slumber contrasted the frantic activity of the previous hour. He had wanted to parcel out the pleasure in measured doses, but instead their coupling had been cataclysmic, tearing Loki and Jane to pieces and remaking them.

Loki traced the scar on his right wrist, following the looped pattern, both agony and ecstasy making his heart accelerate. Jane's mark was barely visible yet on her healing hand, but it would be there. Forever.

The pitch black of the desert sky grayed almost imperceptibly. Someone would arrive soon to collect Jane. Loki yearned to simply disappear with Jane. There were regions of the World Tree known only to a few. They could live there hidden—but Thanos would find them. Eventually.

No, it had to end now. Loki could not take even the memories with him, he knew. A single tear surprised him, sliding down his cheek, falling onto Jane's chest. She shifted in her sleep. With a twist of his hand, Loki retrieved the sleeping spell. He carefully sifted a tiny amount over Jane's resting form.

Satisfied that she would not wake for a long while, Loki rose and beckoned his magic, erasing evidence of their liaison and replacing their clothing, remembering to include the bandage on Jane's injured hand.

Loki scooped the sleeping Jane up, released the glamour on the hotel room, and transported them to the roof. He arranged Jane on her chair before kneeling beside her and whispering instructions in her ear. Finally, he pressed one last kiss to her forehead, steeled himself against the wrenching of parting, and was gone.

oooOOOooo

Gentle rays of the autumn sun wrung the sleep from her eyes. Jane blinked cautiously. She was not in her lab, not on the couch nor in any bed. Where…? What…? Another blink and her eyes fell on her bandaged hand. Awareness flooded in and chased sleep away. SHIELD was coming. Jane fumbled for her phone and swiped the display open. 10:24 a.m.! Someone should already have been here.

Several texts waited from Erik.

(6:15 a.m.) Erik S.: There's a situation here. Go to the most secure part of your lab. Wait for more instructions.

(8:03 a.m.) Erik S.: Agent has been notified to stand by. Are you there?

(9:51 a.m.) Erik S.: Someone will be there to get you shortly. It's okay.

Jane frowned. The roof was probably not the most secure part, huh? Good thing she slept through all this nonsense. "Thanks for the non-information, Erik."

Well, she probably shouldn't climb down the ladder on her own. And her bladder was full. How long would she have to stay up here? She picked up her notebook and shrugged. Might as well do some work.

The Tesseract. Using the energy. All of a sudden, she felt her mind expand exponentially. She had the solution. Photodiodes! She'd been focused on absorbing and storing the gamma energy as is. But what if they converted that energy, like a solar cell does? There were details to hammer out, but Jane knew this was the answer. Her pen flew over the pages of her notebook as she poured out the images and ideas that sprouted.

A commotion startled her. Someone was pounding on the doors of her lab below.

"Jane! Jane Foster!"

Really, those SHIELD creeps should call her Dr. Foster. She'd mention that to Erik as soon as possible.

"Jane! Are you there?"

Wait—that voice...it couldn't be, could it?

Jane awkwardly pushed herself off the lawn chair lounger and padded in her stocking feet to the edge of the roof. "I'm up here! On the roof!"

The sun was in her eyes, but she caught glimpses of silver and red.

"Thank the Norns you're all right!"

Thor.