Author's Note: I am so so sorry it's taken so long to update. I got divorced in March and my mother passed away in June. Thank you guys for hanging in there with me and for all your thoughts, prayers and good wishes during these trying times.
On the bright side, the muse woke up and decided to play. I will try desperately to update this more often and on the regular. Now...on with the show...
Jane stood in front of the mirror, studying her rather striking change of appearance: Light blue skin. Dark navy markings on her forehead and cheekbones. Blood red eyes. Her hair remained a vibrant shade of brown except for the lower layers which darkened to jet black.
"How is this possible?" She thought to herself as she eased her fingers over the markings at her cheekbones.
"I have only one theory," Loki replied as he stood behind her, studying her appearance just as earnestly as she, "What do you know of your genetic heritage?"
"You're not suggesting that I have a Frost Giant ancestor, are you?" Jane tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
"I am," He gently placed his hands upon her shoulders, "I think, perhaps, it is why our situation is possible. If you have some quantity of Jotun blood by birth..."
"The Imprinting bonded us because I am a Frost Giant," Jane concluded as she stared at her reflection, "This is the first time I'm at a complete loss, Loki. All the rest of this has been strange enough. However, given what I've seen in recent years, I'm allowed a certain amount of cautious belief. But this? How did I not know what I was?"
"I believe the same magic that hides my true form works within you as well," Loki advised her as he took her hands in his, remaining behind her, "I didn't know what I was, and I was raised to hate Jotuns. When I discovered the truth, I did not take it well."
Jane focused on his memories. She saw Jotunheim, his confusion and horror as his arm turned blue, his heartbreak and rage as Odin confessed the truth, his scheming while the Allfather lay in the Odinsleep, the death of Laufey, the destruction of the Bifrost, and Loki's fall. She closed her eyes as tears slipped free, "Oh Loki..." Jane squeezed his hands before she turned to face him.
"Do not shed tears for actions and reactions we cannot change," Loki cupped her cheeks gently in his hands, brushing her tears away with his thumbs, "The point I was trying to make is that you do not have to go through this alone."
"I know I'm not alone, and neither are you," Jane covered his hands with her own, "We are in this life together."
He smiled slightly, "I love you too."
She returned his smile before turning back to her reflection, "I want to see us."
"There we are," He deadpanned with a wry smile.
"Loki," Jane spoke aloud in a pleading tone.
He closed his eyes, suppressing the magic of his Aesir appearance. A moment later, he reopened them to see Jane's breathtaking smile in their reflection.
"We make a beautiful couple," Jane leaned back against her husband who now held his true Jotun form.
Loki studied the reflection carefully. She was correct. They made a handsome couple indeed. His darker blue skin paid perfect compliment to her paler blue complexion.
"Do you know about the markings? Does every Jotun have them? Are they symbolic of anything?" Jane began firing questions quickly as her curiosity overwhelmed her.
"Shhh," Loki wrapped his arms around Jane and pressed a gentle kiss to his territorial marking on her neck, "I can only answer one question at a time, and even then, I am unable to answer all your questions. I only know Asgardian anecdotes of Jotun culture. Whether any of it is true or not is probably up for debate."
"Because Odin was always so truthful?" She rolled her eyes, "Nevermind. Tell me what you do know."
"These are birthmarkings," Loki traced his fingertips over markings on Jane's forehead, "Not all Jotuns have them. The Jotuns that do have them are all from noble houses."
"So I'm a descendent of a Jotun noble?"
"So it would seem," He continued to the markings on her cheek bones, "These, however, puzzle me."
"Why?" Jane questioned as her body shuddered under his delicate touch.
"These are markings of an anointing in the Temple of Jotunheim," He explained as his fingers traced the delicate pattern upon her skin, "You've been to Jotunheim, Jane. Probably when you were just a babe. Perhaps even a newborn."
"That doesn't make any sense," Jane countered before she spoke aloud, "I was born Astrid Jane Foster in Boston, Massachusetts to Henry Joe Foster and Annette Hagen Foster."
"Uhm," Loki questioned with an amused smile, "Astrid?"
"I think my mother was going through a hippie phase," She shrugged.
"No, it means divine strength in the old language," He explained while taking her hands in his, "Your mother seemed to know what she was doing in gifting you your name."
"Really?" She sneered in disgust, "I always hated it."
"I won't hold it against you, Astrid," He teased, wrapping their arms around her midsection, "Someone knew of your Jotun heritage. Otherwise, you wouldn't have the markings of the temple."
"What do the markings mean?"
"You've been blessed by the Temple of Ancient Winters. A priestess of the temple would have called for the blessings of the East Wind and the Frigid Waters of the West. It's a call for the hands of fate to bless a child's future."
"Is it done to every child?"
"No, noble children only."
"I really don't understand this," She closed her eyes, leaning into him, "Let's review. Not only am I an alien."
"Part alien," Loki interrupted.
"Part alien," She clarified, "But I'm from a noble family of said alien species AND I've been blessed in a temple from said alien planet?"
"That's a brief summary, yes. However, one could argue that since you are born of said race and planet, it would not, in fact, be alien to you," He offered, his devil's advocate personality taking over much to his own dismay.
Jane laughed out loud, "You are not seriously advocating for my acceptance of my birth?"
"It has to be your influence being reflected back on you," He frowned, "I'm not particularly fond of the idea of embracing this part of me yet."
"Get used to it," She declared firmly, "We are bonded. Imprinted," She spun to face him, quickly focusing on her bite mark upon his neck, "It is because we are Jotun that our bond, our love, is possible, Loki."
"Yes ma'am," He raised a brow at her, "I must say that you are rather sumptuous like this. I never thought I would ever be attracted to a Jotun and yet...I've never been more attracted to anyone than I am to you."
"Even now?" She was practically purring as she traced her fingers over his bite mark.
"Especially now," Loki declared as he seized her body against his, lifting her feet off the floor.
"And what do you intend to do about that?" Jane asked as she ran a finger over his bite mark.
"I'm not sure," He spoke with trepidation as he stared at her ruby lips.
"You're frightened?" She realized, touching his cheekbone markings gently, "Why?"
"I've never been with a Jotun. I do not know how a mating between us now..."
"Hush," Jane placed her hand over his mouth, "We've already established you don't hurt me when you are in Jotun form," She smiled as she wiggled out of his arms and shoved him backwards on to the bed, "You should be more frightened of what I could do to you."
Loki smiled at her as she closed the distance between them, "Perhaps I should be."
"Or afraid of what I look like under these clothes," She stopped, suddenly self conscious, "What if I don't look the same? What else changed?"
"You are still Jane Foster," He began.
"Am I?" Jane spun back towards the mirror. She began tugging at the fastenings of her clothes, frustrated when the buttons felt unfamiliar under her fingertips.
Loki's hands covered hers, "Jane, you're panicking."
"What if everything has changed? What if I can't even recognize my own body?" She continued multiplying questions in her mind.
He spun her around and captured her mouth with his. Jane's mind stopped rambling and focused on the renewed taste of Loki's kiss. She moaned against his mouth as he thoroughly stole her attention.
"Now, shall we explore your body together, My Lovely Jane?" His mind suggested while his mouth never left hers. He cupped her cheek gently with one hand as he waved his other in the air, dissolving every thread of Jane's clothing.
Jane smiled against his kiss as she held onto him tightly, "You could do that clothes dissolving thing this entire time?"
"Yes, Love," His thoughts sang to her as he gently suckled upon her lips, tenderly ending their kiss.
"Jerk!" She declared as she slammed the side of her fist against his still leather clad chest, "You made me suffer through figuring out how to get you out of all of that."
"Anticipation, My Darling," He pressed a gentle kiss upon her lips before gently turning her body to face the mirror, "And now, let's see how beautiful you are."
Jane focused on his words, his voice having dropped to that ever so seductive tone she couldn't seem to ignore. She looked to the mirror and immediately wished she hadn't. Her scientific brain took over, curiosity about her new body exponentially creating questions.
Loki grinned, placing a kiss upon his bite mark at her neck, "So many questions you have. Let's see if we can answer some of those, hmm?"
He laced his fingers with hers, raising them together before them to examine their relative lengths, "Still ten fingers."
"Eight fingers and two thumbs," Jane corrected.
He brought their enjoined fingers to his lips for a tender kiss before he looked back to the mirror, "It's still your body, Jane. Let's continue, shall we?"
Loki eased their fingers along her throat before tenderly tracing her navy marked clavicle, "I find this marking especially attractive."
"Yeah?" She asked shyly, even though the truth of his words filled her senses.
"Yes," He spoke before his thoughts continued on, "I want to run my tongue along this mark and spend a considerable amount of time right about here," He traced their fingers over the hollow of her throat.
Jane moaned softly at his erotic thoughts as well as the delicate tenderness of his touch.
Loki continued drawing their enjoined fingers along her sternum, "This looks like the perfect trail for my lips," He slowly drew their fingers to her navel, "This marking here begs me to trace the pattern with my tongue."
"Loki..." Jane started to argue before Loki nibbled just below her ear.
"Shhh, we're exploring this new discovery," He added with a bit of a grin, "Scientifically, of course."
She felt Loki release her fingers before he swept her hair over her left shoulder. He began slowly placing kisses along her right shoulder. When his lips reached her arm, he stopped and took one step back. She felt his increasing arousal as he drew his eyes slowly down her spine.
"Your markings, Jane," Loki spoke in a low husky voice, "They call to me. They beg for my touch."
She began to think of a reply, but the moment his fingertips grazed her spine, all thought was lost. Her curiosity was overpowered by an all-consuming desire for her husband. She spun to face him, flashing a sultry smile that made her red eyes sparkle, "I didn't get the chance before to explore your body like this. My turn to make scientific oberservations."
Jane glared at his leathers before searching his mind for the spell. A moment later, she focused her attention and willed his clothing to dissolve, returning the favor.
"I'm not sure this is a good thing," Loki thought as his wife smiled mischievously at him, "You're going to keep me naked at every opportunity, aren't you?"
Jane's laugh was both full of mischief and seduction, "Maybe."
She stepped behind him, leaned her cheek against his arm so she could see the mirror and laced her fingers with his just as he had earlier. She studied his reflection in the mirror as all her thoughts were consumed with mounting passion for him.
For the first time since he had discovered his Jotun heritage, Loki felt both at peace and oddly proud of his countenance.
Jane drew her fingertips over the markings of his chest, "These are positively delicious. I want to lick my way all the way down," She slowly continued downward before stopping just below his navel, "Seems I'm being a bit hasty," She took a step back and feasted her eyes upon an elaborate marking down his spine. She knelt slightly to start at the base of his spine, laving her tongue upwards along the marking. She stopped only when she could reach no further due to their height difference.
Loki turned to face her, tenderly easing the backs of his fingers along her cheeks, "I see through new eyes because of you."
"I am finally whole because of you," Jane declared as she searched his eyes.
Their red eyes reflected the most honest feelings either of them had ever felt, and it felt like what either of them could imagine to be perfect love.
When their lips met, a desperate tenderness overtook them. Loki lifted her gently against him as Jane wrapped her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist.
"I don't know how this really happened, Loki. But I know that I love you," Jane thought as he laid her gently upon the bed, holding his weight above her. She broke her lips from his, "I think we've established I am not a delicate flower."
"Yes, you are," He assured her sweetly while placing loving kisses down her throat, "You're my enticing sky blue flower."
"A sky blue flower? Really?" She asked with a soft laugh, "Like some dainty little nothing found in a field?"
"I was thinking more about the ice roses from Mother's gardens. They are lush hearty blooms that filled the gardens in winter," Loki replied between gentle kisses along her left arm down to her wrist. He took her hand in his, kissing her fingers, "It is customary on Earth for rings to be exchanged, is it not?"
"You know it is," She sighed happily as he began a conjuring spell which delicately spun green mist around her left ring finger. Slowly, the mist solidified into not one but three rings. Two slim glimmering golden bands surrounded a slightly wider golden band in the center. The wider band was elaborately decorated with runes while a large glistening blue stone etched into the shape of a rose rested in a setting adorned with green stones serving as leaves, "Where did you steal this?"
"I did not steal it. Thank you very much," He smiled as he traced his fingers around her band, "Mother gave me these rings when I came of age to take a wife. She said they were my birthright. I didn't really understand at the time. I just assumed these were ancient relics passed down from one generation to another in Mother's family. But now..."
"Now, you believe she meant the rings were of Jotunheim?" Jane studied the rings closely, "What's the inscription on this one?"
"It is not in any language I know nor any covered by the magic of Allspeak. I've never been able to understand them," Loki explained casually while kissing her palm.
"What about a ring for you?" Jane asked as he began placing kisses along the inside of her forearm, "I don't have one to give you."
"They actually came as a matched set," He declared as he raised his left hand to her sight, green mist swirling into a wide golden band with markings similar to Jane's. Between each rune, a small blue stone was offset with tiny green gems.
"I love them," She met his eyes happily, seeing her own happiness reflected within. She spoke softly, "I love you, Loki."
"I love you too, Astrid," He added her given first name with a sparkle in his eye.
"I'm never going to live that down," Jane inwardly sighed with a laugh.
"I happen to think it is a lovely name for a lovely lady," Loki asked while beginning to trace the markings upon her cheek bones, his appreciation of their beauty encompassing his emotions, "Did you choose which name to use?"
Jane smiled as she eased her cheek into his touch, "No, my dad said I needed a name that would work well in scientific journals because I was going to be a great scientific mind. He thought Doctor Jane Foster sounded better than Doctor Astrid Foster."
"Perhaps to a Human ear," He lovingly followed his tracings with delicate kisses, "I believe both are well suited to you."
"Thank you," Her dreamy smile stretched over her face as she eased her fingers through his hair. His lips grazed the shell of her ear as she arched her body against his.
Loki's fingers continued their pattern of tracing her markings down her throat, emboldened by her passionate moan. His lips followed his fingers while his tongue randomly flicked over the navy blue lines.
"Oh my god, Loki," Jane gasped out loud before thinking more to herself than to him, "That's really turning me on!"
"I can feel you," He thought proudly as he focused his mouth to the hollow at the base of her throat, "Can you feel what touching and tasting your skin does to me, Jane?"
"Yes," She moaned as she offered her throat for more. Her fingers drifted slowly down his neck, lovingly dancing along the markings of his spine. He shuddered under her touch as he continued his quest, tracing her right clavicle with his tongue.
"I'm going to taste every inch of you," Loki thought as he inched his hand to her breast, kneading gently.
"You just wait till I get my chance," She purred her thoughts as she continued pushing her fingers down the markings of his spine.
He captured her wrists in his hands and pinned them to the bed beside her, "You drive me to distraction."
"Poor Loki, can't keep your focus?" She teased as she quickly wrapped her legs tightly around his pelvis. She met his eyes with a sultry smile as she spoke, "If you say anything about anticipation, I swear I will lose my mind."
He captured her mouth in a demanding kiss as she continued to writhe against him, "If you don't stop that, we will lose ourselves to passion much too soon."
"In whose book?" She questioned in her mind before gasping for air between kisses, "Please?"
His red eyes met hers, "Why is it I cannot deny you anything?"
"Because you love me," She offered as she presented her lips to him for another kiss.
Loki pulled back slightly with a devilishly delighted smile, "Anticipation, Love."
Jane growled at him. They both raised surprised eyes as the sound was more primal than either of them had ever heard.
"What. The. Hell. Was. That?!" Jane questioned, saying each word slowly. She listened carefully, assuring each word resonated in her usual voice.
"I believe the Jotun within is further emerging," His devilish smile returned to his features, "And she is demanding."
Jane's smile reflected the mischevious light within his own. She quickly teleported them into opposite positions. She lay upon his chest, holding his arms to his sides.
"Very nicely done," He praised her with wide eyes as she sat up at his waist, "By the Norns, you are the loveliest creature I have ever seen."
"I feel the truth of that statement," Her smile faltered as she released his arms.
Loki sat up wrapping his arms around her tenderly, burying his face at her throat in a loving nuzzle beneath her hair.
Jane smoothed back his hair from his neck and drew her tongue along her bite mark upon his skin. She sucked gently upon the tender flesh drawing a low rumble from Loki's chest. While she began nipping at the marking, his fingers danced down the markings upon her spine causing her to shudder.
Loki smiled as he felt her press her forehead against his shoulder. Jane dug her fingers into his biceps as he continued tracing the markings of her spine. She gasped and whined as her body trembled under his touch.
He continued tracing lower as she arched against him, "Found something sensitive, have I?"
"Yes!" Jane growled as her head snapped up to meet his eyes, "I...need..."
"Tell me, Jane. What do you need?" He asked in a rough whisper while moving his hands to her hips. He could feel Jane's excitement as keenly as his own even as he pressed her for an answer to his question.
"You. All I ever need is you." Her mind answered her heart's truth as their bodies joined as one.
Loki captured her mouth in a fiery yet desperately tender kiss. His mind echoed her sentiment while she threaded her fingers through his hair, "All I have ever needed in life is you."
As their lovemaking intensified, neither noticed the glowing signature of magic swirling about their rings.
Thousands of Light Years Away...
The sounds of scrambling feet across the stone floors echoed throughout the halls of The Temple of Jotunheim. Young female Jotuns, attendants of the Temple, scrambled to avoid the courier as she raced down the grand hall.
At the ornately carved doors to the Temple's rotunda, the courier paused long enough to catch her breath and mutter a quick prayer. Entering the presence of the High Priestess, Skadi, was always an overwhelming experience. To do so with news of import was near cataclysmic in nature.
The young courier entered the rotunda with reverence, slowly proceeding to the Altar where Skadi was knelt in prayer. The High Priestess wore vibrant green colors which accented her deep blue skin and jet black hair.
"Don't lurk, Child. What news?"
The courier blinked as the Priestess spoke without prompting. The courier cleared her throat gently, "It's happening."
"Be specific."
"The ice roses. They are in full bloom, Priestess."
Skadi stood slowly. When at her full height, she turned to face the courier. The courier needed no formal dismissal as the Priestess teleported away.
Skadi arrived in the throne room of the palace, startling all present. A cacophony of gasps, shrieks, and angry curses followed.
"Silence!"
The roaring voice brought a deafening silence into the room.
"My Lord," Skadi tipped her head only ever so slightly to the owner of the voice.
"Priestess," Helblindi groaned, "What do you want?"
"Absolutely nothing from you," Skadi retorted, "Actually, I bring glad tidings. Our King and His Queen will be arriving soon."
"I am your King!" Helblindi declared as he stood from his throne. His towering height meant to intimidate.
"Ragnarok is upon us," She continued, ignoring the 'king's' tantrum.
"Myth!" He dismissed angrily as he approached her, "I should kill you where you stand."
Skadi smiled coolly, "The ice roses are blooming, Helblindi. They have not bloomed in a thousand years...Not since our rightful King was taken from us."
"Superstitious nonsense!" The 'King' growled as he hastened his approach in an attack.
Skadi crouched slightly in menacing defense, bracing for the coming onslaught.
The crowd erupted in laughter as Helbindi fell through the illusion of Skadi and hit the floor face first.
Skadi sighed in a bored manner from her seat upon the throne, "Are you ever not going to fall for that?"
"Stop this!" Another booming male voice entered the melee, "We do not have time for you two to bicker this way!"
"Hello brother," Skadi smiled as she looked to the source of the voice, "Here to talk some sense into Helbindi?"
"Byleistr," Helbindi spoke as he stood to his feet.
"Helbindi," Byleistr crossed his arms in disapproval, "Skadi is correct on at least one matter. Ragnarok is upon us. Hela has returned to Asgard."
"How do you know this?" Helbindi asked with suspicion.
"Skadi isn't the only one with gifts," Byleistr replied as he held his hand to the Priestess, "Get out of his chair, Skadi. It's rude to show him up in public this way."
Skadi smiled coolly, "It's meant to be humbling for the ignoramous."
"Sister," The levelheaded Byleistr chided her.
Skadi surrendered and placed her hand in that of her brother. She stood and reluctantly stepped away from the throne.
"If Hela has returned..." Helbindi began, "What of Odin? Thor?"
"Who cares?" Skadi shrugged, "The only question we should be asking is what of Our King."
"I am your king!" Helbindi raged.
Byleistr held up his hand between his siblings before standing between them, "You know the history and the prophecy as well as anyone, Brother."
"If he comes, I will challenge him."
"Then, you will die," Skadi sighed sadly. She focused her attention back to her calm brother, "Do you want me to prepare The Trials?"
Byleistr nodded silently.
"My Lords," Skadi bowed ever so slightly before teleporting away.
"Do you really expect me to hand our Father's throne to a runt?" Helbindi growled as he sank onto the coveted chair.
"I expect you to honor our Father's wishes," Byleistr replied, "When the prophecy was spoken in the Temple a thousand years ago, our Father swore to place his eldest upon the throne."
"But Father didn't know he would be betrayed and what that whelp would do to our realm," Helbindi groaned, "That alone should void his oath."
"You make an oath based upon what you will promise to do. Not based upon the actions of others. We swore to Father we would see this done," Byleistr reminded him with warning evident in his tone.
"Fine. But if he dies during The Trials," Helbindi grinned with evil intent as he trailed off, "I can't be held responsible."