That's right folks, I'm title-dropping for this chapter. A little bit of fluff, a hearty dash of angst, and a good does of physical intimacy.

And hold onto your butts because I'm announcing LEMONS for the next chapter. Yes, citrusy goodness for you foul minded, horny Hiddle-stoners.

I'm moving my original timeline along a little faster, but feel free to tell me whether or not it's too fast.

As always, thank you so much for your feedback.

Hunny xoxo


November 15th, 8:45 am

Jane awakens to the thick smell of sizzling bacon so delicious her mouth waters the moment her eyes spring open. She doesn't remember being so hungry in her life. She's more surprised when her sleep-glazed eyes find the clock on her nightstand. It's nearly nine in the morning, and Jane can't remember a time when she slept all the way through the night. There is little to no ache in her body when she pulls on clothes and makes her way downstairs. The scent of food grows thicker and more faceted as she nears the kitchen. She can smell crispy edges of perfectly browned toast, the bite of freshly brewed coffee, and sticky sweetness of orange juice.

Jane's mouth hangs open when she enters the dining room, the table set with a breakfast spread of the likes she has rarely seen. Toast with strawberry jam, sausages, perfectly golden brown pancakes in steaming, fluffy stacks… Jane sits, almost wary of the heavenly sight, is it possible for pancakes to be too round? If her mouth wasn't watering, she'd be too uncomfortable eating something too perfect.

Music made from the sound of bacon grease popping and dishes clanking radiates from the kitchen. Jane sips on a mug of black coffee, when she suddenly pulls back with her jaw clenched. He'd mixed in a spoonful of honey, just the way she liked it. Jane narrows her eyes to slits, sipping ruefully on her perfect cup of coffee, her mood souring the longer she looks at the perfectly made breakfast.

He's wasting all my food just to show off, she grumbles inwardly.

Loki rounds the corner with a kitchen rag over his shoulder, his black hair up in a loose bun, and two plates in hand. He raises an eyebrow and sets a plate before Jane. He didn't have to speak for Jane to hear, "Ta-da…"

She keeps her eyes on Loki as he sits across from her, setting his own plate before him. When Jane looks down she tries to keep her composure, a frown pulling down at her lips.

Two eggs over easy and a bacon smile.

Jane looks up through hooded eyes and Loki's smile fades into confusion.

"No, darling, you're doing it wrong," Loki says, using his two index fingers to pull his lips up in a smile. "See?"

"I hate you."

Loki snickers but Jane's eyes linger on his lips for a moment longer than she should, watching the tiny little pin-pricked scars.

Loki leans forward with his fingers laced together under his chin.

"It's rude to insult a guest, especially when I went through the trouble to prepare a meal. Now eat up!" Loki nods at her plate with a satisfied grin on his face.

Jane crosses her arms and leans back, nodding to his plate.

"You first."

Loki rolls his eyes, taking a cup of tea to his lips. "Please, if I were going to kill you it wouldn't be poison. I'm much more creative than that," He takes a long sip, the steam of the tea evaporating into the air. Jane picks up a fork, and looking down at the smiley face eggs, the cup of coffee, the…everything. It's all too much, and more than Jane feels she deserves. "Well?" Loki rests his chin on steepled fingers, making it clear that he wouldn't eat unless she did.

"I don't like being watched when I eat," Jane growls. Loki blinks a silent response. So?

The Aether wrenches in her gut, making a wave of nausea wash over Jane. She puts the for down.

"I can't," Jane says, her jaw clenched looking at her plate. Jane wants nothing more than to stuff her face but any kind of joy she finds, the Aether turns to ash. It would probably make her throw it up later, or give her cramps, anything to force Jane into submission. Even if that mean starving.

"Unfortunately for you, I won't take no for an answer."

"Loki-"

"I propose a game," Loki says, "You may ask me any question, and for every answer I give, you must take a bite of food."

"I don't want to play…"

"And no cheating, you're going to chew and swallow."

Jane purses her lips.

"And if I don't."

Loki's eyes twinkle, his face illuminated with amusement.

"Then I suppose I'd have to punish you, wouldn't I?" Loki purrs. Jane's face goes pale, and even more pale when Loki doesn't break eye contact.

"For a malevolent mass-murdering mastermind you're an incredible pain in the ass, are you sure you don't talk the ears off all your victims?"

"Malevolent mass murdering mastermind," Loki muses, "Say that ten times fast. Yet, I'm afraid you're not leaving this table until you've eaten something."

"You can't make me eat if I don't want to," Jane hisses. Loki smiles, no, bares his teeth at Jane with darkened eyes.

"Is that a challenge?" Loki's nostrils flare. "You're pale as a ghost and you tremble like a leaf. You will need your strength, Jane." She's not sure at what point the humor left and he became serious, he wove his intentions so well into his schemes it's hard to tell. His tone is sobering, reminding Jane the severity of her delicate situation. Jane stares woefully at the food, the Aether laughing at her from the inside.

"Trust me when I say I know how hard it is to eat after months of imprisonment," Loki says, a sudden softness in his voice. Jane looks at those scars around his mouth again, her heart surging up into her throat when she remembers how soft his lips had been under her fingertips.

"I'm not in prison."

"Aren't you though? You're wasting away in this place." Loki gestures to the rest of the home, or rather house. There aren't enough things in this place to make it truly a home to Jane. She knows what he means, and she knows he's right. Doesn't make him any less of a bastard in her mind though, no matter how right he was all the time.

"How did you survive that?" Jane touches her own lips, nodding to Loki. He leans back and reaches to the crown of his head to undo the messy bun with a heavy sigh. His raven hair falls to his shoulders, fingers weaving through the locks.

"There were enchantments cast to make sure I didn't starve or dehydrate. Only enough to keep me alive." Loki watches Jane, eyes flicking from her fork to her.

Jane takes a piece of toast, tears it in half, jamming it into the gooey egg yolk. She chews slowly, the crunchy, buttery goodness of the egg and toast sliding down her throat. She licks her fingers and sits back in her chair.

"Please, don't let me twist your arm," Loki chuckles, crunching down on a piece of bacon.

"It's good."

"Of course it's good, I made it." Loki says dabbing his lips with a napkin.

"Magic doesn't count," Jane scoffs, Loki presses his hand to his chest looking as if she'd slapped him again.

"Oof you wound me, Miss Foster. My culinary skills are just as refined as my magic."

Jane takes another sip of her coffee, mulling over her next question. Her nails tap against the mug.

"Did you know her? The woman."

Loki's lips press into a hard line, the muscles of his jaw clenching.

"She was a former student of mine."

"That's not a full answer," Jane crosses her arms. Loki nods.

"It's a long story."

"Then make it quick, before the food grows cold."

Loki leans back in his chair, his eyes lost in memories.

"It was a long time ago, even before Thor was sent to Midgard. I taught a handful of hopefuls but Amora had been the most promising."

"That's her name, Amora?" Jane's chest heats, putting the name together with that hateful laughter and twisted smile. Loki nods.

"She was obsessed with power, and left my expertise in search of a lost art of Foresight. However, few in the nine realms have ever possessed such a power."

"Did she find it?"

"What Amora didn't realize is that one cannot 'learn' the power of Foresight. It's given. It's passed from one owner to the next."

"So what then?"

"She eventually wheedled her way into the Order of Valkyries. I was offered a position at her side to overthrow Odin, and when I refused she made sure I was put somewhere where she could keep an eye on me." Loki twists his wrists, flashing those bands of scars wrapping around them.

"Did you tell Thor about her?" Jane asks but Loki's stern look is answer enough. "Didn't he try to stop her?"

"Thor's never been particularly inclined to believe me."

"I can't imagine why." Jane hadn't realized she'd been gripping the edge of the table. Her heart pounds in her throat, that rage burning a hole inside her. "I can't believe that he wouldn't investigate a threat to the realms, especially one to Asgard."

"Are you always this eager to take Thor's side or is it just when the truth is inconvenient?"

"I'm not taking his side," Jane growls, "Besides, asking me questions isn't a part of your little game." Loki's expression grows more guarded, shadows growing under his eyes and cheekbones.

"That's six bites by my count, Foster."

Jane shovels food into her mouth, not caring if she looks like a pig. She chews and swallows mechanically, not giving Loki the satisfaction of enjoying the food. She wipes her mouth on the back of her hand when she's finished and downs a gulp of orange juice.

"Did Thor know Amora was after me?" Jane's stomach aches terribly, she had eaten far too fast but her anger roars over the pain.

"With manners like yours I'm surprised it wasn't Volstagg you seduced." The fact that Loki dodges her question makes her feel like she's closer to uncovering truth. The hard, painful truth.

"Did. He. Know." Jane can feel the Aether coursing through her veins. She clenches her fists in her lap to keep her hands from shaking. Loki's face look strange to her, an expression she hasn't seen before in him. Pity.

"When I was arrested, I warned Thor that Amora was dangerous," Loki says. His words are slow, eyes glass and wide with guilt like he knows what will happen next.

"And?" The fire eats Jane alive from the inside out.

"And that you were in grave danger."

He knew.

"Jane?"

That bastard. He fucking knew and did nothing. Didn't he care? I thought he wanted to protect me. I thought he loved me. He knew and…and…

"Jane breathe."

Air backdrafts into Jane's lungs and she exhales flames into a raging scream. Her body turns into an inferno, engulfing her entirely. That feeling like pure ecstasy tears through her, blurring her vision.

She doesn't know at what point she stood, or when the table blew apart, or when Loki's skin had turned from pale ivory to sapphire blue.

The real version emerges. The monster. Horns protrude from his forehead and curl back towards the crown of his head. Alongside his scars, linear etchings track all over his body. Blood red eyes stare back at Jane through raven hair.

"WHY?!" Jane roars in that voice made from fire and when she moves, it feels like the flames move for her. It's almost effortless, her movements slicing through air like a knife through butter. She barrels into Loki, throwing him back against the wall. Plaster and wood splinter under the impact.

Jane throws a cross at Loki's jaw. He catches her wrist in his hand, the frostbitten touch making Jane roar.

"I'm not your enemy Jane," the frost giant growls, but unrelenting, Jane drives her free fist into his stomach. Loki twists Jane's arm in his grip, twirling her back to him with her arm pressed against her spine.

"Don't let it win, Jane," Loki grits out, before Jane drives her elbow into him. She writhes in his grip, the fire hissing when it meets his touch. Jane screams. Not because it hurts, but because she doesn't want to give up the fire. It feels too good to release the hell inside.

Jane drives her head back, connecting with Loki's face. Loki staggers back with blood pouring down from his nose, panting. Jane is on him in a flash, driving punches and kicks, some meeting their mark and others he blocks but she begins to gain ground, pushing him back into the living room. The more their limbs connect, the more the Jane's flames die under Loki's icy bombardment. Jane rockets a powerful side kick into Loki's abdomen, but he hooks his arm under her knee. With Jane off balance, Loki delivers her to the floor.

Loki lands atop Jane and she can't fight him off fast enough. One arm lays trapped under their combined weight and one leg trapped in Loki's hooked arm, making her struggle in vain. With Loki's free hand, he pins Jane's other wrist above her head, immobilizing her completely. By now, her bursting inferno has dwindled to embers.

"It feels good, doesn't it?" Loki's crimson eyes burrow into Jane. "Releasing all that rage… It's the best pleasure there is." Jane squirms beneath Loki, but she knows it's useless. She had the fire but Loki is far stronger and a better fighter.

"Get off me." She hisses.

"If you let it consume you, that rage will kill you," His hair tumbles into Jane's face and instead of flames, Jane is engulfed by Loki. He is lain over nearly the entire surface area of her body, the weight not enough to crush her but…enough. "You want the ones who hurt you to suffer, but instead you're the one in pain."

"They could have lived," she whimpers, "Why didn't he care?" Loki shakes his head, his expression incredibly sad.

"I'm so sorry, Jane." Loki releases Jane, easing back onto his knees. She turns away from him, gathering herself together. The living room and dining room are in ruins. The table and chairs are charred and broken to bits, the floors are scuffed with blackened footsteps, and the wall in the dining room is concaved. Jane holds her head, massaging her aching temples with her fingers.

"This is a mess," she grumbles, "I'm a fucking mess."

Loki stands at her side, offering her his hand. Now, it's returned to normal. Or rather, the disguise. Jane glares at Loki from the floor, standing herself up on her own. She steps within inches of Loki, so close that the exhalation of his breath tickles her cheeks.

"If he didn't care enough to come then, why the hell did he bother sending you?"

"Thor had no reason to believe me until it was too late. Amora had twisted not only the mind of many guards and nobles, but even Heimdall and Odin himself. When Thor deemed Odin unfit to rule, Amora took her chance and staged a coup." Loki looks down at Jane, or rather, at her abdomen. "Thor and I barely escaped before Amora took control of the main palace. But even then we were…"

"Too late." Jane finishes, "So as we speak he himself doesn't even know whether I'm alive or not?"

"None of us were sure," Loki says, "Thor wouldn't believe it until he saw a body."

"That's why he sent you." Jane says, putting it all together for herself, "So why not Sif or Volstagg or literally anyone else in the universe?"

"I chose to come."

"Why?" Jane presses, "Why you?"

"Because I saw something none of the others could see. I saw something that terrified me." In that moment, Loki changes. Like a glimmer of sunlight through darkened shades. The walls of his wit and sarcasm come down for just a moment, revealing a vulnerable Loki underneath it all. Like that image from Jane's dream, where the light still touched his eyes. Jane takes a step away from him, unsure of how to approach this new creature. She's never known Loki to be afraid, ever.

"I saw the Aether consume you, twist you into something dark," Jane blinks, thinking about that demon from before. Is that what Loki saw too? "Since we met in Asgard I thought you were quite possibly the most innocent person in the universe. You…" Loki, for the first time, seems at a loss for words to Jane, "You reminded me of my mother."

Jane swallows hard, taking it all in. This changes everything she had thought about Loki. No doubt he had done unforgiveable things but she can't in good conscience call him a monster. That title belongs to people like Amora, Malekith, and all the other horrible, unfeeling, creatures of the realms. But not Loki. Real monsters have hearts of ice. Though Loki may be a frost giant, a liar, and a criminal: he has a soul.

"You saw the future. You had the Foresight all along, that's why Amora couldn't possess it," Jane says quietly, the anger and rage gone from her. Loki gives a sad smile.

"It was Frigga's last gift. When she died, her power passed to me," Loki explains, a bitter expression of pain overcoming him, "And as much as you feel responsible for the deaths of Darcy and Erik, Frigga's death weighs just as so on me and…Jane what's wrong?" Loki's face twists in confusion and Jane hadn't realized tears were starting to fall from her eyes. She had to tell him, the truth has been eating away at her since the moment he arrived. He had told her the truth, given answers to long awaited questions. Loki deserved to know how it happened, how Frigga died protecting Jane. Her chin quivers, and fear rips through her. What if he leaves?

"Loki, I'm not innocent," Jane wraps her arms around herself, feeling very small.

"Jane," Loki approaches but she steps back from him, keeping distance between them not for her safety, but for his. She knows what the Aether is capable of now, and if he decided to leave, she's afraid of what it will do with her pain. But it's the right thing to do, regardless of the pain it will cause. Jane bites her lip, her throat clenching around her words.

"It's my fault. She died protecting me."


Author: *rubs hands together* The plot chickens...

Audience: ...What?

Author: What?