Loki was sitting on Jane's sofa, sipping wine, and watching some ridiculous television program. He had no idea what was going on…he was too preoccupied with what Jane was doing. Was she kissing that fellow? Was she at his apartment?
And he seethed in his station, unable to accept the spite teeming his mind.
He loved this woman, and he could hardly recognize his own wants and desires for they were tethered to obtaining Jane's good graces.
Her good graces, indeed.
Love had rendered him thus, for ordinarily he would be more than content at her offering her body and her heart. He likely would have disposed of her already.
He flipped the station on the television and sighed. But here he was, waiting for her to return, and desiring nothing more than to know that she isn't engaged in something lascivious with that idiotic Jason fellow.
A turn of a key.
He switched off the tv.
He heard her sigh.
She clicked the door closed.
"Bad date?"
Jane screamed. "Loki! What are you still doing here?" she flipped the lights on and threw her bag on the chair by the door.
Loki curled a smirk. "I never said that I was leaving, Jane."
"No. But I told you to," she replied, walking toward him.
"Since when do I obey your meek orders?"
"Meek."
"Yes, gentle, timid…meek," he continued to stubbornly sit, and folded his arms, his eyes never leaving her face.
"I can call the cops, you know."
"You could," and he slid a long finger alongside his cheek. "But you won't," and he pointed at her and laughed.
She sighed once more and slumped into one of her chairs, holding her head in her hands. "What do you want Loki."
"I wanted us to have a nice dinner, but my desires were thwarted by that hospital orderly."
Jane's hands fell and she looked at him. "How did you…?"
He cocked a brow and smiled ruefully.
"Never mind. Why are you still here?"
"I want only to know how my fair sister got on with her suitor," and a look of pure innocence was painted on his countenance.
"Oh my god."
"It was you, Jane, who started that comedy of errors."
"It was you, Loki, who refused to leave," and she got up and went to the kitchen.
"I am very comfortable here…well…not very. When are you planning on updating your furniture?" he ran his finger along the upholstery.
"Oh…just as soon as I send in my last payment for my Land Cruiser, and after I finish furnishing my French villa."
Loki chuckled. "You are much brighter, Jane, than what your occupation allows you."
"How would you know?" and she sat in her seat once more with a glass of wine.
"Thank you, I would love a glass," he eyed her wine.
"Great. You know where the glasses are."
He huffed. "I am not accustomed," he began as he stood to obtain some wine. "To fetching my own refreshment."
"You live alone…how is that possible? Do you not eat or drink in your apartment?"
He shrugged. "Tell me," he sauntered back into the sitting room. "What did you tell your date about me?"
"Well, it wasn't easy…you have that accent…and we don't look alike…and you're rich…so I told him I was adopted and that my parents hate me."
Loki chuckled. "Quite a tragedy, Jane Foster. Adopted, and loathed by your adoptive parents…one couldn't make that up if one tried."
"Vivid imagination."
"Quite," he paused. "So…Jason was less than exciting?"
"He was fine," she looked away.
He nodded.
"What?"
"Nothing," but he was smiling.
"What? Surprised I didn't hop into bed with him…especially considering I'm a fucking stripper. Oh, that was great. I had to convince him that you were vindictive and hated me because I am the smart one."
"You are the smart one."
"That's right," and she smirked.
"Dear Jane, I'm certain that even as dull as Jason surely is, that even his mind would notice that I boast the superior intellect."
"You boast quite a lot, Loki. Anyone could see that."
He sat forward and downed his wine. "When a finer mind is present, why not put it on display? Why falsify intellect?"
"You aren't all that. I am pretty smart, you know."
Now he laughed heartily.
"What?!" Jane exclaimed. "You have all of those words. And that's great. But what are you really? You basically lied your way to the top, and you think that you're this like, intellectual mammoth, but you're actually just an asshole."
He sat back and considered her. "Is that what you honestly believe?"
"Yes."
"I lied my way to the top? I have my position because I was selected from Odin's company as capable, and I made a wild success of it."
"You were selected because no one could stand working with you. They know that you embezzled funds, and it was their way of getting rid of you without putting you in jail."
Loki stood. "You should stop now, Jane."
And she rose. "No. Someone needs to come clean with you."
Loki withered a glare.
Jane stood firm. "It hurt like hell, Loki, to know that you could just do what you want to me. But that was nothing to what Thor experienced."
"Thor…"
"Shut up. You did everything you could to sabotage his position at the company and Odin's favor."
"He's an idiot. Anyone could see that."
Jane pointed her finger at him. "He's not. You're smart, sure, but your brother isn't an idiot," she paused, and folded her arms in front of her. "And I loved him…" she whispered. No, she wasn't sure if she did, but she wanted Loki to feel something.
"And now you love me…"
"Yeah. But that is gonna stop. I need to move on, Loki. I need to stop this. It isn't healthy."
He narrowed his eyes a touch. What was she saying…? "Jane, I hope that Jason wasn't an attempt to move on, as you put it."
"What if he was?"
Loki laughed and sat back down. "Jane…you cannot think that you would be able to succeed in such an endeavor with a man such as that. Your sigh as you entered was proof positive that you are less than enraptured. And why should you be? Honestly," he looked at her. "You are in need of someone who can meet you intellectually, sexually, and adore you accordingly."
"And you, I'm guessing, are just the man."
He raised his eyebrows and held out his palms. "Why not? Let's give it a go, Jane. After all, your beauty compares nicely with most women I condescend to date."
"Oh my god."
"Just so."
"Is that your really fucked up way of suggesting that I date you?"
"I fail to see anything fucked up about it."
Jane shook her head and sat down…take a different approach, maybe. "Loki…your ego knows no limit. Think about what you are suggesting, and the way in which you are suggesting it. You basically told me that you'd be doing me a favor by dating me…and knowing as you do that I love you…christ knows why…that's really pretty despicable."
"How? You love me, why wouldn't you want to be with me?"
"Ummm…" she laughed. "Because you are a complete jerk and you treat everyone like shit."
Loki rubbed his face. "But the matter stands, Jane Foster. Like it or no, you are in love with me, by your own unsolicited admission, and I am offering to be with you…you really are shooting yourself in the foot."
"No…actually. I am saving myself. You should go."
"Go?"
"Go."
Loki stood. This was a disaster. Nothing was happening according to plan.
Jane wasn't begging him to fuck her.
She wasn't telling him how much she loved him.
She wasn't singing his praises…his physical beauty or his bedroom prowess…his mind, wit…
He could declare himself…"Jane…I…"
"Shut up, Loki. I don't wanna hear anything that you have to say. Please just leave."
Loki swallowed…his emotion…his pride…he nodded, and he left.
A few tears were spent as a result of the scene on Jane's part. She knew that he wouldn't be returning, not after everything that she said. Not that she wanted him to, necessarily.
Ok. Yes she did.
Fuck.
Jane got out some ice cream and turned on the tv. Something sad…Casablanca? Roman Holiday? Sabrina?
Sabrina….and Jane cried, despite the happy ending…
He crashed into his apartment and took note of his hands shaking.
How dare she refuse him!
How dare she speak to him thus!
Her ignorance concerning his familial affairs, his professional life…
Loki poured a drink and downed it in a hungry gulp.
She knows nothing about the way in which he suffered at Odin's hand; constantly overlooked despite his obvious ability. Regarded as lacking because his favorite son was decidedly less than capable, but his father wouldn't see that.
No…
And so yes, he became a bit more than sarcastic.
Bit more than unpleasant.
Began to be lavish with the money, and perhaps misappropriated some funds on a sojourn to Paris…if Odin wouldn't trust him with some responsibility, then he would play accordingly.
And yes, when the opportunity came to find a CEO for the most recent corporate takeover, Odin looked to him.
Loki might save face by claiming that he was selected because he was able to make a success of it where Thor could not, but he knew that he was wanted out of the way. And he left, happily, to see to his position of power and prestige.
His mobile rang out.
London…Frigga.
He sighed. "Hello, mother."
"Loki, how are you?"
"It's awfully late, mother. Is everything alright?"
He heard her sigh…"Can you come home? We have pressing matters to discuss."
"What is so pressing?"
"Your father's will."
Loki stopped…he looked out of the window once more. "Will? Is he ill?"
"He is dying, son."
Jane walked into her office at work. A paltry lab in Manhattan, full of stuffy students and angry scientists, angry because they worked in a basement. Stuffy, yet chilly. Expansive yet crowded.
She set her coffee mug down at her place at the table.
Wretched stuff…but she couldn't afford the good coffee. "Hey, Mike."
"Well, another dark day in the dungeon, Jane."
Wow. She needed to find another person to sit next to. "Yeah…heh. Dungeon…" she rolled her eyes and sat. "Nice weekend?"
"Well…" and Mike pulled out a chart out from the envelope next to him. "I made some pie. I like pie."
Jane coughed. "Pie's good."
"Especially apple pie. God I love apple pie," he shook his head dramatically.
"It's the little things, I guess," Jane needed another job. She should just bite the bullet and move to New Mexico to study the stars. Fuck this medical lab shit.
"How can you call apple pie a little thing, Jane?"
"Ah…well…I guess if you made a really big pie…"
"You just don't get it. I can't talk to you," and he got up and left.
What the actual fuck was that about.
Her phone rang out a text alert…
Jane…it's Thor. I wanted you to know that Odin passed away last evening…it would be great if you could make it to London for the funeral…Mother always loved you and she would love it if you were here. We would pay for you.
Holy shit…
Jane swallowed.
Oh Thor, I'm so sorry. Of course I'll come. When is the funeral?
Send.
He was responding.
Wednesday…can you get out of work now? I'll book you a flight straight away.
Jane looked at the phone. Loki would be there, she was sure of it.
Yeah. I'll go now. Text me the specs when you get them. See you tonight.
Jane turned off her phone and went to the head lab technician (who she could do intellectual circles around). She would take the whole week off.
And she would be dealing with the Odinsons…
It would be an interesting week, no doubt.