"Jane."
Twirl the pen…sketch the relationship between the virus's DNA and the biochemistry of the antiviral…
"Jane."
Sigh, sip, scratch out the sketch…
"You know, I'd think that you were deliberately ignoring me, except that you never deliberately do anything."
"What do you want, Michael?" she hated her job.
"Mike. Erik wants to see you," he sat next to her at the table.
"I don't want to see him," she shuffled her papers and put on her lab goggles.
"Look…don't shoot the messenger," he paused. "Do you like pie?"
"Jesus Christ," what the hell was this dude talking about.
"Because…you know…I know this place…if you're feeling up to it, we can totally go after work."
She was looking at him, her mouth agape. "Michael, are you asking me out for pie?"
"I…"
"Because that isn't how you ask a woman out," she snapped. "You mention it casually in conversation…"
"That's not what I…"
"…you compliment her. Tell her that she's interesting and that you'd really like to get to know her."
"I was…"
"Then, when you've sufficiently buttered her up, you say, hey. How about we continue this over some pie? Why is that so fucking hard to do?! Is this the future of dating for the human race? Do guys really think that we are all just sitting around, waiting for you to ask us out for pie? Because you can't just expect pie. You need to work for pie," she stood, and pointed at him. "Pie is a sensitive thing. Sometimes it's cream pie, and it's delicate. Sometimes it's fruit pie, and you need coffee to wash it down. That's the problem with men. They think everyone wants to have pie with them. But not everyone does," she ran her hand through her hair. "Why couldn't I have been gay."
"Yeah. See, I am gay, so I wasn't asking you on a date."
"What."
"I wasn't asking you on a date. You seemed down, so I thought that you might want to talk…" he paused. "But I don't think that I want to anymore. You're mean and moody," and he turned back to his work.
"Oh my god Michael. I am so sorry. I'm just…going through some stuff…"
"Mike. And yeah. I got that."
"Mike. Sorry," she blushed and walked away for Erik's office.
What was wrong with her? She was distracted. Irritable. She was completely unnerved, and not eating. She was miserable and snappy. Short tempered…
Loki.
She had dumped him right after he confessed his love for her.
It was for the best, she thought as she glided the tips of her fingers over the wall of the basement corridor. She was miserable. Lost…
"Erik?" she tapped the door.
"Jane! Come in."
She entered the office. "You wanted to see me?"
"I did," and he stood, and circled round the desk. "It seems that you might be leaving us for greener pastures, Jane."
"Sorry?" she was perplexed.
"You've been holding out on me. I thought we were friends," but he was smiling at her.
"I still don't…"
"Harvard was in touch. Congratulations, Jane," he smiled and moved to shake her hand.
"Erik. I have no idea what you are talking about. Really."
He appeared a bit dumbfounded. "You mean…Harvard admissions sent me the letter…asking me about your employment here. You are to finish your dissertation. You have…" he pulled out the letter. "Six months."
Jane stood and snatched the letter from his hands. She read:
Dear Dr. Selvig,
We at Harvard School of Astrophysics are happy to accommodate you and the needs of your lab regarding Ms. Foster's position. She will be expected in Cambridge every six weeks for no more than three business days at a time. Since she has not yet responded to our timeline, it will be her responsibility to work out the particulars.
Sincerely,
Dr. William Castro, Dean of the School of Astrophysics, Harvard. Cambridge, Mass.
She read the last bit out loud. She was shaking her head…what does this mean…"I never applied for this," she handed it to Erik.
"Well, they have accepted you at any rate."
"But how can I be accepted for something I never applied for?"
"Maybe you have a friend in high places," he smirked and sat down again. "Well, I suppose I can grant you leave every so often. You will be downgraded to thirty two hours a week, but since you are salaried, that really shouldn't matter. Except for your 401K," he paused. "Do you have a 401K?"
She shook her head absentmindedly. "Too expensive."
"Right. Well, why don't you take the day, Jane? You appear peaky."
"Peaky," she repeated, and she got up and left the office.
Jane went to her table, grabbed her things…
"So…how'd it go?" Mike asked.
"Fine. See you tomorrow."
"Monday…" he looked at her with a creased brow.
But Jane just left.
There was only one logical explanation for what had happened. Just one. But it was so absurd that she couldn't believe it.
Had Loki really, honesty, fixed it so that she went to Harvard without having to start all over again?
She couldn't believe it. Not really. She had dumped him in the most awful way possible…
She entered her apartment and slunk to the couch. She switched the T.V. on and began to watch something, though she honestly had no idea what she was watching.
What did he mean by it? Was he hoping she'd come back?
She would need to see him.
Tomorrow.
Loki was just getting home from work. He had had a rough week, generally speaking. Thor was still barely talking to him, so his satellite office (the one that was the primary office of the one they took over) was hardly suitable when trying to navigate the communication vine of Asgard. There was a lot of, "Apologies, Mr. Odinson," Loki bit his tongue. He was no Odinson. "But Mr. Odinson is in a meeting."
"He was in a meeting two hours ago."
"There are a lot of meetings."
"Evidently," he hung up.
Exiled, no matter how he tried to sugar coat it. Placed in this god forsaken position, in this hellhole of New York…
His phone rang.
Thor.
"Hello, Thor. Condescending to ring me, are you?"
"Loki. You called…" there was a pause. "Seven times?"
"That's right. Since you are…how did the lawyer put it? The Executive CEO? Isn't that redundant? The Executive Chief Executive Officer?"
"Go on."
"Well, since you are, without a doubt, in charge, I needed your approval on those items I sent in that email last week that you never got back to me on."
"Ah," and he heard Thor going through his computer. "This all looks fine to me, Loki."
"Good," and he made to hang up. "Just forward me your O.K., and thank you for your time."
"Loki?"
Blast. "Yes?"
"How is Jane?"
He cringed. "I imagine that she is fine," he replied stiffly.
"You haven't seen her, I gather?"
"I have not."
"And you confessed yourself?"
"I did."
"Mm. Well, perhaps she either didn't believe you, or perhaps she needs some time to process this. It is rather a bombshell, wouldn't you say?"
"Or perhaps she no longer reciprocates. Perhaps she loathes me much the way you and mother do."
He coughed. "We don't loathe you, Loki. We love you…"
"Oh please," he hated it when Thor became sentimental.
"You injured us tremendously! Can you imagine the turmoil you caused for your bit of fun? Do you care?"
Loki sat back in his chair and placed his free fingertips to his temple. "I do," he muttered. "I care. I never meant for things to become so mucked up," and he sat up again. "I seem to have a penchant for chaos."
"You do love to rile people," Thor returned, chuckling. "Do you love her still?"
Loki coughed. "Yes."
"Perhaps you need to let her go. Isn't that the adage? If you love something, set it free?"
"That's a rubbish adage," he sighed.
And his false brother laughed. "Loki…"
"Yes, Thor?"
"I love you."
No answer.
"And so does mother."
"Are you setting me free as per the shit adage?"
"No. But if you are about to let something go, you need to know what you already have."
"Perhaps you are right. Perhaps it is for naught, and I should just let it go…" Loki paused. "But thank you, Thor…" he paused once more. "And I love you…brother."
"Loki!" he softly exclaimed.
"Now don't get yourself worked up. Didn't the doctor tell you that you need to maintain a calm demeanor?"
"Doctor?"
"Indeed…you have been gaining weight, haven't you? Diabetes is a terrible disease, Thor. We must keep you healthy for the sake of Asgard."
"Shut up Loki."
"And lest we forget, you do enjoy your drink as well…and you know what goes nicely with a stiff drink? That's right. Cigarettes. Before we all know what is happening, you'll be an overweight, smoking, drunken mess. We cannot afford for you to be agitated as well. You'll end up in hospital, which will send our mother into a state…and then you'll give her a heart attack because of your indulgences. Thor! How could you be so selfish as to kill our mother! And people claim that I am the selfish one."
Thor was laughing."You are something, Loki. I hope that this works out for you," and he hung up.
Loki smiled and pressed the "end" button.
She must have found out by now.
Perhaps he was too late.
Call Loki.
That was all the text from Thor said.
Call Loki! She had already resolved to visit the man…
But why had Thor told her to call? Was he alright?
Maybe he wasn't…maybe something awful had happened…
Jane put her shoes and sweater on, thinking about what might have occurred to prompt Thor to text her.
And in such a cryptic manner! This was infuriating!
She made her way to Loki's apartment, both irritated and concerned. It had been a month since she had seen him. A month since he had told her that he loved her.
It had seemed like a year.
Jane had been a mess…she needed to see him. Not only to verify that he was behind her Harvard question, but because, well…she had not stopped loving him as she thought she would.
Must be true love.
And she winced. True love…
Jane walked into the posh building. "Loki Odinson," she told the desk person.
It was an older building…grand in its architecture…a striking contrast to the intensely modern suites inside of it.
Jane thought it apt for Loki, then. A study in contrasts.
"He's home, Miss Foster. He said to go on up."
"Thank you," she smiled.
And she went.
She was suddenly quite nervous and tense. She was worried about how he would be acting, how she would react to him…she hadn't given this plan much thought, she kinda just went with it.
She rang the bell…
Immediately the door opened. "Hello Jane," he quickly said.
"Hi Loki. Can I come in?"
"Of course," he stood aside to allow her passage….he paused. "Would you care for something to drink?"
"No," she faced him. "Thank you," she smiled. "No…I'm here for one thing. Well, two I guess. Thor texted me telling me I should call you. Are you alright?"
"He did?"
"Yes."
Loki walked over and sat on his sofa. He smirked. "He is something, isn't he?"
"I dunno…"
"He's worried about me," he interrupted her train of thought. "He's worried, so he sent you."
"He didn't send me, Loki. I was planning on coming here."
At this he looked up. "Were you?"
"Yes. Why is Thor worried about you?"
Loki laughed nervously, looked at his feet. "Because the woman I am in love with despises me."
"I don't despise you, Loki," she whispered. "Wait. You mean me, right?"
He looked at her and rolled his eyes. "Yes Jane. I mean you."
"Just checking," she smiled. "Loki…there is something that I need to know, and I think you have the answer."
"Yes?"
"Do you know anyone at Harvard?"
Ah…"Well, when you say 'know'…?"
"You did! You did arrange for me to go there and finish my PhD, didn't you?" she was pointing at him.
"It's rude to point, Jane."
"Answer the fucking question," she dropped her hand.
Loki stood. "What would you say if I said that I did?"
"I'd say…" what would she say? "Thank you."
He nodded. "And if I didn't?"
"Then I guess…I dunno."
He crossed his arms in front of him. "Neither of those options are terribly enticing, Jane."
"What would you have me do?"
"Well, I suppose I'd agree to the reaction which resulted in you saying that you still love me, kissing me soundly, and us in my bedroom."
"You're a pig," and she went to leave.
"Jane," he touched her arm. "Please, don't leave."
And she looked at him with annoyance, but then, she really looked.
He was sad.
He was desperate...hollow, even…
She couldn't leave him like this…"Ok, Loki. What do you want?"
"You."