Let Me Love You

"Each meeting occurs at the precise moment for which it was meant. Usually, when it will have the greatest impact on our lives."

-Nadia Scrieva, Fathoms of Forgiveness

Chapter Five: When First We Met

"What the hell do you mean you sent it!" Jane wasn't sure if she might start hyperventilating – without a doubt her heart was ready to give up and her voice had continued to raise in pitch as she stated the obvious with her question. She hadn't really been that nice in her last letter – and comparing him to Odin was probably the worst thing – even Thor had told her not to do that. She held a hand to her chest to try slowing her breath; if she could keep it steady she shouldn't have a complete breakdown. God, they were taking her there in a few minutes...should she try to send something ahead? Should she be afraid he hadn't replied?

"Jane." Thor's voice followed by his hands on her arms helped calm her unsteady nerves. She offered a shy smile to her muscled paramour and nodded to his concerned look.

"I think I'll be okay, let's go do this." Jane stated, reassuring herself as much as Thor since she had nothing to lose. She was probably going to have a lot to explain. More, after she stumbled and Thor insisted on carrying her down to the dungeons – at least she was too sick to see if Loki's comments about making eye contact were just a joke or not. She was only half conscious until Thor's steady pace stopped and she heard a voice that she recognized from the small television back home in her flat. Loki's tenor was richer in person – commanding even when he didn't raise it...

"Here I was starting to think she'd died already." The slight amusement in his remark didn't really reassure her but this was her only hope – she was dead either way. "Are you planning to put her in the cell or cling until she wastes awa..."

"Enough Loki." Thor cut him off, blue eyes glaring at green before his expression softened when he turned it on Jane. "You are strong Jane Foster, don't let him walk all over you. I cannot enter with you...Odin has stated it will be only you that is allowed into the cell with him. Can you stand?"

"Yes." Jane wasn't sure she felt the positive answer but she nodded and steadied herself on her feet – she was frightened but also excited. Standing near the foreign technology of the cell and looking over the golden web of energy with interest. She glanced at the smirk Loki offered, before nervously turning her eyes back to Thor. "What do I need to do?"

"A small section will be deactivated for a moment, step through swiftly, then I will shut the cell again. I will be right outside. I won't leave here until Loki is finished." Thor explained, walking to a pillar next to the cell and opening a panel to reveal controls. Jane nodded her ascent and a moment later she was inside the lion's den. She offered an uneasy smile to Loki. "So ah, I guess it's nice to meet you in person?"

Loki didn't reply immediately, instead he walked closer to her, she began to back up – alarmed, then cried out when he reached forward. She would have fought if she didn't have to throw up a hand to ward off a cough. "You nearly electrocuted yourself, did Thor not explain that the walls are dangerous to the touch? For an Asgardian they aren't much of a bother but for a...well, in your current state it could be detrimental."

"Um, we were sort of in a hurry." Jane said, rubbing her arms uncomfortably as she stepped away from the promised death she'd found pretty a moment ago. "I uh, how did you touch me?"

"The Aether normally protests?" Loki asked curiously, he'd moved closer to her and taken one of her arms despite her unease. He was using one of his hands to call the substance to the surface as Odin had. His emerald gaze staring kept Jane silent, his attitude of a moment before – the sly instigator had been replaced by a sterner expression of analytical interest.

"If by protest you mean throw people across the room like rag dolls then yes." Jane answered, considering the handsome man staring at her arm. "How'd you end up...um, no never mind. I didn't mean to say that out loud."

"Still delirious?" Loki's comment made her blush – so much for hoping the letter might have been lost before reaching him. "Lay down on the cot, close your eyes, I want to see how it reacts when you're more relaxed."

"Not sure that I'll feel anymore relaxed but I'll try." Jane stepped over to the small cot set up for him in the prison, laying down. Glancing out to where Thor was pacing as he watched them. "Thor, I'll be okay, you pacing and fretting outside is just making me more nervous."

"I will not..."

"Do you want her to be aided or to stand like a helpless puppy waiting for it's master?" Loki interjected on her behalf and Jane blinked in surprise. "If your lady fair wishes to be alone with me perhaps you should respect her wishes."

Thor paused, Jane could tell the word choice was ruffling him. Did Loki really need to put it that way? "Loki, how are comments like that helpful?"

"I will take my leave for a time, if you hurt her..."

"Yes yes, you will kill me." Loki waved a hand as if he'd heard such threats before. "Now then, eyes closed Jane Foster."

Thor was muttering as he stalked away and Loki smirked while leaning closer to Jane to call the Aether to the surface of her skin. The power was palpable to someone with his command of magic, and given his prior experience with the Tesseract he was drawn to one of it's brothers. It was clear however, how dangerous holding the Aether could be. She was sweating heavily and while she was trying to remain calm and act normal it was clear she was in pain.

"It has infused itself heavily into your system...removing it will not be a simple task." Loki remarked, Jane squealed and pushed him away when she opened her eyes to find him near her face.

"What are you doing?" Jane asked, scowling after her initial shock. But the surprised raise of his brows seemed honest enough to give her pause.

"I am checking you as I said I would...I thought there might be a specific point that the Aether was weaker or stronger but that does not appear to be the case. I don't know much of mortal physiology but it is obvious you are not in good condition." Loki remarked, it was more professional than she was expecting – a little like seeing a doctor. As opposed to the witch doctor she thought she'd face after his rant about magic.

"So...what should I do?" Jane asked slowly, starting to sit up then pausing as he reached forward to hold her on the cot – it wasn't aggressive but it still made her cheeks warmer yet again. She realized that this was normally his bed and she was immersed in his scent – something not wholly disagreeable.

"Sit still, I'm considering..." Loki stated, clearly not having any other plans behind holding her down on a bed. Why did Thor's brother have to be just about as good-looking as he was? It was in a different way – Loki was subtle where Thor was not. He was taller than she expected, he was almost the same size as his brother. They weren't each as wide as the other but Loki was still strong by the feel of him pressing her down with such ease. Of course, he was still an Asgardian – he'd gone toe to toe with some of the world's strongest heroes and it had taken all of them to capture him. It was impressive now that she thought about it – pity he was such a psycho...

"You never answered my questions...you don't seem overly offended...so...why are you like this?" She was curious and he was quiet for such a long time she felt the need to push conversation. This was much easier when it was through letters...in person she felt more fragile.

"A dashing young man trying to decide how to save your life?" He replied smoothly. His lips perking when she shot him a dirty look. "I believe you should be more concerned with yourself right now Jane Foster. Distracting me from a plan is not in your best interest."

"Well, do you have anything in mind yet?" Jane prompted, not too surprised he deflected the question. She couldn't really argue since she did still feel like garbage, and surviving to find out what had made him so power-hungry would be nice.

"I will need to construct a vessel to hold the energy, siphoning it from you a little at a time – but that could take a far longer period than you have available. Which leaves me with the need to figure out how to keep you with us in the meantime." Loki remarked, smiling as he noticed she was staring at him. She glanced away and he left it at that, it was amusing that she apparently found him attractive enough to forget his attempted takeover of her world. Then again, he was her only hope for survival and she did appear to have a preference for heroes.

"Well, your healers have been trying to help but mostly they make me feel nauseous, I guess medicine sucks everywhere." Jane complained. "How long are we talking?"

"If I'm given full access to the needed supplies? Two weeks, perhaps one if luck favors us. Seeing as I will probably have to fight for the needed equipment likely three to four weeks total. But you will not last that long under the current circumstances." Loki observed bluntly, making her wince slightly. So much for always being the subtle one...

"I'll do what I can to die slower." Jane snarked.

"While helpful, it won't be enough." Loki replied, getting up from where he'd been leaning near her to pace in the cell. The sudden cool making Jane all the more aware of how close he had been, pressed against her when he was seated on the cot with her. "There are a few potions that could possibly help but they are risky at best. Putting you into stasis could just allow the energy to eat away at you faster. I'd rather not attempt to take over your mind as it could allow the Aether a gateway to myself."

"None of that sounds good." Jane observed, frowning at him.

"Hmm, I wonder..." He pondered as his eyes lit with an idea. She didn't like the smile on his face one bit, whatever plot had just come into that malevolent mind had to be less than pure. "Jane Foster, how do you feel about apples?"

End Chapter

Whew, fairly clear hint at the end there. Glad to get to write more. I really adore these two – one of few couples that have gotten more than one fic out of me! I'm sort of proud?

-Aura

To my reviewers:

3 you guys. Isn't it a pity Thor 3 isn't due til the earliest 2016 and probably 2017? So unfair for us Loki fans.

Arianne1 – Thank you, I hope I can keep up that pace.

OkieDokieLoki – I shall try to update with some frequency. Just depends on my muse.

Black Heart – Your wish...my command? I guess?