The breeze kicked up and tangled Jane's hair. She brushed it aside and walked down the slope to gain a better view.
"What was this place?"
Loki followed her. "A smallish, though regal, home for dignitaries. It burned about five hundred years ago...legend says that the man staying here went mad...and burned it down. Unfortunately, his wife was with him."
Jane gasped. "Did they both...?"
"Die? Yes."
"Wow," and Jane's eyes scanned the ruin.
Loki turned and strode nearer to the structure. "I thought, since you seem to have an attraction to the macabre, you might find this interesting." He wasn't looking at her, his head was bent back, presumably looking at the sky, his back toward her, hands folded behind him.
She swallowed. He brought her here because he thought she would find it interesting. Because of their conversation the other night.
"I do. It is..." and she went closer to the ruin, ran her hands against the ancient stone. "What was the man's story? Do you know it?"
Loki looked at her. "Only bits. He was from Vanaheim. He loved his wife, though they had no children. The Vanir are a proud race...it likely wounded his ego," he paused, looked away. "At the meetings he was attending, some said he had been acting oddly...talking to himself..." Loki was walking through the structure now, party hidden behind the stone. "He claimed some ancient pull was distracting his mind. That should he commit some crime, he was not to blame...of course, the Aesir believed he meant it as a threat to them. They didn't pay him any mind when he was not around them..." he paused, and emerged from behind the stone. "On the night of the deed, it was said that the dignitary had engaged in...nefarious activities with some of the representatives from other realms. He claimed it as the demon possessing his mind. One can only imagine..." he smirked at Jane. "He was wrought with guilt after his indiscretions... he came back here, and unable to face his wife after all he had done, set fire to the place, killing them both."
He stood in front of Jane now, awaiting her response.
Jane swallowed, tore her eyes from his heavy gaze.
"Guilt," she said.
"If you like...though he may indeed have been possessed..."
"Maybe, but it was probably guilt. Powerful feeling," and she walked toward the empty garden, dead and dry.
She walked along, breathing in the air.
When she turned, Loki was gone.
"Loki?" her eyes scanned the place. Nothing. "Loki!"
Panic rose...she ran toward the dilapidated structure. Her feet padded along...she fancied she heard whispers...she was being watched.
She headed out of the immediate place panting. "Loki!" she turned, and hit something hard.
Loki was laughing, and she had turned right into him.
"You jerk!" and she hit his chest hard.
He didn't stop laughing. "Oh come, now, Jane. Just a bit of fun."
"It wasn't fun to me!" and she went to strike him again, but he grabbed her wrist to stop her.
A pause, and both swallowed. He looked steadily at her, then dropped her wrist.
He looked away and cleared his throat. "Shall we go to the market? It's midday..."
Jane nodded, and followed him down the slope to the road below.
Loki was deep in thought as they made their way onward.
He was behaving in such a strange manner.
He should be in another realm now, taking his pleasure and waiting to seize Asgard's throne.
Ordinarily, he would assume he felt lust for the mortal, and dismiss it. Was this what he was becoming?
She desired his friendship, but he was so impotent when it came to these things...he honestly had no idea what to do, how to behave...what was right...
And since when did he care?
He was not prone to such inane trivia like friendship...sentiment. But Jane seemed true enough, and she had shown honest interest in his welfare.
But there was that episode in Jutenheim...she had kissed him hungrily...and try as he might, he couldn't erase the memory from his thoughts. He did assume that what he had told her in the healing rooms was true...that it was a fleeting moment...and Jane had felt beholden to him once more, and he had shown her kindness in her despair. Kindness. And his mind tore.
He had shown her kindness, and now, he felt drawn to her.
Perhaps that was what friendship was. A mutual draw...
So how could he account for his lurking in shadows, watching her and Thor? Was that normal friendship behavior? He had no idea.
He could ask Jane, he would sound ridiculous, but if worded correctly...
"Loki?"
"Hmmm?" he turned toward her, lulled out of his reverie.
She was struggling to keep up. "Could you slow down a bit? My legs are short..." and she laughed. "What are you thinking about?"
"I'm sorry, Jane. I didn't notice my stride..." He slowed a bit. "Tell me...I am a novice, which is, in itself, new to me..." he glanced at her and smirked. "What is normal behavior in friendship?"
"Normal?"
"Yes...I mean to say, what do friends do?"
"Are you serious?"
"Completely."
Jane's eyes widened. "Well...they...I dunno...talk, laugh, share stories...go out and...I dunno. Have lunch? Dinner? Watch a movie?"
"A what?"
"Never mind."
"So...the activities we've engaged in," he observed.
"Yeah."
"So, you'd say that I'm an ample friend?"
She smiled crookedly. "Is that important to you?"
"It's always important to me to excel in things I attempt to do."
"An overachiever?"
"If you like," he said, shrugging.
"Yes...I think you're doing fine...and you do excel at many things. I couldn't believe that you punched Thor."
He laughed. "Thor needs to be knocked down a notch or two..."
"The same, Loki, might be said for you," and they reached the market, and her eyes went wide, and a smile graced her face.
And Loki felt pleased at her response. She seemed giddy at the scene. He watched as she hurried through the booths, made her way into shops...
He followed her, answering her questions as they rose.
She giggled with shop owners, bargained with merchants, spoke with pedestrians...she was a friendly sort.
And often Loki would hang back a bit, watching her in her eagerness.
Yes. He supposed this mortal was his friend.
He sighed, and went to her...they had been there for over two hours, and Jane had a few parcels she was carrying. Best head back.
"Are we finished here, Jane?"
"Oh! Yeah," her mouth was full of a succulent fruit. It was like a cherry, but bigger, and no stem or pit.
They began to head back.
"Thank you so much, Loki. I had a great time."
"It was my pleasure," he replied, his hands folded behind his back. "And what did the merchants swindle you into purchasing?" His glance found the two paper bags she carried.
"Oh...just fruit and stuff..." Jane said meekly.
He nodded, smirking, and they reached the palace.
"I'm gonna go and freshen up," she began, wanting to wash off the grit from the markets. "Will you be in the library?"
He nodded.
She hurried upstairs.
Jane could barely contain her excitement. What a day! She had marveled at ruins, been a bit terrified, laughed, shopped (though that was never a favorite past time of hers, it was fun in this realm...almost medieval). It had been grand.
Jane unwrapped the packages. She obtained a bowl from the atop the dresser and emptied the fruit into it.
She then took the other parcel, and opened it.
She had gotten Loki a book...a journal, really. It had beautiful illustrations, and was leather bound. Black, with silver markings. It reminded her of him.
It was likely very silly, but Jane wanted to offer him something.
She washed her hands and her face, she changed her clothes, putting on a pale blue dress that Sif had told her Frigga had made (Jane didn't bring a ton of clothes), and went downstairs.
She went to the library, bowl and book in hand.
She opened the door, and Loki was standing at the window. There was already some food laid out. It was early for an Aesir dinner, but she supposed he thought she might be hungry.
"Well...you've gotten food already."
And he turned.
He let out a small gasp.
"Loki?"
"My..." he cleared his throat. "Frigga made that frock..."
"Oh! Yeah..." she noticed his mood. "Should I change...?"
He came over to the long table..."No...you look lovely."
It was the first time he had paid her such a compliment, and she blushed a bit. "Thank you," and she sat down.
She thought she should mention that Frigga was his mother, despite his obvious hesitation, but decided that might be pushing things.
Loki poured out some wine. "And so tell me...did you enjoy the market?"
"It was great! All of those people...and the wares! Incredible!"
He laughed. "There's a much larger one in the center of Asgard...but it would've been a trying journey on foot, and I thought you would enjoy to walk, at least a bit."
"I did. It was nice to see the place more fully."
He nodded.
Jane continued. "Next time, give warning when you transport me, though," and she laughed.
"Next time?"
"Well...I mean..." she was suddenly uncomfortable. Maybe he had meant this to be a one-off.
"Understood," he finished for her, and smiled.
She shifted, and took some fruit. "Are there many stories like the one you told me? About the dignitary?"
And they conversed thus for some time...
Jane's eyes had grown heavy...she had consumed much wine.
They were sitting in the chairs by the fire. She then recalled her gift.
"Oh!" and she sat up. "I have something for you."
"Something?"
And Jane went over to the table where she had left it, and brought it to him.
"Here..." and she handed him the book.
Loki received it with hesitation, with eyes that squinted, and mouth slightly agape. He turned the volume in his hands, flipping through it carefully.
He gazed up at her with an aporetic look. "You got this for me? As a gift?"
Jane nodded. "I don't know what you'd use it for...but..." she paused. "You like books, you're well spoken, and it reminded me of you."
"Thank you."
"Sure," and she smiled. She turned, but Loki took her hand.
He stood up and took her face in his hands.
Jane's breath halted.
He bent down, and kissed her forehead.
"I'll see you in the morning, Jane."
And Jane fell into the chair. Her mind was distracted. She had had the most perfect of days with him...she had not had so much fun in...well. In years, if she was honest.
What was to be done?
Nothing.
He was barely able to deal with friendship.
And Jane was leaving...though it did seem as if she kept putting off her departure.
She sighed, and went to her quarters.
And Loki wrote in the book he had been given.
He wrote poetry and prose.
And he thought of that tiny elf who had given it to him...
His supercilious anger was softened. His austere black lifted somewhat. The pain that had plagued him was not so dire...
He was changing somewhat. He felt it.
Though Jane was certainly responsible for much of these oddities, she was merely a catalyst to an awakening.
It was tiresome to be always angry and resentful...and though he couldn't abandon it altogether...it was too engrained in him for that to be tenable...he might be able to loosen its grip.
The day had been lovely. To be able to laugh and enjoy someone's company, have them enjoy his...it was a moving experience.
And she knew him. She had seen him in desperation, bound to a cage in the depths of the palace...she had seen him with Thanos, and his wiles in full force. And now, she wished friendship...
Loki paused. He sat back from his desk. Friendship...
Jane longed to go to him.
She wanted to feel his kiss, his hands on her...
She laid in bed, feeling ridiculous. She really needed to stop this idiocy.
She was confused, but thought that she should take what she could in the time she had.
She imagined that Odin and Thor would be returning sometime tomorrow...
She couldn't sleep.
She put in her robe and left her room.
Down, down, down to the bottom of the castle.
She found herself in its belly...she shuddered...it was dark...
Jane found a torch and lifted it to find her way.
She crept along the close passageway and peered into the place where prisoners were kept.
There was Loki's cell.
Jane walked over to it, and stared.
A tear trickled down her face.
This is where it began.
This is where she had first decided to seal her fate.
For she knew now that she was trapped.
She had dealt with the darkness and lost her hand, and much, much more.
Jane had fallen in love with Loki.