Greetings, readers! Yes...two updates today. I think this is almost finished...at the very least one more long chapter...but I am thinking two or three more chapters. It has grown into more than my prompt had anticipated!

Jane fell asleep there…not because she was especially sleepy, but the water was lulling, and the wine was heavy (it was early for her to take drink, she normally didn't until later in the day).

Loki did not. But he watched her a bit as she slept…something he hadn't done the night previous.

It was then that he noted her beauty…he had thought her attractive enough before, but did not think of her as beautiful.

But she was. Very.

He pulled his eyes away. He should stop these musings. He didn't wish to undo their friendship by finding her attractive.

He decided that they should probably head back. He ridded the place of the food after he stood and turned toward Jane.

She was awake.

"How does your magic work?" she asked.

"Work?"

"Yeah…where did everything go just now?"

"Ah…well…I tucked it away."

"Away? Do you…just take things from other places…or do you summon them into existence?"

Loki looked a bit pensive. "Well…I cannot summon everything…as you said…'into existence'…but I can do that with certain things…water…fire…" he paused. "But this food we enjoyed, no. I brought it from the palace."

"So…more elemental things you can conjure without taking them from someplace else," she surmised.

"Yes, that's fair."

"Wow."

Loki laughed.

"It must be incredible to be able to do that," she shook her head and stood.

"It is…I suppose…but often it is exploited. I am a very great sorcerer, Jane…I have no false pride in that statement, mind you…and people are either too frightened of me to trust, or they attempt to exploit my power for their own gain."

"I'm sorry," she said, and she meant it.

"Yes…it is an unfortunate thing…but, having lived as long as I have, I am quite accustomed to being mistreated, and I have my ire to protect me."

"I would never mistreat you, Loki."

He looked at her. "No…I don't believe that you would, Jane Foster."

"You can count on that," and she smiled.

He took her hand, and transported them back to the palace.

His fingers were on her forehead immediately…as soon as her breath found itself, and she choked out her first cough…and she was being held up by him, his hand wrapped her upper arm to steady her.

She leaned her head against his chest for a second, then pulled away. "I'll go get ready for dinner…" and she left him in the main, grand hall without looking back.

His breath stuttered out.

Dinner was an interesting affair…there were plenty of people about, and since Jane was so used to it just being her and Loki for the past few days, she was very quiet.

She nibbled at her food, not once looking at Loki…nor indeed, anyone at all.

She excused herself early and went to her room.

Why was she so withdrawn? Because it was nearly over, and she thought that she would talk to Thor and Odin tomorrow about heading home. She couldn't do this anymore. She was miserable…yet blissfully happy. She was lost…terrified…perhaps she only needed to be free of Loki and she would heal…get over it…

Jane pulled on some pjs. She went to the window. She sighed. Tomorrow, Thor would be here…

Some time had passed and Jane hadn't fallen asleep.

Maybe Loki was in the library…she felt anxious at the prospect.

She tiptoed downstairs and went to the library.

The door creaked open.

He was there.

Jane shut the door behind her.

"Hey, Loki," she said.

No answer.

"Are you alright?" and she walked over toward him.

He looked at her. "Oh…I am sorry…you're speaking to me?"

"What?"

"You did not utter one word during dinner…" and he snapped the book shut. "I had thought that you understood what I had meant when I said that I wished for you to not hide our friendship…obviously I overestimated your intellectual prowess," and he got up.

"I…" she paused. "If you didn't notice, I didn't speak with anyone…you are not special in that regard."

"Friends speak with one another. They seek out conversation."

"You, Loki, were at the other end of the table."

"And you, Jane, could have altered your station to accommodate conversation…"

Jane laughed. "You expect me to just get up and move? I am a guest here! That is rude beyond measure."

"I expect you to behave as we are…not to alter your actions when other's eyes are upon us… as though you are ashamed of what you feel…" and he moved toward her.

"How do you know what I feel…?" her voice was breathy and menacing.

"By virtue of your own words, dear Jane," he said with sarcasm. "Because you have promised me emphatically that you are my friend, yet when it is tested in the presence of others, your friendship wilts…it cannot survive prying eyes."

"My friendship," she breathed, harrowing and angry. "Is true, I assure you…just because I didn't FEEL like talking tonight does not mean that I am ashamed of our friendship. It means I didn't FEEL LIKE TALKING. It had little to do with you, my egocentric friend."

Loki swallowed. Her eyes were flashing, and they were close.

He smirked and turned away. "Perhaps I may have…overreacted…"

"I should say so…" she returned, shaking a bit.

He sat down, and some wine was present.

"Allow me to pour you some wine, Jane."

She agreed…it would be good to settle herself.

Jane took a long gulp of the red liquid…

"Aren't you having any?"

"I will…" replied Loki.

"Will…?" and suddenly, she felt dizzy. She felt her mind being opened…she felt giddy…yes, she felt giddy.

"How do you feel, Jane?"

"Wonderful."

"Good…now tell me…are you embarrassed of our friendship?"

Jane's eyes only partly opened. "No."

"Do you plan on disassociating yourself from me when Thor returns?"

"No…"

Good. He had given her a truth tonic. He didn't quite believe her emphatic assurances that she wasn't ashamed of him. "Alright, Jane…" and he was about to rip her from her truth trance.

"I love you Loki."

He froze. "Excuse me?"

She smiled warily at him. "I love you."

He laughed. "You mean…as a friend…that your love is that of friendship…"

"You are my friend," she said.

He nodded, and began to raise his hands once more to break the spell.

"But I love you…" and she stood now.

"Jane …" he was confused.

Jane walked over to where he sat, and crawled onto his lap. Her hand brushed his face, and she took his mouth in hers greedily.

And to his chagrin, he returned it, his tongue finding hers, his hands on her back, pulling her close…and Jane moaned in response to his touch.

It deepened quickly…and there was an urgency about it…and Jane kissed his neck…and found his mouth…and his hands were at her face…her breast…in her hair…over and over they kissed…small, quick pecks…and long, languid and deep kisses…

Stop this…his mind protested…she is not aware of what she is doing…and he will ruin everything if he isn't careful…

But it felt so good…so right…

Jane began to take her shirt off…but Loki stopped her.

He should stop this now.

He carried her to her chair…placed her there, and went back to his own.

He waved his hands, and Jane's eyes cleared.

"What just happened?" she asked him.

"Nothing…you dozed off," he replied, but his mind lingered on her kiss, and the feel of her on top of him, and her hair in between his fingers, and her touch on his skin…

"Dozed off?"

"Yes…in fact, I am tired, Jane…I believe I should retire myself…" and he got up.

"Loki?"

"Yes?" he turned toward her.

"You believe me, when I tell you that I am your friend, right?"

He swallowed. "Yes…I do."

"Goodnight, Loki," and she got up, went to him, stood on her tiptoes, and pecked his lips.

She stood down.

"Goodnight, Jane," and he left.

Jane slept on the sofa once more. She felt so comfortable in the library…she imagined that it was because she associated it with Loki.

A bang was heard.

"Jane!" roared the thunder god.

"Thor!" she returned, rubbing her face. She went to him, and gave him a hug.

"Oh, Jane…how good it is to see you!" and he picked her up as though she weighed but an ounce, and spun her around.

She was laughing. "It is good to see you, too…how was Jutenheim?"

"Oh…the usual… large giants…cold," and he laughed. "What have you been doing with yourself?"

Jane cleared her throat. "I…"

"I have been keeping her well enough entertained, Thor," Loki was standing in the doorway.

Jane blushed…but she recalled herself. What would she do or say if Thor wasn't here…? "Morning, Loki!" she said, a bit too cheerfully.

Loki's eyes widened a touch. "Good morning, Jane. I trust you slept well?"

"I did."

Thor looked to Loki. "So…you have seen to Jane's entertainment, brother?"

"I have," and he entered the room.

"And what have you done?"

"We left the palace and I brought her to some sights on Asgard…the market…Wine Valley…the abandoned wreckage of Hus…"

"I see…" and Thor looked at Jane. "Was it amusing?"

"More…it was lovely and exciting and grand," and she smiled at Loki, who returned it softly. She wasn't going to abandon him.

Jane walked over to Loki and kissed his cheek. "Are you coming to breakfast?"

"Yes."

She nodded and looked at Thor. "Are you?"

"I shall be there, my Lady."

And she left.

"Well, Loki. What in the name of Odin was that about?"

"Excuse me?"

"Jane…she regards you with affection…"

"Is that difficult to believe?"

Thor laughed. "Well…no. And yes."

Loki smirked. "Thor…you are amusing…yes. Jane and I are friends."

"Friends?"

"Friends."

"Jane is…your friend?"

Loki was becoming irritated. "Yes. Jane Foster is my friend…I'm not certain how else to make this plain. Shall I speak more slowly? Draw you out a picture?"

"No…but…you'll forgive me…but you do not seek friendship…"

"Not usually, no," and he went to the window.

"But…"

"Thor. I grow tired of this…what is it exactly you do not understand…?"

"Does Jane wish to be your friend?"

"I believe so. She certainly appears to to me."

Thor nodded. He turned and left.

And Loki watched as Thor went to Jane and kissed her cheek in the garden. And his mind writhed with jealousy.

He shook.

His eyes closed to block the view of Jane with him.

He instead recalled the evening previous…Jane's mouth on his…her hands on his neck…her taste…how blissful it was…

And then he recalled the tale he told her a couple of nights ago…the horse…how the horse, in his jealousy, realized fully his feeling…

Loki's eyes flew open.

He felt ill.

His hands went to his mouth in his awareness and shock.

He turned from the window…

Loki sat himself on the sofa.

He held his head in his hands.

In all that is good in the universe…in all that he believed…he would never have believed this to be possible…

But it made sense.

Her company was pleasant, he sought it out.

Her mind was nimble, she challenged him.

Her care was great, she desired to befriend him.

Her humor was quick, she made him laugh.

Her curiosity, though foolish, was attractive to his own mind.

And she was brave…brave enough to speak on his behalf to Odin…brave enough to suffer the torture of Thanos…and true…true beyond measure.

He looked at the palms of his hands.

This was too much…

It couldn't be…

And even if it were, it was folly.

He couldn't…could not be Thor…Thor would care for her in a way he never could.

He should leave Asgard now…hide away in a corner of the universe, just as he had planned… leave Jane and her lovely innocence…he couldn't be the hero.

And tears trickled down his face.

And before long, he wept.

He wept for his mother, for she had loved him. He wept for his brother, for though he loved him, he recognized that he could never be the brother that Thor wanted. He wept for his father, for though he had suffered so cruelly at his hands, he had known kindness from him, love even.

He wept for every scar he harbored, for they represented every reason why he had to leave. He was unclean.

And he was broken.

And he loved Jane Foster.