Tell me, how does it feel with my teeth in your heart?
A/N: So, this takes place after the Avengers. Bit OOC. PG-13.
Written for fourtemperments on Tumblr.
The sun, she had heard, was a star.
She had heard this long ago, and it propelled her toward the study of the stars. How could something so big simultaneously be something so impossibly small?
Jane Foster loved the stars, and her love did not dissipate with knowledge. No…it grew. It grew in scope and in complexity.
So she studied, she began her research, and all was right with the world.
Until it wasn't…
And the God of Thunder landed in her life in a quite literal way, upended it, but she was unscathed.
Not that Darcy and Erik didn't try to convince her that she was, in fact, quite touched.
She watched on TV the Battle of New York as it came to be known. She watched as Earth was invaded by hostile aliens, and she shook.
Jane didn't know what became of the Avengers, nor did she care much. Thor was a memory (true, a regret to an extent, but a memory all the same). She went back to her desert after quarreling with everyone from Nick Fury to Darcy Lewis, they all feared for her life, apparently.
But she was a stubborn woman, and not to be gainsaid when her work was involved.
Jane spent much time tarrying about in algorithms and such, and she was contacted by many people of dubious intent for her expertise on all things Asgardian.
She ignored them all.
It wasn't her "job" to report what the Aesir were like. Let them discover it for themselves.
She was irritated.
And then the dreams began…
Here there be dragons…
She never remembered much of them, really…the sky would open and things would come from it. Sometimes a man would be in her room, though he would never speak, and then would leave.
She became tired from the constant, relentless dreamland.
So she avoided sleep.
It happened that one day in her makeshift lab (S.H.I.E.L.D. had done a piss poor job in replacing her stuff) that she heard a disturbance. She was exhausted, so she didn't pay much mind to it.
"Jane Foster?" came a voice.
Her eyes opened warily.
A man was standing in her lab, smartly dressed, and smirking.
"Jane Foster? Is that you?"
"Mmhm," she stretched and yawned…"Who wants to know?" she rubbed her eyes.
"Loki of Asgard."
She sat up straight and froze. Loki. Destroyer of her town…of New York…"What?"
He stayed where he was. "You are a silly mortal, Jane," he waved his hand and the blinds closed. "You are tired, are you not?"
She looked for a phone…
"No one will come. Are you tired?"
She swallowed.
He waved his hand once more and she fell asleep.
"The sun is a star the sun is a star…" she was muttering. Jane opened her eyes and she was in her trailer once more.
It must have been a dream.
Dream…she had finally slept and felt rested.
Jane rose from her bed and got some water.
When she looked out of her trailer's window, she saw the following:
A barren land, dark and whirling.
A sunless sky.
Particles dancing in the atmosphere.
She wasn't in New Mexico anymore…
Alright, Jane. Figure this out.
She examined what she saw from her window and determined that what she was seeing was not only not New Mexico, it didn't appear to be Earth.
This was concerning.
She turned and thought over her options…she had no idea if she would be able to breathe out there. She had no idea if she would be able to eat anything that was available, or indeed, if anything was available. She didn't know the climate, but by the looks of it, it appeared to be cold.
Ok. She wasn't equipped for the cold.
Jane thought that there wasn't much she could do about the air…her trailer would run out of oxygen quick enough. She couldn't stay here.
Loki. Loki had done this…transported her here via his stupid magic. What an asshole.
She packed a bag with provisions, pulled on as many clothes as she could muster (luckily, the desert could get chilly at night)…and wrapped a scarf around her face.
Jane took a deep breath, keenly aware of the knowledge that this may be her last.
…she opened the door after securing the scarf…
And yeah. It was cold.
A stagnant, dry cold…no moisture, despite a falling mist. The air seemed to stick to her face and bite it; thick with the penetrating chill, Jane breathed in the air…
…and nothing happened.
Ok. She could breathe.
Jane looked around her and readjusted her backpack.
Find Loki.
She checked her phone, but it was useless…
She wondered where she was, dismissed the inclination, and began to walk what she could only assume was East.
East, assuming that her trailer was facing the same direction it was on Earth.
She was so grateful for her badass boots, though there was no snow, the frost was thick and slippery.
She lamented her gloves, cursing herself for ever having thrown them away. But she was in a desert! Why would she really need gloves…?
She would need gloves when Thor's stupid and murderous younger brother decides to kidnap her and bring her to another planet.
She slumped along, not really paying attention to anything in the landscape, nor her direction. It was fairly dark, but it appeared to be getting even darker.
She decided to find a place to camp…she had brought her sleeping bag. If in the morning after a bit of time walking she didn't find Loki, she'd head back. What a stupid situation.
Jane unrolled her sleeping bag (to 20 degrees F)…and gathered wood for a fire. She had brought a butane lighter (thank god), and she lit the blaze, ate a pop tart, and settled in.
She dreamt of the cold…it woke her. Such a bite, like teeth…
"Jane Foster, what in the name of Valhalla are you doing?"
She sat up to see Loki looming over her.
Her breath vapored in front of her, the fire long out…she was freezing.
"What am I doing? What the fuck are you doing?" she struggled to get out of the bag.
He chuckled.
"Shut up," she spat, then stood. "What am I doing here? Where am I?"
Loki raised his eyebrows, then waved his hand, and they were in a smallish dwelling, a fire roaring. Jane swung around, taking it in.
"Alright…I'm out of the cold…but you haven't answered my questions."
He shrugged.
"Answer me now," she cried out.
"But, I believe you told me to…" he paused. "Shut up?"
"Oh my god." He was an infant. "Answer the fucking questions."
He laughed. "Well, you are on Niflheim. That is all I am prepared to tell you at present," he smiled sweetly, then sat in a chair by the fire.
This was a bit much…it was going to be a long night.
Jane awoke in her trailer.
And that phrase was going through her head…"Here there be dragons."
She couldn't remember much of what had transpired…her head hurt.
She sat up and stretched her limbs, rubbed her face…
And rose from the bed.
"Here there be dragons…" She had heard that before somewhere.
Somewhere…
Jane opened the door to her trailer and saw a wall…
Damn. "Loki!" she yelled.
And she heard his laughter, not-so-far-away.
"Asshole!" she yelled…and she went down the trailer's steps, into a cold world, a house in front of her.
How did she get herself into this mess?
She went around front in her socked feet, no shoes, and entered the house finding Loki standing by a roaring fire.
She slammed the door behind her and folded her arms. Her face was a scowl. "Well," she said. "You had better explain yourself."
"I'd mind my tongue, mortal, if I were you."
"You aren't me, and I want to know what is going on."
"I saved your life."
Jane glared at him incredulously. "My life was in danger? How do you figure?"
"You wouldn't understand, and I do not have the patience to explain it to you," he sat down.
"You will explain it to me, since by my calculation, I am more in danger now than I was before you kidnapped me and my trailer."
He smirked at her. "I do not need to offer you anything," and he sat back.
And he didn't…
He had bargained with Thor to keep the mortal safe. Explaining to her the circumstances was not part of the arrangement. What's more, any information given to her was likely not wise. She would react badly.
He didn't want to have a mortal in distress on top of everything else.
Jane slumped into the chair. She sighed. "You can't just keep me here."
He looked at her and smiled. "No?"
"Well, I guess you can. But why do you want to? Isn't this silly?"
Loki waved his hand and food appeared on the table in front of her. "Eat," he said simply.
Here there be dragons…"Why?"
"Are you not hungry?"
Jane looked at the food…there was an assortment of breads, cheeses, fruits…and her mouth watered. "Erm…yeah. I guess I am."
Loki watched her eat, and conjured a glass of wine for himself. "We will need to remain here for a time."
"How long?"
"A month, I imagine."
"A month?" she hadn't guessed that. "Loki. Tell me what the fuck is going on."
"Not now," and he rose and left the room.
Jane sighed and rubbed her face.
A long month awaited her.
She wasn't accustomed to being bullied by an alien Prince.
She was used to being wooed by one.
Jane wouldn't speak to him, which suited him fine. She mostly stayed in her trailer during the day, moving to the cottage (for really, that was what it was) after Niflheim's sun fell. Obscenely long days, really.
"It is fortunate for you that I am a generous soul, Jane," Loki said to her after a few days thus.
She glared at him.
"I could send you out into the biting air alone, likely to die…but here I am," and his eyes found hers, and they were dancing.
Jane rolled hers.
"…and here you are."
"What would you like for me to say?"
"Thank you would be nice."
"Thank you," she muttered.
"Well, I suppose I'll have to be satisfied with that," he smiled.
"What's going on?"
He looked at her with confusion. "You are not as bright as my brother insists, Jane. I've told you, I am bound to secrecy."
"Bullshit."
He shrugged. "If you like."
"No. I don't fucking like. But whatever," she crossed her arms in front of her.
…and she decided to perhaps take a different approach the next day…
Let it be known that it wasn't lost on Jane Foster that Loki was a confirmed war criminal. That he led an alien army into Earth and practically leveled New York. It was also firmly within her understanding that Thor loved him…Thor, who was beguiling enough, but not enough to tempt her mind into dwelling over him.
Though there must be some merit to the Trickster, for Thor was a good sort. He would not love someone who was utterly undeserving.
Something had happened…
"Loki," she said to his back.
He turned, and there were the shadows of tears on his face. "What."
Jane cleared her throat. "I was thinking…maybe we should find a way to coexist until this…whatever it is, is over."
He stared at her. His suffering, then, would be endless…"Coexist?"
"Yeah," and she walked fully into Niflheim's cottage, the threadbare furniture worn with age, and she sat. "It sucks in my trailer. I'd much rather talk to you in here."
"I brought your makeshift home to avoid this very thing," he said with a snide smirk. "There really is no need to be friendly, Jane," and he sat.
"No, maybe not for you, but for me, there is. I really don't want to spend all of my time in another Realm cooped up in my Earthen home."
He smiled at her. "Do you know who I am?"
She nodded.
"Very well, Jane Foster. Get your outerwear. We will walk," and Loki stood, conjured some furs, and looked at her with anticipation.
Jane's mouth fell open, but she jumped up and ran to her trailer to get what clothes she had. Maybe Loki could get her some fur, too.
She put the stuff on, and then ran to the cottage, smiling. "Ok!" she proclaimed, entering…
He was there in an instant. "That is all you have?" he looked her up and down.
"Well, maybe you could…" her eyes went wide, and she looked at his fur overtly.
Loki rolled his eyes, waved a hand, and Jane was instantly warm.
He took off at long strides, Jane scurrying to keep up.
There was much mist draped across the landscape. It covered the land in a fuzzy air, and everything was white.
Jane noticed smallish, violet looking dwellings peppered along the rise.
They were along a vast precipice of a mountain, and though it was treacherous, it was not impossible to navigate. The snow and frost were thick, and Jane's enchanted boots kept her sure footed in Loki's wake.
"Who lives here?" she shouted through her scarf.
He slowed his pace. "A mix of races, actually."
"Yeah?" she ran up to his side. "Such as?"
He glanced down at her from the corner of his eye, but kept walking. "What do you know of Yggdrasil, Jane Foster?"
"I…"
"As I thought," he smiled, turning from her.
"Hey! Thor told me some things…"
"Oh, well. In that case, perhaps you can teach me about the wonder of the Tree."
Jane clamped her mouth shut. He was infuriating. "Well, then teach me, Loki."
He smiled to himself. It wouldn't do to make any suggestive remark. "Here we are," he announced.
She looked around. It was desolate enough…though there was a small square. "Where?"
"Skellington," and Loki went inside a smallish building.
Jane followed. It was a pub. She sat down at a wooden booth, sliding in, and took off some of her outerwear.
There was a fire, and though the chill was deep, the warmth the fire afforded was a soothing panacea to the bite of the air.
"My god, Loki. It's freez…" she stopped. An Elf had appeared in front of her. "H-hi."
"What'll it be?"
"Ah…" Jane smiled awkwardly.
"She'll have a Brennevin, thank you," Loki supplied.
"What's that?"
"Rather like brandy, I think."
The keep went to obtain the drink.
She gulped. "Is there any food?"
"Of course," he waved his hand, and a stew appeared.
And with the addition of the soothing wine, Jane was feeling much better. She sat back, and looked at Loki. "Are you going to tell me what's going on?"
He glared at her, then shook his head.
Breath escaped her nostrils. "All right. Well…will you tell me if we are staying here, on Niflheim?"
"For the moment. Though I see no cause to leave."
Jane thought about her resolve to attempt a different approach. "So…why did you invade New York?" she asked with a toothy grin.
Wrong thing to say.
"I do not need to answer you, mortal woman," he spat.
Here there be dragons…"Right," she sheepishly responded. "Ok. Well, have you spent much time in this Realm?"
"I've been here before."
Jane finished her stew and downed the rest of her Brennevin. It was immediately filled again. "Are you trying to get me drunk?" she chided.
"Aye. To be sure. It is my design here to intoxicate you and then slit your throat in your drunken haze."
Her mouth fell open…she laughed nervously.
And Loki rolled his eyes. "I have no desire to kill you, Miss Foster." I want only to ensure your safety long enough to ensure my freedom.
"Ok," and she sipped. "So…tell me about your childhood."
"It's time to go," he began to stand, unable to abide her needling.
"Oh, come on! If we are gonna be here for a while, wouldn't it be better to just…try to get along?"
Try to get along. The mortal wishes to "get along"…"You know, Jane Foster, I have no call to 'get along' with you, as you say. I was tasked with keeping you safe. That is the extent of our alignment," and he stood to leave.
"But…" Jane stood, too. "Look. Just sit. We don't need to talk. Let's just…sit."
He glared at her, and holding her gaze, sat down. He rubbed his face.
"So," try again. "Tell me about Niflheim, then," she smiled, a very slight sigh in her voice.
He cocked a brow. "You wish to know about Niflheim?"
"We're gonna be here for a while. Might as well…?"
He smiled at her, ordered some more Brennevin, and began to tell the tale of the frigid Realm.
Two hours later, they were walking back to the abandoned cottage, and Jane was much warmer. She had learned much from her talk with Loki, and was impressed by his vast knowledge.
She entered the dwelling, Jane slumped on the sofa, pulled a throw over her, and smiled herself to sleep.
…and Loki, watching her, felt a twitch, a nag…and he thought that she was a very silly mortal.
So it was, for a full fortnight, Jane and Loki coexisted in the cottage. It was never spoken in so many words that Jane would abandon her trailer. She simply did.
And her gazes became a touch longer.
And his smiles a bit more genuine.
And they began to develop a nice banter, and Jane could not decide if she was still manipulating the situation or not.
"Who taught you to cook?" he asked.
"No one."
"Ah. That makes sense, then."
Jane glared. "Hey! I can cook!"
"Mm. Yes, you can. But it doesn't follow that you can cook well."
And Jane kicked him from under the table.
He felt a tug of kind in her. Ownership, or a devouring need blossoming…
"There is no further cause to continue the assault. I think that the Elves are sufficiently subdued," Thor proclaimed to Sif.
She wiped a strand of hair from her brow, and righted her sword. She thought that he was saying that because he wanted to see his mortal again…"Where did your brother take the mortal?"
"Niflheim," and his Hammer fell to his side. He looked to the sky on Svarthaflheim. It swam black.
"How long have they been there?"
Mjölnir was pointed to the sky. "Too long," he smiled, and he flew away.
Jane was reading by the fire, Loki was out. He was uncertain of the dragon, Nidhug, which kept watch of the pools in the center of the Realm. Sometimes he would wander about thinking that the sleeping dragon might awake.
They told stories now. They sometimes cooked. He conjured books for her, for him.
Here there be dragons…
"Well, there is no evidence that Nidhug has stirred…" and he conjured two mugs and sat at the fire.
"That's good…" she smiled uncertainly.
He looked at her. He smiled. When did he start to react to her thus? It was as though…"It is. Well, Jane. I suppose that it is late. Time for all mortals to eat," he looked away and waved his hand.
She smiled. "I think we should tell stories tonight."
"If you like," and he stretched on the the bed, hands behind his head.
Jane kept thinking that something awful was going to happen. She kept thinking that Loki would lose it and kill her…
But those ideas were growing further and further apart.
"Tell me about Nidhug…I've only heard stories about Dragons."
"They have a nasty bite."
"Have you been bitten?" she breathed.
He looked at her. "What would you say if I had?"
She looked at him crookedly, then she smiled. "Liar."
"Smart girl."
She laughed. "Not really."
"Oh please. You are as bright as any person I've met."
"Am I?" and an awestruck look flashed upon her visage. That was a compliment, indeed. She cleared her throat. "Should I be concerned about the dragon?"
"I think not…the sun dissuades the beast enough. It is daylight a good deal of the time, now," he sat back. Niflheim had odd hours, much like Alaska or Sweden on Midgard.
"The sun is a star…" she whispered.
Loki looked at her. "Pardon?"
Jane smiled. "Nothing. It was something that first drew me to astronomy. The idea that a sun, something so huge, could be a star…something that, from where I stood, was nothing but a tiny pixel of light. It makes one wonder at perspective. That, depending on your take, something can be infinitely huge, or infinitesimally small."
He looked at her. "You speech gives me hope, Jane," he practically whispered.
"Does it?"
"It does," his gaze fell. "Perhaps, given perspective and what it means, my life and deeds may not seem so large."
At this, Jane felt pity.
And that was the first time she looked at him differently…for though she never forgot what he was, she had learned that he was more than just that.
And now, she understood that he had self awareness…and with it, regret.
"Why are you here?" she asked.
"To protect you."
"Why are you here?" she asked again.
He looked at her fully. "To protect you, as per Thor's request."
"No. Why are you here?"
He cleared his throat. "There is discord, and Thor wanted you well away. He believed you to be in danger. He solicited my help," he paused. "In exchange for my freedom from the cells in Asgard."
…and Loki felt his heart clench…he had vowed not to admit anything…
…as though a clamp fell upon his heart…
Jane nodded. "Thank you," and she got up, and went to the room she slept in.
Loki was left there, alone. He hadn't done anything to hurt her, she surely cannot be cross…
He got up in a state, conjured his cloak, and left.
…and Jane sat on her bed.
She wasn't upset. It all made sense. Thor cared about her, so he sent his brother to protect her during a time of unrest.
And Loki admitted to all of it.
What was upsetting, really, was that Jane was feeling too comfortable with the Dark Prince. She was happy with him. She knew that he was a monster…but he was no Dragon. He was tame, when it got down to it…
She laid on the bed, fell asleep, and dreamt of caves of ice, of fire, of dragons…
…and of stars.
His heart was cold.
And the bite of gnarled teeth which was felt like a bear trap around it would not penetrate his icy depths. He wouldn't allow it.
Loki walked the white wood for hours, trying to reconcile what it was which plagued him. No easy feat.
He thought that Jane was ridiculous, and couldn't fathom why she would be upset.
Though, perhaps it was he who was upset, really.
He loathed being ill at ease. It was not to be borne.
Loki came upon Skellington after some time, and there were people running about…he appeared at the pub, and went inside.
"What's happening?" he asked the keep.
"Dark Elves…the ones who escaped…heading here."
Loki spun…he would need to get Jane and leave…
He disappeared, and reappeared in the cottage…
"Jane!"
He heard her in her room, moving about, and she emerged. "What is it?"
"We must leave posthaste…the Dark Elves are descending upon this Realm."
She wondered a moment just what could be done…"We're leaving?"
"Aye. Take your coat…"
But then, an ear-splitting shriek came from the bowels of the earth…
"Nidhug," Loki said.
"The…"
"Dragon, yes…" he went outside, and there was the massive thing, looming over a hill in the distance. "Jane!" he called. They'd need to hurry.
Jane ran outside, with the coat and a bag…"Oh my god."
He went to take her hand, but there was no hand to be grasped…
There stood a loathsome Elf, holding Jane's mouth shut, covering it with his hand. "Where you be going, then?" he snarled.
"Unhand her," Loki said softly.
"Why? Nidhug is hungry…and she is a fine morsel."
"If you do not let her go, I shall need to harm you," his hand twitched.
The thing laughed heartily.
And Loki raised his hand, and a green light struck the Elf, and he fell, bringing Jane with him…
The Dragon was roaring, the sky bleeding from the tear of the atmosphere…and Jane was laying on the ground next to the dead Elf.
"Jane…" Loki went to her. She was bleeding. His magic had inadvertently caused her harm…mortals were so frail.
Jane was coughing…she couldn't move…"Here there be Dragons…" she whispered, and her eyes closed.
"Loki!"
And he whipped around to see Thor standing there, brandishing his hammer. "Thor! We must get her away…"
Thor went to her, bent down, and scooped her into his arms. "Asgard," he said, and left.
Loki took one look at the massive beast, the gnashing of his vicious teeth…and before he disappeared, sent a jolt to the thing…erupting the Realm with fire.
Jane was all right. It was a spell easily reversed by Frigga, a wound easily treated by Eir, and she laid in the infirmary recovering.
After a few days thus, she was able to sit up, speak, and even eat a touch.
But there was a nagging feeling…and she was desirous to see Loki.
It was as though she had been caught in a trap, and she momentarily thought that she had. It mattered but little. She wanted to see him. That should be enough.
It was the middle of the night, the palace in deep quiet. Jane got up and pulled a robe on. She crept outside of the infirmary, into the cold marble of the yawn.
It bit her feet annoyingly.
Jane slowly crept along, not knowing where she was going, but the pull to see Loki was too strong to resist. She shook from the chill…
"Where are you going, Miss?"
"Oh!" she turned, and saw a guard standing by a large, wooden door. "Ah…" she smiled. "I'm just…do you happen to know where Prince Loki is?"
"Prince Loki?" he looked at her quizzically. "He's…in the cells…"
"What?"
The guard stepped aside, and opened the door.
Jane ran past him, took the railing, and with a quick pace, went down inside the bowels of the palace…
She wished she would have put shoes on.
The dungeon was not a dungeon of medieval lore…but it was a dungeon all the same. There were lighted glass enclosures…
"It's quite late for you to be navigating such a place unattended," came his voice.
Jane spun. "LokI!"
"Why are you here?" he stood from the floor of his cell and went to the glass.
"Why are you here?"
He smiled. "This question is oft posed betwixt us."
Jane shrugged. "Answer it."
Not so long ago, he would have scoffed at her demand and shrugged it off, and then would ignore her. "Odin saw fit to put me back in here. Thor is attempting to change the All-Father's mind, but I fear to no avail."
"Did Thor speak to Odin before you agreed to…keep me safe?"
"Probably not," and he smiled, and sat down again.
Jane rolled her eyes. "Well, you cannot stay here," and she sat down.
"Perhaps it is for the best," he replied sardonically. Then he eyed her closely. "Were you very hurt?"
"No," she smiled. "No…" she paused, looking at him. "Are you?"
And how could he answer? How could he, when yes, he was hurting. Bleeding. Wounded…he had come to care for the mortal woman sitting in front of his cage. He couldn't think of anything but her…it hardly mattered that he was in a cell.
And he hated himself for it.
But self loathing can only go so far in a battle for control over a mind.
"I'm well enough."
"I'll speak with Thor."
"Do not trouble yourself, Jane Foster," he couldn't bear the thought of sending her, purposefully, into Thor's arms. "I am fine here," he almost desired the solitude. "You should leave."
She opened her mouth to speak, clamped it shut…and nodded…
Here there be Dragons…
That night, Jane dreamed. She dreamt she was on Niflheim, walking barefooted, across a moony expanse of snow. She was looking for Loki, but she rather believed he would never show himself.
She wanted to call for him.
Wanted to see…
"Tell me Jane…how does it feel to have my teeth in your heart?" he breathed in her ear.
She awoke with a start…and Thor was sitting next to her in the infirmary. Her heart hurt. "Hey," she said, sitting up.
"How are you feeling?"
Her chest ached. As though a spear had run her through. "Fine."
Thor sat back. "Curious. Both my brother and yourself appear to be quite less than fine."
Jane smiled weakly.
"What happened on Niflheim, Jane?"
"Nothing…but maybe Loki wants his freedom. You know, that thing you promised him?"
He nodded. "I already did."
"What?"
"He's free to leave. He chooses to stay there."
And that was all she needed…Jane ran from the room back to the dungeons. She arrived at his cell in a pant…
Loki was laying on the floor.
"Loki!"
He looked at her, then looked away.
Her palms went to the glass. "Look at me, Loki."
"Go away, Jane."
"No. Why are you still in there?"
He turned on his side, away from her. "This is where I belong."
"No you don't! You are no monster."
"You're wrong."
"No, you are wrong! Look at me," she banged on the glass.
Loki stood, angry and fierce. "You know nothing. You have no understanding…no idea what a monster is…" and he transformed before her eyes into a towering, blue, red-eyed thing...
She back away, slipped on stone, and fell, breathing hard…Here there be Dragons…"Loki?"
His teeth were clenched, biting and sharp. "Aye, mortal. You see before you a Frost Giant. Happy? Does it please you that you narrowly escaped any further time in my presence? I am a monster. I need a cage. I deserve a cell…"
"You're a what?" she whispered, standing.
"A Frost Giant!" he shrieked, covering his face…he was tormented. "A Jotun! A monster," he finished. "And that is the reason for it all."
She wanted desperately to go to him…so she contented herself with approaching the glass. The weight with which he spoke was not lost on Jane…"You're Loki," she said. "A sun…"
He turned to her. "You're a fool."
"Maybe. But I've been called worse. And you are a mighty star, Loki Odinson," she smiled…
And his skin faded, his Aesir form reappearing. "Go."
Loki remained in the cell for a few days more, hoping to wish himself dead.
But he couldn't. He couldn't, because Jane…
That was it.
Because Jane.
She had sunk her teeth into his soul…
Jane had been released from the infirmary, and was eating breakfast by herself in the Palace.
"Jane," came a voice.
And there was Loki…
He was drenched in morning sun.