A/N: Ok. Explicit stuff all around here...but the sex (for now) is tender. There are some graphic descriptions...please be aware.

Love is a Tender Thing

Fandral was sitting in Mary's room, shaking. He had just emptied his stomach of what little content there was remaining…the smell being unlike anything he had ever experienced.

Putrid. Sickly sweet…rank.

He was staring at the floor in front of the bed where she lay.

Well, where part of her lay…the rest of her was on the bedside table.

He had done this. He left her…he knew…

Fandral's eyes closed and he swallowed.

"Mr. Adamson?"

Nothing.

The officer cleared his throat.

Fandral looked up, and the officer sat next to him.

"Mr. Adamson? You knew the deceased?"

He nodded.

"And when was the last time you saw her alive?"

"Last evening. Around…just before eight."

He nodded, marking things down.

"I could have stopped this. I could have…I knew…"

"Knew what?"

Fandral now looked at Mary…"I knew that someone was looking for her."

"How?"

"How?" he looked at the officer. "My stepfather knows Anthony Stark."

Loki was sitting next to Jane, holding her hand firmly. He wasn't looking at her. They were sitting on the steps of the building right across the street from 13 Miller's court, Mary's house, on Dorset Street.

After the very public embrace on said street, Loki became self conscious and pulled Jane out of the immediate area. The applause died down, and the somber mood emerged once more.

He hadn't spoken to her, just held her hand.

For ten minutes.

"Loki?" Jane said, breaking the silence.

"Yes?"

"What are you thinking about?"

He sighed and sat back. "Too many things to name."

"Try," she smiled, looking over…he still wasn't looking at her…

"I'm thinking that I should feel awful for poor Mary and for Fandral…no. That's not right. I should feel worse…but all I can think is that you're safe. You're safe, when I was convinced you weren't," he paused. "You'll need to make a statement…" he looked at her. "Jane. I haven't even asked you…were you taken by…?"

"I was."

He had been in shock…he must have been. He didn't even bother to ask what had happened. "And…?" all sorts of horrors emerged. "Hang on. Allow me to get an officer." Loki stood, took her with him (he wasn't letting go)…and she limped alongside him as he found one. "Officer…Jane Foster here needs to make a statement. She was taken by the killer."

And with that, several officers descended upon her, asking questions…

Loki never let go of her hand.

It was starting to hurt.

"No…I never saw his face," she was telling the officers. "…his voice sounded foreign…I can take you to the abandoned factory now…" a horse and buggy emerged moments later. "Yes…I think that he was about to kill me…I think I broke a table and with the splintered wood, set myself free…he hit me over the head…no…he didn't mention Mary Kelly. Only the 'From Hell' letter. He claimed not to write the 'Ripper' letters…he seemed smug…" she went on and on, and they drove to the factory where he had held her.

Jane was nervous going in. Loki was next to her (still grasping her hand), and he followed along beside her, helping her with her limp. The factory was well away from Spitalfields, but still in Whitechapel proper…it had been abandoned a few years previous.

They walked to the second floor, and Jane showed them the open door to the room where she had been prisoner. She didn't want to go in first.

The officers went in, and she noticed, looking around, just what sort of place it was…there was holes in the floors, it was freezing…the walls were rotting…it stunk, but not horrifically…like mold. It was painfully dark, despite the time of day.

And in a far corner was a makeshift bed, a burned candle…the remnants of the table in a heap in the middle of the floor.

There was a hearth, and newspapers in it…

That was all.

It didn't appear that he had come back.

Jane was standing there, looking around. It seemed to her that during her captivity, the room was much bigger…but seeing it now, it was perhaps ten by ten. It looked as though it had been someone who worked at the factory's office.

She was leaning against the wall, Loki was standing next to her, holding her hand. An officer approached them once more.

"And what injuries did you sustain, besides your head?"

Jane went to take her hand from Loki.

He wouldn't yield.

But he remained silent.

Jane sighed. "Er…well…" she rolled her eyes. "Loki?"

Nothing.

She shook her head, and with her free right hand, showed him the gash on her left leg and the many scrapes on her wrist from the bindings and the wood that set her free.

"I see that the gag left some marks, too," the officer looked at her face.

Loki glared at him. "I think that Miss Foster has answered enough questions. Has her father been alerted to her safety and condition?"

"I don't…"

"Well, I suggest that you make use of yourself and tell the poor man. He is likely preparing her funeral."

"Loki! Don't say that!" she heaved.

He squeezed her hand. "Are we free to go?"

The officer looked at him, then at his superior. "Can they go now, sir?"

"Yes," and Abberline came over to them. "Where will you be if we need to ask further questions?"

Loki gave him his address, and Jane shot him a glance.

They left.

"We are going to your house?"

"Yes. It's the only safe place, I imagine," he replied.

Jane nodded. "All right," and all sorts of ideas filled her head…

Not the least of which…Loki hadn't responded verbally to her declaration of love.

Fandral watched as Mary's body was taken away.

Her insides were exposed…her face hacked away…the lips he had kissed so many times, ripped open. She had been dissected.

Like an animal.

Every missed opportunity was glaring at him painfully as he saw them cover her. He should have proposed. Should have made her move in with him. Should have stayed with her…

And tears began to form in his eyes.

"Mary…" he choked. "I'm sorry."

And he wept utterly. He wept at his loss…at her life…at the violence her body, which he had worshipped, suffered…he wept because he had never told her that he loved her. And now she would never know.

"Fandral?" came a voice next to him.

He looked up through his tears.

Selvig.

"I thought that you ought to know. Her heart, they think, is missing."

He covered his face with his hands, cried out, and then hugged Selvig, hanging on him, desperate for comfort…

Though he wouldn't find it, any time soon.

"Can you make it a few blocks?" he asked her.

"Yes," Jane replied.

"Are you certain?"

"Look at me, Loki. You haven't looked at me at all…"

He stopped, and he turned toward her.

"All right. That's a start," she smiled. He still wasn't looking. Jane sighed loudly, and wrenched her hand from his grasp. "Are you all right?"

"Fine."

"No you're not."

Now he looked, and she saw how sad his eyes were…."Come home with me Jane."

She searched his face…and she nodded.

And he took her hand once more and led her to a side street, a gradual incline of the road presented; Jane hobbled along, and twenty minutes later, they turned a bend.

Another long street. She sighed loudly.

"Not far now," he said.

They were nearly at the end of a dead end when he guided her to her right, and up about seven stairs to his house.

She was exhausted, and she leaned against the door jam as he fiddled with the keys. He opened the door, and helped her inside. "Sit," he said, and lighted a lamp.

It was only one o'clock in the afternoon, but having hardly slept, and sustaining injuries, and being frightened out of her wits, Jane was fatigued in a way she had never known. She hardly took notice of the rooms as she slumped into a largish chair by the hearth.

Loki left a moment, and returned with a bucket of water, some salve, a towel, tweezers, and some gauze-like wrappings.

He started a fire, for though the room was warm enough, there was a decided chill about the place.

And he knelt before her, and lifted her skirts to the knee. "I'm going to remove your stocking, Jane," he said without looking at her. "It might hurt a touch."

She nodded, frustrated that he still wouldn't look at her, but anxious about the pain nonetheless.

And he reached up her thigh, Jane sliding down a bit, and he slowly began to roll the stocking off of her left leg, careful to mind the wound.

Loki took the towel dipped it in the water, and washed it out a bit. She winced.

Then he placed Jane's foot on a stool, situated himself so that he had ample access, and took the tweezers in hand.

Painfully slow, he took out bits of wood from her leg. "It's not as bad as I thought…" he said, eyes on her leg. "But it's deep, which is why it hurts."

Jane was gripping the chair arms tightly…it did hurt. She bit her lip through the pain of it…willing herself to try and feel anything but the tweezers entering her flesh.

"There," Loki said after about twenty minutes work. He rubbed some salve on it, then ripped the gauze with his teeth, and wrapped her shin with it. He rubbed his hands on his pants…"Let's see your wrists," and he sat up, moving toward her.

Jane swallowed. She pushed her sleeves up, and exposed her wrists.

Loki gasped. "Oh, Jane…"

She hadn't looked at them properly, but following his stare, she looked…

There was a lot of blood. She might have come dangerously close to opening an artery. A large chunk of wood was in her left wrist…and some tissue was exposed. Her right wasn't nearly as bad, but there were tinier splinters all along her wrist, and a good deal of bruising.

Funny she didn't notice just how bad it was until then…she had hardly felt the pain.

Jane swallowed. "Might I have some water?"

He nodded. "Yes of course," he left a moment.

Jane sat there…she wouldn't look at her wrists…

And he returned, handed her the water, and had some for himself. He sat at her feet again.

"Loki…"

"Hush, Jane…after I've tended to your injuries…we can talk," and he leaned up toward her, and took her left hand in his delicately. He got the tweezers…

She clamped her eyes shut…her breath became quick.

She heard his breath as well…he was nervous. This didn't help ease her mind.

And then she felt him tug. She tensed.

"I'll just take it out with a quick movement…on three…one…"

She was safe she wasn't dead.

"Two…"

Loki was with her. He was seeing to all of her needs.

"Three."

And the plain surged through her arm…she shrieked.

"Oh god," he said and her eyes flew open.

There was blood everywhere. She began to sob.

"Jane…hang on…" he placed the towel on her wrist. "Press this against it," and he grabbed the gauze. "We need to stop the bleeding…" and he started at her hand, between her thumb and forefinger, and wrapped it tightly. "When I reach the wound, move the towel," and he made his way up her arm…

As soon as she removed the towel, blood spurted out, covering Loki's hands, her clothes…but the gauze soon did its job, and the bleeding was contained.

"Removing it was like removing a dam," she observed. It hurt badly.

"Yes," and he pinned the gauze. "Let's wait on that one," and he smiled at her a touch. He sighed, and took her right hand. "This one isn't as bad." Loki worked tediously on the wound, small splinters were peppered throughout her wrist from the rubbing. He got up and retrieved another towel. He wetted it down, cleaned the wound, applied the salve, then wrapped that one.

"I'll wait until your left wrist stops bleeding so profusely. We need to get the splinters out before it begins to close," and he gathered the things, and took them away.

Jane's head fell back in the chair. She sighed. Everything hurt…

And Loki returned with two glasses of port, and handed her one. "Drink this," he said.

"I'm a mess," Jane observed, downing the drink.

Loki drank the whole of his, and looked at her. "As am I."

"Well…what should we do?"

"Bathe," he replied. "But first, more port," and he took her glass, and his, and went to refill.

What on earth was going on?! Jane was at a loss. Though now she was determined to get him to talk. "Loki," as he entered the room once more. "What is going on."

"On?" he handed her the wine.

"Yes. On. You have barely spoke since…" she paused. "Well. Since…"

"I'll fix you some water," he said abruptly and left her there.

Infuriating man.

Loki returned a few minutes later, and went to Jane, helping her up. "While you wash, I'll fix something to eat. I have some bread from yesterday's market…"

Jane smiled. "I thank'ee…where is the washroom?"

"Just over…" he pointed. "Do you need further help?"

"No. I'm fine," and she left.

Jane went to the back room, closed the door, and took her clothes off gingerly. She placed the rag in the soapy water, and cleaned her body…she took her hair out of its bun and dunked her head in the water. She scrubbed her head…it felt glorious.

As she took her hair out and dried it, there was a knock at the door. "Jane…I have some clothes for you just outside here. They are…erm…mine. I haven't any ladies' clothing…"

Jane laughed. "Thank'ee, Loki. I'm certain they're fine."

She wrapped herself with the towel and went to retrieve the clothes.

It felt odd wearing men's clothing.

Even more odd that it was Loki's.

But she smiled…it smelled like him. Though the trousers were quite long…they all hung off of her a bit…and she attempted to tighten everything as best she could.

Jane hobbled out after she was finished, and went to the dining room, where cold meats, bread, cheese…all were out on the table.

Loki entered with more port. "Sit down, please."

She did.

"Feel better?" he smiled, pouring some for her.

"A bit."

He glanced at her, furrowed brow. "What do you need?"

I need you to talk to me, Loki. "Nothing. Are you going to wash?" he looked pretty bad himself…and now he had her blood all over him.

"Yes. Start without me," and he quickly walked away.

Jane watched him leave, then began to pick at the food on the table.

She couldn't recall when last she had eaten.

The entire time she had spent in that factory was a blur…her mind in rational mode, she hadn't any time to really consider what had actually happened to her.

She was very nearly killed.

Her hands began to tremble…and she took the port and downed it all.

Tears pooled in her eyes…it was the thought of Loki…of telling him that she loved him, which sustained her and compelled her to act. She rather thought that had she not reached that conclusion, she may have succumbed to despair.

But he, apparently, did not care. He hardly would look at her!

No…that wasn't right, either, she thought, taking another bite of the bread and cheese. He was positively waiting on her.

Loki emerged dressed and drying his long black locks. He smiled at her.

And the bell rang.

"Blast," he began. "Although…that might be Selvig."

Loki went to the door and opened it.

Indeed. There was Erik Selvig. "Afternoon, Loki," he glanced at him uncertainly. "Am I…interrupting?"

"Not at all," he stepped aside.

Erik walked in, and spotted Jane sitting at the table. "Ah, Miss Foster! You are a sight for sore eyes!"

Jane smiled, stood, and wobbled.

Erik went over to her and took her hands. "I heard that you were hurt."

"A bit."

"You are a brave lass," he said.

"Not really," she blushed.

"Have some port, Selvig. I daresay we could all use some," he handed him a glass. "How is Fandral?"

"He's…." he downed the drink. "Not well."

"No."

"In fact, we are keeping him at the Yard for observation."

"Indeed? Can Scotland Yard do that?"

"In circumstances such as these, yes."

Jane sat down once more. "Poor Fandral."

Loki let a small breath. "I'll take care of him."

Her eyes snapped to his. "How?"

"He will never want for anything, Jane. You and he are my closest, dearest friends. I won't see him suffer," he smiled at her, then looked at Selvig. "I have the means, what's more."

"I know it," and Erik tipped his glass.

"Are you rich, Loki?" Jane asked uncertainly.

He struck a rueful grin. "A bit."

And now she looked around.

There was thick dark wood everywhere…some marble…stained glass…there was indoor plumbing…lush furnishings…some art…

She was registering what she saw…"You are aren't you…? Where are we?"

"Bethnal Green."

"Bethnal…?" she began. "But…that's only a mile from…"

"Yes…but that really means little, Jane. I told you. The Odinson's are quite wealthy. And I'm not even their favorite son…"

"My god," she whispered, looking around.

Erik cleared his throat. "So, I've told your father that you're all right. And that he should expect you later."

"Later?" she said, not really comprehending.

"Well, I expect that there are things needing tended to…your injuries…other…"

"Thank you Selvig. You are so efficient and can always take a hint…" Loki began guiding Erik to the door. "Do please tell Dr. Foster that I've cleaned and dressed her wounds, none are terribly serious, and she has cleaned herself up, ate a bit…I'll send a messenger for his things later."

"His things?" Erik asked confusedly at the door.

"That's right. He isn't safe, either."

"Oh, that's mighty kind of ya, Loki. I'll tell him," he smiled. "Afternoon, Miss Foster."

Jane smiled.

And Loki locked the door behind him. He sighed, pressed his palms to the door, then turned.

She was positively overcome, but watched his every move. He came over to her, sat across from her at the table, and picked up some bread.

"Stale," he observed.

"Loki."

"Hm?"

"Would you please, for the love of god, talk to me?"

He swallowed, and gave her a very deliberate look. "How is your wrist?"

"I don't care about my fucking wrist!" she exclaimed. "I care about what you are thinking! Feeling! What is going on in that head of yours!"

He sighed. "I'm sorry Jane, I don't mean to be…"

"An arse?"

He smiled. "Though I am shocked at your language."

Jane folded her arms in front of her, and lifted her eyebrows.

He cleared his throat and poured more wine for them both. "I understand your anger. However, you must permit me to gather myself. I spent the whole of the night believing you to be dead…I scoured the streets for you…and now…you are here. And I can scarce believe it," he looked at her with wet eyes and his voice cracked a touch. "I had promised you, most ardently, that I would protect you, and I failed. So now, I aim to set it to right."

"By dressing my wounds and feeding me?"

"And having you and your father stay, yes."

"That's very kind, Loki."

"But…?"

"But you haven't responded to what I most care about. I do not think that you realize what I went through, how I escaped, nor what prompted me to attempt it."

"Tell me."

She sighed. "Loki…I discovered, in that tiny, black room, that I was in love with you. And I escaped so that I might tell you such…"

His face fell as he stared at her. "It did happen, then?" his expression, blank.

"Excuse me?"

"I…I rather thought…I imagined it. Everything was such a blur…" he paused, and covered his face with his hands…"Did you really say it?"

"You fancied that you imagined that I told you that I was in love with you?"

His hands fell, and he blinked and nodded. "And I…I've just felt so guilty…I couldn't bear to speak with you," his gaze fell.

"Oh, Loki," she smiled. "It isn't your fault."

"It is, Jane. Do not attempt to placate me."

She shrugged. "If you prefer."

Loki swallowed…"For some time now…too long, I should think…I have admired you above all others," he smiled. "Fandral caught on quite quickly…but I dismissed it and told him he was ridiculous…but then, it became more obvious, and I silenced him with an admission that I found you to be attractive," he looked at the ceiling. "And so it was, I would tease you, and you bore it well. I would bother you…but only, really, just to be near you," he dropped his gaze and swallowed. "When you came to me with this assignment, I felt compelled to stop you. Then thought of your stubborn nature, and decided to humor you. Little did I know how you'd effect me. How I'd be moved…" he looked at her hesitantly. "For I've never loved as I love you, Jane. You are my dearest friend. And I sincerely believe that I would die without you."

She was crying.

"Don't cry, Jane…" he moved so that he was sitting next to her, and he took her hands delicately. "Please, I cannot bear to see you cry…" he took his finger and softly touched her cheek, taking the tears away. "Your face is injured." He got up and retrieved the salve, and went back to sit next to her. Gently he smoothed the medicine on…

And Jane watched his face as his fingers caressed her jaw, the immediate area around her mouth…she swallowed. "Tell me," she whispered.

He stopped and looked at her steadily. "I love you," he breathed. "More than anything."

Jane smiled, hesitated for a moment…then leaned over, and took his lips in hers.

And Loki deepened it quickly…wrapped his right hand behind her neck…and their kisses were many, and there were hesitant fingers, for she was hurt, he then hesitant, and Jane untrained…"Tell me what to do, Loki…" she said, pulling away.

…and he dragged his lips down her neck, and pulled her closer. He stopped a moment, and took her face in his hands. "You mean…?"

She stared at him, raised her eyebrows…

"Oh, Jane, are you sure? You're hurt, and…"

"And what?"

"Well…" he pulled further back. "You are…a virgin, and I wouldn't want to compromise…"

Jane rolled her eyes, which she took note of, and smiled. Some things never do change. "Do you or do you not want to do this? For god's sake, I'm in your clothes."

He acquiesced her observation with a cock of his head. "You present a compelling argument…"

"Let's go to bed. It'll be more comfortable," and she stood.

Was this truly happening…? Was Jane Foster alive, in love with him, and ready to go to bed with him? How was this possible?

He rose, in a haze, and led her to his bedroom.

Jane hobbled over to the bed and sat down on it, a bit nervous, but otherwise curious. It probably wasn't the wisest thing to have intercourse immediately following a head injury. But she had learned that life is fleeting. And she loved Loki. And now, she was going to experience love in the most intimate way possible.

She didn't give a toss about virtue.

He was looking at her with purpose. She was almost afraid. "Lo…"

"Shhh…" he said in a hush, and went over to her. He sat next to her on the bed. He turned her torso to face him, and began to unbutton his shirt. How very odd, and he smiled.

Loki pulled the shirt off of her, exposing her breasts and torso…he tossed the shirt to the floor. He then took her hips in his hands, and guided her to standing…he undid the knot at her waist, and pulled her (his) pants down to a puddle around her feet.

Jane stepped out of them, but covered herself a bit with her hands from embarrassment.

He lightly touched her hips, rubbed her bottom, then his hands made their way up her body, and he removed her own hands…touched her stomach, her breasts…

He stood.

"You have your clothes on," she observed.

"It's fortunate that I love you for your mind," he smirked.

"Well, now, I know that I have no experience with this, but as I understand it, you are supposed to be naked, too."

"Undress me, then."

"I've never undressed a man," she said with uncertainty…

"Neither have I. But I just did it anyway," he smiled.

She glared at him, but smiled. And she reached up and began to undo his shirt…

And down it went, revealing his chest and stomach…Jane swallowed. Then she looked at his pants…

She blushed, but took them down and they fell to the floor. "You…you are going to put that inside of me?"

"That's the general idea."

"But…" she looked up at him, tearing her eyes from his arousal. "I've never seen an erect penis before."

Loki cocked a brow. "That's…good?"

"It's a bit shocking…" she looked once more.

"You do know how to massage a man's ego, Jane," and he took her arms and turning her around, eased her back onto the bed. "Tell me where it hurts," he was kneeling at her feet, she was laying back, propped up on her shoulders.

"Well…everywhere…"

"This really won't work if I can't touch you anywhere."

She smiled. "Mostly my left arm where…"

He nodded, then loomed over her, Jane sinking back into the bed. He kissed her mouth softly, then made his way down. He claimed her breast, and Jane arched her back.

That was a sensation she had never felt…

"Over such time we have dawdled…over such moons and maze…" he whispered. He came back up to her mouth. "This will hurt a bit."

She nodded.

"If you tel me to stop, I will."

She nodded again, worried her lip.

"At any point, Jane …if you tell me to stop…"

"Loki! Just do it."

He situated himself between her legs, and eased his arousal in slowly…her breath hitched.

"Relax, Jane…it'll be better if you relax…"

"I can't…" she breathed.

And he pulled away. "Does it hurt?"

"A little," she admitted.

"Do you want for me to stop?"

"No," and she looked at him.

He furrowed his brow…"Hang on," and he got up and went to his dresser, procuring something from inside the drawers. He retuned. "This will help," he had a bottle, and he opened her legs, and pouring some fluid from the bottle onto his fingers, he applied some to her sex.

"What's that?"

"Oils. It will help," he closed it up, then sat next to her. "Unless you want to stop…"

"Do you not want to do this?"

"What sort of question is that?"

"You keep asking me…"

"This needs to be utterly consensual, Jane," he was firm. "I am no monster."

She nodded, and took a breath. "All right."

He smiled, and crawled back over to her…he adjusted himself so that he was ready to enter her once more. "Ready?"

"Mmhm," she choked.

He entered slowly…

….and it wasn't as uncomfortable.

"Are you all right?" he whispered in her ear.

She swallowed. "Yes."

And then, with force, he thrust himself inside of her…

She squealed.

"Still fine?" he breathed.

"Yes," she felt the stretch and the break of her sex.

And he began to move…

…and it hurt, but it wasn't awful…and she thought…I'm having intercourse with Loki…

His movement was deliberate and fluid…"I'll be quick," he promised, for he felt her tensing.

And he came.

He kissed her softly.

"Everything all right?" he pulled out of her.

"That was it?"

His brow furrowed. "What does that mean?"

"That was sex?" she said jokingly with him.

"You know, Jane Foster…you are fortunate that I am a gentleman and love you dearly, for had you been anyone else, I likely would at the very least, throw them from my chambers," he gathered up the blankets from the bottom of his bed and covered them both.

"I love you, Loki," she said, laying across his chest.

"And I you, Jane. But you must prepare yourself to be ravished once you've healed. I'll not suffer your ridicule for long. I was being gentle given your state and your virginity."

"That's love," said she.

"Indeed," he returned.

And he pulled her into an embrace on her side, and they both fell into welcome sleep.