Chapter 4
Chapter Text
The taciturn child is definitively gone.
Luke shows a real interest in Jane's work, asking her many questions.
At first, the astrophysicist tries to make her explanations less complex. But she soon talks to him peer to peer, forgetting she's talking to a child.
His comments are so pertinent, so relevant ! What a joy to debate, to exchange ideas !
She loves Thor, but she must admit that he doesn't give her the intellectual stimulation she craves for. She misses so much a brillant conversation...
5 o'clock.
Oops !
Luke may have a mature mind, he's still a child.
Jane takes him to the restroom, for him to eat a snack.
The room's empty.
Phew !
The boy shoots her a glance.
"Do you get along well with the other scientists ? "
She blushes.
How can she tell him she's hardly accepted by her co-workers ? Such a fucking man's world !
"I don't see them much", she sighs, "I'm afraid I'm a bit misanthropic."
He smiles.
"Unbelievable ! I should learn you how to lie."
"You won't succeed", she laughs heartily, "Pokerface is not for me ! "
Suddenly the door is pushed open.
One of her colleagues comes into the room.
Shit.
Peter Browning.
Full of scorn. Arrogant.
"Hey, Foster, where do you think you are ?", he shouts angrily, "in a playground ?"
He puts his notes on the table and pours a cup of coffee for himself...without asking Jane if she wants one.
He mumbles.
"Women don't know where their proper place is. They should stay at home, cooking, cleaning up and taking care of children."
She wants to react vivaciously, but Luke quickly catches her wrist.
"Calm down", he whispers, "remember what you said about your apparent weakness. "
He winks at her.
"Ready for a trick ?"
She squeezes his hand.
Let's have fun !
Luke bounces around Peter.
"Sir, please, tell me about your research ! What do you study ? Tell me, please !"
The scientist nearly drops his cup.
He puts it on the table, near his notes, and roughly pushes the child with his hand.
"Clear off, bratt !"
Luke steps back and sulkers.
"You're a bad man. I don't like you. I keep your pass."
Peter grows pale when he realized that his pass is no more in his pocket.
"Stupid child", he snaps, it's mine ! Give it back to me !"
He attempts to snatch the pass out of Luke's hand.
Vainly.
Luke runs away, shaking the pass like a bullfighter shakes his muleta.
Jane weeps with mirth while watching Peter who tries desperately to catch the child.
Time to death blow !
The little pickpocket tosses the pass near Peter's notes.
Peter runs furiously to the table.
He doesn't notice that Luke has stretched one of his legs.
The boy trips him, and Peter stumbles.
The man tries to hold himself back.
And fails.
He falls on the table.
Heavily.
Cup, coffee, pass, notes...are thrown on the floor in a deafening noise.
"Peter !" , Jane scolds, "where do you think you are ? In a playground ?"
Luke and Jane go out of the room, laughing hard.
Hand in hand.