Illusions | Loki & Jane

36. Loki

Jane was captivated by the quantum field generator - or as the Asgardians called it 'the Soul Forge'. She quickly mastered its mechanics and immersed herself in the study of the Aether and the Dark Elves, using her research to distract herself from the remorse pressing on her.

"You learn quickly," Thor remarked as he entered the room.

"When I don't know what else to do, I work," she replied, her focus unwavering.

"Does it help?"

"Only sometimes," Jane admitted with a sigh, a trace of sadness in her eyes. "I'm so sorry. If I hadn't been here, this—"

"Jane, none of this is your doing," Thor gently interrupted.

"She saved me."

"She saved us all—countless times." He smiled at her, then turned his attention to her study. "What have you found?"

She looked concerned. "As far as I can tell, the Aether is designed to transform matter into dark matter. Malekith used it once before; it says he destroyed an entire planet."

"After all this time, why return now?"

"I'm not sure, but your father didn't tell us everything." She picked up a molecule that resembled a small lightbulb and watched as it changed into a swirling red energy fluid, identical to the essence within her. "It's one of the six Infinity Stones, each possessing unique and powerful abilities. I just don't know which one yet." She glanced at Thor, noting his silence. "Maybe he didn't know."

"Or maybe he didn't want us to know."

"Jane Foster!" one of the Asgardian guards strode in, his expression stern. "You need to come with us."

Thor's brow furrowed in confusion. "What?"

The guard stood tall, unwavering. "The Allfather has ordered her to be confined in chains."

Jane bit her lip, knowing all too well that something like this would happen. Odin would never allow her to roam freely after being the cause of his wife's death.

"Well, she's not going anywhere," Thor declared, his posture shifting as if ready to confront the guard. Jane felt a surge of admiration for him; his fierce loyalty was both comforting and cute.
"Thor, these are the king's orders," the guard replied, his tone firm.
"Wait!" Jane stepped between them, placing a reassuring hand on Thor's chest. "I don't want anyone else to get hurt because of me." With a gentle look back at Thor, she turned and walked away with the guards, her heart heavy but resolute.

They brought her to another chamber, where a formidable line of guards stood watch at the entrance. As Jane approached, her heart was pounding. She could see the heavy door, its surface etched with ancient symbols, looming ahead like a barrier to her freedom.

_________

Loki sat in the dim confines of his cell, surrounded by chaos, when he heard his brother speaking to one of the guards. Quickly, he conjured an illusion; he didn't want Thor to see his true state or the wreckage he had caused in his cell.

"Thor," he said with a deep, rumbling voice, "after all this time, and now you come to visit me. Why? Have you come to gloat? To mock?"

Thor's response was immediate. "Loki, enough. No more illusions."

Impressed, he realized Thor had finally seen through his ruse. With that, the illusion shattered, revealing the true state of Loki's prison—a disheveled mess, everything thrown about. He remained seated on the floor, unkempt and weary.

"Now you see me, brother," Loki said, his voice tinged with a mix of defiance and vulnerability. Thor stepped closer to the force field, his expression serious.