Always wanted to know the truth behind Loki's hatred toward his brother and father? Loki has a perfect, happy second life on Earth, pretending to be a mortal so he can be with Jane. Unfortunately, Odin has other plans for Jane Foster; she needs to c...
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As they floated through Svartalfheim, the urge to create another illusion became too tempting for Loki to resist. He conjured a new facade, crafting a private space where he could converse with Jane away from Thor's eyes.
"What do you want, Loki?" she asked, her tone sharp and unforgiving. She was lying on the ship and struggling to keep her eyes open
"I just want to see if you're alright," he replied, his voice steady but laced with concern.
She let out a half-hearted laugh, a bitter edge to her words. "You're a bit late to play my boyfriend, you know. You lost your chance years ago." The warmth in his actions unsettled her; she didn't want him to be this affectionate. It confused her, stirring a mix of emotions she thought she had long buried.
Loki swallowed hard at her words. The distance between them felt insurmountable, a chasm forged by betrayal and deceit. He could sense the weight of his choices pressing down on him, the consequences of his past actions looming larger than ever, threatening to drown any hope of reconciliation.
"I never wanted you to find out this way," he admitted, his voice softer now, almost pleading. "Everything I did... it was to protect you in some twisted way. I thought I could keep you safe by staying away."
She paused for a brief moment, her head slightly turned as if considering his words. But then she shook her head, as if trying to clear away the confusion. "You should have trusted me, Loki. You should have been honest."
"I know!" he exclaimed, frustration and remorse bubbling to the surface. "Trust me, I regret every choice I made. I never wanted to be a monster in your eyes."
Her silence was deafening, and he could see the tears glistening in her eyes, threatening to fall. It was a sight that crushed him, a stark reminder of the pain he had caused.
"Just give me a chance to explain," he urged, stepping forward, yearning to bridge the gap between them. "I'm still the man you kissed. I'm still the man who—"
"Stop!" she interrupted, her voice quaking with emotion. "You may look the same, but everything has changed. I don't know who you are anymore." She gestured toward his illusion arguing with Thor, frustration bubbling to the surface. "You're lying to your own brother!" She sighed heavily. "Those masks hanging in your chamber—those are you. You embody all of them and yet none at all. You don't even know who you are anymore!"
Loki felt a sense of helplessness wash over him, deep down, he knew she was right. "I'm still here, Jane. I'm still me. I just... I have a complicated past, but I want to be better. For you."
Jane turned to face him, her expression a tumult of hurt and anger. "Then show me. Prove to me that you're more than just a god of mischief wearing masks. Show me that you can be trusted."
As she turned away, presenting him with her back, Loki stood frozen, grappling with the harsh realization that the path to redemption would be far more daunting than he had anticipated. Yet, a flicker of determination ignited within him—he was resolved to try, to prove to her and himself that he could become someone worthy of her love.
"Why are you helping us?" Thor asked after a long silence, believing Jane had fallen asleep. Little did they know, she was wide awake, listening intently.
Loki ignored the question, a slight grin forming on his lips, mischief flickering in his eyes. "What I could do with the power that flows through those veins," he mused, his tone teasing yet heavy with implication.
"It would consume you," Thor replied, his voice steady and resolute.
Loki shrugged, dismissing Thor's concern. "She's holding up alright, for now."
Thor's expression softened as he glanced at Jane, who lay silently. "She's strong in ways you'd never even know."
Loki's annoyance flared. "No, I wouldn't know!" he snapped, frustration evident in his tone. He was all too aware that he probably understood her better than his brother did. "Still, say goodbye." Jane flinched at his words, feeling the weight of Loki's anger; she understood why he was upset—Thor had no idea how well Loki actually knew her.
"Not this day," Thor replied firmly.
"This day, the next, a hundred years—it's nothing. It's a heartbeat. You'll never be ready. The only woman whose love you've prized will be snatched from you." At that moment, Loki wasn't sure if he was speaking to Thor or himself. The sadness in his voice reached Jane's ears, and she felt a pang in her chest—was he afraid of losing her to mortality?
"And will that satisfy you?" Thor challenged, defiance lacing his tone.
"Satisfaction is not in my nature," Loki replied, bitterness seeping through his words.
"Surrender is not in mine," Thor shot back, resolve unyielding.
Loki scoffed, knowing that Thor would inevitably fight. Perhaps he hated himself for not having done so sooner. "The son of Odin," he said, disdain dripping from his voice.
"Not just of Odin! Do you think you alone were loved by Mother? You had her tricks, but I had her trust!" Thor countered sharply.
Yes, trust—Jane thought to herself. It was something everyone struggled with when it came to Loki.
"Trust. Was that her last expression? Trust? When you let her die?" Loki's accusation cut deep, and Jane felt the sting of it resonate within her.
"What help were you in your cell?" Thor snapped back, anger flaring.
"Who put me there? Who put me there?!" Loki exclaimed, desperation creeping into his voice as Thor gripped his arm tightly.
"You know damn well! You know damn well who!" Thor's fist was raised, ready to strike, but he hesitated, the weight of their shared history holding him back. "She wouldn't want us to fight."
"Well, she wouldn't exactly be shocked," Loki replied, a wry smile breaking through the tension, though it felt hollow.
Thor sighed, turning his back to Loki, the distance between them thick with unresolved feelings. "I wish I could trust you." He moved to cover Jane, who lay there, vulnerable and aware of the emotional turmoil surrounding her.
"Trust my rage," Loki said quietly, his gaze lingering on the way Thor softly touched her. It ignited a fire within him—she was his! The anger bubbled just beneath the surface, mixing with an overwhelming sense of protectiveness.
Jane was caught in a storm of conflicting emotions between the two powerful Gods, feeling somehow guilty for their fights.
Suddenly, the Aether within her stirred, awakening something deep inside. Her eyes shot open, locking onto the two brothers she loved. As if compelled by an unseen force, she rose to her feet and gazed out at the horizon. A massive ship lay stranded on the landscape, its dark silhouette stark against the sky.
"Malekith," she said absently, the name slipping from her lips like a whisper, a chill running down her spine. Both Thor and Loki watched her, their expressions a mix of concern and urgency. Jane could feel the Aether pulsing within her, its power intertwining with her own resolve, as she prepared to confront the threat that loomed before them.
