Illusions | Loki & Jane

21. The Greater Good

The sky above the small town was a heavy grey, clouds swirling ominously as a cold winter breeze nipped at Jane's nose. She pulled the fur collar of her coat tighter around her face, trying to shield herself from the snowflakes that danced down from the sky. Winter had come early this year; just yesterday, she hadn't needed a jacket at all. Each step she took sank deep into the freshly fallen snow, and though she had no destination in mind, her feet moved forward out of sheer fear of freezing in the biting cold.

"Jane." A calm, dark voice broke through the swirling snowstorm, laced with a tender undertone. She looked up and spotted a silhouette not far ahead, barely distinguishable against the white landscape. Though she couldn't make out the face, she recognized the voice instantly. Her heart raced as she squinted against the flurry and took cautious steps closer.

"Jane," the figure called again, this time more forcefully. Her eyes widened as recognition hit her, her heart pounding in her chest. It was him—John. She hadn't seen him in ages, and now he stood before her in the middle of nowhere, his long dark hair whipping in the wind, snowflakes swirling around him as if he commanded them. He wore no winter clothing, just a tailored suit.

"Aren't you freezing?" Jane asked, bewildered as she took in his attire.

"No," John replied, matter-of-factly. "Don't you remember? I was never cold."

That was true. John had always walked through the winter chill as if it were a warm breeze, while she had struggled against the icy air. He had often taken her hands or wrapped her in his embrace to warm her when the cold became unbearable. He never shivered, and his skin always felt neutral—not warm, but not cold either. It was something she had noticed but never fully understood.

"What are you doing here?" she asked, her common sense slowly returning.

"I wanted to congratulate you," he said, his voice cruel and unfeeling.

"With what?" she replied, confusion washing over her. Why was he being so distant?

"With your marriage." He gestured to a group of people nearby. Jane's gaze followed his hand, landing on Thor—dressed in a suit as well—accepting congratulations from guests. A wave of confusion crashed over her. "I didn't marry him," she protested, offended. "I barely know—" She halted mid-sentence, her eyes drifting down to her own attire. A wedding dress? This was absurd! It looked like something straight out of a Disney movie, a princess gown fit for Cinderella. She would never wear something so extravagant! What was happening?

"How did you find out?" she stammered.

"It was all over the internet," John replied, his eyes devoid of emotion. "The most famous astrophysicist marries the God of Thunder. Well done." Hatred dripped from his words. "I guess I was too plain for you, wasn't I? I'm sorry I'm not a god." He hissed the last words, his bitterness palpable.

"No!" Jane cried, desperation in her voice. "You were never plain to me! I would have married you if you hadn't left me!"

"Well, it's too late for that now, isn't it?" he retorted, reaching into his blazer's pocket. Jane's heart raced as she realized what he was pulling out—a gun.

"What are you doing?" she shouted, panic rising in her chest.

"I'm going to kill him," John replied coldly, raising the weapon and aiming it at Thor. Before she could react, he fired, the shot echoing through the snowy landscape. Time seemed to slow as she watched the bullet strike Thor in the chest. He fell back, a look of shock in his eyes, blood blooming on the pristine snow as it pooled around him.

"NO!" Jane screamed in horror, jolting awake with a gasp. She sat upright in her bed, her heart racing as if she had just run a marathon. The darkness of her trailer surrounded her, empty and silent. Tears brimmed in her eyes as she wiped the sweat from her forehead, trying to shake off the remnants of the nightmare.