Illusions | Loki & Jane

25. The Rainbow-bridge

She said his name.

His real name.

Yet it was accompanied by the word 'hate.'

Loki let the Destroyer retreat, sorrow etched across his features. He had only seen Jane this devastated once before—when he had left her—and once again, it was his fault.

"I hate you, Loki!"

Yes, she had every reason to. He had shattered her heart without so much as an explanation. He had vanished from her life without a trace. But those weren't the reasons she hated him at that moment; she didn't even know that Loki, brother of Thor, the man behind the name she was screaming, was the same person who had lived with her for over three years. She didn't know that Loki was John. All she knew was that he had killed Thor—the man she had fallen in love with after he had broken up with her.

She had every right to hate him. However, she had no idea what lay beneath the surface of his actions, the reasons behind his decision to kill his own brother. First, there was Thor's inability to rule and the certainty that he would ignite war across the universe. Second, there was the fact that Thor had stolen Loki's birthright to the throne, taking away his freedom to go wherever he pleased. Third, Odin's favoritism toward his biological son had always stung; Loki wanted to be the sole pride of his parents for once. And finally, the most significant reason of all—his brother had taken the only woman he had ever truly loved, aside from his mother. Those were reasons enough for him to consider ending Thor's life. If he could only explain this to Jane, she might understand, and perhaps she would find it in her heart to move on from Thor and return to him. That was the plan, after all. He envisioned returning to Earth, revealing everything that had transpired, while also taking on his responsibilities in Asgard. They could be happy together.

He attempted to whitewash the situation, seeking solace for his conscience. However, he wouldn't have to do that for long. The sound of thunder rumbled ominously behind the Destroyer.

This couldn't be happening. He forced the metal creature to turn around and saw a massive lightning bolt descending from the sky, with Thor at its center.

Mjolnir had returned to him! Of course, how could Loki not have foreseen this? Thor had sacrificed himself heroically for the mortals, proving himself worthy of the weapon once more. Well played, father., Loki thought bitterly.

"Oh. My. God." Jane's voice cut through the tension as she watched Thor's transformation from a man back into a God. Ironically, Loki noted her choice of words. But the semantics of the English language were irrelevant at that moment; what mattered was the hammer emerging from the lightning bolt, flying straight into the Destroyer's face, preventing it from unleashing another fiery blast. The giant turned to track Mjolnir's flight, only to be struck again, causing it to stumble.

Loki growled in frustration. He allowed the creature to fire another beam at Thor, who launched himself into the air, swirling Mjolnir around him. A whirlwind formed, pulling the Destroyer into the sky.

When Loki saw Thor's silhouette within the eye of the storm, he commanded the giant to unleash another energy blast. But Thor shielded himself with his hammer, diving downward, Mjolnir poised before him. The force of the energy blast collided with the hammer, overpowering it and sending the blast back toward the creature. Just as Thor drove the hammer deep into the Destroyer's faceplate, Loki lost his connection to the metal giant, and the vision of the throne room materialized before him.

He had done it. He had destroyed the Destroyer! Great. Loki clenched his teeth and fists.

Fortunately, he still had another plan, and it was time to put it into action.