grav_ity: (avengers)
[personal profile] grav_ity
AN: So the Avengers happened! And then I wrote a very small AU where, well, Jane gets turned by Loki and builds the machine and subconsciously sabotages it. Because that would have been cool! Also, this is flashfic and unbetaed, so please feel free to point out typos so I can fix them. Obviously, it’s an AU, so I tweaked the plot in a couple spots.

Disclaimer: Ahahahahahahahahahahahaha, I wish.

Spoilers: Um, the movie? And also Thor?

Rating: Teen

Pairing: Jane/Thor

Summary: In the course of her short and mortal life, the heart of Jane Foster has been twice touched by the sons of Asgard.

++

The Hammer and The Ice

In the course of her short and mortal life, the heart of Jane Foster has been twice touched by the sons of Asgard. The fair-haired Thor, whose mighty hammer rings of clear steel and bears the weight of justice, touched her heart with his own, and for her sake rent the galaxy in twain. Loki, the blue-dark trickster who thirsted most of all for vengeance, touched her heart with his cruelty and with his malice, and by that unspoken power to her own undoing was she held utterly in his thrall.

++

First, it was very hot.

It was very hot because her heart was racing and she was afraid. More than anyone else in the room, possibly the world, she knew what waited on the other side of the tesseract’s door. It was true, she dreamed of the door opening again, of the rainbow and the bridge and the strong arms of the god who loved her, but she knew it was a fantasy. What waited there was terror, and terror was knocking.

It was also very hot because there was a lot of weapons discharging all around her, and that led to both anxiety and the burning of gunpowder, neither of which were known for their cooling effects.

And then he saw her, and knew her, and smiled.

++

Then it was very cold.

She thought he meant to run her through, and then she wished he had. She didn’t want to die, particularly, but she’d imagined from watching various crime and medical dramas that getting pierced through the heart with something sharp was at least quick; a flash of hot red and then the endless black of oblivion. This was an enveloping, engulfing blue, that sealed her heart from her body, and froze her mind, though she screamed against it.

It did end, of course, and when it did she stood in front of the great god Loki and wondered why it had bothered her so much in the first place. It was cold, yes, but it was safe. And sure.

In the quiet of her empty mind, there was a muffled sound, like a hammer, wrapped in wool.

++

Then there was fog.

There was something she was supposed to be doing, something she was supposed to be working on that involved the sky and the stars, but her hands were busy here in the lab. She built a machine she should not have been able to build, and never wondered where the stolen knowledge came from. She was inspired by the god, after all; another artist in a long line. It made sense that she would be able to work wonders for his glory.

Once, when she was bent over the desk, soldering iron in one hand and a magnifying glass in the other, he came and stood beside her. She felt his hand against her hair, and turned into his touch.

“Not yet,” he said. “First my brother must fail to rescue you.”

The hammer swung harder, and began to sound more clearly.

++

Then there was wind.

She stood on the top of the tower of the god, and looked down upon the burning city. There was a hole in the sky above her, and death rained down, fanning the flames below. The hammer in her mind shrieked as it tore through the air, but the wind was shrill about her, and it was difficult to hear anything but shouts.

On the balcony, mere metres from where she stood, the gods fought, and her heart stood like ice in her chest despite the pounding within and without. The fair one looked up and saw her, and for just a moment, the wind was nothing and the hammer rang true. She turned to the machine she had wrought, and the blue-dark one was there. The wind surged as he picked her up, and then snuffed out like a candle when he cast her down.

In her unconscious mind, the ice began to melt.

++

Then there came a widow.

She leapt to the roof and rolled hard on the landing, and Jane marveled at her grace. She had seen gods fight, but she had not seen anything like this woman before. The widow held her face between black gloved hands, and Jane knew it was her eyes the other woman sought. Jane did not blink.

She listened as the widow told her what was happening, what pain and suffering her own hands had caused, and when she would have despaired, the widow took her hands, and reminded her that her will had not been her own. The battle on the streets below was strangely muted, but she could hear the ring of a hammer, the hiss of a shield, and the noise reminded her of something her heart had fought to keep from her mind.

In frantic tones, she relayed her tale to the widow; told the weakness she had battled so hard to build into the machine. And she saw what many only saw before their deaths.

The Black Widow smiled.

++

Then there was him.

He was battered and his cloak was torn, and his brow was lined with worry for the broken god he held on a leash, but when he saw her, clear-eyed and falling-star rushing towards him, none of that mattered. He caught her in the air and swung her about, and the broken god cursed while the others laughed to see such joy.

They whispered to each other then, and the others pretended not to hear. Words of love and missing and regret and absolution passed between them, and never did he put her down, nor did she look away from his face. And when the words were said, she kissed him, once for memory, and he kissed her, once for distance. Then he set her on her feet, and turned again to the broken god.

She did not look away from him until he was once again gone from her, but when her eyes clouded over, it was only tears.

++

Then there were stars.

And Jane Foster, whose heart was twice touched and strong, looked up.

++

finis

Note: I don't think I've ever said this before (it's usually implied), but if you should wish to write this from Thor's POV (or Loki's...), or expand it into a bigger story, I invite you to do so. Just tell me where you post it...because I'll want to read it when you're done.

Gravity_Not_Included, May 9, 2012

Date: 2012-05-09 03:36 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] emmaorgana.livejournal.com
Ughhh I love you.


And this.


I think this is the only thing that could have made this movie more perfect. It would have been so freakin awesome to see Jane and Black Widow take down the portal together while the men held the line.

Date: 2012-05-09 03:37 pm (UTC)
ext_1358: (hammer time)
From: [identity profile] grav-ity.livejournal.com
That is basically my ENTIRE THOUGHT. The whole time I was watching the movie, the ONLY "I wish that" thought I had was "Man, I REALLY wish that it was Jane instead of that old guy."

I have simple dreams. ;)

Date: 2012-05-09 04:34 pm (UTC)
mad_maudlin: (Default)
From: [personal profile] mad_maudlin
OH MY GOD THIS.

Date: 2012-05-09 04:42 pm (UTC)
ext_1358: (hammer time)
From: [identity profile] grav-ity.livejournal.com
Thank you. It was really the only thing I thought of in the theatre while the movie was playing that I wished had been different (allowing, of course, for there not to be TOO many creepy sexual overtones).

Glad you liked!

Date: 2012-05-09 04:49 pm (UTC)
mad_maudlin: (Default)
From: [personal profile] mad_maudlin
You know, [livejournal.com profile] lofro and I have been talking nothing but Avengers lately, and the one thing we agreed on about "Thor" as a film was that the Earth-side sequences were just weak, and a big part of that was that we needed either Selvik or Jane but not both.

And I don't think it would've been too creepy sexual, mostly because I don't think Loki sees the appeal of the hu-mons; anything he did would be able getting at Thor, which means Thor would have to be watching.

Date: 2012-05-09 04:52 pm (UTC)
ext_1358: (warrior suki)
From: [identity profile] grav-ity.livejournal.com
Honestly, I didn't even know who Selvik WAS when the movie first started, and then I remembered that in the teaser at the end of...I want to say Thor, but it might have been Captain America, the one where he shows ups with Fury? I watched both on the same day, so I'm a bit blurry, but the important thing is that either way I had JUST WATCHED the movie he was in...and I had already forgotten who he was.

So, Jane. Obviously. :)

And yes: Thor has to be watching.

Date: 2012-05-09 06:00 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] eldanna.livejournal.com
*bawls* Seriously, there is nothing remotely connected to this movie that is not going to make me cry.

Date: 2012-05-09 08:59 pm (UTC)
ext_1358: (hammer time)
From: [identity profile] grav-ity.livejournal.com
Someone with MORE TIME can write the fic where he comes back FOREVER (or something), but for now, my brain has decided this is canon.

Date: 2012-05-09 10:00 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] eldanna.livejournal.com
I am totally okay with that.

Date: 2012-05-09 10:36 pm (UTC)
ext_1358: (hammer time)
From: [identity profile] grav-ity.livejournal.com
Excellent!

Date: 2012-05-09 06:16 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] faith-king.livejournal.com
This scenario honestly hadn't occurred to me... *hangs head*... but it does make more sense.

And it's also lovely. Great job!

Date: 2012-05-09 09:00 pm (UTC)
ext_1358: (hammer time)
From: [identity profile] grav-ity.livejournal.com
The two thoughts I had during the movie (that weren't predicting plot points) were:

1. Man, I wish it was Jane instead of Old Dude!, and
2. UGH, I HATE THAT LINE!!!!

It's possible I have a type. ;)

Date: 2012-05-09 10:29 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] lanna-kitty.livejournal.com
I was dubious, but I think you have sold me on this. :D

oh MAN I need an avengers icon. I dont have one, so have some pony.
Edited Date: 2012-05-09 10:29 pm (UTC)

Date: 2012-05-09 10:31 pm (UTC)
ext_1358: (hammer time)
From: [identity profile] grav-ity.livejournal.com
This is the only one I have. :)

Glad you liked it! My brain has decided it's canon.

Date: 2012-05-09 10:34 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] lanna-kitty.livejournal.com
:D I need to go steal icons this evening.

(though, is ti bad that my take-away from the movie was really that I want fic where Jane, Pepper, Natasha and Darcy save the world somehow. Preferably on Pepper's lunch break because of the sheer amusement factor of that level of girlpower WIN. maybe with Hill filling in for Fury's place)

Date: 2012-05-09 10:35 pm (UTC)
ext_1358: (avengers)
From: [identity profile] grav-ity.livejournal.com
That would, in fact, be almost entirely part of the reason why this fic got written in the first place.

Date: 2012-05-10 01:15 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] hiddencait.livejournal.com
This. I want all of this. All the time.

Shame it wouldn't work for hetbang exactly, cuz I'd be all the hell over that lol

Date: 2012-05-10 01:31 am (UTC)
ext_1358: (Default)
From: [identity profile] grav-ity.livejournal.com
Dude, even though I PROMISED myself I wouldn't sign up for Het BigBang (and made irony_rocks promise to boot me out if I tried), I ALMOST CAVED, just to write this fic in all it's full-sung glory. :)

Date: 2012-05-10 01:16 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] hiddencait.livejournal.com
Oh wow this was lovely my dear!!! The lyrical storytelling fit so well for these two!

Date: 2012-05-10 01:32 am (UTC)
ext_1358: (hammer time)
From: [identity profile] grav-ity.livejournal.com
Thank you! It's been awhile since I've got to do something so stylistic, and this was fun. :)

Date: 2012-05-10 06:37 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] miana-dude.livejournal.com
I NEED THOR ICONS.


<3 <3

Date: 2012-05-10 08:47 pm (UTC)
ext_1358: (hammer time)
From: [identity profile] grav-ity.livejournal.com
I only have this one, and I have used it a lot lately. :)

Date: 2012-05-10 09:23 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] hariboo.livejournal.com
OMG YESSSSSSSSSS. I would have loved this to happen in the film. JANE!!! And omg the idea sounds so fantastic. This is gorgeously written.
Edited Date: 2012-05-10 09:24 pm (UTC)

Date: 2012-05-10 10:03 pm (UTC)
ext_1358: (hammer time)
From: [identity profile] grav-ity.livejournal.com
My brain has decided it's canon. When I got back to see it again, I'm going to be all "Wait...I'm sure this was different last time! :)

Thank you.

Date: 2012-05-10 09:25 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] irony-rocks.livejournal.com
yes. THIS. The awkward Jane mention in the movie was so wrong, even if you knew exactly why they didn't have her in the film. It was just a gaping whole, so this is so freakin cool.

Date: 2012-05-10 10:03 pm (UTC)
ext_1358: (hammer time)
From: [identity profile] grav-ity.livejournal.com
I was thisclose to signing up for Het Big Bang to write the HUGE AND EPIC version of this AU. And then I remembered that this is a thing I cannot do, so I wrestled it down to a thousand words instead. :)

THANK!

Date: 2012-05-10 10:08 pm (UTC)
ext_1358: (Default)
From: [identity profile] grav-ity.livejournal.com
I really, really want someone else to do it!

Date: 2012-05-14 08:10 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] dragonsinger.livejournal.com
This was absolutely fantastic. That would have been an awesome and heartwrenching change. Very well done. (And it gives me my Jane/Thor moment. ;) )

Date: 2012-05-14 08:55 pm (UTC)
ext_1358: (hammer time)
From: [identity profile] grav-ity.livejournal.com
Thank you! I'm really glad you liked it. I had the idea, and then the words appeared, and then the fic was just written! It was a great deal of fun. :)

Date: 2012-05-15 03:45 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] dragonsinger.livejournal.com
It was a fun story to read. :)

Date: 2012-06-09 02:22 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] sabaceanbabe.livejournal.com
This is made of awesome and win and is gorgeous to boot.

Why was Jane not in the movie? She should have been. I had my Tony/Pepper moment, and there was some awesome Natasha/Clint stuff, but there should have been some Jane/Thor. *sigh*

I need some Avengers icons.

Date: 2012-06-10 12:46 pm (UTC)
ext_1358: (hammer time)
From: [identity profile] grav-ity.livejournal.com
Thank you! I'm so glad you could stop by after you saw the movie. :)

I keep telling myself that at least she's in Thor II!

Date: 2012-06-10 05:52 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] azarias.livejournal.com
This is the best version I've read of what it's like to be under Loki's thrall. It's creepy and scary to read, because you really get across what the certainty of it is like, and how ... insulated, I guess is the word, the thralls are from their own will.

Also: In the quiet of her empty mind, there was a muffled sound, like a hammer, wrapped in wool. I love the whole theme of the hammer.

Date: 2012-06-10 06:14 pm (UTC)
ext_1358: (hammer time)
From: [identity profile] grav-ity.livejournal.com
Thank you! I basically set out to write the version with Jane in it where I don't squick myself out by thinking about Loki and consent, and I was pleased with the result. Eric doesn't change clothes or shave, he just works all the time, so I tried to capture what that must feel like inside.

And yes, the hammer and the ice (or, how nearly all of my fics can be traced back to paper, scissors, rock).

Date: 2012-06-13 01:19 am (UTC)
ext_61669: (Default)
From: [identity profile] emmiere.livejournal.com
Ahh, this is great and would have been excellent! Really does a lot in a few words. And most importantly, JANE.

Date: 2012-06-13 09:36 pm (UTC)
ext_1358: (Default)
From: [identity profile] grav-ity.livejournal.com
Thank you! JAAAAAAAANE! really sums up my feelings a lot.

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