the mortal

fifty reasons to touch someone

…in a rush of adrenaline.

Jane doesn’t know how she even got into this predicament. I mean she was a curious person, came with being a scientist. So she does know how, but why? There’s a lot of scientist they do more dangerous things than she does and somehow they come out unscathed. But of course her luck doesn’t run that way. Jane almost gets pummeled by a building and just before her life can flash before her eyes she feels a rush of cold air and then she’s being pushed out of the way. She hears the crash, seeing traces of ice and then she looks around frantically, because there’s only one person that she knows of that has that power. “Bobby?” She spots him standing in the midst of the rumble and she rushes over to him and pulls him into a tight hug. “I’m glad you’re ok. You scared me.”

Thor nodded his head. “I’ll meet you by the door in about an hour.” Thor said with a smile and walked towards his room.

It had been something he had learned to grow accustomed to, the whole time thing, Asgard didn’t circle a star, time passed different there, at first he had thought it was some figure of speech, like an hour could be either right away or in a long time but after a couple of times when he had been late for some stuff he learned how time worked in Earth.

Thor took his shower, and tried to be as fast as possible, he had some Earth’s clothes that were more on the comfortable side than what some called the fashionable side, like the stuff he wore for Stark’s parties but still, it didn’t matter right? It’s not like this was a date.

They were just two exes… Two friends going out for dinner.

He put on his black crocs and went down.

“Hey… You look nice…” He said grimacing internally, they had some sort of agreement on friendship, but he just wasn’t sure if he knew how to be her friend.

“Yea, ok.” Jane smiles and nods and heads off to her room to get ready. She goes over to her closet and opens it. There’s not much in there, but it’s enough to put her into a panic of what to wear. Though she shouldn’t be worrying too much. This isn’t a date or anything. They’re just going to get something to eat...casually. As friends. Nothing more.

Jane decides to go with something comfortable but passable as restaurant wear. A skirt was always dressy, the top didn’t matter much to her as long as the colors matched. She looks in the mirror after getting dressed, debating whether or not she should wear make-up.

Again this wasn’t a date, but it was still Thor. She still wanted to look nice.

Jane just does a swipe to her lashes with mascara before deeming herself done and making her way back downstairs. If she stayed there any longer she definitely would have talked her into putting something else on and then deciding not to go at all. 

“Oh.” She looked down then back over at him with a smile. “Thanks. You look nice too.”

Her hand felt so small and clean inside his own, did he wash his own hand. Oh no is he OCD? Should he wash it three times just to be sure… why is he worrying about something she probably doesn’t care about. Maybe she does care about it. Calm down, calm down, calllmm doownn. He nibbled on the inside of his lip to relieve himself of some anxiety and… oh good she turned around. He quickly pulled his hand up to his metal arm and grabbed onto it as tightly as he could. He let out a little sigh as he calmed. On the go stress reliever.. “Friends? Us. Well then I have to know what someone as smart looking and radiant is doing in a clearly bleak and unflattering place.” he peeked over her shoulder and took a whiff of the beans used… Strong blend but not too strong, Colombian.. Good choice but he preferred Burundian… That means… This facility is cheap. He’ll have to talk to management about that. “I actually prefer it with some cream, 1 and a half sugars please and thank you.” He stood there awkwardly. “It’s surprisingly clean in here, don’t you think? Feels like a dentist’s office” he tried to make a joke… hah! epic fail. 

Jane smiles and nods her head. “Yea, why not? You seem like a cool guy to be friends with.” Plus it wasn’t like Jane had a lot of friends around here. Tony only talked to her because she was the only scientist around. There was Carol, but the former Kree was kind of stand-offish and still figuring Earth out for herself. Bobby, but she felt weird because of the age difference. Then there was Thor and that ... was complicated. So she didn’t really have many people to connect with. “I’m sorry?” Jane ask at his next words. Why were the people around here so charming? “Well, it’s a part of my job. So unfortunately I have to dwell in the dullness.” She laughs a little and she doesn’t move when he leans over her to take a whiff of the coffee. “Some cream and 1 and half sugars. Gotcha.” Jane says repeating his preference and moves to start making it. “It does a little but. I get they want to come off as sleek, but a gradient counter-top would have looked flawless in here.”

fifty reasons to touch someone

…out of lust.

Jane felt this many of times, but it was before the break-up, before the awkwardness. Usually after spending weeks apart when they were together. Jane having to travel for work, Thor having to save the world. Though this time it wasn’t after that, or even after a stimulating conversation about the stars and space. They were coming back from dinner, which surprisingly went well. Even without the usual amount of talking they’re known to do.

Jane is just about turn and go up the stairs to her room when she feels herself being pulled back and then she’s pressed against Thor’s body and that warm tingling feeling is coursing through her body like it always does when they’re like this. She glances up at him when his fingers tangles into the back of her hair, another familiar move. Thor is leaning closer and Jane isn’t sure if this is real or not. Not too long ago he rejected just her placing a comforting hand on his arm and now this? 

Of course he stops though, right when they’re close to kissing and they’re just breathing each other’s air. Jane tries to push closer to close the gap but his grips around her tightens and a small whimper falls from her lips, followed by a pout. Jane swears she hears Thor laughs but she isn’t sure and then he’s withdrawing his hands ... slowly. His hand trailing the curves of her body before dropping back to his sides.

And then he’s walking away.

“Well then I feel like there should be more to it, egg in my hair… rolling around in the mud… shirts wet and torn..” he laughed at her called his struggle a compound maze. He followed behind her, trying to keep to her pace.. but the possibility of running into unwanted attention was around every corner. Upon entering the kitchen it felt like he was staring at medical supply closet… everything was so… metallic and… clean… He held out his own hand, his normal one, he didn’t want to crush her dainty one. With a firm shake he replied. “First impressions count, regardless of an introduction.. Bucky, Barnes.” He introduced himself, leaving every sense of military title in the past. It’s not who he is anymore.

 “We can arrange the egg getting in your hair but I don’t know about the wet t-shirt contest.” She laughs a little as they walk and she notices his slight hesitation. The quick glances he makes before actually turning the corner, but she doesn’t make a comment on them. Everyone around here has a background story to them. Some she knows about and some she doesn’t. “Well Bucky, it’s nice to meet you.” She shakes his hand and then lets it go before turning around to start making the coffee. “First impressions are everything, you’re right. And from yours I can tell we’re going to make great friends.” Jane pours the coffee into the filter before pressing the brew button. “How do you like your coffee?”

“Really? Well then, ma’am I would like to say it’s an honor to feel lost on my first day officially back here in the Avengers compound.” Avengers a word that still gets caught in his throat whenever he tries to utter it. Kindness.. she extended kindness, something he wished more people would take on. Sure he was framed for the murder of a King, killed people under the influence of one of the most corrupt and murderous organisations this world has ever seen… But who’s counting. She obviously doesn’t care and why would he mention it to her.. Destroy a potential friendship bridge they could cross, nope. “You’re a life saver… Miss…?”

“Consider it your initiation. Can’t be a part of the Avengers unless you’ve conquered your fear of the compound maze.” She smiles and starts leading the way toward the kitchen. Taking a couple turns, a right, a left and then two more rights. They enter the kitchen area. All the new stainless steel appliances gleaming in the natural light coming in through the window. Jane would consider this all a waste of money if this was a regular built home. But it wasn’t, it was a place for work and to live in and she could understand why they needed top of line items. Especially with the all super humans waltzing around. “Jane. Jane Foster.” She offers before extending her hand. “I guess we should have done this first huh?” 

Bucky’s arms extend trying to hold her steady in case she was caught off balance. Something about her gentle features and her soft aura made him frown, has he seen her somewhere before? Was she a teacher? No that’s too obvious. Peaceful librarian? No too dull. “I should probably not pause in the middle of the hallway.” He ran his eyes over her trying to catch any clue as to who she is or what she does. “Obstacle is a strong word, I have a feeling Fury pulled out all the stops to make this place impossible to navigate through.”  with a gentle hand he gestured around the area they were standing in. “At this point I have given up and I really need some coffee… so common area? Cafeteria? Nearest coffee machine, please”

Jane smiles. “No, it’s really okay. My first time in here I was standing in a few halls looking just as confused, so I totally get it.” There was something familiar about the man before her, but she couldn’t place it and if she had seen it on t.v then she really wouldn’t be able to figure out because she hardly looked at television long enough to process what she’s seeing. “Oh, he most certainly did. At least if you’re an enemy it’s hard to get through and it gives the rest of us an advantage.” Jane shrugs a shoulder and gestures toward a hallway behind her. “Follow me. The kitchen is this way. The coffee is actually descent this time.”

Thor smiled and squirmed a little in place. “Oh, I’d love to… I uhm… Do you want to maybe go out? Order in? I… uh, I’d offer to cook but I doubt you’d want a repeat experience of the one time I tried to cook for you.” Earth’s eggs were so easy to break specially with someone with super human strength so his attempt at cooking pancakes involved a lot, a lot of egg shells.

Jane laughs remembering the cheese omelette with shells in it. It had been an interesting morning to say the least.”No, if we’re going to eat in then I’m definitely cooking.” She says with a smile. “But maybe we can go out?” She asks. It would be nice to get away from everything and everyone for awhile. She feels like she’s been cooped up for too long. On top of being locked in a lab in a basement for a few hours. “There’s a place not too far from here. Walking distance actually.”

Thor had half the mind to close the gap between them, and he was when his actions finally caught up with his mind, and he stopped, removed his hand from over hers and took a step back.

“Sorry… I…”

“I… Should… I should probably go, get a shower and something to eat, we had a couple of battles and… it was a long mission…”

“And you probably have work to do too, right?”

Jane’s hand falls back to her side the moment Thor takes a step back. She clears her throat and shakes her head. “No, no need to apologize.” Looking down she bites her lip. 

“Yea, it was,” She says lamely. “A long mission that is...uhm.” Jane scratches her head. “We could grab something to eat together...if you want. You know after your shower and everything.”

Lost time, that’s a concept that wasn’t strange to the dark haired man. Frozen in ice, gone for five years due to some grape themed villain taking over the world, other instances Bucky cannot even recall… Time upon time he was lost. Much like he was right now. He wandered around the Avengers Compound and sighed, running a hand through his hair… Where the hell am I? It’s been six months, one would think that he would be able to find his way around this maze. But alas there he was, standing in the middle of nowhere, yet everywhere. “This place should really come with a map.”

Navigating around New York was much harder than it usually is thanks to the floor, but Jane was able to manage it. She needed to get to the compound because a lot of her equipment was there and she needed some of it for their new test subject. Her head in the clouds as always Jane almost runs into someone as she makes her trek back out of the compound and to the X-Mansion. “My apologies. One of these days I’m going to get myself hurt.” Jane laughs a little and then nods. “Yea, this place is a bit of an obstacle. Where are you trying to go?”

Dear Karen, I miss you. His typing falters, and he deletes all he's written thus far, he had to be strong, to not show just how much he's suffering. Dear Karen, it's been harder lately Delete delete delete. Still not right. He couldn't do that to her, to himself, but how could he be fearless without her? Karen I'm so lost Keep it together Matt.

Before he knows it, there are tears falling onto his cheeks. He does miss her, things have been hard, and he is lost without her, but to write them down like this? It hurts. It makes it much too real. He's drawn out of his thoughts by the creaking of the floorboards besides him, a concerned heartbeat. Doing this in public wasn't the brightest idea. "I'm alright..."

Jane was happy for the calm that came after the mission. The heat was bearable when you stayed in the house with the AC and even then they had Thor, Ororo and Bobby keeping the temperatures to comfortable levels, though she is worried about the ones that were staying on Genonsha. The weather there took an unexpected turn but it seemed fine. She was going to have to check that out. 

Thor grabbed Jane’s hand and pressed it to his chest, he took a step closer and looked down into her eyes.

“So far, we have only been reacting, always a step behind of everything that has been happening… Our plan to defeat Thanos was almost ruined because Nebula from the past, who used to be bad fooled us… I’m just saying… We don’t know this person’s true intentions… Just, be safe.”

Jane is a bit taken aback by his actions. Her fingers slightly curling against the fabric of his shirt. It was a bit weird seeing Thor walking around in normal clothes rather than his Asgardian attire. He had before when he lived with her, but that was before knowing he was a literal god.

Not that he didn’t look good in them. A trash would look good on him, but --- she shakes her head before her thoughts could get away from her. “I’m going to be fine.” Jane says again looking back at him. “I won’t be alone. I promise.”