InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "non-defined non-conventional"

Jane Foster (starryphysicist) wrote in toboldlyrpg,
@ 2017-10-20 11:03:00

Entry tags:

jane foster | mcu, thor | mcu

WHO: Jane Foster & Thor
WHERE: Astrophysics lab and halls
WHEN: Backdated to idk when exactly
WHAT: Chatter and flirting
WARNINGS: F for Fluff
STATUS: Closed, Complete

I’m in the shadow of your heart

Lots of things on the Enterprise were predictable. The change in shifts, catching certain people at the Lounge, and the weekly attempt by Lt. Riley to sing “I’ll Take You Home Again Kathleen” in Rec Room B without being run out of the room.

Also predictable was Jane pulling a 24-hour shift without realizing it, which is why Thor descended upon the Science Labs with cupcakes and coffee and a plan to throw Jane over his shoulder if he had to.

Jane was leaning over a screen, studying a long string of numbers, one finger hovering so that she could occasionally stop it and add a note. Her work here, while satisfying, was intense, and she often just became lost in it, despite the fact that she knew there were other things to do on board the ship.

When a shadow fell across the screen, she blinked a couple of times, then looked up ask the person to move. The slight annoyed look in her eyes faded when she saw Thor, and she gave a wide smile.

“Hi.”

"Hello! It's 0200, and I know where my Jane Foster is." He set the cupcakes in front of her, and then the cup of coffee, complete with a Starfleet logo on it. "Something tells me you don't know how long you've been working."

Thor flashed Jane a smile, then trailed his hand across her shoulder.

“It’s really that late?” Jane glanced down at the screen and spotted the time in the corner, then raised her brows. “Oh.” Shifting her gaze to the cupcake and coffee, she picked up the first and took a bite, then looked up at him at his touch, smiling. “Only six hours, maybe?”

"Try twenty-four," Thor said. He raised his eyebrows. "This must be some really interesting research. What are you working on?"

It was a dangerous question to ask Jane, especially when he was trying to get her to step away, but he was genuinely curious and he liked seeing her talk about the things she loved.

Jane took a moment to take a long drink from her coffee, then looked back down at the screen. “There are so many different kinds of readings that I’m trying to isolate any that are different when people come and go from what they show on an average basis. It means staring at code for a long time,” she said with a laugh and then, since the cupcake was there, she took another bite.

“So you’re looking for a needle in a very large haystack,” Thor guessed. And it looked like the needle was a similar color to the rest of the haystack, thus making it even more well hidden and complicated.

“And you cannot just stick your hand around until you get poked. Can you?”

Jane tilted her head at his analogy as she glanced back to him, then after a moment she gave a nod. “That’s...oversimplifying it, of course, but essentially? Yes.” She sighed at the question and shook her head. “Not really, not without risking missing something.”

He'd thought maybe there was a way to stick a hand out and get poked by the needle. Not literally, of course, but through whatever equipment the Enterprise had available. But if Jane didn't think it was possible, it probably wasn't.

"I wish I could be more help."

“It’s just time consuming,” she replied, giving him a small smile. Looking back down at the cupcake, she ate it quickly, then shook her head as she brushed away crumbs. “God, that’s good.” Biting back a yawn, Jane instead sipped from her coffee and stood to stretch, turning so she faced Thor.

“Why are you still awake?”

“You are the one asking me that question?” Thor almost laughed softly enough to not quite disturb others who were working. “I could not sleep, but it is always difficult to do so when you are not present.”

“You knew what I was doing,” she replied, then smiled softly at him while setting her mug down again. “I’m sorry you couldn’t sleep.”

“Ah, but you’re the one who rarely sleeps, even when she should. I sleep far too often as it is.” He rubbed his face. “Mayhaps that is a problem for both of us.”

He might be feeling a little more useless than he cared to admit. Like a lack of something constructive to do.

Jane gave him a sympathetic smile and stepped up to wrap her arms around him in a hug. “I’m sorry - I’ve been ignoring you lately, haven’t I? I should be paying more attention to you. To us,” she said, her voice softening a little.

“I would never ask you to draw your attention away from your work,” Thor assured her. “I think I am feeling restless. And I suppose I do miss you.”

“I promise to take some more time off and take more breaks so we can spend time together outside of the lab,” she told him firmly. “You’re just as important to me as all this. More, even.”

“That is a promise I’ll hold you to,” Thor warned, holding up a finger. His tone was playful and so was the expression on his face. “Am I really?”

He swept his hand out in a grand gesture in the general direction of space, “You are more precious to me, than all those stars around us.”

Who said Thor couldn’t be romantic.

Her cheeks reddened at that, but her smile grew bright as she shook her head. “I can take a hint. I’m done for tonight,” she told him - but she did reach behind her to pick up her coffee. “Can I at least take this with me?”

“As you wish,” Thor slipped his arm around Jane once she had coffee in hand. “I know you’ve been up a long time, but I can’t tell if you’re actually tired or not.”

But maybe if she was horizontal, she’d pass right out.

“I don’t really feel tired right now.” She reached out to log off of the screen, then leaned into Thor as he pulled her from the lab. “I think my blood is probably 90% coffee.”

“The betting pool has you at 85%.” Thor grinned at her. He’d pick her up if she wasn’t holding coffee, whether or not it would embarrass her. Embarrassing her was actually part of the appeal. But he’d not risk the coffee, for that way led madness.

“I love you, Jane. I don’t think I ever told you that enough.”

“There is no betting pool,” she said - though she wasn’t quite sure if that was accurate. Deciding it was better not to know, Jane had lifted her cup again and paused halfway to her lips to look back up at Thor.

“I love you, too.”

“Give Darcy five minutes and she’ll set one up.” Give Darcy enough slack and she’d probably set up a betting pool on little Thorlings too.

Thor smiled at her. “Do you want to go back to your room? Mine? Or would you prefer the lounge or observation deck?”

“You’re probably right,” Jane replied on a laugh, shaking her head. At his question, she tilted her head in thought and took another sip of her coffee, then smiled at him. “How about your room?”

“Why Miss Foster, are you getting fresh with me?” Thor’s tone remained teasing, and there was a glint in his eye. He’d forgotten how good it felt to be around her, and to just talk to her. Among other things, though those other things were clearly on his mind and hard to ignore.

“I would never,” she said with a laugh, but slipped an arm around him. “Considering the late hour, maybe we should try to get some sleep - unless you were wanting to go to the lounge or observation deck?”

“I’d rather sit in and drink with you. And this way, mayhaps I can make sure that you actually get some sleep.” His expression and tone were wholly innocent but there was something about that flash that remained in his eyes that lent his words a slightly naughty bent.

She caught the flash and her own eyes narrowed, before Jane shook her head. “Yes, I’m sure that’s exactly what you’re planning,” she replied with a grin, then started them towards the turbolift as she absently sipped the coffee and found herself wishing that the cup was larger. “Do you think we’ll be visiting a planet anytime soon?”

Maintaining his innocence, Thor walked alongside her, hands clasped behind his back. “I believe so. I couldn’t say when, but we seem to visit planets on a regular basis.”

He wondered if being dedicated to the traveller phenomenon would affect that.

“I can’t wait to see one,” she said honestly. “I mean - of course you took me to Asgard, which was amazing, but...I didn’t have a lot of time to actually study it. I still regret not being able to see more while I was there.”

For the first time, Thor realized that Jane, the scientist, had never visited another planet long enough to really explore it. He had no control or power over the Enterprise, but if he could, he’d have changed course immediately. “When we get back, I will take you back to Asgard for a proper visit. You deserve no less.”

Jane looked over at him in surprise, then smiled, reaching out to touch his arm. “I’d like that - very much,” she told him, then tugged him to a stop so she could hug him properly. “Thank you.”

“I love you, Jane Foster.” Thor pulled her close, running his hand down the side of her face. “And I have a lot to make up for.”