A/U: After a nasty confrontation Loki invites Cassandra to tea. This takes place after the Interview with a God King. To read in order: Unexpected Encounter, Interview with a God King and then Teatime.

"His majesty wants to swap out the Da Vinci for the Picasso currently on display." Kylar scrolled through his tablet for further instructions. "And he would like the statue of Aphrodite placed in the throne room."

Cassandra took notes on her own tablet, figuring out the logistics of moving a five-hundred-pound statue. She'd been working for the king for over a month now. The pay was good, the benefits exceptional.

She was Art Curator to the King, basically the head of a massive collection acquired from museums from around the globe. Under other circumstances she'd be thrilled to hold such a prestigious position, but she basically worked for a dictator. On most days Cassandra tried not to beat herself up over it. After all, she was simply doing what she must to survive like everybody else.

Cassandra swiped to another screen, pulling the catalog designation for the Da Vinci. "Anything else?"

"Oh, and you need to inspect the new shipment that came in." Kylar tucked his tablet under his arm, looking down his nose at her. "Be sure to do that before your lunch."

Kylar, Loki's personal assistant, was a mini dictator himself. Because he served the king directly, he believed himself above everyone else.

Cassandra was the only one who didn't allow herself to be bullied. "It's almost time for my lunch. Going over the shipment will take at least two hours. I'll do it after."

Footsteps echoed off the white plaster walls as someone entered the room. Locked in a glaring contest, Cassandra and Kylar didn't notice the new arrival.

Kylar straightened his 5'7 frame with pure indignation. "You'll do what you're told or find yourself tossed to the curb!"

"Kylar!" The king's sharp voice cut between Cassandra and Kylar like a knife.

Both jumped and whirled to face the king. Loki looked angry. Today he wore an all-black suit, his dark hair gathered up in a top knot on his head. If the king weren't glaring at his assistant Cassandra might be worried.

Pale and shaking, Kylar stuttered through an apology. "I-I'm s-sorry, y-your...m-majesty. I-I d-didn't s-see y-you."

"Of course not." Loki ducked his head slightly and laughed mockingly. When he lifted his head, his eyes were cold. "Perhaps, if you weren't busy unjustly harassing my curator you would have!"

Cassandra placed a hand over her pounding heart. Why was he standing up for her? She was just his employee.

Kylar pasted on an oily expression, slippery and insincere as he. "Majesty, you are wise. I have failed in my duties. Shall I pick you up an iced coffee from that shop you like? I can go right away-"

Loki held up his hand, stalling the wheedling human. "I've heard enough. You're fired. Consider yourself lucky I don't throw you in the dungeon."

"But...but...I-I've devoted my life to you." Kylar protested weakly, reaching for Loki.

"That's sad if it's true." Cassandra commented.

With an angry growl, Kylar rounded on Cassandra. "You bitch! You fucking whore, this is all your fault!"

Cassandra raised her brow at the venom in the younger man's voice. She didn't lower herself to his level, intent on maintaining her professional dignity. "Don't blame me because your crappy behavior cost you your job."

Her response only made Kylar angrier. He lunged for her; hands curled into claws.

Cassandra gasped, dropping her tablet, and backed away from the deranged assistant. To her surprise Loki stepped in front of her and Kylar skidded to a halt. "Go. Or I'll have security throw you out."

"Fuck you, majesty, I don't need this job!" Kylar snarled and kicked his foot through a Van Gogh painting Cassandra had been preparing to mount on the gallery wall.

She regarded the giant hole through the golden wheat field with horror. "Are you insane? What the hell are you thinking? Do you know how historically important this painting is?"

That idiot just destroyed a masterpiece!

In a blur of motion, Loki had Kylar by the throat in a chokehold. "I warned you." He said in a soft voice. A dagger appeared out of nowhere and plunged into Kylar's chest. "I suppose this is what I get for hiring a coddled brat."

Kylar's body dropped to the floor, a pool of blood slowly forming around his still form. Loki yanked out his dagger and cleaned it on his dead assistant's pin-striped suit jacket.

Cassandra masked her unease as the king walked over to the ruined painting. She picked up her tablet which had a giant crack running across the screen, her fingers trembling over witnessing a murder.

Kylar was a dick but killing him was extreme.

Loki snapped his fingers and the painting repaired itself. Unable to suppress a gasp of awe, Cassandra skirted Kylar's body and stared at the perfectly intact Van Gogh. The king used magic all the time. She never tired of seeing it. "Why did you kill him?"

The king glanced side-long at her. "You must think I'm a monster."

Loki never punished her for speaking her mind, so Cassandra answered honestly. "Well, I don't agree with killing Kylar."

"Even after he called you a whore?"

She shrugged. "Men call women whores and bitches all the time. They use those juvenile taunts to degrade a woman when she stands up for herself. Or when they do something foolish and need someone to blame."

The corner of Loki's mouth curled upward. "Then I'm glad I killed him."

"Will you kill me if I tell you I broke my tablet?" She asked, holding out the device to him.

Loki inspected the cracked screen. "Its fine. I'll have my secretary get you a new one." He tucked his hand into his pocket. "I came to ask you to join me for tea."

Cassandra blinked, startled at the invitation. "You want me to join you, majesty?"

"Yes."

It occurred to Cassandra that Loki must be lonely. People didn't befriend conquerors. She carefully avoided looking at Kylar's body when she answered. "Okay. I'll have tea with you." She paused and then said. "Next time you ask me for tea, please don't do it after you kill someone. It makes me feel uncomfortable."

"Of course, Dr. Pierce." Loki agreed solicitously and held out his arm.

Threading her arm through the king's, Cassandra exited the gallery.

OoO

Loki studied the curator over the gold painted rim of his teacup. She looked around the decadent drawing room, her expression carefully neutral. "I decorated in the Louis XV style. Do you like it?"

Traces of gold leaf gilded archways and pillars and trimmed the polished mahogany furniture. Loki lounged on a brocade settee his feet propped up on a matching stool.

Cassandra nodded. "It's a bit ostentatious but, hey, that's the French."

Loki chuckled, setting his cup in the saucer. "I find your blunt honesty refreshing."

"I've never been one for kissing ass." She agreed.

Loki appreciated her candor. "But you are never disrespectful to me."

"I don't have a death wish."

His brows furrowed. Loki realized he didn't want Cassandra to fear him. She was the only human whose company did not annoy him. Perhaps, his indulgence could be linked back to their meeting in the desert diner years ago when she treated him like a normal person.

Cassandra looked nervous. "Why are you staring at me?"

"Mmm. No reason."

After that afternoon tea with Cassandra became a regular pastime for the king.

A/N: Two LokixCassandra shorts in a row! Well, I had this one started awhile ago and just finished it. Anyway, I have to return to working on my other story for awhile but I'll post another short next month!