Disclaimer: Image found on Google (c) Disney, Marvel, Stan Lee

Sunlight spilled in from a gap between the curtains and silhouetted the bed rousing Cassandra. Stretching her arms above her head she pushed aside the burgundy comforter and padded to the bathroom to do her morning routine.

Washing her hands at the sink Cassandra caught a glimpse of her reflection and cringed. Dark circles ringed her eyes from lack of sleep and she suffered from a major case of bed head. Most of the night she spent tossing and turning. Agonizing over her newfound abilities and what it meant going forward. She had the feeling her life wasn't going to return to normal anytime soon.

Cassandra rooted around in her duffle bag for her makeup kit and applied tinted berry lip balm and a little eyeliner. With Loki the only other person in the penthouse, she didn't feel like making much of an effort. After all, he'd seen her at her worst. In a hospital gown with greasy unwashed hair looking like a train ran over her a couple dozen times. That was being kind.

Plaiting her hair into a loose side-braid Cassandra dressed for comfort. She changed out of her pajamas into an oversized emerald cashmere sweater and a pair of black leggings and slipped her feet into a pair of ballet flats. Before leaving her room, she hung up her clothes in the closet and tucked her undergarments into a dresser drawer.

Walking into the main part of the house she followed her nose to the coffee machine behind the bar where a freshly brewed pot steamed gently. Cassandra poured a generous stream of the brew into a mug with a cartoon logo of Iron Man printed on the side. She enjoyed her coffee black and ignored the cream and sugar containers laid out on the counter.

The living room was empty with no sign of Loki. She moved along the wall of windows coming to the balcony doors. Five feet of glass formed a perimeter along one side of the bi-level balcony. At the end of a platform to the right a tall lanky figure stood alone with his back to the penthouse, hair blowing like a pennant behind him.

Cassandra filled another mug and slipped outside, joining the god on his lonely perch. "Here, I thought you might like some coffee."

Loki's hands were stuffed in the pockets of his black slacks. He squinted against the brightness of the morning sun glinting off the windows of tall buildings across the street. "I prefer tea."

"There isn't any." She told him, extending the mug as a hopeful peace offering.

Loki bristled, his jaw clenching hard. "Of all the cups to choose, you select that one."

Cassandra turned the mug around. A mini raging Hulk lunged off the side of the mug. She nearly rolled her eyes as she gave him her Iron Man mug instead. He was acting like such a diva.

Loki eventually reached for the coffee, his fingers accidentally brushing against hers. Sparks danced along her skin. He flinched visibly, his hand twitching along the mug's handle.

Wearing a remote expression, Loki paced several feet away from Cassandra. The sudden distance spoke volumes. "I suppose this will do."

"I'm so glad you approve." She replied sarcastically.

Cassandra perked up as she drank her morning coffee, the caffeine a familiar and welcome jolt to her sleepy system. They gazed out over the city in silence.

The Hudson was a narrow ribbon of gray water in the distance. A wall of clouds hung over the water, promising rain in a matter of hours. The early morning chill bit through the thin layer of her sweater causing her to shiver.

Up this high in the tower the wind gusted powerfully, sending tendrils of dark hair across Loki's high forehead. Molding the white dress shirt to his sculpted torso. Loki was so achingly beautiful and regal.

Instead of gaining the upper hand by kissing him, Cassandra had fallen several moves behind in their game.

Loki seemed to have forgotten all about it when the taste of his soft lips continued to haunt her. The sweetest mint and a brisk winter wind tinged with snow and ice.

She studied him over the rim of her mug. His expression gave nothing away. Did the kiss mean nothing to him? Or was he simply embarrassed to have been kissed by a human?

Neither were pleasant possibilities. Loki could be vindictive. Cassandra feared he was merely biding his time to pay her back for the kiss.

Cassandra twisted to face the Empire State Building, emotion swirling wildly inside of her. Fine. If Loki was going to ignore the elephant in the room she would to.

The god broke from his trance, shifting into motion. Turning on his heel Loki headed for the balcony doors. "We have more important things to focus on this morning."

Cassandra was mildly suspicious over his dismissive attitude. "Like what? My magic?"

The god motioned for her to follow him inside. "If only."

Loki led her over to a monitor and pulled up footage of the downstairs lobby on the screen. Somebody had raided a florist. Hundreds of vases of white roses crowded every surface from tabletops to lobby furniture.

Cassandra had never seen anything like it outside of a rom-com. "What the hell?" She could think of nothing else to say.

"Security called about an hour ago when the delivery vans showed up." The god explained.

"Vans? As in plural?" Cassandra marveled sipping her coffee as she leaned over for a closer look. The excessive display of wealth screamed Tony Stark. "Tony is going all out to impress his wife."

"The flowers aren't for Ms. Potts." Loki said, his voice pitched oddly low.

"Who are they for?" Cassandra asked, still baffled.

Turning off the footage, Loki shifted his gaze to her, searching. "They're for you."

Her heart fluttered. "Don't tell me this is your way of getting back at me for last night. Cause I like it!"

Loki immediately dashed her hopes, laughing slightly as if the idea were ludicrous. "I'd never do anything so trite."

His casual indifference stung. Cassandra lifted her chin slightly, fighting back hurt while she struggled to assemble a cutting response. "I suppose not. Even if you wanted to be cliché and buy me flowers, you are broke as a joke."

His eyes flashed at the reminder of his non-kingly status. Served him right for being an insensitive jerk.

Cassandra smiled sweetly back, pleased to have gotten under his skin. Of course, the number of flowers in the lobby troubled her. Her smile faded quickly. There was only one person she knew who overcompensated like this. How did he discover her whereabouts so quickly? Cassandra only arrived at Stark Tower yesterday.

"Is there a card?"

He always included a card.

Loki extracted a tiny white envelope from his pocket and pressed it into her palm. "One of the security guards brought it up while you were sleeping."

Cassandra noticed the seal was broken. "You read it?"

"Yes." He said without an ounce of shame for invading her privacy.

Since she hated the sender of the flowers she really didn't care if Loki had read the note. She flipped the tab back on the envelope and pulled out a small note written on the finest cardstock in a strong masculine hand. 'A mere token of my regard. I'd give you the world if you asked, Cassandra.'

The bastard had taken the time to write the note himself. The hair on the back of her neck stood on end. Cassandra. Her name written with a possessive slant.

Arthur Kensington was growing bolder in his declarations acting like he had a claim on her. Like she was a lot at the auction house to bid on and tuck away in a corner of his Manhattan mansion.

Cassandra heaved a frustrated sigh. "I suppose I have to send a thank you note to that moron."

Plucking the note from her hand, Loki shredded the card into a thousand pieces dropping them into a waste bin, dusting off his hands. "You don't owe him anything, Cassandra."

A bead of coffee rolled down the side of Loki's mug over Iron Man's mask. She wiped the errant liquid away with her thumb to have something to do while she debated with herself the best course of action.

Cassandra no longer worked for the auction house. Arthur Kensington wasn't a client she had to go out of her way to impress. Loki was right. She owed him nothing. On the other hand, Fury believed she might be able to help with SHIELD's case.

If Arthur was involved in the auction house bombing, she wanted revenge. The best way to accomplish that is to do as Fury suggested and lure the bastard in.

Feeling immensely relieved to have options, Cassandra addressed Jarvis. "I only want to keep one of the bouquets. Please see the rest are delivered to the patients of a hospital or nursing home. They really shouldn't go to waste."

"I'll contact the information desk in the lobby immediately." The system promised.

Loki made a disgusted sound and crossed his arms. "You aren't seriously considering helping SHIELD?"

"I like to keep my options open." She told him. "But I haven't committed to anything yet."

Before Loki could argue further the sound of thrusters interrupted them. Iron Man landed on the platform outside, the suit disassembling itself as he swaggered into the penthouse.

Tony spread his arms out wide in greeting. "Miss me?"

Cue the crickets.

"So, when do I start boss?" Cassandra asked into the uncomfortable silence.

"Its Tony." His gaze darted over to the coffeemaker. "Good Jarvis has a pot on. I need it."

The billionaire shifted through the mugs, ignoring the two people staring at him. "Hey, where's my mug?"

Oops.

Cassandra unobtrusively, spun Loki's mug around hoping Tony wouldn't notice. She crossed the room. "I noticed you didn't answer my question, sir. When do I start?"

"Immediately." Tony shoved the mugs back into the storage rack. "I want you to research the objects on the Collector's list and see if any of them are from Earth. If they are, it gives us a starting point to locate them."

"We know where they are. Arthur probably has them stashed away in a vault." Cassandra pointed out, leaning against the counter. "Speaking of Arthur, I have something to tell you."

The billionaire waved her off. "The flowers? Security already told me about it. The man has no taste."

Cassandra bristled indignantly. "I hope you aren't referring to me."

Tony rolled his eyes. "Women are so sensitive."

"Or you simply have no way with women." Loki commented, appearing beside Cassandra, Iron Man mug prominently gripped in his hand.

"No one asked you, Sideshow." Tony inhaled sharply, his brows drawing down in anger. "That's my mug!"

Cassandra stepped between the men, raising her arms placatingly. "My fault. I gave it to him."

"Luckily, I have more." A cupboard slid open to reveal about a hundred Iron Man mugs. Tony's ego was off the charts. "I do have some happy news to report. Wong is currently researching your bird tattoo and looking through the archive of relics. There's a chance that staff of yours is a sorcerer's relic."

"What does that mean?"

The billionaire shrugged. "Afraid the wizards are a secretive lot. Wong is tight lipped about anything to do with sorcery."

"Then why would he help us?" It was a reasonable question.

"Because if you turn out to be a sorcerer, they'll let you join their secret club."

Cassandra had no interest in joining secret societies. "Don't need to. Loki's going to train me."

Propping his elbows on the counter, Tony barked a laugh. "Reindeer Games? Teach you? That's hilarious. He may be a god, but Strange and his merry band are better sorcerers."

Loki flushed purple, a vein throbbing visibly in his forehead. "Do not speak of those charlatans to me!"

Oh, boy.

Cassandra needed more coffee. Today was going to be a long day.

A/N: I hope you enjoyed the chapter. As always, comment, vote, and have a great day! Here's a photo of Arthur (c)?