Cassandra sat cross-legged on the floor regarding Loki dubiously. "Meditation is part of learning magic?"

When he promised to teach her magic she imagined something far more flashy and exciting. Illusions, fireballs, or even telekinesis. Disappointment coursed through her. Instead, they were going to sit around and do nothing.

Loki gave her a flat look for asking such a stupid question. Cassandra straightened her spine releasing a soft sigh. "I suppose this is the part where I concentrate on my breathing and empty my thoughts."

"Well, you understand that much at least." Loki didn't join her on the floor, instead he leaned against the back of the sofa observing her posture critically. "Though you will not find the task so easy at first."

Cassandra rested her hands firmly on her thighs and closed her eyes breathing deeply, feeling the air expand her lungs and then exhaled.

Inhale. Exhale. Over and over again into the quiet of the penthouse.

A few minutes passed and she started to relax into the rhythm of her breathing.

Despite her best intentions worries leaked into the quiet space of her mind. Arthur and his groping hands. The bombing. Her new magical powers. The truth about her past. It was so much to contend with for a single person all at once.

Cassandra tried to grapple the thoughts and throw them into the back of her brain, but they continued to resurface mercilessly. Sweat beaded her temple as she squeezed her eyelids tighter. A fine tremor ran through her arms spreading to her hands.

How could she possibly cast all of that aside and concentrate.

"Stop. I can tell your focus is gone." Loki ordered.

Cassandra opened her eyes to find him glaring down at her. Gone was the charming god who gave her flowers. In his place was a sorcerer teaching a novice how to use her powers. "You're right. I'm sorry."

"Don't be sorry. Do better." He replied mercilessly.

Cassandra arched a brow at his imperious tone but complied.

After an hour Loki moved to the next phase of her training. Combat. They took the elevator down to the spacious gym located on the floor below the penthouse.

With a casual flick of his hand, the workout machines rearranged themselves against the walls, leaving a wide-open space in the middle of the room where he stood, an intimidating figure. "We'll start with the basics."

Cassandra joined Loki halting a few feet away from him. His critical gaze raked over her plain purple tank top and yoga pants. Her stomach squirmed nervously under his scrutiny. She had to fight not to cross her arms in a defensive posture. It would not shield her from Loki's sharp tongue.

"A change of attire is in order. You need a proper set of Asgardian fighting leathers." Loki concluded after he finished his examination. He raised a hand, glowing green palm thrust forward.

Under his direction Cassandra's clothes transformed into a tight-fitting black leather tunic with a high collar and metal gauntlets on her forearms. A green over coat with thin gold plates at the shoulders fell to her knees with a sweeping train in the back. Her yoga pants were now the same black leather as the tunic tucked into knee high boots.

Awed, Cassandra ran her hands over the supple material. "It feels real."

Loki now wore a masculine version of her new outfit including a long-horned helmet. "That's because it is. With enough energy behind a spell, illusions can become reality." He came around behind her and straightened her shoulders, adjusting her stance so she stood solidly on the mat. "If you cannot maintain your balance in a fight an enemy can easily use your body against you."

Cassandra swallowed hard, conscious of the warm line of his body hovering inches behind her.

Loki wrapped her in a bear hug, trapping her arms against her sides. "Break my hold." He breathed against her ear.

Natural instinct kicked in and she squirmed to free herself from his steel grip. When that didn't work, she fell back on a tried and true tactic, swinging her foot back to nail him in the family jewels.

Loki anticipated this and shifted his legs to avoid to the blow lifting her off her feet in a backward bend. "Nice try." He murmured and flipped her.

Cassandra landed hard on the mat, pain shuddering briefly along her back. Wincing, she slowly sat up. "This seems less like a lesson and more of you kicking my ass." She hopped to her feet and shook out her limbs. "Alright, let's go again."

Loki just smiled that devilish smile of his and seized her in his arms in another unyielding hold. Cassandra wriggled against him helplessly. Her face turned red from exertion.

No matter how hard she tried to bust free of Loki's hold she couldn't. Frustration mounting, Cassandra sagged in his arms hoping he'd loosen his grip. That earned her another forementioned trip to the mat. The god anticipated her every single move before she ever thought of it.

This time, Loki followed her down straddling her hips with his thighs. He pinned her wrists above her head securing her to the floor. "I have you and there's nothing you can do about it." His hair dangled around his face like an inky curtain, his teeth bared in a fierce grin.

Cassandra scowled up at him, far from amused by her present situation. She wanted to smack that stupid grin off his face. Hell, she even wished her magical staff would appear and bonk him on the head again.

She waited a few seconds in expectation, but the staff never appeared. Figures. Tilting her head back, she stared up at the ceiling. "Alright, you win."

"Its not about winning although I confess, I do so enjoy it." Flinging his hair back, Loki climbed off her and extended a hand. "Fortunately, we're not done by a long shot."

Cassandra gripped his hand and he pulled her to her feet. She dusted herself off and they went back to training.

In the coming weeks, this became the pattern of Cassandra's life. Work. Meditation. A sound beating from Loki. While she gradually improved in meditation the only thing she had to show from combat training is a host of bruises.

Cassandra lifted herself off the mat, rubbing her jaw which had connected with the floor. "You know, I fail to see what fighting has to do with magic."

"Meditation is to help you gain control. Combat is to test that control." Loki swept her legs out from under her as she began to stand. "Again."

He swung his fists in a one-two comb that Cassandra barely blocked by crossing her arms in front of her. She stumbled back several steps under the strength of the blow. Loki pursued her across the room. "Ultimately, this is about survival."

"Survival?" She panted.

The god circled her slowly, his predatory steps measured and calm. "Power is survival and you possess a great amount of it, my dear."

"Then why can't I use it?" It was the same question Cassandra had asked herself since they started training.

"Because you don't believe you possess it."

Cassandra had never heard anything so ridiculous. "I know I have magic."

Loki stopped in front of her and crossed his arms over his chest. "Logically yes. Subconsciously, you don't believe you're capable of wielding that power."

"So, you're saying I'm psyching myself out." Cassandra said slowly, still doubtful.

"Cassandra you are an intelligent woman. I don't say this lightly."

No, Cassandra supposed he wouldn't go out of his way to compliment someone. Deadly serious about magic Loki was determined to drill everything he knew about fighting into her head.

Of course, the god probably never struggled to master his abilities. Loki was probably a gifted prodigy on Asgard. Talented, charming, automatically successful.

Whining about that did not change her current situation though. Cassandra resumed her fighting stance, preparing for a fresh series of attacks. All she could do is make the best of things and plow ahead with her training.

They ended the sparring session with Cassandra landing on her ass, per usual. Sweat trickled down her forehead as she struggled to catch her breath.

The god leaned against a treadmill red faced, chest heaving. At least Loki seemed a bit winded too which brought her some comfort.

A few seconds later Tony swaggered into the gym in his usual t-shirt jeans combo and studied the pair with amusement. "Having fun reenacting Karate Kid?"

Loki placed a hand on his hip and swiped his damp hair out of his face, breathing hard. "What is that?"

Cassandra understood the reference and shot Tony a dirty look before jumping to her feet. A bead of sweat trickled down the back of her neck from her damp hair. "Is there something you need?"

The billionaire pressed his hands together. "I'm so glad you asked. Now, follow me Mini Loki."

Cassandra glanced down at her training outfit and scowled.

Cassandra and Loki both wore matching Asgardian fighting leathers. Still, she didn't appreciate being the butt of Tony's joke.

She smoothed her hands over her tunic fondly and entered the elevator and squared her shoulders. In this outfit she felt like a real superhero. In a bizarre way her Asgardian clothing gave her courage to keep going.

Loki noticed her strutting and smiled, leaning against the elevator wall.

The three went up to the penthouse where Tony turned on the news blasting Cassandra's good mood all to hell. The news headline scrolled across the bottom of the screen in bold print as a serious faced news reporter addressed the camera. "Well-known billionaire Arthur Kensington has been declared dead. His body was discovered on the banks of the Hudson River early this morning by a homeless man."

"What?" Cassandra shrieked in disbelief, her high-pitched voice reverberating off the walls. Her heart flip-flopped like a fish in her chest as she processed the information. Arthur dead. How was that even possible? She shook her head slightly. The newscaster must have made a mistake.

Loki, in typical Loki-fashion, chuckled at the fate of the billionaire. "If this were a book, we'd call this a plot twist."

"That's in bad taste, Shakespeare." Tony said, watching Cassandra's distraught expression with a mildly concerned look. He reached out and patted her on the shoulder. "I'm sorry about your boyfriend, kid."

"He's not my boyfriend. We only went out on one date." She said defensively.

Loki glanced over at her and had the grace to look guilty for laughing.

"Mayor Dyer is about to address the public about this horrible tragedy." The reporter continued in a grave voice. The camera panned to show a harried looking New York mayor on the steps of city hall being swarmed by hungry reporters.

Cassandra barely heard, the sounds of the tv traveling down a distant tunnel. Her thoughts churned furiously. She'd spent weeks dodging Arthur's calls. Now, that the prime suspect was dead what were they going to do? They were back at square one.