Loki watched Cassandra and Stark pace around the living room with a bemused smirk. These humans twisted themselves into knots over the simplest complications. No wonder they were so short lived.

He personally found it wonderfully ironic that Arthur's body washed up on shore like so much refuse. Hel, Loki wished he'd done the deed himself. The mortal had been insufferable on so many levels.

Cassandra passed Loki in another loop. Her gaze drifted restlessly about the penthouse. He doubted Cassandra was torn up about Arthur's demise. Despite her seeming altruistic nature she possessed a practical streak a mile wide.

Strands of hair had escaped from her braid in feathery wisps around her cheeks. Her lips compressed in a frown. "Now that Arthur's dead I guess we have an unknown player to deal with."

Stark halted in front of the panoramic windows and flung his arm out in an exasperated gesture. "State the obvious why don't you Gandalf? So far, the Avengers have had no luck locating any of three objects missing from the Collector's collection. We assumed Kensington had the objects well hidden, but his death has thrown everything into doubt."

Now who stated the obvious? Loki smirked at the Avenger, laughing internally at Stark's hypocrisy.

"Couldn't Fury just get a warrant and raid his home and business?" Cassandra suggested in her usual direct way.

"Sure, if we want to draw attention to ourselves."

Cassandra bit her lip, troubled. "I don't know much about magic yet, but could they be hidden behind wards?"

"It's a possibility. Strange even suggested as much when I spoke with him this morning." Stark admitted reluctantly and glanced at Cassandra. "Speaking of which, the wizard wants to meet with you. He's found out something interesting about your tattoo."

"Finally, some good news."

Loki waited until a lull in the conversation to interrupt their foolish debate. Strange is the last person who needed to be involved in this. "I hope that second-rate sorcerer isn't trying to poach my student."

Over the past several weeks, Loki had grown fond of torturing Cassandra with his rigorous training techniques. He did not wish to lose his new favorite hobby.

Stark snorted loudly and poured himself a drink at the bar, filling the crystal tumbler to the brim. He corked the bottle of scotch. "Strange would be doing Cassandra a favor. He's proven to be more skilled in magic than you."

For a second, Loki saw red and drew the dagger hidden up his left sleeve. Stark always mocked him too freely, his massive ego not allowing him to see the stupidity behind his actions. The metal sung as he slashed the blade through the air experimentally.

Cassandra caught his arm in a surprisingly strong grip, preventing him from throwing the dagger at the billionaire. Evidently, she had learned something in their training sessions after all. "Don't. I'm not in the mood for another pissing contest between the two of you."

Stark arched his brows in a silent dare over Cassandra's head.

She begged Loki silently with her eyes.

Clenching his jaw, Loki jerked out of her hold and backed up several steps, sliding the dagger back up his sleeve. Damn. He hated how she melted his resolve with a single look.

Cassandra strode up to Stark and jabbed him in the chest, her index finger clinking against the metal embedded there. "That goes for you too. I don't care if you're my boss. I'm sick of you antagonizing him."

Loki was flabbergasted. Why did she always stand up for him? He had done nothing to earn her loyalty.

Stark saluted her with his drink. "Remind me to speak with you about your questionable taste in men."

Cassandra turned red. "Don't be a dick."

Stark laughed at the insult, a deep-throated chuckle. "You know, I'm starting to like you kid. We'll make an Avenger of you yet."

Cassandra grimaced. "If it's all the same to you, I'd rather not flaunt my magic all over the place."

"Then you're different from Reindeer Games. He loves to show off." Stark rested his back against the bar. "However, there is a problem. How much do you know about the Sokovia Accords?"

Loki glanced at him sharply. He was familiar with the precepts of the law. All supernatural beings had to be registered. It was one of the first things Fury did when Loki ended up in SHIELD custody. Rage spiraled through him at the reminder of being tagged like an animal. SHIELD had implanted him with a tracking device.

Loki knew how to disable it but had to wait for the opportune moment. Now, Stark wanted to do the same to Cassandra. Take advantage of her ignorance to trap her in the foolish treaty.

"I don't know a whole lot about the Accords. Though, I thought they were off the table after the Avengers defeated Thanos." She replied cautiously as if afraid to learn otherwise.

Loki clenched his fists so hard, his fingernails left imprints in his palms. He stepped in front of Cassandra shielding her from Stark's view. "The Accords do not matter. Not to her." He glared at Stark, vibrating with anger. "Is that clear?"

Stark studied him for a few moments before replying laconically. "The Accords are the only thing keeping the various governments from rounding up people and shipping them off to laboratories for experiments. Remember that before you stand on your soap box and speak of things you don't fully understand."

Cassandra followed the conversation closely, her expression growing grim. "If what you say is true then I have no interest in the Accords. History is my specialty. It wasn't so long ago that Hitler and his followers rounded up and killed millions who did not fit into his world view."

"History won't repeat itself." Stark said confidently.

He failed to convince Cassandra who leveled him with a stern look. "History always repeats itself. If you do not realize that, then you're not as smart as you think you are Mein Fuhrer."

The billionaire clapped a hand over his chest. "Ouch. Did you have to pull out the Hitler comment? You know how to hit below the belt."

She shrugged. "I call it like I see it."

Loki had no idea who Hitler was, however, he agreed with Cassandra. The mortals were short-sighted and did not realize the long-term ramifications of the accords. The new Asgardian settlement in Norway would eventually become a target of greedy, jealous humans.

Loki saw it so clearly. His people rounded up and shipped to labs, all in order to discover ways for the mortals to live longer lives. He folded his arms and sighed. The world would be better off if he ruled it. The accords nonsense never would have happened if he had succeeded in his conquest.

Heading for the elevator, Stark wiggled his fingers in a lazy wave, steel bracelet jangling around his wrist. "Well, I'll get out of your hair. I just wanted to update you on things."

"Can you believe that guy?" When the elevator closed Cassandra shook her head in disgust. "I don't understand why he supports the Accords."

"You warned him. If he chooses not to listen, then the consequences will be his to face." Loki gripped her firmly by the shoulders and steered her to an empty patch of carpet in the living room. "Now, its time for you to meditate."

"Again? We did that earlier." Cassandra complained.

"You've received upsetting news. What if your powers are stirred by your emotions and lash out uncontrolled?" He pointed out.

"I'm not upset Arthur's dead. I'm actually relieved in a way." Cassandra objected, sitting down on the floor. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and looked up at him earnestly. "Does that make me an awful person?"

Loki chose his next words carefully. He usually never cared if he offended someone. Took great delight in it in fact. But as his student, Loki needed Cassandra to trust him so he could not say the wrong thing.

The silence stretched uncomfortably long as they gazed at each other. Cassandra shifted, her Asgardian leathers creaking as she got more comfortable.

"I think it would be unrealistic to mourn someone who treated you as poorly as he did. Kensington did not respect you. He merely saw you as a possession." He finally said.

"What about you? How do you see me?" She asked with a combination of flirtatiousness and curiosity.

For once Loki had no clever answer ready on the tip of his tongue. Cassandra baffled him more than any human ever had. "Enough questions. It's time to meditate." He said harshly.

Cassandra huffed and closed her eyes, resting her hands on her thighs as she prepared to sink into the familiar quiet place in her head.

Then out of nowhere a ring of fire spiraled up around her. Her eyes popped open in surprise. "Uh, what's-"

"Cassandra!" Loki reached for her. His fingers brushed her arm a second before the floor swallowed her whole.

Roaring in rage, Loki kicked a nearby waste bin across the room scattering trash everywhere. He stood there shaking violently.

Strange.

That crackpot sorcerer would pay for interfering with his business and stealing Cassandra.

A/N: I've decided to do shorter chapters because it helps me stay on task with the plot. The longer chapters were making me meander too much. I hope you like it! As always comment, vote, and have a great day!