The Sweetest Rose-LokixOC

Chapter 8

Disclaimer: Loki art (c) Deviant Art artist.

The elevator doors opened smoothly to a very modern penthouse at the top of Stark Tower. The penthouse was larger than Cassandra expected from the narrow angular roof of the building. Of course, her view had been from the ground and she knew little about the schematics of architecture.

"Welcome to my humble abode." Tony pronounced with a grand flourish.

On the drive through the city, he insisted she call him Tony instead of Mr. Stark because he wasn't an old man. In his early fifties, Cassandra thought that notion was debatable.

Cassandra scanned the wide-open space in pure amazement. The vastness of Tony's wealth a slap in the face. It made her wish she had changed into one of her work outfits before coming here instead of a pair of jeans and t-shirt. She felt distinctly out of place. "There's nothing humble about this joint."

Black marble circled a sunken floor with charcoal gray carpet around an indoor firepit. A fully decked out bar took up the entire right wall. Floor to ceiling windows provided a panoramic view of the city, the red light of the setting sun glittering against thousands of windows in nearby skyscrapers. Essentially, the penthouse was the epitome of the perfect bachelor pad minus the stripper pole.

Tony headed straight for the shelf of liquor behind the bar and poured himself a scotch. A groovy lava lamp bubbled lazily on the counter. "Would you like a drink?"

Loki didn't seem nearly as impressed by the penthouse. As a former king he had been accustomed to wealth like this his entire life. In his elegant Armani suit, he fit the room much better than its owner. Recessed lights in the low ceiling cast a glossy sheen over his raven hair. An odd smile played about his lips as he looked around the living room. "I could use one, the traffic is something else in this city."

"The offer wasn't for you." Tony started to say something more, paused, and smirked. "You know, I haven't hung out with Bruce in weeks! I might just call him up and invite him over for a drink."

All the blood drained from Loki's face and his lips compressed into a tight line. He retreated to the wall of windows, clasping his hands behind his back. His shoulders hunched up around his neck as he gazed out over the New York City skyline.

Cassandra stared after him, confused. For a second, the god actually seemed frightened. "What's with him?"

"Never mind the Greasy One." Tony chuckled and waved Cassandra over. "Come get that drink."

Cassandra set her duffle bag on the gray sofa and followed him over to the bar. "A drink sounds great." She accepted the offered glass and knocked it back like a cheap shot on Ladies' Night. The burn of the overpriced alcohol helped to steady her nerves.

Its not everyday she visited one of the city's landmarks with a superhero. A superhero who had offered her a job and a safe place to live until things got sorted out. Cassandra should feel at ease. An impressive security force guarded the ground floor lobby. That didn't include all the high-tech security measures Tony had whipped up for the building. Yet she couldn't shake this uneasy feeling something bad crouched on the horizon waiting to devour her whole.

Tony smirked and poured her another drink. "You know, I remember when I first found out about my abilities. I was drunk off my ass for a solid week or rather I wanted to be, but I had a villain to fight. I partied after."

"I'm not much of a drinker." Swirling the amber liquid around in the glass, Cassandra shook her head. "I don't know why you insist on this idea of me having powers. I think I would know if I had magic-"

A bright flash of light and something long and made of wood clattered to the bar. Cassandra blinked down at the staff that had teleported itself from SHIELD's Headquarters and swallowed the second glass of scotch quicker than the first.