The Sweetest Rose-LokixOC

Chapter 15

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."