Lacia was deeply absorbed in a film magazine, her long dark curls cascading onto the desk, when her lecturer walked in. She did not feel the need to look up. Why would she? It was the same every day. Mark would come in every morning, spout out the same dreary lectures, then expect them all to have taken on board what he was saying: And perhaps they would, if he did not mumble and yawn, showing his lack of interest in teaching. Why, everyone wondered, did he bother? But as the man walked over to the front of the room, Lacia heard the clump of heavy leather shoes. She looked up slowly, her eyes gliding over the sleek muscled, masculine figure. Then she saw his piercing green gaze, and she knew that this was not Mark.

"Hello..." Loki began, trying to smile despite the horrified stares of the students in front of him. Lacia was vaguely aware of her own wide eyes and agape mouth. She tried to close it, but the shock was too much. What was the terrorist-labled Norse god of lies and mischief doing... here? In her lecture room? She tried to focus on him. He seemed, casual, if not awkward, yet somehow radiant and terrifying all at once. Then he smiled properly, as if certain that the students would accept him. His smile made Lacia's legs clench, then relax again. She could not take her eyes off him, "As I'm sure you are all aware, my name is Loki..." He continued, "And I am your new lecturer."

The room was completely silent for a moment before the students began firing questions at him,

"Where're the police?"

"Where's mark?"

"Where's Thor?"

"How did you escape from Asguard?"

"Why the hell are you our lecturer?" Loki seemed momentarily taken aback by the tirade of questions being hurled at him. He sighed then flashed a brilliant smile,

"There is no need for you to call your Midguard authorities. Your previous lecturer has been released of his duties. Thor is gorging himself on the many banquets the all-father is allowing him, and I did not escape, I was banished: Stripped of my power and cast out. Happy?" Loki finished his introduction neatly, leaving the jaw-dropped students to return to their awe-filled silence. Lacia, however, was busy journeying down a new line of thought.

Loki? Here? In England? Her new lecturer? At least he would be better than Mark... but wait, he's surely a psychopath! He's killed a lot of people... Why did they hire him? Did he threaten the staff? She looked up to face the god, searching him for answers,

"If you are our new lecturer... does that mean you are knowledgeable about film theory? I can't see how that's possible. Surely you don't have cinema and television on Asguard?" She asked him directly. Loki turned to face her, sliding his hands into the pockets of his midnight black jeans. The corners of his mouth lifted in curiosity. Who was this girl to skip so boldly to the more important questions?

"My dear you are not mistaken: There were no moving images in the land I grew up in, but let me assure you that we were well entertained and had many plays and musical performances. For this past year I have surrounded myself with films and television from Midguard, to the point that I understand all of its mechanisms and trickery. Do not think me inexperienced. My superior level of intellect allows me to learn such things at a fast pace. I have already gained a Masters degree in Media Theory." This time Lacia was stunned into silence for a good five minutes, while Loki continued to introduce his lesson structure and aims for the day. When she began to awake from her coma-like daze, she slowly noticed a few things that made her curious again. Firstly, Loki was moving with the grace and confidence of someone who had been comfortable in their job for years. Secondly, his raven hair was sleeked back over his head, and his high cheekbones sat temptingly below his striking, wild, forrest-green eyes. And as he spoke, she found herself drawn to his soft, southern English accent. Where had that come from? Was Asguard in Cambridge? Westminster? Probably not. Lacia cleared her throat, distracted.

"Is there a problem?" Loki paused to look at her again. Could he read her mind? Her cough had not been loud. His green eyes locked with her pale, hazel ones, as Loki searched her face. He took in the sight of her high cheekbones and pert, slightly open lips.

"No." Lacia replied, a pastel pink colouring her cheeks. The whole situation was so surreal that she found it difficult to concentrate on what was being said.

"Perhaps I should explain myself further before I continue." Loki smiled, addressing the class as a whole, "Odin was not fond of my actions here, so when I returned, with my hands bound and looking rather unashamed of my actions, he was... well, angry. You see I could have been punished in any way. On Midguard I believe you prefer imprisonment." Everyone was captivated by this story. They were being told a first hand account of what had happened recently in another realm, where the ancient gods resided. "However the all-father," Loki's gaze lowered to the floor for a moment, "The Odin thought imprisonment would be too light a punishment. However he also knew the part he had played in my 'decent into madness' as he so lovingly called it. So he decided that the most suitable way of dealing with me was to treat me as he had treated Thor. Only when I have fully redeemed myself and proven myself 'good' will I regain my powers."

After a few moments of yet more silence, there was another onslaught of questions, but Loki interrupted,

"It would not appear well on my record if I were to treat you like children, but I must, please, insist that you speak one after another, and not at the same time." He smiled, a hint of threat in the last few words of his request. The students resorted to raising their hands, "Now this is far better. Tell me your name before you speak please," He nodded to a young man at the back of the room,

"Hugh Radley. Loki, if you're supposed to be repenting or whatever, why're you teaching film students? Shouldn't you be feeding the poor and trying to bring down capitalism?" Loki's face contorted as his eyebrows drew together and his expression became mock-sympathetic,

"Dear Mr. Radley, I do pity your poor confused little mind. Do not think that just because I have been given a quest, that I will willingly partake in the endless battle that is rebellion?" Hugh shook his head, retreating into his seat. Loki chuckled, and his light speech became firm, "Since when have protests resulted in success? Only those in power have any control over these matters, and even they have little ability to turn around the mess that your world has fallen into. No. The only way, in which I can perceive redeeming myself, is through film. How many people have been inspired by the work of others to become something great? How many people have risen up the ranks, motivated by those they have seen on the screens?" He clenched one hand lightly and gestured with the other, "I'm a god, but look at me, I've been inspired to become a teacher. Believe me, I had not expected this." He sounded tired but somehow genuine and serious about his job.

Lacia was confused. She was still wondering how he had gotten past all of the security checks. He was technically a mass murderer. She would have to ask him after class. But as it happened. The lesson continued at a normal pace after that. Some of the students were completely absorbed, and the woman next to Lacia seemed almost besotted with the the god. Lacia nudged her and whispered,

"What's up with you?" She asked,

"What? Oh... well just look at him." She replied in a distracted sigh. Lacia did as she was told, "He's so charming and sexy. I wonder if he has a lover?" The woman returned to her low purring in response to Loki moving onto the subject of camera angles. "I wonder if he knows about all the different ways a camera can be used." She licked her teeth as her lustful hunger sparkled in her dark eyes. Lacia shifted in her seat and returned her focus to Loki. By the end of the lecture, Lacia was even more aware of him than she had been when he had first entered the room. How was she supposed to get a decent grade when she could not stop thinking about the teacher, and his low, sensuously enticing voice.

As she rose up to leave, her eyes lingered on him, taking in his image once more, before she headed towards the exit. Loki caught her scent as she brushed passed him, felt the light touch of fabric on his hands as her loose blouse stoked against his skin. And then she was gone.