As soon as she was through the door Vivienne slumped, leaning back against it and sliding down to sit on the floor. Green fabric slid over her skin and pooled around her. Her body was ridiculously turned-on, she was warm and flushed. Her mind was in overdrive. She was aware she still had some leftover stress from organising the party, she could still feel built up it in her chest in the tightness sat between her lungs. And her emotions were all over the place from what just happened. I mean, what even had just happened? She couldn't make sense of it. Vivienne brought her knees up, wrapped her arms round them and rested her head on them, curling into herself.

Loki had shown very little sign of being interested in her up until this point. It was obvious he'd known pretty much since the beginning about her feelings. It wasn't that she didn't want Loki, because she definitely did. But something had felt almost wrong about the kiss. It had come out of nowhere, and she'd been too fuelled by how turned-on she'd felt to really think about it. But the sudden change of direction had definitely been weird. He'd shown no romantic affection towards her up until tonight.

But then again, she thought, the kiss itself hadn't really been that romantic. It had been hot, but there was very little romantic feeling present. Arguably the romance had occurred earlier on in the evening, because there had definitely been something there when Loki had pulled her up to dance. But the dancing was even more confusing. Vivienne couldn't work out why Loki would suddenly decide to do something so completely different from his daily character. Unless of course he was doing just to shake things up a bit, which was actually very in character.

And the fact that he could dance! And very well at that. He'd looked so sinfully good moving to music that was foreign to him. It made her wonder what else he was capable of. Vivienne's mind flew to his kiss and the power behind it, and the words from beforehand. Sex. If that wasn't an invitation she didn't know what was. And if he moved as well in bed as he did on the dance-floor...

Feeling flushed Vivienne stood and moved through to her room, her hands shaking slightly, feeling that it was definitely time for bed herself. It was late and she was drunk. Not as drunk as she had been last time, but she could still feel it clouding her head. She stripped out of her dress, trying not to think too much about the rich green fabric, slipped off her underwear and climbed into bed.

It took a long time for Vivienne to fall asleep. Her mind kept drifting back to Loki. One minute she would be trying to work out the sudden change of direction, then as soon as she dismissed that thought she'd be plagued with rather arousing thoughts surrounding what he was offering. But she was determined not to dwell on either idea. Not while she was drunk. A very large part of her just wanted to reach down and... but no. Not tonight, she told herself, and eventually her mind settled and she drifted off to sleep.

Vivienne had dreaded seeing Loki again. Her thoughts had gone round and round in circles, and she'd made no more sense of the situation while sober than she had drunk. In the end she hoped she could find a way to actually communicate with the God of Mischief and sort out what the hell was going on. But the idea of bringing the kiss up in conversation was incredibly daunting.

It was two days after the party that they had their first lesson. Vivienne had seen Loki briefly the day before, passing him in the corridor and blushing furiously as he smirked. Her reaction was similar again as she let him into her rooms and he didn't bother trying to be subtle about in return.

"I'm quite enjoying the effect I seem to be having on you." Loki said, his tone incredibly smug as he walked in and placed himself down on the sofa, spreading out and looking incredibly comfortable. Vivienne hadn't expected him to be so forward but was secretly relieved the topic was being discussed so she didn't have to try and bring it up. She was also relieved that Loki seemed amused and tried to keep the tone light herself.

"Shut up." she said, and he winked at her. She threw a cushion at him. He laughed.

"But seriously," Vivienne started, as the subject of conversation was conveniently present, "What the hell even was that?" Loki raised an eyebrow at her and she knew that he understood exactly what she meant but still wanted her to clarify. Truthfully, Loki hadn't expected her to confront him about it like this; he'd expected her to be too embarrassed.

She sat on the sofa opposite him, voice strained and confused. "You show no interest in me for weeks and suddenly we're making out?"

Loki spoke cheerfully enough, but there was a note of disappointment in his voice. "The signs were there. I had hoped you'd picked up on them."

"I'd wondered about some things but I hadn't- oh I don't know what I was expecting." She cut herself off and hung her head in her hands. She wasn't ready for this conversation but didn't know if she'd ever be, and she seemed to have already botched it up.

Loki frowned slightly at her. "You've no need to get worked up about this." he stated, an air of superiority creeping into his tone.

"Well, yeah, but I kind of do." Vivienne started, hoping that honestly would be the best policy here. "It's not like I have a history of this. Like, at all. You stole my first proper kiss out there the other night. I just... how do relationships even work?" her voice was panicked, and her head still in her hands as she spoke to the floor. For a moment Loki was struck by the enormity of her innocence and confusion. Even so while the issue was open Loki needed to set the record straight.

"I wasn't actually proposing the traditional ideal relationship," he said, and something cold in his voice made Vivienne's stomach drop. "Merely sex atop what we currently have."

"And what do we currently have?" Vivienne replied. It was the first coherent thought that came into her head, and something that she'd been dwelling on for a while. Even so she winced at her own bluntness.

"Does it matter?" Loki replied, his voice still cold and equally as blunt.

"Yes! I like you but I don't know where I stand with you and it's confusing." Vivienne tried to keep her voice calm as the emotion came flooding out. She didn't want to seem hysterical, especially after his voice had turned so cold. She knew this was potentially dangerous territory.

"I'm reluctant to label my relationships, it has never worked out well for me in the past. Even so, I would admit that we have become friends. Beyond that I haven't thought about it," he lied, "it doesn't need clarification."

"Well, I wanted to know where I stand with you." she backed down, her voice full of defeat.

"And what would change if you did? You've made your feelings for me pretty clear. Would you be melodramatic and heartbroken if I said I didn't feel the same way? That I was just toying with you? Or how would you react if I said I'm secretly deeply in love with you and we'll ride off into the sunset?" His voice was mocking, but he wasn't angry, not really. He was still sprawled out on the sofa and there was nothing threatening or defensive about his tone, just bluntness.

"I just wanted to know something about how you feel about me. Because I have no fucking clue." she said quietly.

"Vivienne," Loki started, his voice going soft, "I am a god, and you are human." He paused, and she looked up into his eyes. His face was blank but his voice was growing softer and his eyes seemed sympathetic. The mockery had disappeared. "It doesn't matter how I feel. I cannot let myself become too attached to you."

The meaning was clear behind his speech and Vivienne nodded slightly, then the room fell silent. She understood that last statement at least. It hadn't answered her queries on his feelings, but it at least answered why he was reluctant to voice them. She felt like a silly, foolish little girl for having asked. Still, even if Loki had no intention of being emotionally close to her, she still had standards when it came to what she would or wouldn't want from him.

Silences with Loki were comfortable enough, but Vivienne didn't know what she was going to say or do next. Loki made the decision for her.

"So. Do you have an answer for me?" he said, pulling her out of her thoughts. His voice sounded cautious.

"I... what?"

"In the crudest of terms, can I sleep with you?" he looked straight at her, and the question was blunt but honest, there was no mockery or showmanship in his stance.

"Um," Vivienne closed her eyes briefly, escaping his gaze, her thoughts whirring. She took a deep breath and faced him, "No." she spoke quietly but firmly.

Loki's eyebrows raised. It clearly wasn't the answer he was expecting.

"That wasn't the answer I was expecting."

"I know." she laughed dryly.

"Can I ask why?" A touch of arrogance returned to his voice. "We both know you're attracted to me, and I'm attracted to you. I don't see why we can't."

"Because I don't just want sex." he looked as if he were about to cut in, but she continued. "Yes I know it's childish and unnecessary and completely human and you disagree but I've never done anything with anyone and it makes me fucking nervous okay? No sex unless I'm in a relationship with someone."

Loki's expression was blank. Vivienne couldn't read what he was thinking and tried not to panic as the silence stretched on, scared that she'd fucked up this friendship or whatever it was. She was incredibly relieved and grateful when Loki acknowledged her discomfort and voiced his thoughts. She at least hadn't alienated him enough that he wouldn't speak his mind. They both knew he had the power to leave her feeling very bad about refusing the offer.

"You're right. I do think it's unnecessary and childish and human. But you are human, and the fault lies with me for forgetting that. I know you well enough that I should have foreseen your pride holding strong." Loki's face was blank, but there was a tinge of warmth to his expression. "It's important to you. And I should respect that."

"...Should?"

"The other part of me wants to just coerce you into sex anyway. I know I'm capable of doing so, and I would easily be able to have you." he spoke so matter of factly, Vivienne's face obviously showed her panic because he looked at her and smiled, the manic tinge appearing behind his gaze.

"I wouldn't do that to you now. I might have done once. I see no point in lying to you about what I am. At one point rather recently I would have just pushed you down and taken you, but I do not think I would do that any longer."

Vivienne was silent for a long time. Loki left her to think, aware of the effect those words must be having. At least she's not running, he thought, part of him amazed that she was still here. If she's really this attached to me, maybe I can still get what I want without breaking the promise that I wouldn't manipulate her. After all, there is a very thin line between manipulation and persuasion.

"You know," she started after a while, "You're really not helping your case to get into my pants."

Loki laughed bitterly. "At this point I'm not trying to. But the more determined you become to be close with me the more you need to know the truth about what I really am. Relationships where one's perception of the other is pure fantasy always end painfully."

"I keep trying to tell you I want to know you bette- wait. Did you just imply what I think you implied?" She looked at him, voice and face cautious and guarded.

"You've been kinder to me than anyone has in many years," he started lightly, "you care what I think and how I feel, you enjoy my company, and you like trying to make me happy and don't take me for granted. Frankly, I'm amazed you haven't run away, not five minutes ago I confessed to thinking about raping you."

"Um-" Vivienne started, but Loki cut her off. He spoke in such carefree voice that Vivienne couldn't quite believe what she was hearing.

"So yes, I am offering what you think I'm offering. And yes it is an elaborate plot to 'get into your pants', but I also enjoy spending time with you and making you happy, despite what everyone seems to think. Quite frankly I don't see that much will change if we did become romantically involved, I certainly don't plan for it to so if you have ideas about doing so I would stamp them out. You can begin labelling us as whatever you want and I shall wait until you are ready to engage in intimacies."

Vivienne's face grew more hopeful and disbelieving as he spoke, and when he finished speaking Loki could see that her hands were trembling slightly. He hoped the apparent honesty would persuade her, and very little of that speech had been false. The trickster rose slowly from the sofa and moved across to sit next to her.

"Thoughts?" he asked gently, expression amused.

"I, uh. If you just want sex I don't want to-"

"I do want sex yes, but I do also genuinely care about you, despite my good sense telling me I shouldn't get attached. And I want people to know that I enjoy making you happy, and that of late you have been making me happy. I will openly publicly announce that I am seeing you romantically, just don't ask me to sing my love for you. You are human, and I cannot allow myself to have feelings so deep."

She hesitated, still unsure. He could almost hear her brain ticking away. After a moment she spoke quietly. "I know this is the best I'm going to get, but it still isn't what I want. I- I know you can't get invested but I also don't like the idea of being with someone who I know doesn't like me as much as I like them."

Here's my chance. "Then I shall return to questioning your insistence that you won't give up yourself to someone unless you are seeing them romantically. I can assure you, it is possible to value someone baring themselves to you without being seen by the outside world as an official unit. I understand that this is something large that I am asking from you, I can acknowledge that whether we are together or not. Why is it you are so scared of intimacy?"

"Because... because it's scary. Taking your clothes off and exposing yourself to someone so completely. It's a trust thing as well, giving someone else so much power over you. Especially when they are much more powerful than you."

"I understand." Loki said delicately, before moving to turn towards her. He waited until she looked up into his eyes before asking his next question. "But tell me, why would that be any different with someone you've labelled as your significant other?"

"I-" she hesitated, with a frown. "It just feels more official." she replied, frustrated. He could see her thinking again, trying to both answer the question and assess its relevance.

"But why?"

"I, erm, it just does." Now that Vivienne thought about it, she didn't actually know why.

"Vivienne, you can never truly know what someone is capable of." Loki's voice was tight, as if from experience. "You can trust and admire someone for more than a thousand years and they can still betray you. I am reluctant to trust, and so I cannot give you any proof other than my word that I do not intend to harm you, but sometimes you have to seize the chance while it's there despite your fears." he looked at her. "My offer won't last forever. You can have a few more days to think, but it won't last endlessly."

Vivienne thought about it from that point of view. The idea of not being able to trust anyone was highly cynical. On earth she may have dismissed it but the Aesir were so good at masking emotions here and lived so long it could well be true; she wouldn't ever be able to know anyone here properly. Which meant if she did want to ever become intimate with someone she'd have to take that risk at some point, so why not now? And damn Loki for manipulating the offer into something she'd regret if she didn't take it. But she couldn't feel truly angry at him, not through the sincerity in his voice.

"Another thing." Vivienne started, her voice sounding honestly curious. "Why do you want me? What is there about me that's so desirable?"

Loki laughed. "You are hardly unattractive. I have been laughed at for my sexual exploits in the past but I can appreciate attractive individuals when I come across them."

"Does appreciating someone mean you have to add sex in though?" she added, half-jokingly. She was disbelieving that he thought her attractive.

He looked at her and spoke honestly. "Vivienne, there's power in sex. As the God of Mischief I understand the subtleties of this. Especially when taking virgins. Humans often miss the subtleties but it's a good, powerful feeling to take someone for the first time. Why do you think rapists on your world so often focus on young girls? But detracting from the more sinister aspect, I am also not someone that anyone with any sense should trust. Valhalla knows why you have chosen me but I haven't been trusted with anything in a long time. The thought of having someone trust me enough to bare themselves to me and give me something as precious as their virginity… oh, I do like the idea of that."

She was silent for a long while, and Loki sat next to her watching her slowly become more convinced. He let his arguments sink in, keeping the satisfaction off his face. He knew he would be able to persuade her, and when she expressed hesitancy he moved in for the kill.

"I don't know." she said helplessly.

"Then try it." he said, "Introducing physicality doesn't mean I have to rip your clothes off. If you wish we can take things slowly, I live for 5000 years, a few weeks won't be too much hardship. And saying yes now doesn't mean you're giving me permission for everything from now on. You can back out later if you wish; I do understand the subtleties of consent."

She seemed relieved by that last statement. Loki thought he had convinced her, but she frowned at him again. "I wouldn't expect you to be so patient." she admitted, "Or so willing to offer something that I might retract. Why are you offering this if I could back out later?"

Loki's face split into a grin and his words were honest, if arrogant. "Because I know my own talents well enough that once you start enjoying yourself I doubt you'll turn back."

Vivienne turned to face him, disbelieving. "You conceited bastard." she stated, but there was amusement in her voice again. The affection present confirmed to Loki that he'd won.

He smiled at her, and she smiled back before dropping her gaze and going rather shy. "I suppose then, we could start trying things out..." she looked back up at him and he wiped the smugness off his face, showing her his sincerest smile.

"Thank you." he said, keeping things honest. As much fun as it had been to talk Vivienne into this; he had been truthful in expressing his care for and attraction to her.

"I, um..." she began, not sure where to take things from there. Loki resisted the urge to roll his eyes at her and angled his body closer to her. With slow, deliberate movements, and keeping his intentions clear, he moved his hand up to her face and leant in to press a gentle kiss to her lips.

Vivienne froze as he leant in, nerves and anticipation keeping her still. She forgot in that moment that she'd kissed him already, this felt far more like a first kiss than the previous one. When his lips met hers she pressed back gently and the blush spread over her cheeks. Loki pulled away slightly to take in her expression before grinning, his face turning mischievous again. Suddenly, Vivienne was reminded of everything about him she found attractive.

She smiled and leant in again, Loki taking the hint and kissing her back. She was obviously shy and unsure of her movements and he teased her into moving her lips more, guiding her softly. She slowly relaxed and followed his lead, the tension easing from her shoulders. Loki leant back to recline against the sofa and pulled Vivienne to him with a gentle arm around her waist. The kissing didn't become any more intense but the scene felt more intimate as she was practically lying on top of him, pulled close. Loki continued softly until he could sense her becoming light headed. He then pulled away, letting her relax and rest her head on his shoulder. They lay intertwined for a long moment before Vivienne shuffled.

"Let's not study any magic today." she said breathlessly, and the God of Mischief felt content for the first time in a long time.