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Steve trained Anya during the afternoon, while Loki trains her first thing in the morning. It was a tight schedule, but it works.
While sparring with Steve, he asks her, "How's your lessons with Loki?"
"Really weird. He somehow convinced himself that I can make shapes out of the fire I have." She snorts.
"Can you?"
"Nope. I don't think I can." Anya huffs, throwing a punch at Steve, which he tries to dodge.
"That attitude is precisely why you cannot do it," Loki tells her the next morning, and she rolls her eyes. Now, they stand together in the field outside the Avengers Compound. "You need to concentrate. Remember what I told you. The—"
"Most dangerous words a sorcerer can say are this is all I can do. Pretty sure you got that from the Internet."
"The... what?"
"Never mind."
Loki sighs. "These lessons will go nowhere if you do not concentrate."
"Fine, fine. What do you want me to do?"
"I need you to submit yourself to the sun and use its power as your own."
"Yeah, that makes sense."
Loki rolls his eyes. "Anya!"
Anya's stomach twists at his commanding tone, and she flushes. "Sorry," she lowers her eyes. "I just, um... the farthest I've got to using... whatever you're teaching me, is when you and I tracked the scepter. I didn't even know I could do that until we did it."
Loki has a boyish smile on his face. "Precisely, Anya. We are here to learn what you can do. Now, I'd like you to observe." He gracefully moves his hands and forms a shape out of his green and black magic.
It slowly turns into more of her colors, which are yellow and orange. Anya smiles as her eyes brighten from the colors. Loki sees her happy grin and feels more relaxed. Then, he gently thrusts his hands forward and the ball of light swoops around Anya, almost tickling her.
"Are you kidding me? You know I can't do that." Anya chuckles as the ball brushes against her cheek.
"It is the easiest trick there is. Wanda managed to do it in less than ten seconds." Loki smirks.
Anya rolls her eyes. Another thing that Loki loves doing during their lessons was to compare her progress with Wanda.
Wanda is already at the fifth lesson, and Anya still hasn't gotten past the first. And Loki loved praising Wanda.
"Something I said, dear?" Loki appears smug as he walks around her.
"Hm. Maybe the part where you're practically kissing the ground Wanda walks on." She scrunches her nose with a smirk.
"Can't help it. Her powers came from my scepter and I am very affectionate to those who can wield that much power," Loki speaks mockingly, and still with a smirk.
"Oh? So are you also affectionate with Vision?" Anya grins in amusement.
"Why, of course. Can't very well leave the synthezoid out. He has the stone with him." Loki chuckles.
"You are in a good mood."
"Only because one of my students is excelling in class."
"Ooh, low blow, you mischievous scamp." She mirrors his smirk. "I bet I could take you on during an actual fight. No magic."
"Is that a challenge, Miss Romanoff?"
"You bet your ass."
Loki chuckles. "I am a God. I wouldn't want to hurt you if we do engage in physical combat."
Anya smiles. "Oh, don't worry. You won't."
Loki grins brighter. "We'll see to that until you've gone past the first lesson."
Anya exhales and closes her eyes, holding out her hands to try copying Loki. He observes her, and feels a surge of pride once her hands start glowing to emit light. Anya laughs and bends the light, creating a similar shape to what Loki made.
For the first time since he got here, Loki smiled so wide that crinkles formed by his eyes.
And of course, his ass got handed to him during physical combat with her. Steve was watching and laughed quite loudly when Loki groans from the ground.
Deep down, despite getting his arse kicked, that was still the most fun Loki ever had in the long length of his life. Though, he might not tell her that.
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note: they're getting close... hm...