Summary: Vikram introduces Irina to a new food.

Vikram tore open the bag and dumped out its contents onto the table. Irina raised an eyebrow.

"These are M&Ms." he explained.

"What and whats?"

"M, as in the letter m."

"Oh." Irina said. Vikram laughed.

"I still can't believe you've never eaten an M&M!" he said excitedly.

"Wait, since there's only one, wouldn't it just be an M?" Irina asked curiously.

"No."

"Why not?"

"Because! That's just not what it's called. Now stop talking and eat one." Irina cautiously chose a blue candy from the mess on the table and tentatively licked it. Vikram rolled his eyes.

"If you don't put that thing in your mouth this instant, I will shove it in myself. Eat the damn chocolate!" He shouted in exasperation. Irina scowled and slipped the piece into her mouth. Her eyes widened in surprise. Hastily she took another one of the same color and repeated the process.

"It's good!" She exclaimed.

"I know, right? Now, you should know, each M&M color stands for something different. The one you just ate, blue, stands for virtue." Vikram told her. Irina snorted.

"Irony at its finest, eh?" She laughed. Vikram had to agree. "So what does the green stand for?"

"The green," Vikram said seriously, "is magical." Irina smirked.

"Ah." She said. "Says the logical man here at Oxford."

"No, no. I mean it. It can make weird things happen. It can make things float upsidown, and it can blur someone's judgment." Irina spat out the candy she had in her mouth.

"Are these alcoholic?" She demanded.

"Not like that! In the emotional sense, not the drunk sense! God Irina, for such a beautiful woman, you can be so irritating." He froze. Oops. Irina's jaw dropped. The look she shot him penetrated his furthest barriers.

"I know my English is not perfect, but I do believe I know a term for what you are thinking at the moment." Irina said quietly.

"Oops?" Vikram suggested.

"Ah, no. I believe our thoughts may have been along the same lines, and I was thinking more…shit." Vikram laughed awkwardly.

"So, I'm now screwed and odds are I have no chance with you." He said.

"Totally fucked." Irina agreed.

"I too know your English is not perfect, so I would like to volunteer to teach you a phrase we say here." Vikram said. Irina nodded her consent.

"It's called 'beating the odds,'" he leaned over, "and it goes like this." Irina barely had time to react before he pressed his lips to hers, and she lost feeling. When they finally separated, Irina was still in shock.

"Damn green M&Ms." She whispered.

"Damn green M&ms." He agreed.