Chapter 2: Shooting From Behind Makes You Dishonourable... Or Tony Stark

"Did you have another falling out with your brother?"

Loki released his grip on his staff and set it down beside him. "You again?"

"Yeah. I found a hammer and came to see if you still needed it."

"I have no need of you pitiful tools. All of Midgard and Asgard tremble before me when I approach, havoc and destruction in my wake!"

Tony retracted the face plate on his helmet with a click-swisssssh and surveyed their surroundings as he strolled around, passing inspection. "Yeah. Nice place you got here. Lots of destruction. I mean, the murky pond's could pass as an attractive water feature with enough darkness. Stalagmites and stalactites are a bit passé, but you could totally bring them back with this retro-villain den, with the right lighting." His brows furrowed as he rubbed his fingers together; they'd come back wet when he touched the glistening walls. "Charming. Really, this cave is killer. High Park has nothing on your bachelor pad, bro."

Loki leaned forward, and smiled, looking around. With casual ease he fingered the staff he lifted once more. "Why did you say you dropped in again, Asgardian Tin Man."

"Well, it's Iron Man, not Tin Man—tin is far inferior to iron—but I know you're looking for something to do, and I just happened to have this lying around and wondered if you'd like it."

Tony pulled the box—adorned with a precious silver bow, courtesy of Pepper, though he liked to imagine it was from Director Fury in daywear—from his pack and handed it over to Loki.

Of course, Loki had to ruin the moment by opening the card first.

"Why is it making… noise… at me?"

"It's wishing you a Merry Cave-mas."

Loki's stony expression was not impressed. Tony rolled his eyes. "You didn't give me a lot to work with. It was that, or Slytherin-Impersonation-Day."

"Whatever a Slytherin is, it's probably better than 'Cave-mas'."

Tony's eye twitched as he tilted his head to the side. "Hermione's never mentioned Slytherins to you?"

Untying the ribbon and tossing it to the side, Loki tore the paper from the box. "Not that I recall. Is this a children's toy?"

"It's a builder's toy. You're a builder. You might take things apart a lot—like, for example, New York. Or the Jakarta waterfront. But I know you're the type who likes to figure out how things work. This gives you the opportunity to do that."

"It says K'Nex, suitable for ages 12-14."

"Look on the back."

Loki flipped the box in his elegant, taper-fingered hands. "And it has a roller coaster."

"Glowinthedarktrack," coughed Tony into his hand.

At that, Loki's eyebrows perked up in interest.

"—but they're completely dismissing, or ignoring, the properties of the liverwort leaves! The potion would be far more effective if they were to—" Hermione blushed and bit her lip. Across from her, reclined with his long, scarred fingers crossed over his middle, Severus Snape arched a brow over amused, inky eyes.

"Preaching to the choir, I know," said Hermione, reclining back against her own pillows to catch her breath. "I trust you gave them a good tongue lashing for their defective analysis."

"Turn to page 297," he replied, a hint of a smirk on his face.

"Ah! Oh, this is a good start. Read it to me?"

"Certainly not. They'd throw me out for putting you in hysterics."

"But it would be worth it."

"Undoubtedly."

Hermione grinned back at him. "So, outside of enabling new orifices in incompetent dunderheads who call themselves 'academics', what have you been up to? I wondered if you'd been drafted to assist with, er, certain individuals while I've been indisposed?"

"There was an incident recently in New Zealand with a dragon and some misplaced wealth. Charlie Weasley called me in to see if I could separate some of the darker artefacts from the spoils, but I've tried to remain as retired as I can."

"You almost made that sound sincere that time, too."

He shook a finger at her. "No, I promised, after the Mongolian Hebride Riders—"

"Mmmhmmm. Which then led into, if I recall..."

"—the Southern Boxer Neo-Rebellion. Which really was just a front for the—"

"Hmmm… Was that the Dolphin-Gobbling Vunder Munks?"

Severus paused, his eyes closing to half-slits in thought. "No," he said slowly, "then it went to some annoying Norse God or other. Got too big for his britches, then the Avengers got involved, which then annoyed the local populace who thought it was a magical event, which they then called me in to sort out. Norse Gods. Can you believe how inconsiderate that dark-haired blighter is that you keep chasing after?"

"Hermione? If you have a moment, I brought something to—I see you have company," said Loki, slowing as he entered the room. Two other Lokis followed close behind, carrying something in a large, sheet-covered box.

Loki, Hermione and Severus regarded each other.

The moment held. And kept holding, in all its awkward glory.

Hermione opened her mouth to invite him in, but Severus beat her to it.

"Loki, I presume?" asked Severus silkily. And easily ignored the warning look Hermione shot him.

"I'm afraid your reputation doesn't precede like mine does," said Loki as he circled the bed.

"Do I have you at a disadvantage, then?" Severus' eyes glinted.

"Not at all," Loki said smoothly.

Hermione sighed and fought the urge to roll her eyes.

"Gentlemen, you can't fight in here. This is a war-heroine-recovery room," she said, crossing her arms over her robed chest.

"Perish the thought," said Severus, his eyes never leaving Loki.

"Put it down," she said, frowning at him.

Severus's hand continued stroking his wand, but released it back into its holster after a moment or two. Just long enough to show he did it because he wanted to, not because Hermione made him.

Severus folded his hands in front of him again, this time resting his elbows on the armrests of his chair. "May I ask why you're visiting the one person who's successfully managed to incarcerate you at every opportunity that's presented itself?"

"No. You're welcome to visit the morgue, though. Just follow the lift straight down. You won't miss it."

Severus' words closed on a snarl. "So eager to send me there?"

Loki leaned back and smiled tightly. "Merely extending an invitation."

"Time out, both of you. Severus, I'm parched. Could you brew me a decent cup of tea in the hospitality area? Please?" she asked, meeting his eyes and pleading. "When you come back, we'll pick up that discussion on the journal again."

Severus' eyes flicked to Loki, the main one, who seemed to be examining the small hospital room.

"I'll return shortly."

Alone with her best nemesis once more, Hermione flicked her wand to shut the door. While she levitated and enlarged a table closer, Loki availed himself of Severus Snape's newly vacated chair. His duplicates settled the covered package on the laminate surface, and [phased out of existence.

"I hear you've been busy," she began. Beside her, Loki unbuttoned his coat and relaxed back. The movement accentuated the breadth of his leanly muscled chest, exposing his leather vest and his fitted shirt. He gave the barest of nods.

"What have you brought me?"

"Patience, patience," he purred.

Hermione huffed a breath and folded her arms over her chest. With a quick tug here and there she adjusted her robe once more, just to be safe.

"Any word yet on your official release date?"

"I'm due out in another week."

"I suppose I can entertain myself until then," he sighed, drawing up a moue of long suffering.

Hermione laughed. "So, what prompted Jakarta?"

"Hmmmm…. Family discord."

"Really?"

"Mmm."

"It had nothing to do with you and Thor getting into a snit over an RPG computer game?"

"I know nothing of the sort. And how did you hear about not-that?"

Hermione shrugged, glancing up at Loki from beneath her layered fringe. "Word travels."

Loki stared at her for a moment, his face hardening, until he huffed and leaned back again.

"Jane."

She didn't bother denying it. "Girl talk."

"You… engage that way? With other women?"

She gestured around her. "As you can see, they aren't even allowing me much paperwork at this point. I'm hoping I'll be able to finish recovering at home by tomorrow," she said, and smoothed her covers over her lap. She missed the avid gleam in Loki's eyes. "So it is nice to have visitors. Jane and Natasha came by." She opened her mouth to speak, before licking her bottom lip and reconsidering her words. "I think things are stressful for them. Pepper and Jane text each other a fair bit now that Jane's travelling around the US for her research. But I think Natasha was a bit… keyed up and needed to get away for a bit. You wouldn't have anything to do with that, would you?"

Loki glanced up from his fascination with Hermione's lips and cocked his head minutely.

"I've been occupied. How is dear Widow?"

"Quite looking forward to the next time the two of you can sit down to chat."

His long, raven wing of hair slid forward, not quite hiding his feral grin. "Is she, now?"

"What did you do?"

"So suspicious," he tutted.

Hermione arched her brow, tightening her crossed arms. "Spit it out."

"Perhaps someone turned her favourite nightie green."

Hermione sighed.

"And improved her motorcycle helmet by affixing a pair of horns to it."

She closed her eyes.

"And filled her apartment with camel dung and fireworks."

A hand at her mouth, Hermione gasped and couldn't help the widening of her eyes. "You didn't."

"Oh, not me." He said. "Personally."

"And you still had time to make… what is under the cover? I remind you, the hospital is considered neutral territory."

"Neutral," he scoffed, but softly. Leaning forward he stretched his back before standing and approaching the table, his coat swirling around him in a softer billow than she'd expected. His steps were sure and firm, yet after a quick glance at the window into the hallway, his heels did not hit the floor with their usual decisive clack and snap.

His energy leashed, he turned bright eyes on Hermione and showed brilliant white teeth in a flashing grin. Lowering her arms and sinking her nails into the thin bed sheets as Loki tore off the cover from his display, Hermione cast a nonverbal protego. Not that she didn't trust Loki, but they were best nemeses for a reason.

"Behold!"

Biting down hard on her tongue, Hermione braced herself and—

Her gasp burst from her lips, surprising herself.

"Do you like it?" he asked, watching her avidly from the corner of his eye.

"Like it?" she asked, leaning forward, eyes bright and shining. She scooted carefully, but winced where her stitches pulled; and was surprised when she felt strong, gentle hands lift her closer, supported by a firm, cool chest.

Her fingers loosened from the sheets, she found herself grasping at the folds of his leather mantle. It was much softer than she had anticipated.

He adjusted his grip on her slightly, lifting her so she could get a better look at the table's contents.

"Where did you get this?"

"Do you like it?"

She reached out to touch one of the stick tracks, felt the ripple and flex of muscle against her side as Loki leaned forward to bring her closer to the massive K'Nex structure. Hermione's eyes brightened and she smiled as she ran her fingers over and across the plastic beams.

"Did you build it? "

The chest she rested against puffed up the faintest bit, providing her answer.

"Where did you get the idea to build a Hogwarts. .. with a roller coaster?"

"Would you like to see how it works? "

And suddenly she found herself miniaturized and belted into the first car of the roller coaster sitting atop Gryffindor Tower. All of Hogsmead and the Forbidden Forest spread out beneath them.

"You know I'm not allowed much movement, yet," she said, scooching to the side and craning her neck to look over. "Is this real or is it another illusion?"

From his seat beside her, Loki stretched his arms up and behind her. Spreading his feet on the ground until their thighs pressed against each other, his elegantly tapered fingers came to rest around her shoulder, giving her a faint caress.

"You'll find out. When you're not as damaged."

She turned to him, and was surprised by how close he was. Fairly leaning over her, he eyed her mouth. "Ready when you are."

Hermione's mouth went dry. "N-not quite ready yet, then."

His eyes flicked up to meet hers a moment, holding them in a hungry gaze. "Of course not. I want you willing and enthusiastic. You'll enjoy it more."

With her heart in her throat, Hermione swallowed the urge to pant. "Enjoy what?"

His mouth twitched as he dropped his gaze to her lips again. "The ride, darling. What else?"

From beneath them Hermione felt the stir and rumble of metal-against-metal friction, the gentlest creak as their roller coaster car inched forward towards the track plunging down, down, down.

Without thinking she grabbed Loki's hand. "I can't go down yet."

Her heart began rising up up up once more as the cart tipped forward, her heart jack-hammering in her chest as the hair rose in warning at the back of her neck—

"Loki, I said I can't go down—" she cried, her voice giving away her anxiety.

"Miss Granger!" a voice thundered, breaking the illusion.

"Severus!"

Hermione blinked and looked up from the hospital bed… the hospital bed where she lay stretched out on her back, Loki alongside her, her head propped up on his shoulder and his murderous gaze fixed on the intruder at the door.

"What happened?" she asked, confused. "So it was an illusion?"

"It won't be next time," whispered cool lips against her ear. With that he was gone.

Hermione's breath rushed out in a heavy whoosh.

"Tea?" asked Severus, his voice dripping acid.

"Yes, thank you," she replied weakly. With his help she sat up again and relaxed against the pillows, pushing her hair from her flushed face.

"Do you require anything stronger?"

She considered Loki. "Yes," she agreed, and Severus tapped the teapot once with his wand.

"Better make it a double," she added, flushing.

Giving her a withering glare, he obliged her.

To be Continued

AN: Here come chapters 3 and 4, editing, editing, through the door…