Hey I am currently re-writing an outline for this story ( I already had one but I lost it along with a few outlines for other stories .). That should help me update a little faster. I am still figuring out a bit more of the plot and how I want to develop relationships (romantic and platonic) as well as characters. That is one of the most difficult things to do, at least for a beginner like me.

I do hope to write professionally and publish someday, but for now I am getting my practice in through this. When I do begin to publish, my current plan is to continue to write fanfic anonymously. I don't use my real name for fanfic now and I plan to use a pseudonym for publishing (double the mystery!) so there is no chance of either interfering with the other.

Anyway, here's the next chapter:

"So this is your lab," Hermione commented looking around the large space.

It was the largest room she had seen thus far. Tony had been encouraging her to take a tour of his house but she had yet to take him up on the offer. She was content to stick to her bedroom, the kitchen, and his gym downstairs. Tony had to call someone to help her set up the gym equipment because Tony hadn't ever used the room before.

Despite the fact that his lab had a lot of technology that she was mostly afraid to touch (she wasn't Muggle tech savvy—yet), she felt oddly at home. It was an organized mess that she could relate to. Back at Hogwarts she had her own private carell in the library Madame Pince gave her back in her fifth year. It allowed her to get away from the boys when she needed her space and it kept those giggling girls who liked to spy on boys away from her.

Her carrell was always messy, but she knew where everything was, and that was what mattered.

Tony dug his hands in the pocket of his tailored slacks. He had loosened the first couple of buttons of his shirt and left one part of the bottom untucked. It was his casual look, he told her. His hair was a dark mass of messy hair, but it was a sight that made her smile first thing that morning. She knew another guy whose hair stayed messy no matter what you did to it.

"Pretty much. I mean I had other ones, but they kept getting destroyed. Through partial fault of my own. And I have a few more labs in other places as well, but this is my main lab. All of my experiments, known and unknown to others are on a hard drive that is connected to this very lab. Every prototype of every working piece of technology I have is in this room somewhere. Well, almost all."

Tony showed her around a bit.

"This room is truly amazing Tony. I can tell you have a real passion for what you do. Not most people can say that."

"Eh. Most people also don't have as much money and free time to fuck shit up like I do too."

Hermione frowned at him.

"Must you be so vulgar all the time? And you should really take pride in all of this Tony. Despite your wealth and pension for breaking every rule you can, you have done a lot of amazing things."

"I must and I do. I've never had a problem with my pride, it's others that do. Besides, Bunny, you had better get used to hearing this. You live in L.A now. That's all you'll hear around here."

Hermione rolled her eyes.

Tony liked to deflect the topic whenever he felt that the conversation was heading towards Feelings Central. That's what Tony called Hermione's "emotional train station". Hermione made a mental note to work on Tony with confronting his emotions before she left.

"So these are my babies." Tony gestured to the spread of luxury vehicles in front of Hermione.

Hermione ran her hands along the hood of bright yellow sports car. She wasn't very familiar with cars. Both of her parents had one but they were never flashy with their money. They stuck to practical cars that got them from destination A to destination B. These cars looked much more expensive and breakable.

"I enhanced them all with titanium alloy shields, connected them to the suit, which is pretty much connected to everything else, and worked on the engine. They reach speeds that are not legal in the US." And he sounded every bit of proud that showed on his face.

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Does legality mean absolutely nothing to you?"

Tony shrugged. "I think the question you should be asking is who defines legal. Because all of those people define what's 'legal' according to what will benefit them. And Starks look out for themselves."

"For someone who has daddy issues you sure do make it a point to refer to your father's name quite a bit."

Hermione saw the minute tensing in his shoulders and almost regretted letting that blurt from her mouth. She didn't know how he'd react. From her observations she noted that he had a bit of a temper and a very reckless mouth.

"I don't have 'daddy issues'. That implies that I had a father at one point or another and I never did. My resentment and anger towards him waned substantially over the years, however the only thing that is required of being a father is being there. He was never there for me, at least not that I can remember. He always had more important things to do..." Tony spun around and looked at her. "More important people to see."

Hermione looked away back at the candy apple red vehicle. It was so clean and bright; well taken care of.

"I've grown a lot over the past few years. I see things in a different perspective and to be frank, I no longer feel like I missed out on much. When I was still bitter about his treatment of me I liked to dream about what it would have been like if he were a better father or if I was a better son. But I am no longer that person and I no longer need him. I don't wish anything to be different. I am the man I am today, partially because of his lack of being there, but mostly because I experienced the world and all its many lessons on my own.

"But yes. I do refer to my name a lot because it is my name that shaped me. It held expectations that I thought I had to live up to. It attracted friends and foes that influenced me and my actions. And it brought you to me." Tony looked away from her.

"Not to get mushy here or anything but this past month has been... liberating. You're... You couldn't have come at a better time."

Tony didn't say anything more than that and Hermione didn't know how to respond. A few years ago she would've probably hugged him. She was shown a lot of affection as a child and often gave out hugs like she gave out at advice. But Tony didn't need a hug. He didn't need pity or comfort. He just needed somebody to listen—to be there.

"Apologies for any interruption I may have caused but breakfast is ready." Vision floated into the room, his feet hovering over the ground. What made Hermione choke on a giggle was the apron he had tied around his waist that read 'Kiss my Android'.

Tony and Hermione both followed Vision towards the kitchen, neither of them mentioning the conversation that they were having prior to Vision coming into the lab. Perhaps they were more alike than either cared to admit.

"Stupid elevator floors being so damn clean." Rhodey grumbled as he struggled to exit the elevator. His crutches wobbled and slipped as he attempted to gain more control over his limbs.

Rhodey heard laughter drift towards him as he finally managed to exit the elevator. Walking into the kitchen he saw a scene that nearly made him stumble worst than the wax on the elevator floor.

Vision, with his back half turned towards Tony and the woman he presumed to be Hermione, flipped pancakes and waffles. For what reason he didn't know since there was still a large spread of various breakfast foods and fried chicken on the kitchen island. Unfamiliar laughter rang in his ears. Unfamiliar not only in the sense that it came from the woman he had yet to officially meet, but also because he hadn't heard Tony make that sound in a very long time. A laughter full of pure joy and amusement. Tony had a crispy, golden drumstick in his hand, half-eaten, and pointed at Hermione with a smirk on his face.

Long riotous curls filtered through his vision as he looked at the woman that was giggling in near hysteria with her head thrown back. Since nobody had yet to pay attention to his sudden presence, he took the time to take the new woman in Tony's life in. Her skin was an olive complexion, a golden hue still setting in from the recent move to LA. Her eyes he couldn't see clearly, but they weren't similar to Tony's. The silhouette of her body showed a curves and a toned stomach but he forced himself to look away at the direction his thoughts were going.

Rhodey hobbled in a little more dragging the attention to him.

"Rhodes!" Tony shouted, throwing his chicken-holding fist into the air.

"Colonel," Vision greeted with a nod.

Hermione looked over and took stock of the man whose eyes kept going back to her. She knew all about Colonel James Rhodes was your typical soldier. Obedient, careful, and practical. He didn't step a toe out line that wasn't supposed to be there. At least he didn't do so until his trusty and no-good friend Tony Stark did something he had to cover for.

Hermione felt his eyes on her the minute he wobbled off the elevator but she waited until he stopped gaping at the group of them to acknowledge his presence. She suspected that he didn't really like her much seeing as she had been staying with Tony about a month now and he hadn't once came around or spoke to her when Tony had him on speaker phone.

"What are you doing here Rhodes?" Tony asked with a lingering smile still on his face.

Rhodey hobbled closer to the Island until Vision floated to him and helped him the rest of the way.

"What, I can't show up announced anymore? I have to call ahead before I come over?" Rhodey face and voice kept up a light appearance but the tension was obvious to everyone in the room, even Vision.

Rhodey desperately tried to ignore the fact that both Tony and Hermione simultaneously titled their heads a bit to the left at his question. And he also adamantly ignored the way they both reached for their glasses of coffee, taking a sip, humming a bit, and then adding a bit more sugar to it before putting it back down. The only difference between the two is that when they tilted their heads, Hermione raised an eyebrow and Tony narrowed his eyes.

"I just figured you'd call ahead like you usually do, Rhodes. After all, common courtesy." Tony shrugged.

Vision fixed a plate for Rhodey. "Since when did you care about common courtesy?"

Tony nodded. "Touche."

Hermione stuck out her hand. "I'm Hermione. Since this one over here is too busy stuffing his face to introduce me."

Tony mumbled something around the chicken and waffles mixture in his mouth but neither could distinguish what it was. It was pretty obvious though they could tell it wasn't something very polite. After adjusting his crutches against the island Rhodey reached for her hand.

"Colonel James Rhodes. You can call me Rhodey though, we're practically family, right?" Rhodey laughed lightly.

Hermione hummed, only giving a tightly smile in response.

"So tell me 'bout yourself, Hermione. You're clearly not from around here, judging by that accent, so where're you from?"

"I lived in London, but I went to school in Scotland." Hermione took a sip of her coffee.

"That's quite a drive everyday," Rhodey's eyebrows furrowed.

"Boarding school." She replied shortly.

"One that I've ever heard of?"

"Doubt it. Unless you make it a mission to familiarize yourself with boarding schools, Colonel."

Rhodey hmmed.

"Rhodes, what are you doing today?"

Rhodey looked over at Tony at his airy tone. He knew that tone. It had gotten him into plenty of trouble and sticky situations over his lifetime. But he hadn't heard it in a while. The thing is, he wasn't sure if he should be worried or happy that Tony seemed to be reverting back into his old self.

"Besides some light PT, nothing much." Rhodey shrugged.

"Well considered yourself busy for the rest of the day."

Rhodey laughed with a bit of hysteria in his voice as he looked around.

"Man I knew you was rich...but this is some next level shit right here." Rhodey gestured at the almost empty amusement park. He laughed again, this time with more amazement in his voice. "Seriously, Tony. You've outdone yourself this time. I mean, who the fuck rents out Disney World for themselves for an entire day?"

"Eh. It's actually not as expensive as you'd think it would be. Besides, Bunny's never been to the states before, i.e, she's never been to Disney World before. There's so much this kid has missed out on because of that school of hers."

Tony leaned against the gate of the ride Hermione sat on laughing hysterically. What he could tell from the blur of her hair, her face was flushed. She had been smiling nonstop since they had arrived. He immediately rested Mickey Mouse ears, upgraded by Tony Stark himself, onto her head and filled her with fatty foods and sugary confections before letting her loose on all of the rides. Tony used this mainly as a way to just give Hermione something he felt that she had missed out on, a childhood. She doesn't speak much about her childhood, or anything about back home in general, but he got the gist that there really wasn't much time for her to be just a kid. And as much as his upbringing sucked, he was still able to be a kid.

But he also did for Rhodey and Hermione. He knew Rhodes didn't particularly trust Hermione. Mostly because she was so secretive, but Tony thinks he just needed to spend time with her. Hermione was a real wild card. She surprised him constantly with her quick wit and her astonishingly tight set of morals. But then she'd go an say something that went against everything he thought about her. She was honestly the most selfless, caring, and honest person he had ever met. It scared him at first how quickly he took to her. How his thoughts usually come back to her even when he gets in those tinkering moods. He worries whether she ate enough or if she's safe, wherever she had wondered to in the penthouse. It was a strange feeling, this constant worry.

"Tony..."

Tony looked over at him, knowing already where this conversation was about to lead even without having to hear him finish. Rhodey wasn't looking at him, but rather at Hermione with a deep look of concentration, as though he was trying to figure out a jigsaw puzzle.

"She's hiding something, Tony. I know you don't want to hear it because you're still on this 'sister high' of yours. But it's the truth. And I'm worried about you man."

"You don't need to be."

"Don't tell me that Tony. Don't tell me not to worry about you. You're my best friend. I've seen you at your best and your worst. And after the whole fight thing with the team... it was definitely one of your worsts. I know you're happy you've found someone who you feel can... I don't know—feel some type of family void for you. But you can't possibly not see the way she purposely withhold certain things about her."

Tony wanted to scoff at him. Shake his head and walk away. He wanted to go order another corn dog because honestly the last one was way more corn than it was dog. But he couldn't do it because he knew Rhodey was being serious. He was using his serious voice with his serious eyes, so Tony knew he couldn't just disregard whatever he was saying.

"I'm a genius remember. I know this. She doesn't tell me everything—Hell! She's barely told me anything at all." Tony looks over and sees that she had told the ride operator to continue for another go. "She's goes around certain topics and doesn't quite answer my questions head on. She probably has more secrets than Fury had. And you know how much of a dick that guy was when it came to his secrets. But the difference between those two is that Hermione's secrets won't hurt me. She's not trying to manipulate me into becoming a part of secret organization. She's not trying to start/prevent intergalactic warfare. Her secrets don't have a damn thing to do with me. And it feels good. For once, things aren't revolved around me and the fucked up things I've done with my life.

Tony laughed bitterly. "It sounds crazy right? When does Tony Fucking Stark not want things to revolve around him, huh? Because it seems for the past, what five or six years, things have happened because of me whether directly through my actions, through my lack of action, or because of something my father did and I am now paying for. But that girl over there. Her secrets are her own. She's hiding something that has absolutely no relation to me. Yeah, I want her to tell me what it is so we can deal with it together. But her secrets won't hurt me. She won't hurt me."

Rhodey flinched at his not-so-subtle dig. Hermione wouldn't hurt him like he did. Or like countless others have. Hermione wouldn't go behind his back and steal his technology to give to the federal government. Hermione wouldn't send in a super assassin spy in place of a temp to seduce him and make him self destruct so that he may find a cure to his unique disease. Hermione wouldn't lie to him about the real way that his parents died all those years ago and make him think it was his fault.

"That's the thing about hurt Tony," Rhodey said after a minute as he watched Hermione walk dizzily off the teacup contraption. "There's always new ways to do it."

Hermione stumbled up to the two of them before Tony could respond.

"Tony, why didn't you get on with me? It was so much fun! And it was going so fast! Did you see me? Oh god, my hair must be a sight." She giggled .

"Oh I saw you bunny. But I didn't think that guy over there would appreciate it so much if he had to clean up my corndog chunks after letting you stay on the same ride for four goes." He patted her head. "Come on, let's get on the Rock N' Roller Coaster. My stomach has finally settled."

"Oh no Tony. I'm not good with heights. I prefer to stay firmly with my feet planted on the ground."

"Don't worry Bunny, you're feet will stay down the entire time."

"I hate you. You're a pathological liar and you need to seek professional help for it." Hermione grumbled as she exited the roller coaster.

"Oh come on Bunny, it wasn't that bad!" Tony laughed.

"It was that bad. It was worse than 'that bad' as a matter of fact. And frankly, you suck."

Tony just laughed and demanded another go around.

Hermione plopped onto the bench outside of the ride next to Rhodey who had been unable to get on due to his back and leg injury.

"Tony's always knew just what to say to get people to do the things he wanted them to. I hope it's not a trait that the two of you share."

Hermione gave a short and bitter chuckle.

"You don't like me."

"I don't trust you."

"You can't like someone you don't trust. And I get it. I really do. You're his closest friend and for so long you've been there to protect Tony from the bad guys and sometimes himself. But I'm not one of those bad guys."

"No, you aren't, are you? You see, their agendas are always simple. Clear and straight to the point. Tony did them wrong, or his father and by extension him, and they now want revenge. But you, I can't figure you out. You're here for something. So what is it? What do you want from him? Because I don't know what it is or what it could possibly be. You've stumped me."

Hermione just ran her eyes over his face. His eyes were desperate for something—anything that would prove that he was right. That she was after Tony's money or his fame or his gadgets, or all three. She couldn't blame him. She refused to reveal too much about herself and it made him suspicious.

"Did Tony tell you how I found my parents last year? They were in Australia. I had convinced them to move out there because crime in the city had just skyrocketed and many didn't know why or by whom. They were safe and I was at school. And I thought when I came back, when everything was over, I could retrieve them and we could go back to living normally. But they weren't safe. My mother had been in the house alone. My father had died a week earlier from a hit run. Very mundane, you know. But my mother, she had tried to fend off intruders and ended bound, gagged, murdered, and raped. They said her body looked like it had been under torture for houses, but it couldn't have been more than 30-40 minutes the entire incident took place.

"Besides my parents, I had my two very best friends in the world, who were really like brothers to me. One, of them had died during war. He took a sp-shot for me. I wasn't paying attention and someone had almost go the best of me and he ran and took my place. I lost one of the most important people in the world to me because I was doing something that I had scolded him for doing our entire childhood. I could barely face his family afterwards. They had been a sort of pseudo family for me when I was growing up and was away at boarding school. I didn't know how to look them in the face knowing that their son took my place on the battlefield that day.

"So that's why I'm here. I don't want anything out of him but to feel like I'm part of a family again." Hermione blinked away the build of tears in her eyes. She hadn't meant to say so much. But she needed him to lay off. It was beginning to irritate her how much his opinion of her mattered to Tony.

Rhodey let her word settle. He couldn't help the bit of guilt that he felt after listening to her story. She and Tony were both desperate for family. But something occurred to him.

"What happened to the other friend?"

"Huh?" Hermione was pulled from her thoughts.

"You said you grew up with two friends and they were more like brothers. But what happened to the other?"

Hermione thought about what to say for a minute. "He's... really busy these days. He was injured pretty badly towards the end of our schooling and stayed behind the scenes for a while. He's sort of a celebrity among our little population. But now he's fully embraced his title. He's a uh... completely different person now. Nothing like the boy I grew up with."

Hermione woke to a familiar pecking at her window. She saw a large white bird carrying an envelope with an insignia she recognized.

She stumbled inelegantly out of bed and to the window and stroked the beautiful white owl before giving it some treats she left nearby in case this ever happened. She reached for the letter and tore it open.

Hello Love,

How's the States? Are they as horrible as we've always heard? Are there cops really like the way they are on telly? What about that Stark fellow you had been looking for? How's that going? I know you said that he's been really welcoming so far but has anything else happened since then?

What about his teammates? Have they shown their faces yet?

Do you want the good news or the bad news first?

Well, bad news: There have been a recent spike in crimes lately in the WW. Everything has been pretty minor so far and people are just only whispering right now. But all of the children of ex-DE (minus the few we are now in allegiance with) have gone pretty much MIA. And you know that's not a coincidence. D thinks that there's a new wanna-be darklord out there who's trying to make a name for himself. But he's brushing it off.

But my scar itched last night. Yes, itched. It wasn't that blinding pain that I'm used to, but there was something there. I think something big is coming Mimi. Something really big that we hadn't planned on. I need you to see what you can find out while you're there.

But most importantly be careful.

Oh, almost forgot. The good news: He. Said. Yes!

Stay bright and warm,

H

Annnnnnddddd there it is. It has certainly been a while. I really didn't intend for the wait to be that long but you know what they say about making plans. (And if you don't—look it up). But this is the next chapter of Behavior Report.

The next chapter will feature the other half of our beloved split duo (or more than half actually). It's going to be getting a bit more drama packed from here on out. But not too much at a time. Gotta pace myself. But I know you savages can hardly wait.

I showed a bit of a softer side of our Herms there (I know she's cringing on the nickname rn). And if you think our Rhodey is not suddenly team Hermione you are way off.

You know what to do with the comments section.