"Fury! Fury! For Merlin's sake, wake up!" The stinging pain across the side of his face caused his good eye to fly open and he caught the wrist of the hand with which she had just slapped him in his own iron-grip fist.
"What the hell was that for, Woman?" he growled.
"Oh, thank goodness!" she declared. "I'm so sorry that I had to hit you, but I couldn't get you to wake up. I feared the worst." When he heard the sincerity in her voice, he let her go and was shocked when she immediately used her free-again arms to hug him with affectionate relief.
He patted her awkwardly on the back while he tried to figure out what was going on. The last thing he remembered was they were huddled together, her face in his neck, his in her hair and they were talking to pass the time. Neither one of them had found any monitoring equipment while they were on their bathroom or walking-to-warm-up-and-increase-circulation breaks. Therefore, he had insisted that she tell him about herself, and the Harry fellow, since it had become increasingly obvious that she was not just any ordinary woman. To his surprise, he had actually felt relief when she described Harry as her best friend and brother-of-her-heart, rather than her husband or lover. She also explained that they worked in law enforcement together, and that she had an item on her when they were captured that Harry would be able to trace.
What she had not told him, however, was that the item was her wand. Even though she had not had a juvenile trace on it for many years, she and Harry were so intuned with each other's magical signatures that one of their wands could now easily find the other in times of emergency. The connection was something that they had discovered during their Auror missions together – especially when they became partners after she broke up with Ron and he decided to leave the DMLE to work with George at the WWW shop. After researching the amazing phenomenon, Hermione found that such intuition was the natural result of incurring so many magical life debts from each other – which they had done almost continuously since their first year together at Hogwarts. Consequently, she was extremely confident in Harry's ability to find her…or at least her wand. However, she knew that it would only work if he realized that she was missing in the first place!
At any rate, Fury had not been surprised to learn that she worked in some form of law enforcement. That went a long way to explain her confidence and competence…and perhaps some of her scars, as well. However, what he refused to believe was that she was just any ordinary police officer. There was definitely more to her story than she was telling. However, even though most of his story (except for the fake death) was a matter of public record, he could understand that she could not completely reveal her identity – especially if she was a member of MI5, MI6, or something similar, as he now suspected. All he knew was that it was already clear that she would have made a damn fine SHIELD agent. In fact, he thought that he might still point her in Coulson's direction when all of this was over.
After that conversation, they had both experienced some restless sleep. He remembered waking up as temperatures in the room dipped even lower than they were before. He realized that the woman in his lap was uncomfortably cold, as well, but since she was actually resting relatively well at the moment, he was reluctant to wake her. Instead, he tried to rub some warmth back into her frigid skin and even smiled at the slight sound of pleasure that she made at his actions. Then he just tightened his grip on her before he fell back into a fitful doze, as well. That was all that he remembered until he had been startled awake by the unexpected slap!
After his rather abrupt, but obviously necessary awakening, he registered that there was hardly any light at all to be seen from the small hole in the ceiling. It was evident that night had fallen wherever they were located. That meant that they had been in this place for at least 24 hours...and possibly more since he could feel the effects that hunger and thirst were beginning to have on his body. Plus, it was extremely obvious that their combined body heat was no longer going to be enough to get them safely through the night. In fact, his body was already so cold and stiff that he did not think he could move.
After his eyes adjusted to the darkness, he could faintly see the worry etched into Hermione's face as she attempted to massage the feeling back into his arms before she moved down to do the same for his legs until he was able to stand. Since personal relationships were a weakness and a liability in his chosen profession, it had been a long time since he had allowed someone to get close to him. Despite that, however, something about the way that the woman was genuinely concerned about him tugged at his purposely-hardened heart at that moment. Before he even realized what he was doing, he had pulled her into his arms and just held her for a moment in gratitude until she leaned back and gave him a strange look.
"I think…" she said hesitantly. "I think I might have a solution to our problem with the cold. However, I am quite concerned about your response. You will have to be able to keep an open mind about it because…otherwise…well…it is probably going to freak the bloody hell out of you. I was hoping to avoid the situation altogether, but it looks like it is going to have to be our last resort."
"I'm listening," Fury replied gravely and his eye narrowed in suspicion while he wondered what the young woman could possibly have in mind. After all, he knew that she had not told him the truth about everything.
"It's probably better…and quicker…if I show you," Hermione told him. "Please remember, though, that I'm still me," she said by means of an ambiguous explanation. Then she closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and called forth the one important bit of magic for which she did not need her wand – all thanks to the special private lessons that Professor McGonagall had offered to her when Hermione had returned to Hogwarts for her final year. A second later, Nick Fury found himself standing next to a huge cat! In the dim light, it was hard to see, but he thought that it was a cougar…or a lion!
"Motherfu…!" he shouted as he stumbled backwards a little in surprise - until he realized that the big cat was eyeing him strangely and that made him pause. "Granger? Is that really you?" he asked. As the creature nodded, he held out his hand in amazement. When she rubbed her soft warm head against it, he realized what her plan was. "I think that you might be onto to something here…but I want to talk about this first!" he said firmly. She nodded and in the span of one breath, the woman was standing next to him again.
"Oooh, I'm warm now," she said with delight and went to share her leftover body heat with him. He gratefully allowed her now comfortably heated embrace, but he also wanted answers. "Explain!" he commanded while using his not-to-be-disobeyed Director's voice - even as he folded his arms back around her again.
"I can turn into a lioness," she said simply.
"I can see that!" he answered curtly. "What I want to know is why. Are you an Inhuman?" She shook her head in the negative. "A mutant?" Another shake. "Alien?" One more denial. "Granger!" he all but snarled impatiently. "I have worked with all of the above…not to mention super soldiers, gamma radiation beasts, agents and spies...and even that egomaniac, Tony Stark, too. I have even had the misfortune to cross paths with the can't-be-killed, pain-in-the-ass, Deadpool more than once. Therefore, whatever you are will not shock me. Do you understand?"
She nodded. "I sincerely hope you mean that because…well…I'm a witch," she said quickly as she tried not to display just how nervous she was about the revelation.
"A witch!" His sharp mind churned as he thought about Wanda Maximoff and her powers, but he knew instantly that Hermione was different from the enhanced teenager. He thought over what he knew about the woman in front of him. "So that stick was your…"
"It was my wand, yes. I need it to channel my power to do the majority of my magic…except for my animagus transformation. That is a special kind of magic that is tied directly to my core."
"Hmm, I see…" Fury said contemplatively. However, she was relieved to see that he did not seem to disbelieve her or think that she was crazy. "And the alley?" he asked.
"Just a location for magical transport," she explained with a shrug. "We can apparate – instant transfer from place to place – so we need discreet places to arrive and depart so that Muggles…um… nonmagical people…do not see us. However, we need our wands to do it. That's why I haven't being able to get us out of here, yet."
"That also explains the missing ex-boyfriend, then, doesn't it?" Fury nodded thoughtfully, finally reassured about any lingering doubts that he still had about her now that he understood the mystery of the dead-end alley. "He is a…what? Warlock?"
"Wizard," Hermione provided the proper title with a smile.
"And your friend, Harry?" he asked, as her description of the "most powerful person I know" suddenly made a lot more sense.
"Also a wizard," she confirmed.
"Witches…wizards…hmmm…okay. That's a new one that I want to discuss thoroughly later. However, right now I am freezing my goddamn ass off, Woman, so get your furry feline butt over here…pronto!"
Hermione could only grin with relief at Fury's easy acceptance of her difference. Even though it was clear that he was surprised, it was equally as obvious that he had not been lying when he said he would not be shocked. Therefore, she gestured for him to sit back down on the floor before she wrapped her arms around him. "Ready?" she asked. Immediately after his nod, he found himself in a giant lion hug. After a little maneuvering, they found a position that was actually quite comfortable for them both.
"Well, shit! I thought that I had done it all, but snuggling with a big damn lion is a new one – even for me!" he exclaimed truthfully as he found himself fully reclined on the floor, but so completely wrapped up with the lioness that very little of him actually touched the cold surface. Hermione just snuffled him with her velvety nose before she closed her eyes and drifted off into a warm cat nap.
Another day passed, at least judging by the slightly changing pattern of light and darkness in their cold stone prison. They used their time wisely, however. Whenever they became too cold or tired, Hermione would transform and warm them both with her fur covered body so that they could rest safely. However, for the rest of the time she remained human so that they could talk and plan. She had to admit to herself that despite the physical discomforts of hunger, thirst, and cold; being wrapped in Fury's strong arms made the situation much easier to deal with. Plus, the man was intelligent and fascinating - with a keen mind for strategy that far surpassed even Harry's. She could easily see how he had risen to such an important position…and why his enemies wanted him dead…and for him to stay that way!
At any rate, after much discussion while they huddled for warmth, she had soon not only developed a solid escape plan with him, but also a strong attraction to him! It was true that she really enjoyed the way that his hard body felt against hers. However, she also found that his sharp-edged tongue and personality appealed to her, as well, in a way that no man had before. A diamond in the rough, she could not help to think. She also had reason to believe that he was at least physically attracted to her, as well. Now that they were better able to regulate their body temperatures with the help of her animagus form, she found that even slight movements on her part while she was in his lap as a human could cause some interesting reactions on his side. In fact, Hermione was extremely interested to note that her earlier speculations about the limits of his boxer briefs were proven to be indisputably correct. It was something that was simply impossible to ignore in their intimate position.
In fact, Hermione's imagination ran rampant as her traitorous body wanted to return the sentiment - especially since it would only take a slight shift in position in order to consummate that growing attraction. However, except for one almost desperate-sounding, "Goddamn it, Granger. Be still. You are killing me, Woman!" neither of them mentioned the increasingly intimate situation. It was obviously neither the time nor place for such things. However, as the time went on, it became clearer and clearer that they both wished that it was. Hermione even started to consider what would happen afterwards if…no, when…they escaped. She decided that she definitely would not mind getting to know him better…in more ways than one.
For his part, Fury found himself also developing an alarming attraction to the unusual woman who had spent so much time in his arms for the past couple of days. Even if the feel of her extremely feminine body against his own caused reactions that his considerable self-control just could not handle, he also found that he liked her quick wit and sharp mind, as well. Damn! That woman is scary smart! he could not help but to think as they worked together to formulate their escape plan. The fact that she was a witch, and had an animal form, only added to her intrigue. Also, the more they talked about their lives in order to pass the time, the more he admired her spirit – especially when she told him about the war that she had gone through as a child…and how she had acquired her scars.
Not only did he mourn the loss of her as a potential SHIELD agent even more then, but he also regretted not having met her before on a more personal level. Judging from her stories, she obviously had the experience and inner strength necessary to deal with the kind of unpredictable and dangerous life that he led. That just could not be said of many women...or men, either, for that matter. In fact, for the first time since the fall of SHIELD and his "death," he started to think more about the future...and the possibility that she could be a part of his. At the very least, he definitely wanted to get to know more about this fascinating woman and her world.
Despite their growing attraction to each other, the conditions of their confinement were taking a serious toll on them by what they assumed was the third…or possibly even fourth…day. Even though they no longer suffered as much from the cold, the lack of food…and especially water…was hard on them. They became increasingly irritable and lethargic – even as they held each other closer than before. Hermione mourned the loss of her wand and drove herself crazy with the thought of the Aquamenti spell that was so simple she could have performed it in her sleep – especially since she knew that it would have easily solved their thirst problem. She just could not get it out of her mind and she kept silently repeating the spell over and over again, with many different inflections.
Consequently, after one such repetition, she was extremely surprised when she felt the same tug from her magical core that she did when she performed her animagus transformation. That feeling was nothing, though, compared to the shock that she received when a jet of pure clear water suddenly poured out of the air near her fingertips! She quickly pointed the stream away from them and jumped up to avoid getting Fury wet. The sudden movement roused him, and after a surprised look and Hermione's reassurance that it was safe to drink, Fury took several large swallows of the precious substance before she partook of it herself. After drinking her fill, she muttered a Finite Incantatum, now confident that she could recreate the spell again when they needed it. They both soon felt refreshed after the unexpected treat and grinned cheerfully at each other.
"I take it that you didn't know you could do that?" he asked with a quirked eyebrow as she looked joyfully up at him.
"I've never performed purposeful wandless and wordless magic before. That was fantastic!" she exclaimed. Then, in her excitement, she grabbed his head and pulled him down to hers to kiss him enthusiastically.
