"Hungry?" Harry asked. Loki flinched, his eyes snapping open. Harry pushed a plate of food toward him; bangers and mash, stolen from the helicarrier mess.

"You," Loki said, his voice flat. Harry smirked and bit into his own sandwich, leaning back against the warded glass.

"Me."

Loki eyed the food warily, but seemed to deem it safe enough to eat.

"They haven't fed you at all, have they? That definitely violates a few of their laws."

Loki ate the food with grace. He didn't take his gaze off Harry. "They have not," he said. "I don't require as much sustenance as a human nor as frequently, but I do require some."

Harry hummed in agreeance. He snapped his fingers and a pitcher of water appeared, with one glass.

"Thank you." Loki poured himself a drink. "I take it that the surveillance in here is no longer working?"

Harry laughed. "Actually, it is. I've just fiddled with a few minds so that they won't notice anything's wrong until I've gone."

Loki narrowed his eyes, then looked up toward the camera. "Next time, I'd like some mead to go with my meal," he said, obviously addressing his captors.

"If you want proper beer, you're better off going back to Germany." Harry extended a hand, which Loki stared at.

"The stench of death is heavy on you," Loki said, and sniffed, looking away. His shoulders were tense, however, belaying his nonchalance.

"Rude." Harry got to his feet. "See if I feed you again."

"Hopefully," Loki drawled. "You won't have to."

Harry snorted a laugh. "I like you. More so now you're not entirely mad." He captured Loki's jaw between thumb and forefinger, his skin cold to touch, and Loki froze. "Tell me, did Thanos have you for long?"

Loki closed his eyes. "It felt like years," he whispered. "But also, I tumbled through abyss of space for what I thought was an age. I'll never know."

Harry release him and stood back, running a hand through his hair, wondering if the fall from the Bifrost had allowed Loki to get tangled within the fabric of spacetime. Perhaps he really had spent an age plummeting through the cosmos, only to be rescued by one who would become his tormentor. It was certainly a possibility.

Perhaps the Ancient One's advice was to be taken and caution exercised.


For a woman not even thirty, Hermione Granger was incredibly accomplished, with a doctorate in Mechanical Engineering, another in International Relations and a degree in Law in the works. Natasha knocked on the door of her townhouse, not one Granger would have been able to afford on a student salary, yet somehow, she had. Wealthy parents, Natasha suspected.

Granger opened the door with a bemused smiled upon her lips. She was wearing jeans, with a university hoodie thrown over the top, declaring that she'd attended Oxford. Her feet were bare, her toes painted red.

"Hello? Can I help you?"

Natasha held up her CIA identification badge. "Doctor Hermione Granger? My name is Agent Romanov and I was wondering if I could ask you a few questions about a person of interest that I'm investigating."

To Natasha's intrigue, Granger narrowed her eyes and took the offered badge, inspecting it thoroughly. Only once she was satisfied did she move from the door and return the ID.

"Certainly. Please, come in."

Natasha followed her into the house. It was pleasantly decorated in neutral tones, with a distinctly utilitarian feel to it. Granger showed her to the lounge, shutting the door to a study just off the side of the main room. From what Natasha had glimpsed, the walls of the study had been covered in bookshelves and the desk cluttered with paperwork, a far sight from the rest of Granger's clean and tidy home.

"Can I get you a drink? Tea, coffee?"

"No, thank you," Natasha replied. She opened the folder she'd brought with her and withdrew a picture of Harry from within. Granger frowned, her brows drawing together. She obviously recognised him.

"I was wondering if you could tell me anything about this gentleman?"

Granger took the photo. "I've seen him around the area a few times, most frequently in a café about ten minutes' walk down the road. He watches me, occasionally. I figured he was working himself up to asking me out on a date."

Natasha said nothing. Granger seemed to be telling the truth, but Natasha felt certain that she was missing something.

"What's he done to warrant this level of attention?" Granger asked, tucking an errant lock of curly hair behind her ear as she looked up.

Natasha retrieved the photograph, tucking it away. "I'm afraid that's classified. Is there nothing else you can tell me about him?"

A peculiar smile played across Granger's lips. "He always orders a black coffee and a slice of chocolate cake."

"It seems like you've been watching him too."

Granger shrugged. "I have an excellent memory and an eye for detail."

"I see," Natasha said. "Well, if you think of anything else, please don't be afraid to get in contact." She handed over a business card.

"And if I don't think of anything else?" Granger asked. Her gaze was heated, but not unwelcome. "May I get in contact regardless?"

Natasha blinked in surprise, at both herself and Granger. Granger was shamelessly appraising her and Natasha realised she'd done the same the moment Granger opened the door.

"I can't say I'd object," she said cautiously.

Granger's brown eyes gleamed with delight. "Excellent. I suspect you'll be hearing from me, then." She walked Natasha to the door.

"It was a pleasure to meet you, Agent Romanov."

"And you, Dr Granger," Natasha replied and left in a state of mild shock, wondering what the hell she'd just committed to.


Harry returned to Loki's cell a few days later. It had been transformed in the time he'd been gone. Loki had a cot and a waste bucket and there was a tray with leftovers from a meal upon it. He was sitting on his bed, reading one of the two books it seemed he'd been supplied with; War and Peace.

Loki didn't flinch upon Harry's arrival, but his muscles tensed. He didn't look up. "You're back."

"Evidently." Harry conjured himself a squashy armchair and settled into it with a sigh.

Loki huffed and snapped his book shut. "Can I help you?" he asked imperiously.

"Oh, certainly," Harry said. He smiled to himself, faintly amused.

They sat in silence, and first seconds, then minutes passed. Harry was perfectly happy to sit there for hours, the serenity of one who knew he had all the time in the world, but he suspected Loki was far too impatient for that.

"Fine," Loki snapped eventually. "What can I help you with?"

"Many things," Harry said airily. "Had second thoughts on that trip to Germany?"

"No," Loki said and that was that.

Harry summoned himself a book and began to read; Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None. It was one he'd read many times before and was relaxing in its familiarity. After a while, Loki took up War and Peace and joined him. He occasionally glanced at Harry, but was beginning to relax in his presence. Harry was absently keeping track of time and eventually someone entered the cell to clear away Loki's tray and replace it with another. They didn't so much as glance at Harry, which was exactly how he intended it.

"Your powers are impressive," Loki said, sometime later. Harry placed a bookmark between the pages of his book and shut it.

"Of course," Harry said with a grin. "I was once a wizard, and used magic long before any of this happened." Harry gestured vaguely at himself, but he could tell Loki understood.

"A human wizard?" Loki said sceptically.

"Yes," Harry said. "But not of this universe." He thought he sounded faintly wistful, and he was. "The Infinity Stones are just the cherry on the top."

Loki stood and began to pace. Harry watched him with his fingers steepled, radiating a faint aura of amusement.

"What do you want of me?" Loki sounded weary, but his gaze was fierce.

"Your company, of course, and I suppose eventually, your trust." Harry smiled, even as Loki shifted uncomfortably.

"The former is yours to take." Loki gestured at his cell. "But the latter… you may never earn."

Harry got to his feet, armchair vanishing as he stood. He winked at Loki, who pursed his lips in disapproval. "I'll be the judge of that. Farewell."

"Until the next time," Loki muttered.

Harry grinned. "Indeed."