The hulking mass of green flesh before her shook with rage. Hermione could still smell Bruce on him – a gentle cologne, the scent of his shampoo, and a general aroma of herbal tea. The combination of Bruce's relative softness with the Hulk in front of her was dizzying.

She wasn't afraid of the Hulk, but she was afraid for him.

"I'm really sorry," she whispered before pulling her wand from its holster in one fluid motion. "Petrificus Totalus," she tried, to no effect. The Hulk roared and she knew she would have to use something tougher than that. He charged, and she Apparated across the room. "Bombarda," she said, eyes squeezed closed, listening for the sickening crunch she'd grown to associate with the spell.

There was no sickening crunch. "Puny woman stop!" Hulk demanded. "Bad witch!"

"Calm down," she begged. "I won't curse you if you calm down. Red Skull wants you to hurt me. We don't like Red Skull, remember?"

"Hulk hates Skull," he admitted, still on edge. He was flexing his hands, cracking his knuckles, preparing for assault. "Skull hurt Hulk. Skull hurt people," he added. "Where Skull?"

Hermione's lips quirked into a smile. Good. "I don't know, but we should go find him and ruin his day, don't you think?"

The Hulk roared in agreement and Hermione's small smile broke into a cautious grin. "Hulk smash Skull!"

She crept forwards at a snail's pace, careful to avoid booby-trapped tilework. Ahead of her, Hulk had simply leaped over the majority of the puzzle and taken the two bullets for his trouble in stride. She just needed to get far enough across to see the end, then she could Apparate and –

A whoosh of air seemed to lift her from the ground and carry her away. She knew better than to wriggle in its cold grasp; writhing out would only drop her into danger. She had an idea of what had a hold on her, anyways.

"Have you ever heard of warning someone?"

"Nope," came the voice of Tony Stark through a mechanical-sounding filter. "And you're welcome, by the way."

She sighed. "Thanks," she said, feeling like a kitten caught by the scruff of its neck. "Follow Hulk, he's got a lock on Skull somehow."

"That guy scents like a predator. Any chance it's turned you off Bruce?"

Hermione laughed. "Are you saying you're more prey-like?"

He made an indignant sort of sound. "Granger, I could drop you right here!"

When they found him, Red Skull was taunting Steve – Captain America. "None of that matters now. Your little friends are busy killing one another, Captain. There is no one to help you."

"Wanna bet?" Tony asked from the large entryway. Why did evil lairs always seem to have such wonderful aesthetics?

"Hulk smash Skull!" He bounded past them, but Hermione was faster.

Hermione felt Hulk-like herself for the sheer rage with which she attacked. If Red Skull thought he could turn the Avengers against one another that easily, he had another thing coming. "Bombarda maxima!" she cried, throwing the husk of a man across the room.

Hulk bounded over to him and grabbed him by the feet. "Let me down, you fool!" Skull demanded to no success. Hulk swung him in a neat arc through the air and Hermione looked away.

There was that sickening crunch.

"Hulk, stop!" Captain America commanded. Only he would keep his worst enemy safe from the Hulk.

"Captain, if you keep letting him get away…" Tony trailed off.

Hermione was inclined to agree with whatever threat Tony was about to make. Steve needed to decide whether he wanted to take Red Skull in or not. It was like a terrible version of 'will they, won't they.'

An arm snaked around her from behind. "You okay?" Bruce whispered in her ear, and she nodded, leaning back into his chest.

"Just frustrated," she murmured.

"I think we all are. Come on, let's leave them to it."

Steve and Tony, arguing as they were, didn't notice Hermione and Bruce slip out of the room after the rest of the team.

"Ice cream and a movie?" Clint suggested. He always wanted to watch a movie after a big fight.

Hermione sagged into Bruce again and shook her head. "I think I just need a nap."

"You two are disgusting," Clint decided, but he waved them away with little fanfare.

Their hands tangled together on the walk to her room and Hermione stopped Bruce to look him directly in the eyes. "I'm sorry I tried to curse you earlier."

He just cocked a smile. "I'm sorry it didn't work."

A/N: I'm not totally sure I like this, but here it is anyway.