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Chapter 10

As Fury turned away from Natasha, Bruce walked to the supply closet where Fenrir was frantically pawing at the door. Bruce looked around and saw that Natasha had resumed her spot next to Clint. Bruce fiddled with his hands in indecision before taking another step closer to the door.

"Hey, easy buddy," he murmured through the door, resting his hand on the knob. "I'm going to open this door. Okay buddy? Nice and slow."

Bruce turned the knob and opened the door a crack, making soothing hushing noises as the door opened wider. Fenrir hunched to the ground, staring up at Bruce with startling blue eyes, before running to the back of the closet. Bruce looked up and saw that the shelves were nearly ripped off the walls, boxes were torn to shreds and bandaging tape was unraveled and rolled around the room.

"Having fun?" Bruce asked the glowing eyes softly. He squatted in the doorway and put his hand out and clucked with his tongue. He loved animals and he'd had plenty of experience with strays in the past and he was sure he'd earn this animals trust, Loki's child or not.

"Come here boy." Fenrir inched closer, large eyes never straying from Bruce. Bruce rubbed his fingers together and glanced away, making reassuring clicking and humming noises. Fenrir took a few more steps closer, belly scrapping the floor, and touched Bruce's fingers with his nose. Fenrir gave a small lick as his tail thumped against the floor.

"There's a good boy," he said happily, opening his hand, palm up. Fenrir scooted closer and sniffed the new flesh before shoving himself against Bruce's hand. Bruce ran his hand over the massive head, letting his fingers part the thick fur. Fenrir stretched his neck, reaching up and licking the underside of Bruce's chin, bringing a grin to the man's face.

Slowly, as to not startle the pup, Bruce sank to the floor, crossing his legs and leaning against the door frame. Fenrir squirmed onto Bruce's lap and sat his head on Bruce's knee.

"Good boy," Bruce cooed reassuringly, taking Fenrir's head in both hands and massaging the scalp and ears. Fenrir's eyes closed in pleasure and he let out a throaty hum. Bruce cleared his throat and Fenrir cracked an eye open at him.

"Do you –er –want a story?"

He wasn't expecting an answer, he was just asking because what if Loki was telling the truth and this was his child? Bruce could remember his childhood vividly and all his best nights were when his mother would sneak into his room, wipe his eyes and hold him close, telling him fairytales until he fell asleep. He didn't have very much interaction with children, and when he did they had a morbid fascination-type of fear of him, but he liked to think that maybe he could give Loki's son a restful night after a fearful day.

Fenrir seemed to understand his question; he raised his head and his tail thumped hard against his leg.

"Oh, okay. Once upon a time," did stories still start with that? "There was a monster…"

Bruce went on to tell the story of a being who was both monster and man; a being who desperately wanted love and affection, despite knowing he didn't deserve such things because of the monster.

Fenrir fell asleep with the thought of his mother drifting in his head.

The slam of doors jerked Fenrir out of his warm sleep. Bruce stood and looked around the door. Six men and one small lady dressed in similar armor to Thor's stood in the doorway of the hospital room. Natasha looked over to Bruce and stood, arms crossing over her chest.

"Can I help you?" Her strong voice carried over to the men and they looked over at her. Clint was asleep behind her and she shifted her body so she blocked him from their view.

"We need the Prince's spawn." The middle one answered gruffly. Bruce took a step farther into the room. His movement caught their attention but they quickly looked back to Natasha when she started speaking.

"Yeah, well I'm under strict orders so no one is to touch the kid."

"Your Midgardian orders matter not. By the express command of the King, I order you to release the spawn into our custody."

"Clearly you don't know where you are or who we are. I said that child is not leaving these rooms." One of the men stepped toward her and Bruce stepped toward them.

"Don't think about it," Bruce said loudly and Natasha sent him an annoyed look but Bruce didn't care; the oaf had stopped advancing toward Natasha and had redirected his attention to Bruce.

"We will not harm the Midgardian maiden," the lady answered. Her voice was high and her blonde hair was tied tight to her head. Calmly she reached into the bag she had strung across her chest and pulled out a book. Natasha and Bruce shared equal looks of surprise and caution. Natasha's eyes narrowed on something behind Bruce and he glanced behind him and cursed softly. He'd left the closet door open and Fenrir was slowly creeping out. The man closest to Natasha saw the movement and suddenly Natasha was on him, kicking and punching anywhere she could.

She took him down easily and two more dove into her attack. The three remaining men turned to Bruce and he rolled his shoulders, wishing he could've taken off at least his shirt before letting the carefully controlled anger overwhelm his limbs.

The small Asgardian woman flipped open the book and began a soft-spoken chant. Natasha felt her vision go blurry and her arms grow heavy. Her dance around the two Asgardian men grew slow and sloppy. She thinks she called out as blackness drifted across her sight but the next thing she knew, gentle hands were gripping her arms and she felt a soft, warm pressure against her side and she was gone.

Bruce heard Natasha shout something indistinguishable and the Hulk shoved against his consciousness. The familiar pain cut across his body as his muscles tore and grew, his spine snapped and elongated, and his skin changed like that of a chameleon. His clothes ripped apart as the Hulk roared and Bruce managed to see the Asgardians flinch at the noise before chanting entered his brain.

Suddenly he was cloaked in pain as the Hulk was forcefully pushed back. He cried out and the Hulk shoved back, restarting the transformation; but the chanting grew louder and Bruce collapsed in a tired, naked, human heap on the cold floor. Bruce groaned and gripped his head, rolling onto his knees. The three Asgardians walked past him toward Fenrir, who was cowering on the floor, pressed as close as possible against the wall. Bruce saw them through a haze and he pushed himself up onto shaky legs.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you," Bruce said. His voice was gravely and soft, not nearly as intimidating as it should've been. One reached down and gripped Fenrir by the scruff of his neck and hoisted him in the air. Fenrir yelped and the other two chuckled.

"Are you going to stop us?"

Bruce could feel the Hulk, pushing and growling and ripping at his consciousness, trying unsuccessfully to get out. Bruce was suddenly doubled over in pain as his head felt like it was being split into two. They walked past him again and Bruce reached out. He wasn't sure what he expected, but feeling a cool somethinghit his hand was a surprise.

With sudden energy he wasn't aware he possessed, Bruce jumped up, hitting and throwing the Asgardians with a force equal to the Hulk.

Within minutes, all seven Asgardians were unconscious on the floor. Bruce's legs finally gave out and he fell heavily to the ground. His eyes drifted closed as Fenrir jumped to him and pressed to his side. Bruce cracked his eyes, taking in the form of the dark wolf-child by his side and the silver hammer in his grip, before surrendering to sleep.

So.. Bruce lifted Mjolnir.. Hope this didn't make anyone too upset but I liked the idea so I ran with it.. Tell me what you think:)