After Skuld vanished, the world leapt back into motion with startling swiftness. Loki noticed that she hadn't answered all of his questions, or hinted at how Book becoming a giant wolf was remotely useful to any of them. That she had been pleased at this turn of events was clear.
Book, however, was not. The moment he'd realized Skuld was gone, his full attention returned to Loki, clearly having decided that this was all his fault.
Typical. He endured the damp, moonlit miles back to the cabin as Book alternated between seething silence and detailing what a horrible individual Loki was. He peppered these stretches with questions, many that Loki was either unable or unwilling to answer. No, he didn't know if Stark was all right; he wasn't sure exactly why this happened; no this wasn't some twisted plan; of course he understood Book; no this wasn't because he hadn't been loved enough as a child.
Neither were particularly happy with the other's company by the time they approached the lodge, the new sun at their backs. It seemed the rest of the Avengers had beaten them back if the vehicles parked in front of the house were anything to go by. The fine gravel beneath their feet crunched loudly in the morning stillness. Both of them were damp with dew, Loki's shoes soaked all the way through. Despite the vigorous walk his feet were freezing—it would seem even a Jotnar didn't find damp socks pleasant. A haze of water beads coated Book's muzzle where his breath had condensed, and his shaggy coat was streaked with dark patches from pushing through brush and squeezing along narrow paths.
Flares of morning light slanted off the windows and lights still glowed on either side of the large double doors. Loki paused as he realized the crunching of gravel had grown softer. He turned to find Book hanging back, shoulders hunched and head lowered warily. Loki glanced from the door to Book. He huffed lightly.
"They're not going to stuff you," he said.
The wolf glared. One paw clawed nervously at the earth and he looked away. And if I killed Tony?
"I imagine a party would be in order."
Book offered a short, low growl of disapproval.
Loki sighed and rolled his eyes with a touch of dramatic flair. "I can promise you that we will have the joy of further enduring Stark's company." He gave a hint of smile. "As he convalesces. Can you imagine how irritating that will be?"
A snort of suppressed laughter.
The crunching began again as Loki headed toward the house. It only took a brief hesitation before a second set of footsteps joined his. As they entered the lodge, Loki held the dark-paneled door for Book to enter, nails clicking over the flagstone entryway. Voices came from the great room. Again, the wolf hesitated.
"Shall I go first?" Loki asked.
Book's ears angled back in unease. He nodded, somewhat reluctantly.
"Very well." Leaving Book in the hall, Loki headed down the darkened corridor and emerged into the vaulted light of the great room. All Avengers were present sans Stark. Thor, never one for being still, paced the length of the room while Bruce sat on the stairs and nursed a mug of coffee, eyes dark with lack of sleep. Rogers leaned against the fireplace, staring out the vast expanse of glass to his right into the still twilight shrouded trees. On the couch, Clint slumped against Natasha's shoulder, mouth slightly open in sleep.
Bruce saw him first, silently rising to his feet. Sensing the disturbance, the others turned as well. Natasha nudged Clint. Eyes, clear of any trace of sleep, snapped open and the archer took in the room at a glance. When he realized all was well, his pose relaxed a bit and he stretched broadly, rolling out his neck.
"Well?" asked the archer, a touch bleary now that there was no active threat.
"I was successful." Loki paused and reconsidered. "After a fashion."
"And that means what, exactly?" asked Barton.
Rogers stepped in before Loki could answer. "Where is Book? Is he okay?"
Loki indicated behind him with an inclination of his head. "Here, and well."
Leaving his mug on the table, Bruce started forward, "I should examine him."
"You're sure he's fine?" asked Clint.
Loki nodded. Without turning he called for Book, watching the Avengers' faces. He could tell the moment Book entered the room just from the shift in expression. Natasha was, not surprisingly, the subtlest reaction, cocking her head and pursing her lips—she might have worn the same expression when finding her keys in an unexpected place. Banner took off his glasses and slowly cleaned them with the corner of his shirt while Steve took a step forward, clearly surprised.
Clint shook his head slowly. "You and I have very different definitions of 'fine'."
"Brother, is it Book?" asked Thor.
"In mind, if not in body." Loki smiled as the wolf padded forward meekly.
The others crowded a bit closer, but still left a fair bit of space between them and the wolf.
He raised his eyes to Loki. Ask them if Tony is okay.
"If I must." Loki grinned at the confused look of the Avengers—Thor was less surprised that Loki was able to understand Book. "He wants to know if he succeeded in ridding the world of Stark."
"Tactful," breathed Widow.
Bruce smiled and shook his head. He ran a hand unconsciously through his hair. "Tony's fine. Nothing too horribly deep and Steve got him here quickly. I picked out the shrapnel and cleaned him up. He's sore, but that's to be expected. He should be resting now."
"Which probably means he's planning his escape as we speak," said Natasha.
The entire group smiled, but Loki knew the comment had been meant for Book. It worked. Some of the tension eased from the boy's shoulders, though he still refused to look up.
Tell them I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt anyone. He paused and steadied himself, soldiering on resolutely. They can lock me up now.
Of course that was what Book would think, that he ought to be locked up so he didn't hurt anyone else. Loki relayed the message.
"I don't think that will be necessary," said Rogers kindly.
The wolf's head hung low, his drooping tail giving a fitful wag. Bruce was the first to approach, crouching a bit so he could look the boy right in the eye. The doctor reached out and gently patted his patient's head. Understanding shone in his eyes. "You're a lot cuter than I am when I have a bad day."
"He wasn't earlier," muttered Clint.
Loki wished he still had a shred of magic to fling at the archer.
"We're glad you're back," the doctor ruffled Book's fur and was rewarded by a hopeful tail flick. Bruce stood, scratching idly at the back of his head. "Will this wear off?"
"In all likelihood."
"Likelihood? You turned the kid into a giant freaking wolf! Which by the way is so much cooler than a house cat," said Clint.
Book snuffed in agreement.
"What I mean is that I have no point of reference—to my knowledge this has never happened before," he held up his hands to stop the brewing questions, "but it is not uncommon for the initial shift to overwhelm the shifter. Much as it did with me. Eventually the rational mind surfaces and then he should learn to reverse the process."
Silence fell as every person latched onto the one word of uncertainty—should. Though no one would voice it, each wondered if Book would ever regain human form. Steve wasn't sure what would be worse—to be trapped still thinking in a beast's body, or to slowly lose all rational thought. Natasha acknowledged the attack scenarios that would be needed if Book lost control again. She knew her twinge of guilt at so easily—and quickly—strategizing ways to kill this child didn't show on her face. Clint wasn't quite that good and hid his similar discomfort by adjusting his wrist guards. He knew exactly which arrows he would need, and where to put them if Book went rabid.
"I still do not fully understand what has happened," said Thor—either oblivious to the concerns of his teammates, or too at ease with people turning into monstrous creatures to be phased by it. Just another Tuesday in Thor's world.
"Second that," said Clint as he dropped onto the back of the couch, one leg dangling, the other pressed against the arm rest.
Turning reluctantly to Loki, Book cocked his head in question.
"You could not hope to understand what has happened on a magical level, but in simple terms…"
"Yes, let's keep it away from magical techno-speak," said Clint.
Bruce smiled in a quiet self-amused way. "Actually, I'd like to hear details."
Clint rolled his eyes, and Thor clapped Bruce on the shoulder. "I imagine you will have your wish at a later time. My brother likes nothing more than to discuss magic at length."
"If I may?" He waited for a moment to make sure his audience really was done interrupting him—and one another. He turned his attention back to Book. "My knowledge is incomplete, and this is something new in the annals of magic. But it would seem the blood magic was to blame." He gestured at Book. "Most of his blood is actually mine. Blood is life, it is magic…" he glanced at Banner as he remembered their conversation that first day by Book's bedside, "it is self. With the raw life and power of the ritual, I saved Book's life. I had nothing to offer but the life in my veins and I didn't know exactly what it would do."
Clint's disgust was evident. "You didn't know?" He scoffed. "Why am I not surprised you didn't think about the consequences."
Something feral broke from Loki's grasp and savage words tore from his lips before he could stop them. "I didn't care about consequences!"
The Avengers all stiffened at the sudden burst of rage. Loki smoothed back the mask of composure. He was becoming lax. Unintended emotional outbursts were really more Thor's area. When Loki gave vent to sudden storms of emotion it was because he allowed it to happen. Few were the times when something slipped beyond his control without his permission.
And now Thor was giving him a look of warm understanding. Loki huffed. Understanding was not a look the oaf wore well.
Banner cleared his throat. "So it was more than a simple blood transfusion. Which would of course explain the fact that his shredded heart was somehow keeping him alive. But I don't fully understand the physical manifestations." He gestured at the very visible streak of black fur on Book's forehead.
Loki tilted his head back in thought as he searched for the correct words to express a process he didn't fully understand himself. "The blood magic kept him alive and also sought to correct the damage. It used the echo in my blood as a template."
Banner appeared to process this, clearly filing away notes and questions for later. "So…it was starting to rewrite his DNA to copy itself? Like a virus?"
"Appropriate," snorted Clint. Natasha flicked him upside the head. He winced.
"And because you're a shapeshifter…he's a shapeshifter," said Rogers, connecting the pieces.
"It seems rather sudden," said Natasha. "All these weeks and then…"
Book whined in agreement.
"The traits lay dormant, hidden in the background. I imagine he would have had nothing more than a scar and some coloring changes from me if we had not awakened those abilities."
"As he healed, his own blood would have diluted out and replaced yours," mused Banner.
Loki inclined his head.
"But we woke them up. Like a condition not flaring up until the body is stressed," said Rogers. The room turned to look at him with mild surprise. He smiled slightly "I used to know all about the joys of many medical conditions before," he gestured at his impeccable form, "before all of this."
Banner was nodding. "I've seen the records…I'm not really sure why you were leaving the house."
I didn't try to do this! Book jumped in, one paw digging at the floor in frustration. Loki relayed his message.
It was Thor who answered, kneeling down next to Book and laying a hand gently on his head. "This is a not a learned skill, it is one you are typically born with—instinct is all it takes. You were angry and frightened and you wanted to lash out."
"He managed that," said Loki dryly, clutching at his arm.
"I know the feeling," said Bruce.
"So it takes no conscious effort?" asked Natasha.
Thor shook his head. "Loki's first transformation was very much an accident, and he was a young child at the time."
Loki gave a nasty smile, voice soft with a sliver of steel in it. "Oh, I was more prodigious than that. I managed my most successful change when a mere three days old."
Though clearly intrigued, the Avengers let Loki's comment slide, the bitterness in it warning them away. It was a warning that would have been completely lost on Stark, and Loki was grateful that the inventor chose to stagger in just after that particular comment. Rumple-headed and shirtless, he blinked dark-rimmed eyes at the group. In the center of his chest, the arc reactor glowed strongly amidst a swath of bandages and thick gauze pads strapped to his torso.
"You're not supposed to be up," said Bruce, immediately rising to his feet.
Tony just flapped his hand at him. "I'm not supposed to do a lot of things—do 'em anyway. It's kind of my thing." He slid over to the wet bar and plucked out a bottle, pouring two tumblers full of amber liquid. Grabbing the bottle and both glasses he made his way—a bit unsteadily—to the couch, passing Loki's spot in the corner. He paused and deliberately set a glass in front of the haggard looking trickster. "You're bleeding on my floor."
Loki glanced down at the splattered droplets of red and then back up to the red soaked remnants of his sleeve. It seemed his wound had reopened. "Ah."
"Bit of salt paste and lukewarm water," said Natasha. "Takes the stain out."
"Don't want to know why you know that," muttered Steve.
Bruce was suddenly in front of Loki and rolling up his sleeves. "Let me take a look." He ignored the fact that Loki flinched a bit as he peeled the shirt out of the gumming wound. He squinted at the gashes and hummed in contemplation. "You have just earned yourself a set of stitches." Bruce sighed and pushed off of his knees as he stood up. "I'll meet you in the kitchen."
Incredulity flashed across Loki's face. "You?"
"Weren't planning on doing it yourself were you?" Bruce asked. He squinted at his patient, "You were…well how about you let the person with two good hands take a stab at it. I promise I'm way gentler than the other guy."
Loki managed a wan smile that didn't reach his eyes. "One would hope."
A/N: I don't know why I keep giving myself characters that have to communicate largely through body language…but I do. At least Book has ears and a tail to convey his emotions.
I've always held to the theory that Loki was the one who shapeshifted as an infant and it was this that spurred Odin's idea to take him back home with him because he looked just like an Aesir baby. I know others think Odin was the one to force Loki into the change, but I think it unlikely that even Odin would see this Juton infant and immediately think, "I'm gonna shapeshift the kid and take him home as my own." Far more likely that Loki did it instinctively and that Odin then "locked" the shift in until it kind of "took."
So hopefully this explained what was going on with Book without being too boring. Now Loki just needs to try and get the poor kid back to the way he was. If it's even possible.
Next Week: Exhaustion sets in and Book and Loki have to start trying to come to terms with what has happened and the revelations that have been made.
RedHood001: Yeah, with a title like "Monstrous Purpose" there was no way I wasn't going to play with that 😊. And my gracious? A mini-Loki? I don't think the world is ready for this!
The Destroyer of Fate: We'll have to see exactly what Skuld's plan is for poor Book, but if there is any truth to the myths…
Molleyn: Thank you! I like it when a story can be enjoyable and yet deal with deeper themes. As the head of my thesis committee always said, "elevate the genre!" I particularly find the themes of redemption and forgiveness interesting ones to explore. The situation in this story has proved difficult to deal with in some ways since I am a sucker for a good redemption story, but it has to be natural and realistic for the character (and let's face it, Loki is the kind of character who is constantly making choices that he shouldn't make), and the reactions of the others have to be realistic as well—to say nothing of trying to balance forgiveness with the very real crimes Loki has committed.