Dog Days 2: The Doggening

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

The moment his fiancé entered with a plate that reeked of sharp cheddar and spiced meats, it was all Tony could do to hold himself back from darting out from under the red couch and consummating his demands. He still had his superego past all the screaming canine id.

“For me?” His suit sounded off as it welcomed Thor in in his own voice.

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[st_ormbreaker]

"And no special occasion for it?" he asks, leaning back into the couch. How was it that the cave couch was more comfortable than his own? Thor didn't know. And he didn't know what to think of Tony now, either. Suit aside, he seemed significantly more normal than he had in his messages.

"You know, you can't eat with that thing on."

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

“I’ll get to the food.” His armor placated Thor with a gesture, wandering about his room opposite of the door. Tony stuck his nose out from beneath by an inch, calibrating his body to get from point A to B the quickest way possible.

“It was kind of an excuse—you want any of this, by the way?” It raised a fork, the cheese drawing a sumptuous line between the individual pieces of bacon. Tony caught himself staring, and he grumbled quietly.

[st_ormbreaker]

"Already had some." Thor may have already sampled more than he should have, but Liz had informed him that tasting was an important part of cooking...

So really, he was just following standard cooking protocol.

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

"You could have more." While his armor debated this, Tony was perfectly poised to take off. The was nothing blocking his path, and he'd grown confident enough with his stubby little limbs to make a dignified getaway. Right as his armor approached the couch to offer Thor the plate, Tony darted out from beneath the couch, a blur of brown fur--

--and utter tragedy when the Thanos-roomba sent him head-over-ass when it emerged from its slumber to vacuum up all his shed fluff.

[st_ormbreaker]

Thor's eyes immediately light up at the sight of the dog. Next to snakes, dogs were his second-favorite animal.

And he's seen very few dogs at the inn since he arrived here.

Thor is on his feet the very next instant, and he easily scoops the teeny dog into his arms and holds him up face-to-face so Thor can truly take the sight of this small pup in.

Thor looks over at Tony.

"Why didn't you tell me you got a dog?" Before Tony can answer, he's onto the next question: "Where did you find him? He's so --"

Thor turns his attention back to the pup in his hands and smiles broadly.

"-- adorable and tiny."

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

Dazed by the assault on his person, Tony blinked back dumbly and whined in his throat.

"He's not mine." His armor rubbed it's neck. "It's complicated."

[st_ormbreaker]

Thor's eyes widen with excitement. Obviously, there is one explanation here. Why Tony kept it a secret from him. Why the dog isn't Tony's.

"Is it my dog?"

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

THAT was a question that demanded some kind of answer. Tony's head cleared and his dark eyes darted sideways to fix his armor with a look. It's AI was sufficiently advanced to mimic him, but this was the first time he had to face down his own unpredictability.

"In a manner of speaking."

'Seriously??' Tony's tiny body coiled in Thor's grip, eyes turning back to the man and his enormous grin.

[st_ormbreaker]

Thor immediately pulls the dog into a careful hug, holding it against the front of his shoulder very much one would when burping a tiny baby.

This creature was even smaller than a baby. Perhaps even more fragile than one, too. It seemed like everything on Earth was considerably weaker than on Asgard. Thor doubted there were any dogs or wolves who could only be defeated by being knocked off a waterfall and into the endless abyss of space.

"Thank you," he says appreciatively.

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

"Don't thank me yet." The AI within his suit had the decency to mimic sheepish body language, as Tony himself could not, cradled in Thor's arms. "You're gonna wanna sit down for this one, Hon."

[st_ormbreaker]

Thor does as Tony suggests, settling the dog into his lap. He absently strokes the pup's back.

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

"Okay, uh, just gonna come right out with this one." Iron Man gestured at the stiff pup. "That's me."

[st_ormbreaker]

Thor looks down at the dog.

The looks over at Iron Man.

"What."

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

The armor popped open in short order to reveal nothing but an interior perfectly formed to fit Tony's body.

"Thank Loki."

Tony simply twisted his head to gaze up at Thor with a disarming adorable grin. Welp.

[st_ormbreaker]

Thor stares uncomprehendingly at the empty armor for a few long moments before redirecting his attention back to the dog.

"Did you want this?" he asks uncertainly. Tony's answer will determine his next course of action.

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

"A super-genius gets super bored. What can I say?" The hollow Iron Man pulled himself back together, gesturing to match his off-handed tone. "We get lunch, we shoot the breeze, I ask him to turn me into a dog, then he swoops in while I'm about to fall asleep and I'm in a world where my hair's thrice the size of my body."

Tony just kept grinning and wagging his tail in a bid to keep Thor and his intimidating strength in check.

[st_ormbreaker]

"Loki won't turn me into a dog," Thor says, clearly distressed. He runs a hand over the pup's hair. Thor can't deny that he doesn't mind Tony in this diminutive form.

"How do you like it?"

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

Tony merely yipped in contentment, content to answer for himself this time. His tongue darted out to flatter Thor's hand holding him loosely.

[st_ormbreaker]

Thor smiles at the display of affection.

"I quite liked it, too," he tells him. "Made it much easier to forget the things that are bothering you."

At least it did for Thor. He hopes it's the same for Tony. He could probably use it after the past few weeks.

Or past few months.

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

‘And a controlled way to get the feel for transformation!’ Tony rolled over in his grip, exposing his belly with all of his little limbs curled up in the air.

[st_ormbreaker]

Thor gets the picture immediately and scritches the pup right on the belly.

"Even as a dog you are cute."

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

‘Was there ever any doubt?’ Tony stretched out long, tongue lolling out as he reached his paws as far as they’d go.

[st_ormbreaker]

Thor scritches with more furor, clearly pleased with the pup's reaction.

"How long do you plan on staying like this?"

[st_arkravinghazelnut]

“For however long it stays interesting.” Iron Man piped back up, delivering the plate of appetizing goods to his now-canine half.

Tony grunted in affirmation, opening his mouth to receive a slice of cheesy bacon.

[st_ormbreaker]

"Is that healthy for a dog?" Thor asks. Some might argue that it's not healthy for a human, but with Tony's new, diminutive form, he was concerned that the impact might be much greater than it would be if he were in his normal bipedal form. "I don't want you to get sick."