Chapter 10
Bruce nervously adjusted the fresh pair of glasses resting on his nose as he followed one of his three guards through luxurious hallways that could only belong to a vast castle. The only thing more impressive than the intricate, maze-like architecture was the technology he could only imagine that could produce his frames with his exact prescription so quickly and the magic-repressing cuffs on his wrists, pulsing a light blue against the plain white T-shirt he was given. He was excited at the prospect of magic being real. He wasn’t really surprised that magic existed; he could turn into a giant, eight foot-two, green, gamma-radiation fueled monster, and his closest friend was his colleague who was more iron than man; anything was probably possible given the right conditions. Anything, including him, possibly being engaged to a hot guy named Thor who also seemed to be a prince, apparently.
A pair of large wooden doors with arches at the top was pushed open, revealing the family of four he had seen before, sitting around a rectangular dining room table. Frigga and Odin were at the power ends while Thor and the raven-haired man sat next to each other on one of the sides opposite to an empty chair he supposed was for him.
His guards all bowed, placing a hand over their heart in respect. “The,” there was a momentary pause as the guard in front of him quickly glanced back at him as if regarding what to call him, “former prisoner,” he settled turning his attention back on his royal employers, “your Majesties.”
Bruce quickly bowed too, mirroring the guard's actions, not wanting to be rude or land himself back in a prison cell. He did not belong here.
Odin sneered at him and the raven-haired man raised a skeptical eyebrow, but Thor and Frigga smiled.
“Why don’t you introduce yourself dear?” Frigga prompted.
He readjusted his glasses and straightened his back as his guards peeled away from his side and found a place along the wall next to the freshly closed door. The pet names were definitely a tactic of some sort, challenging his manhood to see what he would do. It was probably best to ignore it. He preferred ‘Hun’ or ‘dear’ as opposed to ‘prisoner’ or ‘monster’ anyway. He forced his hands behind him and wrung his hands together. Tony’s PR manager’s voice ringing in his ear. “Don’t fiddle with your glasses!” He never knew what to do with his hands. “Oh, um,” “No ‘ums!’ and smile!” He gulped down his nerves and gave a nervous, unsure smile. “I’m Bruce Banner.” Was his name enough? That didn’t tell them anything really. They were all staring at him like they wanted him to continue. “I, uh,” he cleared his throat awkwardly, “I’m a scientist-from Earth.” He quickly added, having seen through enough windows to know he wasn’t there. He was transported to another planet. On one hand he was happy that Tony and him had succeeded in making the technology, but on the other, he was pretty sure he had destroyed it when he turned.
Odin scoffed. “Last I checked, scientists didn’t just randomly show up to battlefields and start fighting like seasoned warriors or giant beasts.”
Bruce gulped, squeezing his fingers in his hand. I am Bruce Banner. I am in control. Magic wasn’t what caused his transformation, his heart rate and emotions did. The cuffs on his wrists were useless, but he couldn’t exactly tell them that now, could he? Should he? He took a calming breath. “You-you mean the other guy? Hulk?” He tensed just saying his name, he was back to playing with the rims of his glasses. I am Bruce Banner. I am Bruce Banner. “I, uh, sort-of turn into him when I’m mad.” Shock. Shock and most likely disbelief, riddled with fear. Fear of him. Of what he could become. What he could do. What he had done. “I’m-I’m sorry again for any damages he-I,” he shook his head, “we caused.” He was starting to spiral, back into that little boy he so desperately wanted to escape yet strived to be all at the same time. If only he could be a blissful innocent like everyone else. “We-we never meant to hurt anyone. We never even meant to wind up here!” He flailed his arm, gesturing to the golden accented room. That wasn’t fully true. He pinched the bridge of his nose. “Well, we did, but not here-here, it was more like a scientific mishap. Story of my life really!” He joked. He had to. Jokes were good. Anger and despair? Not so much. No thank you! He should stop talking. He held his breath. I am Bruce Banner. I am Bruce Banner. A pairs to T, C to G, the alpha-helix shows intramolecular bonds between Hydrogen-
“Hun, why don’t you sit down?” Frigga gestured to the open seat to her left.
Was that what motherly concern looked like? His eyes slightly bulged as he let out a long breath. He couldn’t remember what it looked like. He tended to avoid ‘home’ as much as he could. “Are-are you sure?” He desperately searched her kind eyes for any flicker of deceit. He glanced at Odin, surely, he would provide the cold comfort of hate he was so used to. “I-I am a monster. I could go off at any moment.”
“So is my son.” Bruce whipped his attention back to Frigga with open surprise. Frigga pet the raven-haired man’s hand gently resting above the table. “Loki is what we call a Frost-giant. Some regard him as a ‘monster’ too,” she shook her head as a look of disgust played at her delicate features, “but I never liked that word.” She gazed at Loki lovingly. “He is my son and that is that. I wouldn’t change him for the world. I would much rather change the world for him,” she turned her attention back to him, her eyes dulling slightly, but still holding an ocean of empathy that anyone would want to dive into to cleanse their soul, “and those like him too.” A pregnant pause ghosted over the room.
Odin sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration. “Well, boy, it seems my wife has given you an open invitation to our table. Are you going to take it? I would not hold your breath for another one.”
Bruce gulped, then after a slight cautious pause, nodded and quickly took his seat, staring intently at the empty silver plate in front of him with a light blush rushing to his ears. “Thank you.” His voice was breathless and small, just like how he felt.
Frigga brightened and straightened up further in her chair like a proud mother hen. “Of course, Hun! You have such good manners! It’s refreshing! My other son could learn a thing or two from you, he’s been ogling you for quite some time now.” She gingerly patted a crease out of the napkin in her lap as if she hadn’t just dropped a bomb over the table.
He’s been what!? Bruce couldn’t believe his ears as his eyes flashed to the golden culprit in question.
Thor’s face went beat red and his mouth gaped open. “I-Mother!?” He found Bruce’s unexpected shyness and ramblings to be endearing.
Loki giggled.
Frigga batted her eyes, innocently tilting her head slightly to the side, sporting a sly smile. “What?”
Odin sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose once again. “Please, just bring out the food.” He ordered a nearby guard.
Frigga eyed her husband lovingly. It did him good to be a little less uptight. After all, one simply can’t control everything.