It was late at night. Well late in the “night” section of the “day" cycle Bruce had created in hopes of creating routine in the ship. In the dead of cosmos, with no star to revolve around, unorganised sleep schedules would create mass disharmony. Whatever help the new God-King needed, Bruce would lend.
With a mournful success, Thor had grown well into his new role. Though Asgard was no more, the people were safe; to eat, to drink and to fight another day. Thor however was not afforded time to mourn, with the new role filling most of his days. With fear growing, Thor had to work harder than expected, the weight obvious as it pulled down the dark blond's shoulders.
Hence why Bruce had to create the cycle. He did more than that, but it never felt quite enough, not enough to calm the new king. Try as the scientist might, the furrow between the god’s eyes never ceased.
But putting all the worry and stress aside, Bruce left his room in the spaceship to go to the main cafeteria, hoping to score some food before he turns in for the “night”. He stalked the metal corridor as he heard his own footsteps echo out into the ship, the only other noise being that of the drunken Asgardians roaming the cafeteria. He couldn’t understand how they found ways to be happy. To persevere. Because living another day means surviving another day. And that means-
“Gotta get outta my room more I stink.” Bruce spat as he caught a whiff of himself as he walked into the main hall leading to the cafeteria. He heard the laughs and music of endeared souls echoing out. These people always fought for happiness. Maybe his human brain wasn’t meant to understand how they could still laugh and dance after losing their home. Maybe it was his human brain.
“Hopefully the new shirt I put on masks it a little”
A familiar booming voice sounded out from behind him “Banner? Who is it you are talking with?”.
“No- it was no one," Bruce tried to push past the embarrassment he felt pool in his gut, "Hello Thor.”
“HAHAHA Banner you are hilarious-" the impact of the back pat Thor so graciously forced upon Bruce made the shorter man surge forward "-Are you headed to the cafeteria?”
“Uh yeah. And stop calling me Banner, we had a super cool awesome mission together, call me Bruce.”
A smile, small and sweet, spread across the god’s face, “Yes, Bruce,” Hearing his name on the other man’s lips had Bruce feeling… odd. These weren’t the beginnings of the odd feelings either. Bruce was tormented daily with them. Whenever the King was anywhere near him, he felt an odd thrum bellow within him. He always ignored it. “May I join you. I find myself particularly hungry when I cannot rest easily.”
Bruce knew Thor, but he didn't need to know Thor to know that look. He'd worn it millions of times before, and probably will until his final days. “Nightmares?”
“Yes. With recent events I find them to be more and more...horrific.” They entered the hall and a few Asgardians waved at the pair. It was an invitation that was quickly yet politely declined, and Bruce's shoulders bunched up together as he strained to think of Thor's gracious love that was held from a distance.
“How about we go eat with the people at the cafeteria, I’m sure it would be good to lay off the king’s crown and drink away the responsibility.” He turned away, not understanding why he didn’t want to see Thor’s face as he chose to leave Bruce.
“I cannot. They need the King of Asgard, not the King of Keg-stands.”
“A rest day doesn't have to be a Keg-stand, it could be a Keg-sit,” Bruce chuckled to himself, then basically snorted at himself as he joked, "or even a Keg-lay"
Many people think Thor had a crude and basic sense of humour. Yet broiling underneath the surface of boisterous laughter and hijinks stormed a sharp and lightning fast wit. "Bruce, your strength lies in you intellect, not your jokes" he said as he nudged the shorter man softly. "pfft whatever I'm funny," Bruce nudged Thor lightly in return, "I'm plenty funny" "Keep telling yourself that" The dark blond man purred, "and if my memory is as good as your jokes are bad, then I would be correct in recalling you spending days awake working on your countless papers and essays. I hear from Brunnhilde that you have begun a new paper as well. What could possibly be so important that you use this spaceship's available resources to document your ideas.”
“She told you about my Bifrost paper. God, she didn’t even want to listen to me about that I’m surprised she even remembered.” They grabbed some beige sludge that resembled oatmeal and a glass of water each, and began their trek back to their rooms.
“You do not get to tell me to rest when you yourself do not allow for rest. Even for others, you sacrifice so much of yourself. I admire that trait about you, friend Bruce.”
“Jeez,” Bruce coughed out an uncomfortable laugh, “Thanks, I guess. Anytime?”
“I truly would not be able to keep my people calm without you keeping me calm.”
“I keep you calm?” Bruce recalled the time when he dropped his food and dropped to his knees and cried for the rest of the day, “I feel like I’m not calm at all.”
“You also believe you are the strongest Avenger, which you are unfortunately incorrect in believing. As I am.”
“Keep telling yourself that,” Bruce just smiled around his glass of water, glancing over to see the warm gaze of the taller man. They spoke softly on their stroll back to their rooms, speaking of many things and nothing at all. Thor had eased up, standing taller, chest puffed out further. Seeing Thor return to himself, even for a moment, brought an almost unfamiliar warmth to Bruce's chest. It wasn't before long that the scientists dorm had approached. “Well this is me.”
Thor looked sad. Solemn to be without Bruce. What a joke. And yet there was loneliness written so blatantly across his face that even Bruce, the scientist without an ounce of social competence, could tell he wanted company.
“Do you… want to come in?” Thor’s tense shoulders dropped with an animated relief, causing a chuckle to bubble out of the doctor’s throat
.
“Oh, thank the heavens you asked-" Bruce smiled as he elbowed the button to open the door "-I was not excited to walk back to my room.” They entered and Bruce felt suddenly was struck by the state of his room. Papers were strewn all over the desk and floors, and shirts and underwear lay on his bed and fell like a stream onto the floor. There were mugs and cups and plates and dishes piling over themselves. He promptly elbowed the door back shut, turning quickly to cover Thor’s vision.
“You know what?" Bruce said, arms slightly raised to obscure, "How about we eat in your room tonight?”
~~~~~~~~~
“Wow, your room is so clean.” (It was standardly clean. Bruce is just a slob.)
“Thank you. I find now more than ever that a cleanroom creates a clean mind." Thor set his food down on his bedside counter, and let out a heavy sigh, "I need that as King now.”
“Shut up about that,” Thor’s shocked face caused Bruce to stumble slightly, “I mean- um- that- forget about the responsibility is what I mean.”
Thor just stood staring blankly at the shorter man and he was deathly aware of the height difference at this moment. Thor stood taller, wider, and stronger than him, and Bruce felt a deep fear of the consequences of pissing off a God-King. And then his face split with a smile. A genuine smile, not like the forced smiles he had worn for the past few weeks. A really happy, really handsome smile. A bubbly laugh bellowed out from his lips and his eyes squeezed shut happily. Bruce was less threatened, letting out a breath.
“I promise to ‘shut up about it’ friend Bruce. If that is what you wish I shall do it.”
They sat together on the edge of Thor’s bed, eating and laughing. Bruce was graced with Thor as a friend and not the King he had been seeing. The mask had fallen off and the light had shone on a face that had lived in the dark for too long. It was a crime to hide it.
It wasn’t an unknown fact; Thor is very good-looking. It's just a fact. He is tall and muscular and nice. He had beautiful eyes- well eye now. But the missing feature did not dull his shine. In fact, it expanded it into a new realm. Before Bruce had thought of Thor as a handsome man before, but now, with the eyepatch, he looked very… stoic. Like a strong warrior, wearing his scars with pride, knowing he has his life and his strength to push him through every struggle triumphantly.
The brunets’ thoughts were concerning him, to say the least. Why am I thinking about him like this, Bruce could barely keep his thoughts at bay. (He couldn’t.)
“Bruce? Are you alright? You seem preoccupied. Are you tired? You can return to your sleeping chambers if you wish”
“I don’t- No I’m- Sorry got caught up in my own thoughts. What were you saying?”
Thor smiled sweetly, “I was talking about how at Tony’s Christmas party and how you-" he paused to poke his pointer finger and twist it playfully into Bruces chest "-never spoke to me. Always skulking away from me. Taking any chance to run the other direction. Was it the garlic bread I would eat? You cannot fault me for the addicting and savoury tastes of cheesy garlic bread."
“What?” It came out more like a laugh than a real question, “No Thor, I’m just- I don’t like parties.”
“You are calm. I understand.”
“I don’t think you do.” A smile played on Bruce’s lips as he got up to place his plate next to Thor’s, “I am anything but. If I was calm at the party, I wouldn’t have every thought in my mind yelling at me to cling to the wall. I’m not calm. The one thing me and the big guy have in common.”
Thor's eyes followed Bruce as he moved around his space and sat down next to the new King, hand popped out between the two for balance, “Even if you are not as calm as you say you are, you calm me, friend Bruce".
Thor reached out and ghosted his hands over Bruce’s hand.
The scientist, who was unaware of Thor's hand, due to his eyes, immediately retracted.
Thor had began to stammer “I- I apologize- I should not have- I- I understand if you wish to leave”
Bruce didn’t say anything. But he silently stood, and moved closer, slotting his legs between Thor’s. He reached down and pulled the Asgardian’s hand into his own. Hesitantly, he cupped the other man's face with his free hand. Thor melted to the touch, sighing wistfully. With eyes closed, he pressed his face into Bruce’s torso, his breath setting the scientist's body ablaze. They stayed like that for a long time. Too long. My legsssssssss.
“Thor, I have to move”
“Please do not leave me Bruce I cannot," the desperation in his plea made Bruce weak, "I need you here”.
“Hey,” Bruce gently shifted Thor’s face so that they were facing each other, “I’m not going to leave you. My legs just hurt. I’m not an Asgardian god, I’m not even an average human. How about we lie down okay?” Thor just nodded. Not letting go he lifted Bruce, laid back, and turned on his side. Bruce now had an Asgardian god locked to his ribs in an embrace. Who was he to try and escape? Not that he would. Not that he could either.
All he could do was run his hands through short dirty blond hair. Bruce thought deeply, of Thor, of Asgard, of Earth. He thought about the vast expanse of the universe. Of alternate realities. Of how in all of the universe and realities, he found himself in this one. A God-King, forged in the fires of war, sporting an eyepatch, was curled around his midsection. So soft and small.
Bruce felt it then. What had been pushing Thor. That small glimmer of hope. A star, burning bright against the empty cosmos.
Like lightning in a bottle.
He’s a lot heavier than I thought he would be.