Chapter Text
Thor’s brother was lanky and long-haired, his eyes dark and glaring at them both as Thor tried to negotiate with the police officer to let him go. Bruce was remaining at a respectful distance from it all, not wanting to intrude into something that wasn’t his business. Watching from a few metres away, Bruce saw Thor get angrier than he’d ever seen before.
From here, it was difficult to tell whether he was angry at the police or with his brother; Bruce suspected that it was a little bit of both. Usually Bruce found himself recoiling from people when they were mad, raised voices and harsh tones reminding him a little too much of his father. He’s nothing like my father, Bruce thought of Thor. Even when he’s angry, he’s not threatening. The way Thor’s jaw clenched was almost endearing.
After some short words, the officer seemed to agree to release Thor’s brother, unlocking the door of the police van. Bruce thought that now would be an appropriate time to join them.
“Loki will never do this again.” Thor was talking to the officer, but his eyes were glaring to his brother. “It was just a misunderstanding about what time I was due to come home.”
The officer looked wary but undid the handcuffs all the same.
“I don’t want to hear of any more trouble from you,” he said as he pocketed the handcuffs. “If it weren’t for your brother here, you would have been spending tonight in a jail cell.”
“Oh, believe me officer,” Loki smirked. “You won’t hear of any more trouble from me.”
They remained in silence, no noise but the rain as the officer went to drive away, Bruce giving Thor what he hoped was a reassuring pat on the shoulder. Bruce was a little sad their walk had ended on such a damper, but what mattered the most him was that Thor wasn’t too distressed by his brother.
“Well, are you going to invite me in? I know you love playing in puddles, brother, but I have a certain image to maintain.”
“Does that image include breaking into houses and being arrested?” Thor asked, bitterness in his voice but leading the way to his flat nonetheless.
“I thought that you would like the surprise. I thought it might add some colour to the otherwise bland and grey life you’ve made for yourself.”
“Just because I don’t travel the world with some sugar-daddy twice my age –“
“En Dwi is not my sugar-daddy –“
“- Doesn’t mean I don’t have a good life. Besides, you don’t wear anything that isn’t black, how would you add any colour to my life?”
Bruce felt out of place, hovering behind the brothers at the door. He thought about leaving, but he wouldn’t want to go without saying goodbye to Thor, after all the time they had spent together, and with the two of them bickering, it was difficult to get a word in edgeways.
“Who are you, anyway?” Bruce snapped back to his thoughts as Loki directed a question his way.
“I’m Bruce Banner, I’m, er, Thor’s coll –“
“Bruce is a wonderful professor at the university, do you remember the research I was telling you about, a few years ago, about positron collisions?” Loki raised an eyebrow in response. “He was the lead scientist on that paper.” Thor clasped Bruce’s shoulder fondly. “And now we’re friends.” His eyes scored deep into Bruce’s willing him to know that he hoped that they were more than that. “But don’t change the subject. Why are you here early?”
“En Dwi wanted me to come ahead of him to find a hotel that he’d like. I had thought that you’d be pleased to see me –“
“- I would have been if I hadn’t have had to receive the news that you were here from the police.”
“I’m here now, early and eager to spend some time with my older brother. Why not be civil and show me some curtesy?” Thor looked ready to argue back but then Loki continued. “You are entertaining guests, after all.” He shot a pointed look at Bruce.
“Fine,” Thor conceded through gritted teeth as he finished unlocking his door. “Would either of you like a drink?” His voice was halfway towards friendly.
“Spearmint and Fennel tea, make sure you wait until the water is at eighty degrees before you pour it in,” Loki ordered. Thor huffed at the unnecessary level of detail.
“Bruce? Could I get you anything?”
“Coffee, if that’s okay.”
“Decaf black, no sugar,” Thor noted, remembering Bruce’s preferences. Bruce nodded, chuffed that he had remembered.
Thor motioned for Loki to head to the living room, while he stayed back for little while to talk to Bruce.
“I apologize for my brother, and for myself ignoring you,” he said with earnest.
“I don’t mind.” Bruce tried to put Thor’s mind at ease. “It’s better that it was just your brother and not someone trying to steal from your house. And if he hadn’t come, we wouldn’t have had that walk in the rain.” Thor smiled at that, the water still spilling down his brow.
“I suppose you’re right. I’ll go get us all some towels.”
He walked into the kitchen, and Bruce heard the kettle a moment later. Bruce walked into the living room, a little dubious of Loki, who was eying him slyly from the sofa.
“So, you work at the university,” Loki interrogated.
“Yeah.” Bruce sat down awkwardly on the edge of an armchair. “Mainly in the physics department, with Thor.”
“But you don’t just work with him do you?” Loki’s eyes narrowed. “What exactly are your intentions with my brother?”
Bruce’s mind whirred. Until an hour prior, his interactions with Thor had been a little distant, but now he wasn’t sure how to describe what was going on between them, much less how to explain that to a disapproving sibling.
“Eh, I don’t know if that’s for me to answer,” was all Bruce could manage.
“I’ll get Thor’s side of it later, but it’s more than obvious that you both are sickeningly infatuated with one another.” It is?
“I… I like him.” Bruce didn’t know what to say, whether to deny his feelings to Loki, or tell the truth. He didn’t know whether he could give reassurance that he would treat Thor well: he’d certainly try, but he didn’t have enough confidence in his abilities to say that he’d be a good partner to Thor given that he’d managed to screw up so many of his other relationships. “I care about him a lot.”
Loki looked at him intently, sussing him out.
“What is it that you like about him?”
“He’s kind,” Bruce wrung his hands, feeling awkward. “And smart. We get along well.”
“That’s it? I would have hoped that Thor would have chosen someone a little more keen on him.” Bruce felt his blood heat at that. He was enthusiastic about Thor, he couldn’t get him off his mind.
“He’s funny, and caring, I’m comfortable around him, he’s enthusiastic. He’s –“ There were too many words he could use to describe Thor, but Bruce was starting to get embarrassed. “He’s wonderful.”
Loki gave a hint of a smile.
“Good. Don’t tell him that – it would go do his head and lord knows he doesn’t need that – but I’m glad someone like him for more than just being good-looking.” Bruce tried to keep his expression unfazed; he certainly did like Thor’s body, but it wasn’t the only thing about him. “You don’t seem to be the worst person my brother has ever dragged home, but if it turns out that I have misjudged you, I will ensure you don’t live to hurt him again.” Bruce had a strong feeling that the threat was genuine.
Before Loki could detail the ways in which he would make Bruce pay, Thor interrupted with their drinks.
“Loki, if I find that you have been threatening Bruce…”
“No threats, brother, just promises.”
They continued conversation, a little lighter than before, as they drank their tea and coffee. Loki was to stay with Thor for a week before his partner arrived. Bruce was fairly sure that Loki’s partner was called En Dwi, but he was a bit confused by the two of them occasionally referring to him as ‘the Grandmaster’. From what he could gather, Loki’s partner was very rich and had the eccentricity to match.
Halfway through his coffee, Bruce checked the time and realised it was only a short time before he had to go to a union meeting. He’d forgotten entirely that he had things to do today that weren’t Thor-related.
“I’m sorry, Thor, I’ve gotta head off, I’ve got a meeting in half an hour,” Bruce told them, interrupting an in-depth discussion on the many hairstyles Thor had had over the course of his life.
Thor jumped up off of the sofa to see Bruce out.
“I’m glad we’ve been introduced,” said Loki. “Don’t forget our conversation in a hurry, it was quite enlightening.” That’s not a suggestion, that’s a threat, Bruce understood.
In the hallway, Thor held Bruce back just as he was about to leave.
“Bruce.” Thor looked concerned. “Thank you, for today. For talking to me honestly.” Thor held Bruce’s hands in his. “Keeping me company.”
“I’m glad I did, Thor. Spending time with you is…” He trailed off, not knowing the words, but judging by his smile, Thor took his meaning.
“Did you mean those things you said to Loki? About me being kind and smart?”
“You heard that?” Bruce was a little embarrassed, but he nodded. “I meant it.”
“Talking about me being funny and caring and passionate and wonderful?” Thor’s grin was getting smugger by the second. “Yes, I heard you. I also heard Loki threaten you, don’t worry about him, he’s –“
“- he’s not serious, I know,” Bruce finished.
“Actually, I was going to say that he’s not usually in the country, so you won’t have to worry about it. Otherwise, I’m not certain, but he may be serious.”
“It’s good that your family looks out for you like that.”
Thor laughed.
“That’s one way of looking at it.” He moved his hands to brush Bruce’s wrists, moving up his arms as he spoke. “I think after all that, I owe you a compliment or two.” Bruce opened his mouth to object, but Thor continued before he had the chance “You are clever beyond words and have made me feel more welcome than I could have dreamed. You put me at ease, make me smile.” Thor drew close as his hands reached Bruce’s clavicles, his voice lowering. “You are dashing and handsome.” Bruce would have laughed if he hadn’t been so distracted by Thor’s lips so close to his own.
“I am?” Bruce spoke quietly, his proximity to Thor making him forget to be self-deprecating.
Thor leant down, closing the gap between them, pressing his lips to Bruce’s. It was everything Bruce had been wishing for the past weeks, the pressure of Thor’s lips, the scratch of his beard, the scent and taste of him so close.
The kiss had started softly but as Bruce raised himself up on his tip-toes to get closer, Thor deepened it, carding his fingers through Bruce’s hair and pushing him against the door. Thor couldn’t help but hum in pleasure. How can anyone feel so good? Bruce wondered, committing to memory every press of Thor’s muscles, every stroke of his tongue.
Pulling back, Thor spent a moment breathing, catching his breath, still only an inch from Bruce’s lips.
“Thor,” Bruce breathed, dazed. His back was still flush against the door. “Thanks. I’ve been wanting that since the last time we…” He trailed off. Since the last time I kissed you and then ran off. “Thanks.”
Thor smiled his response.
“My pleasure. I’m only sorry you couldn’t stay longer.” There was a yearning look in his eyes. “Although perhaps, with my brother around, it is for the best.”
Bruce nodded, stepping away from the door so he would be able to open it.
“If you have any free time this week, though, I’d like to see you.”
A smug grin grew on Thor’s face.
“I wouldn’t dare waste that opportunity.”