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‘God. I can’t even see ten feet ahead of me.’ Bruce joked, glancing at Thor who was looking around with a grin.
‘Really?’ Thor asked, scrubbing up his face.
‘Well I’m five foot eight.’ Bruce said, looking back up at the god.
‘What celebration did you say this was again?’ Thor asked just as a group of girls with different shades of orange, white and pink clothes walked by. Everyone was smiling and laughing.
‘It’s pride, Thor. On earth, because we tend to....’ Bruce stuttered. ‘Have relations with the other gender, people can be really mean towards other people who are attracted to the same gender. Or liking all genders. There’s also going from one gender to another, having no gender, having no sexual attraction to anybody, and being a boy and a girl, which I think is called two-spirit in the indigenous communities.’ Bruce listed, counting on his fingers. Thor was listening in rapture.
‘So why are there all these different coloured flags? Is that part of the celebration?’ Thor inquired.
‘Well, there are different flags for each part of the community. Like the rainbow with the black, brown, light blue, light pink and white? That’s like the general pride colour. It started as a rainbow, but then they added black and brown for people of colour and the light blue and pink and white for transgender people. And each colour has a meaning. I want to say red is life and blue is harmony. I think yellow is healing...’ Bruce contemplated. He looked back at Thor, who still seemed invested in his long speech. ‘No that’s orange. Orange is healing. Anyway, so there are different flags for each of the LGBTQA2S+ community. So, those guys over there with the pink, purple and blue flag? They’re bisexual. They are attracted to both genders, girl and boy. And the yellow, white, purple and black flag? That’s a non-binary flag. So that person has no gender. Get it?’
‘Your midgardian customs of celebration certainly are interesting. So people started pride to show their sexuality or gender?’ Thor asked.
‘Yes, exactly. I’m a little surprised you didn’t know this. You’re kind of considered a god of lesbians. You know, girls who like girls.’ Bruce grinned at Thor, who looked surprised.
‘I am?’ He asked. ‘That is excellent! Which flag is it?’
‘You know those girls with the orange, white and pink flag?’ Bruce gestures over to where some girls had the lesbian colours painted on their cheeks. Thor nodded. ‘That’s the lesbian flag.’
‘Interesting! I will protect over my new subjects!’ Thor looked over the crowd. He had a pretty good view, since he was so tall.
‘Maybe don’t call them your subjects.’ Bruce made way for some people strutting the pansexual and transgender flags. They looked slightly (ok, completely) drunk, but they smiled like they were genuinely happy.
As if on cue, a group of girls made their way over to Thor.
‘Oh my god, Thor? You’re the god if lesbians!’ One girl said excitedly, rushing over to him with her friends.
‘So I have been told!’ He smiled. Bruce watched from beside him, letting him fully take the spotlight. Not that Bruce would’ve had much chance to gain the spotlight.
‘Will you take a picture with us?’ Another girl asked, gripping her phone. Her cheeks were smudged with the pride colours, and her phone case had at least ten different pride stickers on it.
‘Of course!’
‘Ok! Awesome! Here, take my flag and just hold it up, ok?’ The girl said, holding up her phone to capture the many girls faces. ‘Say pride!’ She yelled above the din.
They smiled and took the picture. It was met by a chorus of “let me see” “send it to me later”.
‘This is my first pride ever.’ The first girl said to Thor, eyes sparkling with joy. ‘Thanks for making it really cool.’
‘No problems! It was a joy to meet you!’ Thor smiled wildly. The girls walked away giggling and laughing. Thor turned back to Bruce, who was smiling a little but trying to hide it.
‘What?’ He asked, laughing.
‘Nothing! It’s just cute how you took the picture with those girls!’ He finally let himself smile fully.
‘Yes, well, they were very endearing. And enthusiastic! You humans are always so sad and depressed, but everyone here is happy! I like it!’ Thor gestured to the crowd. He still had the flag they had given him on him. Bruce glanced around, seeing if the girls would come back for it. No one did, so Bruce let it go. The sun was beginning to set deep into the horizon, but the night was nowhere close to over. Some people were going to the pride baseball game at the Yankee stadium, while lots of other were choosing to stay out in the streets. Thor and Bruce were planning to go to the game, but that started at 10:00pm and it was only 9:00.
‘By the way, Banner, what is your sexuality?’ Thor asked, looking down at the small scientist, who was fidgeting with his fingers.
‘Um, I’m bi. Bisexual. Like I like both girls and boys. You know?’ Bruce explained, looking up at Thor to see him smiling down. ‘What about you?’
‘On Asgard we don’t discriminate who we love by gender. We just love everyone.’ Thor explained, smiling at the thought of his home.
‘So... kind of like pansexual. You like everyone.’ Bruce sidestepped a dropped hot dog.
‘Yes, I suppose.’ Thor started. After a few moments of silence, Bruce turned to see if Thor was ok. What he saw was a lack of a certain thunder god, and instead a couple gay flags come by him.
‘Thor?’ Bruce called out. ‘Hey, Thor?’
He spotted the god ten feet away, looking around confusedly. The lesbian flag from the girls earlier was still around his shoulders, threatening to fall off. There were lots of people snapping photos of him, bumping into him, apologizing for bumping into him, and then doing a double take.
Bruce wormed his way through the crowd, trying to make his way to the god, who would be a lot easier to get to if he didn’t keep moving. He finally made his way over to him, grabbing his arm to stop him from moving away any farther. Thor turned around, surprised someone was going out of their way to stop him from moving. His face immediately relaxed when he saw Bruce.
‘Banner! Where did you go?’ He asked.
‘I could asked you the same question.’ Bruce smiled a little. It as impossible to stay mad at that literal ray of sunshine called Thor.
‘I think I may have gotten swept up in the crowd.’ Thor shrugged, a smile forming on his lips.
‘Here. Come on, let’s grab something to eat.’ Bruce said, heading over to a couple restaurants. Bruce grabbed Thor’s hand, making sure he didn’t disappear.
Thor tensed for a second, then relaxed. It actually felt nice and protective, having Bruce’s hand in his. He felt himself blush involuntarily.
‘What do you want to get?’ Bruce asked, looking at all the shops.
‘I don’t know your midgardian foods. What do you recommend?’ Thor said, watching some of the floats go by.
‘Um, pizza’s pretty good.’ Bruce rubbed the back of his neck.
Thor squeezed Bruce’s hand as a confirmation, making Bruce blush and look down.
‘Yeah, come on.’ Bruce pulled Thor along into the shop. They weaved through the crowd, Bruce’s grip never faltering. Even when they stepped inside the mostly empty pizza shop, Bruce’s hand never left Thor’s.
‘Um, what do you want?’ He asked, looking around at the menu.
‘I am excellent with anything.’ Thor looked down at Bruce. His curls looked so cute and soft, he just wanted to pet him like a dog.
Bruce took a step foreword so he was just in front of Thor. ‘Um, two slices of cheese pizza. Thanks.’
‘Coming right up!’ The cheery boy behind the counter said.
While they were waiting, Bruce didn’t move from in front of Thor. Thor looked down at the scientist, who he could feel rubbing his thumb over the back of his hand. He glanced down one more time at Bruce before resting his head on Bruce’s curls. His chin was digging into the smaller man’s curls, but instead of feeling uncomfortable it felt really nice. He felt Bruce stiffen underneath him for a second, thumb not running over his hand. A few moments later he felt the scientist relax, his thumb gliding over his skin again. When the boy behind the counter came back, he was smiling with two pieces of pizza in his hands.
‘Hey! That’ll be $11.45, thanks.’ The boy put the pizza on the counter. He was wearing a pride pin on his apron. Thor’s head was still on Bruce’s, and their hands were still intertwined. As Bruce handed over the money, the boy, whose name was apparently Satchel, spoke. ‘You guys make a great couple.’ He smiled.
‘Oh, we’re not a couple.’ Bruce gestured over to Thor. He expected Bruce to slide his hand out of Thor’s, but for some reason he could still feel Bruce’s warm hand in his. If anything, his grip got tighter. Thor did remove his head from Bruce’s, as not to make Bruce feel embarrassed or awkward.
‘Oh. Well, you guys look like great friends anyway.’ Satchel gave a small smile.
‘Thanks.’ Bruce grabbed the pizza, letting go of Thor’s hand. He turned around, Thor following him out the door like a puppy. As they went outside, they sat on a curb with some trees. Thor tried his pizza, marvelling at the taste. They watched the parade go by, all the colours melding together. Some people came up asking for pictures (with Thor or course), or giving them vouchers and business cards. When they had finished their pizza, they got up to make their way to the game. Bruce slid his hand back into Thor’s.
‘We’re never going to get out of this crowd.’ Bruce sighed, his hand now tightly in Thor’s. He could feel the man tense up around all the people. Thor would be lying if he hadn’t said he expected this. He just didn’t think Banner would last so long. Thor looked around, seeing nothing but crowds in front of them. And one small alleyway.
‘Banner.’ Thor squeezed his hand.
‘Yeah?’
‘There’s an alleyway over that way. If we can make it through the crowd, I think we can make it out.’ Thor gestured to their left with the hand Bruce was holding. Bruce nodded, letting Thor lead the way now.
As they weaved their way through the crowd, Thor kept a steady pace of looking back and making sure Bruce was following him. He would grab Bruce’s hand a little harder every time he looked lost. Finally, they made it into the alleyway. As they got out to the crowd, they breathed a sigh of relief. Thor could hear the people shootings, cheering, laughing, but it was all white noise to him as he focused deeply on Bruce, who was still clutching his hand and breathing deeply.
‘Is hulk going to make an appearance?’ Thor asked, looking Bruce right in the eyes.
‘Um, no, I do think so. But...’ Bruce took a deep breath. ‘He almost did. I think he would’ve if you weren’t holding my hand.’ He blushed bright red. ‘Thank you. I don’t think I would’ve managed breaking Harlem and then New York very well.’
Bruce let out a breathy laugh, trying to lighten the mood. Thor smiled a little, not breaking eye contact with Bruce.
‘Thank you for showing me pride. I very much enjoyed it.’ Thor whispered, just loud enough to hear.
‘No problem. We should probably get to the game, though. I know the way from here.’ Bruce started walking, Thor’s hand still in his own. After they walked for a few moments, Bruce let his hand slip out from Thor’s, letting it hang by I’m his side. ‘Sorry for holding your hand.’ He looked down.
‘Why do you apologize, Banner? I actually quite liked it.’ Thor looked over at Bruce, who was trying not to look Thor in the eyes. Sensing his discomfort, he stopped talking. As they walked in silence, Thor started counting the turns they made to keep himself from going crazy. He hated silence.
They went left.
Then right.
Then right.
Then left again.
Then there was a fork in the road. They continued straight.
Then left.
Then right.
Thor eventually broke, taking Bruce’s arm to slip his hand down to hold Bruce’s again. He could feel Bruce stiffen, then relax. He heard Bruce’s breathing even out. As he checked his pulse on his wrist, just in case, it was unusually high. How odd.
‘Banner, are you alright? Your pulse seems to be high. Is your counterpart threatening to come out?’ Thor asked, making Bruce keep eye contact with him.
‘No, I’m fine. Just...’ Bruce looked up at him, then his hand, and then back at him. His big, brown eyes looked vulnerable and nervous. His brain was undoubtably solving quantum mechanics or some mystery of the universe. Thor didn’t think he looked cuter than right then. All of a sudden, Bruce’s hand was out of Thor’s and up in his hair. He was pulled down, Bruce’s lips smashing into his own. His brain shut off almost immediately, and he quickly started kissing him back, unsure of what to do with his hands. Thor didn’t have time to answer that question, though, as Bruce pulled away only a few moments after he started kissing back.
‘Oh my god, Thor, I’m so sorry, oh god...’ he dropped his hands from Thor’s hair, immediately fidgeting with them. A nervous tick.
‘No, Bruce... I liked it.’ Thor wrapped his arms around Bruce’s middle, smirking a little. ‘And what better time to do it than pride?’
He nudged Bruce nose with his own, moving it to the side until he had access to his lips. He bent down fully, kissing him again. Bruce’s hand slid back up to tangle in Thor’s hair, angling his head to deepen the kiss.
There they were, the god of thunder and a man with a gamma radiation induced counterpart, making out in an alleyway as a pride parade went on a couple feet away.
Thor eventually pulled away. ‘Do you want...’ he rested his forehead against Bruce’s. ‘To skip the baseball game?’
‘Yeah, that seems like a pretty great plan.’ Bruce breath hitched. ‘Maybe... we should go back to the tower.’
‘Lead the way.’ Thor said, taking Bruce’s hand back into his own. He pressed one final kiss onto his lips before Bruce started pulling along, making their way back to the tower.
Pride was definitely Thor’s favourite midgardian traditions.