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Hulking out was the worst. Bruce hated it. Sure, he and Hulk had a fairly stable relationship at this point. Being cooped up togerher does that to you. But a bond didnt stop the pain that shot through Bruce's body whenever Hulk decided he needed to make a surprise appearance.
He also found it embarassing in public, which was weird for him to say considering he looked like walking shame constantly. But the fear in people's eyes the moment his body begins to turn, the mixed noises of screaming and panic, the fact that the other avengers didnt even know how to deal with it so often just let it happen. He felt like a freakshow more than a person.
So thats why he was cooped up in his room. Breathing sharp. Muscles tense. Sweat beading off his aching body. Hulking out could take a while, the longest hed ever experienced being around ten minutes. He didnt enjoy fighting it either. Fighting hulks need to see the sun or the rain felt wrong to him. But this was different. He didnt NEED protection. It was their fault. And he was the one forced to face consequence.
"BANNER?! WHERE IS BANNER?!" Thor was running around like a headless chicken. All he heard was the argument. The slammed doors. The "i dont want to see you again". He didnt really care about all that though. He wasn't a fan of getting involved in arguments that werent about him, especially petty squabbles about some "new laws" or "papers to sign".
The issue he did have was how it affected his closest friend (and complete crush, but he wouldnt admit that) Bruce. He'd learnt very quickly his friend was sensitive to loud noise; his booming voice made poor Bruce flinch and the thunder he created often had him hiding out of fear. And this was more than what he could ever do.
"BANNER!" His search was turning up fruitless. He'd searched every room, every floor, he even began looking in the cupboards until he realised that'd be fairly stupid (although he did wonder if Bruce could fit into one considering his tiny frame). There was only one room remaining and Thor didnt know if he could do it. Bruce was very strict on people entering his space and Thor didnt want to break his sanctuary. But the fear began getting the best of him as he pulled back his hammer and-
CRASH.
The door was thrown off its hinges easily. Thor didnt really care. He peeked in and his eyes locked onto the absolutely petrified Bruce.
"Banner!" His voice softened significantly as he rushed over, dropping to his knees to comfort his friend. Bruce didnt respond, lightly pushing himself further into the corner and pulling his hands closer to his heavy chest.
"N-no.. go.. you.. you go.." his speech was beginning to struggle as his brain felt physically disconnected from his body, the edging pain making everything feel numb. "Me.. i.. danger.." But Thor didnt back down. He placed himself beside Bruce gently, wrapping his arms around him in a firm embrace. The feeling was strange, he could feel the way muscle and bone shifted beneath the surface and the way Bruce's skin physically stretched to accommodate it.
"Is there.. anything I can do? To help you?" Thor asked, trying to remain calm himself. "You feel so pained. I'll do anything I can." Bruce had never seen this side of Thor. He was so used to the muscular godly figure with a loud voice and vibrant attitude, so seeing him reduced to this just to help him felt strange. If he wasn't so caught up in the rapidly changing sensations maybe he would've realised the feeling was love.
"Please.. Just.. s-stay away.." he responded the only way he knew how. "I cant.. I need.. hurts.." Thor felt his palms begin to sweat as he could feel Bruce's frame growing at a faster rate. Neither of them wanted to deal with the Hulk right now, especially not while the team was under such intense stress.
"Would a shock help??" Thor asked, gripping Bruce's face gently. He tried to focus on the reply but felt himself getting lost in his strange eyes. The way the delicate green sparks fluttered amongst the deep brown. The way his face felt so soft, so warm and loving despite the pain hes suffered. If he was going to give a shock itd have to be the biggest shock of Bruce's life.
Thor pulled Bruce in and gave him a firm kiss.
It was electrifying. Bruce's eyes tensed shut, expecting the outcome of hulk bursting out to defend him but.. it stopped. Everything stopped. All he could focus on was the warmth of thors lips against his own, the gentle embrace and the feeling of sparks running through his veins. His body relaxed, muscle disappearing and bone returning to its normal spots as the kiss deepened into a full romantic embrace. Neither wanted to pull away. It was as if time itself looked away to give them this moment.
When Bruce finally pushed away for air he realised his body felt okay. Weak, nauseous, but not big and green. Thor hadn't noticed, still taken aback by how adorable Bruce appeared.
"By the gods.." he mumbled dreamily, "that was.. incredible. The best experience Ive ever had."
"I.. I think I'm gonna be sick." Bruce mildly panicked. Thor snapped out of his dreamy haze to realise bruce was pale in the face, gagging slightly. He rushed to grab him a bin to throw up in, a knot in his stomach forming.
"I-Im sorry banner did i- I didn't mean to go to far-" he struggled to formulate his words as he watched Bruce in complete panic. "Was what I did too much?? I just- I dont know how you midgardians are courted and- well stark gave me some ideas-"
Bruce was barely listening. He was too busy focusing on aiming for the bin and not Thors shoes. But he did catch the words "courted" and "ideas". Once he recovered from the dizziness he used thors body to pull himself up.
"What are you even talking about?" He clung to Thors chest for balance, looking up at his gorgeous face. "Ideas? Courting??"
"I.." Thor gently wrapped his arms around Bruce's back, "I love you, Bruce. I love you a lot. B-but I'm worried I.."
Bruce paused for a second, his brain piecing everything together. And he laughed. He laughed until tears rolled down his face, until he was struggling to stand because his body was trembling.
"You..!" He spoke through fits of giggles, "You thought you caused that?! Thor.. you big meathead. You helped me. You stopped me changing."
"B-but you-"
"I always throw up after de-hulking. Even if I dont fully change the feeling makes me nauseous. Its like somebody pushing against your stomach REALLY hard."
"So.. you.. youre not.. mad..??" Bruce took a sip from a glass of water he kept on his nightstand before pulling thor back in for another long kiss. Nothing could hold either of them back now. Thor held onto Bruce like his life depended on it, his hands taking in everything. The way his body was racked with scars from previous fights, yet there was an underlying softness to him. And Bruce.. was practically just holding on. Thor was much taller than him but they made it work.
It took a moment for them to stop for some air, but they remained in the moment just staring at each other. Bruce studied the lines in Thors face. The way his eyes looked ancient, but his smile so youthful. How he looked like he carried years of burden yet remained as happy as ever. Bruce wished he could be the same.
"I love you too Thor." He finally broke the silence, resting his head against Thors chest. "And i want to keep loving you. But.. I think I need a nap." The aching pains of a near hulkout was getting to him as his legs began to shudder and eyes began to droop.
"Allow me to join you!" Thor proclaimed proudly, practically jumping at the idea, "we must solidify our relationship through a long odinsleep! If you're alright with that of course."
Bruce let out a quiet chuckle, before pulling Thor to his bed.
"I think that would be wonderful."