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CHAPTER 1: A flourishing friendship
Bruce Banner and Thor had never really been friends. Even during Ragnarök, they were more like coworkers forced into the same chaos, exchanging only the bare minimum needed to survive the day. So when the Avengers later saw them acting like inseparable best friends, the shift felt… abrupt. Radical, even. It hadn’t started on Sakaar, not really. Back then, they were just two exhausted men stuck in the same mess, helping each other because there was no one else to rely on. The real change happened afterward, during the long journey back to Earth after Asgard’s destruction. Their bond didn’t appear suddenly; it grew quietly, unnoticed by the crew and even by the two of them.
It began with simple conversations, late at night, when neither of them could sleep because of recent events. Discussions without purpose, just noise to fill the silence. But little by little, that noise became comforting. The words became reassuring. These exchanges helped them clear their minds, even if only for one night: jokes, confessions, small pieces of vulnerability shared in the dark. They had become friends. Then came the physical closeness. Thor wasn’t known for being particularly tactile, except with Loki. He had always been the kind of person who touched the people he loved — even if it meant getting stabbed for it. So Bruce was startled the first time Thor casually draped an arm over his shoulders mid-conversation, and even more when Thor pulled him into a gentle hug during a painful discussion. The surprise didn’t last. Bruce grew used to it quickly. He found it comforting, grounding. He’d never had this much physical contact in his life, and without noticing, he began initiating the hugs himself. And that’s why he didn’t even register when Thor started pressing soft kisses to the top of his head. Not often, just enough for it to become a habit.
One night, their last on the ship before landing on Earth, they were sprawled out in Thor’s quarters, talking about music to make the evening feel a little less heavy.
“So,” Thor said, lying back on his bed, “we’ve talked about the iconic artists from our planets, but you still haven’t told me your favorite song.”
“Oh, thank God you’re not from Earth,” Bruce laughed, “because my answer would definitely make you cringe.”
Thor raised an eyebrow. “Well?”
“It’s Give Me Love by Ed Sheeran. People say it’s a ‘girl song,’ not very manly, whatever. But I love it. It captures that feeling of wanting to love and be loved. It’s… the perfect song for yearning.”
Thor nodded thoughtfully, storing the information somewhere deep in his mind. Then he launched into a long, animated explanation about Asgardian musicians, his voice warm, steady, almost hypnotic. Bruce drifted off mid-sentence, lulled by the sound. Thor noticed. He watched Bruce for a long moment, seeing a serenity on his face he’d never seen before. Something in Thor softened. He leaned in without thinking, pressed a gentle kiss to Bruce’s hair, and then lay down beside him, letting sleep take him too.
When they woke up the next morning, they went their separate ways to get ready, not forgetting one last hug before heading off in opposite directions. Thor immediately noticed the nervous look on Bruce’s face. He didn’t really know what to say that morning, so he simply pulled him into a tight embrace, hoping the strength of his arms could offer some kind of reassurance.
The king had decided to land in Norway, near the place where his father had spent his final days. After finalizing the last details with the Norwegian authorities ( who eventually agreed to grant asylum to the Asgardians) it was already late into the night. Bruce and Thor chose to wait until the next morning before heading to the Avengers Tower. At dawn, they boarded a shuttle and flew toward the Americas. A few hours later, they arrived and went straight into the elevator, descending to the common floor. The Avengers’ reaction was immediate. They froze when they saw Thor, hair gone, cape torn, and most of all, missing an eye.
“THOR!” Clint shouted, stunned.
“And I’m not alone!” Thor announced proudly, reaching behind him to pull Bruce forward by the shoulders. “Ta‑da!”
“Bruce?” Natasha said, eyebrows raised.
Bruce gave a tiny, awkward wave from behind Thor’s arm, looking like someone who desperately wished to disappear back into the elevator. Thor squeezed his shoulder, steady and warm. Bruce didn’t step away.