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Frigga looked at her oldest, taking in his dishelven form. Being from the future, he spoke of future events that could haunt her. Tales of her youngest child dying, their most trusted friend killed, one of the nine realms being attacked, and defeated, because of Thor himself. She listened to his sorrows intently, careful not to ask where she was during all of this madness. Something in her, a light feeling , told her she already knew. She held onto his arm, his usual hardness beginning to soften. Sadness and grief could do much harm to the body, but she was more worried about his mind and soul than his appearance. She was just about ready to ask him about his heart. Did it belong to someone, perhaps the very same Jane that was down the hall, or to another that had come along, enchanting her son with their smiles?
But she didn’t have to ask, for he bursted through the door, shutting it quickly behind himself.
They both shot their heads towards the sound, the figure pressing his head on the door, resting for a brief second. He was breathing heavily, running by the looks of him. He finally felt the eyes on him and turned towards their current position, mouth open, ready to speak.
But whatever the small man in front of them intended to say, died at his lips. Instead of looking at her son, the receiver of his almost spoken words, his eyes were trained on her. They were wide, eyebrows shot almost to his temple, brown eyes searching her face. His lip trembled slightly and the brown eyes disappeared, his lids shutting.“Thor” the man in front of them uttered, eyes still closed, almost like he was in pain. Frigga glanced over at her oldest, watching his face. Thor looked back at the man fondly, a small smile protruding from his ill kept mustache. Friends perhaps? Lovers?
“Bruce Banner” Thor said, standing up from where he sat, gesturing towards her “this is my mother, the queen of Asgard and the nine realms, Frigga.” Bruce Banner opened his eyes and smiled at Thor gently, before approaching her. Frigga noticed the small glances he and Thor sent each other, noting how different this Thor was to her son in the other room.
“Mother” Thor said gently, moving to hold her hand in his “this is Doctor Bruce Banner. He is one of midgards mightiest protectors, an amazing friend, colleague, friend of Asgard, and-” Thor looked at her with a sort of shy smile' “And someone that I love.”
She heard a small squeak from the Doctor, but she couldn’t even look at him, just at her son's face.
“My oldest, in love. I never thought I’d see the day.” She said wistfully, holding his hand in hers. She could feel a tear roll down her cheek, but out of all the horrors she heard that night, this tear was of joy. She shared a long look with her son, just basking in his happiness.
“Excuse me, I don’t mean to interrupt, but...” The doctor called from their left, breaking the moment. “Thor…I’m sorry, really I am. But we have to go.”
Thor nodded to him, quickly looking back to Frigga. “Mother, I must warn you of something. Something that will happen, soon. You must-”
“Enough my child, you must go. I will not hear of the future.”
“But Mother, please-”
“Thor, my eldest son. Whatever happens to me in the future, does it happen for a reason?”
Thor nods, his lip quivering.
“Is that reason protecting you and your sibling?” He takes a minute, but responds the same.“Then I will accept my fate. If it keeps you both living, for even a moment longer, I walk towards that future with my head held high. That is my duty as your mother.”
Frigga shoots forward, bringing Thor in for a tight goodbye hug. “Please my son, take care of yourself. I love you my dear. And…” She takes a moment to remember his older looking face “I am so proud of you Thor. Never forget that.”
Much to her shock, Bruce steps towards her, giving her a small smile. “It was nice to meet you, your highness.” He says, extending his arm. He reaches out his hand, at an awkward angle, almost towards her legs. He lets out a small noise, mumbling “I’m used to being taller” before readjusting his arm to a better angle. She stepped towards him, grabbing his wrist gently. And then…
“You can smell crazy on him,” she says, in a voice that is not hers.
“Take care how you speak of him, he is still my brother, still of Asgard.”
The body she is in feels sad at that. Thor is about to lose his brother.
She began walking towards the group of people she doesn’t know, but the body does. Bruce? Yes. She was in Bruce’s memories. Watching them play out as he once lived them. She can feel her magic in the back of her mind, a steady hum. He has just agreed to help fight.
She can feel the disgust he has for himself. Why?
Thor looks at him, smiling like a beast. He, like the others, are ready for battle.
She then sees him sitting at the table next to Tony, eating shawarma. It’s pretty good, and much needed after the battle. Bruce already feels the ache of the fight, his body not being used to fighting like this. He makes a remark about the food to himself. He hears a small, but hearty laugh, and looks up to see Thor smiling at him. The rest of the table was quiet, but they still shared a little moment.
Frigga could feel a smile widen across her face, then notices Natasha. He’s talking to Natasha. He hadn’t been close like this with anyone In a long time. She says something witty, getting a laugh out of him. When he glances over to their other friends, Thor is looking directly at him. Being caught, he turns away, scowling. Had he done something to upset Thor? But Natasha gets his attention again to tell him-
Frigga wants to laugh at her son's transparency. Thor was never a patient child. And then she sees…
Green. And the color is almost too much. Like a forcefield, she can’t see past the color. All she sees is green. No memories, no banter, nothing. Just green and a feeling of pain in the back of her mind. And then-
Waking up. The dull ache from being the Hulk too long. Was he in Sokovia? Where was everyone? Did they win? He looks up from his unpleasant place on the ground, heavy beads around his neck. And there’s Thor. Like a beacon of hope. But he’s different. His hair is gone, his long blonde locks buzzed off. But he’s smiling, his golden smile. Looking down at Bruce like he hand painted every star in the night sky, a look that could make Bruce do anything, go anywhere. He’d always loved that smile, privately wishing he could see it everyday.
He’s walking through a parade, dedicated to him? Green everywhere. His worst nightmare. Thor is protecting him, pushing past him to hide his much smaller body.
Then they are stealing a spaceship. He's PILOTING a spaceship. He told Thor he’d come along, help his people anyway he could. That’s what friends did, right? And that’s what they were, friends. Nothing more. He didn’t need them to be more.
But then Thor’s hands are on him, strapping him in. Touching his face, grabbing his shoulders. There’s a beautiful, kickass warrior two feet away, and Thor is touching Bruce. Complimenting him, cheering him on. Had they always touched each other so freely? He can’t remember.
Asgard. They are in Asgard. And he promised himself, no, forbade himself from turning into the hulk. But there’s a giant wolf running towards Thor’s people. Thor, who would do anything for Bruce. Who saved him. Who was Bruce’s best friend. So he jumped. And broke his neck. And probably every other bone in his body. He can’t see, just screams at the Hulk to come out. Then green.
She’s flying through these memories so fast, she can barely catch up. What was seconds to the two people in the room with her, could be hours to her. Her magic pulling her through his mind, combing each Thor memory out, like she was living through their love story.
He wakes in bed, A small window tells him they are in space. Why space? Didn’t they save Asgard? Thor is there, in the room. He’s staring out the window. He hasn’t noticed Bruce awake yet. When he does, he rushes over, pulling him into a tight embrace. Which turns into tears and kneeling. Thor, the king of Asgard, bowing at Bruce, the orphan from Ohio. And it should be funny, ironic, but it’s not. Instead, Thor is thanking him, calling him a savior of Asgard. And they are hugging again. And then they are sharing words, feelings. Then he finds out Thor isn’t dating Jane anymore. Then he finds himself pushing forward, closing the gap, confidently pressing his lips to Thor’s. And Thor is kissing him back. And when they finally pull apart, Bruce finds himself feeling the happiest he’s ever been and loved.
Then he’s waking up, around rubble, The Revengers probably dead in space. But there’s isn’t time to mourn them now. And when two figures step forward towards him, he finds he can utter only one name.
“Thanos.”
She pulls her hand away, not wanting to see the rest. Her son and his love look at her, like nothing has changed, like time hasn’t passed. and yet for her, everything has changed. But anything she could say to either of them isn't a priority. She can hear footsteps marching towards their location. Guards. “You must go! At once! Go now, protect your future!” She yells to them. Bruce begins to grab Thor, but his eyes widen suddenly.
“Wait” he yells, extending his hand out. He is concentrating, his arm twitching slightly. Mjolnir comes crashing into the room, summoned by its master. Her son is and will always be worthy. They grab hands, both touching a small device on their wrists. “I love-” Thor starts, vanishing before he can finish.
Guards burst through the door, falling over one another. “Your highness, someone has infiltrated the castle. They have stolen the Aether!!”
“Have you seen anyone, my lady?” Another asks.
“No. Return to the All Father at once! I must go comfort our guest.”
And as the guards run right back out of the room, Frigga, queen of the nine realms, thinks of her son and smiles. A bright future for the future King of Asgard. Bright indeed.