Hello! Everything's supposed to be in one chapter but I think it's better to divide and read the story in separate ones :)

1st chapter of the fic plays out in Sakaar, in addition to the scene of Bruce and Thor's conversation after the latter asks for the Hulk's help against Hela.

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"If I turned into the Hulk again, Banner may never come back."

Bruce steamingly expressed his conviction prior to burying his face into the palm of his hands. Strong guilt feelings soon followed afterwards but then again, the god of thunder was really getting into his nerves.

"Okay, okay. I apologize. I know I'm somehow being insensitive but I'm glad to have seen you Banner, and I'm here. I'm your friend, we are friends, and I truly care about you so let's talk about it, what you feel," Thor sincerely tells him, though some words seem to have faltered their way out of his mouth.

Bruce lets out a deep breath all the while shifting his hands to uncover the upper half of his face. Somehow, he's at loss for words. There is just a lot to take in, starting with the other guy. The Hulk has taken over his body for two long years, he was unconsciously trapped, senseless, unknowingly left inside, more or less dead. His worst nightmare turned into reality.

"I'm sorry, Thor. All of this is overwhelming. I hear you, I understand what you want me to do. It's just.." he pauses, hears his companion utter words that doesn't register inside his head.

In a snap he remembers her. They had plans, they were running away, he was holding her hand, their lips touched. It was brief, but it was very sweet. He felt the push, it was not a surprise. He understands why. He can never be mad at her for it. Her face was the last thing he remembers as he took the fall.

"How was she? After, you know," he suddenly continues, tone a little bit coy. What they had was no secret yet it also wasn't openly discussed.

"To be honest Banner, I only stayed a few days on Earth after Sokovia. Nat is, well, she's her usual self, though at times you know being around her, you'll notice it. She's oddly quiet sometimes," Thor truthfully says. The god's furtively vigilant, thinking there might be a sudden change in his shade.

Bruce absentmindedly nods, images of Natasha urging the Hulk to turn around flashes within his mind. He shuts his eyes, they were getting a little damp. He's sorry, he truly is. His unconscious absence had been years. It's hard to think about what she must have felt.

"If in any case I don't come back. Can you please tell Nat that I'm really sorry and that I..." he stops, uncomfortable with what he's about to say. It was unspoken, never said out loud before, he's uncertain if he should ever divulge it, convinced that it may not even matter anymore.

"I'll make sure you say it to her when we get back," Thor asserts wholeheartedly as he pats him on the back.

"I don't think it's possible. The other guy might not let me out this time," he fearfully admits.

"You're a great friend Banner, I'll do everything I can to repay you. You'll have that chance. You deserve it. She has to know and you're the one who has to say it. She's also our best option to turn you back," Thor responds. He pulls out a small rectangular card and hands it over to his friend. "I found this inside the bag. I believe it belongs to you."

Bruce flips it over and sees a candid photo of him and Natasha taken during one of the trial runs for the lullaby. She undeniably looks happy. It makes him smile, he'd do anything to see that again.

"Thanks Thor," he simply says as he folds the picture, placing it inside his jacket's pocket, the one near his heart. He's far from Earth but somehow, now he knows there might be a chance he'll come back home.

"Okay, when do we meet this sister of yours"