AN: This takes place after Thor: Ragnarok but before the first post-credit scene. I know it's assumed Bruce Banner stays Hulk until Infinity War, but I changed it so he's back to being Banner.
A knock sounded at the door.
The Valkyrie lifted her head groggily. She was vaguely aware of someone asking permission to enter. Brunnhilde staggered to her feet. She reached for her bottle but stumbled and fell on it, breaking the glass. She muttered a curse and swiped at the blood welling in the cut on her knee.
She heard the door creak open. Vision blurred from the hangover, Brunnhilde could only make out someone approaching her. Suddenly a face appeared close to hers. She blinked. Her vision cleared. A man's face loomed just above her own. His expression was full of pity which Brunnhilde found annoying considering who this was.
"Loki,'' she spat.
"Brunnhilde.''
She accepted the hand he offered. Loki pulled the Valkyrie to her feet. She stumbled, the stinging of her knee and weight of the hangover making her off-balance. Loki tried steadying her, but she pulled away.
"Don't touch me!'' She staggered and fell.
Loki crossed his arms and sighed mournfully. "Don't do this to yourself.''
"Do what?'' Brunnhilde made no effort to get back up.
Loki gestured to her. "This! This haggard, drunken state you've been in for decades! You've had quite enough. Let go. Start over, please.''
"Says the man who betrayed his brother and king umpteenth times,'' Brunnhilde shot.
"I've changed my ways, you can change yours.''
"I don't want to.''
"Why?! You can't want to live like this! How could this ever make you happy?''
"It isn't about being happy,'' said the Valkyrie flatly. "It's about living.''
Loki huffed. "If you weren't an immortal Valkyrie you would already be dead from alcoholic consumption.''
"I don't want to be a Valkyrie! I don't want to live with the pain of being the last one!'' Brunnhilde said more than she meant to. She blamed the drinks. Hopefully the god of mischief hadn't caught the last part.
He had very much so.
"So that's it! You push away the pain and guilt of all your friends dying by drinking and trying to forget!'' Loki exclaimed triumphantly.
Brunnhilde narrowed her eyes. "And I'd done very well forgetting until you came along and made me relieve every moment of it on Sakaar.''
Loki dropped his gaze. "Sorry.''
"Never mind. Why are you here? What do you want? And why do you care so much about what I do? It's none of your business.''
"I'm here because Thor sent me. As for what I want and why I care,'' Loki said spreading his hands. "I want to be your friend.''
That surprised Brunnhilde. "You want to be my friend? Why? Is there no one else on this whole ship you can burden?''
"There is not.''
"Don't you know all these people? You grew up with them,'' Brunnhilde insisted.
"Which is why we can't be friends.'' Loki eyed the Valkyrie cooly. "None of them will ever except me; they all know I betrayed Thor. They don't trust me.''
"Yes, well, I don't trust you either!''
"That's not true.''
Brunndilde groaned. Loki was being so annoying. She did not really have a reason to distrust Loki. He hadn't done anything to her personally other than look inside her head. But he had betrayed her king. "Your reputation precedes you.''
Loki flexed his long, thin fingers. "If Thor can forgive me, why can't you?''
"Why should I?''
"This conversation is going nowhere,'' said Loki flatly. "Friends or not?''
Friends or not. Could they be friends? There really was no reason why not. Brunnhilde hadn't had any real friends since her fellow Valkyrie died. She was put off and edgy. Loki was put off and edgy.
"Look.'' The god of mischief said gently, "We're both looking for new lives. If you stop drinking and I stop betraying we could be the first of many to turn things around, to make new lives—"
Brunnhilde cut him off. "You are not implying we make a family?''
"No! No, nothing like that I assure you,'' Loki promised. "A casual friendship.''
The Valkyrie was still doubtful.
"We don't even have to be friends for long. Just until we find. . . better ones.''
Brunnhilde lifted her chin. "Alright then, Lucky.''
"It's Loki.''
"I don't give a damn if it's Loopy,'' she snapped.
Loki smirked. "Okay, Bruno.''
Brunnhilde whipped out her dagger. "You're going to want to shut up this instant.''
He held his hands up in surrender. "Fine, fine. Friends?''
She swayed dizzily. "Friends.''
"Stop drinking.''
"Stop talking.''
Loki's lips parted. "This is going to be wonderful.''
The Valkyrie shoved him, making herself stumble more than him. Loki steadied her. She shrugged him off. No need to get physical. Casual friends.
"Why did Thor send you anyway anyway?'' She demanded.
"Some sort of meeting, counsel. We need to determined what happens next. Soon.'' Loki glanced around even though no one else was present. "The Asgardians are restless.''
By the time Loki and Brunnhilde reached the conference room Thor had already started. He, Bruce Banner, Korg and his small friend Mick, and Heimdall appeared deep in conversation. When Loki and Brunnhilde walked in, Thor looked up disapprovingly. "What took you so long, brother?''
"We lost our way,'' Loki lied easily. Thor nodded having clearly believed his younger brother's excuse. Loki lied too well, Brunnhilde decided. But it was her fault they were late. Loki had vouched for her sake. Brunnhilde wouldn't rat him out, not this time. She and her new "friend" moved into the rough circle the group had formed.
"We were discussing where we should bring Asgard,'' Thor explained. "We've come to no conclusion thus far.''
"Would no realm take you?" Loki asked. Brunnhilde noticed how he said "you" not "us". Thor must have noticed too because his eyes darkened.
"I've sent messages to the possible choices,'' Heimdall sighed. "They all refused.''
Thor turned to his brother. "We were wondering if you could convince Jotunheim—''
"No,'' Loki put him down quickly. He gave no reason. Curiosity sprouted inside Brunnhilde. Loki hid demons of his own. Maybe she could draw them out.
"We need to decide soon,'' Thor said, exasperated. "Asgard can't be floating in the middle of nowhere forever.''
"I think it's kind of nice personally,'' said the rock giant Korg. His optimism was appreciated, but unhelpful all the same. Brunnhilde could not think of anywhere herself. There had to be somewhere. She'd just gotten back; she wasn't going to let it slip away altogether.
Everyone was quiet for a long time.
"I think,'' Bruce Banner said finally, "you should open your mind outside the nine realms.''
Brunnhilde had mixed feelings about Banner. She had gotten used to him being a green rage monster for two years. She almost missed it. The Hulk was kind of like a big baby, Brunnhilde being his nanny. Bruce Banner was more introverted. He was a genius, but didn't speak often. And he was much smaller.
The king of Asgard ran his big hands through his recently cut hair. "What do you mean, Bruce?''
"Why not go to Earth?''
Loki jerked his head up, panic briefly flashing in his eyes before he controlled it. Heimdall folded his arms broodingly. Thor seemed considerate. Korg and Mick nodded, though it was impossible to see Mick's emotions because he didn't really have a face. Brunnhilde was rather indifferent. The Valkyrie had never been there, but had heard good things about it. Bruce waited awkwardly.
"I think that would work,'' Thor said slowly. "At least, until we find somewhere better. I am most welcome there and Asgard should be as well.''
Bruce and Heimdall both glanced at Loki, who's eyes were downcast. Brunnhilde would have to ask someone what had happened on Earth. Her new friend appeared to dislike the prospect of going back. Thor noticed this.
"It may only be temporary,'' he repeated.
"Then it's settled.'' Heimdall dipped his head to Thor. "Asgard is going to Earth.''
Slow start. It'll get better, I promise.