It was a peculiar sight, every day Loki would sit outside doing his meditation.
Nothing strange about that, all magic users would meditate. Thor even knew he probably needed to adopt it to, but he was still struggling with his damn light bulbs. Even if he had managed to make one shine for a couple of minutes now.
No, the new thing about Loki was that Bruce Banner would always join him.
It was a peculiar sight and people did comment on it, the Jotunn and the Midgardian, the only two none aisir here sitting there every day without even speaking. Just sitting in front of each other with crossed legs and closed eyes.
Loki though was annoyed. "You are always angry, you need to let go of this anger." he stated.
"But… If I let go. I wont be able to… to control it." Bruce stammered.
"Wrong." Loki informed. "Being able to let go is the ultimate control. As long as you depend on your anger, your anger will be controlling you. Listen to your heart beat." he instructed. "Feel how it seems to beat in a rhythm, and somehow that matches the flow around you…"
"I… I hear it." Bruce breathed.
"Good… Listen." Loki breathed. "That beat is you… loose yourself to it. It cannot be controlled, surrender."
Bruce breathed deeply.
"You cannot work against the flow, you must work with it. Open up." Loki asked. "Good, you're getting it… You and the beat are one. We breath, in and out."
And Bruce was quiet as Loki smirked.
"Finally, you got it." Loki smirked as he opened his eyes only for his eyes to widen stunned, because all of a sudden it wasn't a small Midgardian in front of him. Instead he had to bend his neck to look up at this massive green Ogre towering far above Loki. Loki paled… "Errrh."
Slowly, the green beast opened his eyes which revealed themselves to be bright green, then he looked down and met Lokis wide eyes.
There was stunned silence. Loki was wide-eyed looking up at the massive beast and the beast was looking down at him with confusion.
All Lokis talk of controlling himself had vanished, his heart was beating rapidly, his body tense as the big green monster opened his mouth, and then he spoke one single word.
"Friend?"
Loki gaped. "Pa.. Pardon?" he asked.
The green ogre retrieved, his body becoming more defensive as his face wrinkled. "Not friend?" he asked in a defensive tone.
"Oh.. Oh am I a friend?" Loki asked. "I.. I should sincerely hope so. I.. I mean."
"Not hurt HULK?" The big brute asked.
"Something tells me that even if I desired such a thing, I would not be able to." Loki commented looking at his massive arm as broad as Lokis torso. Loki was not really used to feel small.. At all.
Hulk looked confused.
"No.. Not hurt Hulk." Loki assured holding up his hands. "Friend." he assured.
The big green monster frowned, still hesitating then he leaned over, coming close to Loki who's eyes widened. Then Loki just sat still, absolutely still as he allowed the big monster to do what he wanted examining him.
Finally the Hulk seemed satisfied as he sat back smiling amused. "Friend blue!" he pointed out.
Loki groaned. "Yes, I am blue." he sighed.
"You blue!" Hulk grinned. "Me green!" he pointed at himself. "Blue man different! Like Hulk!"
"Oh." Loki blinked. "Well I suppose we are both very unique beings at this place." he stated.
"Blue man nice." Hulk smiled.
"Loki. My name is Loki." Loki informed.
The Hulk blinked looking a bit confused.
"You Hulk!" Loki pointed at the Hulk. "Me Loki." he held a hand over his own chest. "Hulk." he pointed at Hulk. "Loki." he pointed at himself.
And the Hulk grinned. "LOKI!" he beamed.
Only for a shout to sound, another person. "Lo.. LOKI!"
Loki turned his head to see his own brother standing there, wide-eyed and fearful, his hand reaching for his hammer as other Asgardians came.
"Brother!" Thor called. "Be careful, just.."
The Hulk frowned as his body retrieved, a snarl on his lips while his hands were forming into fists.
"WAIT!" Loki held a hand out towards Thor. "It's all right!"
Thor blinked. "What are you planning Brother?"
"Talking. That's all. And it's working." Loki informed. "Hulk friend." he gestured.
Thor was silent for a while, then he removed his hands from his hammer and nodded at the other Asgardians. "Weapons down!" he demanded. "No one is to attack or show any aggression! He can be talked to! And yes, he is a friend! Calm down!"
The Asgardians nodded and did as they were told as Thor turned back to them, then put on a smile which was cringe worthy in how forced it was. "Hey big guy." he addressed Hulk talking a step.
The Hulk huffed annoyed.
"Welcome to New Asgard." Thor welcomed. "Don't worry, no one here is going to hurt you."
Hulk shook his head. "People say that… Then BOOM! Hurts."
"We wont." Thor assured. "Friend."
And Hulk retrieved further.
"Thor stop talking please." Loki sighed as he stood up earning Hulks attention. "It's all right, they wont hurt us. See?" he asked as he walked over to Thor. "This big idiot is my brother." he gave Thor a hit on the shoulder making Thor wince over the slam to his bad shoulder.
And then the Hulk grinned. "Okay."
Thor blinked. "Hey! How come he likes you and not me?!" he asked Loki.
Loki smirked. "Him green me blue. Both different." he stated.
"Oh, well if that's what he feels." Thor stated.
"Woooah!" Without anyone noticing Fandral was suddenly in front of the Hulk. "You're so big! Are you half as strong as you look?" he asked.
In a response, Fandral got a fist right in the face which send him flying across the plaza and right into a table, flipping the table over and sending Fandral to the ground.
There was stunned silence, everyone looking at Fandral now on the ground. Then Fandral sat up, wide-eyed he looked at Hulk, and then he grinned. "That was AMAZING!" he exclaimed. "Did you see that?! He was so fast and strong!"
Hulk gaped. "People not… Scared!"
"Hey big guy, do you do arm wrestling?!" An Asgardian suddenly asked.
"Me to! I want to arm wrestle! Me-me-me!"
And people were flocking the Hulk, excited and grinning making the Hulk look confused as he stepped back, confusion and panic rise.
Loki ran back as he placed himself among the people and the Hulk. "STOP!" he spread out his arms. "Give our friend room! I am sure in given time he would love to arm wrestle all of you! For now, think of it like this. He has been trapped in a small room for a long time and needs to find his bearings! Show compassion."
The Asgardians looked stunned, then they stepped back, all looking rather sheepish.
Loki exhaled deeply as he relaxed, only to regret lowering his guard, because suddenly… Suddenly he was picked up by the massive beast. And given a massive hug which put all of Thors combined hugs of the past to shames while Hulk exclaimed. "FRIEND!"
Loki gaped as he was hopelessly dangling in Hulks embrace, his feet not even touching the ground.
Thor chuckled. "You made a new friend Loki! I'm so happy!"
"Shut up Thor." Loki murmured but didn't dare say anything else as the big happy ogre embraced him.
That night, there was a huge party. The Hulk whom had first been nervous was now fully embracing the entire culture and happily both arm wrestled and full body wrestled Asgardians. Soon the mead was brought out and the Hulk drank and ate happily as all the Asgardians praised his bottomless stomach as an amazing feed. It was a good night.
Bruce groaned, everything was dark. His body felt so sore, slowly he opened his eyes and looked up at the wooden ceiling of the house Thor had given him… What… How? He looked around and realized he was laying on the floor on a bunch of furs and he was wearing… Only ripped pants.
Then his eyes widened. Oh no! NO! It had happened, of course it had. It always happened! Bruce squinted his eyes in despair. Why? Why did it always had to happen. What destruction had he caused this time?!
Bruce was shaking, he didn't want to get out but knew he had to. With a shaking body he found new clothes, and even found his glasses on the night stand.
With a shaking body stood in front of the door, then took a deep breath and finally opened the door and faced the bright sunlight. Bruce took a step out and fearfully looked around.
Everything looked all right… there was no destroyed buildings and no rubble. What?
"FRIEND BANNER!" An Asgardian Bruce didn't know came running and grabbed his hands. "What a glorious night! What a glorious match! We must do it again!"
"Wha-What?" Bruce asked.
"He's awake!" Another one grinned. "Such strength! You even defeated the mighty Thor in arm wrestle match! Though I dare say if our king still had his right arm it wouldn't have gone so easily."
"Arm wrestle?!" Bruce gaped.
"How's all the mead treating you?" A third Asgardian asked slinging an arm around Bruces shoulder. "Not the slightest hangover? Now that's a real man! HAHAHAHA!"
"Mead?!" Bruce gaped. And they all continued, all so happy and enthusiastic. Bruce had no idea what was going on.
Finally he managed to escape all the happy Asgardians and found Loki at his usual spot, meditating. Sitting with crossed legs and closed eyes.
"Erhm.. Prince Loki." Bruce hesitated. "Can I… Ask you some things?" he asked. "I am a bit confused."
"Well seems like you accidentally let out your other half." Loki commented. "How-ever, to me it seems like rage or stress is usually the trigger. This time it wasn't, you just left allowing him to go outside. And since there was no anger, he wasn't angry."
"Oh… Oh that's good." Bruce halted. "What erhm.."
"He wrestled, he drank, he ate. He had a good time." Loki stated.
"No.. No one was hurt?" Bruce asked.
"No." Loki replied.
Bruce gaped and Loki finally opened his eyes looking up at him.
"I.. I'm sorry." Bruce gaped. "The Hulk was released and.. No destruction? No one hurt?" he asked. "How?!"
Loki glanced up at him. "Has it occurred to you the Hulk is a person and thus he can be reasoned with?"
Bruce gaped.
"You said you came here looking for an answer." Loki stated. "You thought the answer would be a cure so to speak, a way to get rid of the Hulk. But perhaps it isn't, perhaps you actually found your answer."
"I am not sure I understand." Bruce tried.
Loki sighed. "When I first discovered my true species. I hated it." he stated. "I tried to deny it, push it away. It only gave me misery. Then I was forced into my true appearance permanently and thus forced to embrace what I am." he stated. "At first it was hard, I had to admit I was never like any of the Aisir and never will be. How-ever when I accepted this, I found peace unlike any other I tried before. Perhaps instead of pushing away what you are now, accept." he gestured with his hand. "Sit."
And Bruce sat down in front of Loki and Loki closed his eyes taking a deep breath.
Bruce blinked then realized, Loki didn't intend to talk anymore. He only intended to meditate and Bruce crossed his legs to do the same.
This was all so weird but… Maybe it really would work out.
