tampered | (no subject)

Entry tags:

(no subject)

When; September 20
Rating; PG
Characters; Bruce Banner

infernoandhearth
Summary; Bruce has worked out who Luke is and after a couple of days of thinking about it, he has requested a face-to-face in Xanadu.
Log; Bruce is a smart guy. Arguably, he's one of the smartest guys in his generation, but he's had a blind spot when it came to thinking about alternate universes and alternate versions of the same... archetype.

In this case, it took Luke's t-shirt to push the fact home. He's spent too much time considering the implications of every word they have exchanged since he arrived, and all he's really decided is that he and Luke have to get this out in the open.

Thus, he's out in the open. Xanadu is just as nice as the City guide said it was. He hopes it stays that way.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Luke, being from the British 70s, is a little vague on that term, but he gets the gist. And he doesn't like not fitting in, so he doesn't mention it.]

He is, rather, if not as much as Tyr. Though I've no idea if you even have one. Your Asgardians are a bit out of date, aren't they?

I don't know. I've only met Thor and Loki... and Sif, I guess, but anyone I meet here is suspect. Even if someone looks familiar and sounds familiar, they might be from a universe one step over from the one I think of as mine.

That's true, but does it really matter, if you don't remember this place when you go home anyway?

You're asking a man who is currently trying to collect data on the City and its environs. What do you think?

I mean, does it matter whether or not they're from your universe, other than academically?

Are you academic? You're a real person and you're really interested in both my sex life and my... condition.

Well, you ought to choose one, then. Is every individual separated by their universe? Will you stop judging Serrure based on your Loki? Or do the people one step along the chain of worlds have exactly the same relevance to you as the one you know?

[Bruce bends, almost folding over his midsection as though he has stomach pain, before he straightens again.] Questions I've asked myself. I probably haven't been fair to Serrure.

Not particularly. [That doesn't look healthy.] Would you like a moment?

[He's surprisingly resilient.] No, I'm okay. I'm not going to lose it, if that's what you're worried about. [Probably. Maybe. Probably.]

I'm not worried. [He actually isn't. He grew up with Jotunns. He's fine.]

I'm fine. [But he takes a moment to shift restively, run a hand over his face, and take a deep breath before getting back to the matter at hand.]

I'll try to give him a little more slack. [A little more rope with which to hang himself is more like it.]

Hm. [No thank yous from Luke. Only a considering face, directed towards Bruce.] The Other Guy isn't pleased with the notion, I take it. I wonder how he feels about me.

[He huffs air through his nose in a faint laugh.] The Other Guy isn't so good at being fair and rational, and I think it's fair to say that he and I are of one mind when it comes to wondering what you're really after.

[Good question. What is he EVER really after?]

Even Lokis have friends.

Yeah? I thought about that possibility. I wanted to throw it out because the first Loki I met acted like feelings and sentiment were weaknesses to be used or expunged. [There is an audible, but unspoken "but" there.]

[Interesting. It's strange hearing about this other Loki. He doesn't sound as good.]

I can see how a me might have gone that way. Or tried to. I'd hate to shut myself off, though. I wouldn't have nearly as much fun, for a start.

[He nods, almost unwillingly.] You and Serrure and Loki from my world are three different people. Maybe you share some character traits, maybe you don't.

[He presses his lips tight and makes a face before letting it go, getting to the point he had been pretty sure he'd get to.] It's wrong for me to judge him or you based on someone who shares a name and some background. It's called bigotry.

[Luke gives Bruce a thrilled grin.] Oh, I thought you'd come along to that! I don't think Serrure thought you would but I made him a promise because I was so sure. And it seems as if I'm right, unless your Hulk still strongly objects. It doesn't matter, I'll work something out. Do you think he'd feel better if I let him fight me?

[Bruce doesn't look as thrilled at all.] You and Serrure have been talking about me? What did you promise him?

[The question about the Hulk leaves him a little nonplussed.] I don't know. It's not like I can have conversations with him.

But don't you know what he wants? It's alright. I can wait.

Of course Serrure and I talk about you. We both find you interesting, but have a common prejudice to work around. [He shrugs dramatically.] We may not be the same Loki, but we still hold things in common. So naturally, I promised that I'd let you know who I was, eventually, and that if you were determined to still see us both like your Loki, I'd not bother anymore, and stop talking with you.

[Any man who isn't disturbed by the thought of two Lokis discussing him is a more zen man than Bruce Banner.]

That's just peachy. Just what I always wanted, two Lokis for the price of one.

He wants what I want without all the social niceties, manners, and concern about laws in the way. Think of him like a giant kid stuck in a tantrum if that helps. It's not accurate, but it works.

[Bruce is treated to Luke's absolutely most charming smile.] Just think how dull it would be for you without the two of us.

[But that should make it easy, if that's how it works.]

So imagine there are no manners to be considered here, and taking into account that I really don't care about social niceties, what would you like to do?

[But Bruce likes dull, or at least he tells himself he does, and then he goes and practices medicine in India.]

I'd like you to leave him alone. Just stay out of his way if a curse brings him out.

[Luke just gives him a look. There's no way in hell (Hel?) he'll be leaving the Hulk alone if he gets triggered.]