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

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.]

I mean it.

I know.

But you aren't going to.

Do I leave you alone when you ask me to?

I can't beat the hell out of you.

You've been reading about me. Do you really think there's anything you can possibly do to me that I'll mind? [And then from almost serious to cheerfully cocky in one fell swoop.] Besides, I can look out for myself.

Do you really want me to make assumptions based on books when I'm trying not to make assumptions based on an actual Loki?

Look, come here. [He pulls his network device out of his pocket and flips through the screens until he comes upon what he's looking for.]

This is what he does. Did. [And there it is, in all its glory, the previous Bruce Banner's memory theater of Hulk smashing the hell out of Loki.]

That matches my world.

[Luke watches, wrinkling his nose at other-Loki's overwrought speech and then practically choking on his own laughter the moment the Hulk grabs him. It takes him a really long time to stop laughing. He has to sit down.] Oh, I do like your Other Guy.

[He catches his breath.]

With the myths, everything happened, but it didn't always happen for the reasons they mention, or in exactly the same way. So you needn't make assumptions, but you can put together the general idea.

[Bruce doesn't bother hiding his smile. He wishes he could remember that confrontation, but he feels almost as much satisfaction watching the Hulk whipping Loki like a wet towel as he would if he did remember it.]

That's probably not the kind of thoughts you want in my head if you're really planning to try to deal with the Hulk.

Oh? Should I tell you it's all slander instead?

Ten years ago a book written about me wouldn't have included this. [He displays his phone for a moment before slipping it back in his pocket.] I'm not that guy anymore.

How about, we try to just get on the way we have until there's a reason to reevaluate.