A year to Remember. Part 2, the Internship

"Did we really need to stop for Pop Tarts?", Bruce asks Thor, rubbing his temples exhaustedly, at least thankful this mini mart was in their way. "We have hundreds back at the tower you know?". Thor slows browsing through the market's aisles, looking for his beloved treat; "They're the great Tarts of Pop Brucie", he plays up his old act, knowing how easily Bruce melts for it, "you know how much I love them, and since Rogers and Stark didn't let me bring Mjolnir. It's a long way back to the tower".

Didn't take long for his well honed senses to find them. "Ah, there they are", Thor smiles, having found them up the top shelf. "Do you really need 4 boxes? How are you even gonna carry them all?". Thor shrugs at his questions, taking his Pop Tarts to the checkout. "That'll be $18".

He pauses at her request, turning to Bruce with a sheepish, pleading smile. "Yeah yeah, I got it", Bruce pulls out his wallet handing the cashier a $20. "Keep the change". She smiles at Bruce, him waving her goodbye as he runs to catch up to the god.

"Happy now?", Bruce asks, his frustrations at their detour fading for love. Thor nods, replying through a mouthful of pop tarts. "Very". They keep walking down the road, Thor snacking hard on his many Pop Tarts, the sound of cracking crackers demarcating their path, noticing Bruce mumble to himself. "Brucie, I can see you torturing yourself. What are you thinking about?", he prods, using a free hand to rub his boyfriend's shoulder.

Sighing, he pauses his internal monologue, pulled back to reality by Thor's words. "Just- thinking of Today. The people we talked to", he mutters, frown growing on his face. Thor puts his Pop Tarts down, stopping in his path glancing at Bruce, him glancing back. "You don't need to hide your feelings from me Brucie, I know you, and I know when you're bugged by guilt. Let me help you".

Bruce grunts at the statement, "It's not the same, ok Thor? Before it was Hulk's actions I was guilty about", he sinks closer into Thor's arms who gladly welcomed him. "I was always worried he'd hurt someone", Bruce continues through a sigh, a whimper, "but I never thought I would".

"Brucie", Thor starts with his softest, sweetest voice, using his free arm to pull Bruce into a hug. "I know you never liked hurting people, no matter how small, but don't hurt yourself up too much over this, it won't help and it's not on you". His words mumbled through Bruce's hair, which he kissed gently.

Didn't seem to do the job. "Isn't it Thor?", Bruce whines back, voice cracked and full of air, "Back at the park we met over 20 kids who raved about Spider-Man. Children", he argues. His hands tightened around Bruce's jacket as he spoke, "He inspired all of them and more than half he helped directly. MJ was right, we took that away, it's on us", he pulls back from Thor's chest, the god momentarily hurt by his recoil.

Thor tries to approach again, Bruce flinching back again. "I love you Thor, but I need space. Please, not now". Bruce begins walking again, internal monologue resumed. Thor was left behind worried, pouty eating more of his Pop Tarts to pass the time back to the Tower, not knowing what else to say or if he should. Stayed a few houses away from Bruce, keeping an eye on him, but giving him that space. Even if he wished he didn't.

Walking up to Crocheron Avenue, Bruce on automatic, absently steps onto the road, not noticing the speeding car coming his way. "Bruce!" Thor shouts, trying to run but coming too short.

"Watch out!", A young guy screams, flipping through the road, pulling Bruce out of the way just before he becomes Auburndale's freshest roadkill. The latter blacking out for a second as he and the kid collapse on the floor next to the god. "Bruce! Are you ok?", Thor's voice booms through all their ear, bringing Bruce to. Opening his eyes he sees Thor and a young boy with fawn skin, holding him up, back to a metal fence.

Noticing Bruce stir from his momentary daze, the kid starts. "I'm so sorry mister, there was a car coming, you didn't see it, I wanted to help-". Thor saw Bruce getting overwhelmed by the barrage of apologies and explanations, placing a firm hand on the boy's shoulder to stop him. "Don't worry young mortal, we know. Just give him a minute", he asks, watching Bruce settle back into what happened, looping up at the two.