"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.
He slowly stands back up, mildly bruised from both the impact of the kid and the ground, but otherwise fine. "No need to apologise, you saved my life", he gasps, the adrenaline finally hitting him. They both brush themselves off, Bruce's anxiety revealing new stresses and realisations. "Wait! Are you alright? You jumped in the way of a speeding car! That's not safe! Why would you do that?", he cries, patting the teen's shoulder, trying to find any cuts, bruises or injuries.
The young man is left speechless, "are you asking me... why would I save your life?". Bruce internally face palms at the seemingly inane question. "Because it's the right thing to do, and because someone needed to help. It's what Spider-Man taught me". Bruce and Thor freeze, "you know the man of Spiders?", Thor asks, the young lad looks confused, but amused at his wording. "How do you know Spider-Man?".
The teen smiles, "He's my mentor, or was? I think? My name's Jon by the way", he smiles, offering a hand. Only Thor took it. Bruce frowns at the 'was' comment. "I'm Bruce, this is Thornton, nice to meet you". Thor shakes hands with the guy, Bruce smiling nicely, only 80% certain he doesn't have a concussion. "But what do you mean your mentor?"..
"It's a bit of a long story...", Jon scratches the back of his head, fidgeting with his shirt with his other hand. Bruce shrugs, "Thornton has his pop tarts and I probably shouldn't move much right now, so if you got time, I'd love to hear it". Thor nods, remembering his snacks, opening another box to eat. "Sure, it's what Spider-Man did with me, so I should too", Jon smiles, "It goes back a couple of years. I always loved gymnastics and cheerleading, it was my dream to compete but I never qualified the locals or my schools team".
"That explains your impressive form!", Thor booms, "You're quite capable for a child". Jon blushes, "thanks, but I wasn't that good back then", he mumbles, scratching his elbow. "I tried parkour-ing most days, hoped it would help me improve. I started becoming careless, tried more and more dangerous tricks until I bit off more than I could handle".
He pulls up a couple old photos, from the day they met, showing them to Bruce and Thor as he explains. "Messed up a move, started falling for like 2 storeys. Spider-Man saved me and then stayed to talk, asked me why I was doing what I did. Told him everything and he offered to train me". He showed a picture of him and Spidey on the ledge of a roof, another of him in his gymnast leotard, training with Spider-Man in his back yard.
Bruce hands the phone back to Jon, "So he was your gymnastics teacher?". Nodding, he smiles, "Yup, for the last year and a half. Turns out when you're a web slinging superhero you're really good at gymnastics", he laughs. "Took me one move at a time, gave me a lot of tips and suggestions, 6 months of meeting him two to three times and practising at home and I made the team at school, started making the podium in local competitions".
Both congratulate him on his wins, Jon blushing, smiling proudly at his successes. "And what about the last year? What's happened since?", Bruce asks.
"Spider-Man was soo proud after I made the team and all, even brought me a little cake to celebrate", he pulled out the picture, though it looked like a cupcake more than a cake. Jon frowns, "But I got recruited by a gymnastics team, I had school training, so we met less and less. It started every second Friday but now he just visited me at home whenever he was free and nearby", till the thing.
Jon looks over his phone, checking the dates. "I think I saw him like two weeks before he posted the video, practised a little. He even let me use his web shooters once. I miss him", he mumbles, playing with the sleeve of his shirt. Bruce slouches, another reminder weighing heavier on him. Thor taking this opportunity into his own hands. "So when you said that's what the man of Spiders taught you, was it just gymnastics?".
The teen thinks over his words, smiling at all the memories. "He always said that it's ok to make mistakes, it's ok to fail. They're a part of life, and what matters is how we react to them", he replies, "if choose to try again, to be better than before. Said he could never fault someone for their mistakes if they fought to be better, if they chose to try". Bruce smiles at the world, the didactic point not lost on him. Thor smiling as well, seeing his plan work.
"He also showed me the value of a helping hand", he looks down at his arms, "Two years ago I was average at best, now I'm working a summer job so I can go to Albany for State next month, all because he was there to help. That's why I didn't hesitate to help, I knew I could do something so I had to try".
Thor almost beams at the purity of the child. "Truly an honourable warrior!", he laughs, an inch away from lifting him to his shoulders.. Bruce laughs off his boyfriends antics before adding his own comment, "You qualified for the State gymnastics competition? You must be so proud!", he replies.
"I am", he smiles, "Topped the qualifiers 2 weeks ago". Their conversation dies down a little. Bruce having gotten an emotional second wind proposes a fun idea. "Hey, sorry if this is weird but I know there's a carvel nearby. You saved my life and gave us some of your time, so if you don't mind can we buy you ice cream as a thanks? Maybe you can tell us more about your adventures with Spider-Man?".
Jon laughs, "I wouldn't exactly call them adventures buuut, I have an hour or two to kill, and I would never say no to free ice cream. So as long as you two aren't creepy kidnappers, sure".
"Reminds me of the birdbrain!", Thor laughs, patting Jon on the back hard enough to make him stumble. "So", Bruce asks, "is that a yes?"
Jon shrugs. "Yeah, thanks".
"Then forth we go! For ice cream!", Thor booms, Bruce rolling his eyes while Jon breaks into inconsolable laughter. Thor pulls Bruce to his side while Jon's laughter slowly dissipates. "Feeling better Brucie?". He nods, "yeah, I think. Who would've thought a random kid running into our lives could have that effect".
Thor smirks. "Peter?" He asks, raising an eyebrow at his boyfriend.
"Touché". Jon catches up to the duo, still heaving a little from his laughing fit, "so what ice cream flavour you guys getting?".
"Chocolate, Bruce replies, calmly but certainly. Chocolate ice cream always his secret comfort food. "Cool", Jon nods, "If it's ok, can I get a large cup of vanilla-chocolate mix". Bruce smiles. "You jumped in the way of a car for me, ask for whatever you want".
"Thanks", Jon smiles back, looking over at Thor next, "And what are you getting Thornton?".
Thor shakes his head 'no' while eating the last Pop Tart out of his second box, swallowing before replying. "Why get ice cream when I have my Pop Tarts!".
"You know you can combine the ice cream with your Pop Tarts, right?". Bruce looks over at Thor, the god walking on automatic as his brain processes Jon's idea, a distinct look of fascination and amazement growing brighter on his face. "Genius!".