→ SEVEN!

◜ battle of the beasts ◞

THOR STARED AT THE HULK, BEFORE BREAKING INTO A WIDE GRIN. "YES!" He yelled, causing the whole stadium go quiet and stare at Thor...including Amber. She glanced up at the window, watching to see Loki's face wash over with fear. He muttered something, before turning and rushing off.

She had heard about the events in New York and found this reunion a bit amusing. She looked back at the Hulk, who raised his arms, yelling out. The crowd started cheering again before chanting his name.

"That's Doctor Bruce Banner, right?" Amber asked Thor, her grip loosening on her staff. Thor looked at her with a twinkle in his eyes, nodding ebulliently.

Thor turned to the window again, waving his arm in the air. "Hey, hey! We know each other! He's a friend from work!"

Inside the observation room, the Grandmaster looked over to Loki with concern. Loki cleared his throat awkwardly, having a hand over his mouth.

As Hulk continued to yell back at the crowds, Thor chuckled lightly, looking at Hulk. "Where have you been? Everybody thought you were dead!" Hulk stopped, turning to the two. "So much as happened since I last saw you. I lost my hammer like, yesterday, so that's still pretty fresh. Oh! I met Amber, here. Say hi!" Thor gestured to her, making Hulk stared intensely at her. Upon being under his gaze, Amber suddenly grew self-conscious, giving him a small wave. "Loki, L-Loki's alive! He's up there!"

Thor turned pointing up at him. "Loki! Look who it is!"

They all looked towards Loki, who stared at Thor with wide eyes.

"Ah, Banner, I-I never thought I'd say this but I am happy to see you. Amber," Thor said, making Amber snap her eyes up at him with slight fear.

"Huh, what?"

"You know Banner, right?"

Amber nodded, slowly allowing the fear to drain from her. "Yeah," she turned to their green friend. "I'm a huge fan of your work. Me and Stephen both followed your studies f-for years, Doctor Banner."

The Hulk turned as more green fireworks exploded in the air, releasing puffs of green smoke.

"Hey, Banner." Thor said. "H-Hey Banner!"

Hulk turned towards him. "No Banner, only Hulk!"

As quickly as it appeared, Thor's smile wiped off his face. "What are you doing? It's me!"

Hulk broke into a sprint, making the two Asgardians back up. Hulk jumped into the air towards them, and Thor and Amber dove out of the way just before Hulk crashed into the ground.

He swung down on Thor, the hit getting blocked. He swung the large hammer he had, making Thor fly across the stadium. Thor dug his sword into the ground, making the stop slower and softer.

When he lifted the sword, he saw it was bent and dull. Thor threw it to the side, reaching behind him and grabbing his backup swords. Hulk turned sharply, glaring down at Amber.

She stared up with wide eyes. "D-Doctor Banner! You remember me, right? You bumped into me in Washington, and I asked for you autogra–" she was cut off by Hulk smacking her the opposite way across the stadium.

Amber grunted in pain as she detangled herself from the rubble surrounding her. Thor and Amber shot a look at one another across the stadium, almost as if they were communicating.

"Banner, this is crazy! I don't want to hurt you!" Thor said after Hulk clashed his two mallets above his head. Hulk roared at him again, before striking an attack. Thor swung and blocked Hulk's hits before getting knocked away again, this time into the wall like Amber previously was.

Hulk huffed sharply out of his nose, before feeling a small, minimal weight on his back. Turning his head, he realized Amber jumped onto his back. Amber flailed around, her arms tightly fastened around his neck. "Take that, you Shrek imitator!"

Hulk reached around and grabbed Amber by her waist with one hand, hurling her over his head. Amber screamed out, rolling a few times in the coloured dirt.

Now paying no attention to her, Hulk charged at Thor, lifting one of his hammers at him. Thor reached up, grabbing onto the handle of Hulk's second hammer, waiting until his foe got close enough.

When Hulk was in arms reach, Thor tugged on the large mallet, successfully knocking Hulk around the stadium walls, making the crowd fall silent.

Thor walked into the centre of the stadium, helping Amber to her feet along the way. The two stood in the spotlight. Amber looked around, reaching up and unsheathing her backup sword.

Thor turned to Amber, whispering something into her ear quickly. Amber shot him a wild look. "Are you insane?! That'll never work!"

Thor shrugged coyly, nudging her forward. "Just...try it out. You know how it goes, right?"

Amber only growled in return, shoving her weapon into his chest, making him give a quiet 'oof!'

She sauntered towards Hulk, who was shaking his head and sitting above a pile of rubble. "Hey, Big Guy. The sun's gettin' real low."

Hulk looked up, his face seeming to wash over with recognition. She gingerly extended her hand, before Hulk doing the same.

She swept her calloused fingers over his palm, with a sweet smile spreading on her chapped lips. "I don't know what the hell is going on, but it's going to be oka–"

She was cut off again by Hulk grabbing her by her ankle and throwing her into the ground left and right before hurling her across the arena. Thor called out after her before looking at Hulk with a new fear. Before Thor could run away, Hulk repeated his actions.

Amber, feeling dizzy, looked up, almost seeing Loki jump up in his seat, shouting something towards the two. She blinked, looking at Thor with a glare. "I hate you."

Thor grunted in response, squeezing his eyes shut and climbing back to his feet. When Amber joined him, he handed back her sword before picking up the larger hammer. "Screw it. We're getting Banner out now."

Amber nodded, the two advancing towards Hulk. Thor was the first to swing at Hulk, managing to hit him in his knee. Hulk buckled momentarily, before swinging at the two. While Amber ducked under, Thor jumped over it, smashing Hulk in the face with his weapon again.

Hulk stumbled back as Amber hastily jabbed the butt of her sword into his knee a second time, and slashing the handle of his axe in two.

Thor walked up to Hulk reeling his weapon back to prepare for another swing. "I know you're in there, Banner. We'll get you out!"

Hulk continued to take on the two, quickly getting overpowered by them. Hulk roared out as Amber jumped on his back a second time. He jumped up, slamming her into the ground. Amber laced her arms around his neck, trying to get him to calm down.

Hulk rolled off her, shaking her off before getting hit with the hammer by Thor. Hulk roared as he hit Thor down and jumped on him, punching him across the face with full force.

Thor took the hits, with his helmet falling off. As he got him left and right, images of his father flashed in his mind.

Thor grew angry, the electricity building up inside him.

Suddenly, Hulk was thrown off.

Amber watched with round eyes as Hulk landed in front of her, with Thor standing tall, lightning zapping around him and in his eyes.