At Tony's insistence, the Avengers were currently partying at the top floor of his house.
He could easily see Clint sweet-talking Natasha, the latter pushing him away with a slight smile on her lips, Thor trying to figure out how an iPod works, Pepper trying get him away from the device, Nick calmly watching the streets below with a whiskey in hand, Steve just sitting there on a chair, as if perfectly content, and as for the host himself…
Bruce couldn't see him anywhere.
That is, until someone nudged him in the elbow.
"What'cha doing here all alone? I thought you'd be, oh I don't know, looking for a certain Man of Iron?" Tony is wiggling his eyebrows, a snarky grin firmly set in place, an almost nonchalant pose gracing his features. Bruce couldn't help but let out a deep chuckle.
He hears himself say "You always seem to find a cynical way to phrase your words, don't you?"
The other shrugs, and takes a sip from his glass. "Wouldn't be me if I didn't."
"Too right."
Tony snorts, and they both settle into a silence. Not an uncomfortable or awkward one, no. Just the quiet that moves its way to places of contentedness. Rather like two friends sharing a drink. Like two men after a nice, hearty laugh. Like two heroes who are getting a short rest.
Like two people who, for once, made peace with the monsters inside them.
"They thought you wouldn't come, you know."
Bruce is looking at him now. Tony's eyes are closed, the moonlight is shining on his face, and his mouth is slightly open, as if saying a prayer. Bruce gets the feeling that, perhaps, he is seeing the side of Anthony Stark that almost nobody in the world gets to see: the one that doesn't make sarcastic comebacks, the one that doesn't play the hero, the one that isn't a millionaire or a playboy or even the brilliant scientist locked up in his lab. Maybe, for once, Tony is letting his human side show. The one that has a heart.
Although why he's letting Bruce see this almost vulnerable part of him is a question he cannot answer. So he asks another question.
"Did you?"
Tony tilts his head sideways and blue eyes are looking at him in surprise. He opens his mouth and what comes out is: "No, of course not. I asked when you would come."
And then it's quiet again, except for Thor's yelling, the dance music that Clint and Natasha are dancing to, Pepper's and Steve's feet pattering on the floor as they run off to stop the god from destroying even more things, Nick stomping back downstairs, and the honks of the cars underneath the many floors of Stark Industries. If only because Bruce doesn't quite know how to respond to that.
"You know, out of all the guys here, out of all the Avengers…you're probably the one I trust the most, Bruce." Tony downs the rest of his drink in one go, and he winks. Bruce sends back an eyebrow raise, and they both laugh.
Like two humans who, for once, were just living their lives.
/EXTRA\
"Hey Steve?"
"Please go away, Clint."
"What happened?"
"Nothing. So kindly leave me alone, thank you."
"Is this about Tony ignoring you and hanging out with Bruce?"
"…"
"I knew it."
And with that, Steve Rogers stood up, boldly took a step forward, and closed the door in Clint's face.