II.
Bruce was enjoying a good book in the common room of the Tower, when Tony barreled past him, leaping over the coffee table and sprinting down the hall towards the kitchen. The physicist raised his eyes briefly at the disturbance and smiled. The cat-and-mouse game of laser tag between Thor, Steve, Tony, and Clint had been going for approximately four hours straight by this point.
He'd opted not to get involved in this particular war, seeing as how the last time they'd all played had lasted seven and a half hours (there'd also been one broken wrist, several pieces of broken furniture, an endless number of bruises, a hole in the ceiling of the twelfth floor, and broken windows on the fourth).
As far as Bruce could discern, Tony and Clint had formed a "regular human" alliance against the demi-god and the super soldier, and they were currently winning.
Thor burst around the corner a moment later, panting, sweating, and inexplicably spattered in pink paint. Bruce's eyebrows slid up in a silent question.
"Which way did he go?" Thor asked between breaths.
Before Bruce could answer, Steve came from the same direction Thor had a moment ago, and he was streaked all over with black paint, as though he'd been sprayed with ink from a fire hose. (Oh, Bruce was so looking forward to the stories later.)
"Don't go to the eighth floor from the stairs," Steve warned his companion.
Thor frowned and glanced down at himself. "Or the fifth, from the elevators."
Bruce didn't bother to hide the amused smile that spread across his face. It was so very like Tony and Clint to start booby-trapping the Tower. He silently decided he would remain in the common room area with his book until the war was over, lest he—or the Other Guy—get caught in the crossfire.
Steve turned to Bruce pleadingly. "I know you're not supposed to help, but which way did he go?"
The physicist looked between the two men and their plastic guns. "You're right," he replied with another smile. "I definitely can't help you." He returned his attention to his book… but silently moved one finger to point in the direction of the elevators.
Thor and Steve's paint-spattered faces cracked into twin grins.
"Too bad," said Steve.
"I thank you anyways, my friend," said Thor.
They exchanged excited sideways glances and took off for the elevators.
When Tony howled in defeat a few seconds later, Bruce covered his mouth and laughed into his hand.