Bruce always remembered how fun it was to trick others as a child, especially when no one knew there were two of them. Bruce always loved the little tricks, from confusing the adults or sneaking into the movie theater with one ticket.
Bear on the other hand, while he did enjoy the tricks as much as Bruce did, preferred using their little skill to get away with cheating on tests in school or getting one of them out of trouble when they didn't blame the other for their wrongdoings.
At some point the whole neighborhood would warn each other about 'those tricky Banner kids' but no one could tell the twins apart. At some point, it was as if the only ones who could tell the two apart were Bruce and Bear themselves.
Bruce can't help but think about how different Bear and himself are and never understand how no one can tell them apart. For goodness' sake, Bruce was rather timid when he was a child and Bear always walked up and talked to everyone he met!
Bruce sighs, smiling faintly. It's been a while since he's seen his twin, he hasn’t seen him since Christmas before the lab incident when they decided to get together for a few drinks. He still grimaces at the memory of both of them getting drunk and ending up somewhere in an alleyway the next morning with still no clue how they got there.
Bruce figures it's about time he found Bear again. After all, he's with the Avengers now, he's stopped running thanks to Tony and the other's protection. Plus, he misses his partner in crime.
"J.A.R.V.I.S, can you help me find someone…?" Bruce asks the AI, glancing around the room a bit as if he could see them. He still isn't quite used to this "Without informing Tony." Bruce decided to add, he doesn't want Tony to dig around in his personal matters.
"Of course Dr. Banner. Who is it you wish to look for?" J.A.R.V.I.S replies.
"Robert Bartholomew Banner." Bruce smiles faintly "I wish to know where he is now."
"Of course, Dr. Banner. Here is all the information on Mr. Banner." Bruce looks at the hologram in front of him as J.A.R.V.I.S puts the information on it.
Bruce reads through some of the information, learning that his twin is now a historian. Bruce can't help but feel glad that his brother managed to get the job he's been working hard to get. Bruce quickly jots down his brother's address and decides it's time for a surprise visit.
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It's been about a month since Bruce went to visit Bear and ever since they reconnected Bear would sneak into the tower pretending to be Bruce just to see his older brother, only older by 5 minutes, Bear would complain.
Bruce is looking through his shelves of books when the elevator dings, making him quickly turn to see who decided to visit him, hoping it's one of the others ready to put him to work on some sciency things to rid him of his boredom.
"Oh, it's just you." Bruce visibly deflates as his brother steps out of the elevator and into his room.
"Happy to see you too, Brucie." Bear is rather amused by his twin's reaction "Looks like someone’s bored." Bear plops down onto the couch.
Bruce groans, plopping down next to his brother. "You have no
how bored I am." He complains, leaning his head on his twin's shoulder. "I finished the projects I was working on and no one else has anything to do for me." He complains.
Bear chuckles, running a hand through his brother's curls. "Hmm...well, we could watch TV?" He offers.
"Tried. Nothing good is on." Bruce huffs, leaning into his brother's touch. Bear hums, trying to think of things they could do. After a few moments of thinking he gets a perfect idea.
"Brucie," Bear smirks, "your friends don't know about me, right?"
"No…? Wh- oh." Bruce smiles, catching onto what his brother means. "Oh, that's a good idea!" He sits up quickly "I'll get you something to wear." Bruce quickly goes to his room and picks out the same clothes Bruce has on. Bringing it back to his brother and tossing them at him.
Bear heads to the bathroom and changes into the clothes. He comes back out not long after. Wearing the same purple shirt, black pants, and grey socks as his brother.
Bruce walks over to Bear and helps him fix his hair to look like his and swaps his brother’s glasses for a pair exactly like his own.
"Done." Bruce backs up to examine his handiwork "Now. Who should we bother first…"
"Tony." The twins smiled at each other. They might as well annoy the best friend first.
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Tony is in his lab working on an upgrade for his suit when the door opens. "This better be important!" Tony says without looking up from his work, music blasting in the background.
"Sorry, I just left some notes in here the other day." Bruce walks over to his desk and starts looking through his papers, he picks up a stack of notes.
"Brucie! Don't worry about it!" Tony says, waving the other scientist off. Bruce thanked Tony before leaving the lab with the notes.
Tony gets back to work once Bruce leaves but is confused when he walks right back into the lab and over to his desk.
"Hey Tony, sorry, just left some notes in here from the other day," Bruce says as he starts digging through the papers.
"Uhm... weren't you just in here?"
Bruce looks up at Tony, an eyebrow raised in confusion "No…?" He smiles slightly "Are you alright, Tony? Maybe you should take a break from the lab." Bruce chuckles, looking down at the papers and signing. "Looks like it's not here...oh well."
Bruce walks over to a confused Tony, putting a hand on the other's shoulder "Maybe you should get some rest?" He smiles kindly before leaving the lab.
Tony shakes his head "Yeah...rest." he shuts off his computer and decides to head to his room to rest.
While Tony has a midlife crisis, Bear and Bruce are snickering in the hallway, away from prying eyes and ears as they watch Tony leave the lab in a confused daze.
"Man, I missed this." Bruce chuckles. "Let's do Steve next!" He and his brother excitedly go to find the blond.
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It doesn't take the two long to tease and confuse nearly everyone in the tower. They made Steve worry about his eyesight, made Clint confused about Bruce's random mood swings, and Bucky think he was hearing voices.
Now the two are ready to confuse the two gods as they walk into the tower. Bruce is standing near the door and Bear is waiting around the corner, waiting for them to walk past him. Thor and Loki walk through the door, bickering about something or other when they pass by Bruce.
"Hello." Bruce greets them, earning a smile from Thor.
"Greetings friend Bruce!" Thor waves happily as Loki just nods.
"Dr. Banner." The black-haired god greets. The two gods keep walking, turning the corner.
"Ah, Thor, Loki, welcome!" Bear smiles warmly, waving hello.
"Greetings Bruce's look alike!" Thor smiles back, not as enthusiastic as he has been with Bruce.
"Yes, yes, hello." Loki sighs, walking on past his brother. Thor sighs, sending Bear an apologetic look before hurrying after his brother.
Bruce walks over to Bear, the twins shocked they were found out.
"How-" Bear clears his throat "How could they tell us apart?" He looks at his brother.
"I-I don't know…" Bruce looks at his brother just as confused as the other. No one has ever been able to tell them apart, not even their own family could tell them apart. The twins, though confused, are rather intrigued. Curiosity peeked, they quickly scurry off after the gods.
“Wait! Thor, Loki, do you have a minute!” Bruce jogs up beside the golden-haired god, putting a hand on the other’s shoulder. Bear catches up to his twin, leaning on him as he catches his breath.
“Damn, I’m not cut out for this.” Bear huffs.
“Of course friend Bruce, we have the time to chat.” Thor smiles, putting an arm around his brother and pulling him in, much to Loki’s annoyance. “What is it you wish to speak about?” Bruce and Bear straighten up and speak at the same time.
“How could you tell us apart?”
Loki and Thor look at each other, smirking before looking back at the twins in front of them.
“I am the god of mischief and lies, I know when someone is trying to deserve me,” Loki says smugly, a confident smile on his lips. “So of course I could tell you two apart.”
“And I am used to seeing through my brother’s tricks.” Thor chuckles “Loki can still trick me, but others cannot.”
You see, Bruce and Bear may be different, but they have one thing in common. They love a challenge, the harder the better, the trickier the best.
“Fine.” Bruce crosses his arms. “We accept-”
“Your challenge.” Bear smiles, pushing his glasses up.
Thor and Loki could have sworn they felt chills go down their spines. Uh oh, what have they started…