IRON MAN: BROTHER DON'T CAUSE TROUBLE

When everything was finally over, Natasha turned to Happy and said, "Can you check outside for anything suspicious?"

Happy looked at her for a moment, then nodded and left the room, finally leaving Natasha alone.

As soon as Happy was gone, Natasha turned around and began typing on the keyboard. Her eyes were glued to the screen, and her facial expressions shifted from normal to shock, then from shock to bewilderment, and finally to a serious intensity. Once she was done, she copied all the data into a file and sent it to an encrypted address.

After completing her task, she retrieved a miniature device from her pocket and planted it under the table. Without a second glance, she walked out of the room. Moments later, the entire room exploded with a deafening

" BOOM!"

---

At the same time, Tony and Pepper arrived at the mansion and found John waiting at the front gate.

Seeing John, Tony turned to Pepper and said, "Can you give us a second?"

Understanding the unspoken request, Pepper nodded and excused herself, leaving the two brothers alone.

"You didn't go to Pepper as I asked you to," Tony said, his rare serious tone catching John off guard.

John didn't bother hiding the truth. "No, I didn't. I had a meeting with Ivan instead," he replied bluntly.

Hearing this, Tony's expression softened slightly, and he started walking toward the mansion. "Come on, tell me about all your adventures."

John followed him silently, and after they both settled in the living room, Tony leaned back and asked, "Did you leave anything behind that could identify you?"

"No," John replied, but then added with a shrug, "Though I didn't exactly try hard to avoid it."

Tony sighed, shaking his head. "You know they'll figure it out sooner or later."

John smirked slightly. "It doesn't matter. For now, they'll only suspect me, and that's enough."

Tony rubbed his temples, his voice filled with a mix of exasperation and resignation. "Fine. Do whatever you think is right, but be careful." Then, changing the subject, he asked, "What about Bruce Banner?"

John raised an eyebrow at the sudden question.

"Don't give me that look," Tony said with a grin. "Jarvis told me everything. Don't blame him—it's your fault for being so direct. If you had just taken the blood and left, I wouldn't have known. But no, you had to take Bruce himself. You know S.H.I.E.L.D. is looking for him, right?"

John's expression didn't change, which made Tony mutter, "Of course you know."

Relenting, Tony leaned forward. "So, what are you going to do with him?"

"Don't worry," John said confidently.

"Bruce is safer with me than anywhere else. Besides, he doesn't want to leave now."

Tony stared at him for a moment, then sighed. "Fine. Anyway, how's your progress with cultivation? Any breakthroughs?"

"Almost there," John replied with a faint smile.

As the two brothers continued their heart-to-heart, somewhere else, a one-eyed man was having a very bad day.

---

Washington D.C., Triskelion

Inside his office, Fury sat watching a video sent by Natasha.

The footage showed a figure in advanced, high-tech black armor beating security guards left and right. Then the angle shifted, revealing Ivan in his Whiplash armor confronting the black-armored figure. The two immediately engaged in a fierce fight.

Though the video had no audio, Fury watched with intense focus, sweat forming on his forehead.

It wasn't Ivan that concerned Fury—it was the black-armored individual. His combat skills and use of what appeared to be magical powers were unsettling. Fury had witnessed many strange things in his career, but this was beyond anything he'd seen before.

He replayed the footage a second time. Then a third. And a fourth.

Finally, Fury leaned back in his chair, rubbing his forehead. "First the green guy, then Stark, and now this... The world is changing too fast."

After a moment, Fury called Natasha.

"What do you think about the person in the video?" Fury asked directly.

"I'm not entirely sure," Natasha replied. "But the guy in black armor resembles John Stark in body shape and height."

"Did you leave anything behind at the facility?" Fury pressed.

"No. Everything's clean," Natasha confirmed.

"Good. For now, come back. You have a new mission," Fury said, surprising Natasha.

"A new mission? About what?"

"I need you to find Bruce Banner at all costs," Fury said firmly.

"What about Mexico?"

"Don't worry about that. Coulson and the team will handle it."

Disconnecting the call, Fury leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes briefly.

"It looks like I'll have to pay the Starks another visit," Fury muttered to himself.

*****

Asgard,

Thor stepped forward, his voice filled with defiance. "Why did you bring us back?"

Odin's eyes narrowed as he spoke, his voice trembling with controlled anger. "Do you realize what you've done? What you've started?"

Thor held his ground, his tone unwavering. "I was protecting my home."

"You cannot even protect your friends!" Odin's voice rose, each word hitting like a hammer. "How can you hope to protect a kingdom? Get him to the healing room! Now!"

Thor pulled back from the guards, his frustration boiling over. "There won't be a kingdom to protect if you're afraid to act! The Jotuns must learn to fear me, just as they once feared you!"

Odin's voice cut through the air like ice. "That's pride and vanity talking, not leadership. You've forgotten everything I taught you about a warrior's patience."

Thor clenched his fists, his tone sharp and biting. "While you wait and be patient, the Nine Realms laugh at us! The old ways are done. You'd stand giving speeches while Asgard falls!"

Odin slammed his staff on the ground, his voice echoing with fury. "You are a vain, greedy, cruel boy!"

Thor's face turned red with anger. "And you are an old man and a fool!"

Odin's voice softened, filled with disappointment. "Yes. I was a fool to think you were ready." He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in before continuing.

"Father..." Loki stepped forward hesitantly, but Odin ignored him, his gaze fixed on Thor.

"Thor Odinson, you have betrayed the express command of your king. Through your arrogance and stupidity, you have opened these peaceful realms and innocent lives to the horror and desolation of war!" Odin's voice rose again, heavy with authority and sadness. "You are unworthy of these realms. You are unworthy of your title. You are unworthy of the loved ones you have betrayed."

Thor opened his mouth to argue, but Odin raised his staff, silencing him with a surge of power. "I now take from you your power. In the name of my father and his father before, I, Odin Allfather, cast you out!"

With a final surge of energy, Odin sent Thor hurtling through a swirling portal. The last thing Thor saw was Mjolnir following him into the vortex as thunder roared above.

---

A blinding light erupted in the desert as Thor crashed to the ground, unconscious.

"Whoa, does he need CPR?" Darcy's voice was filled with a mix of panic and excitement. "Because I totally know CPR."

Jane knelt beside the fallen figure, her hands trembling slightly as she checked his pulse. "Do me a favor and don't be dead, okay?"

Erik stood back, looking around anxiously. "Where did he even come from? Did anyone see that light?"

Suddenly they heard the unconscious person mutter.

"Hammer? Hammer?"

Darcy grinned nervously. " Yeah, we can tell you're hammered."

Jane shot Darcy a look, her curiosity overtaking her worry. "Help me get him inside. We need to figure out what just happened."

Erik nodded, still staring at the sky. "This... this is not normal."