Steve spun around. Dr. Schafer was in Loki's grasp, a staff-like weapon pointed at his eyes.
Tony stopped hiding. A Stunning Spell hit Loki directly—his armor blocked it. He wasn't knocked back, just retreated a few steps. Those steps gave Steve his opening. Shield raised, Steve charged and slammed into Loki, completely knocking him away from Dr. Schafer.
Natasha helped the shaken doctor up, telling him to find a corner and stay put—don't run outside. Who knew if Loki had people out there? From her knowledge of Barton, he should be cracking the safe right now. Otherwise Loki wouldn't be aiming at Dr. Schafer's eyeball—definitely iris scanning.
Loki laughed and vanished, reappearing on stage. The four watched him warily as Banner quietly asked, "Should I call Hulk now?" Seeing Banner's eager expression, Tony quickly shook his head. "Don't. This place is expensive. We can afford it, but it's a hassle."
"Midgardians! Behold your king!" Loki swept his hand over his head. Golden armor appeared, green cape unfurled, curved horns pointed skyward, strange scepter in hand.
"Little Bambi?" Tony said hesitantly. "Are you serious? This look? Honestly, even green guy has better taste."
Loki narrowed his eyes, pointing his scepter at the four below. "Midgardian, I forgive your ignorance and disrespect toward a god. Now, kneel, submit to me, and I will grant you glory and—"
Steve didn't want to wait. These words made his blood boil. The last person who told him to kneel was floating somewhere in the cosmos. Why did all villains like making people kneel?!
"Hulk! Go! Grab him!" Steve commanded. Hulk, already briefed by Banner, immediately responded. Banner had no time to warn about destruction—his clothes burst, revealing the intact sleeveless shirt and shorts underneath.
Hulk roared and appeared before Loki. One punch sent Loki flying toward Steve.
Before Loki recovered, Steve jumped up. When Loki flew over, Steve landed and slammed him into the ground with his shield, pinning him hard.
Tony ignored the floor crater Hulk had stomped, raising his repulsor toward Loki's head. "Little Bambi, don't move." He kicked Loki's scepter aside for Natasha.
Though Loki had taken Hulk's punch and felt dizzy, being pinned by these Midgardians he despised, with weapons at his head, he suppressed his anger. The plan mattered most. He relaxed his resistance and let Steve tie him with rope Tony provided.
Natasha watched Hulk curiously wandering the stage. "Boys, shouldn't you handle this? This is downtown."
Tony turned to see Hulk about to tear down the curtain. "Hey! Green guy! Don't move! You break it, you pay! If Banner runs out of money, he'll have to work for Gemini!"
Hulk quickly let go and stepped back, glaring angrily at Tony. "Hulk not called green guy! Hulk is Hulk! Banner has money! Banner makes money! Hulk hates you!"
Hulk rapidly shrank. His clothes changed with his size as Banner appeared, rubbing his head. "Nice job, Tony!"
Looking ruefully at the floor crater and nearly destroyed curtain, Banner unconsciously touched his wallet. Half a year's wages would probably go into this.
Having captured Loki fairly smoothly, they avoided the crowd and boarded the aircraft waiting outside.
With Dr. Schafer's agreement, Tony bought his iridium at market price. If they discovered the fake and came back, he couldn't guarantee protection next time.
On the aircraft, Steve dumped Loki in a chair and sat beside him with his shield raised, staring without blinking.
Just as Loki was about to speak, Tony cast a Tongue-Tying Curse. Loki's tongue stuck to his palate—he could only glare angrily at Tony, making muffled sounds.
"Little Bambi, stay quiet. I don't want to hear your clumsy manipulations." Tony blew on his wand tip like a cowboy blowing gunsmoke.
Banner sat across from Loki, earnestly reasoning with Hulk in his mind, visualizing things they couldn't afford to break. If they encountered any, avoid them, or they'd both be drinking the northwest wind.
Lightning and thunder suddenly erupted outside. Natasha looked out strangely. "There's no storm on our flight path."
Loki looked panicked. Tony mocked, "What, Little Bambi afraid of thunder?"
The next second, the cabin's tail tore open. If Banner hadn't grabbed Tony quickly, he would've been sucked out.
Steve instinctively raised his shield to cover himself and Loki. He felt something hit the shield, but when he lowered it, nothing was there.
Tony put on his suit to stand properly, saying hesitantly, "I think I saw something hit Steve's shield and get bounced off?"
Steve quickly checked himself—no major damage. He looked at Loki under his shield. Still there.
"I definitely felt something hit my shield, but didn't see anything when I lowered it." Steve said honestly. Beside him, Loki was terrified. They didn't know, but didn't he? That was clearly his brother Thor, swinging his hammer to grab him, only to slam into Steve's shield. The shield's properties blocked him—however he came in was how he went out.
What the hell were these people? When did Midgardians become so strong?! Loki's thoughts raced. This time he'd definitely lose. His eyes rolled as he made a decision—find a chance to shift blame. Thor wouldn't let him be judged on Midgard anyway; he'd take him back to Asgard. With mother and his foolish brother there, what did he have to fear? Having decided, Loki treated this mission as a game. He needed to leak Thanos's information while pretending to be coerced—good for clearing his name. Plan complete! Perfect!
Loki sat quietly, pretending to be furniture while constantly changing his thoughts.
Steve and Tony stood, walking to the breach and peering down.
"Natasha, can the plane still fly?" Steve called out.
"For now! One more hit and we're done!" Natasha frantically operated buttons while shouting back. The cabin airflow was so strong Banner had to give Hulk one hand to grip the handrail, avoiding being thrown out. Not dangerous exactly, but running back would be exhausting.
Whoosh!
A flash of light. Steve and Tony stepped back as a blonde, burly man with a hammer, wearing armor similar to Loki's with a red cape, appeared at the breach.
"Why did you capture my brother! Midgardians!" Thor roared, looking imposing.
"Your brother blew up a base, kidnapped scientists, and killed dozens of people," Tony said expressionlessly.
Thor paused, glancing at the bound Loki. He dropped his hammer, scratched his head, and laughed. "Oh, is that so? He's adopted—nothing to do with me!"
???
Everyone except Loki was stunned. They never expected this kind of thunder god!
After conversation, everyone understood each other's purposes and mutual acquaintances. Thor immediately expressed wanting to join—his brother had to face Asgardian judgment.
Tony shrugged. This was diplomatic—not their concern. They had wizarding world diplomacy to handle. Let the bald guy worry about it.
Natasha fought desperately to pilot the damaged aircraft back to the Helicarrier, nearly crashing on landing.
Fury rushed over with agents. Loki was taken by Coulson's team for detention while Fury brought everyone and the captured scepter to the meeting room.
After settling everyone, Fury went to arrange takeoff, leaving only the All-Purpose Shop team, Natasha, and Thor in the meeting room watching that strange scepter.
Originally Steve's group was discussing recent events when Thor suddenly started ranting, making everyone's blood boil.
Banner felt it most clearly—Hulk was rampaging in their mental space, even breaking many of his favorite trees.
Tony also fidgeted irritably with his wand until all three All-Purpose Shop team members felt their chests heat up, then suddenly turn ice cold. Only then did they snap out of it.
"Everyone out! Something's wrong here!" Steve slammed out his shield, directly knocking the agitated Thor out of the meeting room. He grabbed Natasha while running toward the door.
Tony and Banner followed, slamming the door shut.
Outside, Thor finally cleared his head. "Thanks, brother. I felt really agitated just now. What happened?"
"That scepter's the problem. It stirs up our emotions, makes us fight each other." Tony looked seriously at the door like watching a demon.
Fury heard the news and hurried over. "What's going on?"
Steve explained briefly. Fury's brow furrowed as he suddenly turned to Natasha. "You know Barton best. What do you think he'd do?"
Natasha was startled. "He would—"
Just then, violent explosions erupted. The recently airborne Helicarrier tilted as everyone scrambled to grab nearby objects.
"Who's watching Loki!" Tony shouted.
"Coulson!" Fury said, immediately worried. That subordinate was one of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s few trustworthy people.
"I'll check!" Banner shakily stood. "Tony and Steve help fix things. If we fall, almost everyone dies."
Tony suited up, closed his faceplate, grabbed Steve's shield to lift him, and flew outside through the breach.
Natasha dodged falling pillars, pondering briefly. "I'll find Barton, see if I can wake him. If not, physical calibration. I know him—I know where he'll go."
Fury agreed. Thor followed Banner to Loki's location. Though he knew this was Loki's people rescuing him, he still worried.
When Banner reached Loki's cell, only Coulson lay bloodied on the ground. Banner had no time for words, quickly pulling out emergency potions to treat Coulson. Thor saw the empty cell and panicked, rushing in to search the transparent prison.
Beside the cell controls, Loki laughed and materialized, slapping the button. The cell door dropped, trapping Thor. Before Thor could express anger, Loki pressed the adjacent release button. The cell vanished with Thor inside.
Loki turned toward Banner. Banner unceremoniously gave Hulk one hand. Seeing the green arm that didn't match Banner's build, Loki smiled awkwardly, turned, and disappeared.
Banner sighed in relief. Good thing he hadn't engaged, or with Coulson's condition, if Banner got distracted fighting, Coulson would die.
After barely saving Coulson, everyone regrouped to share missions. Steve and Tony fought while repairing—the Helicarrier floated safely. Natasha had found Barton and physically calibrated him. He was still tied to a bed, condition unknown. Banner had witnessed Loki attacking his brother and severely injuring Coulson. Without Banner's timely arrival and medical supplies, they'd be mourning Coulson now.
"We can't continue like this. Can we predict Loki's next move? We can't stay passive." Steve said firmly.
Tony stroked his chin. "With his personality, if he's planning something big, it must be world-renowned. He definitely needs a special location."
"And massive energy," Banner added.
Tony was startled. "Fuck! Stark Tower!"
Steve and Banner got headaches. If it really was Stark Tower, Gemini would definitely be affected!
Tony's expression became terrified. "Shit! There are still Dragon Rise Construction people in the tower who haven't evacuated!"
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