Tony headed deeper into the top floor of the tower.
So did Loki.
"Are you going to beg for my rcy?" Loki asked, scepter in hand, walking with steady steps and a confident smirk playing on his lips.
"Uh, actually, I'm here to threaten you," Tony replied nonchalantly, standing on the steps and looking down at him, waving his hands dismissively.
"Then you should have at least worn your armor," Loki said, amused.
"Yeah, well... it's not really my style indoors."
Tony walked toward the bar, hands behind his back. "You've still got that glowing staff. Want a drink?"
Loki's smirk deepened, laced with disdain. "Stalling won't save you."
"No, no, no—" Tony corrected quickly as he stopped in front of the bar. "It's a threat. You really don't want a drink? Suit yourself—I'll have one."
He began pouring himself a glass of vodka.
Loki turned his back to him and stared out the floor-to-ceiling windows at Manhattan.
"My army will be here soon. You're finished. What have I to fear?"
He turned back toward Tony.
"Avengers."
Loki raised an eyebrow. "?"
"That's what we call ourselves," Tony explained, pouring the drink. "It's a team—the Earth's mightiest heroes, sort of like the world's strongest League of Legends."
"I've seen it," Loki said, still smirking.
"Yeah, well, it took us a while to get it together, but let walk you through it."
Tony grinned.
"Your brother, the handso blond—"
Loki's smile faltered ever so slightly.
"A literal god, an immortal legend. Then there's a big guy with... anger issues."
He took a sip from his glass.
"Also, a couple of elite agents."
"Oh, and it'd be nice if Mr. Archer wait we already have an Archer so Mr. Hunter yep he could make it too—though I don't expect him to show, he'll probably want a shot at you eventually."
Tony took a step forward, gesturing toward Loki with his drink.
"And you—you've managed to piss off every single one of them."
While speaking, Tony discreetly slipped a bracelet onto his wrist from behind the bar.
"That was the plan," Loki said quietly, taking a step forward.
"Not a great plan."
Tony erged from behind the bar. "Because when they co—and they 'will'—they're going to co for you."
"I have an army," Loki said.
"We have Hulk," Tony shot back.
"I thought the beast was lost."
"You still don't get it. You'll never sit on that throne. There's no version of this where you win," Tony said firmly. "Even if you wipe us out, the Earth's not going down without a fight. And if it does—"
He leaned in slightly.
"—we'll co for you."
"If your team turns on one another, they won't have ti to co for ," Loki replied coldly.
He stepped forward, tapping Tony's chest with the scepter.
---
Blaine was still in Queens.
He hadn't headed to Manhattan yet—it wasn't necessary. With his enhanced senses, if the portal opened, he'd see it from here.
Wearing his Hunter suit, he sat at the edge of a tall, sharp-angled building. He couldn't help but admit—he looked like sothing out of 'Assassin's Creed'.
He clicked his tongue quietly in thought.
New York, New York… always a disaster zone. Its people—forever in danger.
The Green Goblin, Doctor Octopus, Iron Monger, Hulk, Abomination, Kingpin, The Hand… and now Loki.
Almost every major villain seed to choose New York as their playground.
So many heroes—so many more villains. In TV and movies, this city was basically the cradle of chaos. Every theatrical criminal ended up here to give New Yorkers a hard ti.
It was tragic, really.
His thoughts drifted—sohow—to Gali.
He sighed, lancholy washing over him.
Not that he was prone to self-pity. But still—he'd been alone, then Gali ca along. A follower, a companion. For once, life was about more than just the money.
If he had the strength, he'd march right up to Galactus and take Gali back—as a pillow, even.
But who was he kidding?
He didn't even know where in the universe they were right now. And take on Galactus?
Yeah, right. That was suicide.
Still, it was a fun thought.
Just then, his ears twitched.
From the noisy crowds below, he caught a distinct sound.
'Whoosh.'
'Whoosh.'
'WHOOSH—'
Web-shooters?
Mixed with… weird yelling?
Blaine's expression turned curious. Looking to his left, he saw it.
Sure enough, swinging through the alley was a kid in a red-and-blue suit with large, bug-like eyes—webbing from one building to another. He was at least thirty stories in the air.
But it looked… a little clumsy.
The kid bounced off walls now and then, scaring so overti workers in nearby offices. He waved at them awkwardly after every misstep and kept swinging.
It was oddly charming. And kind of hilarious.
Blaine recognized him instantly.
That awkward suit. Those oversized lenses.
Definitely a Spider-Man—probably new. Not upgraded to beginner level Spider-Man yet.
"Spider-Man!" Blaine shouted.
The young Spider-Man, surprised by the sudden call, lost focus.
He didn't stop in ti.
Instead, he slamd straight into the concrete wall of Blaine's building, leaving a sizeable dent.
'PONG!'
"Ohhh, shit!" ca the boy's muffled voice, followed by a groan.
'Damn…'
Blaine winced, rubbing his temple.
That impact sounded painful.
If that were a regular person, their brain would be pulp. Crackle and splatter.
But then again…
That's part of what made the kid great.
Even when he crashed, he had codic timing. Blaine was sympathetic, but couldn't help chuckling.
The kid lay splattered against the wall for a while.
The main problem? His webbing depended on his own strength. And just now, hearing his na called, he got a little too excited.
Used too much force.
He smashed into the wall like a ragdoll, probably dazed out of his mind.
*************************************
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