Beneath the veil of night, the forest had become an arena for the clash of two "gods."
BOOM!
A thick bolt of lightning descended from the heavens, coiling around the hammer of Thor, who roared as he unleashed its world-shattering force upon the crimson-and-gold figure.
Tony's armor shrieked with alarms amidst the electric onslaught. He crossed his arms, his palm repulsors converging into a blazing beam, meeting Thor's attack head-on.
"JARVIS, give him something to remember! Show him Earth isn't to be trifled with!"
"Sir, his energy output far exceeds conventional weaponry. Sustained counterfire will cause the Arc Reactor to overload."
"Then overload it!"
The collision of power sent a devastating shockwave ripping through the air, uprooting trees and churning the earth like the arrival of doomsday.
Loki lounged atop a rocky outcrop, thoroughly entertained by the fireworks of his own making. One was his foolish brother, the other a mortal in a tin can—let them fight. The more brutal, the better.
Just as Thor prepared to summon another storm and Tony's shoulder-mounted weapons locked into firing position—
A red, white, and blue blur streaked through the sky like a cannonball and struck the ground with a deafening THOOM!
The earth trembled.
As the dust settled, Steve Rogers stood firm between them, his shield raised, posture unyielding as a pine.
He didn't spare Tony a glance, his calm but unshakable gaze locked onto Thor's enraged face.
"Enough."
Thor's brow furrowed as he sized up the man in the "old-fashioned" attire. "Who are you to command me?"
"Hey, Capsicle," Tony quipped as his faceplate retracted, revealing a smirk. "Took you long enough. A few more minutes, and you'd be scraping this 'golden retriever' off the pavement."
Steve ignored the jab. His voice was steady, each word deliberate. "I don't care who you are. Put the hammer down."
"Put my hammer down?" Thor's laughter boomed, thick with arrogance and wrath. "A mortal dares to order me?"
His grip tightened on Mjolnir as he thrust it toward Steve.
"I am Thor, son of Odin! This land—and that treacherous criminal—are under Asgard's jurisdiction. Now, move!"
Without another word, he brought the hammer down with all his might, lightning crackling with the force to flatten a tank.
Tony instinctively raised his repulsor, ready to fire—
But Steve didn't flinch.
He simply lifted his vibranium shield.
CLANG—!
The deafening clash of metal reverberated through the woods.
The shield didn't so much as crack.
Instead, the hammer's devastating force rebounded, the lightning arcing wildly—straight back at Thor.
"ARGH—!"
The God of Thunder cried out as he was sent flying like a wrecking ball, smashing through trees before crashing into the dirt.
Dazed, he clutched his numb hand, gaping at the man who had not only withstood his full strength—but redirected it.
Impossible.
A mortal.
With a shield.
Tony whistled, his HUD scrambling with fresh data. "JARVIS, log those shield specs. We're upgrading."
He floated closer to Steve, grinning. "Nice hit, Cap. Looks like this 'god' isn't living up to the hype."
Thor's face burned crimson.
The humiliation stung worse than the blow.
With a furious growl, he lunged again—only for Steve to step forward, the edge of his shield leveling at Thor's throat.
"We're both chasing Loki, aren't we?" Steve said, calm but firm. "We're not enemies."
"He's my brother!" Thor bellowed.
"He killed eighty people in Germany," Steve countered coldly.
The words choked Thor's rage like a vice.
Steve's eyes—clear, blue, unwavering—held no fear, only an unshakable righteousness that left no room for argument.
"You have no idea what you're dealing with," Thor muttered at last, frustration simmering beneath his voice.
"Then tell us," Steve lowered his shield and extended a hand. "We're not enemies."
From afar, Loki's smile widened.
Oh, this was delightful.
A stubborn soldier. An arrogant metal man. And a hot-headed brother.
The play was getting better by the minute.
---
Aboard the Quinjet.
The air was thick with tension.
Tony and Thor sat on opposite ends, ignoring each other—one meticulously polishing scratches off his armor, the other sulking with his hammer.
Steve stood between them like a father managing two unruly children.
And at the center of it all, bound in specialized restraints, sat Loki, his lips curled into a serene, knowing smile, as if he were a guest rather than a prisoner.
"I must admit," he mused, eyeing the reinforced floor plates, "this ship is quite the marvel. But tell me… was this cage truly built for me?"
Silence.
Tony huffed. "JARVIS, crank the comms. I'd rather not listen to the noise pollution."
Unfazed, Loki studied the trio like a curator examining exhibits.
"A soldier… an iron man… a god..." he murmured, savoring each word. "What an intriguing little group."
His gaze lingered on an empty corner, as if seeing something no one else could.
"Or are we expecting more? That… irritable doctor—he's not here?"
His lips twisted into something darker.
"I'm quite the admirer of his work. They say when his temper flares, he transforms into an uncontrollable beast."
Leaning forward, his honeyed voice dripped malice into the confined space.
"I do wonder… when that beast is unleashed… just how long this fragile alliance of yours will last."
Steve and Tony's expressions darkened.
A sinking realization settled over them.
Capturing Loki wasn't victory.
It was the beginning of something far worse.