---
In the dark corners of space, beyond the stars and the reach of mortals, a pair of green eyes shimmered with curiosity and hunger.
Loki, the God of Mischief, stood atop a floating shard of Asgardian ruins, watching a projection of Earth through a conjured mirror. His smirk widened as he observed the glowing figure tearing through SHIELD's network, bending space, and walking unnoticed through the streets of New York.
"This… is no mere mortal," Loki muttered.
His voice echoed in the emptiness of space as the mirror shimmered again, showing Ron surrounded by thousands of kneeling warriors, and then shifting to him sitting across from Natasha Romanoff, the Black Widow.
"Interesting…" Loki licked his lips. "Even the spider finds herself drawn to him."
Thor may have had his hammer.
But Ron? He had something even Odin would fear—limitless growth.
A mortal who outgrew gods.
Loki's jealousy twisted into something deeper—a desire to control, or at least understand.
"I must meet this… Ron."
---
Back on Earth, Ron sat in his skyscraper base—constructed in mere seconds by his own summons. It now overlooked Manhattan, a black-and-gold tower taller than Stark Tower itself. He hadn't yet claimed public attention, but the city had begun whispering about it.
The mysterious tower that appeared overnight.
The man who walked unseen.
Ron opened his eyes as his system beeped.
> [Warning: Dimensional Surveillance Detected]
[Source Identified: Loki Odinson – God of Mischief]
[Threat Level: Irrelevant. Do you wish to engage?]
[Y/N]
Ron smiled. "No… not yet."
"Supreme One," Aria said, stepping forward, "one of your outer watch summons was consumed by foreign magic."
"Let him watch. Let him think he's clever," Ron said calmly. "Curiosity will drag him to me."
He turned to his mirror, tapping his finger lightly.
> [Create Avatar Projection]
→ [Target: Asgardian Plane]
→ [Message: 'You want a show, Loki? I'll give you a war.']
---
At the same time, Natasha stood at her SHIELD workstation, her thoughts distant. Her fingers hovered over her keyboard, but her mind replayed everything Ron had said.
"Live without regrets," he'd told her.
And the way he looked at her—it wasn't desire for the body. It was something deeper. Something… pure, almost dangerous.
"Agent Romanoff," Maria Hill's voice snapped her back, "we have a god requesting entry to Earth's orbit."
Natasha froze.
"Loki?"
"Yes. And he's asking for one thing—Ron."
---
In space, Loki grinned.
"A challenge it is, then. Let's see if this 'invincible' mortal can bleed."
But deep inside, even Loki felt the chill of fear.
Because what he'd sensed in Ron… wasn't power.
It was potential beyond comprehension.
---