Chapter 86: Deals in the Void

The thrill of celebration was in full swing for Tony Stark.

"I, Tony Stark—Iron Man!—declare that everyone's drinks tonight are on me!" Tony shouted with a grin, two drinks in. All the tension of recent months had melted away, and tonight, he was cutting loose.

Then, his smile froze. Standing nearby were the last people he wanted to see.

"Look, there he is," Thor said, gesturing toward Tony on the stage. "Howard's son—he's got that same smug look his dad had when he was younger." With a smirk, he guided Steve forward. "Come on, let's go say hi."

"Hey, nephew! Long time, no see!" Thor called out, then gestured to Steve. "Allow me to introduce your Uncle Steve—Captain America. He was one of your dad's best friends back in the day. That unbreakable shield of his? It's one of your dad's creations!"

Tony felt his mood plummet as Thor laid on the "your father" references, a constant reminder of his lineage.

Tony's expression soured, and beside him, War Machine Rhodes turned away, stifling a laugh.

Unfazed by Tony's discomfort, Steve stepped forward, his face lighting up. "You're Howard's son? That's incredible. When I first met him, he was just a single aristocrat, swearing he'd never marry or settle down! Can't believe you're all grown up now." He even patted Tony's head with an elder's warmth.

Tony flinched. Can't you take a hint, old man? You're barely older than me with that baby face!

"Hold up," Tony protested, shooing Steve's hand away. "Biologically speaking, your body's aging was on pause during the frozen years. Technically, I'm older than you, so stop trying to pull rank on me!"

Then he turned to Thor, glaring. "Knowing my dad doesn't make you my relative, either. And by the way, you're like some ancient fossil from a thousand years ago—talk about cradle-robbing!"

His mind flashed to Natasha Romanoff, who had fooled him into thinking she was a legal consultant, only to reveal her true identity as a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent. She'd humiliated him in the boxing ring, leaving Stark—the self-styled ladies' man—both furious and smitten. Little did he know she was just one of the remarkable women associated with Trudheim Manor, the estate that Thor had turned into a legendary home base.

In fact, there was a whole host of women at Trudheim Manor who defied expectations: Jane Foster, who had wielded Mjolnir with incredible power; the storied Goddess of Harvest; Sif, the top female warrior of Asgard; and brilliant scientist Maya Hansen. Next to them, Tony's past "cover girls" suddenly seemed shallow and dull.

The comparison soured his mood further. Of course, Tony thought, every time I see these guys, it's a recipe for disaster.

Meanwhile, in the depths of space, far from Earth's calm, a secret negotiation was taking place.

Loki stood alone, muttering to himself. "I'm coming back, brother. You'll never see it coming."

He looked toward Earth, clutching the scepter in his hand. At its tip gleamed a golden gem—the Mind Stone.

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