IRON MAN: BROTHER DON'T CAUSE TROUBLE

The aftermath of the Helicarrier attack left everyone in a state of urgency. The Avengers, though shaken, were preparing for the inevitable battle in New York.

John stood in one of the Helicarrier's intact briefing rooms, watching Tony, Steve, Hawkeye, Benner and Natasha discuss their next course of action. His presence still felt like an anomaly to them—like a puzzle piece that didn't quite fit.

Fury paced in front of the large screen, displaying satellite images of Stark Tower. Loki was already there with Dr. Selvig, setting up the Tesseract-powered portal.

"We don't have much time," Fury stated, his voice steady despite the weight of the situation. "We know where Loki is, and we know what he's planning. This is our one shot to stop him before the invasion starts."

Steve nodded. "Then let's move. We need to regroup and hit him with everything we've got."

Tony crossed his arms. "Yeah, except he's got the high ground—literally. He's in my tower with an alien beacon pointed at the sky, waiting to bring down an entire army. We can't just 'hit him.' We need a strategy."

John, who had been leaning against the wall, finally spoke. "What's there to think about? We just need to destroy the beacon on top of the tower and capture Loki. I think that'll solve everything."

All eyes turned to him. Steve, who still wasn't sure what to make of John, furrowed his brow. "You're coming?"

John smirked. "Well, I reinforced the Helicarrier and saved Coulson. What else do you want me to prove?"

Fury gave him a hard stare. "I don't know who you really are, but you've been useful so far. So I'll trust you—this once."

John chuckled. If only they knew.

Tony, on the side, looked pleased that everyone was starting to trust John and said, "Alright, now that all the boys and girls are ready, we shouldn't make Loki wait too long."

Natasha, loading her pistols, added, "Then let's get to it."

---

The Quinjet roared through the sky, cutting through the thick cloud cover as the skyline of New York stretched below them. The city looked peaceful for now, but they all knew that was about to change.

John sat across from Steve, observing as he tightened the straps on his uniform. The man was as focused as ever, mentally preparing himself for battle.

"Ever fought aliens before?" John asked casually.

Steve shook his head. "No. But I've fought a war."

John grinned. "Good enough."

Tony, flying ahead in his suit, provided updates through the comms. "Loki's on the top floor. He's made himself comfortable. No sign of his alien friends yet, but I'm guessing they're fashionably late."

But just as the Quinjet was about to enter the city, a bright blue beam shot straight into the sky from Stark Tower. A second later, a wormhole began to form, growing larger by the second.

Loki stood at the edge of the tower, gazing down at the approaching Quinjet with a victorious smile. The glow of the Tesseract bathed him in an eerie blue light, his golden armor gleaming under the artificial lights. His scepter hummed with energy, anticipation clear in his eyes.

Then, the sky split open.

The Chitauri poured out of the wormhole in waves—grotesque, armored creatures riding floating chariots, their energy weapons glowing menacingly. The invasion had begun.

"Well," Tony muttered, "there goes the element of surprise."

The Quinjet veered sharply as Chitauri soldiers started firing. Explosions erupted across the city below, and screams of panic echoed from the streets. The battle for New York had officially started.

As the Quinjet circled around for a better position, a bolt of lightning struck the tower. The sheer force sent shockwaves rippling through the air, momentarily halting even the Chitauri. Then, from the sky, a figure descended—a red cape billowing behind him, Mjolnir crackling with electricity.

Thor had arrived.

He landed on the rooftop with a thundering impact, his eyes locking onto Loki. "Brother, stop this madness now!" he commanded.

Loki merely smirked. "And here I thought you would have learned by now, dear brother. This is beyond your control."

Thor tightened his grip on Mjolnir. "We'll see about that."

Down below, the Quinjet found an opening, allowing the Avengers to regroup on the ground. As they landed, Bruce Banner stepped out, his usual calm demeanor unwavering despite the chaos around them.

Steve turned to him. "Doctor Banner, now might be a good time to get angry."

Bruce gave him a small smile. "That's my secret, Captain." He looked at John and, to everyone's shock, nodded at him like an old friend. " you ready?"

John smirked. "You know me."

Before anyone could question their interaction, Bruce exhaled, his muscles tensing. A deep growl rumbled from his throat. And then, his body expanded, his skin turned green, and with a roar, the Hulk emerged in all his fury.

The Avengers watched in shock as Hulk turned to John and clapped a massive hand on his shoulder—gently, for a creature of his size.

"Hulk trusts you," he rumbled.

Tony blinked. "Okay, what the hell did I just hear?"

Even Natasha, usually composed, looked stunned. "Did Hulk just—talk? And say he trusts him?"

John just grinned. "It's a long story."

The ground trembled as more Chitauri forces descended. The city was now a full-scale war zone. Explosions erupted across the streets, and civilians ran for their lives.

Steve pulled his shield into position. "Alright, Avengers—assemble!"

And with that, the battle for New York truly began.