That had to be it.

In an instant, Alex pieced everything together, the fragments of overheard words and faint mechanical hums snapping into place like a puzzle he'd already solved halfway in his head.

A slow, knowing smirk curled at the corners of his lips.

Iron Man and Captain America—here to steal from him?

Now this was amusing.

He'd taken the Tesseract from S.H.I.E.L.D. on a whim, tossing it into his base like a trinket picked up during a lazy afternoon stroll. Never had he imagined that same cube would one day lure two time-traveling legends to his doorstep, stepping right into his territory without hesitation.

But it didn't matter who they were—

If they dared target him, they'd come to regret it.

His eyes glinted with interest as he shifted his focus toward the faint presence he'd already been aware of for some time. With that thought, Alex suddenly turned his head, gaze cutting through concrete and steel like it wasn't even there, locking eyes with the distant figures of Tony and Steve.

His lips curled into a grin—not one of warmth, but the kind of grin a predator gives after catching its prey in plain sight.

---

Outside the Base.

Inside the augmented feed of his visor, Tony's blood ran cold. The live stream from the micro-drones froze on Alex's face—looking straight at the camera as though it wasn't hidden at all.

"Cap— we're made."

Steve's expression hardened instantly, the easy calm of his soldier's discipline shifting into razor-sharp readiness.

"How?"

Had Homelander spotted the drones?

Tony's mind spun. Impossible. These weren't just cutting-edge—they were future tech from decades ahead of this era. They didn't reflect light, didn't emit detectable signals. Even if they landed on someone's nose, they wouldn't be noticed.

"Move. Now."

There was no hesitation.

Tony slapped the triangular device on his chest—

CLANK. CLANK. CLANK.

The nanotech surged across his frame like liquid mercury, snapping into place until the Mark LXXXV armor encased him in a seamless shell. The air seemed to grow heavier with the low, thrumming hum of the suit's energy core.

He grabbed Steve's arm.

WHOOSH!

A sonic boom tore across the open field as Tony's thrusters roared to life—

Only for a blur to drop from the sky and slam into the ground before them, sending dirt and shockwaves in every direction.

Alex.

Not a scratch on him.

Not even dust clinging to his boots.

"Leaving so soon?"

His voice was smooth, yet laced with something sharp underneath—a mock disappointment that almost sounded like a dare.

"I haven't even served tea."

Steve took a cautious step forward, palms raised in a gesture of peace.

"Homelander, this is a misunderstanding. We mean no harm."

Alex's gaze cut to him, cold and unblinking.

"Harm or not, you trespassed."

The air between them was tense, thick enough to press against their lungs.

"Just—let me explain!" Steve's tone carried urgency now, a soldier trying to defuse a battle before the first strike fell.

Alex studied them for a long moment.

Honestly, their arrival wasn't entirely unexpected. In the natural flow of time, the two should have taken the Tesseract from S.H.I.E.L.D. But with his interference, the thread had twisted… and yet somehow, the larger weave seemed unchanged.

That fact intrigued him more than he cared to admit.

Had half the universe still been wiped out?

Had the Avengers still lost?

He almost wanted to hear them say it.

"Fine, Captain. Enlighten me."

Alex crossed his arms casually, though the power in that stance was anything but casual.

"Who are you collecting the Stones for? Thanos?"

The name hit like a hammer. Tony and Steve froze mid-breath.

"How the hell do you—wait."

Tony's HUD lenses narrowed.

"Cap, he recognized you. But in this era, you're supposed to be frozen solid."

Steve's brow furrowed, his instincts telling him Alex knew far more than he should.

"It is Thanos, isn't it?" Alex pressed, almost conversationally.

They exchanged a weighted glance.

"You know about him?" Tony's voice was tight, edged with disbelief.

"The Mad Titan wiped out half the universe," Steve said at last, his voice grave.

"We need the Stones to undo it. Please."

Alex chuckled, the sound low and almost amused.

"And why would I care about half the universe?"

Steve stared at him, momentarily robbed of words. He'd expected denial, confusion—maybe even hostility—but not indifference.

"You—you can't be serious!" Tony snapped, the temper he'd been holding back flaring.

"Billions of lives—!"

"Means nothing to me."

Alex's smile didn't falter, but it carried a coldness that made the air between them feel just a bit sharper.

"But since you're here… let's talk about your future."

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