Infinity Gauntlet?
When Kang clocked the glove on Ronan's left hand, his eyes popped wide.
Not shocked by the Gauntlet itself—he'd seen it plenty.
What floored him? The two gems gleaming on it.
One he knew—Space Stone.
Back when it was still the "Cosmic Cube," another Kang, He Who Remains, watched Ronan snag it.
They'd gotten the intel.
But a second gem? Kang never saw that coming.
Which one was it?
And if Ronan had two Infinity Stones, why not use them from the jump?
He could've—
"I know you're curious—why I didn't bust this out sooner."
Ronan raised his left hand, flicking it lightly toward Kang.
A casual wipe-like motion.
With it, the space vortex meant to yank Kang away just… vanished.
Aether—the Reality Stone.
It erased the teleport flat-out.
If it'd been a Space Stone portal, Ronan might've paused to think.
Stone vs. Stone ain't simple.
But this? A puny man-made warp?
Ronan didn't even blink.
"Reason's simple."
"If I'd flashed this from the start, you'd have lost the will to fight."
"Only by letting you think I'd fallen into your trap could you stumble into mine, right?"
Ronan's words twisted a bit, but Kang got it.
From the get-go, Ronan had him pegged—planned for his every move.
Even his reactions? Probably predicted.
Kang stared up at Ronan, fear creeping into his eyes for the first time.
This guy…
Too damn smart!
No—smart didn't cut it anymore.
"You won't get a shred of our plans from me."
After a long silence, Kang finally spoke.
But as he did, Ronan laughed.
He chuckled and shook his head—like he'd heard the funniest joke.
The laughter dragged on, half a minute plus.
Each second felt like a year to Kang.
He didn't get why Ronan was cracking up.
"What the hell are you laughing at?!"
Kang snapped—he'd lost, sure, but this felt like a gut punch!
He'd conquered timelines, damn it!
"You."
"You look like some sly, scheming mastermind pulling strings from the shadows."
"But facing you now? You're just a regular guy."
"A dude who stumbled on time travel by accident."
"A future punk leaning on fancy tech to lord over the past."
Ronan's laughter faded, but his grin stabbed Kang with irony.
Why—why say that?
One fight, and he's calling me an idiot?
Kang spiraled into self-doubt.
"Thing is, I don't need your mouth to spill any plans."
"You've already handed me the playbook to wreck them."
Ronan eyed Kang's existential crisis, tossing him a "helpful" bone.
That bone just deepened Kang's disbelief.
When'd he give Ronan the keys?
He hadn't said squat!
Even fed some fake crumbs on purpose!
"Fine—since you Kangs seem to share one brain, I'll spell it out."
"Wouldn't want word getting out I bullied a dimwit."
Ronan shook his head—no point hiding stuff from this clown.
Like he said, stomping a fool would tank his rep.
"You came here to stall me, kill me, or cut a deal."
"But the endgame's singular."
"Keep me from helping 616—or any universe—beat your variants."
"Am I right?"
Ronan glanced at Kang.
No yes or no, but Kang's face said it all.
He wavered.
"You had He Who Remains drop me that controller."
"Set it up so I'd lose magic in the TVA."
"Cooked up a force field to lock out my Space Stone escape."
"Means you rate me high—see me as your only threat."
"Correct?"
Ronan pressed again.
Kang stayed mute—Ronan didn't need his word anyway.
"Answer's in the riddle itself."
"You're scared of me—doesn't that scream I'm the one who can trash your plans?"
"All your multiverse variants huddled up, analyzed every foe."
"But out of them, it's just me—"
"Well, probably just me—who can stop you."
"So as long as I'm breathing, your scheme's DOA."
"Got that right?"
This time, Kang's face finally cracked.
He got why Ronan didn't care about plan details.
He didn't need them.
All the Kangs, pooled together, pegged Ronan as their sole roadblock.
Answer was obvious.
Ronan could ruin them.
While he lived, their multiverse domination was toast.
"Facts are facts."
"But you think we didn't prep for this?"
Kang glared at Ronan, voice fading.
Like he had an ace up his sleeve.
Ronan just smiled.
Left hand up—snap.
A portal flared behind him.
On the other side? An office vibe.
Out floated—no, drifted—a figure.
"This is…"
Kang's eyes bulged.
He knew that face instantly.
Even in his era, they couldn't build this.
Not AI—alive!
Vision!
"Him?"
Vision glided to Ronan's side, eyeing the dying Kang.
Ronan nodded, grinning at Kang.
"Use your Stone—control him."
"Then send a message to those behind him."
"Me, Ronan…"
"Awaiting their arrival!"
—
Earth, New York.
Ronan whistled, lounging at Tony Stark's place, watching Tony geek out over a suit.
Since he'd rolled in, Tony'd barely grunted a hello.
Rest of the time? All over his "little lover."
Oh—his lover being that armor. Gender TBD.
Pepper Potts set a coffee in front of Ronan.
"He been like this lately?"
Ronan nodded thanks, tossing the question.
"Yeah—well, always, really."
"Once he's hooked, days without sleep's standard."
Pepper smiled wryly—she'd made peace with Tony's quirks.
Sure, a million flaws, but what's love if not tolerance and compromise?
"Guess I messed up."
Ronan shook his head, hinting at something.
"I heard him say you left some stuff on his 'coat.'"
"Stuff he's never seen."
Pepper relayed Tony's exact words.
"Coat" meant the Iron Man suit, obviously.
"Kinda, but that's not my goof."
"My regret? Bringing a centuries-ahead suit today."
"Seeing him like this, I'm thinking I should take it back."
"Don't wanna hear you say I wrecked your couple time."
Ronan shrugged, teasing Pepper.
She was sharp—caught his drift instantly.
Both turned to Tony.
Sure enough, Tony froze mid-tinker, swiveling toward them.
"What'd you say?"
He thought he'd misheard.
Ronan and Pepper swapped grins—knowing smirks.
Only way to yank Tony from his suit? Dangle something juicier.
Ronan shrugged, dodging the question.
Hooked, Tony bolted over, plopping onto the couch.
Barely seated, his stomach growled—loud, rebellious.
"Uh…"
Tony opened his mouth, awkward, fishing for words.
Pepper bailed him out.
"Sit tight—I'll whip something up."
She nodded at Ronan with a smile, heading off to cook.
Real talk—without Pepper, Tony'd have starved a dozen times.
"Ronan, you said you snagged a suit from centuries ahead?"
"You're not kidding, right?"
Tony circled back to it.
"Do I look like a serial joker?"
Ronan grinned.
Tony rolled his eyes.
Right—not often, but when you joke, no one's ready.
Flashed him back to their early days.
"So spill—what'd you get?"
Tony skipped the nonsense.
One goal in sight.
Ronan shrugged, snapped his left hand—a tech-less outfit plopped on the table.
Tony's first take? Disgust.
Yup—who makes something this ugly?
No tech vibe at all.
Then his brain kicked in—shot that down.
Friday scanned it—and couldn't fully ID the materials.
Even the bits it caught were vague guesses.
Friday, after Tony's upgrades, was Earth's top AI.
Every Earth material? In the bag.
Unless…
"Where'd you nab this?"
Tony gawked at Ronan, floored.
"From some future dumbass, duh."
"Legend says 31st century, but who knows?"
Yup—Ronan didn't even know Kang's exact age.
Just… far future.
Tony's eyes widened, half-doubting.
But he didn't argue.
This wacky world—aliens exist, why not time-hoppers?
"Future guy, huh?"
"You took down a… future guy."
Tony shook his head, half-sighing.
Ronan's strength? No debate—even the Avengers combined might not touch him.
Scratch that—definitely wouldn't.
But this? Another curveball.
He'd smoked a future dude.
"Don't ask where he's from, his name, or his deal."
"Knowing too much ain't good for you."
"Focus on that suit instead."
"I'm betting you'll crack something new."
Ronan cut off Tony's next question.
Not that he wouldn't spill about Kang—no point.
Kang who? Thanos first.
Eyes on the prize, not the stars.
Plus, handing Tony Kang's suit? With his brain, he'd milk it dry.
One breakthrough could juice Tony's armor big-time.
So, dissect that suit.
Ronan wanted his own upgrade too.