The Boundaries of Friendship and S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Gathering Shadows

California's afternoon sunlight lazily spilled over Stark Villa. Tony was wrestling with Mark IV in the laboratory, the sounds of welding and his irritable commands the only background noise.

Happy was sweating heavily on the backyard lawn, practicing the strange techniques Xiao Han had called "hitting people where it hurts most with the least effort" against thin air. His movements were clumsy, but his focus was absolute. Pepper, meanwhile, was handling documents in the study, the steady rhythm of her fingers on the keyboard temporarily shutting out the commotion inside and outside the villa.

Xiao Han was sunk into a huge beanbag chair beside the living room's floor-to-ceiling windows, wrapped in sunlight. The faded beach recliner had been temporarily cast aside and relegated to the sidelines.

His eyes were closed, his breathing even, as though he were asleep. On the small table beside him, half a tub of chocolate chip ice cream was slowly melting, a spoon stuck into it at an angle. Beneath the warm sunlight, his power silently flowed and grew.

That peace was abruptly torn apart.

A shriek of brakes like metal grinding in agony exploded outside the villa gates, followed by a heavy impact, the twisted groan of the ornate iron gates, and the crash of shattering glass!

"Miss Pepper! Watch out!" Happy's terrified roar from the backyard tore through the air and instantly pierced the villa!

Pepper's short cry rang out almost at the same time!

On the sofa, Xiao Han's eyes snapped open. There was no confusion, no irritation at being disturbed—only a cold, profound calm. His body did not move an inch, but his super vision and super hearing had already spread like an invisible radar net, taking in everything outside the villa.

JARVIS's alarm blared sharply. "Warning! Unknown armed vehicle has forcibly entered! Target: Miss Pepper! Armed personnel on board!"

The giant television screen instantly lit up with surveillance footage. A black van had smashed through the gates and charged into the front yard. Its doors slid open, and three masked thugs armed with MP5 submachine guns leaped out, their dark muzzles aimed directly at Pepper, who had just stepped out onto the villa porch and was clearly stunned by the sudden situation! Happy was sprinting over from the backyard, but he was too far away to reach her in time!

"Pepper!" Tony's roar came through the laboratory communications channel, torn between panic and helplessness. "JARVIS! Defenses! Hurry—"

Gunfire brutally cut off Tony's shout! One thug pulled the trigger at the stone pavement by Pepper's feet! Gravel sprayed everywhere! The threat could not have been more obvious!

"Don't move, Miss Pepper! Come with us!" the leader rasped, his gun perfectly steady. "The next shot won't hit the ground!"

Pepper's face went pale as paper, and her body trembled slightly with fear, but her back remained straight. She bit her lower lip hard and did not let out a single scream. Happy's eyes were bloodshot as he pushed his sprint to the limit, despair washing over him like ice water!

Just as the leader's finger was about to finish pulling the trigger, at the instant Pepper's pupils contracted in fear—

Whoosh!

A fierce wind sprang up out of nowhere in the living room, sending the curtains flying wildly!

Xiao Han's figure vanished abruptly from the beanbag chair, as if the signal had been cut off!

The next second!

There was no afterimage, no process. It was as though space itself had folded and reset. Xiao Han appeared with extreme suddenness, standing firmly in front of Pepper! He was so close that his gray hoodie nearly touched the cold gun barrel!

His appearance defied the laws of physics and exceeded the limits of human reaction. Time seemed frozen for a frame. The thugs only saw a blur, and suddenly someone stood before their target. He even tilted his head slightly, his gaze passing over the gun barrel to land precisely on Pepper's pale face. His voice was low and steady.

"Pepper, step back."

Pepper shuddered at the sudden figure and voice, instinctively taking half a step back until her back pressed against the cold porch pillar. An immense, indescribable sense of safety instantly wrapped around her, dispersing some of her fear.

The leader was enraged by Xiao Han's ghostly appearance and his complete disregard for the gun! His shock instantly turned into frenzied murderous intent. "You're courting death!" he snarled, viciously pulling the trigger!

Xiao Han did not look at him. His gaze remained on Pepper, confirming her condition. He merely raised his right hand with casual ease, pressed his index and middle fingers together, and flicked lightly at the gun pointed at him as though brushing dust from his sleeve.

Ding!

A crisp yet bizarre metallic tremor rang out!

The MP5 submachine gun, forged from hardened steel, was crushed from the muzzle onward—along with most of its body, including the trigger guard—as if it had been run through an invisible hydraulic press capable of tens of thousands of tons!

The precision metal structure gave a teeth-grating groan beneath incomprehensible force, instantly warping, compressing, and collapsing! It became a lump of scrap metal that smoked and dripped scorching molten droplets, utterly unrecognizable!

The immense recoil surged through the remaining stock and slammed into the thug's arm! Crack! The sharp sound of breaking bone rang out! The thug only managed half a scream before the overwhelming force sent him flying backward. He smashed heavily onto the van's hood, denting the thick metal into a deep crater, and passed out completely!

Everything happened in a flash!

The other two thugs had only just swung their guns around! Gunfire burst out in a rapid staccato! A blazing barrage poured toward Xiao Han's back!

Xiao Han did not even turn around.

The dense bullets stopped less than half a foot from his back, as if they had struck an invisible wall of sighs, erupting into a torrent of sharp, clattering dings like rain hitting banana leaves!

Under the enormous kinetic force, the metal bullets were instantly crushed and deformed. Then, like trash casually tossed aside by a mischievous child, they bounced away from around his body with a series of clatters, rolling across the ground and reflecting blinding sunlight!

The third thug emptied his magazine. Looking at that back, whose clothing had not even fluttered, his eyes held nothing but primal terror! This wasn't human! It was a demon from hell! With a shriek, he threw down his empty gun, turned, and fled for his life!

Only then did Xiao Han slowly turn around, his gaze falling on the fleeing figure. His face remained expressionless, and there was not even anger in his eyes—only the indifference of someone taking out the trash.

He did not pursue. He merely extended his right hand toward the fleeing man with casual ease, spread his fingers, palm facing down, and then... lightly pressed downward.

Hum—!

The air seemed to release a low groan under unbearable strain! Centered on Xiao Han's palm, the ground in the fan-shaped area ahead suddenly sank! Fine cracks spread instantly like a spiderweb!

The fleeing thug only felt an irresistible force, heavy as a mountain, slam down onto his back! His forward momentum was instantly snuffed out, and the immense force smashed him face-down into the gravel!

The enormous impact made blood spurt from his mouth and nose. Every bone in his body gave a chilling groan, and he instantly collapsed into the sunken ground like boneless sludge, left with only unconscious spasms.

Three seconds. Deathly silence once again shrouded the front yard. Only the rustling of wind through the leaves and the smoke rising from beneath the van's hood remained.

Pepper leaned against the porch pillar, her fingers gripping the cold stone so tightly that her knuckles turned white. She watched Xiao Han calmly lower his hand, watched the three thugs lying on the ground like rag dolls with no threat left in them, watched the gun crushed into scrap metal and the twisted bullets scattered everywhere. The enormous shock blanked her mind, leaving only her heart pounding wildly in her chest.

Happy finally rushed over, his chest heaving violently. He looked at the battlefield-like scene before him, then at the young man standing in front of Pepper as though he had merely dusted something off, and was too stunned to say a word.

Xiao Han turned around and looked at Pepper, carefully examining her condition. Only after confirming that she had suffered no injuries beyond fright did he give a slight nod. His voice returned to its usual tone, carrying a hint of casual concern.

"You're not hurt, are you, Pepper?"

Pepper took several deep breaths and tried to suppress the sob in her throat. She shook her head, her voice still trembling slightly. "No... I'm fine. Thank you, Xiao Han."

"Next time you go out, have Happy or that tin-can inventor accompany you." Xiao Han's gaze swept over the wrecked front yard and the smashed gates, his tone carrying a subtle warning. "New York's security is about as reliable as Tony's laboratory."

After saying that, he spoke no more, as though he had only done something insignificant.

He slid his hands back into his hoodie pockets and slowly turned toward the villa. As he passed the tub of chocolate chip ice cream on the small table, he casually picked it up, scooped out a large spoonful, stuffed it into his mouth, then walked steadily back to his beanbag chair. He buried himself in it again and closed his eyes.

Only then did Happy find his voice again, asking hoarsely, "Miss Pepper... are you really..."

"I'm fine, Happy." Pepper interrupted him. Her voice had regained its usual efficiency, though her face was still somewhat pale. "Call the police and deal with the scene."

"Notify the security company to replace the gates and repair the front yard." She paused, casting a complicated glance at the quiet figure in the living room. "And... don't let Tony know the details. Just say... just say the intruders were subdued by the security system, and that I'm fine."

Happy nodded heavily and immediately got to work.

S.H.I.E.L.D. Triskelion, underground command center.

On the massive screen, beside footage from Stuttgart, a newly added split screen silently played the brief yet shocking clash in Stark Villa's front yard. From Xiao Han's ghostly appearance, to the flick that crushed the gun, to his disregard for the bullet storm and the remote crushing of a man, every detail was crystal clear.

Nick Fury's single eye was fixed on the screen, especially on Xiao Han's first words after appearing—telling Pepper to step back—and his question after eliminating the threat: "You're not hurt, are you?" Behind him, Commander Hill and several senior agents held their breath. The command center was silent enough to hear a pin drop.

"Target behavior analysis updated," Hill said, her voice carrying a slight tremor she could not hide. "He displayed clear protective behavior toward Pepper Potts, with priority higher than his own comfort.

"Demonstrated abilities include: suspected spatial movement, superhuman strength, superhuman physical defense, suspected gravity manipulation... threat level... under reassessment."

Fury remained silent, the rhythm of his knuckles tapping the console growing slow and heavy. The level of power Xiao Han had displayed, his seemingly casual yet precise and efficient methods, and that small degree of "special concern" for Pepper had made the situation even more complex and unpredictable. This was more troublesome than simple indifference or destruction.

"The attackers?"

"Remnants of the Ten Rings, hired by Justin Hammer." Hill swiftly pulled up the files. "Motive: retaliation against Stark or kidnapping for ransom."

"Hammer?" A cold glint flashed through Fury's single eye. "A stupid meddler. Send Natasha to handle it. Make him and that tongue of his shut up."

"Yes."

Fury's gaze returned to the main screen. The marker representing Loki was rapidly approaching Stuttgart, Germany. The Tesseract energy readings on the base screen in New Mexico were fluctuating violently.

"Barton and Natasha's positions?"

"Barton has reached the outskirts of Puente Antiguo and is preparing to infiltrate and contact Selvig. Natasha is currently en route to Hammer Industries," Hill replied.

"Tell Barton his primary objective is to sever Selvig's connection to Loki and stop the Tesseract energy from increasing! If necessary... use force!" Fury's voice was decisive. "Once Natasha is done with Hammer, have her provide immediate support in Stuttgart! Notify Captain Rogers—the operation has been moved up! Send him to Germany immediately!"

"Captain? His thawing adjustment period..."

"There's no time to wait!" Fury cut her off, his single eye filled with determination to stake everything. "Tell him the war has already begun! The world needs him! Now!"

Orders flew out like a gale. The atmosphere in the command center tightened to the extreme. Everyone's attention was focused on the map of Stuttgart.

Yet Fury's gaze involuntarily drifted once more toward the surveillance split screen representing Stark Villa. On-screen, Xiao Han sat quietly curled up on the sofa, sunlight falling over him. From inside the villa, Tony's irritable roars and the sounds of things being smashed could be faintly heard.

"Stuttgart... Loki's stage..." Fury muttered, his fingers unconsciously tightening. "The curtain... has risen."

He suddenly looked up, his voice like a blade leaving its sheath. "Initiate Avengers Level One Response! All S.H.I.E.L.D. field personnel worldwide are to enter maximum combat readiness! Maintain complete surveillance over Stuttgart! From the instant Loki steps into that city, I want him under my watch!"

His gaze swept one last time over Xiao Han's calm profile on the screen. An immensely complicated light flickered in his single eye as he added,

"...Maintain distant passive observation of the target individual. Do not make contact unless necessary. And under no circumstances... disturb the people around him in any way!"

He deliberately emphasized the words "the people around him."

"Yes, Director!" came the unified response.

The center of the storm had reached the ancient European continent. Yet in the sunlit villa on the California coast, the being who could casually raise or quell storms remained peacefully immersed in his world of sunlight.

Pepper sat in the study, looking at the wrecked front yard being cleaned outside the window, then at the quiet figure in the living room. Emotions she could not put into words churned within her. Happy directed the arriving police officers and security personnel, his gaze occasionally sweeping toward the living room, reverence and confusion intertwined.

In the laboratory, Tony knew nothing of what had happened outside the villa and was still roaring at his Mark IV.