IRON MAN: BROTHER DON'T CAUSE TROUBLE

John stood in front of the mirror, carefully examining his body for anything abnormal, but he found nothing unusual. Taking a deep breath, he decided to take a nap and woke up seven hours later.

After waking up, John checked the Space Gem inside his spiritual sea. It was still the same as he had seen last time. But as long as this thing remained inside his head, he couldn't rest easy.

John had no idea what to do with it. He couldn't even ask for guidance because he didn't trust anyone except Tony. But John was sure that if he told Tony, it would only make him worry, so he decided against it.

Feeling helpless, John focused on cultivating, determined to grow as strong as possible. He also decided to distance himself from the Avengers.

It wasn't that he disliked them—he just feared that his involvement might bring them unnecessary trouble.

"As long as I'm strong enough, I won't have to fear anything or anyone," John thought.

So far, John had already figured out the cultivation process of the Star Wizard at the first level. It had five stages:

Stage 1: Skin enhancement

Stage 2: Muscle enhancement

Stage 3: Bone enhancement

Stage 4: Internal organ enhancement (which he had already reached)

Stage 5: Mind enhancement

Since the last stage involved enhancing the most delicate part of his body—his mind—John had refrained from forcing a breakthrough before. But now, he was ready.

Sitting cross-legged, he closed his eyes and began visualizing the meditation rune over and over in his mind. As he did, a suction force formed around his body, drawing in particle energy.

It didn't take long before John felt some kind of barrier inside his body. But it didn't last—he broke through effortlessly.

The first thing he felt was a cool sensation spreading through his mind, making him let out a soft moan. Almost immediately, his thinking speed and reaction time doubled. What other benefits awaited him, John would have to discover in time.

But he didn't stop there—he continued cultivating.

---

Meanwhile, at the Helicarrier...

Fury sat in his office, his expression grim. Someone had infiltrated the Helicarrier last night—completely undetected.

"Did we find anything missing?" Fury asked in a heavy voice.

Maria Hill, standing before him, shook her head. "Everything checks out. Nothing was taken."

Fury frowned. If they didn't steal anything, then why did they come? He raised his gaze to Maria.

"What about the surveillance footage?"

Maria hesitated before answering, "We found nothing, sir. It's like he was a ghost."

Fury's face darkened. After a long pause, he asked, "Do you think it was the Arcanist?"

Maria nodded slightly. "Given his capabilities, sir, it's highly possible."

Fury leaned back in his chair, tapping his fingers against the desk as he processed this information.

"Alright," he finally said. "You're dismissed."

Maria gave a sharp nod and left the office. Fury, however, remained seated, deep in thought.

---

A Week Later...

The sound of repulsors hummed in the air as Tony landed smoothly on the platform outside his mansion. The Iron Man suit hissed as it disengaged, piece by piece retracting into its compartments. He let out a long breath, running a hand through his messy hair.

After bidding farewell to Thor and Loki, Tony was finally back home. The Battle of New York had ended, but its aftermath lingered like a ghost in the back of his mind. The destruction, the casualties, the weight of what had happened—it was something even he couldn't brush off with his usual humor.

And then there was John.

Tony frowned as he walked into the mansion. John had played a major role in the battle, and Tony couldn't shake the feeling that the kid wasn't handling it well. Sure, John had power—hell, too much power—but power didn't mean stability.

"J.A.R.V.I.S, where's John?" Tony asked as he made his way toward the bar.

"Mr. John is in his room," the AI replied smoothly.

Tony grabbed a glass, poured himself a drink, and downed it in one go. He wasn't the best at handling serious conversations, but for John, he'd make an exception.

---

John sat on his bed, his hands resting on his knees, eyes closed as he continued cultivating. The sensation of enhanced mental clarity still lingered after breaking through to Stage 5.

Then, a knock.

Before John could respond, the door swung open, and Tony walked in, his usual smirk in place but his eyes sharp with concern.

"Hope I'm not interrupting," Tony quipped, leaning against the doorway.

John sighed and opened his eyes. "If you're here just to joke around, then I'd rather go back to cultivating."

Tony snorted. "Alright, alright. I'll cut the jokes—at least for now." He stepped inside and sat on the chair near John's desk, studying him closely.

After a pause, Tony finally asked, "How are you holding up?"

John didn't answer immediately. He looked down at his hands, flexing them slowly. "I'm fine."

Tony raised an eyebrow. "Really? Because 'fine' doesn't usually mean shutting yourself in your room and avoiding everyone."

John remained silent.

Tony leaned forward, placing his elbows on his knees. "Look, kid, I get it. You're strong—probably stronger than any of us. But even the strongest people need someone to talk to. You don't have to deal with this alone."

John sighed. "It's not just that. I have things going on that I can't tell anyone about. Things that... could put people in danger."

Tony placed a reassuring hand on John's shoulder. "Just know that if you ever do want to talk, I'm here."

John looked at Tony, seeing the genuine concern in his eyes. For a moment, he considered telling him about the Space Gem inside his spiritual sea. But then he shook his head.

"Thanks. I appreciate it."

Tony studied him for a second before sighing dramatically. "Alright, enough of the emotional heart-to-heart. I have a reputation to maintain." He stood up, stretching. "But seriously, don't shut yourself away. We're all dealing with this in our own way."

As Tony left, John leaned back against the bed, exhaling deeply.

---

(Author's Note)

(I want to clarify something here: if Tony or John invent something out of nowhere, don't look for an explanation about how they made it or anything. I'm not a science guy.)