Shocked, Dr. Strange asked, "How did you get here?"
"Heimdall," was Bruce's only reply. He was quiet for a beat, then continued, his voice trembling. "He saved me using the Bifrost after the attack. The Hulk had just lost a fight against Thanos. Loki... had just died in his hands. Heimdall rescued me and sent me here to warn you."
Strange froze. "Wait. Loki is… dead?"
Bruce sat heavily on a bench in the Sanctum, hands shaking, eyes unfocused as the memory surged forward.
"I saw it happen," he said, voice low and hoarse. "We were on a refugee ship. Survivors from Asgard, looking for a future. And then he came. Thanos. With his army, his ship… his wrath. Like a storm."
Bruce's eyes met theirs, but he wasn't really looking at them. He was watching it all over again.
"I let the Hulk out. Thought we had a chance. We didn't. Thanos dismantled him like he'd studied him. Like he knew every move before we made it."
Strange and Tony exchanged a heavy glance.
"Loki… he tried something. A trick. Said he'd join Thanos, but we all knew he was lying. He pulled a dagger. Got close." Bruce swallowed. "But Thanos caught him. Lifted him by the neck. Crushed him. Just… crushed him."
Silence fell like a shroud.
"Heimdall was dying too," Bruce continued after a moment. "But he summoned the Bifrost one last time. Used it to send me here. I didn't want to go. I wanted to stay. To fight."
He looked up at Strange. "Next thing I knew, I was crashing through your staircase."
Tony exhaled slowly, disturbed by the weight of it. "Okay. Space gods, purple warlords, and now royal level homicide. We're really doing this."
"Why would Heimdall send you here?" Tony asked, trying to keep his thoughts in order.
"Because I am the Sorcerer Supreme," Strange said plainly. "Keeper of the Eye of Agamotto."
Tony folded his arms, scoffing. "Magic doesn't exist. It's just unexplored science."
Strange shot him a pointed look. "Tony, we don't have time for this argument."
Tony raised his hands in surrender. "Fine. Magic man is real. Let's move on."
"We need to find a way to protect the remaining Infinity Stones and prepare for Thanos's arrival," Strange said firmly.
"You'll go speak with the rest of the Avengers with Wong. I'll stay here and guard the Time Stone," he added. "Bruce, you're going with them."
Tony nodded. "Alright. Let's move."
As they left the Sanctum Sanctorum, Bruce glanced back, unsure of what awaited them but certain of what they had already lost. He could only hope they wouldn't lose more.
Meanwhile, at the Avengers Compound...
Colonel James "Rhodey" Rhodes leaned on the holotable in the war room, listening to Bruce's account through Tony's earpiece with grim silence. Across from him stood Director Nick Fury very much not dead and current S.H.I.E.L.D. Director Maria Hill. Vision hovered nearby, arms crossed, face etched with concern.
"So, it seems Thanos's Black Order has already attacked Asgard," Fury said flatly. "They're heading here next."
"We'll need all hands on deck," Hill added. "That includes the rogue Avengers."
Colonel Rhodes gave a nod. "We can't fight this alone. Not with what's coming."
Vision, eyes glowing faintly, spoke up. "I've been tracking them. Most of the rogues have taken shelter in Wakanda. They went underground after the Sokovia Accords collapsed. I can go there—bring them back."
"Do it," Fury ordered. "And if you see Rogers... tell him the world's falling apart. Again."
Vision nodded solemnly and turned to leave, his mind already turning toward the weight of what he had to do. The road to Wakanda would not be easy but the war ahead would be worse.
As he passed through the corridor, a thought lingered in his mind:
What happens when even heroes begin to fall?
Back at the compound, Fury turned to Rhodey. "Start prepping the military and alerting the UN. We need allies, not politics."
Rhodey gave a curt nod. "We'll be ready. One way or another."
And as the final pieces began to move, somewhere in deep space, a warlord prepared to collect what he believed was already his.