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Ethan looked straight at Rhodes, his expression calm—but firm.
"And more importantly," he added, "he tried to attack me. That alone gives me full authority to act however I want with him."
Rhodes stiffened. "That's not how—"
Ethan raised a hand, cutting him off.
"Just because you're Tony's friend," Ethan said evenly, "doesn't mean I'm going to ignore the fact that the U.S. military almost got me killed."
He stepped closer, his voice still controlled, but the weight behind it unmistakable.
"If not for my company's defenses," Ethan continued, "I wouldn't be standing here right now."
Rhodes looked at him as he said. "And we both know you were safe. You always are."
That landed.
"What about the hundred people," Ethan went on, his tone colder now, "who were crushed inside their cars when that monster went out of control? The monster your military created."
Silence filled the kitchen.
Ethan leaned forward just a little, staring Rhodes down.
"So don't talk to me about jurisdiction," he said. "Don't talk to me about how I am always protected by my own tech"
He straightened and took a slow breath.
"If you want Emil Blonsky back," Ethan finished calmly, "then send someone with an offer good enough to make me give him up."
He picked up his coffee and took a sip.
"Until then," he said casually, "he stays with me."
Rhodes stared at him for a long moment, then finally exhaled.
"…Yeah," Rhodes muttered. "Like I said."
He looked at Ethan again, his expression serious.
"This is going to create a huge problem with the Pentagon."
Ethan didn't react.
"You're not like Tony," Rhodes continued. "He just made a suit. You, on the other hand—you have technology that's almost unbelievable."
He shook his head slightly.
"And now, if the U.S. military gives up the super-soldier serum and Emil Blonsky, it creates a bigger issue. No one knows if you can reverse-engineer it."
Rhodes looked Ethan straight in the eye.
"There was a debate," he said. "Ninety percent believe you can extract or recreate the serum from Emil. The rest think you don't even need it with the tech you already have."
He paused.
"If you keep him, it'll bring serious trouble your way."
Ethan took another sip of his coffee, completely calm.
"They can't touch me," he said casually. "There's nothing they can do."
Rhodes' lips pressed into a thin line—because Ethan was right.
There wasn't a single piece of dirt on him. No illegal funding. No hidden weapons trades. No black sites. Everything Arasaka did was clean, documented, and legally airtight.
"That's exactly the problem," Rhodes said quietly. "You're untouchable."
Ethan set the mug down.
"No," he corrected. "I'm careful."
He stepped closer, his voice lowering just enough to carry weight.
"You're worried about what might happen," Ethan said. "I'm dealing with what already did."
He met Rhodes' gaze.
"The Pentagon lost control," Ethan continued. "People died. Cities almost fell. And now they're scared because someone else picked up the mess."
Rhodes didn't argue.
"So here's how this goes," Ethan said calmly. "They don't threaten me. They don't posture. They negotiate."
"And if they don't?" Rhodes asked.
Ethan's expression didn't change.
"Then nothing happens," he said. "Blonsky stays locked away, the world stays stable, and the Pentagon learns to live with it."
He turned back toward the counter.
"I'm not starting a war with the U.S. military," Ethan added. "But I'm also not handing them their mistake and hoping they don't repeat it."
Rhodes exhaled slowly.
"…I'll tell them," he said.
Ethan nodded once.
"Good," he replied. "Tell them this too."
Rhodes paused at the door.
"I'm not their enemy," Ethan said calmly. "And they never want me to be their enemy either. Their little toys called nukes? I could crush them with a single tap on my watch."
Rhodes turned slowly, staring at him.
"I'd really like that to be a joke," he said. "But after seeing the armor you gave me—and how easily even your lowest-level guards handle things—I know you're stating a fact."
Ethan's expression didn't change.
"Don't grow arrogant, Ethan," Rhodes warned. "That's how people fall."
Ethan smiled faintly.
"I'm not arrogant," he replied. "I'm extremely cautious."
He set his mug down and continued, his tone measured.
"If I ever decide the U.S. military is becoming a problem for me," Ethan said, "I won't fight it directly. I'll change it."
Rhodes frowned.
"What do you mean?"
Ethan met his eyes.
"I mean temptation," he said. "Every human is weak to it. Power, money, protection, survival."
He gestured lightly with one hand.
"They must have done things while in power," Ethan continued. "No matter how deeply it's buried, I can dig it up."
" And if there is really a Saint and clean guy there, I will frame him"
Rhodes' expression darkened.
"And once I have the evidence "Ethan finished, "replacing the people at the top becomes very easy."
Silence filled the room.
Rhodes let out a slow breath.
"…You're talking about dismantling an institution without firing a single shot."
Ethan nodded once.
"Wars are loud," he said. "Control is quiet."
Rhodes looked at him for a long moment, then shook his head.
"You're dangerous," he said—not as an insult, but a statement.
Ethan smiled slightly.
"Only to people who force me to be."
Rhodes turned and walked out, the doors sliding shut behind him.
"That went awful," he muttered as he stepped outside the mansion.
Before he could take another step, a guard moved to block his path.
"What is it?" Rhodes asked, looking at him.
The guard's expression was calm, almost amused.
"Ethan-sama said," the guard spoke evenly, "if you plan to record conversations, come prepared with technology good enough to matter."
Rhodes' eyebrow rose slightly. He glanced down and noticed his upper button was cracked—barely noticeable, but broken nonetheless.
"…You noticed," Rhodes said quietly.
The guard gave a faint, confident smirk.
"Did you really think such trash would work here?" he said. "Ethan-sama's mansion is secured more tightly than nuclear launch codes, for your information."
Rhodes let out a slow breath.
"…Figures," he muttered, shaking his head as he walked away.