"How many did you see?"
"14 Million, six-hundred five."
"How many do we win?"
The pain that shot through the man's body should have been familiar. He had at one point fought Dormammu for what seemed like an eternity, dying in many strange and horrific ways. One would think a bit of torture would be child's play to the man. However, suffering through something countless times doesn't erase the firing of nerves and burning agony you may suffer in the future. Dormammu, as dark and terrifying as he had been at least had little patience with the man and ended his suffering rather quickly each time he'd offered to bargain. This man- or rather monster was in no such hurry to end the pain he'd inflicted. In fact, his sole purpose besides doing what was instructed of him by Thanos seemed to be to find whatever way possible to prolong suffering. His magic was far more advanced than the master of the mystic arts', that was certain. However the two had much more in common than he would have liked. While both wielded magic, they also both studied medicine. He found this out once the needle like objects that were hovering in front of him were explained. Micro surgery.. He couldn't help but be slightly fascinated by how advanced these creatures seemed to be. That all slowly gave way to the looming thought that there was no way they stood a chance before these beings. They had been planning this attack for some time, but he couldn't help but think that they most likely could have beaten them all by simply coming and taking what they wanted years ago when the Avengers weren't as sharp and Stephen had just dipped his toes into the mystic arts. Still, they hadn't. And although he was here captured, heart rate increasing as anxiety took hold at the thought of being tortured again he couldn't help but see the light at the end of the tunnel. They didn't have the stone. And if he could help it, they would never get it. He was willing to lay down his life to ensure this.
"Give.. me.. the stone.." Ebony's cold blue eyes almost similar to his own peered deep, tendrils crawling and feeling around the inside of the man's head for his secrets. He'd felt as though he'd already known how to remove the gem from where it was safely around his throat but kept him there for the sheer enjoyment of getting to break him. Whatever the case was, it wouldn't change the outcome. Glowing geometries rotated slowly around the Eye of Agamotto when it sensed the man urging the needles forward. Stephen exhaled carefully, then squeezed his eyes shut at the feeling of one delicate needle piercing his skin and illuminating the small capillaries that lied beneath. He stifled a grunt, feeling it slide deeper and deeper until it was gone.. as was the memory of it.
He was suddenly jolted back to reality, the flashback taking but a second to dissipate. "One." He answered at all of the peering eyes before him. Technically one, anyway. It was the only one with a favorable outcome. Well, the most favorable out of all of the ones he'd seen anyway. The thought itself made him grip his inner thigh to ground himself. Anxiety threatened to overtake him again even now, but there was no time. Especially with the realization that the Mad Titan was on his way.
"Don't let him close his fist.."
The cape obeyed as it always did, even when he knew that sickening tear was going to be it's fate. He had no time to think about it and instead opened a portal for the young Spiderman to jump through and deal some blows to the Titan before he too suffered the mad man's strength. The blows continued, and for a moment Stephen thought that maybe things could end differently than what he saw . But that hope had run out when Peter Quill beat at the Titan's face and pulled him out of the trance the small woman about his shoulders had him in. That's when he knew they were doomed to repeat what he'd seen thanks to the stone.
"You're full of tricks, wizard." Stephen could feel his face becoming hot, skin at his face turning blue as he felt the man's large fingers grip at his neck and swipe the Eye from his neck. "But you never chose your greatest weapon, a fake." And in seconds the necklace that he placed wards on was smashed easily beneath the man's fist. All of that work.. all of the fighting and all of the tricks he'd unleashed on the Titan didn't even seem to phase him. He felt helpless dangling, hoping still that maybe things would be different and if he tried harder that he would be able to somehow pull through. But that hope had faded almost as quickly as it had came about, and before had a chance to reply he was thrown what felt like the distance of a football field and everything quickly went black.
When he came to and saw Tony spitting up blood from the deep stab he'd taken from the Mad Titan he felt the color drain from his face yet again. The best he could do was muster a weak plea for the violence to stop as he rolled himself into a sitting position. He knew what he had to do and what he had to say but as the seconds rolled by and he watched the man before him slowly grow weaker he started to stray from his script, feeling helpless even from this distance. "Spare his life.. and I will give you the stone." He was panting at this point, everything up until now going exactly to plan. Only this.. he wasn't supposed to be bargaining yet. No, what he'd seen from the visions of the stone was different. Yes, the plan was to eventually offer the stone for the man's life but not yet. He didn't see the stones glow from the gauntlet, he was supposed to wait until the very last second before the blast but he couldn't bring himself to let the man get so close to death. He jumped the gun by mere seconds, and after that minor mistake he could already see things begin to unravel. He stole a glance at the Avenger, disappointment and shock racking his pale features like he knew it would. He'd hoped that at least that portion would change but the man was still in awe.
"Why would you do that?"
Thunder boomed all around the odd band of heroes as they slowly stirred and helped each other up. Out of all the outcomes he'd seen, this was not one he was prepared for. It made him feel a mortal man again, unsure of when death would sneak up on you and bite. He was certain this would be much worse, and he hated himself for it. There was no doubt in his mind he would secure the Mind stone, just like he was supposed to but what would change? How different would this reality that he had not yet seen be from the one he was pursuing? Had he had more time perhaps he could have seen this one too, but there was no use in thinking of that now. Hopefully he'd be the only one now to be turned to dust, he knew Tony would want him dead for betraying the entire plan.
Blue eyes stole over to the only casualty they'd suffered battling Thanos on this strange planet. Nebula, the woman who seemed more machine lay with a vacant gaze and most of her parts missing. She'd come to right as Strange diverted from what the plan was supposed to be, and upon hearing him offer the stone tried one last time to take the Titan's life. Stephen was almost certain she would, but the blast from the Power stone soon turned that hope into dust along with half of her.
Starlord tried his best not to look at her remains, and Stephen could tell that when he did he didn't see her but Gamora instead. He still wanted to believe that this was the only way to win, but the odds were stacked against them even more than they had been before and it made his stomach do flips.
The look on Tony's face had said it all. Then, and now as he watched Peter Parker turn to dust right in his arms. Stephen had been clutching his side where he'd suffered a rather deep wound from the Titan, but it was almost forgotten as he watched Tony look at his own hands waiting to turn to ash himself. When he didn't he turned to Dr. Strange, mouth slightly agape as they both waited for him too to collapse and blow away in the wind. When he jerked and felt his wound spill more blood he knew this must be it. Before the wind could take him he mustered. "Tony. It was the only way.." Stark hadn't moved when he said that, just weakly pondered what the man could have meant. He'd sounded like this was the way to win, but this felt more like a defeat to the man. He could tell the other man was in shock, just waiting for him to disappear as well so he'd be left alone on this planet. But when he didn't, and instead passed out from the amount of blood he'd lost he finally sprung into action and ran in his direction.
"Hold still will ya?" Dr. Strange's vision crept back slowly, the dry wind on Titan blowing red dust past his face. He felt strangely lighter, and cooler until he'd realized the other man had stripped him of his robes in order to find the wound that was the culprit behind him passing out so suddenly. "Tony.." He breathed, trying to focus his vision as it blurred a few more times. Stark looked down at him as if he was just taken out of deep thought. He face was stone, but softened ever so slightly when he sensed the remorse on the other man's face. "Stop moving so I can try to seal this up ok?" "Tony, I'm sorry.." That made the Iron Man stop his efforts, tossing the other man's words around in his head before inevitably playing the sight of Peter crying and blowing away in the light gust after saying something similar. He silently went back to work, though he hesitated a moment. "There, that should stop the bleeding and hopefully promote new tissue growth." But they both knew he'd lost too much blood before he had a chance to heal his wound. His recovery would all depend now, but he'd try his best to keep the man alive for both of their sakes. He didn't know if he could handle another casualty. Strange nodded a thanks, taking time to observe the other man as he stared off into the distance at the forgotten buildings and rubble the battle had caused. No doubt, he was digesting that all of them were lost and perhaps the person he liked the least was left behind. If Strange could have switched places with Peter Parker, he would do so in a heartbeat.
They stayed quiet for a long time, Stephen slowly regaining his strength though he wasn't near 100% by any means. Tony sat thinking for a long time, and he could tell he was trying his best to hold back tears. Stephen didn't want to disturb his thoughts or make him feel like he couldn't express himself but he was unable to move in his current state. So he let the other man think in silence, waiting for the man to say something cruel or joking as he seemed to do to deflect what he was truly feeling. "This was a one way ticket.." He'd finally mumble, shaking his head slowly. "I tried to tell the kid but he came along anyway.." Stephen parted his lips to say something, but thought better of it and instead remained silent. "Though, who's to say he wouldn't have still vanished.." The genius was finally beginning to resurface, and for the moment he allowed himself to asses their current situation to distract himself from his grief. "I guess we're stranded for the time being.. unless we can get on that ship.." Stephen's head began bobbing as he fought to keep consciousness. He'd tried his best to stay awake through the long bouts of silence but he couldn't put it off any longer. Tony suddenly realized and took hold of his shoulders, shaking him gently until he finally grabbed his jaw and forced his eyes to flutter back open. "Hey Doc don't die on me now, I need you." Stephen tried his best to focus, but was failing rather hard at it. "Strange, here. Look, follow my fingers.." The genius slowly waved them in front of the other man's face, hoping to get him to focus long enough to keep hold of his consciousness. It seemed to be working, but two waves later the sorcerer was weakly gazing into his eyes. That made Tony stop, and try to support his back as best as he could so if he did pass out again he wouldn't hit his head on the red earth below him. "Ton.." "Hey, quiet Doc." He gently pat the man's back 2 times to signal that things were ok and he didn't need to talk but that didn't stop the man from continuing. "Tony.." He paused for a while. "..cold.." For a moment the man's brows knitted together until he realized the other man was still shirtless. "-Right." And then he was quickly grabbing his robes and trying his best to drape them over the man without letting him fall. The cloak slowly draped itself over the man's shoulders with delay, but even it looked like it's energy was being drained from it which didn't serve to brighten Tony's mood at all.
It was another long while of silence. In that time Tony had propped the man up against a rock and slowly began surveying the wreckage of their ship and looking for the one Nebula would have arrived on. He didn't want to go far though, less the other man pass out or worse when he wasn't there. After spotting it in the distance he circled back to the other man and crouched down in front of him. "Looks like Nebula was a better pilot than we were, her ship's still in tact. If we can make it over there I can try to figure out how to fly it." He tried his best to ignore how pale the other man was and the sickening color of his lips. The fact that the man was so cold even when the temperature was so warm here was another fact he was trying to ignore. "Come on Strange, it's not far I'll help you up." He wasn't even sure he man had heard him until he saw him turn his head and smirk as much as his body would allow. "Tony.. I'm not getting up-" "The hell you aren't, I'll carry you we can't stay here." "Tony.." He breathed carefully, blinking slowly as a smile crept onto his face. "I'll send you back.." And slowly the man raised his hands, shaking. "I think I can muster that.. Earth needs you." The look that passed over Tony's features almost hurt to look at, and filled the weakening man with the slightest bit of hesitation. "Stark-" "If you think I'm leaving you here to die you have another thing coming." "Tony-" "I've already lost enough people today!" The tone quickly silenced any other protest he could have had. "I'm not losing any more.. You're coming with me, or neither of us are going and I'm gonna fly us home." There was a long string of silence, Strange's hands dropping to his lap as he carefully took in the other man's expression, then smiled finally. "I think we both know that I'm a goner Tony." Somehow, his tone wasn't to be argued with either and another long string of silence befell them. "Plus I.." He felt his vision blur again. "I might kill us both or easily send us somewhere else if I don't focus.. and I'm losing it.." They both knew he was right, as much as the other man didn't want to believe it. Somehow this was hurting just as bad as losing Peter and the rest of the group they met, he wasn't sure he could handle this all at once, all in one day.
This bout of silence wasn't as long as the others for he could see Strange begin to lose focus again and threaten to pass out. He had to act fast or they'd both be stuck here, but he still couldn't help but try to think of how to get them both out alive. "..Alright Doc." He placed a hand on his shoulder which seemed to put the sorcerer at ease. "But I'm coming back for you..I'm not just gonna leave you here. Wong can do the portal thing too, I saw him. Just hold on a little longer, I'll get him to bring us back.." He trailed off with the realization that Wong may not be there when he returned. In the middle of him talking the sorcerer, with his head lolling slightly had visualized the Sanctum and opened a rather unstable portal to it. The gesture itself seemed to drain the energy from him, but he was able to focus a little harder and make is mostly safe to travel through for the man. "Go Tony..I can only hold it-.." But he didn't need to finish his sentence, Tony could see his pale face tilting dangerously forward. So he stepped through carefully, anticipating the shrinking and expanding ring of sparks. The other man didn't even seem to notice when he'd safely stepped through because he'd still been trying to hold the shaky, sporadic portal open for the man. His eyes were half lidded, and the portal was quivering even worse now to the point that only a small child could fit through unscathed. Tony could see he was dying once he'd turned around, and felt a wash of pain overtake him as he gazed at the red sands and the dead sky. Stephen's eyes just about closed, and Tony thought to turn away so he didn't have to witness the man collapse into the sand through that small window. Another life lost, and for what? To save his, and of course that didn't sit well with him at all. The Avengers didn't trade lives after all.
Something over took Tony Stark and in an instant he felt himself reaching through the dangerously small hole and grabbing the man by the collar, yanking him through the space just big enough for him just as he passed out and it closed around him. The cloak he was wearing had helped him through or he would have lost his legs surely, but not before being cut almost in half itself.
They both collapsed onto the floor of the sanctum in a heap, the cloak slipping under them both just before they smashed into it's polished floors. The first thing he could think to do was call out for Wong and hope the man wasn't lost in the snap as well.