The first time, Doctor Strange decided to make good on his threat to use the time stone against Thanos.

He decided to try the same bargaining technique he'd used against Dormammu. With a shift of his hand he created a green ring around his wrist, looking over to the fighting going on.

Drax and Mantis were down. Star Lord was bleeding out after Thanos had used a barrage of stones like bullets.

That was okay, for now. If this worked he could use the stone to bring them back in the end.

A shift in the air could be felt as Thanos came toward Peter Parker, also wounded from an earlier attack as his legs were bent at an odd angle, clenching his fist as he'd planned to simply knock him down with the force of the universe itself.

Tony Stark could be seen limping towards him, trying to get back in the frey despite his wounds.

They were losing. He had a solitary chance at the moment, with a glide over the doctor called out to the other.

"Thanos!"

Strange kept his voice calm, he needed to be strong against him in every way for this to work.

Thankfully, he'd captured his attention. The large being turning to face the sorcerer with an almost amused look on his face.

"It's about time you showed your face to me."

"I've got a bargain for you."

Tony glared at Stephen. Thinking that the other man was actually going to give up the time stone in exchange for something.

"I don't see you as pleading for anyone's life." Thanos corrected Tony's thoughts without realizing it at the time.

"I'm not. I'm offering you yours." He told him directly in turn.

"Now that's an amusing thought. How could you ever hope to defeat one who-"

Thanos turned, seeing Peter and Tony in the same position as they were moments before. He closed his lips, upturning an eye in intrigue at the two.

"You're not the first one I've been able to trap. And I feel you won't be the last. Hand over the gauntlet, and I'll let you go."

Thanos nodded, though not to agree, "Interesting thought. An attempt to trap me in time. In one moment of a reality that you feel in charge of."

His hand clenched as he smirked, "But how would you fare in a reality beyond time?"

He saw the reality stone light up, the power stone also lit up as Stephen gasped-His hold on Thanos was gone in a burst of power.

"A reality where there is no help for you?"

He attempted to reuse the gem, but felt his arms shoot to the ground. He was forced to his knees in an instant.

"Doc-"

Peter's voice was cut off abruptly as he could hear Tony Stark's audible gasp. In his peripheral vision he could see that Thanos had decided it to be humorous to turn Peter into an actual man-sized spider.

Tony glared hard at the mad titan, going in to charge before his body became a true pillar of iron instead.

"Where the physical limitations of your own foolishness are your downfall?"

His hands felt wet. Mangling. Painful. It spread to the rest of his body as he suddenly remembered this pain-Strange clenched his teeth hard as he suddenly saw Thanos reach for the time stone-

"NO!"

This was not the reality to win.