The arrival of the ship was very dramatic. It broke through the atmosphere, flaming, and came to a controlled crash in the compound's grounds. Tony ran over to the ship, the crew already exciting.
"Shit, what happened,"
"Thanos, he clipped the ship, Thor managed to distract them, we don't have much time," gasped Quill, Gamora came over and wrapped an arm around him.
"Okay everyone on the compound, we need a game plan," Tony strode into the compound, they hadn't come across the others yet. It had been decided that Tony and the others would greet the space crew, Natasha came to walk next to him,
"What about the time Stone, we got the other two,"
"Believe it or not, Doctor Strange has the time Stone. I haven't heard from Vision though, so I don't know where he is,"
"Tony!" came a call from behind him, Rhodey was coming over, jogging slightly stiffly, but jogging none the less, "Tones, everyone's in the briefing room. Strange and Black Panther are here too,"
"Thanks Rhodey," Rhodey gave him a supporting squeeze before he entered the briefing room. They all took a spot in the room, Tony ignored Wanda where she was sitting next to Rogers and Vision. Loki however, immediately noticed who Wanda was and almost advanced towards her, "Not yet", murmured Tony, "She's still powerful and we're gonna need her for fighting Thanos, after that you can go wild," Tony knew when to set hi emotions aside but that didn't mean he was letting her off the hook. The bitch had manipulated his Honey-bears mind and he would not stand for this. Nebula and Gamora were giving Rogers death glares, Loki joined in, not deeming Wanda important enough to waste his time on. Tony was rather satisfied with the way Rogers shifted in his seat awkwardly. When no one stood up to discuss plans, Tony took the initiative to do so,
"Right okay, So far we have 5 of the 6 stones. Gamora is the only one who knows where the 6th is. If we keep all the stones in one place, we can have a last line of defence guarding them, except for Vision, he is too powerful to not use but he should stay away from Thanos as if Thanos gets his hands on him, he has a stone. "
"Who made you in charge, Stark," hissed Wanda, glaring at him, he didn't feel the slightest fazed, he had people at his back. Though he had to kick Loki when it looked like he would through a knife at her. (Worse things could happen)
"Since no one else seemed to want to, here I am,"
"Unless you have better plan," added Loki, watching Wanda. Wanda shut up at that,
"Great, so-" a huge jolt seemed to shake the entire compound, sending them sprawling.
"He's here," murmured Nebula as she helped Tony up,
"Right, long story short, kill Thanos, disable his troops,"
"Tony, you don't have your suit," hissed Rhodey, already suited up. Tony smirked at him. The nanos already forming around him,
"I whipped up something new. Don't worry Sour Patch." Rhodey looked at him before grinning. It was an uneasy grin, full of fear for the future. Tony understood. The hero's ran on to the compound's grounds, in time to see a ship of imaginable proportions land on the field. Making shook waves rush through the earth. No one moved, they simply waited as the ships ramp lowered and five beings moved down the ramp, the huge amour purple one in the middle Tony assumed to be Thanos. A grey alien with no nose, moved in front, addressing them,
"Hear me and rejoice...You are about to die at the hands of the Children of Thanos and the Titan himself. Be thankful, that your meaningless lives are now contributing to the balance of-" having enough of the self-righteous drivel, Tony cut in, "
I'm sorry, Earth is closed today! You better pack it up and get outta here." The creature looked mildly offended at this, Tony didn't like how Thanos looked amused. Instead it turned his attention to Strange, deciding that the Stone keeper was superior,
"Stonekeeper, does this chattering animal speak for you," Tony would have been affronted at that if he hadn't heard worse from his own mind. It was in a way true as well. Strange stood forward,
"Certainly not. I speak for myself," he made a movement with his fists and the same yellow magic from earlier appeared there, the rest of the assembled people took that as a sign, and everyone got into battle positions
"But you're trespassing on our planet," Tony wanted to laugh at that, since Strange was the one trespassing in his home that morning.
"It means get lost, Squidward!" he quipped, what? He couldn't resist. He always got more irritating in the face of danger, thinking about it, it wasn't a very good survival instinct.
Tony had his repulsors up, pointed at the Squidward lookalike, ready to fire. The thing took another step forward, but was stopped by Thanos,
"I do not wish to harm you. Hand over my daughters and the stones and maybe some of you will live,"
"And if we don't?" asked Barton. Thanos simply tilted his head,
"Then you will all die,"
"Yeah, that's not going to happen," Thanos looked directly at him, and Tony had to force himself not to step back under the weight of it,
"Stark," he had never heard his name sound quite like a death sentence before. A wave of whispering went through the crowd.
"How do you know Tony," growled Rhodey, his shoulder cannon levelled at Thanos,
"You know me?" Tony added, he knew the Titan knew him, so it didn't unbalance him as much, but hearing it from him was different then the second-hand knowledge. Loki and Thor closed around him slightly tighter, Nebula and Gamora gripping their blades with more force. The defence was lovely, he simply wished that it was a different circumstance.
"I do," nodded Thanos, "You're not the only one cursed with Knowledge,"
"My only curse is you," he counted, feeling sick. In a sense it was true. Ever since he went through that blasted wormhole, Thanos had been haunting him. He knew that hadn't been the last time and now he was being proven right.
"Your arrogance shall be your downfall." Thanos said, as if he was almost sad about that. Behind him dark figures began appearing, Tony instantly recognised them as Chitauri, he would never forget them, they invaded his nightmares too many times for him too. Hundreds began pouring around the ship, there must be other exits. Very dramatic.
"Since you will not listen to my simple request, I shall have to take them by force. Staring at the sea of Chitauri, Tony didn't feel defeated. He had people to return to. He had a marathon to finish, and he had to play a game of monopoly against Quill. Tony took a deep breath.
He was prepared to protect it to his last.
The call from Rogers cut through the silence of the field. Whatever happened, it was together, for the last time. He had to agree with what he said. It may be the last time the avengers assembled, but this was their home and no matter what, they would avenge it.