As he sat heavily, Thanos allowed a tired sigh to escape his parched lips. The sun set beautifully on his well-chosen planet of rest. Fields of green pastures extended miles from his shack. A gentle breeze washed over his face. For once, the Mad Titan allowed himself the luxury of leisure.

'At what price?'

Indeed, at what price? Half of the universe's population? His daughter's life?

Half of his home planet's population had been annihilated - he preferred the word sacrificed - and massacred by him in order to bring balance to the planet Titan. To prevent exhaustion of the already overstretched resources. But was it worth it?

Gamora's green face came to the forefront of his mind. Her struggles as he sacrificed her over the cliff of planet Vormir proved to be a challenging test to his resolve but in the end, mercy won over his paternal instincts.

He glanced at the gauntlet placed in the furthest corner of his abode. The stones hummed in dangerous harmony. A dim light came from them, lighting the room up in a kaleidoscope-esque manner. He recounted all the significant sacrifices and the respective stones they were made for.

Gamora for the Soul Stone, the Collector for the Reality Stone, the Earthlings for the Time Stone, Space Stone and Mind Stone. Although the earthlings' sacrifice did not really count, did it? He simply played a part in their demise - manipulation of Loki and a bit more.

'At what price?' Gamora's question rang.

'At any price,' he had replied. Now, he was not so sure. Gamora's question beat a fiercely growing tune in his mind.

"At what price?" He asked as he stood up. The gauntlet was in his hands as he stared at it contemplatively.

How easy it would be to bring back his beloved daughter Gamora; to erase all of his deeds, to reverse everything. The temptation was overwhelming.

'That's what it is,' he mused as he dropped the tool. 'Nothing but a temptation.'

With a grunt, he turned away.

~~~~~~~~~~

For the first time after his genocidal act, Thanos put on the gauntlet. The stones ate at him, whirring fiercely; roaring and causing a low, dangerous rumble to erupt from the planet. A breeze swept over the pasture.

This would be his last time wielding the stones. His eyes glowed in holy rage as he fought the stones and subjugated them under his might. The parched creases of his lips let loose a grunt of exertion.

"At what price?" He asked.

A planetoid of emotion swelled up in his throat. An emotion he knew all too well... resolution. He had no regrets, only sureness and resolve.

"At any price," he answered.

His middle finger and his thumb rubbed with a snap as he expressed his will to the stones. With a universal burst of gamma radiation, the stones were no more.

"At any price."


I honestly don't remember half of what I just wrote.

RR

Haraviel.