"Are you certain this is the place?"

The question was asked diffidently, as if well aware that he needed to be careful not to sound like he was challenging the Titan. Thanos just nodded, unconcerned about Maw, now that his goal was in reach. He looked out the view screen of the space craft, the sensors focusing on the small cluster of buildings that was settled in the middle of a large expanse of nothing but trees and some fields.

"This is it."

The images that had been leading him this far had pointed to this location, specifically – even going so far as to show him an image of his quarry. A slight boy, with a pale face and wide, innocent, eyes. The visions were gone, now – and he assumed in his hubris that it had been the universe supplying them to further him in his quest to save her – but they had served their purpose.

Below him was the boy. And his guide to all of the stones. His guide to his destiny.

"It doesn't seem to be a place that would hold someone so special," Maw said. "So ordinary."

Before Thanos could reply to that a sudden flare appeared at the center of the destination – and a moment later there was a shimmering shield that enclosed the building and a large area of the space around it.

"You were saying?" he asked, more amused than annoyed.

"It's still unimpressive."

"Don't let the appearance make you complacent."

"I'll assemble a proper show of force."

"No. Not yet." Thanos flexed the gauntlet on his hand, admiring the stone in it. "Let's give them an opportunity to be reasonable. Hover over the facility and send me down – test their barrier, but if you must, put me just outside it."

"Alone?"

Now he did allow some annoyance in his expression and tone.

"Do you think I need help with my negotiations?"

"No. Of course not."

Thanos nodded.

"Notify the others, however. I have no doubt that we will need them."

It was a stubborn planet, after all. He already knew that.

"Yes, Thanos."

OOOOOO

They all watched the main display in the command center as a giant ring-shaped spaceship broke through the atmosphere directly above the compound's airspace. Airspace that was already closed, luckily, so they wouldn't need to worry about any commercial panes running into any issues.

"Look familiar?" Tony asked.

Gamora nodded.

"It's the Maw's ship."

"What will he do next?" Steve asked.

"Send someone down to explain his demands."

The ship stopped, hovering above the compound, showing only faintly in the dark of the night sky – especially when up against the soft shimmering of the shield that had been raised around the compound.

"Something is happening," Friday reported into the silence of the room.

One of the cameras that was covering a section of the perimeter of the shield suddenly came up. There was a flare of light, and suddenly a being was standing there. Huge and imposing – and clearly not human. Dressed in shining gold armor and wearing a metal glove with a single jewel in it, shining dully in the night. He was also holding an incredibly wicked-looking sword that looked like something out of a video game, Peter decided.

"Is that him?" Pepper asked.

"Yes."

The figure was standing, quietly, at the edge of the shield, clearly waiting for someone to come challenge him. Tony was up to the task.

"Come on, Steve," he said. "Let's go see what he has to say."

Pepper started to say something, clearly wanting to go, too, but Tony just shook his head.

"I'll leave Friday's com open," he told all of them. "Chances are he just wants to bluster and threaten."

Gamora nodded her agreement to that.

"It's common. Especially when he is so certain that he has the upper hand. He didn't even bring anyone else with him."

"That's on him," Steve said, already heading to the door.

"Be ready," Tony told the others, unnecessarily, as he followed Steve out the door. He gave Peter a cocky wink, to make him lose the worried look in his expression and ran his hand along Pepper's as he passed her. "Love you."

OOOOOOOOO

The figure was still by himself, watching as Tony and Steve walked up to the edge of the shield. Tony's suit was activated, but the helmet was clear, making him able to converse. Steve was wearing his usual uniform, and carrying his shield. They could see the Titan's eyes watching them, intently, as they stopped in front of him, with only the shield between them.

"You selling something?" Tony asked, well aware that mocking someone was the best way to make them annoyed.

Especially someone who took themselves very seriously.

Thanos only smirked.

"You have something that I want. Give him to me and I'll spare your pathetic, little, world."

"Not sure what you mean," the billionaire replied. He looked at Steve. "You have something he might be interested in?"

Steve shrugged.

"I have a headache. He could have that."

Thanos scowled, his eyes narrowing, suddenly.

"You're Stark."

Tony was surprised that he knew his name, but it didn't show. The man negotiated billion dollar deals and had a hell of a poker face, after all. He simply allowed an eyebrow to raise.

"We've met?"

"I know who you are." Thanos' expression never changed. "You ruined my plans once. You can be sure that it won't happen, again."

Tony realized that he was referring to the New York invasion.

"I wouldn't count on it, Grimace."

OOOO

"He's crazy," Rocket said, softly, watching with the others as Friday showed the feed from the meeting. "That's Thanos."

"Just another annoyance," Romanoff said, with a shrug. "He's faced down aliens before – even gods."

"If he angers him, he will call down the rest," Gamora warned.

"He's going to, anyway," Fury said. "There's no way in hell we're going to give that dude Peter."

The SHIELD director was tense, but he'd seen a lot in his many years, too, and had faith in the people around him.

"Can you feel Thanos from here?" Peter asked Alec, curiously, trying to distract himself from the fear he was feeling as he watched Tony and Steve face the titan down alone.

"Somewhat. There's a fair distance, though. Can you feel the power stone?"

Peter hesitated, concentrating, and realized that he could. If he thought about it, he realized that he could feel the mind stone, too – although the time stone was even closer, and he couldn't feel its presence at all.

"It's still angry, isn't it?" he asked.

"I can only feel it because you do," Alec told him. "I can feel what you feel, though, and I'd agree that angry is a good description – or maybe annoyance?"

Peter nodded his agreement, but never took his eyes off the feed. He could see Thanoos because Tony was recording with Friday, and he could see Tony and Steve because the external cameras were still recording, as well.

OOOOOO

Thano's expression grew annoyed.

"Last chance, Stark," he said, dangerously. "The boy is all I want from you. Give him to me and you'll live."

Tony knew that Peter was hearing the conversation – and knew that it was a terrible burden that the titan was putting on his son; making him think that all he had to do was give himself up and everything would be fine, and the horde waiting above the planet surface would vanish. He didn't think that Peter was dumb enough to believe the lie, but he wanted to make sure that the boy knew exactly how much of a lie it was.

"So, let me get this straight…" he said, pretending to be confused. "I give you Clyde, and you pack up your army and your spaceships and go home?"

"Yes."

"That easy?"

"You have my word."

"And you won't try to take out half the universe?"

"I'll spare your world."

"Half of it."

"That will be more than if you make me take him. If I have to come through your pathetic shield, I'll make your planet pay, dearly. You have as long as it takes for me to call my children to make your decision."

"I don't need that long," the billionaire told him. "You can pack sand – and so can your kids."

He turned and walked away from the shield, knowing it would be the final insult, but unable to help himself. Steve was right beside him, as if they had choreographed the move before hand.

"Pack sand?" he echoed. "Seriously?"

"Peter's listening, Steve," Tony told him. "You wouldn't want me to say it the other way, would you?"

The other man snorted, amused, and lifted his hand to touch his comm unit.

"Get ready," he warned. "Negotiations are a definite bust."

"Think we'll make it back to the compound before-"

There was a roar of anger from behind him, and the sound of a blow against the shield – which was immediately followed by another shout of annoyance and pain, as the shield repelled the attack Thanos made when he tried to take a swipe at it with his mighty sword.

"No," came Steve's ready reply.