The Avengers sighed to themselves, thankful to have made it through space in one piece.

Steve was a little more jittery, due to, well, the PTSD from the last time he was in an aircraft. Tony held back with him while the rest of the team stepped out, preparing for the worst.

"Hey, you ok?" Tony retracted his gauntlet to sooth the hairs on Steve's back standing up. "Hard part's over, I promise."

Steve laughed, tension slowly going down. "Yeah, one nightmare to another...I'm glad you're with me."

"We all are. You just can't see them, but I'm glad we took a week to prepare to, uh, I guess teleport here. But since I'm the genius, I could handle being semi-present, and-"

Steve stopped him with a kiss, pushing a little too hard, he went right through his husband, sending shivers all over his body.

Cold.

Ice.

Fear.

Tony?

"Honey?" Steve panicked for a second, then found Tony finally. "I'm so sorry, I-"

"Shhh...it's ok, I know I need to shut up every now and then." His eyes cut to the direction over Steve's left shoulder, and grimaced. "Seems we have an audience."

"Would you two lovebirds knock it out? We've got a universe to save!" Rocket impatiently said.

"You don't want me to knock it out, trust me, I have a reputation."

"Tony." Steve went beat red, all signs of chills gone...

"We've got company." Natasha silenced them all.

Carol and Thor were with Rhodey and eventually Tony in position off into the woods. Everyone else stood their ground.

There he was...Thanos. Tall, intimidating, and powerful, he calmly walked towards the rest of the Avengers. Everyone was trying to keep a hold on their nerves, some were better than others. But the Titan was huge, and what was even more terrifying were the Infinity Stones, their powers only teased to them not too long ago.

"You could not live with your own failure. And where did that bring you? Back to me." Thanos calmly observed. "I thought that by eliminating half of all life, the other half would thrive, but you have shown me you are not grateful, and therefore undeserving of being spared." He turned his head, eyes searching his enemies. "I know now what I must do. I will shred this universe down to its last atom, and start a new one, more thriving and better off than it is now."

"You're insane..." Carol fumed. "You murdered billions of innocent lives!"

"Since when do you care, Vers?" The Soul Stone gleamed as Thanos' words stung Carol back. Thor looked confused, wondering what was the matter. Shocks splayed out of Stormbreaker, the god's eyes glowing, ready for war.

"All of you have suffered, I know." Thanos paused, staring at the space next to Steve. Steve's heart almost exploded from the nervousness.

"Tony!" He could not believe his eyes as Tony appeared before him...alive.

"Stark...it seems you were the chosen one. I apologize, as I can assure you I had no idea there was an odd number of life in the universe. The Stones must have taken everything I wanted literally. It must have been hard, stuck in between, the torture of almost having your son or your husband. Tell me..." They all froze in horror as Tony was yanked up into Thanos' grip by the Stones. "If you had to choose, whose heart would you break again?"

"That's enough!" Steve stepped forward, anger giving him the courage to do so. His fist tightened around his shield. "You leave us no choice, Thanos. All of this, ends now...Let. Him. Go."

Thanos laughed, still paying attention to his surroundings, waiting for someone to foolishly pounce. "I admire your stubbornness, all of you. But you cannot defeat me." As Tony winced with the jerk down to Thanos' feet, the Stones held everyone in place. "I am the most powerful being in the universe."

Now...would be...a...good...time...Doc... Tony pushed through his brain telepathically, then was shocked to realize he had done it being 100% alive and all. Am I a wizard now? Cool. Not the time, Stark! Focus!

"Any last words?" Thanos smiled.

"ON YOUR LEFT!"