The ship touched down on the field as the sun rose over the grass. It was massive- mechanical and foreboding. The gathered Avengers refused to bat an eye, however. Each of them stood ready, dressed to the nines in their battle gear. The rest of the SHEILD employees had been evacuated an hour earlier. They were prepared for bloodshed.

However when the circular ship's doors opened, and its inhabitants exited, their aura was nothing if not diplomatic. The first out was a hunched, gray-skinned alien with a flat face, and a nonexistent nose. Tony recognized him as Ebony Maw, and sent a thank you to Naomi for her vigorous rundown on all things pertaining to Thanos. The rest of the Black Order followed after Maw, dressed in battle armor, balancing weapons on their shoulders or striking them into the ground.

The Avengers were silent, and Tony heard his breath echoing around the interior of his helmet.

Thanos stepped out last, his plated armor gleaming under the sun. His helmet obscured some of his features, casting a large shadow over his face- but Tony could still make out his purple panini of a chin. On the Titan's left hand, the infinity gauntlet. It contained no stones.

"Tony." Steve said under his breath, standing steady next to the iron man and surveying his opponents.

"Big purple one." Tony replied, and stepped forward, singling himself out as the leader. Strange was still nowhere to be found.

After a silent moment, Thanos wordlessly advanced, his followers stepping out of his path. He stopped a few feet away from the Stark, and removed his helmet. The Titan's tight-lipped, diplomatic smile sickened Tony, and the rest of the Avengers.

"Tony Stark." Thanos spoke, his deep voice easily carrying over the field. Tony took a deep breath, and attempted not to think of the destruction the alien standing before him could bring.

"You know me?" Tony's response was lackluster- he had been warned by Naomi that Thanos may already know of him.

"I do. You're not the only one cursed with knowledge." Thanos said, his tone cordial. Even though the 'mad Titan' had made no moves to suggest a violent intent, Tony found himself afraid. Thanos was different from other foes that they had faced- and defeated- over the years. His eyes were intelligent, and instead of madness Tony found reason. It frightened him, because from the instant Thanos removed his helmet Tony saw a piece of himself reflected in the man's eyes. Thanos had committed himself to a fate he believed to be right, in every sense of the word. And that made him all the more dangerous.

"I have not come with the intent to fight against you." Thanos said, narrowing his eyes at the sea of warriors who stood braced to attack. The Black Order behind him was just as poised, however. A pin drop could set off either side, and not even Naomi would know what would happen if they began ripping at each other's throats.

"I know what you're here for." Tony spat, the suit giving his voice a mechanical edge- but the anger in it was entirely organic.

"Then we may negotiate." The purple Titan's false smile dropped, and his face fell into something more sinister. He was confident, even if the gauntlet had no stones.

Tony started to reply, planning on telling the raisin-chinned alien exactly where he could stick his gauntlet. However they were interrupted. A small, spinning circle appeared in the air, growing larger as Tony reeled in disbelief. From the portal stepped Stephen Strange. His skin was pale and drained of color, his eyes bloodshot. The golden ring closed behind the sorcerer, and with baited breath Tony noticed that the man's hands were shaking more than usual. However when Strange spoke, his voice was clear as day.

"Thanos, I've come to bargain."

The Mad Titan surveyed him, and spoke. "The infamous Dr. Strange. It is a pleasure." His face said the opposite however, as the alien regarded Stephen darkly.

"Strange." Tony barked, his heartbeat increasingly exponentially as he realized that his trust for the doctor was waning fast. Stephen ignored his call.

"I have an offer for you." Stephen spoke. Thanos narrowed his eyes, and Ebony Maw quickly scampered to his side, whispering in his ear with a shrewd expression. Similarly, Steve leaned in toward Tony.

"What's happening, Tony?" Steve's voice was curt, and rushed. Tony wished he had an answer.

"Proceed." Thanos's voice boomed, and with a nod to Stephen the doctor began to speak.

"You, along with your followers will evacuate Earth immediately," The Black Order scoffed and spat at the ground. Thanos quieted them with a wave of his ungloved hand. Stephen continued, "For the exchange of the Space Stone."

Hushed, muttered curses swept through the Avengers, and several of them considered turning their intent for battle onto the sorcerer they had once trusted. Tony pressed his lips into a thin line, and felt his knees go weak. He wanted to trust Stephen's decision so badly- but everything stacked against the man. Tony was supposed to be the only one who knew where the Tesseract even was, and somehow Stephen had stolen it from under his nose. Naomi had claimed him to be trustworthy, but Tony had a kid to think about. He needed to win against Thanos.

"The Space Stone is but one of three infinity stones located on Earth." Thanos glowered, staring down at the sorcerer. The deal was not accepted.

"I haven't finished." Stephen sighed, a hint of hesitation slipping into his tone. "I will give you the Space Stone, and," He breathed, " the location of the Prophet, who will lead you to the Soul Stone."

"No!" Tony growled, but his feet stayed rooted in place. His mind raced with every possibility of what Strange's avenge could possibly be.

"I see." Thanos mused, and he smiled at Stephen. It was a different expression than the polite one he had entered with- this smile was haunting. "I accept."

"Tony!" Steve urged, but the Stark stood fast. The Avengers looked amongst themselves, anxious to prevent the sorcerer from betraying them, but unwilling to ignite the bloody conflict.

Uninterrupted, Stephen pulled a small, glowing stone from the air. Thanos grinned widely at the sight of it. Strange crossed to him, and allowed the stone to be sucked into the gauntlet, its power quickly coursing through Thanos. The Mad Titan grinned, and his eyes were alight with victory.

"Take me to the Prophet." He commanded. The Black Order filed back into the ship, the Avengers unable to stop them. Stephen kept his head held high as he followed Thanos toward its gaping doors. The Titan crossed the threshold, his only hesitation a parting promise that he would return to Earth. It sent a chill through the heroes.

"Stephen." Tony called, and the sorcerer turned toward him. He was too far to make out his exact expression, but the man's shoulders slumped, and still his hands shook at his sides.

"Tony." The doctor sighed, his voice laden with guilt. "I'm sorry."