Day 71
Gasping, Tony staggered back; the coppery tang of blood worked its way into his mouth as he sank to the ground. Every tiny movement sent new pain coursing through his body from where the massive piece of metal had pierced all the way through his torso. Blood dribbled down his chin as he gasped for the air that he couldn’t quite get. Every jagged breath he tried to take sent new waves of pain coursing through his body, as the sword scrapped his insides. After what seemed like an eternity Tony found the strength to look up from the sickening piece of metal wedged through him.
Thanos towered over him, a smirk smeared across his evil face. The titan stepped close to him. Tony tried to dig up enough strength to pull away, to get away, to do anything, but he couldn’t. He couldn’t make his body move. The pain had numbed his body into refusing his commands. Thanos rested his heavy gauntleted hand on Tony’s head. He tried to make himself pull away, but the thought of moving sent its own sensation of pain pounding through his body.
Tony choked.
“You have my respect Stark.”
Thanos straightened his back, and stepped away from Tony, who clawed for another breath. Each one was its own tiny battle. He had failed in every way.
“When I am done half of the universe will be dead.”
Dread flooded into Tony. He was stuck like bug by a pin. He was about to die. One way or another he was going to die here, but that wasn’t the worst part. It worst part was that he had failed. Again. The only consolation was that for once he had only failed himself. He would die here, but it would mean that world would not die. He was okay with that.
“I hope they remember you.”
Tony couldn’t help but chuckle internally at this. He didn’t care if people remembered him; he didn’t deserve to be remembered. On the off chance he was, he would only be remember as failure (which he was). Tony thought it would be best if he just slipped from all memory and faded into the stars as a lost memory.
The gems on the gauntlet illuminated with a hum of power. Tony stopped struggling to breath. One more breath. One less breath. It really didn’t matter to him. He would be dead in a moment. His only wish was that he could have said a proper goodbye to Pepper.
“Stop,” Tony’s blood froze at the sound of Strange’s voice.
No.
“If I give you stone will you let him live?”
“Don’t!” Tony choked around a mouthful of blood.
Strange couldn’t give it up, not for him, for Peter maybe, but not for him. He didn’t deserve it. He had been ready. Dying for the universe was fine with him, it was what he wanted. He had gotten on the Q ship with the knowledge that he would pay the ultimate price… he was ready for it, especially if it meant the universe would be saved.
“No tricks?” The glowing gems powered down.
Strange only nodded, and pulled the green gem out the air.
Before Tony knew it Thanos vanished before them.
“Why would you do that?” Tony hissed. He didn’t even bother trying to keep the poison out of his voice.
The universe was going to die, and the only person blamed was himself.