Heroes Never Die

Thanos

~Chapter 22~

"One??" Hadley asked

"Gotta say, I don't like the odds of that" Quill said

"Yeah, you think?" Hadley said, looking at him

She walked away from them to catch her breath, hugging herself tightly

Tony came up behind her "Hey... You okay..?" He asked

"How can I be okay..? There's literally a 14 million to one chance that we lose" Hadley said, "What if something happens to you or Peter..? I-I don't think I can.."

She took a small breath, trying to stay calm

"Hey... Hey.." Tony took her hand, "We can do this... Together... Like we always have.."

Hadley looked quietly down at their hands and rubbed his gently.

His hands were rough and calloused from years of work with machinery... But they were home to her... They were warm and comfortable..

She sighed as he brought her hand up to his lips "Sweetie... We will be fine.." he said, kissing her hand quietly

"How can you be so sure..?" She whispered

"I have you... I will always be okay as long as I do.." Tony replied

Hadley smiled softly and hugged him "How are you so charming.."

"It's a gift" he replied with a smile

She laughed and looked up at him. He kissed her nose quietly

She smiled silently and leaned on him, he held her close, setting his chin on the top of her head. They closed their eyes and stayed like that, and for the moment everything disappeared to just them..

"Hate to break this up" Quill said, coming over, "But we have incoming.."

Hadley looked at him then at Tony quietly

A huge ship touched down not far from them and from it emerged a very large purple man wearing a golden gauntlet

Thanos

"Uh... Hey Hunnybunny... I might need to stop calling you Purple Thunder... We have a new candidate" Tony said

Hadley nodded quietly in response, staring at Thanos as he approached

"Okay, Strange, you go to him first. Then we'll sneak up on him. Chances are he doesn't know we're all here" Tony said, grabbing Hadley's arm to drag her to a hiding place. The Guardians hid too

They silently watched from behind a rock as Strange stood before Thanos, the large purple man towered over him

"I take it the Maw is dead" Thanos said, "This day extracts a heavy toll... Still, he accomplished his mission.."

"You may regret that" Strange stated, "He brought you face to face with a Master of the Mystic Arts.."

"And where do you think he brought you?" Thanos asked as Quill and Peter got ready

"Let me guess... Your home?" Strange asked

Thanos smiled reminiscently "It was. And it was beautiful." Thanos waved his hand and the red stone glowed as the planet changed from its destroyed state to a beautiful city, "Titan was like most planets. Too many mouths, and not enough to go around. And when we faced extinction, I offered a solution."

"Genocide" Strange replied

Hadley glanced at Tony, who nodded and she inched closer

"But at random" Thanos defended, "dispassionate, fair to rich and poor alike. They called me a madman. And what I predicted came to pass."

The image faded to reveal the destroyed planet

"Congratulations" Strange said sarcastically, "You're a prophet"

"I'm a survivor" Thanos replied

"Who wants to murder trillions" Strange said

"With all six stones, I could simply snap my fingers, and they would all cease to exist. I call that...Mercy." Thanos replied

Strange stared "And then what?"

Thanos looked around whimsically, "I finally rest..." he replied "And watch the sun rise on a grateful universe. The hardest choices require the strongest wills."

Strange moved his hands, creating his magical symbols, "I think you'll find our will equal to yours."

Thanos looked at him in surprise "Ours?"

He looked up in time to a see a chunk of wreckage coming down on him, and tried to use the Stones to stop, but it is too late as he is crushed by it