For the final time that night, Tony hesitated, and that one moment was all it took. The impact of something within his body spread like a violent ripple, and there was Thor's weapon lodged in his chest. The air was pushed out of his lungs in a silent gasp.

As Thor closed in, they were once again face-to-face. His armored hands went to Thor's arms, clinging to him as the strength left his legs. He didn't even feel his knees hit the ground.

He braced his palm against Thor's chest. There was no fight, no last stand. The only thing Tony offered up was his wide-eyed look of shock and a murmur of the man's name.