-She eyes the shadows around them. Wonders if her own death is worth the fact that she is the interloper here, Nebula's death will be far more mourned than her own. But she can't be sure her death will save Nebula...

She switches her gaze back to Thanos, watching closely, still ready to make a move.

He notices Grim's gaze. Returns it.

"Grim?"

"Killing Nebula will cause more resentment. She belongs here in a way I don't. My- my crimes weren't too different. Why not me instead?"

A good child. Proud of her. Not the appropriate time to let that show.

"Do you understand what you've done wrong, Grim?"

She nods. "Yes. I concealed something that could've endangered your family. And I didn't trust you to deal fairly with me if I brought that information to you."

This next bit will hurt terribly for him. But he's already made up his mind. Can't flinch now. Flinching would ruin everything.

He says, with grim certitude: "I'm going to kill you."

She sinks smoothly to her knees. "Yes." (She asked for this, there's no point in being anything other than ready.)

He can't help but have his stoicism slip for a moment. He feels so warmly towards Grim, despite everything that's happened. She has such integrity to her. It's an unthinkable shame that she grew up in an environment that didn't make the most of it.

There's a pause. One that might even cause her to think that his warmness towards her has caused Thanos to stay his hand.

But he is only turning to a third daughter.

"W-wha? I..."

-what?

"Some serious accusations have been made against you today. Do you deny any of them?"

"...no. It's all true. I misled and I schemed..."

She can't stand to stand by while this happens. She faces her father, full of renewed resolve to protect her sisters.

"...I'm as guilty as either of them. You can't... you can't justify hurting them and not me."

"You're right..."

"...which is why I'm going to kill you too."

He indicates the spot that Gamora should occupy.

Shit. No. No way.

It hadn't surprised her, really, when Thanos told Nebula she was going to die.

But Gamora always gets off scot-free. That's, like, the foundation of their whole family dynamic.

...she reconsiders the prudence of trying to fight her way out of this. Sure, her death's still almost guaranteed, but with Gamora on the chopping block what does Nebula have left to lose?

Before Nebula can act, Gamora falls to her knees between her sisters.

The way they're positioned, a single cleaving blow from the bloodhammer could end all three of their lives in an instant.

Okay. Good. She doesn't want to watch the other two die. Better to get it over with all at once.

Thanos hefts the ritual weapon, taking its balance carefully before committing to a swing.

"Goodbye."

She closes her eyes, and waits. (There's shadows sliding up Gamora and Nebula's backs, she is, she thinks, first in line, and her reflexes would let her shove them out of the way. It's not like he can kill her twice.)

The hammer falls.

Metal screeches, sparks fly, the weapon embeds itself several inches into mangled floor grating.

Nobody dies.

"Children." Calm words sound amidst the resounding clangor following the hammer stroke. "Do you know what just happened?"

(Gamora slowly exhales what she'd thought would be her last breath)

"I lied."

He releases his grip on the bloodhammer's haft. Leaves it lodged upright in front of them.

"It isn't pleasant, is it? Being lied to?"

Grim's breath doesn't waver, but something in her shoulders eases. She shakes her head. It's not nice, but-

But it's also fitting as a punishment. It makes sense.

Nebula's shaking so hard she nearly spills over.

As the ringing in her ears subsides, she opens her eyes again.

She sees the rune-etched surface of the ritual weapon planted inches from her face.

(Her mother's alphabet. She's nearly forgotten how to read it)

She feels so lightheaded.

"No." Short breath. Hiccup. Blink. "It isn't."