Following the encounter with Vidar on the battlefield, Tony Stark's demeanor toward Steve Rogers shifted dramatically. The raw emotion and intensity of Vidar's presence had left a profound impact on Tony, exacerbating the already strained relationship between him and Steve.

In the quiet moments that followed their confrontation with Thanos and the loss of Loki, Tony found himself increasingly unable to tolerate Steve's presence. Every glance, every word from Steve grated on Tony's nerves, reminding him of their irreconcilable differences and the pain of their past conflicts.

When Steve attempted to initiate a discussion about their next steps in dealing with Thanos, Tony's responses were curt and devoid of the camaraderie that once defined their interactions.

"Tony, we need to regroup and come up with a strategy," Steve urged, his voice tinged with urgency.

Tony glanced at him coldly, his eyes reflecting a hardened resolve. "We? I don't recall there being a 'we' anymore, Rogers."

Steve's brow furrowed, hurt and frustration etched on his features. "Tony, this isn't the time for—"

Tony cut him off sharply, his tone laced with cynicism. "No, Steve, this is exactly the time. The time when we face the consequences of your choices. Choices that tore us apart."

Steve's jaw tightened, his own patience wearing thin. "I did what I believed was right. We can't keep dwelling on—"

"Dwelling?" Tony's voice rose, the bitterness in his tone palpable. "Tell that to Peter. Tell that to Loki. They're not dwelling on anything anymore."

Steve's gaze faltered momentarily, the weight of Tony's words hitting home. "Tony, I... we're all grieving. But we have to focus on stopping Thanos."

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Tony scoffed, his disbelief evident. "And how do you propose we do that, Captain? By trusting each other? By pretending that we can just sweep everything under the rug?"

Steve took a step closer, his voice pleading. "Tony, please. We can't do this alone."

Tony's expression hardened further, his resolve unyielding. "I've been alone before, Steve. I can handle it."

Steve's shoulders slumped, defeated by Tony's stubbornness and the wall of resentment between them. "Fine, Tony. Handle it your way."

With those words, Steve turned away, his heart heavy with regret and sorrow. He knew that their fractured unity was a vulnerability they could ill afford in the face of Thanos's looming threat. But Tony's cold detachment left little room for reconciliation.

In the days that followed, Tony Stark threw himself into preparations for the inevitable clash with Thanos, his mind consumed by plans and contingencies. His interactions with the rest of the Avengers were minimal and transactional, devoid of the warmth and humor that once characterized their teamwork.

As they faced the daunting task of confronting Thanos once more, the divide between Tony Stark and Steve Rogers remained as deep as ever. Tony's patience for Steve had evaporated, replaced by a cynical detachment born of betrayal and loss.

And amidst the chaos and uncertainty of their battle against Thanos, Tony Stark's resolve to protect Earth at any cost burned brighter than ever, a solitary flame in the darkness of their fractured team.