Stephen didn't like anybody going around the Sanctuary like it was another touristic sighting everyone could visit, specially since the so called Avengers had decided to have a reunion in it so he lead the "Thor's rescue team" to the main entrance and waited for an instruction to open a portal from Loki.
He and Valkyrie whispered to each other maintaining their respective distance, he almost snorted at the sight of their confusion to where could Thor be.
"Where should we even go?" Valkyrie began whispering to Loki
He looked at the rest of their group, Stark was talking on the phone, Wanda stood with her arms crossed lost in thought and Strange stared at them with amusement
"I have no idea, this is Thor we're talking about if he's still alive he wouldn't just sit and wait for us to rescue him, neither would Heimdall, they'd manage on their own"
She nodded but bit the inside of her mouth "I don't wanna sound pessimistic but if Heimdall was still alive he would have find us already"
Loki blinked a couple of times, it was no secret he didn't like him but Heimdall had always been there as far as he could remember, the thought of his passing seemed almost impossible for him yet he knew she was probably right "Then we should focus on Thor, what would he have done?"
She snorted "He woul have probably entered his "hero mode" and try to take down Thanos himself"
"You heard what the so called sorcerer said, there's no trace of Thor by the destroyed ship, apparently he has some informers"
Valkyrie crossed her arms "So he escaped somehow...if I was Thor and I escaped from Thanos what would be my next move?"
Loki suddenly touched her arm and smiled "That's it!"
"What are you doing?" She asked staring at his hand
He let her go "Don't you see? Thor would be stupid enough to risk his live again to defeat Thanos"
"I mean yeah, obviously"
"The stones" he told her "he'd search for them
Valkyrie's eyes lit up "He already knows we have 3 in Midgard"
"And he also knows where the Reality stone is kept" Loki turned to Strange "I have a lead on where Thor might be"
Stephen frowned at him distrustfully but still listened
"Take us to Knowhere, sorcerer" he told him with an authority tone
Tony snorted "Very funny, I see you haven't lost your sense of humor"
Stephen rolled his eyes "He means the mining colony which is also known to be one of the most dangerous places in the Galaxy, you do see this does seem a rather risky place to take two of the stones right?"
He grit his teeth "You want the Space stone? Then you'll do as I say"
The two held each other's gaze until Stephen, without giving in, said "Al right then, you have one hour to search for him" before opening the portal and transporting them in.
Thor had only just discovered his full potential against Hela, it hadn't been enough with her but he hoped it would be against Thanos, the rabbit had lead them to Knowhere. When he had told Sif to take the Reality stone to the collector he thought it would be the best since he would never sell it and protect it with his life, however the Collector did have a fame of talking too much, Thor only hoped he wasn't too late.
As they arrived everything seemed to be completely normal, he commanded the Tree Groot to look after the ship while the Rabbit and Drax followed him inside the Collector's den.
As usual they were greeted by one of his asistants and lead to him, he showed them his brightest fake smile and welcomed them.
"Your majesty" he began "I want to express my condolences for your great Planet, Asgard will surely be missed. I assure you I have much more room in here to guard your treasures, I will give you a fair price for them"
"Thank you, but I actually came here to take back a thing you have so kindly been guarding for Asagard"
The Collector lost his smile and pretended to try remembering, he then shrugged "I keep a lot of reliques here, sometimes they are easy to forget about"
Rocket sighed and turned to Thor "Want me to threaten him?"
"Or I could attack him by surprise" Drax told him "while you search for your thing"
Thor eyed the Collector who had obviously heard everything and said "I don't think that will be necessary"
The man laughed nervously and walked slowly to him "Thor, I assure you the stone is well kept here there is no need for you to worry about its safety"
"I think I do, Xandar was just attacked by Thanos and the stone they were keeping was stolen, I need you to return this one"
The man's gaze darkened "I'm afraid I can't, you see once something is brought to me I cannot give it back"
Rocket pointed a gun at him "Not even if we ask nicely?"
Thor grabbed the Collector by his collar and lifted him up "This is not a negotiation, you will bring it to me NOW"
They were interrupted by a cry from his assistants, she came running "HE'S HERE"
The Collector took out a knife from his clothes and stabbed Thor, the god dropped him down and he hid through his vast collection.
"Hey Thor" Rocket called him "I think we should leave"
Before they could come up with a plan Thanos himself and another two of his assassins walked inside the den, he soon saw Thor and smiled crookedly.
"You!" Drax called him fearlessly "you killed my family and my home planet, I will now have my revenge!"
"Drax!" Rocket yelled "don't do that!"
Thor turned to Drax before he could charge against Thanos and pushed him back.
Thanos seemed to be pleased, he turned to Drax "Be thankful for your friends" then slowly turned to Thor "Odin son, we meet at last even after that last minute evacuation of yours, it overcomplicated things but I must admit I was impressed, give my respects to your psychic"
Thor gritted his teeth "Do not even dare to speak of Heimdall, his blood is in your hands"
"Apologies, I'd like to continue this conversation but I'm afraid that this is not the reason I came, although you being here has made things much simpler..." He then turned to his companions "Maw, Obsidian, the stone"
They replied in a unison "yes father" and dispersed in the den
Thor eyed Thanos and took advantage of his assassins had left him alone so he launched himself towards him, but just before he could reach Thanos he caught him and grabbed him by the neck "Bad move" he pointed out to and turned to Drax and Rocket "you try anything and I'll snap him"
Drax and Rocket who had gotten their weapons ready to fire lowered them and eyed each other.
A few moments later Maw reappeared except this time the Collector levitated behind him with his own eccentric coat restraining his body, Thor cursed under his breath seeing the alien holding the device that kept the reality stone.
Thanos threw Thor away as if he had been made of paper and reached for the device, he opened it and placed the stone on his gauntlet "Behold, two infinity stones in my power" he returned his gaze to Thor and the Guardians "I'm glad you are just in time for a reap"