When Thor lands neatly before Thanos, the briefest of smiles flickers on his face. Thor's breathing is heavy, labored now; he had exerted himself all to fulfill the promise he made to Thanos aboard the Asgardian arc.

He closes the space between them with uneven steps, then presses his hand against the back of Thanos' head. In any other situation, the gesture might have been mistaken for one of affection. But there's no affection on Thor's face, just quiet, but palpable rage.

"I told you... you'd die for that."

Quiet rage gives way to fury, greater than Thor has ever experienced in his life. He braces himself against the back of Stormbreaker, pushing the sharp edge of the axe-hammer deeper into Thanos' chest.

Thanos starts screaming and there's some part of him, hidden deep in the heart of that righteous fury that takes pleasure in that scream. He's never felt this before in his life, even when he was young and foolish and excited by even the thought of battle.

Thor studies Thanos carefully. Thor wants to remember every second of this moment with absolute clarity. He wants to remember every line of his face, the way his fingers feel against his skin as they, like Stormbreaker, push deeper into his flesh.

Thanos doesn't stop screaming, and it just urges him on. Stormbreaker sinks further and further inside of Thanos' body.

For the first time in a long time, Thor feels real, true satisfaction.