Traces of scorched space remained on the roof of Avengers Tower.
Loki crouched where Chen Mo had disappeared and pinched a speck of white light from the cracked ground.
It had no temperature and belonged to no magic he knew. It lingered in Loki's palm for a moment, then slipped along his skin into his sleeve.
Footsteps sounded behind him.
"Let's go, brother."
Thor stood at the rooftop entrance, his long blond hair a little windblown, Mjolnir hanging at his waist.
"We're going home."
Loki looked back at him, his hand going still.
Thor had crossed half the universe and finally remembered to come back for him.
That was just barely satisfactory.
Loki stood and was about to approach when his gaze fell on Thor's other hand.
He was holding a pair of shackles.
"All-Father Odin's condition," Thor explained. "I have to bring you back in one piece."
Loki made no attempt to hide the change in his expression.
"You call this going home?"
Thor raised the shackles, and the metal chain swayed in the wind.
"Asgard is our home."
Thor said it with complete conviction.
Loki pressed his lips together and turned toward the other side of the roof.
Thor caught up and grabbed his wrist.
The Loki in his grasp immediately dissolved into green motes of light.
The real Loki was already standing beside the entrance.
"Loki..." Thor sighed, a hint of resignation entering his voice.
"I was merely checking whether your brain had developed at all."
Lightning lit up Mjolnir.
Loki looked at the hammer, then at the shackles, and finally held out both hands.
"Fine. Dear. Brother."
When Loki called him brother, Thor could have sworn he heard teeth grinding.
Metal closed around Loki's wrists.
The speck of white light hid quietly in his sleeve.