Who: Thor and Loki When: Immediately after The Avengers ends. Where: Asgard What: Thor brings Loki home for justice. However, in the end, Thor will always see Loki as his brother, his family. It's fine -- not like Loki can run very far.
Thor only gripped onto Loki's chain when they returned home to Asgard because he didn't want his brother to disappear, not because he didn't trust him. It had taken much too long to find him, and then the battle, and... Thor didn't want to think, he just wanted to rest. He said nothing as he walked them to a room Odin had already set aside for them and only once the door was closed and bolted did he release his hold. "Loki..."
There were so many things Loki wanted to say to Thor -- none of them complimentary -- but the sharp tang of metal in his mouth stilled his tongue. He would not stoop to grunting behind his gag. He would not be subjugated in spirit as well as body. Loki just narrowed his eyes at his 'brother', glaring at him and standing very, very still in the middle of the room.
Thor stepped closer and ran a hand through Loki's hair before coming to a stop on the back of his neck. Letting out a breath, he tugged his brother into a hug, trying to hold on as tight as he could. Loki tensed in Thor's grasp, neither moving to push his brother away or to return the hold. When Thor did pull away, it was only so he could put his forehead against Loki's. "Can I trust you?"
If only he knew how to revert to his hated Jotunn form at will. Then he could freeze the life out of Thor, crush him where he stood, and make his escape. Loki kept his gaze hard.
Thor frowned at him. "You know I hate doing this."
Loki didn't budge.
"Do you remember what I told you the day we first got lost outside of home? When we went to find those berries our mother liked so much?" Loki didn't deign look at him, but that didn't matter; Thor continued on after a moment with no response. "I told you that I would protect you from anything that dared cross our paths. When did you stop believing that?"
Had he not been gagged, he'd have sneered. As it was, Loki's hands clenched at his sides.
Thor stepped back, putting distance between them. "I'm sorry for what I've done, Loki."
Did he even know what he'd done? Loki had doubts.
"I am sorry for dragging you to fight the Frost Giants, and I'm more sorry that doing such a thing banished me to Midgard. I'm sorry I left you."
He had no idea. Somehow, Loki couldn't find it in him to be surprised.
"Can I trust you enough to release you? So we may talk?"
It would be to his benefit, perhaps. He could attempt to escape. He was fast, though Thor was faster, but if Thor was not expecting him to bolt, perhaps it would give him enough of an advantage. The wards in this room were not terribly well made; they were weak enough that he could manage simple magic, surely. He could cast a shadow spell, have Thor attempt to restrain the wrong man... Yes. Loki bowed his head a bit, feigning acceptance.
But Thor, in all of his misplaced trust, had learned since his time on Midgard. He eyed his brother for a long time before picking up the chains again, wrapping them tightly around one fist. He made sure Loki saw before he reached up to let his brother speak. "Are you okay?"
His lips were dry and his throat parched; the gag had chafed him. Loki just pressed his lips together into a firm line. "Release me, brother."
"I can't."
"You would have me trust you, but not grant me the same courtesy?" He tugged, gently, at the chain Thor held.
"I do trust you. I just... don't want to let go. Just yet." Thor looked down at the chain. "I don't want to fight you."
He arched an eyebrow.
Thor sighed and looked to Loki. "The last time I let you go, you fell through space and I thought you dead. Forgive me if I'm slow to let go now."
"Such sentiment."
"It is the truth."
"Then if you are so afraid of losing me again, why bring me here? The Allfather's punishment will not be merciful, Thor."
"I can protect you," he insisted.
"You cannot even protect yourself." He murmured a word and turned his chains red hot.
Thor hissed, trying (and failing) to hold onto them. "Loki!"
He took a step away from Thor. "You see?"
Thor stepped closer. "I can protect you." Loki took another step back and Thor let his hammer drop to the ground. "Don't run."
"Keep your distance, Thor."
He immediately stopped moving. "I trust you. Father will be forgiving."
"He is undeserving of the faith you have in him."
"If you cannot have faith in him, then have faith in me! You will not be punished harshly."
Loki took another step backward, in part to put more distance between them, in part because there was a window at the far wall. "We will see."
"You will not see if you run."
Mjolnir was still on the floor. Loki's gaze dropped to it, considering. Thor said nothing this time, simply watching and waiting to see what he would do. His decision made, Loki shadowed and sent his second self to race to the window.
Thor's eyes widened and he ran after his brother. "Please, Loki, don't!"
While Thor chased a shadow, Loki circled the room to the bolted door. He lifted the bolt and let himself out. The door shut soundly behind him. Thor heard it and he turned, stumbling over his feet. "Loki...?" Thor grabbed his hammer and ran out of the room. "Loki?" But by then, Loki had sunk deep into the shadowy halls, hidden from Thor's gaze. Thor didn't stop looking for him, ignoring when others tried to ask what was wrong and if he were all right.
It hardly mattered: there was nowhere in Asgard Loki could hide, and Loki was well aware of it. But this, at least, gave him time to lick his wounds before he had to face Odin's judgment, and it was enough. He stayed out of sight.