Even if Loki couldn't openly own up to still being just as lost as everyone else in their strange little town, he didn't have to. From what Bruce could tell, Loki seemed calmer. Clearer. Like the poisonous haze had finally lifted and cleared from his mind. Bruce could still comfortably write Loki off as unhinged, but really, could he talk at all? Even if Bruce wasn't Bruce, he vividly remembered when he had reached for the scepter while the team was in the helicarrier. It was hardly even a conscious action, but the effects the scepter had were felt on everyone in the room. He remembered the way the power scraped away at already raw emotions, until something ugly began to surface. Looking back, it was no wonder that Loki was a mess.
Bruce did much better at concealing his surprise this time. Loki laughed but it wasn't nearly as manic as he would have thought it would sound. He had no doubt that Loki was misunderstood, but he didn't think it was possible to feel more grateful than he already did that they were able to stop him in New York. If Loki had a conscience on a good day over this, how would have reacted to what he had done if his mind ever had the chance to heal? Now that was a complex thought, and with no desire to climb into Loki's head, Bruce smiled slightly. How could he have not realized that in the first place? Did it take finding similarities to hold in contrast? However, there was no chance to reply or think out loud. Bruce heard something off to his right. He was being rushed, and whatever it was, it was already too close for comfort, and collision was imminent. Before the Other Guy's impulse could even begin to take over, Loki was already moving.