They hung there for what seemed like eternity. Odin held fast to Thor's right boot, Thor to the head of his younger brother's staff, and Loki to the only thing that still connected him to Asgard. A mass of empty sky swirled below them, a gloriously terrifying threat of the unknown. They all feared the same fate, falling, tumbling down into the abyss with no hope of return.
With nervous eyes, Loki looked to Thor, who tried to smile reassuringly, but could only manage a nervous grin. Unconvinced, the youngest brother turned his eyes to the Allfather standing above him. "I could have done it, Father!" Loki yelled, hoping for something- anything- that could redeem him. He had done wrong, but had only meant to do right. "I could have done it! For all of us!"
Odin didn't respond for a moment; Loki thought his words had been lost to the wind. "No, Loki," Odin whispered soberly, staring straight into the young god's eyes as though this were the right thing to say.
And in that moment, Thor watched as all that he had loved his entire life fade from Loki's eyes. The strength, the determination, the wit, and that little laugh all drained away, leaving nothing but two hollow blue orbs wet with hopelessness. His heart shot to his throat, blocking all his words but "Loki…no…" as Loki's slender fingers slipped from the scepter, hesitantly at first, as though pleading Odin to reconsider.
Loki fell slowly at first, staring up apathetically at the family he knew he could never have again. And Thor bellowed. His cry of 'NO!' rang straight from his heart and out his throat with tremendous force.
Instinctively, he planted his other boot at the edge of the shattered Bifrost and pushed off with as much force as he could muster. In the back of his mind, he knew that he could never return, but he pushed the thought from his mind as he felt his Father release his boot and he plummeted away. He shouted his brother's name.
Odin stumbled from the force, nearly tumbling forward himself. When he regained his balance, he could only watch in vain as Thor grasped Loki's hand and held it with a strength that only his eldest son could have had.
"What are you doing, fool?" Loki yelled as his brother clasped his hand. "You can never go back home after this!"
Thor smiled sadly. "Loki, Asgard could never be home without you." With that, he pulled his brother up into a hug and, in his heart, promised never to let go.
And together, they closed their eyes and were swallowed up by the starry infinitude.
