The Avengers shielded their eyes, bracing themselves for the impact of Loki's hybrid spell with dread. They'd arrived too late to stop Loki from taking hold of the ancient South American relic and no one was sure just how disastrous it could be for the planet as a whole. Had they truly lost as Loki had shouted at them when they arrived?
Everyone thought so for about five seconds, but then the eerie green magic suddenly recoiled and withdrew, imploding in a very surprised Loki's hands. His scream of agony was a welcome sound compared to the complete destruction of North America and possibly all the other continents.
Or well, it was until his magic seemingly exploded out again (along with him) and leveled a whole chunk of the Amazon rainforest with him.
The only one that still stood in the aftermath was Thor, who was dazed with several plates of his armor (and helmet) ripped off while his cape inexplicably remained, flapping majestically behind him.
He blinked slowly for a moment and then blinked again, not believing the sight before him. When the other Avengers rose as well, they did the same, some even rubbed their eyes and squinted because at that moment, rather than seeing a steaming, ruined Loki (or being showered with bits of Loki, which sounded really gross), two Lokis stood before them. It wasn't one of Loki's doppelgangers, Thor would know after being victim to them for centuries...which made it even more confusing.
"...brother, what kind of trickery is this?" Thor finally asked.
Both Lokis were staring at each other with curiosity and didn't even look up when Thor spoke. It was...jarring at the very least to see one face so open and inquisitive while the mirroring identical face was pinched and suspicious. If there was a mirror between them, Loki would've been convinced he was just looking at a bewitched reflection.
"You! I did not summon a double!" Snarled the scary one.
"Well, neither did I. I think I would know if you were one of my illusions," snapped the less scary one. And to prove his point, he snapped his fingers and another Loki appeared for a moment before disappearing.
The scary one tried to do the same, but snapping didn't work, so he tried waving his hand. When that didn't work, he snarled and swore in a tongue unintelligible to Midgard, but very intelligible to the less scary Loki and Thor. Both of which blushed and clapped their hands over their ears in shock and horror.
"Brother!" Thor cried in dismay.
"Loki!" Less scary Loki echoed, looking even more scandalized than Thor did.
Scary Loki glared and unsheathed his daggers. In response, less scary Loki snapped his fingers again and bound the scary one in tight metal bindings. Scary Loki, thus strapped, fell on his face like a log.
The Avengers gaped while Thor timidly approached the still-standing Loki.
"Brother...?"
Loki looked up and hesitated, scanning Thor critically. There was a very shrewd look on his face that usually meant trouble. Thor tightened his grip on Mjolnir in response while the other Avengers tensed, ready to defend if necessary.
But instead of blasting Thor with a bit of nasty magic, Loki reached up and tucked a wayward strand of blonde hair form Thor's face in a disturbingly tender way.
"There!" Loki declared happily.
Thor dropped Mjolnir.