Patchwork Road
By Rey

Chapter summary: Score 1 for magic, but score 1 for tech, too.

25. Ray

Bruce and Betty, in joint research with Erik and Jane, also with long-distance, discreet advice from Henry "Hank" Pym – the particle-matter expert who has been in SHIELD's scopes longer than the Avengers have except probably for Tony – and, wonder of all wonders, Loki the mischievous but oh-so-intelligent-and-insightful recluse, have discovered a new type of "light" that is both useful and surprisingly safe on its own. The light costs energy; but with Tony and his arc reactors there, none of the researchers is worried about that one downside.

This particular beam is not made for destroying cities, nor for building supersoldiers, nor for imaging hidden things, and neither for cutting fine lines in things and people. No, its use is more mundane, more dangerous, and more bizarre than those, all at once.

Because, something that amuses Loki the git to no end, this particular thing, which shines in different colours when exposed to different objects in different conditions, serves to find cracks in what people call "reality" and guide the user through the otherwise unseen and unsensed passageways… for one that is not a mage, that is, as Loki smugly informs the rest of them.