Thor wants to protest, to insist that there's some other better way of doing it than this, but he knows it won't change his brother's mind. As stubborn as Loki liked to insist he was, Loki could be just as hard-headed. That might have been a big part of why they quarreled as frequently as they did.

Thor might have been warmed by Loki referring to Odin as Father if he hadn't said it so icily. Still, it was nice to know that he was actually needed. It wasn't as good as wanted, but it was close enough.

"Okay," Thor says instead. He picks up the staff and turns it in his hand, feeling the weight of it. "Let me know when you are ready."