Chapter Text
To say the date went well would be an understatement.
As much as they both hated to admit it, Ravonna was right. They got along like a house on fire. Their banter and wit was unmatched, neither unable to come up with another smart ass comment to upstage the others. The second date was even better, the third date better than that. Soon enough, everyone on campus knew (and rolled their eyes affectionately) that Professor Laufeyson and Lt. Mobius M Mobius were far gone enough on each other for it to be sickening.
They were at Heimdall’s Place, smiling at each other with dopey eyes and talking about their favorite colors (they both knew it was a stupid debate to be had, but Mobius thinking blue was better than green? Loki absolutely could not tolerate that) and holding hands over the table. Heimdall rolled his eyes from the counter, watching his two favorite idiots with the affection of someone who’s been dealing with Loki for years and is glad someone’s finally got a hold on him. He approached the table, handing them their coffees to go and shooing them out of his cafe.
“Leave.”
“Um… why.” Said Loki, more than a little confused.
“The heart eyes you two keep making at one another are sickening. Also, you’re going to see a movie tonight with Bruce and Thor. Leave now or you’ll be late.”
Mobius quirked one eyebrow up, not remembering them buying movie tickets.
“Thanks, Heimdall, but we didn’t make plans-“
Heimdall took two tickets out from the pocket of his apron and put them on the table.
“I know. They asked me to give these to you. They’re screening Romeo and Juliet tonight for some sort of anniversary thing. Thor said he heard you wanted to go.”
Loki blinked, then smiled softly and picked up the tickets.
“Nice to know he remembered. Thank you, Heimdall. Truly.”
“No need. Now, leave my shop before I boot you out the door myself.”
Laughing and collecting their things, Loki and Mobius made their way out the door and into the cool November afternokn. (Mobius didn’t leave without putting a 20 into Heimdalls tip jar, of course. He thinks he was smooth about it. He wasn’t.)
They decided to walk back to Loki’s on campus apartment to get ready, before coming back to pick up Mobius’s car to drive to the theater. Holding hands the whole way home, they continued their discussion (Really, Loki, blue is obviously the superior color. It’s got so much more range.) and admired the falling leaves under their feet and the crisp smell of fall leaves and winter coming to the air.
Mobius sighed. “Loki, what do I even wear to this? I’m no Shakespeare aficionado, but I think I’d get a couple judging looks if I showed up in ripped jeans.”
“You’ll be fine, love. Keep the jeans, get rid of the leather jacket. Wear that lavender sweater you left here last week. You know the one. It’s in the hamper.”
“You kept it?”
Loki blushed, instantly turning the other way.
“No. I burned it, actually. It’s not in the hamper, I meant to say pile of ashes.”
Mobius smirked, catching his boyfriend in the obvious lie.
“But it’s right here, sweetheart-“
“You must be hallucinating. Do we need to get you to a doctor?”
“Yeah, I’m the one who’s hallucinating. Where’s the dark brown sweater I left here last week? I might wear that instead.”
“It’s under my coat. On the chair.”
Mobius went to lift the coat, and surely enough, it was there. Thinking about teasing his boyfriend some more about keeping his clothes scattered everywhere, he decided the poor professor had had enough for tonight. Might as well give him a break, before the onslaught of nerd comments after they saw Romeo and Juliet.
“Wear the dark green sweater, Loki. Brown corduroys too. We’ll match.”
Without missing a beat, Loki grabbed the clothes Mobius referenced and started taking off his shirt.
“As if I’d ever match with you. You disgust me.”
“Yeah, I’m the monster, darlin. Sure.”
“You picked blue over green, Mobius. This is what monsters get.”
“Monsters get a nice view of your ass and a cute movie date? Maybe I should try being a monster more often.”
Laughing and dodging the projectile pair of pants that was thrown at him, Mobius let out a mocking wolf whistle as he watched Loki disappear into the bathroom to shower.
“Will you be joining me, or making obscene comments about my ass all night?” Called Loki from underneath the hot spray.
“Both sound like the best option here.”
“Then let’s save some water together.”
“Anything to help the planet. Minimize our carbon footprint, you know.”
“Oh, shut up-“
—————————————————————
“Brother!” Smiled Thor, spotting them from across the theater lobby.
“Thank you for the tickets, Thor. Quite thoughtful of you.”
“Did i just receive a compliment? From the Loki Laufeyson? My stars, I-“
“Shut up, or I’m taking my boyfriend and leaving you to suffer through 2 hours of 1600s dialogue alone. Hello, Bruce.”
Bruce smiled. “Hey, Loki. Hey Mobius. You two look good.”
“Thanks, man. You know, we never finished that conversation about quantum mechanics…”
Mobius and Bruce broke off to talk about physics or whatever science people do, while Thor and Loki stood in line for popcorn.
“I owe Ravonna 20 dollars.”
“Whatever for, brother?”
Thor smirked.
“I don’t like that smile on your face. Stop it. What did you bet on.”
“Oh, nothing. Just how long it would take you two to become official.”
Loki scoffed. “So we’re betting on my love life, now.”
“Yep. Sounds accurate. I said two months, she said one.”
Loki rolled his eyes at his brothers boorish behavior.
“Do you truly think so little of me.”
“I don’t think little of you. It’s just fun.”
“You’re insufferable, you know.”
“I’m well aware, brother. Well aware.”
They got their popcorn and joined Bruce and Mobius back where they were standing, deeply engrossed in something about Quantum Theory. Waiting in the lobby for the theater to start letting people in, Loki pointed something out to Bruce as the two shared a quiet laugh together. And that’s when Loki saw it. A hint of jealousy in Mobius’s eyes.
Now this was going to be more fun than he had expected.
He brushed Bruce’s arm while they were admiring a poster for the movie, and that same expression of barely contained jealousy appeared back on Mobius’s face. Loki smiled quietly to himself, having an absolute ball playing games of his own.
Mobius and Loki walked into the theater hand in hand, Mobius gripping Loki's fingers slightly tighter than would be considered normal.
“You alright, dear?” He murmured low in his boyfriends ear.
“Just fine, darlin. Just fine.”
They took their seats, and the lights dimmed.
Let Loki’s game begin.