Work Text:
There aren't many things that Casey knows- the cons of living a life behind a desk. Quite literally. Things like fish, trees, rocks, flowers were all abstract terms only ever heard in passing, but if there was one thing they knew it was this. "You're in love with him!"
"I beg your pardon?" The god's brows furrow as he halts his movements, sandwich halfway to his mouth. Casey never thought they'd ever become friends with the guy- heck, they still weren't fond of him! He got their cart pruned, and threatened them! But Loki was definitely interesting and, despite everything, he actually cared. He would sit and listen as Casey rambled about work or their coworkers and always took the crust from Casey's sandwiches or brought him an extra juice box when working 'late.' Yeah, they'd consider Loki a friend.
“You are!" Casey repeats this time with more vigor. "I knew I wasn't just seeing things!"
"What are you talking about?" Loki sets his lunch down and sighs. "
You and agent Mobius! You two are in love with each other!"
"No," he holds up a finger. "No, you're getting it wrong. We are partners- coworkers- how do you know love, but not know what a fish is?"
"Oh, that's easy!" Digging through their satchel bag, Casey sets down a novel onto the table. "So remember how I told you some of the stuff that gets brought in we can keep?" "You'd be surprised just how many of these are brought in!" Casey beams. They watch Loki take the book reading over the cover curiously.
"To Tame a Variant?" Loki reads out loud, the bewilderment clear in his voice.
"That one Mobius lent me-"
"What?!"
"It's a good book!" The book is, rather carefully, laid back onto the table, three fingers perched on top, piercing blue eyes squinting at Casey.
"Horrible tastes aside-"
"Hey!"
"This-" he taps the book. "Is not what love is. It's what bored, suburban middle-aged women going through a mid-life crisis read."
Casey takes a moment before realizing the jab was directed toward them. "...hey, what does that mean-"
"And for that, I have decided this cheap excuse of a meal from the vending machine is much more engaging than whatever conversation you are trying to drag me into." Casey watches Loki lean back triumphantly in his chair.
He sips his water.
"So you're in denial!" Casey shrinks away when the water is ungracefully spat out across the table. "You almost got that on my shirt!"
"Me?" Loki coughs and gestures to himself. "In denial?"
"Yeah? It's called pining! You have all the signs! Just the other day you wrote him a letter, and got embarrassed when he read it out loud!"
"First of all, it wasn't a letter. It was a memo. Strictly professional! And I was /not/ embarrassed." Loki crosses his arms. Now, Casey isn't stubborn, nor do they strive to always be right, but if there is one thing they don't like it's when a love story's slow-burn goes on for too long. And sometimes one must take matters into their own hands.
"Whenever he leaves a room, you always sigh." Loki raises a brow.
"Am I not allowed to breathe!"
"Yes, but it's always so-" as an example, Casey sighs, mimicking Loki. "Wistful! Like that!"
"...that doesn't mean anything." Despite his words, Loki seems engaged, or at least taking Casey's observations into consideration.
"You two tangle your legs together under the desk all the time!"
"That's because Mobius has no regard for personal space."
"And you let him borrow your jacket!"
"Mortals get colder easier than gods."
"And the way you say his name it's so-"
"I can tell you this, Casey," Loki begins. "Is that, with all certainty, I am not...'in love' with Mobius, or whatever you believe."
"Have you ever been in love before?" That has him visibly stop. Casey wonders if they said something wrong until they can see the gears turning in his head. Almost giddy, Casey leans over the table, trying to get Loki to look over. "You haven't, have you?" Loki huffs and turns away.
"I don't see how this has any relevance."
"This changes everything!" Casey beams. "Think about it!"
"...well," Loki starts staring past Casey at the wall in thought. "I...I haven't had the...best role models when it comes to the 'romance' department. So I guess I'm just as lost on the subject as you are."
This is much more exciting than any paperwork, and they hadn't even known that was possible!
"So maybe it isn't love just yet. Not all romances begin with love at first sight, you know! Maybe you just have a crush!"
"A...crush." He rolls the word around on his tongue, face pinched. "I...guess crush would be the word."
"Crush what?" A third voice chimes in causing Casey to shriek and nearly jump out of their seat. A hand grasps their shoulder, steadying them. "Sorry about that." Loki seems dumbstruck. It's the closest Casey can get to. He is just staring wide-eyed at Mobius as if seeing him for the first time, eyebrows lifted just the slightest. "I just came to get Loki. We have an emergency, and I thought you might enjoy the trip."
"Don't think I haven't forgotten my plan on burning the TVA down," Loki says as if nothing had ever been wrong, grabbing his jacket off the chair and standing. Casey takes note of the fond smile he sends toward Mobius who returns it. "Thank you for the talk, Casey. It was...enlightening."
"You still haven't said what you plan on crushing." Casey hears Mobius saying as the two head toward the cafeteria doors.
They walk side by side, Loki's head tilted and their shoulders nearly bumping with each step. It was as if they had been sucked into their own little world. Loki says something and Mobius laughs, shoulders shaking with mirth, head turned up to him. And Loki smiles back, relaxed and staring at him warmly. Casey tucks their book back into their bag.
At least this time lunch wasn't a complete disaster.