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Chapter Text

Loki paced the length of the abandoned classroom, hands balled into fists in his trouser pockets. Every few steps he shot a glance towards the back of the room, where a figure sat, immobile.

‘Would you stop circling?’ Sylvie asked from behind him. ‘You’re making me ill.’ She leaned against the chalkboard, smudging the final scrawls written there.

Loki muttered an apology. He slid backwards onto a child-sized chair and drummed his fingers on the matching desk. ‘So what’s your plan? We sit here until the planet eventually explodes?’

Sylvie didn’t answer. From the back of the room came a low, pained groan. Loki swallowed. ‘And what about him?’

Slumped against the back wall was Mobius. The agent was unconscious, his head lolling to one side. A thin trickle of blood ran from a cut on his cheek to his shirt collar, staining it pink. The image made Loki dizzy. ‘He’s hurt. We should do something.’

Sylvie launched herself from the chalkboard and crossed to where Mobius sat. Grasping a tuft of his silver hair, she tilted his slack face towards hers. ‘It’s a papercut,’ she said. ‘He’ll live.’ She let go, roughly, and Mobius went limp again.

Loki looked away. He considered doing some light magic, just to heal the cut on Mobius’s face, but knew the act would be impossible to explain to Sylvie.

It was difficult to explain to himself, this desire to protect Mobius. The man was a TVA agent, for gods’ sake. He had almost certainly arrived as a trap.

But as another low moan escaped Mobius, Loki’s stomach clenched. TVA or no, he didn’t like seeing Mobius like this. Explanation be damned.

‘...And because this TVA fascist didn’t come alone to fight two Lokis himself,’ Sylvie was saying, gesturing to Mobius with her knife, ‘His friends and their pruning sticks must not be far behind. We find out when they’re coming, ambush the minutemen, steal their power source.’

‘And how do we find that out?’ Loki raised his eyebrow. ‘You’ve rendered our informant unconscious. I told you, brute force is rarely productive.’

‘No?’ Sylvie asked. In one swift movement, she swung out her leg and kicked Mobius, hard. ‘Wake up!’

Loki was out of his seat before he could think. He watched, mute, as Sylvie struck Mobius again. The agent didn’t wake, but fell to one side, his face slack.

‘Sylvie,’ Loki said, trying to keep his voice level. ‘That’s not achieving anything.’

‘Maybe not,’ Sylvie landed another kick to the man’s shin. ‘Feels good though. Want a turn?’

‘No. Stop!’ Loki held up his hand, and just like that, Sylvie froze.

Sylvie glared daggers. Even as she glowered at Loki, her foot remained suspended, a few inches from Mobius. ‘Let me go, dickhead!’

Loki shook his head. ‘Only if you stop hurting him.’

Sylvie’s eyes grew large, incredulous. She broke free from Loki’s spell with her own burst of magic, stomping her foot down on the ground. Loki shielded himself, braced for whatever weapon she was about to hurl at him.

But instead of magic, all Loki heard was a snort.

Loki dared to look up. The rage that had been on Sylvie’s face a moment before had been replaced by something else: amusement. ‘You’re joking,’ she said.

‘What?’ Loki asked, genuinely confused now. He spread his hands out in front of him, unsure if he’d need to restrain Sylvie once more.

Sylvie didn’t respond. She squatted next to Mobius.

‘Don’t–’ Loki began, but Sylvie didn’t touch him. She just sat there, studying Mobius’s face. The silence made Loki uneasy.

‘Him?’ She asked, finally. ‘Really?’

‘Him what?’

‘I’d understand some of those hunters,’ Sylvie continued. ‘They’re hot. But this guy…’ She slid her dagger under Mobius's necktie, lifting it from his stained shirt with a grimace. ‘Talk about daddy issues. I’m almost embarrassed for us.’

Loki felt his face grow hot. He crossed his arms over his chest. ‘I have no idea what you’re on about. I worked with him at the TVA, that’s all.’

Suddenly, Sylvie raised the blade of the dagger to Mobius’s neck. Instinctively Loki jumped forward, and she laughed.

‘You like him.’ Her eyes sparkled. ‘He’s one of your would-be princes, then?’

The question caught Loki off-guard, so much he almost let out a laugh. Is that what she thought this was about?

‘Don’t be absurd,’ Loki said. He was careful to keep one eye on the dagger that Sylvie held flush against Mobius’s skin. ‘We were colleagues. Friends, maybe. Nothing more.’

‘But you don’t want me to kill him?’ Sylvie ran the blade over Mobius’s collarbone.

‘No!’ Loki leapt forward again, aware he was playing right into Sylvie’s hand but unable to stop himself. He breathed a sigh of relief when Sylvie pocketed the dagger, grinning all the while. She was enjoying this far too much.

Loki stopped. Considered. Selected a matching grin. He unfolded his arms in surrender. ‘Yes. I’d rather you not slit the man’s throat. If that means I’m in love with him, so be it.’

‘Interesting. Love.’ But still Sylvie didn’t stand. She continued to watch Mobius, examining him from close range.

Loki said nothing, even as his heart beat louder and louder in his chest. He wished she would just leave him alone.

Sylvie touched a finger to Mobius’s temple. ‘Shall we find out if he feels the same?’

Loki started. ‘What?! No–’

‘Kidding,’ Sylvie said. The smile fell from her face. ‘I could care less about your TVA boyfriend. But I am going to find out where the rest of his pals are.’

Loki watched, helpless, as a sparkle of green snaked from Sylvie’s fingertip into Mobius’s mind.

Mobius, eyes still closed, groaned. He grunted something unintelligible.

Loki looked from Sylvie to Mobius, pressing his fingers to his palm. ‘What’s he saying?’ he asked. ‘Is he alright?’

Sylvie didn’t answer. Mobius grunted again, and this time it sounded suspiciously like he was calling Loki’s name. Before Loki could intervene, though, Sylvie removed her finger from Mobius’s forehead and his eyes shut once more.

‘Hm.’ Sylvie’s brow furrowed. She seemed at a loss for words, something Loki had never experienced himself.

‘Well?’ Loki asked, nervous. ‘What did you see?’

Sylvie straightened, wiped her hands on her trousers. ‘He came here to save you, from me. Hilarious.’ She paused, thoughtful. ‘And he came alone. The TVA’s top analyst has gone rogue.’

Loki blinked. ‘Rogue?’

Sylvie nodded. ‘So if you’re not sure if you like him, well… I’m sure you two will have a lot to talk about when he wakes up.’

Loki was stunned. ‘Right.’

Sylvie clasped her hands together. ‘Since no one else is coming, I’m going to get some sleep.’

As she made her way to the door, Loki took her place next to Mobius. The man was snoring now, a low, gentle pur. Loki knelt down next to him. He remembered how much Mobius believed in the TVA; how passionately he spoke of its mission. Why would he leave that all behind?

The cut on Mobius’s cheek was still bleeding. Loki magicked a tissue and dabbed at the wound gingerly, hoping it didn’t hurt. The man had thought he could take on Sylvie, alone. He really was an idiot.

‘Oh, and Loki?’ Sylvie called from the classroom door. ‘He came to save the princess,’ she gestured at Loki with her dagger, ‘from the monster.’ She pointed the blade at herself. ‘That behaviour’s almost princely, if you ask me.’

Loki flushed. ‘I thought you didn’t care about my TVA boyfriend.’

‘I don’t,’ Sylvie shrugged. ‘But I know that man escaped the TVA to help you. And I also know we’re terrible at love.’ She flipped her knife in the air and caught it in one hand. ‘So don’t stab him with any imaginary daggers,’ she winked, and disappeared out the door.

A low croak came from behind Loki. ‘What was that about love?’

Loki turned. Mobius was awake, blinking drowsily around the room. When he saw who sat in front of him, he chuckled, a sound so familiar Loki at once smiled back.

‘Loki,’ Mobius said. ‘I’m damn glad to see you.’

Chapter Text

‘Loki,’ Mobius said, his face set in a crooked smile. ‘I’m damn glad to see you.’

Loki grinned back. ‘Mobius, I can’t believe–’

Loki’s next words were drowned out by a deafening roar. The floor began quaking, toppling the classroom furniture. Suddenly Loki was flat on the ground, walls and ceiling tumbling around him. The room, it seemed, was breaking apart.

‘Mobius!’ Loki ducked his head as a hunk of earth broke through the classroom’s window with a crash. He pulled himself to his feet and magicked Mobius towards him, grasping his hand in his. A great force of wind twisted through the room, sending stones and glass flying.

‘Stay behind me!’ Loki instructed Mobius. Outside the smashed window, the school’s once-green playground was up in flames. The fire licked at the what remained of the walls, desperate to get in.

Sylvie’s shout came from the back of the room. ‘We have to get out of here!’ She darted to the other side of Mobius, stopping a hunk of concrete before it smashed them both flat. ‘This apocalypse,’ she said, grunting as she sent the concrete in the opposite direction, ‘is ahead of schedule.’

‘You don’t say.’ Loki raised his arms and halted another piece of rubble mid-air, a foot from the group. With a flick, Sylvie broke it to dust, crouching to avoid a hurtling locker as she did so.

‘What are we supposed to do? The TemPad’s broken!’ Loki yelled over the chaos, dodging a flying chair as it was sucked into the flames outside.

‘Yeah, thanks to you!’ Sylvie shouted back. ‘On your right–’

Loki turned just in time to duck under an airborne slide projector. He redirected its path outside, where it immediately burst to pieces.

‘This is no time to lay blame–’

‘You guys need a TemPad?’

Loki looked over his shoulder. Mobius was protecting his head from the swirling debris with one hand, and holding up a TemPad in the other.

Loki whipped towards Sylvie. She did the same. Then, at once, they both leapt for the TemPad, knocking Mobius over in the process. The gadget skittered across the floor. Loki reached for it, but too late – he felt Sylvie’s hand grip his wrist, and then the room disappeared.

Chapter Text

Loki coughed. His throat felt raw, like he’d filed it with a scouring brush. His hands were burning, too – and as he blinked back to consciousness, he realised this was because he was lying face down on something very hot. Boiling, actually. But, mercifully, quiet.

Eerily quiet.

‘Where are we?’ Mobius asked, voicing Loki’s question aloud. Loki propped himself on his elbows, the action making him sink a few inches into the blistering earth. Sylvie was already standing, shaking dust out of the TemPad, which was now beeping angrily.

Sand. He was lying in sand. Bright white sand, glinting like diamonds.

Loki drew himself to a seated position and saw that next to him, Mobius had done the same. The man had his face tilted upwards, and was sheilding his eyes from the sun.

Suns, Loki corrected himself, for when he followed Mobius’s gaze he saw three, suspended in a row against a startlingly blue sky. Silhouetted by their rays was a flock of winged creatures. One swooped close, and Loki spied a wriggling thing in its beak: a fish.

‘Have you taken us to the beach?’ Loki asked. He stood gingerly, the soft ground melting around him every time he moved. Once stable, he wiped the granules from his trouser leg and extended his hand to Mobius. The agent took it, almost making Loki lose his balance once again. The two ended up leaning on each other until they were both upright.

‘Sorry,’ Mobius said. Loki laughed, but Mobius’s frown remained fixed. Loki couldn’t be sure, but he seemed to be avoiding Loki’s gaze.

Sylvie, meanwhile, was ignoring them both. The TemPad, which was beeping louder and louder, had taken all her concentration. Sylvie shook it, cursing.

With an accusatory thrust, Sylvie pointed the machine at Mobius. ‘What did you do to it?’

Mobius looked from the TemPad to Sylvie. ‘Now, don’t be mad–’ he began, and Loki shut his eyes. Gods have mercy. This would definitely not end well.

‘–But the TVA might be tracking its TemPads. Including this one,’ Mobius finished.

As soon as he said it, Sylvie threw the TemPad to the ground and stomped it with her boot. The machine slipped, unharmed, under the sand, eliciting a scream of rage from Sylvie and a startled jump from Mobius. Eventually, Sylvie landed a blow, and the gadget fizzed, then went black.

The sight of the trampled TemPad, their last hope of escape, hit Loki like a wave. What he would do for a nap.

‘So we’re stranded,’ Loki said. ‘Again. Only this time, on...’ Where were they, exactly? Behind them was a tall white rock; as Loki stepped backwards, tracing its trajectory with his eyes, he realised this was the edge of an impossibly high cliff. In the other direction was the same sparkling sand, bookended by a thin line of water.

No matter which way Loki looked, there was no sign of another living being. ‘On a deserted island,’ he finished. ‘Even better.’

When there was no response, Loki turned back behind him to see a now-familiar image at the base of the cliff: Sylvie, with a dagger pressed to Mobius’s neck.

‘Sylvie!’ Loki shouted, sprinting towards them. His heart leapt painfully in his chest. ‘Sylvie–’ he panted, as he got closer. But Sylvie spoke over him.

‘Alright, loverboy,’ Sylvie said, pushing Mobius flat against the cliff. Mobius’s eyes nearly crossed as he watched the blade getting closer and closer to his skin. ‘What’s the deal?’ Sylvie asked. ‘Are you working for the TVA? Or not?’

‘Sylvie–’ Loki said. He grabbed her shoulder, but she shook him off, sending him to the sand.

‘I’m not!’ Mobius’s voice was a croak. ‘No, I swear, I’m not.’

‘Then why,’ Sylvie pressed the blade harder against Mobius’s skin. ‘Are you here?’

‘Because–’ Mobius’s eyes flashed to Loki in the sand then back to Sylvie’s knife, so fast Loki wasn’t sure if he imagined it. ‘Because I remembered something.’

‘Do tell,’ Sylvie said.

Loki got to his feet and grabbed Sylvie’s arm, more firmly this time. ‘We already did this! There’s no need–’

‘–I remembered my wife,’ Mobius interrupted. ‘I remembered I had a family before the TVA, back on Earth. And the TVA took that away from me.’

Loki’s next words vanished from his mind. Stunned, he let go of Sylvie’s arm.

Sylvie cocked her head to one side, the dagger still in place. ‘Your brain was a mess. But I did see flashes of something like that,’ she said, thoughtfully. ‘And you’re sure that’s the only reason you’re here?’

There it was again; the smallest of glimpses towards Loki. But Mobius’s face was blank as he said, ‘That’s the reason.’

Sylvie nodded, satisfied. ‘I can work with that.’ She lowered the dagger and stepped away, wiping the dry blade on her cloak. Mobius took a large inhale and leaned against the rock, his eyes closed.

Loki couldn’t quite believe what had just happened. And just how blasé his travelling companions were behaving.

‘Lovely,’ Loki said, his voice brimming with acid. ‘A family reunion. Perfect.’ He knew he sounded petty, but he didn’t care. Mobius had opened his eyes but still wasn’t looking at him, kicking at the sand instead.

The man was human. A stupid, weak, human, chasing after someone likely equally fatuous. Someone who was not Loki.

Loki had been a gullible fool to believe a word Sylvie spoke. Of course a man like that would only regard Loki as a dangerous creature, fit for study, nothing more. For though he was weak, and human, he was also good. And someone good could never come to care for someone like Loki. Not really.

Loki transferred his glare, as ablaze as the suns beating down on them, to Sylvie. If the variant thought she could get away with a trick like that, she was sorely mistaken.

But Loki swallowed his rage. Now was not the time.

‘What now?’ He asked. ‘You’ve brought us to a deserted island. Please share your genius plan. Or are we meant to burn to death?’

‘Oh, this place isn’t deserted,’ Sylvie said. She had her hand to her face and was peering into the distance, away from the cliff. ‘You just have to know where to look.’

Loki followed her gaze, squinting into the direction of endless sand. At first, he saw nothing but the vivid blue sky melting into the sea. But then he spotted it. A structure, jutting from the water. It could be mistaken for another cliff, except that it shimmered metallic in the light, and seemed to be made of giant, golden bones.

‘What is it?’ Mobius asked, coming up behind Loki. ‘A ship?’

‘Sort of,’ Sylvie said. ‘It’s a yacht. And I’m in the mood for a party.’

Chapter Text

Loki marched ahead of Sylvie and Mobius, sweat trickling down his neck. In other circumstances he might use magic to cool himself down, but he was enjoying the heat of the suns on his skin. It was a satisfying kind of burn, and easier to think about than what Mobius had said at the base of that cliff.

Sylvie and Mobius trailed a few paces behind, both silent. Every time Loki shot a glance towards them, Mobius had his hands in his pockets, that same opaque frown on his face. Sylvie, meanwhile, seemed to be the only one enjoying the walk, viscously stomping on any small shelled creature that crossed their path.

A horrible crunch came from behind Loki, and he knew Sylvie had annihilated another crab. ‘Barbaric,’ Loki muttered.

Suddenly Sylvie was at his side, walking at pace and backwards. ‘What’s up with you?’ She asked. She had her horned headpiece in her hand and was fanning herself with it as she walked.

Loki glowered. ‘I wonder.’ He shot a glance behind him, but Mobius was still a few meters back, grimacing at the sand. Loki lowered his voice. ‘You said he came to find me because…’ The sentence was too ridiculous to continue. ‘Nevermind.’

‘Because he’s in love with you,’ Sylvie finished for him.

Loki glared pointedly. ‘I believe those were the words you used. Fake declarations of love; a rather pedestrian kind of manipulation, but, I suppose that is your style.’

Sylvie spun around to walk in the same direction as Loki. ‘It wasn’t a trick.’

‘But you said–’

‘–I know, and I was right,’ Sylvie said. ‘But I can’t make him admit it. I mean, I could, but–’

‘Stop this charade. It’s insulting.’ Loki kicked at the sand, sending up a plume of white dust. ‘The man is only here to find his long-lost family. His wife.’ Loki pronounced the last word with distaste.

Sylvie sighed. ‘I didn’t think I’d be the one defending this guy, but, look. He just found out his whole life is a lie. Maybe cut him some slack?’ She thrust her thumb behind her. ‘Look at him. He’s shell-shocked.’

Loki glanced behind him. Mobius hardly seemed aware of where he was walking, wandering in an aimless zig-zag, brow deeply furrowed.

‘Give him a minute,’ Sylvie said. ‘I’m sure you two will be back to your incredibly obvious flirting in no time.’

‘How do you know that we–’

‘Because, it’s you. And I haven’t known Mobius long, but he doesn’t seem particularly smooth.’

Loki scoffed, remembering his lunches with Mobius in the TVA cafeteria, how the man threaded his legs between Loki’s as if it was the most natural thing in the world. But then the memory fell away, replaced by Mobius’s words against that cliff. I have a wife. A family.

‘He’s made his feelings clear.’ Loki shook his head. ‘We are colleagues, nothing more.’

‘Fine,’ Sylvie said, throwing up her hands in defeat. ‘You wouldn’t even admit you liked him before I read his mind, so I give up. I guess you’re just two people who take up way too much space in each other’s thoughts for no reason.’

‘That’s right,’ Loki agreed.

‘And this whole conversation was a waste of time.’

‘Yes.’

‘And none of this matters,’ Sylvie said. She quickened her pace, gaining on Loki a few steps.

‘Of course it doesn’t matter.’ Loki tossed his hair out of his face as a light breeze tickled his neck. ‘I don’t care about him any more than you. Less, even.’

Sylvie stopped walking so abruptly Loki ran straight into her. ‘What–’

But he looked up, and was surprised to see they had arrived at the shore. Rising from the beach was a shimmering dock, sparkling in the light as if it was made of sand itself. The three suns dipped close to the water, casting everything in a pink-yellow glow. Looming at the end of the path was the skeletal, golden yacht.

This close Loki could see that the vessel was not actually touching the water, but floating just above it. He wondered what kind of magic, if any, was responsible. Milling high above them on the yacht’s open balcony were figures dressed in white and gold finery, sipping from flutes that glinted in the light.

‘Now this is more like it,’ Loki said. With a tilt of his head he transformed his crumpled outfit to a smart golden suit.

‘Wow!’

Loki turned to see Mobius staring at him, eyes wide. The show of magic seemed to have shaken him from the fog he had been in since they landed. ‘That was incredible,’ Mobius continued, a smile spreading across his face. ‘Loki, you look–’

‘Alright, enough of that,’ Sylvie said, waving her hand and reverting Loki to his TVA uniform. ‘If you think I’m letting you go to a party after what you did on the train–’

‘–What did he do on the train?’ Mobius asked.

‘Nothing,’ Sylvie and Loki responded in unison.

Mobius chuckled. ‘Sorry,’ he said, when the two stared at him. ‘It’s just, I never thought I’d get to meet, let alone work with, two Lokis–’

‘Don’t call me that,’ Sylvie said, at the same time Loki said, ‘Don’t call her that.’

‘Sorry,’ Mobius apologised again. ‘I might have missed the introductions when I was knocked unconscious. No hard feelings,’ he added, quickly. He extended a hand towards Sylvie. ‘An honour to meet you, Sylvie.’

Sylvie crossed her arms, glaring at the appendage. ‘I don’t know about this one,’ she jerked her head towards Loki, ‘But I’m not big on touching.’

‘Unless it’s to twist someone’s arm,’ Loki muttered.

Mobius laughed again, lowering his hand. ‘Understood. Wow. The two of you, working together. Who could have guessed–

‘We are not working together,’ Sylvie corrected. ‘I am putting up with him for as long as he is useful to me.’

‘And I am manipulating her for my own gain,’ Loki agreed.

Mobius just nodded, smiling all the while. If Loki wasn’t so annoyed with the man, he might find this disproportionate level of glee charming.

‘It’s funny,’ Mobius said. ‘Some guys at the TVA, they thought that if you two ever met, you’d get on well. Even, you know…’

‘What?’ Loki asked. Mobius looked deliberately between the two.

Sylvie caught on first. Her face puckered in revulsion. ‘Eugh. Him?’

Then Loki understood. He grimaced in what he was sure was a matching expression. ‘Her?’

Mobius shrugged. ‘I never thought so, but– you’ve got to admit, the Loki variant is pretty much always real narcissistic.’

‘I strongly disagree,’ said Loki, as Sylvie muttered, ‘That one, maybe.’

‘Please stop speaking before I vomit,’ Loki said, hoping this would put an end to the conversation.

‘Yeah, Mobius, you don’t need to worry about that,’ Sylvie agreed. ‘I won’t get in your way,’ she added under her breath.

‘Sorry?’ Mobius asked, his smile wavering.

Loki cleared his throat. ‘So, this party. I spy drinks and what looks like a delicious variety of sea creature. Shall we go up?’ He began walking towards the dock, but Sylvie caught his arm, holding him back.

‘It’s not so simple,’ she said. ‘This planet is on course for an apocalypse in twenty-four hours. There’s a woman on this yacht with a time machine. We need to get it from her before the whole planet explodes.’

‘What do you propose?’ Loki asked. ‘Knock out the guards, kidnap the time traveller, torture her until she hands over the keys?’

‘I don’t know–’ Mobius began, sounding nervous, but Sylvie interrupted.

‘No torture,’ she said. ‘Disguises.’

Loki clasped his hands together, pleased. ‘At last. Realising my way is much better than your base violence–’

Sylvie shoved him, hard, and Loki tripped into Mobius, who reached out to stop him from falling. Loki grabbed at his hand, missed, and ended up with his arm around Mobius’s waist instead. Once righted, he quickly stepped away. ‘Apologies,’ he muttered, feeling foolish.

‘You alright there?’ asked Mobius. Loki noticed that his cheeks were looking a lot more sunburnt than they had a moment before.

‘Yes, fine,’ Loki snapped.

‘If you two are done feeling each other up–’ Sylvie said, and Loki shot her a glare. She rolled her eyes. ‘As I was saying. Disguises are necessary because this party has a very exclusive guest list. No title, no entry.’ She turned to Mobius. ‘Got it, Prince Mobius?’ With a curl of her finger, Mobius’s disheveled, stained uniform was replaced by a crisp white suit.

‘A prince!’ Mobius ran his hands over his new outfit. ‘I’ve never been royalty before.’

Loki scowled at Sylvie. She was definitely doing this on purpose. ‘Is that the best idea?’ He asked. ‘The TVA will have tracked the TemPad here. They’ll know he’s with us.’

‘Yes, but they’ll be looking for Mobius,’ Sylvie said. ‘Not the arm-candy of…’ And with another twirl of her finger, her cloak transformed to one of matching white and gold. ‘The royal princess.’

Loki’s lips formed a thin line. ‘You’re the princess?’ He could see that Mobius wasn’t pleased with this arrangement either; he was running his hand through his hair, brow furrowed.

‘Why not?’ Sylvie asked, her eyes sparkling. ‘No one at the TVA will have expected us to team up. It’s perfect.’

‘Fine,’ Loki said, not bothering to conceal the irritation in his voice. ‘What about me? Will I be acting as your royal kingship? An emperor, perhaps?’

‘Not quite.’ Sylvie twirled her finger. Loki looked down. His TVA-provided suit had been replaced by a nondescript black uniform.

‘You’ll be our footman,’ Sylvie said with a smirk.

‘I don’t think that’s at all believable,’ Loki said.

Mobius nodded, frowning. ‘Yeah, Sylvie, I can be the footman, I don’t mind–’

‘Come on,’ Sylvie said, looping her arm through Mobius’s. Loki noted with some satisfaction that he flinched from her touch. At least of the two, Loki was still the more favoured variant.

‘Oh, and Loki?’ Sylvie added, as an afterthought, ‘Remember. Footmen don’t speak unless spoken to.’ She began walking towards the dock, dragging Mobius with her.

Mobius turned and shot Loki a sympathetic look, mouthing the word, ‘Sorry.’

Loki sighed. This was going to be a long night.

Chapter Text

As they made their way down the dock, the buzz of what Loki could recognise as a very good party grew louder. Ahead came the tinkling of piano keys, and the yacht’s balcony swarmed with guests engaging in a boisterous waltz.

Loki saw Mobius had his head tilted up at the couples as well. Loki wondered if he could dance. Did TVA agents know what dancing was? But, of course, Mobius would have danced in his human life. That’s what humans did when they got married.

Loki’s miserable train of thought was interrupted by a gruff voice bellowing, ‘Name?’ Sylvie and Mobius had been stopped at the boat’s entry by a man as tall as he was wide – very, on both counts.

‘Regina and Reginald Delenfer,’ Sylvie responded, her pronunciation turning comically posh. ‘Prince and Princess of the Royal Municipality of Mensonge. We’re on the list.’ She flicked her finger at the guard’s hand and a crumpled scroll appeared there.

The guard held the paper a distance from his face, squinting. ‘Far-sighted,’ he explained. Then, apparently satisfied, he stepped aside. ‘Welcome to the end of the world, your royal highnesses.’

Loki made to follow but was nearly bowled over by the swing of a meaty forearm. ‘Guests of the captain only,’ he growled.

Loki was about to respond with his own invented alias when he felt a tickle in his throat. He tried to speak, but, alarmingly, could not. It felt as if there was a stopper blocking his vocal cords. Loki tried to look to Sylvie and Mobius for help but he couldn’t see beyond the guard’s towering shoulder.

‘A gate crasher, hm?’ The guard’s glower turned to a nasty grin. and Loki noticed that all his teeth were filed to sharp points. ‘Trespasser!’ The guard bellowed. ‘Tell Ralph we’ve got some meat for him.’

Loki startled, then offered his best smile, trying desperately to clear his airways all the while. Just as the guard gripped Loki’s arm, the red face of Mobius popped into view behind him.

‘He’s with me!’ Mobius cried. ‘Us. He’s our, uh, our footman.’ The guard frowned down at Mobius, unconvinced.

‘It is, sadly, true.’ Sylvie appeared on the guard’s other side, looking much less concerned. ‘We call him Runt, as his parents never bothered to give him a name. Tragic. Even worse is that he was born without speech. He can’t even utter a single word.’

The guard squinted at Loki. Loki seethed, but offered a thin-lipped smile as confirmation.

‘Fine.’ the guard said, releasing Loki from his death grip. ‘No funny business, you hear?’

Loki inclined his head in thanks, and raced to catch up with Sylvie and Mobius as they stepped onto the boat. With a cough Loki cleared Sylvie’s magic from his throat and was once again able to speak.

‘Very funny,’ Loki hissed as he followed them through the boat’s grand entryway. ‘What’s next, you turn me into a bat?’

Sylvie seemed to be biting back a laugh, but Mobius’s brows were still knit with concern. ‘That wasn’t funny at all! That guy was gonna feed Loki to Ralph! Hey – what's a Ralph?’

Stepping onto the yacht, Loki's next complaint was driven from his mind. All he saw was gold. At first he wondered if Sylvie had altered his vision as well as his speech, but then his eyes adjusted, and he realised he stood in a vast, bustling atrium. Everything in front of him, from the floor to the spiral staircases, was gleaming, made of the same bright gold.

As Loki followed Sylvie and Mobius up the nearest packed staircase, he felt a tiredness overtake him.

‘What is this place?’ Loki whispered. It wasn’t just the party; he could feel, as soon as he stepped onboard, a sapping of energy from within. ‘This boat, it’s–’ Loki tried, experimentally, to conjure fireworks in his palm, but all that came was a spark.

‘Oh, right,’ Sylvie said, turning on her heel. She’d parked them at a busier edge of the balcony. ‘This yacht runs on other people’s magic, so we probably shouldn’t stick around too long. Should’ve mentioned.’

‘Yes, you should have.’ Around them the gold-spangled party guests were toasting with champagne, displaying mouthfuls of pointed teeth. And was Loki mad, or did their glances keep straying towards him?

‘Okay,’ Mobius said, his voice low. He seemed to notice the looks too. ‘So – your friend with the time machine. Let’s find her and get out of here.’

‘We will. But first, a toast.’ Sylvie grabbed two flutes of champagne from a passing tray and handed one to Mobius. ‘To unlikely bedfellows.’

‘Uh, sure,’ Mobius said. He clinked glasses with a frown. Loki watched on, irritated, but silent.

Sylvie took a sip and then said, much louder, ‘Runt! Go fetch us some food from the banquet table.’

The surrounding conversions quieted at Sylvie’s proclamation, while Mobius nearly choked on his drink.

‘Are you sure?’ Mobius asked, coughing. Seeming to notice the eavesdroppers, he placed his hand tentatively on Sylvie’s arm. She shook him off.

‘Regina, sweetheart,’ Mobius said, with emphasis, ‘Maybe Lo– I mean, Runt, should stay here. You know, in case we need him.’

Sylvie’s mouth twisted. ‘Reginald, you dear. Always thinking of others. If I were a more suspicious ruler, I might think you and our servant were having some sort of affair.’

A few of the nearby party guests tittered into their champagne flutes. Damn Sylvie. Mobius wore the same put-on smile, but his face had turned beet red. ‘Don’t be silly,’ he said.

‘Fine. I won’t.’ Sylvie reached out and patted Mobius’s cheek. ‘Off you go, Runt. And don’t lag. I’m starved.’

Loki glared at Sylvie with what he hoped would convey the many, many curses running through his mind. But, conscious of the pointed smiles around him, he remained silent and obeyed. He just hoped he wasn’t doing something he would later regret.

--

The banquet table sat free of guests on the other side of the balcony, and Loki kept an eye on Sylvie and Mobius as he piled a plate with shimmering shellfish. The two had moved a little ways down the boat, their heads bent close. Loki squinted but couldn’t make out their expressions. What could they possibly have to discuss?

‘Which would you recommend?’ Loki asked the young server stationed behind two platters of gelatinous cubes. When the boy ignored him, Loki grabbed one and popped it in his mouth.

‘I’d be more careful, if I was you.’

Loki looked up to see the server was eyeing him nervously.

‘Why?’ Loki asked. ‘I’m famished.’

‘This gig,’ the boy whispered. ‘Never ends well for the likes of us, does it?’ He gestured between himself and Loki and their nearly identical uniforms.

Loki frowned. ‘What?’

‘You know, these end of the world parties. The guests are up for dinner and a show.’

‘Meaning?’

The server gulped. ‘Public execution,’ he whispered, dramatically.

Loki laughed. ‘Don’t be ridiculous.’ But even as he said it, he felt those same watchful eyes on the back of his neck.

‘It’s always the expendables, isn’t it?’ The boy continued, his voice low and urgent. ‘My advice: keep your head down. Maybe we’ll make it to the next.’ Then he fell quiet again, looking straight ahead.

Loki scoffed. He glanced over to where Sylvie stood on the other side of the balcony, one arm around Mobius. He shook his head, but they really did seem to be holding each other, moving around the floor as one. Were they… Dancing?

So this was Sylvie’s plan. Steal Mobius away and get Loki killed, and, maybe, eaten by some sadistic revellers.

Loki set down the plate of food and reached in his pocket. There, in a pocket within a pocket within a fast-fading pocket dimension, he found what he was looking for: the TemPad; the real one, not the smashed decoy he’d conjured for Sylvie.

Loki had only planned to use it if absolutely necessary, and thought he might not need it at all. He had started to believe the three of them could work together: Sylvie, Mobius, and him.

How very foolish he’d been. Sylvie, as always, was playing her own game. And he and Mobius were caught in the middle.

Chapter Text

Mobius

‘Off you go, Runt. And don’t lag. I’m starved.’

Mobius watched nervously as Loki disappeared into the crowd. He was a God, sure; but he still didn’t like the idea of Loki being alone on this strange boat without his magic.

‘You’re sure he’ll be okay?’ Mobius asked quietly. The nearest partygoers had watched Loki retreat with a hungry expression. ‘The way some of these guests are looking at him…’

‘I’m sure it’s familiar to you,’ Sylvie said.

Mobius felt his face grow hot. Before he could think of a response, Sylvie pinched his arm and dragged him to a less populated spot further down the boat.

‘Ow!’ Mobius said, rubbing his arm. ‘You know, you can just ask me to follow you. I do have feet.’

Sylvie took a sip of her champagne, staring at Mobius all the while. The variant really did know how to make someone uncomfortable.

‘You don’t need to be so afraid of me,’ Sylvie said, finally.

‘Afraid?’ Mobius chuckled, fiddling with the stem of his glass. ‘Me? Never.’

‘You are afraid, and a terrible liar.’ Sylvie leaned against the bannister. ‘So why did you lie?’

‘Well okay,’ Mobius said. ‘You do have this whole revenge thing going on, and you have killed a bunch of people, so, maybe just a little afraid–’

‘–Not that. About why you’re here.’ When Mobius didn’t respond, Sylvie sighed. ‘I looked into your mind. There’s no point pretending. You left the TVA to save him.’

Mobius frowned. ‘It’s not so simple.’ On cue, the flashes of that other life curled at the corners of his mind, blurred, but there. They weren’t memory so much as feeling. The feeling that he was meant to be somewhere else, someone else.

As if reading his thoughts, Sylvie said, ‘I saw your family in there, too.’ She gestured at his temple. ‘Fragments, at least.’

‘What did you see?’ Mobius asked. ‘When I try to remember it… It’s like a dream, it just slips away.’

Sylvie glanced at him. ‘Are you sure you want to know? Maybe there’s a reason you became a variant.’

Mobius nodded. Anything would be better than what he knew now: nothing. ‘Please.’

‘You had a wife,’ Sylvie said. ‘Wanted kids, but it never happened. Had nephews, nieces instead.’ She sighed. ‘You weren’t happy. Not in any big way. Just in the way that most people aren’t happy. It was like you couldn’t really believe your life turned out the way it did.’

Sylvie’s words settled into Mobius like water. Though he still couldn’t remember, some deep, instinctive part of him could tell she was describing something that had already happened, and happened to him. Hearing about it made him overwhelmingly sad.

Mobius tried to smile, his voice quiet. ‘Thanks for telling me,’ he said. ‘That does sound… Well, not familiar. But right.’

‘That’s because you felt the same way at the TVA,’ Sylvie said. ‘Up until one,’ she raised her index finger, ‘egotistical, completely clueless, very much infatuated idiot showed up.’ The finger pointed itself behind her, towards where Loki was chatting with a banquet server.

Mobius laughed. Maybe Sylvie wasn’t so bad after all. She was right about some things, anyways.

A lively violin started playing nearby and was quickly joined by a full band. Suddenly their stretch of balcony was swarmed with couples partnering for a festive sort of jig. Sylvie put down her glass and offered her hand to Mobius, eyebrows raised. ‘Your highness?’

Mobius chuckled. ‘What the hell.’ He swigged the last of his drink and accepted Sylvie’s hand. When he went to place a hand on her waist, though, Sylvie did the same to him.

‘I think it makes more sense for me to lead, don’t you?’ Sylvie said.

‘Whatever you say, Regina,’ Mobius said with another laugh.

Sylvie spun them around the dance floor. ‘Have you and Loki danced much?’

Mobius snorted. ‘Loki? No. I don’t dance with extremely dangerous variants. Present company excluded.’

Sylvie rolled her eyes, swaying to the music. ‘As much as I enjoy watching you go redder than a tomato every time Loki speaks, it’s all getting a bit tedious.’

‘What am I supposed to do?’ Mobius asked. ‘I’ve studied Loki’s whole life. He just doesn’t do love.’

Sylvie spun Mobius away from her. ‘Maybe not. Maybe that’s not been his choice.’ She pulled him back to position.

Mobius shook his head. He remembered how Loki looked at him the moment before he stepped through the portal in the Roxxcart superstore. How he’d then, still, walked through. ‘It’s not worth the risk.’

‘He’s just a scared little boy,’ Sylvie said with a smirk, and Mobius knew she’d picked up the phrase back when she’d read Mobius’s mind. ‘But you seem to like him, despite his many, many faults. And he likes you.’

Sylvie pulled Mobius to her side just as the music ended. Over the scattering of applause, Sylvie whispered, ‘And one variant to another? Sometimes the reward is worth the risk.’ She winked, and Mobius got the feeling she just might be right.

Chapter Text

Loki found Sylvie and Mobius just as the band started another tune, this one much slower than the racket they had been playing before. In one hand he held the plate of shellfish; in the other, he grasped a dagger, concealed in his pocket.

‘You two getting along?’ Loki asked. He fingered the dagger in one hand. Timing would be important.

Sylvie turned. ‘Oh, yes,’ she said, in her affected speech. She clumsily stuck her arm around Mobius, who shifted uncomfortably. ‘My husband here is just so… Distinguished.’

Loki glared, a thin smile on his lips. ‘I can’t believe you,’ he hissed. ‘You really think–’

‘–Oh, you’re right,’ Sylvie interrupted, and before Loki could continue his planned tirade the plate of food was out of his hands and he was being pushed straight into Mobius.

‘There,’ Sylvie said, admiring her handiwork. ‘That’s much more believable.’

Mobius chuckled. He placed his arms around Loki’s shoulders, pulling him close. ‘I’d have to agree.’

Loki sputtered. He had been planning to confront Sylvie, but now, with Mobius’s face mere inches from him, he couldn’t remember what exactly he was meant to be so angry about.

‘What about you?’ Mobius was asking over Loki’s shoulder. Loki turned to see Sylvie was cheerfully picking at the banquet plate while zigzagging around dancing couples.

‘I’m going to find us a time machine,’ Sylvie shouted, mouth full. She waved a battered shrimp at them. ‘Have fun.’ And she disappeared around the corner.

Loki turned back to Mobius. The man was grinning up at him. ‘What are you doing?’ Loki asked.

‘I’m trying to dance with you,’ Mobius said, laughing. ‘Or can’t the God of Mischief dance?’

‘Oh, I can dance,’ Loki said, wrapping his arms around Mobius’s waist. ‘I just don’t know if you can handle it.’

Mobius grinned. ‘Try me.’ A blush suddenly crawled up his neck. ‘Er… Loki, is that a gun in your pocket, or–’

‘A dagger, actually.’ Remembering, Loki quickly slipped it back into a pocket dimension. He’d be ready when Sylvie returned, but for now… For now he was happy to be this close to Mobius’s beaming face. ‘What could that variant have said to make you look so pleased?’

Mobius laughed. ‘Oh, you know. Lots of things.’

‘She does waffle on, doesn’t she?’

‘Reminds me of someone else I know,’ Mobius grinned. Then his brow furrowed. ‘I’m sorry if I was acting weird before. It’s been a long day.’

Loki nodded. ‘Of course. None of my business.’

‘Yeah, but. I should have told you.’ Mobius sighed a deep sigh. He pressed his palms to Loki’s neck and Loki felt their warmth spreading through him like syrup. ‘I do care about you, Loki.’

Loki stared into Mobius's clear blue eyes. Oh, how he wanted to believe those words. How easy it would be to let himself fall into whatever was on the other side of that promise.

But no. It was too much. Too real.

Loki stopped dancing. He took Mobius’s hands in his and removed them from his neck. When he spoke, he made his voice cold. ‘Did Sylvie put you up to this?’

Mobius blinked. ‘What? No!’

‘It’s a weak effort, if so.’ Loki said. ‘As if I would ever believe–’

Loki had to stop talking then because Mobius was kissing him. Without thinking, he kissed the man back, wrapping his arms around him and drawing him close.

Loki forgot where he was. He forgot about Sylvie, about the TVA, about the end of the world. He didn’t give a damn about any of it. He could have lived and died in that kiss a thousand times, across a thousand different timelines, and it still wouldn’t have been enough.

What might have been a minute or a year later, either way much too soon, the two pulled apart. Mobius was bright red, and grinning ear to ear. ‘Phew,’ he said. ‘Glad I did that. With all this running around I worried I wouldn’t get the chance.’

Loki raised an eyebrow, unable to lessen the grin on his face. ‘The biggest flirt in any apocalypse. I applaud you, Agent Mobius.’

Loki was about to bring Mobius in for another kiss when he heard a scream in the distance.

‘Adulterer!’ The voice was shrill and, unmistakably, Sylvie’s. The music fell flat as the party guests stopped in their revelry, turning instead to gape at Loki and Mobius.

Sylvie was striding across the floor, followed by two burly guards. She had one accusatory finger pointed at Loki and Mobius. ‘That servant has seduced my husband!’ Marching up to Mobius, she stuck her hand in his pocket and withdrew a handful of sparkling gems. ‘And my husband’s pickpocketed all my jewels!’

There was an audible gasp from the partygoers even as Mobius uttered a stammering denial. The guests formed a circle around Loki and Mobius, their mouths stretched in gleeful, pointy smiles.

‘Any ideas?’ Mobius whispered to Loki.

‘Give me a moment.’ Loki stuck one hand in his pocket, searching for the TemPad. He grasped Mobius’s hand in the other.

Sylvie was still shouting at anyone who would listen. ‘I call for the captain to unleash the most gruesome of punishments upon these two criminals! Nay, I demand I speak to the captain herself!’ She yelled.

‘Captain’s not here, your Highness,’ the nearest guard said. He swung a hefty-looking club in one hand. ‘But don’t worry, we can finish them off for you.’

Loki was sure he heard delighted applause from the audience at this suggestion. But there – the TemPad! Loki clutched it in his fist as he held his arm out to one side, his other still holding onto Mobius’s hand.

‘While that does sound lovely,’ Loki said, smiling, ‘unfortunately my friend and I have a previous engagement.’ And he pressed down on the TemPad.

Nothing happened.

‘Loki?’ Mobius muttered at his side. The crowd, realising the two criminals were sticking around, broke into another round of cheers.

‘No, I don't think you've got anywhere else to be,’ the guard said. He grinned, holding his club up high. Then everything went black.

Chapter Text

Loki’s head throbbed. He was very tired. And someone was holding him.

He wasn’t sure if his eyes opened or if he imagined the glimpse of a darkened room, of a man looking down at him with a face drawn with worry. Perhaps it was just a dream. Perhaps he would go back to sleep.

‘Loki! Loki, can you hear me?’

The words came from the person who also clutched at him, much too hard, like his grip was the only thing keeping Loki from passing from this life to the next.

Mobius.

The events of the evening came back to Loki and he opened his eyes, for certain this time. His head felt heavy. He saw that Mobius held him in his arms, and was searching Loki’s face with an increasingly panicked expression.

‘Loki!’ He said again. ‘Can you hear me?’

Loki grimaced. ‘The shouting is unnecessary.’ His voice sounded like rubble.

‘Oh, thank God,’ Mobius breathed. And suddenly he was embracing Loki, very tightly.

‘Alright,’ Loki said into Mobius’s shoulder. ‘It was only a club to the head.’

‘A club to the head usually doesn’t end well!’ Mobius said, relieved laughter in his voice. ‘Are you sure you’re alright?’ He pulled away from Loki, and Loki was touched to see his eyes were wet. Had the man really been crying over him?

Loki drew himself up and scooted away from Mobius slightly. He pressed his fingers gently to where his head ached the most. It was sore, but when he removed his hand there was no blood. ‘I’m perfectly fine,’ he said. ‘Hardly a scratch.’ But as he said it he felt that same bones-deep exhaustion, dragging him towards sleep. Then he remembered.

‘Mobius, are we still on that boat?’

For the first time Loki took in their surroundings. Mobius’s royal outfit had reverted to the TVA suit and tie, and Loki saw his servant’s uniform had done the same. They were in a very dark, very bare room. Not a room – a cell.

‘Yeah,’ Mobius said. ‘After the guard hit you, Sylvie went ballistic, and they brought us here.’

A latent rage lit in Loki’s chest. ‘Sylvie,’ he hissed. ‘I’ll kill her.’ He stood up too quickly, his head spinning, and nearly fell back down again. Mobius jumped up to stop him falling.

‘Woah, there,’ he said. ‘Take it easy. You probably shouldn’t stand–’

‘–I’ll do what I like!’ Loki snapped. He tried to conjure the dagger he knew he’d prepared especially for the back-stabbing witch, but his hand remained empty.

‘Loki–’ Mobius began, but Loki raised his hand for silence. He shut his eyes and concentrated as hard as he could. It was so hard, impossibly hard, to perform even this most basic bit of magic. The ship was feeding off him, turning the simple task herculean.

Finally, amazingly, the dagger appeared in Loki’s hand. He let out a breath and fell to the ground again, feeling shattered. ‘I’ll be ready for her.’ He studied the dagger in his open palm, considering how best to deliver his revenge.

Loki was broken from his reverie by a frustrated groan coming in the direction of Mobius. He looked up to see Mobius running his hand over his face, appearing genuinely irritated.

‘Is that all you ever think about?’ Mobius asked.

Loki blinked. ‘Sylvie trapped us here, Mobius. She played her tricks and–’

‘Sure,’ Mobius waved away Loki’s words as if he weren’t describing how they had just been sent to their near-certain deaths. He placed his hands on his hips and looked at Loki like a disappointed teacher. ‘I was really worried about you,’ he said, sounding more angry than concerned.

Loki frowned. ‘Why?’

Mobius laughed, incredulous. ‘Why?! Loki, don’t make me go through all that again. I don’t want you to die. I like you. That’s why I kissed you.’

Loki shook his head, slipping the dagger into his pocket. Carefully, he stood, ignoring Mobius’s offered hand. ‘You shouldn’t have done that.’

‘What?’ Mobius asked. ‘Kissed you?’

‘Look where it’s gotten us! Me without magic, and the two of us almost certainly about to be killed–’

‘Are you kidding me?’ Mobius interrupted.

‘No,’ Loki said. He leaned against the wall, keeping his eyes on the floor. ‘It was a mistake.’

Loki expected Mobius to turn from him, to seethe in quiet anger, to realise, finally, that he was not the person Mobius had foolishly believed him to be.

He did not expect to hear laughter.

Loki looked up, frowning.

Mobius was laughing. That chuckle he did when he found something funny, even though he shouldn’t. After a moment, he said, ‘You really are a piece of work, you know that?’

‘I beg your pardon?’ Loki asked.

‘I kissed you, Loki, and you kissed me back.’ Mobius said, still wearing that charged smile. ‘Let’s talk about it.’

Loki snorted. ‘I really don’t think that’s the most pressing matter at hand–’

‘We’ve got nowhere else to be,’ Mobius said, turning around the empty cell. ‘And maybe back on Asgard you end things with that kind of melodrama, but this ain’t Asgard. So, because you still look like you’re about to pass out, why don’t we sit here,’ he sunk to the floor, ‘and you tell me how you feel.’

Mobius crossed his legs. He steepled his fingers and rested his chin there, the very picture of a rapt audience.

Loki glared. He slid down the wall so he and Mobius were at the same level, but only because he did still feel light-headed.

Mobius continued to sit there, watching him. Loki scoffed. Finally, he gave in.

‘Fine! Just so you’ll stop looking at me like that.’ He shot another glare at Mobius. ‘I feel frustrated.’

‘Okay,’ Mobius nodded.

‘With you,’ Loki added.

‘Okay, good,’ Mobius said. ‘What else?’

Loki huffed. ‘I feel… I feel like I want to murder Sylvie.’

Mobius shook his head, a small grin on his face. ‘You are just awful at this!’

‘At what! Sitting on the floor like children?’

‘At love,’ Mobius said.

Loki glowered. Mobius’s smile had softened. He was watching Loki with that thoughtful, perceptive stare Loki had gotten to know so well at the TVA.

Loki cleared his throat. He picked at an invisible piece of dust on the floor. ‘I suppose I haven’t had much practice.’

‘Never anyone back on Asgard?’

‘I think you already know the answer to that,’ Loki said. ‘Or did your files not cover my pathetic love life?’

Mobius raised his hands in surrender. ‘I’m just trying to talk.’

‘Fine,’ Loki snapped. Was he really going to do this, here, now? He felt bare, weak. When he glanced up, though, Mobius was still looking at him with those clear, trusting eyes. And that made Loki feel a little bit stronger.

‘Fine,’ Loki said again, softer this time. ‘I accepted long ago that I’m not meant to find love.’

‘And why’s that?’

‘Because. Look at me. Love.’ Loki let out a short laugh. ‘Love in the way some people say it. I saw it plenty, I suppose. Thor and his women. My mother and Odin. They called it love. And I did want it. I chased after it, in my youth.’

‘Asgard's very own Casanova?’ Mobius asked.

‘Not quite,’ Loki said, with a sad smile. ‘They never stuck around. As soon as they found out who I am, who I truly am – well, you’ve seen what I’ve done. I suppose I can’t blame them.’ Loki braided his hands together in his lap.

Mobius said nothing. Loki heard the sound of him shuffling closer. Then, his hand rested on top of Loki’s.

‘I’m sorry,’ Mobius said, and his voice was low, gentle. ‘That must have been really hard.’

Loki gulped. He tried a smile, but wasn’t sure if he managed it. ‘Well, you know. Some of us aren’t meant for life’s softer things.’

Mobius shook his head, the tiniest of movements. ‘You know I’ve seen your history. All of it.’

‘I know,’ Loki said. ‘So I understand if–’

‘And I’m sticking around,’ Mobius said. ‘If you want me, that is. I understand if you’re too busy getting revenge…’

Loki leaned forward. He tilted Mobius’s face to his, and kissed him.

‘I’d like that,’ Loki said, when they parted.

‘Yeah?’ Mobius asked, a crooked grin working its way across his lips. He shifted closer to Loki and kissed him again, slowly, softly. His touch wiped almost all doubt from Loki’s mind.

Almost.

Loki pulled back. ‘But Mobius, you said before–’ He couldn’t bring himself to say those dreaded words: a wife, a family. Instead he asked, ‘What about your other life? Who you were before?’

Mobius’s smile dipped. ‘That life… Whoever I was, he’s not me anymore. That life ended when I became a variant. And I couldn’t go back even if I wanted.’ Mobius brushed his fingers to Loki’s cheek. ‘When I thought you were in danger with Sylvie, I left the TVA. I didn’t even have to think. I was sure. I always want to be sure.’

‘Always is looking brief,’ Loki said. ‘Considering we’re about to be fed to hungry aristocrats.’

‘Yeah, but even if we weren’t,’ Mobius said. ‘I’d still choose you.’

He drew Loki near again. Just then, there was the crashing sound of a door being flung open.

‘Sorry, didn’t mean to interrupt.’ A familiar voice sounded from behind Mobius, dripping with a gleeful sarcasm. ‘Should I come back later?’

Loki looked up. There, standing in the shadow of the doorway, was Sylvie.

Chapter Text

‘Sylvie,’ Loki hissed. He leapt up as Mobius did the same. Loki nudged Mobius so he was behind Loki, out of harm’s way. Loki wielded his dagger in front of him.

‘Looks like you two kissed and made up,’ Sylvie said, stepping further into the cell. She was followed by a woman with long, dark hair and owl-like eyes. ‘Captain, this is Loki. And his, uh, sugar daddy.’

Loki heard Mobius sputter behind him as the woman inclined her head at each of them in turn. ‘A pleasure,’ she said. Loki noticed she was carrying what looked like a bowl of water under her arm, something splashing around inside.

‘Whatever you’ve planned,’ Loki growled, pointing the dagger between Sylvie and the Captain. ‘I assure you, you’ll regret it.’

The Captain just nodded, her expression serious. ‘You were right,’ she said to Sylvie. ‘He is dramatic.’

‘Sorry about earlier,’ Sylvie said, leaning against the far wall. ‘I didn’t think the guy would hit you.’

‘What?’ Loki narrowed his eyes at Sylvie, dagger at the ready.

‘The Captain here is a busy woman. She’ll only turn up for a good story, so I had to frame you two. Sorry.’ Sylvie shrugged. She didn’t sound sorry in the slightest.

‘You had to frame us?’ Loki asked, irritated. ‘That was the only way?’

‘It was the most entertaining way. For me,’ Sylvie grinned.

The Captain reached forward, fondling a lock of Loki’s hair between sharpened fingernails. ‘Loki,’ she said, declaring the name with solemnity. ‘You are handsome. Almost as handsome as your friend.’ She cocked her head. Loki was unnerved; the woman didn’t seem to need to blink.

‘Please,’ Sylvie scoffed. ‘I’m better looking than both of them.’

The Captain hummed softly, her expression becoming no less intense. ‘But are you as duplicitous?’

‘I’m the most trustworthy person I know,’ Loki said with a cold smile. He fingered the dagger at his side.

‘The time traveller has been good to us,’ The Captain said, and Loki understood she was referring to Sylvie. ‘She knows of the universe’s apocalypses, and shares this wisdom readily,’ the Captain said. ‘Though last visit she delivered us into the heart of an exploding star.’

‘I did apologise for that,’ Sylvie muttered from her post.

The Captain’s head tilted, her eyes still fixed on Loki. ‘Now she says you are the ones in need of a destination.’ She released Loki’s hair, and Loki let go of a breath he hadn’t realised he’d been holding. The Captain’s eyes flickered to the dagger at his side. ‘Sheathe your weapon, and Ralph will begin.’

Loki glared. At Sylvie’s insistent stare, he slipped the dagger into his pocket.

The Captain nodded, appeased. She removed the bowl from under her arm and in one grand swoop, held it in front of her. Loki saw that the bowl was spherical glass, and inside was a large, gold fish. It gnashed at the water, revealing rows of pointed teeth that recalled the mouths of the guests upstairs.

‘Is that Ralph?’ Mobius asked. He’d stepped out from behind Loki and was frowning at the fishbowl with as much confusion as Loki felt.

‘Ralph’s great,’ Sylvie said. ‘He can make us a time machine.’

Loki blinked from the bowl to Sylvie. ‘That fish has a time machine?’ He waited for Sylvie to break into laughter, reveal this as another one of her tricks, but she was peering at the fish with a completely serious expression.

‘Ralph is no fish,’ the Captain said, speaking for the first time with something other than careful solemnity. ‘Ralph sees what we need and delivers it to us.’

The Captain extended one finger and dipped it into the bowl’s water. ‘And so we begin.’

Ralph the not-fish ignored the phalangeal addition to his home for a moment, chomping happily at nothing. Then, in a dash, he opened his mouth and clamped down on the Captain’s finger.

Mobius yelped. ‘What the–’

The Captain didn’t react; instead, her face turned slack, those large eyes landing on Loki. They seemed not to be looking not at Loki, but through him.

‘The Captain translates for Ralph,’ Sylvie explained. Of the three, she was the only one unperturbed by the scene in front of them. ‘It’s a whole thing.’

‘Three travellers,’ the Captain announced, her voice a deep, rumbling register. ‘Lost on their way, far from home. Home is what all three seek.’

‘If I may–’ Loki began, but Sylvie shushed him.

‘Two hold each other’s hearts in their hands, heavy with the sorrow of the past. Two view the other through a mirror, afraid to turn. You must learn to look ahead. Home is what you seek,’ she said again.

‘Actually–’ Loki said, and Sylvie hit him in the arm. ‘Ow,’ he muttered.

‘You call it different names,’ the Captain continued. ‘But it is home. For two it is impossible. You are out of time and place. Your home will not welcome you back.’

The Captain’s eyes swivelled lazily, landing on Mobius. His face paled as she said, ‘For you, traveller, there is a way. Your heart is split, scattered through time, but you know what you must do. The path is not clear now, but it will become so.’

There was a snapping sound, and the fish released the Captain’s finger. She removed it from the water, her attention still on the bowl. Loki watched with the others as the fish opened its mouth, emitting a large green-blue bubble. The bubble drifted, slowly, to the surface of the water.

The Captain scooped the bubble out of the water. It remained perfectly whole in her hand, as if made of glass. ‘Ralph says this will take you where you need to go,’ she said to Mobius, her voice back to normal. ‘You will be able to relive your other life, the one you have vowed to forget. It will be as if you never left.’

Mobius held out his hand and the Captain dropped the bubble into his palm. He looked down at it, his expression unreadable. The sight lodged something sharp in Loki’s chest.

‘What about us?’ Sylvie asked. For the first time, she sounded impatient with the Captain. ‘Home or not, we need to get out of here,’ she said. ‘I’ve got a plan to finish.’

The Captain readjusted the fishbowl under her arm and stared at Sylvie with those unblinking eyes. ‘I’m afraid, dear friend, your fate is set. All I can offer you is a place on my ship.’ Her face twitched, nearing a smile. Loki caught sight of a row of fanged teeth. ‘Those boney arms would make an excellent new bannister.’

Loki backed up, bringing the dagger from his pocket. Sylvie did the same. ‘That wasn’t the deal,’ Sylvie said.

‘My time traveller, you have outgrown your usefulness,’ the Captain said. ‘And those magic hearts beat so deliciously. My Ralph must have a taste.’ The fish was swimming frenetically in its bowl, chomping at the water. Loki eyed it wearily as the Captain reached behind her, withdrawing a long, pointed spear.

Loki heard a scream.

Everyone in the cell froze, and looked up. The scream came from above them. There was another, and then the floor above them burst into chaos, a mix of shouts, thuds, and shots.

‘What have you brought onto my ship?’ The Captain roared, her voice thick with fury.

The noise above them got louder, more frantic. The Captain lowered her spear. ‘Stay here,’ she barked, and then hastily exited the cell, fishbowl splashing under her arm.

Loki let out a breath. He glanced up at the ceiling, where the noise of the fight continued, sounding now like a full-blown battle.

‘What do you think?’ Sylvie asked, doing the same. ‘Friend or foe?’

‘I’m guessing the latter,’ Loki replied.

‘You still have that time bubble?’ Sylvie asked Mobius. ‘You might need it, whatever’s coming next.’

Mobius patted his jacket pocket, but shook his head. ‘I’m not using it. I told you.’ He reached out and squeezed Loki’s hand. ‘I made my choice.’

Loki clutched Mobius’s hand back, unsure what to say in response, what to feel. But there was no time to say anything. Sylvie was ushering them out the cell door, calling, ‘We need to get off this boat, then we can figure out how to outrun the apocalypse. How’s your magic?’

Loki opened his palm, mustering all his energy to create even a spark. Nothing came. He sighed and pulled the previously conjured dagger from his pocket. ‘This is all I’ve got.’

‘One knife? Amateur,’ Sylvie said, striding ahead. She drew two much larger, shinier daggers from her pocket. ‘Take one of mine. Mobius can have the funsize version.’

‘Inaccurate,’ Loki said, but did as she suggested. Mobius took Loki’s dagger with wide eyes, then held it nervously in front of him.

Sylvie led them up a narrow staircase and paused at the landing, where the noise of the fight became a roar. Loki peered over her shoulder.

The atrium was in chaos. Partyguests ran in every direction while the ship’s delicate gold rafters collapsed around them. Helmeted soldiers swarmed the floor, charging after the guests, weapons raised. In the center of it all was a huddle of suited TVA agents, pruning sticks raised.

Noticing Loki, Sylvie, and Mobius, one of the hunters in the center raised their arm. ‘It’s them!’

Sylvie nodded at Loki and Mobius, wielding her knife. They did the same.

The nearest hunter lunged at Loki. Loki dodged to the side, sending the hunter sliding to the ground. The pruning stick tumbled out of the hunter’s hand but before Loki could grab it, another hunter was at his back, slamming his weight into Loki’s shoulder. Loki whipped around and pushed him off with Sylvie's dagger, and found himself face to face with the point of a pruning stick. He swivelled, but the other hunter had reappeared behind him. He was trapped.

Loki tried again, desperately, to summon his magic, but it was like getting water from stone. He gave up and ducked, hurling himself across the floor.

‘Agent Mobius!’

Loki looked up from where he’d fallen. Ravonna Renslayer was marching through the crowd, heading straight for Mobius. Mobius, meanwhile, was fending off a hunter with Loki’s dagger, a few meters from where Loki lay. At Ravonna’s shout, Mobius turned, and the hunter pushed him to the ground.

‘Mobius!’ Loki called, and struggled to get to his feet, but was once again surrounded by hunters. He felt a sharp pain in his stomach and knew he’d been hit with something, but didn’t bother to check what. He strained to see over the hunters to Mobius.

‘I wish we didn’t have to do this,’ Ravonna was saying. She stood over Mobius while hunters approached him from all sides.

‘You don’t,’ Mobius said. He held Loki’s dagger in front of him like a shield. ‘You didn’t have to do any of this.’

‘You’ve committed treason. You know the punishment,’ Ravonna said. She almost sounded sad. She plucked a pruning stick off one of the nearest hunters and raised it before her. ‘I think I’ll do this one myself.’

‘Mobius!’ Loki cried. The hunters had pinned him down, and he struggled against them. He watched, helpless, as Mobius closed his eyes, bracing himself for impact. The man clutched at Loki’s dagger, holding it close to his heart.

Loki was vaguely aware of Sylvie shouting a warning at him, but he couldn’t make out the words. His whole world was the light of that pruning stick, moving as if in slow motion, closer and closer to Mobius’s pale face.

Loki gathered all his strength. He blocked out the screams of the guests, the shouts of Sylvie, the pain in his side. He shut his eyes. In his mind, he found the small glass bubble nestled in Mobius’s jacket pocket. And, with the very last ounce of magic inside him, he made it burst.

A woosh of air. Loki opened his eyes. Where Mobius had just stood was nothing.

‘Where is he?’ Ravonna asked, spinning around. ‘Where did he go?’

The hunters dispersed, calling for a search of the ship. Loki fell back, exhausted. The hunters he’d been wrestling took the opportunity to pin his arms behind his back and push him to his knees. Loki didn’t struggle. He was so tired. But at least Mobius was safe.

‘What did you do!’ Sylvie yelled. She was dragged next to Loki, restrained by four hunters, whom she continued to lash at even as they wrestled her to her knees.

‘At least we got these two, Judge,’ the nearest hunter said to Ravonna.

Ravonna observed Loki and Sylvie with a grimace. ‘Our most dangerous variants,’ she said. ‘I’ll bring them back to the TVA.’ She spun on her heel and snapped her fingers. ‘This whole timeline is about to blow. Wrap this up and get out.’

Loki felt his hands being cuffed behind his back and orders being shouted over his head. Then he was flooded with the now-familiar sensation of being flung through time.

Chapter Text

‘I’m so glad to have you both here,’ Ravonna said.

Loki and Sylvie had been transported with Ravonna and three of the hunters to one of the rooms of the TVA. It was vaguely familiar, and Loki wondered if it was the same room where he and Mobius had had their first real conversation all that time ago.

‘The greatest danger to the Sacred Timeline the TVA’s ever seen.’ Ravonna paced in front of Loki and Sylvie, tapping the pruning stick in her palm. ‘Pruning you is almost too kind a punishment.’

Loki risked a glance at Sylvie. She was glowering at Ravonna, still struggling against the hunter who restrained her.

‘The question is, do you have anything to offer us?’ Ravonna stepped back. ‘Mobius seemed to think so. But obviously, the man was deluded.’

At Mobius’s name, Loki felt fire flood from his injured side to his chest. ‘Don’t talk about him,’ he said.

Ravonna raised an eyebrow. ‘Why not?’ She asked. ‘Unless…’ Her face dawned with understanding. ‘I see. Well, that is unusual. And does that mean you know where he is?’

Loki glowered. Ravonna stepped closer to him, leaning so her face was inches from his. She wore a cold smile. ‘We can do this the easy way, or the hard way. In my experience, the hard way involves a lot more screaming.’

Loki only glared harder.

Ravonna sprung up. ‘Fine. Kill her, take him to the persuasion room.’

‘No!’ Sylvie screamed, as the hunters pulled her to her feet. Loki felt himself being dragged upwards too when there was a shout from the door.

‘Wait!’

The hunters paused. Ravonna frowned at the speaker. ‘Excuse me?’ She asked.

Casey hurried forward, a folder tucked tightly under his arm. He nodded nervously at Loki, and physically jumped back when Sylvie growled at him. ‘Hi there, Judge, so sorry. I just – um – this is for you.’

He handed the folder to Ravonna and she swiped it from him with a scowl. She looked at the contents for a moment then asked, ‘Where’d you get this?’

‘It just came in,’ Casey said. ‘I was told to take it straight to you.’

Ravonna sighed, then snapped the folder shut. ‘Fine.’ She nodded at the hunters. ‘You, watch the variants.’ She marched towards the room’s exit, then turned to Casey. ‘And you – don’t listen to a word those two say. They may speak well, but they are dangerous, manipulative monsters.’

Casey gulped, and nodded. ‘Of course, Judge.’ But Loki was sure that he shot Loki the quickest of winks.

Ravonna shut the door behind her. ‘Casey, what–’ Loki started, but the hunter holding him back kicked him in the shoulder. ‘-Ow,’ Loki said, pointedly.

‘Nothing for you to worry about, Variant,’ Casey said, his voice shaky and entirely unconvincing. ‘You’ll get just what you deserve.’

Loki heard the door to the room open once more, and he readied himself to be taken to whatever horrors lay in the persuasion room. But, the hunter who had been restraining him suddenly let go, reaching instead for his pruning stick. ‘You!’

Loki looked to the door. There stood Mobius.

Loki’s heart leapt in his chest. Mobius was really there, alive, smiling. Not smiling, beaming. He looked as cheerful as he had the day Loki met him.

‘Hey guys,’ Mobius said, resting his hands on his hips. ‘Long time no see.’

All three hunters now had their hands on their pruning sticks.

‘Now, hey, is that necessary?’ Mobius asked.

‘Traitor!’ One hunter cried.

Mobius just laughed. ‘A traitor! Come on. Didn’t you hear? That wasn’t me. That was Loki, playing one of his tricks. I never even left the TVA. It was all part of the Variant’s master plan.’ Mobius shot Loki a look. ‘Didn’t work out though, did it?’

The hunters swivelled from Loki to Mobius. ‘Is that true, Variant?’ The one nearest Loki asked, shoving his pruning stick in Loki’s face.

Loki hesitated. He put on his most beguiling smile. ‘Well, I hate to admit to a plan gone awry…’

‘It’s true,’ Casey squeaked from the corner. ‘That’s what that folder I gave the Judge was about. We just found out about it at the desks.’

‘I’ll admit, I’m a little offended,’ Mobius chuckled. ‘You really think I would team up with a variant? Please! I’ve spent my whole life chasing this guy. Give me a little credit.’

The hunter mumbled an apology. The others followed suit, lowering their pruning sticks.

‘It’s alright,’ Mobius said, grasping the nearest hunter’s shoulder affectionately. ‘No hard feelings. Hey, you guys are free to go, okay? Take a long lunch. I’ll deal with these two myself.’

While Mobius led the hunters out of the room, Loki and Sylvie exchanged a glance. ‘Is it him?’ Sylvie mouthed. Loki shrugged. How could Mobius possibly be back here, in the TVA?

Mobius returned to Loki and Sylvie, that same smile still on his face.

‘Um, Mobius…’ Loki began. He wasn’t sure how to ask if the man before him was the same one he had confessed his feelings to hours ago.

But, it turned out, he didn’t need to. ‘It’s him!’ Casey said excitedly. ‘It’s really him! He came all the way back to save you!’ Casey leaped behind Loki and Sylvie, unlocking their handcuffs with gleeful enthusiasm.

‘All the way back?’ Sylvie asked. ‘What do you mean?’

‘Yes, and why is Casey here?’ Loki asked. ‘No offence,’ he added.

‘Oh, none taken,’ Casey said happily.

‘You guys just came from the boat party, right?’ Mobius asked. Loki and Sylvie nodded. ‘Well for me it’s been a while longer.’ He crossed his arms over his chest. ‘I guess we have a lot to catch up on.’

Chapter Text

The man who would be called Mobius was a man of habit. Every morning he woke at precisely six am, and every morning he turned to kiss his sleeping wife’s cheek. Every morning he dressed in the same suit and tie, and every morning he walked out of his apartment and onto the still-quiet streets of New York. Every morning, he felt he was meant to be somewhere else.

Every day he arrived to the office before anyone else and fired up his computer. He made himself an instant coffee with no milk, two sugars. He thought about the strange dreams that filled his sleep, of golden ships, talking clocks, and a god with beautiful black hair.

One day, the man was digging through the back of his closet, looking for a spare radio battery, when his hand fell upon something strange.

He pulled out the object. It was a knife, but unlike those he and his wife kept in the kitchen; this was the sort of object that belonged in a museum, or a movie about knights and princesses. The knife had a black and gold hilt and a smooth silver blade. The man had never seen it before in his life, but sitting on the floor, holding the dagger in his lap, he started to cry.

When the man and his wife sat down for dinner that evening, he asked if she ever felt she was in the wrong place.

His wife nodded, picking at her plate. ‘Sometimes I think I’ve forgotten about an appointment, or to pick the kids up from Paula’s. Is that what you mean?’

‘Yeah,’ The man said. Then he said, ‘No, not really. Sometimes I feel like I’m living through this really weird, long dream.’

‘Is this about that god you dream about? Loki?’

The man stared. He’d never heard the name before, he was sure, and yet he could feel his heart beating faster in his chest, his palms growing sweaty. ‘Loki?’ He repeated.

‘You say that while you sleep,’ his wife said. ‘You have since we got married. It took me a while to realize it’s a name. Lo-ki. I looked it up in the library, years ago. It’s a Norse god.’

‘Huh,’ the man said. ‘Wonder what that means.’

The man who would be called Mobius continued living as he always had. He went to work, drank his coffee, submitted his reports. To his wife’s chagrin, he filled the spare bedroom with magazines he collected from newsstands, all with full, glossy pictures of jetskis. His wife didn’t understand the obsession; he’d never even been on one. He could not find a way to explain to her that it was not the machine he loved, but the people on it, and the way they radiated unbridled happiness.

Years passed. The man kissed his wife on the cheek, until she started to turn away from his touch. When she started to turn away from his words, too, he asked,

‘What if I told you I have to be somewhere else?’

‘I’d say, you’ve been somewhere else our whole marriage,’ his wife said. ‘I’ve found a way to be happy enough. I wish you would too.’

‘What if I don’t want to be happy enough?’ The man asked. ‘What if I want to be really, truly happy?’

His wife sighed and did not look at him. ‘I think we both know that’s not going to happen. Not for us.’

The next day, the man woke at six am. He dressed in his suit and tie and walked out the door. And he wondered. He wondered if it could be so easy.

Something told him it might be.

And so, for the first time in twenty-nine years of walking the same route to the same office building, the man changed paths. He turned and walked into the green of the park instead.

There was something moving in the grass. He knelt down to look at it. It was a snake. He’d never seen a snake in the city before.

The man heard a loud zapping sound, and the man was suddenly being held back by someone dressed entirely in black. ‘Variant,’ the person said. They said it as if it was his name.

Mobius blinked. He found himself somewhere different, but strangely familiar. A woman behind a high judge’s table loomed down at him, and she was familiar too, though he wasn’t sure why.

‘Hm. A variant causing a Nexus Event by stopping to smell the roses.’

‘It was a snake–’

‘What?’

‘Nothing.’

‘I think we’ll call you Mobius,’ the judge said, leading back in her chair. ‘I think you’ll do well as an agent.’

Like a shock, Mobius remembered. He remembered everything.

And he made a plan.

Chapter Text

Loki stared at Mobius. ‘You lived your whole life? Again?’

‘Pretty much,’ Mobius said. ‘That time bubble took me right back to New York, years before I ever became a variant. I got to live through it all.’

‘It was his idea!’ Casey interjected excitedly. ‘He said we should track the TemPads, and deactivate the one you took. And then he knew where you’d be, and how to distract Renslayer. He thought up the whole plan!’

‘Don’t undersell yourself, Case,’ Mobius said. ‘You were a big help.’

Casey beamed ear to ear.

Loki frowned. ‘So you went back and lived your whole life just so you could become a variant – and stop us from being killed?’

‘Yeah,’ Mobius said sheepishly. ‘I think I might have created some sort of time loop.’

‘The Timekeepers won’t be happy about that,’ Sylvie said.

Loki stepped towards to Mobius. He took his hands in his. He couldn’t believe it. ‘You really did all that,’ Loki said. ‘To save us.’

Mobius’s face blushed pink. ‘Yeah, well, Loki. All those years spent on Earth, in the TVA.’ He let go of Loki’s hand, and pulled something from his pocket. Loki blinked. It was his dagger, the one he’d clutched to his heart as he disappeared. ‘I never forgot about you,’ Mobius said. His clear blue eyes met Loki’s, as sparkling as ever. ‘I love you, Loki.’

Loki kissed Mobius. He embraced him, holding him tight, feeling every ounce of good in the man. Not all good people were entirely good, it was true; but this one came pretty damn close.

‘I don’t think we have time for that, do you?’ Sylvie interrupted.

Loki parted from Mobius, smiling. ‘You’re the time agent,’ he said to Mobius. ‘What's your professional opinion?’

They looked over to Sylvie and Casey, who were busy arming themselves. Casey was pulling various weapons from his jacket and handing them to Sylvie, who was studying them with interest, slipping the bigger, pointier options into her cloak.

Suddenly, a loud banging came from the shut door, followed by muffled, angry shouts.

‘She might be right,’ Mobius said. He clapped his hands together, turning to face the group. ‘Let’s go kick some TVA ass.’

Loki grinned. He stood between Sylvie and Mobius, knives in hand. Side by side, they would face the TVA. And this time, they would win.

Chapter Text

Some time later...

Loki took a sip of his drink and leaned back in the sand. The ocean was sparkling blue, made even brighter by three suns meeting at the horizon.

‘It’s gorgeous, isn’t it?’ Sylvie asked, also staring out at the sea. She and Hunter B-15 were lying on a beach towel, Sylvie’s arm around her girlfriend.

‘It’s better than most,’ Loki agreed, peering at the view over his sunglasses.

‘A shame about Mobius,’ Sylvie said.

Loki sighed. ‘There was nothing I could do.’

‘Hey, it’s not so bad,’ B-15 said, hitting Sylvie lightly on the arm. ‘You guys are horrible.’

‘As long as he doesn’t make me go on it again,’ Sylvie said. ‘I still feel queasy.’

As if on cue, Mobius bounded up the beach. He was dressed in swim trunks and grinning like an idiot.

‘I figured it out!’ He said, excitedly. ‘I just need to turn the thingy a little less than the jangly thing. And then you won’t fall off! Right, Casey?’

Casey appeared behind Mobius, soaking wet. ‘That’s right!’ He said, shivering. He eyed the jet ski parked at the edge of the shore wearily.

‘Loki, your husband is endangering Casey again,’ Sylvie said from the side, and B-15 laughed.

Loki smiled in spite of himself. ‘Come here, oh dangerous one,’ he said, patting the beach towel.

Mobius joined Loki, leaning in for a kiss. ‘How’s the beach?’ He asked.

‘Good,’ Loki said, brushing the water from Mobius’s moustache. ‘Dry. It was a good idea to keep this timeline, don’t you think?’

‘Oh, definitely,’ Mobius said. He lay down on the towel next to Loki, leaning against his chest. ‘It’s almost perfect.’

‘Almost?’ Loki asked, looking down at his husband.

‘Well, I know one thing that would make it better,’ Mobius said, with a crooked grin.

Loki sighed. ‘Fine. But this time I’m driving,’ he said.

‘No way!’ Mobius laughed. He reached for Loki’s drink and took a sip. ‘Man, that is sweet.’

Loki yanked the drink out of Mobius's hand. ‘I’m a much better driver than you.’

‘That can’t be true,’ Sylvie said.

‘This is a private conversation,’ Loki said, flicking some of his drink at Sylvie. ‘And I am a better driver, because I can use magic to stop us from crashing.’

‘Fine,’ Mobius said. ‘But you know, crashing’s half the fun.’ He nestled further down on the blanket. ‘Let’s lay here a while first. This is too perfect to miss.’

Loki kissed the top of Mobius’s head, and looked out to the ocean. ‘Now that,’ he said, ‘I can’t argue with.’