Chapter Text
Both Steve and Loki are in awe while they stare at the City beyond the office. They still couldn't grasp what was happening and who this TVA really was. Of course there was the introductory video they had watched upon entering the ticket lane. It's a little hard to believe but then again, they don't have much options to weigh on here.
The two are wearing a uniform with the TVA logo on the front and the word 'VARIANT' in the back. The way they entered the establishment was pretty fast for anyone's standards. Steve could've been in awe with the whole process if not for the Quantum Suit that was zapped (literally) from his body. Well, there goes his plan to be in Hank Pym's good side.
"You think they'd give us back our clothes after all this?" He asked, trying to break the obvious tension between the two of them. After their little moment in the tower was broken, the two suddenly found it awkward to look at each other. The soldier find it slightly hilarious, they're both acting like teenagers on the flimsy romantic sci-fi movies Tony made them watch just to irritate them.
"Really? That's what on your mind right now?" Loki said incredulously. Steve gave himself an imaginary pat on the back when the god finally, finally, looked at him. "Steve we're in a place that claims they handle all the fucking timelines and realities that exist. They made us watch our lives as if it were films in their collection, which probably is by the way, and they showed us how we would've ended. Now we're going on trial not knowing whatever crime we did and based on what we saw earlier— we're most likely gonna get pruned from existence."
Well, Steve thought, there goes my chance of a normal conversation.
"We don't have a choice, don't we?" This time it was him who avoided Loki's scrutinizing stares. "They said my ending was growing old with Peggy. That I should've stayed with her when I went to bring the tesseract back to it's respective timeline. I just— I just wanted a dance. I don't... I can't just suddenly choose to be with Peggy knowing damn well what her future would be. I can't take that away from her."
When the Agent showed him how it would've ended, Steve was outright mad. He admits of having what ifs of the life he could've have, had he jumped out of the plane in time. He admits regretting that he could not have the family he dreamed of with Peggy, or how he could not be there to watch each member of the Howling commandos live the life they deserved after they won the war. But not once did he thought of going back to change everything on the past just to have his own happy ending. He could not understand what made these people think they could decide for him.
"My Steven's Peggy died during the Hydra attack on SSR. Steve told me she was an amazing woman and I never doubted, they didn't have time to build any romantic connection but He said they were good friends." There was something in Loki's tone that calms him. Steve could still feel the bond wrapping comfortably around his heart and he's almost sure that if he put his hand on the God's chest, he'd feel they're heartbeat synchronized.
"They are." Loki suddenly said. Steve looked at him for a few moments before he understood what the other said. The God took hold of his hands, placing his right on his own chests and the left on the man infront of him. There he felt both their heart beating at the same time. If Loki's voice was calming, this feels like home. Steve looked at him with awe. "It's a bond for lovers, nothing light but nothing too heavy also. It was a bond me and my Steven did a few weeks before the Amora's attack with the Chitauri. We had been together for almost a year then."
The small smile on the God's face holds so many emotions. It was the first time Steve heard these stories but he feels like he knows them by heart. For a moment, He wanted to cup the Loki's face and thumb at his cheekbones soothingly. He had to stop himself when the latter removed the hold on his hands and turned to stare straight again.
"Most bonds breaks upon death, and this... This one is no better. I felt him gone. I—" Loki finally felt himself let go. His voice broke, tears now running down his face as if it was waiting to finally be free. "I tried to reach out for him. I felt the knot loosening in my chest and I— I was not ready to accept that he died and I was not there with him."
Steve stared in horror for a few moments as he watch Loki come undone infront of him. The latter cried silently, as if he was used on doing this alone. Somehow, Steve knows that he did, does.
"And then I came." Loki felt the Captain's arm wrapping around his shoulder, pulling him for a hug. "You were reaching for him but you reached me instead."
There was no judgement on the Soldier's voice. Still, Loki muttered an apology before burying his face on the broad shoulders and crying his eyes out. Steve let him, wrapping his arms around the sobbing mess tighter. He placed a soft kiss on the God's temple and for a moment he felt him stiffen with the gesture. Neither Steve understands why he did so, he just felt like it was the right thing to do. He felt the once flaccid arms of the God now wrapping around his face, pulling him closer.
They stayed like that for minutes, not caring about the minutemen (as they called themselves) passing by and eyeing them. Loki held at his shirt as if anchoring himself on it while Steve rubbed his back in comfort.
"What?" Loki snapped when one of the minutemen stopped infront of them and stared. "Is this the first time you saw two men hug?"
Steve, despite the awkward angle, tried to look at whom Loki was addressing. He remember the guy's name as Casey, he was the one on the front desk when they were brought here.
"Lokis are so weird." The man just said nonchalantly while still staring at both of them. He squinted his eyes on Steve as if trying to figure out something. "Are you a Loki too?"
Steve just shook his head not loosening his arms around the God.
"Well, even if you are, you're not gonna be the first Loki falling inlove with another variation of himself. I mean I know most Lokis are narcissistic but man, that one really outdo the others." The minuteman blabbered. He doesn't seemed bothered by the current position of the two. Steve would've been greatful for that if not for the fact that the man talks as if they were friends.
"Lokis? There's also other version of me here?" The God let go of the tight grasp he has on the back of his shirt, Steve took this as a sign to free him from his embrace. He let his hand stay on the other's lower back though, sensing that God is still not ready to lose all the physical support he gave.
"Yes. TVA seems to be collecting the full set. We have, or had, pretty much seen all versions including the Alligator and Mair ones. Everyone differs from each other, mostly in Physical aspect, of course there's a few that favors this particular form." Casey said while pointing a finger at Loki. "They didn't have the chance to meet each other though, all got pruned the same day they were brought it. Except, of course, the Loki that Mobius favours and the Lady one that calls herself Sylvie."
The two just watched him talk non-stop, both being reminded of a very close friend they just lost. Steve rubbed the small of Loki's back as if sensing his sudden distress.
"What happened to them?" Steve asked carefully. Although Casey seems harmless, they couldn't risk anything as they don't know the man fully yet. The latter just shrugged his shoulder. Another man that seems to pop out of nowhere appeared beside Steve. This one wearing similar clothing to the ones that arrested them.
"Last I heard, the two got arrested after managing to create a Nexus event in Lamentis during the planet's apocalypse. Mobius was sooooo pissed after finding out crazy dude Loki fell inlove with another version of himself. I mean don't get me wrong. It's weird, yes. But if I happen to meet another version of myself I'd probably fall too, I mean damn— ain't I smoking?" The man's tag on the uniform reads as Z-17. He casually dropped an arm around Steve's shoulder. "Anyways, this is private, but I heard the time keepers would personally hear their case today. That being said, all trials will be ceased today."
Steve, out of instinct, pulled Loki closer to him. He felt the tense body relax upon the contact. Really, Steve should start questioning himself with what he's doing. The God's action is justifiable since he was in a reality where Steve and him have a connection. The latter shuddered when he imagined what his teammate's reaction will be if they see their Leader getting cozy with an enemy. This time, it was Loki who sensed the other man's distress and placed a hand over the one on his waist, he runs a thumb soothingly on the back of the Captain's hand.
That gesture was enough to pull Steve from whatever scenario his head was playing. He saw Casey looking at them with the same squinting eyes (that looks suspiciously as the man's own version of the stink eye) he did earlier. He raised a questioning eyebrow at him and the man answered him with a beaming smile.
"Where's our manners, Hunter Z-17? It's almost lunch time and these two had been here since the morning, they must be famished." Steve was pretty sure they'd only been here for an hour or two. The confusion must've been obvious on his face when Casey said, "Oh times work differently here in the TVA."
Steve tried to ignore the fact that the line seems practiced, that it suspiciously sounds like it was programmed for them to say. The personnel led them to what seems like a cafeteria filled with other staffs of TVA, none gave the four any acknowledgement nor spared them a glance as they walk towards an empty table.
"I'll go get the food, what do you guys want? Wait wait no let me guess—" Hunter Z-17 said while they took a seat. He pointed at Loki with a wide grin, "You want a Salad with no dressing and an apple juice."
"No." Loki tried to deny, inching closer to Steve. Hunter Z-17 just stared at him with the same shit-eating grin. "Fine. Yes, please."
Adorable. Steve thought as he stare at the God unconsciously pouting. Loki gave him a glare and only then did he realized the telepathic bond was still there. He avoided the God's eyes out of embarrassment and just told the waiting Hunter that he'll have the same.
"I call him Sev sometimes. Hunter Z-17 is exhausting to say, don't you agree?" Casey said while watching his friend make his way towards the order station. "You guys can call him that too. Anyhow, we've heard about the two of you respectively. Your realities was one of the most watched by other agents here."
Both Steve and Loki doesn't know what to feel about finding out how their lives are being treated as a TV show around this place.
"I mean one having the Avengers do a time heist to beat Thanos and one who's loss was so big that the Eternals finally intervened. Who wouldn't get hooked right?" The minuteman said giddily. "Then bawm! A Nexus event created because you two met. What an awesome crossover right?"
The God and the Captain still at loss at words just stared at the man sitting in front of them. Casey continued babbling about things they barely understand until Sev finally arrived carrying two trays of food.
"What'd I miss?" The hunter asked as he arranged the food on the table. "You didn't talk their ears off, did you? Of course you did."
Casey then repeated to his friend what he told them earlier in which Sev enthusiastically agreed on.
"It's like meeting your idols, man!" Sev said while Casey nod in agreement. The two then proceeded to talk about things that Steve chose to ignore, opting to look at Loki playing his food instead.
"You, okay?" He asked despite knowing the answer. The God, who's unconsciously biting his lip again, shook his head. Steve didn't talk anymore after that, letting Loki have a little solitude. He heaved a sigh before eating his meal.
Steve can't help but wonder what will happen next. He's not dumb enough to believe that TVA has fair justice system (almost everything does not) and their chance at death sentence is high. He feels cornered, suffocated by knowing the fact that they cannot escape. The red light from the collar on his neck reflects on the bowl as if mocking him. Death is something he does not fear, but he refused to go this way. He did far too much, far too many to die on the hands of people who he barely knows because of a crime he's being blame to. No. He refused to go this way. Not like this.
"Steve." Loki called, voice still carries the same tenderness it holds earlier. He didn't dare look at the God. He doesn't know wether their trial will be held together or separated, but Steve know that if he did try to make an excape plan, he won't leave the God here. It's selfish, yes. He knows that Loki wants to be with his Steven again, that he just want this to be over with.
"No." That got Steve's full attention. "I'm pretty sure my Steven wouldn't want me to go this way too."
Loki gave the captain a small smile, reaching to cup his face with his hand. He felt his smile grow bigger when Steve nuzzled his cheek on his palm. The Soldier's pretty sure he didn't imagine the 'we'll do this together' that sounds like Loki's voice despite the God just sitting there while smiling at him. He held a hand up to hold the one on his cheek before smiling back.
We will.