Chapter Text
"Good job Loki!" Mobius smiled at him before continuing, "I'm really going to start thinking you're trying to steal my job."
Loki, once again touched by the praise more than he should, followed him with his eyes as he returned to his office.
"I can see that..."
Loki snapped out of his contemplation at the small voice of Miss Minutes who seemed to have taken up residence on his desk. He had formed a rather curious bond with the small animated clock.
"What? What can you see?" replied Loki, turning to his desk.
"That you're making eyes at him..." she smiled at him knowingly, making Loki realize that there was no need to deny it. He didn't feel like it either.
"So what? Why should I deprive myself of it?"
"Oh but don't deprive yourself for me, my little Loki, though don't you think you should tell him?" she came to sit on the edge of the desk, looking a little more serious.
"Tell him what?"
"That you love him."
"I don't -" Loki paused, because he didn't feel like denying that either. It was the truth after all.
He ran his hand through his hair and sighed.
"This is difficult."
"I know I'm not the best one to talk about feelings, but I've seen a lot of things, so why not just tell him?" asked Miss Minute gently.
Loki sighed again.
"I... I've never actually said those words to anyone, well once to my brother, but that doesn't count. It's not the same thing, obviously. And this time especially I-"
He slouched on the desk and took his head in his hands.
A few seconds later, he felt a small tap on his forearm and he looked up to see Miss Minute settling comfortably against his arm.
"I hope you're comfortable at least?" he asked a little offended to see his arm relegated to the role of chair back.
"It's not bad, but it lacks a bit of fluff, you should think about filling it up a bit, my little Loki."
"Hey, you cheeky little thing!"
"Anyway, let's not change the subject, smart ass! What were you going to say Loki?"
"This time I have everything to lose." he exhaled before continuing, "Mobius is probably, no he's definitely the best thing that ever happened to me. I'm not even sure I deserve it. In fact it's impossible for me to quantify how I feel about him."
"That my little Loki is love, it's impossible to know the width and depth of it. At least that's what I read somewhere."
"I feel like just telling him 'I love you' isn't enough. And besides I don't even know if he feels the same way about me."
He was interrupted by the sight of Miss Minutes writhing in laughter on his desk.
When she got serious again she asked him, "Seriously? It's clear to everyone how you feel about each other, believe me, if you're smitten, he's as smitten as you. You guys are anything but subtle. Mobius and Loki's devotion to each other is probably known on every time line!"
"I can't believe you're laughing at me! Watch out or I'll turn you into a pocket watch!"
"I can't help it, you're so cute when you get mad."
"You're starting to get too cheeky for my taste Mimi!"
"Admit it, you like it."
Loki pouted, not wanting to give in.
"Let's get back to the topic at hand, you say that just telling him 'I love you' isn't enough, how about you tell me why you love him?" asked Miss Minute as she resumed her seat, sitting against Loki's arm.
Loki reflected for a few seconds before he began to speak, "I think the first reason is because he challenges me to be a better version of myself. Because from the beginning, he kept trying to make me understand that I didn't have to be what others wanted me to be. And despite the times I failed, he was able to forgive me and he continued to believe in me."
"You could be whoever, whatever you wanna be, even someone good. I mean, just in case anyone ever told you different."
"Hm I see," Miss Minutes replied, "What else?"
"He's not intimidated by me, by the entirety of who I am, by my past mistakes, he doesn't lie to me. If I screw up, he tells me, if I react badly, he tells me, but never makes me feel inferior. And in the same way he tells me when I do something right, and that's super new to me, to the point where I'm a little embarrassed at how much it makes me feel good."
"That's just because you're not used to it. Besides, there's nothing wrong with being happy knowing you're doing something right." she replied with a little wink.
"Sometimes he annoys me, because he has this know-it-all side, because he can read me. And for me who spent my time hiding, even from myself, it is sometimes heavy. I want to wipe that little smile off his face! But that's what also makes him understand me perfectly, and since it's also a first for me, well, we'll say it makes up for the annoyance."
"You've learned to compromise, bravo, I'm proud of you my little Loki." the little clock smiled at him again in a cheeky way.
"Hey!"
"So you told me about what he did for you, what he's doing for you, what else? I don't know, his appearance for example, some might say, and this is not my opinion so don't hit me, that he is far from your type physically..."
Loki looked offended and replied heatedly, "What do you mean not my type physically?"
He transformed into his frost giant appearance for a few seconds before resuming his appearance.
"What is my type physically? First of all what does that mean, what is that concept? What does it have to do with feelings?"
Miss Minute stood up again and patted his arm, "Loki, don't get upset, I told you that wasn't my opinion. We're friends, right? I like to think so. Imagine Loki, the god of mischief is friends with an animated IA in the form of a clock."
Loki cooled down a bit and smiled at her, seeing what she was getting at, before resuming more calmly this time.
"If the question is whether I am physically attracted to Mobius, and more importantly what is it about him that attracts me, I would say yes I am attracted to him. His eyes, the way they sparkle so much that they light up the rest of his face, the way his smile starts in his eyes. That smile he has only for me. And his hands, Mimi, his hands! They are so strong, any excuse to touch them or to have them touch me. They excite me and make me feel safe at the same time. And I'll let you in on a secret, I'm glad no one knows him in anything but a TVA suit, because I assure you the way the jeans fit his beautiful beh-hmph."
The little watch had jumped up to close Loki's mouth with her two little hands.
"It's okay, it's okay, I think I got it and the rest will be too much for my pure little chaste ears!"
"But it's true! I swear! It makes me want to take off those jeans every time!"
"Lokiiii! That's enough!" Miss Minutes gave him a little kick.
Loki laughed out loud.
When they had both calmed down, Miss Minutes added, "Loki, tell Mobius, tell him everything you just told me, I don't know anyone in the world who wouldn't like to hear everything you just told me."
Loki looked a little sadder and replied softly, "But what do I have to offer him? I am not a good person for him. And I'm still waiting for the day when he can't stand my kind anymore and tells me I have to leave."
"A couple of idiots, that's what I'm saying." said a female voice behind him.
"Sylvie?!"
Loki turned around, Sylvie was standing in the doorway of his office, his lover just behind her.
"Mobius?"