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Yet another apocalypse made a spot on the TemPad radar. This Loki Variant was not making their lives any easier. This time the date was set to July 4th, 2037, the exact date of the great Roosevelt Dam Collapse. It just so happened that a large crowd had gathered near its gates to watch the fireworks.
“Did this Variant need to choose such a big disaster?”
Mobius only gave an indifferent shrug as he pressed the button on the TemPad. Loki couldn’t help but notice he was more tense than usual. This certainly wasn’t his first disaster.
“Let’s just get this over with.”
Now Loki was worried about his partner. Mobius could be ill-tempered from time to time, but never to this degree. Loki walked through the orange portal first and waited several seconds for Mobius to follow.
“We need to find the Variant and get out of here.”
“It’s alright, the disaster doesn't happen for another hour. We can get out of here in plenty of time,” Loki reassured.
Mobius ignored Loki and kept walking on the dry Arizona dirt. A campsite of eager onlookers had formed directly to the side of the dam, where the display would take place. All of their Red, White and Blue attire made the pair stick out like a sore thumb.
Mobius weaved in between the onlookers with an urgency Loki had never seen before. Loki struggled to keep up.
“Hey, mister. Where’s your spirit. It’s the fourth,” yelled out an intoxicated man.
Mobius only walked through the crowd faster until he reached the last row of onlookers. He gave a frustrated sigh before turning to Loki.
“Variants not in the crowd.”
“Are you certain, she could be wearing a disguise? I mean, that’s what I would do.”
Mobius stared at Loki in disbelief. On cue, Loki transformed himself into a perfect image of the man who had yelled at them from the crowd. Seeing that Mobius was still tense, he decided to have a little fun with this new disguise.
“Hey, mister. Where’s your spirit? It's the fourth,” Loki imitated in a mocking voice.
Mobius gave Loki a small smile before remembering the task at hand.
“Is there a way to reveal that disguise?”
“The Variant would have to create a second illusion, one that would set them apart from the crowd.”
Seeing Mobius was still confused, Loki conjured up one of his illusions. Reaching into the air, he conjured up a notepad and pen. Seeing Mobius was beginning to lighten up at the distraction, he decided to create a small drawing.
“Should our Variant feel the need to draw another masterpiece such as this one,”
Loki held up the small stick figure portrait he had scribbled of him and Mobius.
“We would be able to spot them immediately.”
Mobius reached out to touch the paper, amazed that it existed and wasn’t a mere illusion. Once he finished, Loki waved his hands causing both the pen and paper to vanish.
“So we stake out a spot up on that cliff behind the crowd,” Mobius suggested, gesturing to one of the cliffs behind them, “and watch for anything unusual?”
“Precisely.”
Loki made his way up to the top of the cliff with Mobius in tow. The sky began to darken as they reached the plateau. Once they reached the top, Loki removed his TVA jacket revealing his disheveled shirt and tie.
“I’m not sweating in the middle of the Arizona sun just so the TVA can see me from space,” Loki reasoned.
Mobius didn’t respond and just pulled his suit jacket tighter around his shoulders. Loki moved closer, sensing his discomfort.
“I promise I’m not going anywhere. I’ll put the jacket back on as soon as we leave,” Loki reassured.
As much as he hated being branded as a dangerous Variant by the TVA, Mobius’ comfort was more important. Although he doubted that was the reason behind his strange attitude.
“It’s alright. You don’t need to wear it when it’s just us.”
“Did I hear that right? Are you saying you trust me?”
“Don’t make me regret it,” Mobius said in a mock stern voice.
Loki sat with his legs dangling off the plateau, facing the crowd from behind. Whatever was bothering Mobius, he didn’t seem inclined to share it.
“This other Variant, what other illusions might they use?”
“Well, for starters, they might conjure up a water bottle in this scorching heat.”
Loki demonstrated by conjuring one himself and offering a sip to Mobius. He refused.
“Are you sure, you must be getting dehydrated by now, especially in that jacket?”
“I’m good, thanks.”
Loki took a sip of water before sending it to a pocket dimension for later. It seemed like it was going to be a long amount of time in the heat. Crickets began to chirp as the sun dipped below the horizon.
“You can do so many of these illusions, what’s your favorite?”
“A favorite?”
“Yeah, you must have at least one illusion you enjoy creating.”
“Well, I loved to transform into a snake when Thor and I were younger. He loved snakes and would fall for my trick every time. He didn’t take too kindly to my trick once I stabbed him.”
“You stabbed your brother? Nevermind, that's beside the point. What’s your favorite illusion that doesn't involve mischief?”
Loki laughed a little at his question before really stopping to consider it. What was the God of Mischief's favorite illusion? Let alone one that didn’t involve creating some kind of chaos. He thought back to his mother before finally answering the patient Mobius.
“This one.”
Loki opened his palm and sent a small display of fireworks shooting from his hand. Mobius immediately jumped back, his eyes wide. Loki took notice and quickly closed his hand.
“Is that the problem, the fireworks?”
Mobius sighed and nodded. Loki moved closer to the stop Mobius had jumped to and gently placed his arm around his shoulder. Feeling Loki’s gentle presence, Mobius finally opened up.
“I don’t understand why, but any time I see fireworks, I get really tense. Every time they go off, I jump out of my skin. I’ve never been hit or burned by one, but I have this deep-rooted fear of them.”
The sky around them finally reached its darkest point, and the sea of people in front of them began to break glow sticks, unaware that a tidal wave would wipe each of them out in only thirty minutes.
Loki could feel just how hot Mobius was getting from wearing that jacket, and gently pulled it off of his shoulders. Reaching into the pocket dimension, he pulled out the water bottle he had conjured.
“Drink some, I’m not letting you pass out on me,” Loki teased.
Mobius finally obliged and took a sip of the water. Loki could tell he was still on edge and made one last illusion. With a wave of his free hand, he created a small protection bubble. He held Mobius tighter with the other.
“This will keep rouge fireworks from touching either of us,” Loki gently reassured.
“You’re not mocking me?”
“I wouldn’t dream of it.”
Mobius finally began to relax and rested his head on Loki’s shoulder. An unspoken realization of trust. All this time Loki had been plotting to use Mobius and overthrow the Time Keepers. But now, as he felt Mobius’ head resting on his shoulder, he realized he didn’t want to.
The first round of fireworks lit up the sky in bright flashes, and Mobius still jumped at every loud sound. Each time, Loki would gently rub his arm. All thoughts of catching the Variant vanished, replaced only with making sure Mobius was alright.
The display got brighter and brighter, and with each new flash came a louder crash. One firework, in particular, began to arc towards the direction of the pair. Mobius’s eyes widened in horror, and Loki did the only thing he could think of at the moment. Taking Mobius’ face in his hands, he pulled him in for a kiss.
Any fear Mobius felt melted away at that moment, replaced with a comfort deeper than either had ever felt. Crashing surrounded them, but neither noticed a single sound around them. Weeks of pent-up feelings all revealed themselves in a moment that was both beautifully long and painfully short.
“I’m not going to let anything happen to you.”
Loki gently reached for the TemPad, and with a nod from a still dazed Mobius, opened another portal. Standing up, he reached out for Mobius’ hand and squeezed it tight. Screams began to fill the air as neared the familiar orange glow a few feet in front of them. Loki held his TVA jacket in his free hand. Mobius took notice and took the jacket into his hand before throwing it into the chaos below.