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Later, when things had settled down slightly they took a moment to catch their breath, which unfortunately was something Loki found rather difficult to do in Mobius' presence right now. He still couldn’t believe that Mobius was alive and that they had all been reunited. He stared intently at the man in question, as if willing his eyes to believe that he was actually there, that he wasn’t dead.
Mobius, sat with his head bowed, didn’t return Loki’s gaze - in fact he seemed determined to look anywhere else - but it didn’t take him long to notice that he was being watched.
“What is it, Loki?” he said without looking up.
As if there were a simple answer for that, Loki thought. He answered truthfully, though it wasn’t the full extent of what was on his mind, “I still can’t believe you’re alive.”
“Guess you’re a bad influence.” Mobius quipped, though whether he was smiling or not Loki didn’t know.
“I am that.” Loki offered, hoping their banter was a good sign. Was Mobius mad at him? He thought things had been good between them before the whole pruning saga. More than good, in fact. He tried again, keen not to lose the momentum of this exchange, the first proper one they’d had since they’d been reunited, “Don’t worry though, coming back from the dead gets easier.”
Mobius did smile then, as though he couldn’t help himself.
“Yeah.” he said nodding, and finally, he looked up. He stared at Loki for a long moment, his expression unreadable, before standing up to face him properly.
“It’s good to see you, Loki.” Mobius said simply, patting Loki on the arm as he made to move past him, apparently done with their conversation.
Loki, trying not to focus on the tingling sensation in his arm where Mobius’ hand had just been, turned around to follow his movements.
Seeing him walk away suddenly eroded all of Loki’s previous resolve to keep his feelings to himself; he found he no longer wanted to.
“Mobius-” he called out almost desperately. Mobius turned back, his head tilting in an unasked question.
“-I have to tell you something.” Loki managed to choke out.
Mobius looked at him sadly, “It’s alright Loki, I know what you’re gonna say.”
“You do?” Loki asked, his heart racing.
“Yeah.” Mobius told him softly. But before Loki could respond again, Sylvie rejoined them, pre-occupied with her own task but still, infuriatingly, in the way.
Mobius’ gaze moved to her and he asked in a whisper, “So did you get a chance? To talk to her?”
Now Loki was really confused, “Sylvie?” he whispered back.
“Yeah, probably best you tell her now.”
“You want me to talk to her now?” Loki asked, baffled.
“No point delaying the inevitable.” Mobius shrugged, a strained smile on his face.
“Right.” Loki agreed, thrown off but seeing Mobius’ logic. It probably was best he broke the news to her first, “I’ll speak to her now then.”
“Yeah.” Mobius said, gesturing over his shoulder, “I’ll get out of your way.”
“No.” Loki pleaded, “Stay.”
Mobius hesitated, looking torn, before sighing deeply and relenting, “Alright I’ll stay.”
Loki approached Sylvie nervously. She was right in the middle of something but he made a point of standing right in front of her to get her attention.
“Sylvie.” Loki said, giving her what he hoped was a kind and reassuring smile.
She looked at him, expectantly “Loki.”
“Do you remember before, at the TVA, I said that I had to tell you something?” He bit his lip anxiously.
“Truth be told, between you guys getting pruned, my escape, and our grand reunion, it hasn’t exactly been at the forefront of my mind.” Sylvie replied sardonically. “But yes, I remember. What was it?”
“Well...the thing is...” Loki tried, unsure how best to continue, “Look this is difficult-”
“What’s difficult?” Sylvie asked interrupting him.
“This-” Loki tried again, “-as I said before, this is new for me. There’s no easy way to say-”
Sylvie cut him off again, “You know I thought you would’ve learnt your lesson about getting to the point last time. Spit it out.”
“If you’ll let me finish I will!” Loki said through gritted teeth now. He took a deep sigh and tried once more, “Okay. Sylvie, the thing is-” he paused again to cautiously place his hands on her arms, in what he hoped was a bracing gesture, before at long last saying, “I don’t feel the same way.”
Sylvie stared at him for a few seconds, her expression blank. Mobius, who had been stood awkwardly in the background fiddling with his tie and staring at his shoes suddenly snapped his head up in confusion.
Finally Sylvie said, “Sorry?”
Loki hated having to say it again, but he owed it to her, “I don’t feel the same way, about you. I’m so sorry.” He squeezed her arms gently for comfort. She watched the movement, a frown appearing between her eyes.
She stared at him again, uncomprehending, “What in the Gods are you on about?”
Loki sighed and contemplated Sylvie pityingly. “You’re taking this even harder than I expected, I’m sorry. But I don’t know how I can be clearer. I don’t have feelings for you Sylvie. At least not in that way.”
Sylvie continued to look at him in confusion.
“Romantic feelings.” Loki reiterated.
Sylvie’s confused stare went on, she appeared almost frozen. Mobius, who had realised what was about to happen, could only look on from the background in horror.
Loki, completely ignorant, persevered, concerned by Sylvie’s apparent lack of reaction, which he presumed was from the shock of such a hard blow. “Look, Sylvie, please try not to be too hurt, you must know I’ve come to respect you and like you as a fr-”
Before Loki could finish that particular thought however, Sylvie had moved forward and kicked him so violently in the balls that it made all of Sif’s many assaults in the time loop seem almost half-hearted.
Loki buckled and fell to the floor. Mobius winced, gritting his teeth in sympathy, though there was a definite hint of amusement in his eyes.
Sylvie looked down at Loki in exasperation, “I’m glad that we’re friends now Loki, but come on. As if I’d be swooning over anyone like some lovesick teenager, let alone another version of myself. Do be serious.”
“You don’t have feelings for him then?” Mobius interjected, trying and failing to stop a smile creeping onto his face.
“Please.” Sylvie scoffed.
“Glad we cleared that up.” Loki groaned painfully from his fetal position on the ground.
Sylvie rolled her eyes and stormed off to continue her work.
Mobius watched her leave before walking over to Loki and crouching down at his side. “Wow, you just went on and on.” he said, his eyes twinkling.
“Yes I take your point.” Loki spat, looking decidedly embarrassed.
“And on and on.” Mobius continued.
“Now who’s going on and on?” Loki asked in annoyance. He moved into a kneeling position flicking his hair back at he went.
“It was like watching a car crash.” Mobius told him, no longer bothering to hide his delighted grin.
“Seen a lot of those have you?” Loki said dubiously.
“My fair share.” Mobius nodded slightly, smirking. He stood back up and reached a hand out to Loki to help him up too.
“So-” Mobius said as Loki took his hand, “-she wasn’t swooning.”
“No, but thank you for putting that particular idea in my head.” Loki grimaced as he righted himself.
“Yeah, sorry about that.” Mobius told him sheepishly, though he didn’t look overly sorry.
They looked at each for a few long moments, apparently both unsure how to proceed. Mobius narrowed his eyes, as if trying to work something out.
“You weren’t swooning either.” He noted.
“Well, no.” Loki said, as if that had been obvious. His confusion only lasted a second longer before it dawned on him that Mobius hadn’t known what he’d wanted to say earlier at all.
“You were going to say something before.” Mobius said, as if reading Loki’s mind.
“Was I?” Loki said, feigning ignorance, desperate to steer away from the topic now he knew he had completely misread the situation.
“Yes Loki, you were.” Mobius said, not fooled in the slightest.
When Loki didn’t offer any further information Mobius went on, “I thought it was about telling Sylvie how you felt, I thought you wanted my blessing or advice or something. But it wasn’t.”
Was Loki imagining it or did Mobius look relieved by that?
“So what was it?” Mobius asked again, interrupting Loki’s reverie.
“You know, I can’t remember.” Loki tried.
“Loki.” Mobius sighed in frustration.
“It doesn’t matter.” Loki shrugged, folding his arms sulkily, determined to put the whole thing to rest.
“Of course it matters.” Mobius said, “Just tell me.”
“Look can’t we just leave it?” Loki offered.
“No, we can’t.” Mobius said folding his arms in frustration himself now, “What were you going to say?”
“And you say I never shut up.” Loki muttered.
“Well you don’t.” Mobius threw straight back.
“Just watch me.” Loki taunted, miming a zip being pulled across his mouth.
“Loki-” Mobius warned.
Loki mimed a key being twisted on his mouth now and pretended to throw it away.
“God you are so annoying!” Mobius shouted pulling at his hair.
“I’m annoying?!” Loki shouted back, “You’re the one who won’t let this go!”
“Made you talk!” Mobius gloated.
“Oh for Gods sake!” Loki said putting his face in his hands.
“Just tell me!” Mobius shouted over him.
"No!"
"Loki!"
“FINE!” Loki snapped, suddenly grabbing Mobius by the lapels of his jacket and pulling him into a bruising kiss.
After several heated and dizzying moments, the pair pulled apart, flustered, breathless and looking a little worse for wear. They rested their foreheads against one another trying to catch their breath for a moment, before Mobius spoke, “So was that what you wanted to tell me? Or was that you just trying to shut me up?”
Loki laughed softly, smoothing down Mobius’ jacket before looking up and grinning wickedly, “Bit of both”.