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The moment Mobius saw that Hunter B-15 was down, his first thought had been that Loki had betrayed them, betrayed him. And that; the pain gnawing somewhere inside his chest at the thought, that was something Mobius could live with, had to live with.
The pain was gone, replaced by pure terror freezing the blood in his veins, when his eyes next landed on a figure lying still, utterly unmoving on the floor. Because even in such distance, Mobius recognized Loki anywhere. Not too far from his variant, stood a hooded figure -- a woman, that much Mobius could see.
The time door was right by her side. The Minutemen were running to her, which spurred Mobius into action. Though the only difference was that Mobius wasn't running to her -- the variant whom he spent years searching for -- but to his variant lying motionlessly on the floor.
"Loki," the word left his mouth on its own. He couldn't care less, not right now, if any of his colleague could hear the fear in his voice. "Loki!" Mobius called again, louder, running to him as fast as he could. Loki wouldn't respond. Why won't he respond?
Mobius crashed down on his knees next to Loki. The variant -- Loki's variant -- seemed to have escaped, not that she would be in Mobius' line of vision, with Mobius' eyes fixed on Loki and Loki only, but she wasn't... attacking, so that meant she was gone. But really, she was the last thing Mobius cared about right now.
Loki was unresponsive, and Mobius couldn't really tell whether the cold came from Loki's skin or the fear radiating throughout Mobius' entire body, making everything feel so cold. He only knew one thing, and that was that Loki wouldn't wake up, wouldn't open his eyes when Mobius called his name and shook his shoulders, moving him from the ground and to his lap instead.
He'd tried searching for open wounds, if he was bleeding, there was nothing. If anything it almost looked like Loki was simply sleeping, which did nothing to ease the worries in Mobius' chest, because it only meant he had no idea what was wrong, if Loki was going to wake up.
"Sir," one of the Minutesmen said, "what do we do now?" He asked.
"We need to get him back to the TVA," Mobius said, even if the question wasn't about Loki.
Loki was the only thing in Mobius' mind right now. He needed to get him back to TVA. Then they would fix him, whatever was wrong with him, whatever she did, they would fix him. They had to.
"Now!" He shouted, when no one moved to open the time door, spurring them all into action.
Then his gaze returned to Loki, still lying so still, so... lifeless in Mobius' hold.
"You're gonna be okay," he said, just loud enough that he hoped it reached Loki, but if any of the Minutemen could hear him too, Mobius couldn't care less about that right now. "You're gonna be just fine, buddy." Mobius heaved him up with a grunt, ignoring the dreadful feeling spreading through his chest like a plague at the way Loki's head lolled limply against the crook of Mobius' neck.
The time door was open. Mobius, with Loki in his arms, stepped inside.
______________________________
"What the hell was that?" Ravonna was furious, and so was Mobius, although it was for entirely different reasons — Ravonna for the fact the variant had been able to break into the TVA, nearly reached the Time-Keepers, while Mobius for the fact that Loki wasn't yet out of the woods.
Concussion, it turned out. During the fight with his variant, she had hit him hard enough that he fell and hit his head, and he just wouldn't wake up, not yet. The doctors said they expected Loki to eventually open his eyes, but what froze Mobius' blood was that they didn't know whether or not there were to be any lingering side effect, and they wouldn't know until -- or if -- Loki woke up.
"Mobius," Ravonna said, voice harsh almost like she was barking, when it looked like Mobius wasn't mentally with her, even with him physically sitting in her office.
He should be with Loki, Mobius thought. He needed to be with Loki, every second he wasted here, Loki could wake up, and if Mobius wasn't there when Loki came back to his senses.
"Mobius!" Ravonna repeated, louder, judging by the murderous look she was giving him, Mobius could already tell he might have done something wrong during his zoning out, his mind going directly to Loki.
"Yes?" He said, blinked.
Ravonna opened her mouth, then closed it. She looked away for a few second before returning her gaze to meet Mobius' eyes, and if Mobius had to use one word to define the look on her face right now, he'd say unhinged. "What happened, Mobius? What really happened? You were never like this," Ravonna wasn't yelling anymore, but the threat in her voice was just as present.
Mobius knew a warning when he heard one. "The variant got to Loki," he said. "Hurt him pretty badly,"
"That's not what I care about right now. Our timeline was in jeopardy, the Time-Keepers --"
"Are fine," Mobius cut her off with a voice harsher than he'd meant, he never cut Ravonna off, no one had.
For a moment she seemed taken aback. Mobius sighed, his shoulders slumped a little, when he next spoke his voice was softer. "We are okay. The Time-Keepers are okay, she didn't get to them. What I -- what we should be caring about right now is Loki, he's --"
"Are you kidding me?" Something twisted in Ravonna's eyes. "Are you really looking me in the eye, and telling me that we're fine when the dangerous variant is on the loose, nearly took down the TVA, everything we've been working for,"
"But she didn't, alright? She didn't."
"She got away!"
"And we will find her. But right now Loki's --"
"I can't believe all you care about right now is Loki!" Mobius flinched, but only a little, when Ravonna shouted at him. "You used to focus on what you're doing, your job."
"I am focusing on my job,"
"Are you? Because it doesn't look like it,"
"I'm just doing my job here, Ravonna."
"Are you?" She asked again, louder this time. "Because what it looks to me, it sure looks like whatever it is that's been going on between you and Loki, it's getting in the way of work, your work, your life. You're not focusing anymore, Mobius. Our timeline was in danger, we were all in danger, and all you care about is your variant pet."
"He's not a pet," and Mobius didn't mean for that to slip, the anger in his voice. He knew it was too late the second he saw that look on Ravonna's face, the way something in her eyes twisted .
"You love him," she said, and it wasn't a question.
Mobius opened his mouth, he found no words leaving his lips.
"You love him," Ravonna repeated, more to herself. "Mobius, what is wrong with you?"
"I don't love him," he said, it sounded so weak, like a lie even to his own ears.
"You used to be the best at this job. The last person I'd expect to fall for a variant pet of their own, was you."
"I just want Loki to be okay," Mobius said, locking eye contact with her.
"So you can continue this forbidden, inappropriate, unprofessional relationship with Loki?"
"There's no relationship. He's my responsibility and I just need to know he's okay,"
"Maybe I should just prune him myself," it sounded more like Ravonna was talking to herself, her eyes shifted from where Mobius sat. Mobius heard her nonetheless.
"What did you just say?"
Ravonna looked back at him. For a moment she remained silent, and Mobius couldn't help the surge of fear -- perhaps with a mixture of anger he didn't understand -- boil somewhere within him. "Ravonna, what did you just say?"
"I should've done it long ago," her voice clear and full of determination. "Shouldn't have let it get this far,"
"What do you mean?"
"Oh, you fell for a pretty face, Mobius, and it affected your work. I can't let that happen,"
"So what, you're just going to kill him?" He tried his best, concealing the emotions so that Ravonna couldn't see them, though Mobius doubted he was even doing a decent job.
"I cannot let a variant get in a way of our work,"
"You're not touching him," before Mobius knew it he was already on his feet. He stopped just in time when the end of Ravonna's baton suddenly pointed directly at his chest, only a few inches away from making contact, and if it touched him, no matter how lightly.
"I will prune you, Mobius." She said, still pointing the weapon at him. "The question is, do I have to?"
Mobius gulped, he stood where he was. "No," he said after a moment of silence. "No, that won't be necessary," he took a step backward then, still facing her. Ravonna waited for a few moment until she eventually lowered the weapon.
"Loki's getting pruned today. I'll see to it myself,"
"Of course," Mobius said, keeping his distance. "Can't let a variant get in our way,"
______________________________
Mobius knew he was running out of time, as ironic as it was, time was literally against him here, in the TVA. He needed to do this, and he needed to do it quick.
Loki's ward was on the 26th floor. Mobius, after looking left and right to make sure no one was around, quickly swiped the keycard through the scanner. The door slid open with ease and he strode inside just as quickly.
There was a bed, a plan white bed with white mattress next to a wall, with some other medical equipment on the nightstand, nothing too fancy. Sometimes it surprised Mobius how little the TVA seemed to care for its people when it came to medical attention, considering the resources they had, perhaps it had something to do with the fact they were all replaceable, all of them, Mobius himself included.
He couldn't care about that right now, couldn't care about how badly he sometimes felt he was treated by the very same organisation he'd been nothing but loyal to, with his life dedicated to it. Mobius approached Loki's bed, and if his heart dropped a little when he learned Loki was still out cold, he tried to only focus on the task at hand. Time was against him, against both of them.
Mobius touched Loki's shoulders gently, then lifted him off the mattress and into his embrace. One hand holding him tight, the other pulling the tempad out of his pocket.
Alright, Mobius thought, taking a deep breath. He knew there was no turning back, if he was really doing this.
Are you really doing this? The TVA is your life, and here you are, betraying everything you've worked for, for a variant pet.
Not a pet. Loki is... he is not.
Mobius opened the time door. He took one more breath, slowly letting it out. He was doing this, he was doing this and it'd change everything forever, but it was the right thing... the only right thing to do.
He secured Loki in his arms and he straightened his back, then he walked through the time door, just the second before it closed and they were both gone.
______________________________
The place was quiet, had always been quiet, but that was to be expected when it was located in the middle of nowhere, away from everyone and everything. There was food, or there were resources where Mobius could provide both of them food, with their surroundings being forest and a lake.
But right now, focused on the task at hand first. Mobius placed Loki down on a couch in a living room. It was a cabin, abandoned but remained in good condition, Mobius knew that because it was his getaway place. He'd always made sure it remained in good condition, for whenever he felt overwhelmed with work and needed a little vacations (not that he ever got one, but he could find an excuse, the one convincing enough that Ravonna believed his being absent for a few days was because he was out tracking down a variant)
Ravonna didn't know about the place, no one did, and Mobius was glad he'd decided to keep it that way, for it seemed he and Loki were going to have to stay here for, at least for now, indefinitely.
The TVA couldn't find them here.
His thoughts started drifting to what they would do next, they had food, sure, and a place to stay without having to worry if they would be found, but the real problem was the How — how he would break the news to Loki if he woke, no, when he woke. Before the incident, he and Loki were somewhat on good terms, but Mobius wouldn't know if he could call whatever they had a friendship, if Loki would be down to staying here with him. Because if Loki chose to run, then Mobius wouldn't be able to physically stop him, not when they were no longer at the TVA. And if Loki chose to run, or do anything worse, the TVA would be able to find him.
Mobius hadn't had to picture all the scenarios in his head, the possibilities of how things could turn out, for too long, it seemed, because Loki was starting to move, soft grunt leaving his lips, and Mobius wasn't aware of himself getting down on his knees next to the couch, so they were somewhat eye level. He wasn't aware of his own heartbeat beginning to skyrocket as his fear — the fear that Loki wasn't going to come out of his unconsciousness and he was trapped here with a breathing corpse — was nullified. He sighed when Loki began to blink, once, twice, like he was trying to regain his focus, his senses.
"Loki," Mobius' voice was soft, so soft that he knew he didn't startle Loki. Loki's eyes landed on him. He looked... confused at first, but at least it didn't seem like he would start panicking soon, which was good (Mobius liked to think it had something to do with his offering Loki a reassuring smile, but that might just be in his head)
"Hey," he added when Loki remained wordless, the same smile still on his face.
"Am I dead?" Loki said eventually, which earned a small chuckle from Mobius, because his being able to talk meant his brain was still... intact, at least. So it couldn't be that bad.
"No," Mobius replied, unconsciously reached out a hand and placed it on his shoulder. Loki let him. "No, but... maybe dead would be better for the both of us at this point,"
Loki gave him a confused look, then he took in his surroundings, realizing wherever they were, it wasn't the TVA. "Mobius," he said, eyes still roaming around the place, still lying on his back on the couch. "Where are we?"
"Yeah..." Mobius trailed off. "About that...."
Loki rose his eyebrows. Mobius knew there was no other way to say this, and maybe it wasn't so bad for Loki, he'd always wanted out of the TVA, but it was the fact that Mobius knew he'd betrayed everything he'd ever believed in for Loki, and he didn't know how Loki would react to finding that out. How Loki would react to learning Mobius' own feelings towards him, if he would freak out or if he would bolt. If he would laugh at Mobius and call him a fool. But there was no other way to say it.
"The TVA is... it's behind us now," he said eventually, keeping his expression stern.
"What?" Loki moved to prop himself up on his elbow. "What happened? It's destroyed?"
"No, no, it's not. It's just... well," Mobius looked around, searching to no avail for the right words. "We're kind of on the run right now,"
That did nothing to ease the confusion on Loki's face. If anything Loki looked more lost than he was a minute ago. Mobius sighed. "They were going to prune you. So I had to take you away from them."
"Why?"
"They thought you weren't useful to them anymore," Mobius lied. The real reason, he couldn't tell Loki that.
Because they found out I fell for you.
"No, why would you help me?"
Mobius was silent for a moment. Part of him expected Loki to ask just that (he'd studied Loki's life, after all) the other part couldn't come up with another lie that was convincing enough. "Because I didn't want to see you get pruned," it was... true, but the real reason was so much more.
Because I wouldn't be able to live, if anything happened to you.
"So you ended your own career.... for me?"
"Well... I hated the job anyway," Another lie.
"Mobius, that's bullshit,"
"Beg pardon?"
Loki scoffed. "You worshipped your damn job. You never let me say one wrong word about it, about the TVA, about the Time-Keepers. You didn't hate your job. You were loyal like a dog. What happened?"
"I just told you they were going to prune you, so I saved your ass!" He felt himself growing defensive, not because Loki was deliberately being a brat but because Loki was telling the truth, the truth Mobius didn't want him to know.
"Why?"
"Because I didn't want you to die," Mobius got back up into standing. He could feel himself losing it, and he feared that it might slip.
"No, you didn't. But why am I important enough to you that you chose me, instead of your precious Time-Keepers, instead of your entire life there?"
"Because —"
"Why?"
"Because I'm in love with you, goddamnit!" That came with a shout.
What followed was silence. Mobius was panting still, but it was the look.... the look Loki was giving him that froze his blood in place. He fucked this up. He fucked this up and it was too late to turn back now.
Loki averted his eyes after a long while, he licked his lips like he was in thoughts, or in shock, and Mobius dreaded what might come next, what Loki was going to say next.
(Because Loki wasn't yelling or panicking, he was... too calm, which was something Mobius found more disturbing than outright anger. He could predict outright anger from Loki. He was clueless about Loki's silence; anything could be going on in his head, when he was silence)
"So what, are you my captor now?" Loki's voice was barely audible. "Am I your prize?"
"Loki...." Mobius' voice shook. When Loki looked back at him, something in his eyes made Mobius' heart drop further.
"I can't leave, can I? If I go, they'll find me and kill me." He sounded defeated, which was wrong. This was wrong.
"I'm...." you're what? Because Mobius couldn't even utter a single lie to make this feel any less worse than it was.
You've saved him from death, but you've also kidnapped him. Your sick and twisted obsession with your variant pet.
"My head hurts," Loki said quietly. Now he looked somewhat painfully small.
And Mobius thought — wished — Loki would've reacted with rage, then he would've known how to deal with. But this? Mobius sighed when Loki seemed to retract back into lying on his side on the couch, curling in on himself.
What have you done?
"I'll... I'll get you a glass of water," Mobius said, his voice only above a whisper.
Loki didn't say anything.
When Mobius returned minutes later with the promised glass and a wool blanket, he learned Loki was already asleep. He placed the glass on the wooden table where Loki would be able to reach easily, and draped the blanket over his shoulder, before leaving on silent footsteps.
______________________________
When nighttime rolled, Loki was still asleep. Mobius decided against waking him up, Loki deserved the rest, and also part of Mobius knew he, himself, was being a coward. After their last conversations, he didn't think he could face Loki just yet.
Mobius sat outside the house, letting the sounds of wind whistling and insects chirping put his mind at ease. It was a starry night, too, so he was somewhat grateful for the mesmerizing sight it helped comfort his confused thoughts.
What have you done? How did you let it get this far? You fell for Loki. You gave up everything for him. Your life.
But it was worth it.
He was never the one who startled easily. He did flinch at the sound of the door open and close behind him. Loki took a seat next to Mobius, and for a moment Mobius didn't even have enough courage to turn and look at him. He did, however, see by the corner of his eye; the wool blanket Mobius gave, which Loki had around his shoulders.
They sat like that, without anyone speaking anything for what sure felt longer than it really was. Their last conversations burned brightly at the forefront of Mobius' mind. I fell in love with you.
Mobius had never been the one who backed away from anything, he wanted so badly to crawl away and hide somewhere, and he hated himself for that, for letting his twisted desire get the best of him. But he knew for a fact he didn't regret saving Loki from Ravonna, from the TVA. He knew for a fact he would never let anyone hurt him, his Loki.
Maybe he should apologise, Mobius considered. It wouldn't make his feeling for Loki any less valid, but Loki still deserved an apology. Mobius supposed it must've been a lot for him, to take in all of that.
"Did you mean it?"
"Listen, I'm sorry --" Mobius said, at the same time Loki shot the question.
Then they both abruptly stopped, looking at each other like they didn't expect the other to say anything when they said what they just said, which was precisely the case. And by the looks on their faces, they didn't expect the other to say that, either.
There was another pause, both of them just looking at each other, lost, confused, and something else they couldn't quite explain, but it was there in their eyes.
Then Mobius was the first to nod, signalling Loki to go on.
"I've spent my entire life believing I wasn't someone who could be loved," Loki said, after another brief pause. "That's why I... that's why I didn't react so well when you said you... when you said you..."
"I didn't mean to overwhelm you," Mobius said, voice soft. "I'm sorry, if I did,"
"No," Loki paused for a little, then continued, "don't be. You saved my life, Mobius. I owe you a thank you, and you owe me no apology," he chuckled slightly. His eyes went to the hands folding together on his own lap.
He was nervous, Mobius could tell that. And he was close, so close to reaching out a hand and wrap it around Loki's shoulders, pulling him close. He couldn't do that, could he? Couldn't risk overwhelming Loki any further.
"Did you mean it?" Loki asked, the same question that hadn't been answered before. He still didn't look at Mobius.
Though Mobius knew the answer to that by heart.
I'm in love with you.
"I do," Mobius said, answering the question, which seemed important for Loki to obtain the answer. Mobius' eyes not once leaving Loki. "Every word I said,"
For a moment he feared Loki would get up and leave for good, then he'd never see him again. But Loki turned his head to the side until his eyes locked with Mobius' own.
"I don't know how to do this," Loki said, his voice shook slightly, and Mobius thought, 'fuck, I've ruined this.'
"You don't have to do anything, Loki," he said. "I dumped all of that on you. Ruined our friendships, that was on me --"
"No," Loki cut him off. "That is not what I mean. I don't know how to... how to do this, because I've never felt like this, this way, towards anyone before until..." he gulped. "Until I met you,"
And that... Mobius expected a lot of thing, this wasn't one of them. "What?" He said, voice only a whisper, because he must've misunderstood something. Because Loki couldn't be --
"I'm in love with you, too." Loki said. Mobius had studied Loki almost his entire life, he knew when he heard a lie from the Trickster's mouth. This, though, wasn't a lie.
"I didn't think you would... feel the same. Someone like me," Loki went on.
"Someone like you?"
"A monster. A Jotun monster,"
"Loki, you are not... you are not any of that, a monster? That is the farthest thing from the truth," Mobius reached out a hand, gently pulling Loki close and feeling a wave of relief in his chest when Loki didn't pull away. If anything he seemed to be leaning into him, like he was seeking some sort of comfort and only Mobius could give.
"I love you," Mobius said softly, gently planting a kiss on the top of Loki's head.
"And I you." Loki said just as softly, only loud enough for Mobius to hear. Closing his eyes, he let the warmth Mobius radiated assure him he would be okay.
They would be okay.