Chapter Text
I’m sorry about it all Loki, I didn’t think you’d come to see it alone.
He’d found out, now, that Loki had been watching those tapes alone, why he’d suddenly been subdued to the cornering steps of the time theatre as he sat stolidly playing with the Tesseract.
Didn’t plan that ahead did you, the TVA's most special and perfect analyst and all he could do was present his little variant pet with the terrors of a life he’s supposed to live, supposed to die on, and move on just because all he’s deemed worthy to be is a catalyst in improving everyone else’s life, to be a pawn in the game of the avengers, to be the runt of his family and a disgrace to his own regards, that’s all I am to you, am I not, Mob -
Loki had burst out, in sheer anger and displeasure at the agent, accentuating each word with a growl from his gritted teeth, the pain evident in his hurt as he spoke, the man in front of him only uttering a single word.
Stop.
It seemed like a bold lie, as if he simply didn’t want to share in Loki’s worries, that he didn’t care anymore about him, not in the way he wanted him to.
Why do you care?
Maybe it’s because this variant had melted his heart, or maybe because it hurt to see any creature be subjected to such cruel tones. maybe he just didn’t care enough, who knew.
I’ve seen all your life.
It was the truth, each slivered section of Loki’s existence had been watched over by mobius, each mistake and every fall embedded deeper into his subconscious than it should’ve been, even worse were his smiles that stung his heart.
Then you’d know I’m right.
He was, incredibly right and he did hurt people, certainly more than he should’ve, but it wasn’t his fault, was it? or it’s just his own soft spot for broken things shining through in fault.
You are.
He couldn’t lie, but he also couldn’t hurt Loki, the words accidentally slipping through his lips before he could think again.
Incredibly comforting, Agent.
He had to fix them, that wasn’t how he meant it, so he rambled on to say;
Loki, that was your life, you’re forgetting. no longer on the path you’re destined to be, maybe this could be your nexus event, who knows, you could be something more?
He hoped and prayed in his soul that perhaps the timekeepers would allow him to change, maybe he’d allow himself to change, be the god he was always meant to be, the god mobius still saw behind those tear clouded eyes.
What’s that?
And he could’ve sworn he said he’d studied.
What? A Nexus Event? a branched reality when you break away from your assigned destiny on the sacred timeline. you’re supposed to know this stuff, Loki. literally said it today morning, or did you just mind read another minuteman.
Magic, something the TVA deprived him of until he probably had the chance to use it and brainwash him on the field, which could be the only rational explanation for the pool of warmth festering in his lower belly, the guilt and a feeling he couldn’t put his hand on, all for Loki.
No, I do, when you can’t affect the radius anymore, you destroy it. for your information, I didn’t use any magic. what you felt was real.
Damn.
… and you’re not free to let me stay here and are going to prune me in the next few seconds, sure.
This bastard was oblivious.
I’m not.
Yep, oblivious as fuck.
You’re not what you see yourself as.
Not a villain.
Not a liberator.
Perhaps a murderer to some extents, but that wasn’t your truth.
It wasn’t, it was at the hands of a universal tyrant who nearly destroyed it, how was this any of his fault, why couldn’t he see where mobius was coming from, why couldn’t he try to understand, why couldn’t he simply let go of his ravenous pride for once and notice his feelings for him?
Yes it was, I killed those men -
He couldn’t do this. not anymore.
Loki, shut up.
But he didn’t.
I couldn’t even catch your previous variant and you’re still out here sticking your neck out for me, at the expense of losing your job and even getting pruned, why do you pathetically care so much mobius, about your little experiment, I’m nothing more than just your incredible plan to prove you’re Renslayer’s best and most dedicated member on her workforce, isn’t that it -
No.
You didn’t go through the time door, I'm more than glad.
He meant it.
Isn’t it just your excuse to have me gone?
Bullshit.
It’s not.
It’ll never be.
Don’t feign care with me.
He cared about him too much to ever fake his emotions.
I'm not.
He wouldn’t listen.
You’re a liar.
Wow.
You’re one to say.
That probably wasn’t the most intelligent choice of words for the moment then.
You don’t care about me.
The words hit him like a brick, he moved through any feelings of warn or wary, pushed aside his irrational fears, his own doubts of himself, the dispositions and the worry to grab Loki’s collar, to yank him into the roughest and yet softest kiss the god could’ve ever felt. it was a clash of tongues and teeth, going on for just about a few seconds but it left a tingling feeling on mobius’ lips as if he’d been crashed up against the god forever,
No, it’s probably because I care about you more than I probably should Loki.
He smoothened his collar, and pat him with the backs of his hand on his chest, adjusting his tie and pulling away to smile just as Loki had done, tears welling in his eyes for the rejection he was about to face.
Loki licked his lips, looking away as mobius furrowed his eyebrows, waiting for the crash of words breaking down on him for his inherent stupidity.
Instead, he was met with soft lips, moving in slow tandem with his, a rough pad of loki’s thumb running over his cheeks to wipe away his tears in this quiet gesture that spoke more than his idiotic quips ever could.
Even now?
Mobius smiled, with all of his heart.
Especially now.
I don’t know what I did to deserve you, Mobius M. Mobius.
Nothing.
It was Loki’s turn to tear up now.
Everything.
Loki…
Mobius Mobius Mobius.
That’s the name.
He chuckled, just as he fished the flashing red Tempad out of his pockets, fumbling as it let out high pitched beeps.
What’s wrong?
It’s a nexus event warning. Huge branches, I’ve never seen anything like this in all of my eons here.
What’s the cause? The location?
His eyes shifted over to the coordinates, going white as he realized the cause.
They were standing on the branches there.
…Mobius?
He looked up happily, even as worry flashed behind his eyes, there was a flicker of gladness as he pulled loki through a door he opened, grasping his hand with his usual dopey reassuring smile to pull him through. One resonating word leaving his parted lips.
Us.