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It was by total accident that Loki stumbled upon the tempad.
He’d been running from President Loki and his goons for endless amounts of time with him being no longer protected. He and his scaled counterpart spent time running and hiding, and hoping one day he would escape this nightmarish hell hole.
He’d been running as always, when he stumbled over a piece of scrap metal. Falling flat on his face, he inhaled dirt and coughed. He proceeded to turn himself over and sit cross legged on the ground. He was no stranger to dirt stained clothes but he still didn’t enjoy being covered in the dust.
Alligator Loki (or Croki, as the older Loki variant had playfully dubbed him when they first met) trotted over to him, growling sadly as he nudged Loki’s pant leg.
“I’m fine.” He said stubbornly. Another nudge. “I’m fine!” The alligator didn’t flinch. “Sorry.” He patted the alligator on his horned helmet, looking past him. That’s when he saw it. Lying half buried in dirt and under the scrap metal was a stained golden rectangle. There were probably better ways to describe it but this was Loki’s way.
“What…?” He slowly reached out, as if it would burn him of getting close. When his fingers touched the edge and nothing happened, he quickly snatched it up and stuffed it in his bag from a brand that was never supposed to exist.
Getting up quickly, he didn’t bother to dust himself off, scampering away as if it were a crime scene and he was a suspect. In the distance he could hear the shouts of his foe, and he knew he had to hurry.
His heart beat rapidly in his chest, the shock of the find and the fear of the hunt contributed. Loki didn’t think his heart had been normal since he first appeared here, fresh out of a terrifying ordeal and 12 years old (roughly) to boot.
He ran until he found his home base, well, new home base. Ever since Prez. Loki found his and the old man's old one, he’d had to find a new one, he’d had to find a new one. Which was fine. He’d been here millennium, he could find himself a new home in less than a day.
Currently, he’d taken up residence in a boat, or part of one. He didn’t know the story behind the boat, but it was a good home.
Slinking in through the entrance, he made sure no one could see him. Croki stood guard by the entrance, as if he’s a dog and not a scaled reptile who once bit a man's hand off.
Once inside, he threw off his bag and sat on his cot. He stared at the bag for a long while, biting the inside of his cheek and pondering if he should take out the tempad or not. Croki sauntered back in once the coast was clear and Loki put up the best protection spell he could muster.
“What to do, what to do...?” He said, pulling his legs to his chest. Croki cocked his head and let out a questioning growl. “What if it’s dead? What if the TVA finds me and puts me back? I don’t know what to do!” He practically yelled the last part, pulling at his hair in rage. The alligator supplied a sympathetic growl. “Oh shut up.” They must have had enough of Loki’s rotten attitude, for they turned their body and sauntered away to their area. Loki sighed miserably.
He sat for another long while, pondering things. His stomach growled with hunger, making him sigh as he realized he’d have to face the horrors of his bag.
He opened it slowly, eyes trying to avoid the golden rectangle he’d picked up in the voids dirty landscape. Avoiding it, he grabbed Twinkie’s and a Hi-C. He let out a relieved sigh and went back to sitting on his cot, poking the straw through his juice box and opened the snacks. Not the most nutritional meal out there, but you get what you get in the void.
After finishing his meal, he lay down on the cot again, consumed by the thoughts once more. It didn’t get dark in the void, but Loki’s internal clock told him it was bedtime. He shifted to his side and let his raven curls fall over his eyes as he tried to sleep. His mind refused to quiet.
Eventually, sleep began to take him, very slowly though. Just as he began to see the shadows of a dream - or nightmare, most likely - a loud crash interrupted. He bolted upright, twisting around to see.
It was the damn alligator. He’d knocked over the bag and spilled the content everywhere, including the formidable tempad.
“You imbecile!” He shouted. “You could attract attention to us!” If the alligator could give looks, Loki knew he’d be giving him an “excuse me” “hypocrite” kind of look. “Now I have to pick all this up, I hope you realize.” The alligator gave him a hmph sounding noise and turned away. His best friend and his worst enemy, wrapped in a scaly bundle.
Loki cleaned up the clutter, stuffing Twinkies and pudding cups and Hi-C back into his bag, along with some books and an assortment of weapons. He reached for the tempad but stopped himself.
It was on.
The tempad screen glowed orange, image displayed clearly. The black background, the orange letters, lines, and symbols. Loki backed away from it quickly, like it was a monster. A reality destroying monster. Though he’d rather live in the void than in a world where his brother died at his hands.
Croki growled at it, as if this wasn’t their plan all along.
After a few moments, Loki cautiously crawled forward, reaching for the terrifying device. He gently took it in his hands, brushing the dirt off the edges, unsuccessfully due to his own grimy hands.
“Croki, it’s on.” Loki told his companion. Croki growled. “Do you think we could get out of here?” Another growl. “I think so too. I’m just…” scared. Croki waddled over to him and bumped him with his snout. “Maybe we should wait-” The alligator growled and snapped his jaws in retaliation to his friend's hesitation. “Alright! Alright! No need for violence!”
He fumbled with the tempad for a moment before setting it down on the metal floor.
“I can’t do this,” He said warily, tucking his legs into his chest once before. “I’m not meant to leave here. They sent me here because I did something wrong. People who do wrong things aren’t supposed to leave.” Croki let out a sad growl, nudging him again. “I want to, but I don’t think I shou- CROKI!” The alligator suddenly stopped his comforting crusade and launched for the tempad, pressing the buttons with his snout. “Croki, no! Croki!” Loki tried to grab the alligator, the reptile snapping his jaws in a warning fashion. Loki didn’t feel threatened. “Loki!” He shouted. Croki stopped moving and Loki grabbed him, holding him close to his chest. “Don’t do that, you could have-” He stopped again, hearing the faint sound of voices.
He looked up, thinking the prez and his goons had found him, but instead saw a foggy orange yellow door.
“Croki, what did you do…?” He held the alligator tighter, causing the reptile to whine. The voices continued, a muffled conversation. Something Something Multiverse, is what he picked up.
Croki growled eagerly and Loki gulped down his worry. He has a Loki, Loki’s don’t worry about adequate and just punishment. No self respecting God of Mischief would see an opportunity like this and not take it.
With a careful step, he moved closer to the door, alligator in arms, dagger at his side, crown on his head. He stopped right before it, staring anxiously. What was on the other side? He hoped not the TVA. Croki squirmed in his arms and slipped Loki’s grasp, dashing through the portal.
“Croki!” Loki shouted, rushing for reptilian friend. He ran through the door and spotted Croki, running towards someone with… a cape?
He proceeded to get punched in the face. Hard.
-
Loki awoke sometimes later, in a chair. The room was dark, darker than the void at least. His arms were tied behind his back and his legs together. Well, so much for freedom on the other side of the door.
“Ah, you’re finally awake.” Loki snapped his head up, looking for the source of the voice. It was female, accented, and meant business. He assumed it belonged to the dark haired young lady with the jean jacket and star shirt.
His face ached where he had been punched. “Ow,” He muttered.
“Oh yeah,” The girl sucked air in through his teeth. “Sorry about that.”
“You don’t sound sorry.” Loki said to her.
“You did kind of appear out of nowhere with a crocodile and looked like you just escaped the circus.” The girl shrugged. “It was in self defense. Sorry, though.”
“He’s an alligator.” Loki huffed, correcting the girl's misconception about his reptilian friend. The girl laughed at his response, earning an eyebrow raise from him. “What’s so funny?”
“You’re very arrogant, chico.” She laughed. Loki growled at the accusation, but stopped at the nickname.
“Chico?” He asked.
“Yes, Chico.” The girl responded with a smirk.
“You just called me boy in a different language.” Loki said, growing hostile again. He didn’t like being stuck in the confines of a chair. He tried to break himself free but to no avail. He wasn’t exactly known for his strength anyways.
“You understood that?” She asked him, crossing her arms.
“Yes. I have allspeak. I know what people are saying even when they’re talking in a language I’m not versed in.” Loki educated her on how it worked. The girl made a “hm” noise, but didn’t say anything. “Now, can I know your name?” The girl made another “hm” noise and thought for a moment, comically tapping her foot.
“I’m probably not supposed to, but I’m not exactly known for making safe choices,” She laughed at her own joke. “I’m America. America Chavez.”
“I would say it’s a pleasure, but you punched me and tied me to a chair, Miss. America.” Loki responded curtly. America raised an eyebrow.
“We’re not doing this again,” She waved her hand around in a circle, gesturing to Loki. “You should tell me who you are, though, since I told you who I am.”
“Fine.” Loki huffed. He didn’t really like her that much, but his mother always told him manners were important. Not that he’d used manners in thousands of years. “I’m Loki.” He left out any last name. He didn’t exactly like any he had. Before the void, he was Loki Odinson, but he didn’t consider himself worthy of that after what he did. The older variant had informed him he was adopted and actually the son of Laufey. Laufeyson rolled off the tongue bitterly and Loki refused to let himself be called that.
“You’re Loki?” America was once again laughing. Loki wrinkled his nose in anger. “You’re like 12!”
“I’m thousands of years older than you, you ass!” Loki yelled at her. He knew using that language would have gotten him punished back on Asgard but America was being an ass! He didn’t know why he kept thinking of Asgard and his old life. Maybe it was the change of scenery. Yeah, it was that.
“With that attitude, you’re never getting out of the chair.” America smirked. Loki changed his tune quickly.
“Sorry! Please let me out!” America simply turned away and called for someone named “strange”. Loki growled and tried to escape his confines again. He failed. Again.
“Strange!” America continued to call out. “Strange! He’s Loki!” Suddenly, the man with the cape appeared before him. This time, Loki could get a better look at him. He was dressed in some sort of robe and had a cloak that appeared to billow in the wind, despite the room being without a window or wind. He had grey streaks in his hair and a goatee. He looked quite intimidating, not that Loki would ever show it.
“He’s Loki?” Strange said to America.
“So he claims.” America nodded.
“He’s young.” Strange continued. “Though reincarnation isn’t off the table, after all.”
“I’m not a reincarnation.” Loki cut in. Strange and America turned to him. “I’m simply a version of Loki.”
“Really?” Strange raised an eyebrow.
“Alternate Versions aren’t off the table either!” America responded. “After all, everything we’ve been through.”
“You’re right.” Strange nodded. “So where are you from, Loki?”
“Asgard, a while ago, the Void more recently.” Loki answered, trying to play nice. Maybe Strange would let him out if he was nice. All Strange did was continue to have a raised eyebrow.
“The Void?”
“It’s a hellhole at the end of time.” Loki responded. “Don’t worry, it’s not anytime soon.” He smirked a little.
“Thanks for the confirmation.” Strange told him, still serious. Loki had tried to make a joke and this was the reaction he got?
“So, if you’re from the void, why are you here?” Strange continued his interrogation.
“Did you not hear the hellhole part?” Loki said, regretting the sass almost instantly. He was never getting out of the freaking chair now. “Sorry.”
“No, my fault, I should have listened to that part.” Strange responded completely straight faced. Loki wondered if he ever showed emotion. He’d met plenty of people who were good at it. Loki wasn’t one of them. Older Loki’s were good at schooling their features but Loki never quite learned how. Even if he tried, you could still see it on his face.
“Do you have any more questions?” Loki asked, politely.
“Just one,” Strange said, his cloak billowing distractingly. Loki was nearly mesmerized by it. “Do you plan on harming us?”
“Not if you don’t try to harm me.” Loki responded, getting deja vu. He’d said the same thing to the old man Loki when they’d first met, both threatening each other with daggers. “ Are you a threat?” “Only if you’re one to me.”
“So, no more face punching?” America said.
“Only if I can punch you back.” Loki smirked. He could feel the air clearing slightly, not so tense anymore. Strange stayed straight faced, turning away. “Can I be untied now?”
“I suppose.” Strange sighed. He sounded tired. “America, can you untie him?”
“Yessir.” America said.
“And keep an eye on him.” Strange said before ducking out of the room. America looked like she wanted to fight him on that front, but she simply swore under her breath, walking towards Loki. She was behind him, untying him, muttering about how if he wasn’t letting her live there, she’d have punched him into the next multiverse over. Loki was a bit miffed if she could really do that.
“There.” She said, freeing his hands and feet. Loki got up quickly, flexing his fingers and trying to get his legs to wake up again; they'd fallen asleep while he’d been in the chair. “Now, I don’t want to babysit you, but Strange is letting me live here and he’s the type to throw you out for something like this. So, here’s what we’re going to do. I’m going to go find something for you to read, I’m going to set you up in a spare room, then I'm going on patrol, so I’ll leave you for a bit. No wandering off.”
“Okay?”
“Good.” America walked off. Loki stayed behind for a moment, causing America to groan and circled back. “Now!”
“Okay!”
-
Loki was set up in a room in what America called the sanctum. Croki was set free from wherever Strange was keeping him. America basically threw books at him and left him, not without a “behave chico” though. Loki wasn’t too fond of his new nickname but if playing nice was the key to not being thrown in another void like place, he would behave. He could be a good kid, he’d been one before. Sort of.
The room wasn’t the worst he’d ever been in, given less than 24 hours ago he was sleeping in a boat. The bed was comfortable, better than the cot, and America had supplied him with random kids books. Picture books, actually, like he was a toddler or something. He grew bored of them quickly, the pictures were unentertaining and the words he couldn’t read.
Sighing, he lay down on the bed. Croki curled up next to him, growling low but endearingly.
“We escaped…” He muttered, petting the alligator. “We did it, Croki.” Croki growled again. “Should I still call you that? Croki? Or do you prefer Loki?” The alligator growled once more and Loki nodded. “Croki it is. I get it.” He hummed with a yawn. “Maybe I should change my name too, a fresh start.” Croki perked up a bit. “Maybe Lock, or Luke, or something like that. I don’t know.” He yawned again. “Maybe I should sleep on it.” Croki growled in agreement, resting their head on Loki’s side. “Sometimes I think you’re a dog and not an alligator.” He chuckled and yawned once more, closing his eyes. “Goodnight, dear friend.”
Good Night, Loki… He thought he heard, but he drifted off before he could register it. Perhaps it was his imagination. He was known to be a dreamer, after all.