Work Text:
Mobius’ heart dropped as he heard a scream of what could only be Loki’s voice. Panic rushes through his veins as he turns his head in the direction of the scream. His mind beginning to think he shouldn’t have brought Loki along with him on this mission. Mobius had known how dangerous this assigned mission would be, he wanted to leave his partner at home, but couldn’t resist Loki’s pleas.
The burning building was hard to navigate, with burning walls crumbling, air hard to breathe. Mobius’ lungs heave as he tries to regain his voice. Coughing, he yells out for Loki, after hearing no response, Mobius fears he’s lost the god. He composes himself, reassuring his foggy mind that Loki would be okay.
As he reaches the stairs to the building, he climbs down the stairs to the next level in hopes to find him. A spark catches his pant leg, he swats it away, kicking his leg out.
“Fuck, fuck, fuck,” the agent stumbles past a doorway into what looked like an apartment building. “Loki!”
Walking into the burning kitchen, he sees Loki’s body laying on the floor. His breath is caught in his throat, not knowing whether to be worried or relieve to see his variant. Loki’s laying on his side, blood staining his white button-up. His pants are ripped at the hem. Mobius kneels down to inspect Loki’s pale face.
He gasps as he turns Loki’s head, revealing more blood across his forehead and lips.
“No, no, Loki,” Mobius shakes his shoulders in hopes he’ll wake up. He puts his head down on his partner's chest, searching for a heartbeat. “Thank god, come on bud.”
Searching through his pockets for his tempad, Mobius’ head starts feeling light. He manages to take it out and opens a door back to the TVA. His weak body stands up, pulling Loki up with him. His body starts to panic as his airway starts to clog, smoke becomes thicker.
Throwing Loki’s body and his own into the archives of the TVA, Mobius struggles to get up, a coughing fit taking over his movements.
“Loki,” he manages to croak during his coughing fit. He crawls his body across the floor to Loki, grabbing his hand and holding it to his chest. “Sweetheart?” Mobius whispers, hovering himself over Loki’s limp body. When his breathing catches up, he once more leans his head over his partner's heart. He feels his own heart stop when he hears nothing.
“Help! Someone help!”
Mobius observes with lidded eyes as the other agents nearby run towards them. Not worrying about his own health as he passes out on top of Loki.
-
The old man hadn’t noticed he was crying until he felt the tears fall down onto his hands in his lap. Recovered, Mobius stared at Loki laying on the TVA recovery room bed. Loki’s heart rate back online, but Mobius still worries.
He wipes his tired eyes with his hands. Mobius knows he’ll never let himself down for bringing Loki on the field. It scars him to think that he’s the reason his partner is past out, bandaged up in a hostel bed.
“Mobius,” he whips his head up towards the doorway where B-15 stands. Mobius’ eyes flicker down to her hands, she holds out a pile of files.
“Hey,” he sniffles, reaching out for her to pass over the papers.
“I hate to have to burden you with this,” she looks over to the bed. “But Ravonna’s wanting paperwork done for the mission.”
“Thank you,” Mobius replies tiredly, accepting the files. He opens the folder, taking out a pen to begin filling it out.
“You alright?”
Mobius sighs, avoiding eye contact with the hunter. “Been better.”
B-15 nods, giving a sympathetic smile, “look after yourself, Mobius, get some sleep.” She tilts her head towards Loki, “he’s gonna be okay.” She closes the door behind her.
Leaning back in the chair, he lets more tears fall down his cheeks. He can’t bring himself to fill out these papers. Knowing he should get some sleep, Mobius heads back to his apartment.
-
“Mobius, I asked for those files to be in, yesterday.” The agent couldn’t even get an hour before being berated by Ravonna.
“I’m sorry that I was busy being in the recovery room and watching after Loki.” He grumbles, shoving past her in the empty halls.
“And why would that be? Huh?” She shouts at him as he walks away. Mobius pauses his steps, turning around to face Ravonna. “Whose fault is it that you and the variant were injured? Who came to me begging for the variant to join you and the hunters on the taskforce?”
“Don’t.” He warns.
“You’re lucky he was allowed back into TVA, if this happens again he’s gone.”
Mobius ignores her, walking away to go see Loki.
-
As soon as he walks through the door, he sees Loki sitting by the reception, a doctor by his side, caring for the bandages around his stomach.
Mobius loses all control, running towards Loki and engulfing him in a hug, being gentle around his wounds. His hands grip Loki’s shirt. The doctor gives them space.
“Mobius,” Loki greets, startled by the sudden affection.
“Do you remember anything?” His words muffle into the taller man’s shoulder.
“Roughly,” they both pull away, “I was told you saved me.”
“I suppose I did,” Mobius says softly.
“I also heard I could have risked your career,” Loki gives him a look that says ‘you shouldn’t have saved me’. “And we both know risking your career means risking your life.”
“It’s okay-”
“Mobius,” he presses.
“Let’s at least go somewhere else. Please.” He ushers them towards a supply room. Mobius turns his back to Loki as he enters the almost empty area. As soon as the door shuts, Loki’s speaking again. The agent knows where this conversation is going and doesn’t want to have it.
“I can’t have you dying for me.”
“Straight to the point then.”
“Stop that, I’m being serious,” the variant grabs his arm, pulling him around to face him, leaving a couple of feet between them. “You can’t keep sticking up for me, it’s going to get you in a lot of trouble. We both know I shouldn’t be here.”
“Do we both know that?” Mobius raises his eyebrow.
“Yes! Even if you want me to be here, you still know deep down I don’t belong here.”
God, why did he have to be right? Mobius knows that’s the truth, but he can’t admit to it. As selfish as it is, he wants Loki to stay here with him.
“I don’t want to watch you die, knowing I was the reason.”
“Funny, because just yesterday I was sitting by your bed thinking the same thing.”
The room goes silent, both of them trying to process what came out of Mobius’ mouth.
“You weren’t the reason I was injured, you can’t seriously blame yourself for that. Unless you set the fire.”
“No, not that, I allowed you on the mission. It was me who went to Ravonna asking for you to come.”
“And it was me who begged to come with you!” Loki raises his voice.
“And I should have said no!”
“I wouldn’t have listened!”
“Maybe that's the problem then! If you would fucking listen for once and not try and cause problems every fucking minute!”
Loki’s face softens, hurt by his partner’s words.
“Mobius-”
“No,” he stops him. “Because I want you to stay here and it’s going to be a serious problem if you can’t act like an adult. Hell! It’s already a problem!” Mobius’ voice echoes in the empty room.
“Our problem here isn’t me acting like a child, it’s that I don’t want to stay here.” Loki tries to explain in a calmed voice, hoping to shush Mobius of his yelling.
“So what’s gonna happen? Eh? I can’t just let you back onto the timeline and wonder about.” Mobius approaches him, still worked up.
“Prune me.”
“You idiot, I’m not doing that.” He scoffs.
“I’d rather that than be here with you fools.”
“You don’t mean that.” Mobius shakes his head.
“Well I do, I want out! I’m not meant to be cooped up in a place like this! My purpose in the timeline is to be running away!” Loki sets his lips in a line, his cut creasing on his lips.
“I can’t let you leave, that would result in us both being killed!”
“Kill me! Gods, just prune me!”
“No!” Mobius hits Loki’s chest, regretting it instantly as he sees the discomfort wash across his face. He hugs his arms close to his chest, squeezing his eyes closed. “I- I’m sorry, Lokes.”
“Don’t call me that,” he tries to hide it by clearing his throat, but Mobius hears the way his voice cracks mid-sentence.
“Loki-”
“I don’t want to hear it.” Even in the dimly lit room, the agent doesn’t fail to see Loki’s eyes becoming watery. Neither of them go to leave the room. Mobius is embarrassed by his actions, his worst fear coming true: hurting Loki. “I want to see my family. I want my life back.”
“I can’t give you that. I’m sorry.” He drops his head, “if I could give you that, I promise I would.”
Loki lifts up his shirt, checking on the bandages, Mobius’ eyes follow his actions, eyes going wide as he sees the blood beginning to peer through.
“Had to get it stitched.” His accent sounding thicker from being upset.
“Did it hurt?”
“I was asleep.”
“Right- sorry,” Mobius lifts his hand, Loki up at Loki for permission. The taller man nods, Mobius moves his hand to gently touch Loki’s bandage, peeling it back slightly to inspect it. He watches as Loki face cringes, but continues to remove it to see his scar.
“S’my fault. I’m sorry Lokes.” He takes one more look at the stitches before sticking the bandage back on his stomach. “I want to help you, I really do, but I- I can’t and it kills me.”
Loki watches Mobius’ face, his face is soft and welcoming. Mobius realizes he doesn’t want to look at anyone else's eyes but Loki’s for the rest of his life. Mobius reaches up to place Loki’s face in his palms, and Loki softens into his touch.
“I’d give you the world if I could.” It’s true.
Loki grabs the hand that was holding his face, bringing it to his lips and leaving a delicate kiss to his palm.
“I know,” he responds gently.
Mobius knows at that moment that he and Loki will be okay, no matter what the TVA throws at them.