Work Text:
It was a hot summer day, the kind of moist hotness that comes with a brooding storm, Mobius had just come home from work and he was done. So done. Yet he was outside, pulling the garbage cans from the street and fearing his boys were about to cause some other mischief if he left them unsupervised for another second. Since his wife had disappeared and left him with the kids, he hadn't had a single calm moment. Oh, what he would give to sleep in on the weekends or watch his favourite TV show unbothered!
Groaning, Mobius bowed to the ground and picked up the scattered toys the kids had left behind. He couldn't wait for them to grow up and lock themselves in their rooms with video games.
As he picked up a toy that hadn't been burned before but now was, that thought was reinforced and he started counting the months. Sean was 9 years old; how long would it take him to get into gaming? And what about 7-year-old Kevin?
"Hey, why is this burned? Who burned this?"
Mobius looked down and saw Kevin kneeling with a match box in the shadows of the nearest bush.
"Hey! What the- flip are you doing, Kevin! Did you do this? Where did you get those matches from?"
"Found them."
"Inside the locked drawer?"
Instead of giving an answer, his son decided to run away and Mobius desperately called out, "Sean, go look after your brother and see that he doesn't burn down the house!"
"What do I get for it."
"What?"
"Don't babysitters get paid?"
"I mean, yeah, but- he's your brother, just look after him, Jee! Maybe I'll get you a puppy for it."
"And a snake?"
"One step at a time, pal, now go find your brother."
Mobius watched his son disappear around the corner, sighed, and turned back to the pile of toys in front of him. That's when, in the corner of his eye, something caught his attention. A dark figure parted from the shadows cast by the trees that lined the road in front of the house, and made its way over towards him. When he looked up, surprised, he recognised that it was a man with slicked back, raven black hair in a designer suit and expensive looking shoes. He was lost, definitely, otherwise he wouldn't be in this neighbourhood, wandering around. He looked so out of place, as if he had come from an entirely different time and not just from the city down the highway.
"Hey, can I help you?" he called out. As the stranger approached him, he realised how tall he was. Mobius would have felt ridiculous next to him, if it wasn't his literal home.
"My car broke down just outside of town. I thought I'd wait till someone came by but..."
"No one's coming, yeah," Mobius nodded, "Not exactly a busy area, you see."
"Yeah, I noticed," the stranger said, looking around with a certain... distaste and immediately, Mobius got defensive.
"So uhm, could you tell me where I might get help from? I'd like to get back to the city before the storm hits the roads."
The stranger's British accent was so posh that Mobius started to question whether he might actually be a time traveller.
"Around the corner down this road is a body shop. There should be someone who can help you."
The man nodded and turned around to head down the road.
Seriously? Not even a thank you?
Mobius scoffed and turned his attention back to the toys. It was only ten minutes later, when he was inside the house, preparing dinner for them, that he realised... "It's Monday." Which meant that... "The body shop's already closed. Sean, watch your brother-"
"Again?" his son groaned.
"I'm going to the body shop, be back in a minute."
With that he grabbed the car keys and hurried outside. The sky was already turning grey. He got into his truck and drove down the road. He was halfway there, when he found who he was looking for with a sour face.
"It's closed!" the stranger called through the rolled down window and Mobius couldn't help but chuckle, "Sorry 'bout that, didn't realise it was Monday. Come on, let's see if we can get your car started ourselves!"
Warily, the stranger walked around the car and got in on the passenger's seat. His legs were all crammed and he again, looked out of place. Mobius waited, till he had put on his seat belt - a habit you picked up when you had kids -, then he turned around and headed for the highway.
"I'm Mobius, by the way," he said, feeling it was time for introductions, now that they were sitting in the same car.
"Lucky," the stranger replied.
"That's rich, making fun of my name when I'm about to help you," Mobius chided.
"What? No," the stranger said, "Loki. That's my name."
"Loki?"
"Yes."
"Seriously?"
Loki only answered with a look and Mobius shrugged, "Well, welcome to Greengrove. What brought you to this place?"
"Family."
"Ah, it's always family. You on your way to them?"
"No, I'm on my way home."
"Oh, are you on your way to catch a flight, then?"
"Yes."
"Where to?"
"Listen, could you not?"
"Not what?"
"Pretend that you care."
"But I do."
"Whatever, I don't like to talk, I just want to get my car fixed."
"Well, we're almost there, I guess," Mobius sighed and fell silent. What a pain in the ass. He should have just stayed at home and let Loki deal with this himself. But who was he kidding, he couldn't have. After all, it was him who told Loki to go to the body shop.
Shit, had he turned off the stove before he had left the house? Was he going to be the one to burn the house down? Would Sean be able to deal with a fire and save himself and his brother?
Loki cleared his throat, "That's it."
Oh, so now he could talk.
They got out of the car and got to work. Loki got into his car and tried to start it, "who knows, maybe it works now", then they opened up the hood and searched for any obvious problems. They also tried to quick start the car, but in the end nothing worked and rain drops started to hit the front window. The wind had also picked up and tussled their hair, when they dared to leave their respective cars and yell suggestions at each other over the wind. At some point Mobius put his hand on Loki's back and led him to the truck.
Once they were seated and safe inside, he said, "Listen, this is pointless. I'm sorry, but we've been here for an hour and nothing's worked, I have to get back to my boys and the storm's picked up already, anyway. If you want you can stay the night and we see that we'll get you to the city in the morning."
He didn't know what else to say. He couldn't leave Loki on the highway, but he also didn't have the time to drive him to the closest motel and anyway, this was the easiest way. When Loki didn't reply, Mobius shifted in his seat, "You know, I'm open to suggestions. But the clock's ticking."
"I know."
"Look, I promise I'm not some creep who picks up lost strangers and buries them in his backyard... although we had one of those some years ago... but that's in the past. Don't worry about it. I'll bring the kids to bed and go to sleep right after, you'll basically have the house to yourself. I won't annoy you with any more questions."
He looked at Loki and thought he caught the glimpse of a smile.
"Fine," the traveller agreed, "If that's the only option."
***
Mobius kept his promise and didn't ask any more questions on their way home. When they arrived, he helped Loki bring his luggage they had got from his car into the house and showed him to the guest bedroom. He also got him a towel before going into the kitchen and looking for the kids.
"Hey, are you guys alright, took me a bit longer than expected..."
He found that they were, in fact, alright, more than alright, actually. Sean had decided that since dad was gone, they had to make dinner themselves. Dinner, in this case, was three scoops of ice cream each and a whole lot of candy from the candy box that Mobius could only measure the amount by the pile of wraps spread across sofa table and floor. Mobius sighed and looked at the time. It was 8pm.
Since the boys weren't hungry anymore, "We've had dinner, why would we be still be hungry?", he chased them to the bathroom and made sure they brushed their teeth.
"Dad, who's that guy you came home with and what's he doing in your room?" Kevin asked, just as Mobius was tucking him in under his covers.
"Oh, it's just some traveller who got lost on the highway," he explained, "He'll leave in the morning."
"Why is he staying with us?" Sean asked from the other side of the room.
"Well, we tried to fix his car but that didn't work, so I offered him to stay the night."
"Why?" it came from Kevin again.
"Because," said Mobius, "that's what kind people do. Offer shelter to the lost."
***
When Mobius had finished reading their bedtime story and said good night to the boys, he went straight to the kitchen, his stomach almost rumbling as loudly as the thunderstorm outside. He found Loki sitting at the counter, and took a moment to compose himself before entering the room. He was sure he looked more dishevelled and tired than ever. But whatever, he'd never see that man after tomorrow ever again.
"You want some pasta?" Mobius asked as he shuffled through the cupboard, in search for the tomato sauce.
"It's fine, you don't have to make dinner for me," Loki said. He was apparently looking through one of the many jet ski magazines.
"Well, then I'll just make some for myself. I'm starving," Mobius muttered and turned on the stove. He decided to make more than one portion anyway, it wouldn't hurt.
"You want a beer?" he asked as he got himself a can from the fridge, but thought he already knew the answer to that.
"No," Loki said as expected.
"Not the type?"
"Well, I quite like ale but I doubt you have that."
"Fair enough. What about wine?"
"Red or white?"
Mobius eyed him, and came to a conclusion, "Red."
Loki stared back at him, just for a moment, his eyes scanning Mobius's face in return. Then he turned his attention back to the magazine, "That'll do."
Mobius smiled and got a glass and the bottle.
The sauce was almost ready, so he set the table (for two) and filled their plates with pasta. Loki was about to protest but Mobius already topped it with the sauce, then he sat down opposite him and put some rasped cheese on his dinner.
"So, what family did you visit?" he inquired, before remembering what he had promised.
"Oh, wait," he said then, "Right, sorry, I'll shut up."
Again, Loki looked at him with that piercing look, "No, it's fine."
His wine glass was half empty and he had picked up the fork, poking his pasta.
"I visited my sister. She lives in this nowhere land with her girlfriend."
Loki paused, but Mobius just kept eating.
"She works at McDonald's and listens to records in her free time," he tried to sound sceptical, but couldn't help the smile, "She swears, that's the life."
"Well," Mobius chuckled, "Some people appreciate the quiet life. You don't, though, do you?"
"I can appreciate the time out, but no, on the long run I need the city life."
"What city do you live in, then?"
"London."
"Of course, you do."
Loki frowned, "That obvious, is it?"
Mobius shrugged, smiling. He took a sip of his beer.
"What about you, then?" Loki almost blurted out, "What do you do? What's all this? A hobby? Borderline obsession?"
He was waving at the magazine, the miniature jet skis on the counter, pictures on the fridge and walls.
"Well," Mobius breathed, "It's both my hobby and a job. I'm a jet ski salesman, work in the store in the town centre, I've actually been a jet ski salesman my whole life. I got into it when I was about... nine? When I first saw someone ride a jet ski at the beach, I just knew that it was the perfect combination of form and function. It's also quite affordable if you save up, cheaper than most cars and you can use them in most bodies of water, no matter if it's the ocean, a lake or a river. The river is right around the corner, it takes a lot longer to the beach though. That's why it's been a while since I actually rode one but hey, at least I get to see all the new models at work every day - except for Sundays."
He looked down at his plate. Dammit, he had done it again. He had geeked out.
"Uh... so yeah. Jet skis."
He gave a thumbs up, then he wanted to slap himself for it.
"Wow," Loki chuckled, "I've never met someone who was into jet skis before. In fact, I don't think I've ever even seen a jet ski."
"WHAT?"
"Yeah," Loki smiled, sheepishly.
"Well, let's change that, then!" Mobius said, enthusiastically, and got up, "Come on."
"Wait, what?"
"Just follow me."
And so, Loki got up and followed him down the hallway to the garage. As soon as they entered, the patter of rain on the thin roof reminded them of the storm that was raging outside.
Mobius switched on the small light by the work table and went to the tarp that he had wrapped lovingly around one of his jet skis. In one big motion, he pulled the cover off. For a moment, he just looked at the watercraft, then he turned around to beam at Loki.
"There you go!"
But his voice was drowned out by the rain and Loki moved closer - to understand him better... surely.
"It's uh... lovely," Loki said.
"You can go sit on it, if you want."
"Pardon?"
Loki leaned in now, face turned to the side.
"Sit on it," Mobius repeated and it sounded more like a command than an offer, unintendedly. Their eyes met and he saw mirth in Loki's eyes.
Then his guest moved and gripped the handlebar to pull himself up. Slowly, he swayed his leg over the seat, the motion stretching his dress pants. Secure in the seat, he was holding onto the handlebar with both hands now, he looked down at Mobius with triumph. Mobius on the other hand looked up at him with a feeling he couldn't quite explain. It filled him from head to toe, pressuring his chest, tingling in his fingertips.
Loki looked at him expectantly, he must have said something - but with the noise of the rain it was impossible to hear a single sound he made.
So, Mobius stirred closer. He put a hand on the seat behind Loki.
"So uhm," he had to clear his throat, "this is where you put in the key and turn it on, ... obviously, you need the key for that. And uh... that's the throttle."
He stopped when Loki put a hand on his shoulder and pulled them closer together, "Why don't you show me how to ride it?"
He could feel his breath against his cheek. It sounded like a genuine request, at first. But was it? His brain stopped working for a moment. You'd think this shouldn't be a problem, no problem at all, he did this every day, it was his job, after all! But somehow, ... somehow this felt different.
Loki grinned and invited him with a head tilt to seat on the backseat.
"I have to say, this is kind of exciting," Loki confessed, looking over his shoulder at Mobius who had just climbed up behind him, careful not to touch his guest, "Although it would be even better if we actually were in water."
"Wait another hour and the rain will have flooded half the streets," Mobius answered and shifted in his seat, trying to find the least inappropriate position, trying to hold back.
"You have an hour to teach me, then," Loki replied, casually, as if they really were at the beach and he, his instructor.
But he was not and they were not at the beach. They were in a dimly lit garage with the rain that was drumming on the roof drowning out every other sound. And they were sitting on the jet ski of his ex-wife.
"First, you have to make sure you are seated in a comfortable position. Hands on the handlebar..." He moved Lokis hands towards the handlebar. "...and feet on the footrest."
Apparently, Loki had to lean back to sit comfortably.
"Now, technically, you'd turn on the ignition with your key."
"Where is the key?"
"Locked in a safe upstairs."
"'Course it is."
Mobius wanted to give him a smack but instead he leaned forward, pressed against Loki's back, and put his own hands next to Loki's on the handlebar.
"Let's assume we have the key and turned it on. Then, you slowly push the throttle so that you begin to move forward."
He was guiding Loki's hand. He felt the soft skin beneath his own rougher one.
"We move away from the shoreline, slowly," he whispered, lost in the fantasy. He could see the waves, the horizon, if he looked back, he could see the beach.
"Now you can increase speed."
He pushed Loki's hand.
"You can change direction but make sure you lean into it."
"Like this?"
"Yes..."
They remained like this for a second, pressed together, five seconds, listening to the rain, ten seconds, "I think I got it."
"Good, try it on your own," Mobius smiled and let go of the handle, wrapping his arms around Loki instead. Only now did he realise that the shirt was wet from the rain.
He thought he heard Loki chuckle, "This is ridiculous."
Mobius hummed, "It is, isn't it?"
Loki glanced over his shoulder, then he focused on the controls in front of him again.
"I turn the jet ski on with the key that we have right here," he said, "then I slowly increase speed with the throttle thing. You better hold on tight now, Mobius, because as soon as we're far enough away from the shoreline, I'll go crazy."
Mobius smirked and was about to reply some tease, when Loki twisted the handlebar and leaned forward to the right, Mobius automatically going with him, clinging onto him. They were going in circles and Mobius leaned his head against Loki's back, looking for support.
"You didn't tell me how to stop..."
Mobius reached around him and gripped the break, forcing them to a stop.
"There."
"Hmm..."
"Your shirt is wet."
Loki shrugged, "You don't seem to mind."
Without thinking Mobius put a hand on Loki's back, feeling the muscles move beneath the layers of wet fabric and hot skin.
He sighed in response, blatantly staring at the other's lips, "What unfortunate position."
Mobius stopped. His guest was right: They were close, but not close enough.
"Turn around."
Somehow, Loki managed to turn around in a tangle of legs and hair and arms so that when they were finally facing each other, Mobius took his face in his hands and pulled him in. He found hold in his guest's long hair and he could feel a thumb brushing over the tip of his moustache as their lips met again and again. He could taste the red wine, smell after-shave, hear Loki's moans - or was that him?
It wasn't enough, he needed to feel him even closer. He gripped the other's leg and pulled him into his own lap. Loki had his arms wrapped around the other’s shoulders, holding him close. It was hard to keep balance like this and it made them cling together like they were clinging onto life itself.
But just like life, this ended and they parted, gasping for breath, Loki borrowing his face in the other's neck, not just his hair a mess.
"Let's take this to the bedroom, hm?" he panted, holding onto the other's chest.
Only now did Mobius realise the situation he was in.
"Just... hold on a moment- Loki... I don't think, I can-."
They finally, parted and Loki looked at him, confused, so confused that Mobius reached out to cup his face, feeling sorry.
"I can't. Not with my- not here. Not like this."
"But no one will hear us."
"I know. It's just... I don't even know you."
"That's the best part!"
And could see that Loki genuinely meant that. It broke his heart.
"No, Loki… No."
"I don't- I don't understand."
"It's okay, trust me, it really is. But we should go to bed now, it's an early day tomorrow."
***
As soon as he parted from his guest in the hallway, he went upstairs to the bathroom and took a shower to take matters into his own hands. Literally. He imagined what would have happened, had they stayed in the garage or went into the guestroom together. It used to be his own bedroom when his ex-wife had still lived here and they had decided to sleep in different rooms. He could see Loki lying on his old bed, draped on the sheets in his black suit.
"Ridiculous," Mobius chided himself and left the shower, feeling a lot lighter.
The next morning came, he had showered again, and he was preparing breakfast for the boys. After they had left for school, bickering about a stolen pen, "I saw you take it!", "I don't have it!", "Did you burn it?!", "No, I didn't!" (Kevin definitely did), Mobius sat down at the counter with a cup of coffee, enjoying the moment of peace.
It didn't take Loki long to interpret the silence and he came out of the guestroom to join Mobius in the kitchen.
"Sleep well?" Mobius asked, leaning over a jet ski magazine, not quite daring to look up.
"Was alright," Loki said, "Could have been better."
"Great," he replied, decidedly ignoring the hint, "You can have some toast, then I'll bring you to the body shop. It's on my way to work."
So that's what they did.
They had breakfast together, Mobius aching from the familiarity of having someone to share this mundane activity with. After that they got Loki's luggage back into the truck, locked the door and drove down the road.
They had been chatting the whole time, Mobius explaining what he did for work and asking Loki in return what he did - he was an actor, of course he was -, where their other family members lived, when Loki's flight departed.
When they arrived at the body shop, however, they fell silent.
"This is it, then," Mobius said.
Loki didn't answer.
"Any chance, I'll ever see you again?"
"Well, let me know if you ever come to London," Loki winked and with that he got out of the car. Mobius didn't say that he had neither his number nor his address, he just chuckled. Why not? Maybe someday he would come to London. Maybe they'd meet on the streets. Maybe they'd meet again.
Loki collected his suitcase and rucksack from the backseat. He was about to turn around and walk away, of course, he wouldn't say good bye, but Mobius leaned through his window and called after him.
"Hey, Loki! Been nice meeting you!"
Loki looked back, a smile on his face, "See you, Mobius."
A promise.