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It’s a beautiful day. Loki looks up at the clear, cerulean sky above, two suns shining down at him warmly, a nearby gas planet faintly visible even in daylight. The air is clear, aquatic, and he can hear the melodic rumble of the waves kissing the shoreline, as well as birds chirping from the close forest. It’s truly marvelous and serene.
Loki didn’t believe he would ever get to have a moment like this; enjoying a little vacation with Mobius. No crazy ex-colleagues who want to kill them, no urgent work matters that threaten the multiverse. Just the two of them, undisturbed and alone on this isolated and breathtaking seaside resort on a planet that bears semblance to Midgard, located somewhere in the vast universe.
The mere thought—escaping together for a short holiday with Mobius—makes Loki’s stomach flutter and his heart swell; a reaction that only Mobius elicits from his body.
His Mobius.
Actually, Loki hasn't gotten to confess his true emotions yet. He was about to, after his friends and him successfully fixed the Temporal Loom and the TVA had been stabilized again. Victory felt intoxicating and a part of Loki couldn’t believe that he didn’t fail for once in his life. He couldn’t believe that all harm had been dealt with and things would be okay. They were safe and they would have time.
Ecstatic and high on adrenaline, Loki didn’t want to waste more time then. He walked up to Mobius with rushed steps, ready to tell the man how he felt about him. Even if Mobius were to choose to return to his own life in the Sacred Timeline, Loki wanted to let him know how important and precious he had become to Loki. How Mobius saved him from himself.
Loki was about to open his mouth, ask Mobius to go to the Automat for a slice of pie to celebrate, and then he would declare his love. Except Mobius beat him to it, and promptly asked whether Loki wanted a drink.
At first, Loki was confused, then he eventually accepted the kind offer. Pie or drink, it didn’t matter to him as long as he could spend time with the man he had come to cherish and treasure so dearly.
Not so later, they were drinking in Mobius’ accommodation within the TVA, just conversing about everything and anything, when Loki actually offered to take Mobius on a brief summer trip. Mobius was stunned at first, excused that they had a lot of work to do to really fix everything, and taking a few days off would be too much right now, but in the end, he gave in.
And this is how they are standing on the white, sandy shore now, enjoying a warm, sunny day off.
Loki discovered this planet by accident, many, many centuries ago—the memory feels so distant to him now, like a completely different life.
He needed to hide somewhere after a prank he had pulled on his brother, and he happened to end up here in this nameless, tranquil world using one of the many secret pathways in Asgard. He actually liked the scenery so much, he forgot to sneak back home, and Odin had to ask Heimdall to open a portal for him.
Shame and frustration burned in Loki’s veins at that time when he was escorted back to Asgard. Thor and all his warrior friends mocked him that he got lost, but thanks to that mishap in the past, he gets to bring his darling Mobius here now.
It also seemed like the best and only choice for their impromptu retreat, since Mobius didn’t wish to go to Midgard.
“Surprise me!” He replied when Loki had asked him if there were any places he would have liked to visit, and Loki was relieved at the response. Truthfully, he was afraid he would never be welcome on Midgard… Because, even if he did save the multiverse, most living beings in it had no clue.
(If Loki can be honest, that doesn’t matter at all when he can be with the most important person in his life.)
Loki looks at Mobius, a mere human. He is sure an earlier version of himself couldn’t ever fathom the idea of being able to love anyone, let alone a Midgardian, but he gets it now. He’s so grateful that he picked up the Tesseract in that fateful moment and that led him here.
After he was captured by the Minutemen and brought to the TVA, Loki felt so much anger that he’d been ripped from his life and his rightful place. He wanted it back, his glorious purpose. He had watched the scenes of a life that was supposed to be his on the screen in the Time Theatre, and he missed it all. He missed Thor and his mother. He’d lost so much but in the TVA, he found a new family, a new purpose.
Said purpose just endearingly smiles next to him now, and, looking around, lets out a happy sigh when he notices the jet skis that are presented on a dock near them.
Yeah, maybe Loki didn’t have too much time to plan this holiday, but he did his best to mimic a Midgardian beach scene with a jet ski dock, sun beds, and a lovely picnic area, thanks to his great photographic memory, and a quick search on Mobius’ TemPad before they left the TVA for their spontaneous trip.
It may not be perfect, but the huge smile on Mobius’ face is totally worth it.
Mobius is so joyous and beautiful, Loki wants to kiss him right now. He also wants to just look at him, to see his significant other happy. Mobius probably has no idea how much bliss he makes Loki feel by simply existing.
Like right now, Mobius has this really big smile on his face, eyes sparkling as he approaches the jet ski dock. He stops next to one of the watercraft, fingers gently brushing the machine from the handlebars to the seat, and no, Loki is not jealous of a stupid inanimate object.
(Or maybe he is, but this isn’t about him, this is about Mobius now. Even if Loki doesn’t show his feelings with words, he will show them with pure actions.)
“Just where are you going?” Loki furrows his eyebrows a moment later. Mobius stops in his tracks to explain himself:
“Since you kindly offered me this little getaway, I will take one of these beautiful babies for a ride right now, unless another life-or-death situation stops me in the upcoming five seconds.”
That’s understandable, truly. Charming, even. What’s atrocious is how Mobius doesn’t even consider changing his work attire before going for a ride in the ocean.
Mobius is about to put on a yellow life vest over his boring brown suit jacket, and as ridiculously endearing as it is, Loki cannot let that happen. (Partly and selfishly, because he’s very eager to finally see Mobius in less clothes and out of his ugly work attire that obscenely makes him look preposterously attractive.)
“Hold on a second,” Loki interjects. “If you’re going on a vacation, you have to do it right.”
With a simple and elegant flick of his wrist, Loki uses his magic to change both of their clothes and replace them with proper beachwear. It’s dark green swimming trunks for himself, and an appropriate wetsuit for Mobius. (It’s the short kind that leaves his forearms and legs revealed because Loki has decent fashion sense, and, excuse him, he’s only weak and bisexual.)
Always impressed with Loki’s magic, Mobius looks himself up and down—Loki even added a life jacket over the wetsuit, both seeming the finest brand and material.
“Okay, Lokes, sometimes I thought you were just showing off with your tricks and slightly overdoing it, but it seems very convenient indeed,” he laughs with his stupidly kissable mouth.
Loki maybe can’t hide his feelings at all, because he’s staring too much at Mobius, a lopsided smirk on his face, head tilted to the side. The shorter man notices it, and Loki can feel heat creep up on his cheeks. One of Mobius’ eyebrows rises in question but he doesn’t comment on it.
They stare at each other silently for a brief moment, then Mobius speaks up:
“Do you wanna…?” He offers, gesturing with his hands between himself, Loki and the jet ski.
Loki politely refuses with a smile. “Please, this is the moment you’ve been waiting for. Go for it!”
“Right,” Mobius chuckles. He shyly casts his eyes down for a bit, then looks up again. “It just feels a bit weird to leave you alone when you did all of this for me.”
“Don’t feel burdened, I can entertain myself,” Loki grins and a book appears in his hand. “Really, Mobius,” he steps closer to the agent and places a hand on his shoulder, squeezing reassuringly. “Be my guest! Have fun!”
“Okay,” Mobius laughs. Then he grabs the handlebars of the jet ski to push it in the water, and sits on it, just like he saw in those magazines. “I hope I won’t blow this pretty little thing up,” he jokes before turning on the ignition.
The motor of the jet ski roars, and Mobius is taken abruptly off, cruising on the waves. Loki watches him, his joyful face, the sunshine shimmering in his ashen locks, drops and sprinkles of water wetting his whole body as he’s cruising around, getting a feel for the jet ski.
And, Loki thinks, every misery and pain in his life was so worth it because he gets to be in this exact moment with the person he loves unconditionally.
For the time Mobius rides the jet ski, Loki makes himself cozy on one of the sunbeds under a parasol on the beach, with the intention to read the book he conjured. Except that doesn’t really happen, because sincerely, there’s no reality in which he would be able to focus on written words and not stare at Mobius.
Loki truly wishes he could record the moment. Even if the heat bothers him a bit, he wouldn’t leave, even if the two central stars of this solar system were scorching his skin from above, he’d just remain here and watch.
So Loki just takes a sip of the cold beverage he manifested in his hand, eats some refreshing fruit, and keeps his eyes on Mobius, who’s having the time of his existence.
“Can gods get sunburned?” Mobius teases when he returns from his jet ski adventure, wet from head to toe, eyes shining and grinning.
Maybe. Probably not, Loki thinks with a fond smile. He doesn’t actually care as long as Mobius gently applies sunscreen on his body a while later. Mobius has taken a seat on the sunbed for the procedure, and he’s sitting next to Loki so close, their thighs and sides brush against each other. Every small touch sets sparks aflame inside Loki— he still can’t resist teasing his vacation partner.
“You should be more concerned with yourself, Mobius. You practically haven’t left the TVA in hundreds of years, probably, and you wanna tell me about fair skin?”
“Touché,” Mobius only laughs, his palm still resting on Loki’s back, between his shoulder blades. For Loki, it feels hotter than the two suns in the sky. “Although, most of my skin is covered, unlike yours.” Mobius quips then. He stands up, eyes scanning Loki from head to toe. There’s a certain glimmer in his eyes and his cheeks turn a shade pinker.
Loki only grins. Feeling mischievous, he still offers to apply sunscreen on Mobius, just so he can stand up and press his bare chest against Mobius’ covered one, while he gently massages the cream in the skin on his face, neck, and forearms. Last but not least, Loki applies the sunscreen on his legs, kneeling in front of the man. For one, it’s because he cares for Mobius deeply, and he wants the best for him. For two, he’s still the god of mischief and he loves to tease.
(Judging by the small, choked breaths that involuntarily leave Mobius’ throat when Loki is on his knees for the agent, he succeeds.)
Before Mobius goes for a second round on the jet ski, Loki convinces him to replenish his energy first. They end up having a lovely and proper picnic on the beach.
Loki does nothing short of impressing Mobius with a soft beach blanket and fluffy floor pillows, a wicker side table filled with the most delicious meals and drinks, and a white shade protecting them from the solar radiation. Loki wants to convince Mobius to trade the wetsuit for something more comfortable for lunch, but in the end, he only manages to get rid of the life jacket.
It’s quite romantic and domestic, and Loki loves every second of it.
As usual, they bicker and chatter about almost everything, including what Loki has been through— Mobius wants to know what’s really happened in detail.
And so Loki tells him everything, and they both laugh when he gets to the part where he met Casey on the timeline: Frank, an actual criminal, escaping from an infamous prison.
“Casey in Alcatraz? This is crazy,” Mobius chuckles, wiping a tear from his eye.
Loki simply watches him, smiling as well, but there’s something bothering him deep down. Even if Mobius has his own anxieties, he has a right to know about the life that was taken from him. Mobius—Don of Midgard was so caring and so fond of his two children… So devoted. Mobius deserves to know about them, and make his own choice.
So Loki carefully asks: “Do you want to hear about your life on the timeline?”
Mobius’ expression turns serious, like he wasn’t laughing so much he started crying just mere seconds ago.
“I don’t know,” he admits. “Is it as scandalous as Casey’s?”
Although Mobius smiles at his own remark, Loki recognises that it’s not a real one. He still shows a warm smile when he replies:
“No. Not at all.”
Mobius only hums, seemingly lost in thought. He then abruptly stands up, surprising the god of mischief.
“If it’s not bad, maybe I’ll interrogate you later, but now…” he holds out a hand for Loki. “Care to ride a jet ski with me?”
The thing is, Loki doesn’t get the appeal of the whole jet ski phenomenon. It seems fun, for sure, but perhaps Loki is just biased and would find anything fun and interesting as long as it’s Mobius doing it. Plus, the man’s energy is contagious.
Mobius seems even more excited now, a bit skittish, and even if Loki weren’t curious, who were he to ever deny something from the person he loves?
So Loki agrees, conjures a bright golden yellow life vest for both of them, and strolls towards the ocean with Mobius.
When Loki is about to magic a second jet ski in the water for himself, Mobius asks him to sit on his. That catches Loki a bit off guard, especially when Mobius prompts him to sit in front.
Loki may be many things, but he simply cannot refuse such an invitation, after his heart has been pining so desperately and for so long.
He sits on top of the jet ski, and it doesn’t take long for Mobius to join: the agent is close behind, his chest flush against Loki’s back, and Loki changes his mind about jet skiing altogether. Suddenly, he gets the whole appeal now.
Loki has always been great with technology, thanks to his sharp mind and quick wit, and Mobius is a wonderful instructor as well. They have no problem operating the machine together, just like they did when maneuvering that strange human-pedalled vehicle with the double seats and wheels. Tandem bicycle, Loki recalls since Mobius seemed so excited about them.
Time ticks weirdly at the TVA, but now it feels like it stopped entirely during their time riding the waves. They have fun and fall a few times, mostly because Loki, in Mobius’ own words, is a menace, but there’s no actual bite in his tone. In fact, Loki doesn’t recall seeing Mobius laugh so much and so hard when they emerge from the water.
For Loki, it’s surely the happiest and most free he’s ever felt in his long and lonely life.
Night falls, and it can happen the scenery is even more beautiful than it is during the day. There’s so many stars and celestial bodies visible in the dark sky, the pair do nothing but gawk at it for long minutes. The shore seems alive and alight, a bright blue substance (or lifeform?) glowing endlessly along the shoreline. It’s so vibrant as if it’s pulsating.
Actually, there’s this sensation and feeling, as if the whole planet is alive. Ever since Loki first stepped a foot in here, it made him feel so comfortable and at peace. Connected.
Taking a glance at Mobius, Loki hopes the man beside him can feel it too. He deserves to relax and rest. He deserves everything. Selfishly, Loki wants to be the one to give him everything and more.
The weather is still warm, lovely, so they’re just fine in their beachwear. Loki conjured matching flower patterned button-up shirts for them, just because it’s silly and it’s delightful. They both leave them unbuttoned, except Mobius wanted a white tank top underneath to cover himself (which Loki maybe regrets a bit but he respects Mobius’ wish). He’s also wearing boring brown swimming trunks (which Loki maybe finds a hideous colour choice but still thinks it’s insanely enticing).
They’re sitting by the fire, which Loki ignited with his magic just for the atmosphere. (And because Mobius telling him how cool green fire is is Loki’s guilty pleasure; he’s glowing at the praise Mobius always gives him so earnestly and keenly.)
“Thank you for today, Loki,” Mobius says softly. “It was really nice.”
“Any time,” Loki replies fondly. His heart is so full and his throat feels dry. It’s so uncharacteristic of him that he couldn’t possibly add anything else, he’s tongue-tied.
As blissful as the moment is, it’s also filled with a certain tension. Loki isn’t entirely sure if it's his own longing heart or the fact that Mobius is suddenly too silent and appears to be lost in thought, just like he was earlier today when Loki offered to talk about his life on the Sacred Timeline.
With a heavy heart, Loki thinks about the Mobius he met there— Don. He thinks about Don’s kids, and what it would be like to have them here. What it would be like to go on vacations like this as a family: Mobius, Kevin, Sean, and him.
For the first time in his life, Loki wants that, his own family, and more. It can’t be selfish to long for a normal life, something that he’s always been robbed of. He wants to care for the people he loves, he wants to see them happy and well.
“The universe is honestly magnificent,” Mobius breaks the silence with a whisper of wonder, his face turned upward, staring at the endless night sky. “This view is sort of breaking my mind right now,” he chuckles. “Beautiful!”
Loki doesn’t follow Mobius in looking up; the sight in front of him is more gorgeous, although he doesn’t like that weird sadness he picks up radiating from the shorter man. It’s so bittersweet, Loki wants to erase all of Mobius’ worries.
“Mobius—” Loki places a hand on the agent’s shoulder. When Mobius turns his head and their eyes meet, Loki forgets what he was about to say. Maybe it’s awkward, except it’s perfectly fine between them, like most things.
Then Mobius moves forward and kisses him, and it may be ridiculous but Loki’s brain actually short-circuits.
Norns!
Loki’s so overwhelmed, he doesn’t even kiss back when it’s the one thing he’s wanted to do for a long, long time now. What Loki considers too soon, Mobius breaks the kiss, leans back and looks at him sheepishly.
“If I happened to completely misread the situation, feel free to timeslip back a minute ago and save me the whole embarrassment,” he chuckles with rosy cheeks.
“N-no, I was just…” Loki stutters. His throat feels like sand, he has to swallow. ”I was— I still am too stunned. You mean so much to me, and I just can’t believe that you really—“
Another sweet kiss from Mobius. Loki doesn’t freeze up this time and kisses back with the intention of pouring all of his feelings in the way his lips brush against Mobius’. He wants to be soft and gentle, but he fails a bit when he deepens the kiss. He loses his head and his tongue slips past Mobius lips perhaps too passionately. They both shiver in each other's arms, both of their hands tangled in each other’s hair. They only stop kissing when they really need to catch their breaths.
“…feel the same,” Loki murmurs, finishing what he was about to say before Mobius kissed him for the second time. His lips tingle, and he can still savour Mobius’ taste on his tongue, and yet, it appears so perfect, so incredible and unattainable, like a dream.
“Yes, I do feel the same,” Mobius confirms, and Loki feels like his body is too small for him and it’s outright impossible and unbearable to experience so much happiness at once.
To make matters worse, Mobius lets out an amused laugh, his eyes twinkling as he stares deep into Loki’s.
“You Lokis are beautiful and charming, and even if I’m a professional in my job, I do have feelings. In fact, I should actually be dead not to be affected by everything we’ve been through and what you did for me, especially today.”
“I understand the point you’re trying to make, but Mobius, you’re not allowed to make any more jokes about your death. I saw it happen too many times to find it funny.” Loki grabs both of the agent’s hands and leans forward to rest his forehead against Mobius’.
“Right, sorry. It’s just the way I am,” Mobius squeezes back.
For a while, they stay like that, eyes closed, and their foreheads and noses touching, their fingers interlocked. It’s truly a wonderful and serene moment. Loki finds it easier to open up fully, allow himself to be vulnerable and talk about his feelings with each passing second. Maybe it’s just Mobius— he’s always been the one to attempt to crack the thick and towering walls Loki built around himself as a form of protection, and patiently wait until Loki can come forward on his own terms.
The both of them are content to just be in the moment and bask in each other’s presence, until some words from Mobius’ earlier monologue echo in Loki’s head, and they get stuck in his brain and begin to intrigue and bother him to the point he has to voice them.
“So, uh… Mobius…” Loki stutters, again, but he tries to regain his composure and cocks an eyebrow curiously. “Just how many of me attempted to seduce you previously?”
It’s maybe foolish to be jealous of his own variants, but rationality can’t stop the emotion, even if Loki knows it doesn’t matter because Mobius and him are finally together. A beautiful union.
At the unexpected question, Mobius’ eyes glimmer in surprise, then he smirks.
“You know, for someone who considers themselves a villain, you’re too adorable.” Mobius dares to say, and instead of getting offended, Loki blushes and giggles, unlike the fearsome god he deludes himself to be.
Although Mobius has the ability to charm him, Loki won’t let him off the hook until he gets his answers.
Mobius gives all of his answers later when they’re comfortably lying on the soft and fluffy pillows Loki conjured for their bed. They’re under the starry sky, in each other's arms, legs tangled together, and it’s peaceful and it’s perfect.
It’s when Mobius decides to bring up his life on the Sacred Timeline.
“So, it’s not bad then, huh?”
“I didn’t actually get the full picture,” Loki begins, “but from what I saw, your name was Don—“
“Wait! I’m sorry to interrupt, but Don? Don?!” Mobius goes breathless for a second, shaking his head. “I’d never be able to tell looking at myself that I looked like a Don…”
“I think it’s a really sweet name,” Loki argues fondly.
“Alright, but Mobius is just way cooler!” The agent whispers, still unbelieving. Loki can’t help but laugh out loud.
“You, I mean Don said the same thing, actually.”
It’s heartwarming and reassuring, that even if Don seemed so different from the Mobius Loki has gotten to know in the TVA, they’re the same people at their very core.
Mobius, albeit still a bit anxious, encourages Loki to tell him everything about his other life. Loki complies, and talks about Don, the jet ski salesman who lives in a suburban home in a city called Cleveland, raising his two mischievous sons, Kevin and Sean, by himself, and owning two jet skis in his home.
“So that’s where this jet ski obsession comes from,” Mobius comments. Loki isn’t surprised it’s a self-deprecating joke at his own expense, but he doesn’t point it out. He knows it’s just how Mobius copes, and he wants to be here for him for support, not to be judging.
“I suppose, even He Who Remains wasn’t able to erase all of your memories,” Loki notes. “I reckon it’s the same reason why O.B. designed the R&A in the TVA rather similarly as his— I mean Doug’s workplace in Midgard.”
“Unbelievable,” Mobius adds. “I wonder what happened to my wife, though.”
“I sadly do not know that. What I do know, however, is that you— I mean Don loves his two troublemaker sons so dearly and he seems like a caring and wonderful person.”
Mobius only hums hearing Loki’s report. Loki watches him, his heart aching seeing the other man like this; there’s a certain melancholia hovering around Mobius. Bittersweet. Loki wants to make him feel better, he wants to make him smile.
“Although, his fashion choices seem even worse than yours…” So he adds teasingly.
“Get off my back, will ya?” Mobius shoves him playfully. Loki grabs his wrist, caresses the skin with his thumb, then laces their fingers together. He loves teasing Mobius as much as he loves their sweeter moments, like now: Mobius is so warm and soft in his arms. Content.
Loki kisses him, slow and gentle. He stopped counting how many kisses they shared during the night, he’s just happy to experience as many as Mobius is willing to give.
“Thank you for telling me. If there’s anything else, just hit me with it.” Mobius tells him later, and settles in Loki’s arms, head resting on Loki’s shoulder and his eyes aimed at the sky.
Loki leaves a soft kiss at Mobius’ temple, then he looks up at the sky as well.
During their silent stargazing, Loki’s mind begins to wander, and he wonders whether there’s something he has failed to mention so far. It’s when certain encounters and exchanges with Don pop up in his mind, and he can’t help himself laughing at the memory.
“What?” Mobius asks, confused by not knowing why Loki is suddenly giggling so much.
“See, I haven’t mentioned this yet…” Loki says, eyes twinkling with mirth. “When I first met you, you mentioned you were single at least twice. I think you even asked me whether I was available at one pont. My mind was more occupied with other things, such as trying to save everyone and everything so it was just a little confusing to me at that time, but knowing your real feelings now, I just find it really hilarious.”
“Oh,” Mobius blushes next to him, and clears his throat. “So I guess I’m just really down for you from the first time I see your devilishly handsome face, in every timeline and situation, huh?”
Something warm blossoms inside Loki hearing the confession, and his heart feels so full, his chest might burst. He smiles and leaves a loving kiss on the tip of Mobius’ nose, his forehead and the top of his head.
“I’m pleased and honoured if you do.”
