Work Text:
They had saved the TVA. Saved the multiverse.
He told Mobius about his old life. A part of Loki hadn’t wanted to, scared he would be left the second Mobius knew about it and everything that was attached to it. His beloved jetskis. His children.
Alas, not telling him was not an option and to his selfish relief Mobius didn’t leave.
It had been a couple of emotional conversations over pie or salad or coffee, just the two of them and every time Loki had readied himself to see that apologetic look on Mobius‘ face, an 'I’m sorry to leave you with the mess the TVA is right now, but I know you guys can rebuild it.. I have to go back home.' but it never came.
Instead, they always ended with a "That’s a lot to take in. I think I need some more time." or a simple "Let’s get back to work."
And worked they have. Mobius and him, B-15, Casey and OB who left his office more now than he ever had. They were a team. And each of them played an important part in restoring the Time Variance Authority.
He could have pretended that was it. Everything would go back to normal and Mobius wouldn’t leave. But he couldn’t because things were already different.
There was something he couldn’t ignore any longer. It had made its way to the surface of Loki's heart and it didn’t seem to be going back any time soon. Or ever really.
All because of that thing Mobius- or Don had asked him. The one thing Loki didn’t tell Mobius about.
Maybe he was overthinking it. It didn’t mean- but it could and there might- maybe he-
Loki was spiraling. And Mobius noticed. Of course, he did.
They sat at their regular table in the dining room. They weren’t eating, it was just a short break, but Mobius had retrieved a hot cup of coca that he, to Loki's surprise, gently pushed to his side of the table.
"For you. It’s unsweetened, don’t worry."
"What’s that for?" He asked curiously.
"I don’t know. You just seem a little tense."
"Hm." He said while wrapping his hands around the cup, its warmth running through his hands. An equally warm feeling ran through his heart when he looked up to find Mobius watching him.
There was worry in his eyes. "Everything okay?"
Loki took a shaky breath. He knew he could tell him, knew Mobius wouldn’t tease or be cruel about it.
"There’s… something I didn’t tell you."
"About what?"
Mobius had leaned in and Loki looked at where Mobius' hand lay close to his arm as if he wanted to reach out.
His fingers thumbed restlessly over the cup in his hands. Right, so he was doing this.
"About when I met the other you. On your old timeline. He- You said something.."
There was no reaction to the fact he’d been keeping information about his old life from Mobius only this worry, directed at him, which now fused into a slight look of confusion.
"Okay." He was waiting for him to go on. Loki didn’t know if he could.
"Don’t you want to know what?"
"Well if it’s important I’m sure you would have told me. Or at least there was a reason not to tell me. I’m just confused about how something he said could’ve affected you like this."
He couldn’t help but laugh at that. Without meaning to, the words left his mouth, "I’m afraid you have quite an effect on me."
There was something in air the between them and had it suddenly become hotter?
Despite the blush Mobius could feel creeping up his neck he smiled. "Do I now?"
Loki was positively swooning.
And then he blurted "Do you think I’m handsome?"
Mobius choked on the breath he’d been taking. "Sorry, what was that?"
For a moment they just stared at each other, silenced by the mutual awareness of what he’d asked and the equally mutual worry to interpret more meaning into it than the other.
"You know what, we should probably get back." He sat up so abruptly that his chair would have fallen over if he hadn’t caught it in the last second.
He’d already almost reached the door when Mobius called out from behind him.
"Loki- Wait!"
His steps slowed until they stopped, but he didn’t turn around.
"Are you still on the market?"
His brain blanked. Because apparently, that’s what it did now.
"Pardon?"
"God that’s what happens when you spend more time around jetskies than people." He laughed. "I meant, are you single?"
When Loki didn’t say anything Don's eyebrows drew together in an apologetic frown. "I’m sorry, is that not what this is?"
Loki was suddenly very aware of his heartbeat which was starting to go a little wild as he realized what Don was implying. Or rather very obviously asking.
"I- I’m not sure."
It wasn’t of course. 'This' was about recruiting Mobius, so the TVA wouldn’t fall apart. But a part of him had already gone off thinking about it in a more general sense where 'this' didn’t mean him being here in this exact moment in time and space but rather him and Mobius.
Suddenly a million questions were racing through his head but before he could ponder any of them, Don was speaking again.
"Well, listen if you’ve got nothing to do this evening- or any day really as long as it’s past 6.. Would you like to go out sometime?"
A familiar sound cut through the moment and spared Loki of an answer. He whirled around to see the orange outline of a time door.
"What? How did you build a TemPad so fast?"
His eyes were closed, but he felt a hand on his arm and knew once he opened them he’d see Mobius in front of him.
And there he was, searching Loki's face for a clue about what was wrong and Loki looked almost pleading. Just leave it be. It would be easier. For a few moments at least.
When Mobius spoke, his voice was soft, like it always was when he sensed distress in someone.
"Listen, that Mobius whatever he said, he wasn’t me okay? To be honest, I don’t think any version of me would.. I mean, did he insult you or..?"
"Ha, no. No, it was kind of the opposite, actually."
"What does that mean?"
Loki sighed and ran a hand over his face. It didn’t matter. Mobius had just confirmed, whatever Don had felt had nothing to do with Mobius.
"Listen, I’m sorry I brought it up. It wasn’t you, so it doesn’t matter."
"It clearly affected you in some way I…" Mobius shook his head a little. "Do you want it to matter?"
Loki could feel his heart in his throat and Mobius was right there, persistent and caring. He wasn’t by a house with kids running around, he was here. With Loki.
"He asked me out on a date."
It felt like time was slowed down as Mobius' hand slipped from where it lay on Loki's arm.
Slow, as he took a small step backwards, away from Loki and his foolish heart.
"He- Oh."
Loki briefly closed his eyes, willed his body to keep him upright and his eyes to stay dry.
"It’s okay, Mobius." He gave him a smile that he knew Mobius could see right through, but at least he could pretend not to.
Mobius didn’t move, didn’t look away from his face and Loki had no idea what to expect when his name was brought to him as a question.
"Loki?"
"Yes."
Mobius swayed a little before taking a deliberate step forward, bringing him closer to Loki. Closer even than before time had slowed.
"Would you like to go on a date with me?"
He sounded a little breathless and Loki should have been able to tell how much he was wanted. But he hadn’t for a long time, so he asked, "Are you being serious?"
"As serious as I can get.” A helpless little smile made his eyes shine and Loki knew then.
"I think I’d like that."
His heart was buzzing in his chest and he felt warm all over. Like somehow the sun had found this place beyond time and space and was shining on him now.
"Well then.."
"Back to work?"
"Back to work." Mobius echoed.
They walked next to each other with mirrored smiles and hands brushing until Loki's pinky hooked around Mobius'. Intertwining them.
In a way, maybe the only, they hadn’t been before.