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Guarding the Multiverse is lonely. And painful. Loki had been holding the timelines/branches for so long that he can't feel his hands anymore. Sure, most of the branches were tethered to his throne, but there were so many that he was still forced to hold several. Above all that, he missed them. Mobius, O.B, B-15, Casey, Sylvie. Especially Sylvie. It has been so long, but Loki could still see the look on her face as he went to destroy the Loom. The desperation, then sorrow as she realized the inevitability of the situation. At least she's safe, Loki thought. That's what matters.. She's safe and is finally living the life she wanted. He then decided to check on them. Closing his eyes, he focused first on Mobius's aura, smiling to himself as he saw the man finally riding his dream vehicle as he cruised on the waters. The others were fine as well, all of them back to where they need and want to be. He exerted more effort while looking for Sylvie (the goddess seems to have a penchant for timeline hopping even though she needn't to), and panicked. She was nowhere to be seen.
"No. No, no,no, no-" He doubled his efforts, but to no avail. Different scenarios began flashing through Loki's mind, each worse and more dire than the last. Then he felt it: a Time Door opening. Loki frowned. That's odd. No one should- Just then a hand pushed through the branches, followed by a face he thought he never thought held see again.
Sylvie stood in front of Yggdrasil, unsure of what to do. It took years to track down Loki, but now that she's here she began to doubt herself. What if he doesn't want to see me? What if being there I mess up again? What if-
"Ah, f*ck it." Sylvie muttered, placing her palm on the trunk. To her surprise a hole was carved out, just big enough for her to step through. When she appeared on the other side, Loki's head snapped up. For a moment the two looked at each other, both unsure of what to say. Just then something flashed across Loki's face, one that Sylvie least expected: anger.
"What are you doing here?" The god hissed.
"Wow. Hello to you, too." Sylvie replied sarcastically, Loki's tone already setting her on edge. "Can't I visit you?"
Loki looked at her for several moments, then shook his head. "Absolutely not."
Sylvie raised her eyebrows. "So what, you can read minds now as well? You did this, sacrificing your freedom so that others may have it, yes? We can make our own choices. Well, this is my choice. I choose to do this."
"I can manage well on my own." Loki replied through gritted teeth, voice strained. Sylvie marched over.
"Just because you could doesn't mean you should." Sylvie replied, more gently this time. With half a thought she conjured a throne next to Loki. She looked at him. Slowly lest something might happen, Sylvie wrapped her hand around the branch on Loki's right hand.
"Let go." Sylvie said reassuringly. "Let go."
Loki did, and Sylvie frowned. She expected it to feel like actual branches, rough to the touch, but instead it merely felt like there's a constant gust of wind in her palm. Putting it on her other hand with surprising ease, Sylvie grabbed Loki's hand, now free, on her own. Together the two gods sat on their thrones, two unsung heroes guarding the very fabric of reality itself.