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“Yeah, I don’t wanna put any unnecessary pressure on him. It’s enough that he’s back after all this time,” Mobius explained, breathing another little sigh of relief at the reminder that Loki’s back, after a year of sitting on that throne at the end of Time before they’d found a solution.
“Don’t be absurd,” Sylvie scoffed, draining her glass. “What pressure could you possibly be putting on him just having a chat?”
“He’s got a lot to catch up on,” Mobius said, gesturing at where Loki stood in a circle of his friends. “He’s been out of the loop for a while now. Lots of people want his attention.” Mobius took another swig of his whisky. He knew Sylvie was pushing him toward a confession, and she could be extremely convincing. If he was gonna get his heart broken again, he’d at least need a little more liquid courage.
Sylvie raised a brow at him, unconvinced. “And you don’t? You’ve barely spoken to him.”
“I never said I don’t,” Mobius sighed. “I just don’t want to overwhelm him, is all.”
He’d missed Loki, that was true. The weight of despair nearly crushed him, that last glimpse Loki had spared him before disappearing, that tear-filled smile, lingered behind his eyes every time he closed them. Now that he was back, it felt as if Mobius was standing on a precipice. If he made the wrong move, if he pushed too far, he could lose Loki again.
“You think you feel it more than he does.”
“What?”
“The separation. You sitting here, miserable. Him sitting on a throne, out of reach. Alone.”
Mobius frowned. “Look, he’s had a lot on his mind. It’s a big responsibility, maintaining the flow of Time.”
“Ugh. You’re both such idiots,” she grumbled, scowling at something past his shoulder, then changed tactics. She leaned in close, speaking in a conspiratorial tone. “Do you want to know what he told me before he made his choice?”
“Oh, you mean—”
“After I yelled at you about the pie, yes.”
Mobius’ heart squeezed at the reminder, but he’d pretty much forgiven her for that, they’d all been at their wit’s end with stress. And she was right, it was selfish of him to want to spend a few more moments of peace with Loki, self-soothing with pie when everything was going to hell around them. He shrugged.
“Sure.”
“He defended you.” Sylvie huffed. “Told me you were trying your best. He told me about Thor and Jane. How she changed him for the better.” she explained, giving him a significant look. “He practically told me you’re his Jane.”
Mobius’ eyes widened. “Me?” His face flushed hot, knowing exactly what she meant. Loki had changed—not for Sylvie, as he’d once thought, but for him. “Really?” he huffed a nervous laugh. “So I should…?”
“Yes,” she confirmed, her mouth twisting up in a grin he’d seen on more than one Loki’s face. “But you can’t just tell him.”
“No?” he asked, fully aware that asking the question was stepping into a trap.
“You’re both far too good at lying to yourselves, even when the truth is right in front of you.”
Mobius winced. She was right, of course. “Touché. So what do you suggest?”
Sylvie shrugged, far too casually. “You’ll just have to kiss him.”
Mobius’ face flushed hot. “Here? Now?” The alcohol was finally starting to catch up with him, and he felt warm all over at the thought of grabbing Loki in front of everyone and—
“If you won’t, I will.”
Her words snapped him out of his thoughts like being splashed with ice water.
“You?”
She grimaced. “If that’s what it takes. Done it before.”
“But I don’t…”
“Have it your way,” she huffed, and turned to march in Loki’s direction.
“Sylvie!” he hissed, but she ignored him.
Flustered, he hurried after her, panic fluttering wild in his chest. He had to reach Loki before she did. That first kiss hadn’t been fair… and it should have been his.
Damn, she’s fast.
“Alright, let him breathe,” Verity cut in, interrupting Casey and O.B.’s torrent of questions, each one more complex than the last. Loki looked up at her with his beatific smile still in place, simply delighted to be around people again.
One person more so than the others, if he was honest with himself. Lately, he’d had little reason to be otherwise. Once he’d trained the timelines to grow in certain directions, he’d had a lot of time left over to spend in silent reflection. On the choice he’d made, on the specific tragedy of having to give something up the moment you’ve realized with perfect, aching clarity that it’s what you want most in the universe.
On how he couldn’t be sure his feelings were reciprocated, no matter how dearly he wished they were.
“Sorry about that,” O.B. said, offering him an apologetic smile. “It’s great to see you again, Loki!” He pulled a battered notebook out of his pocket and, turning to Casey for a pen, wandered off to the nearest table to start jotting down notes.
“I don’t mind. It’s good to be back,” Loki assured him. He turned to Verity, his smile spreading into a grin that made her visibly tense at the thought of what mischief he might create. “You have questions too, don’t you?”
Verity cocked her head at him, likely wondering how he’d known. But he’d seen enough of her compassion and thoughtful curiosity during his many, many centuries here to consider her so impartial. They were friends, after all.
“Sure,” she replied, raising an eyebrow at him. “I’ve got plenty.”
“Ask away,” he said, swinging an arm out in a teasing gesture of generosity.
“How come you’re all the way over here when the one person you’ve been dying to see is over there?” She gestured to where Mobius and Sylvie stood chatting in low voices, Mobius with a drink in his hand and his face flushed a delightful pink.
Verity waved a hand in front of Loki’s face to get his attention, and he leaned back slightly to restore his view.
“See? There you go,” she teased. “You can’t let him out of your sight, but you won’t go and talk to him?”
Loki pressed his lips together in a line, turning to face her. “I don’t think he’s interested in a conversation.”
Verity barked a laugh. “I’d say.”
Loki breathed a wistful sigh. “I did leave without an explanation. It’s only fair that he would be upset with me.”
“You left everyone without an explanation,” she said, her tone suddenly gentle. “But that’s not what I’m talking about.”
Loki watched as Sylvie glanced over, her eyes skimming over him to land on Verity—and gave her a look that he had no hope of deciphering, before turning back to whisper again to Mobius. His attention was fully engrossed by her, and something almost like despair squirmed in Loki’s chest. Not quite jealousy, but—
He flinched in surprise when Verity clapped him on the shoulder, leaning in so he could hear her whisper. “Listen. I can’t promise he’s not upset with you, but let me give you a tip. He’s been single this whole time.”
“Oh?” Loki’s heart leapt. “He has?”
She hummed in confirmation. “He’s a popular guy, it’s not like he hasn’t had any offers. But I will say Sylvie’s been visiting a lot more, recently.”
He hadn’t known that. The TVA’s isolation from the flow of time made it impossible to peer inside.
“Has she?” he asked, distracted by the renewed flush on Mobius’ face, the nervous laughter on his lips when Sylvie spoke to him.
“Yep. I wonder if there’s something going on?” she said, her tone curious. “He is a Loki expert, after all. And she’s—”
“She’s Sylvie. That’s different,” he huffed.
“That’s true. But who knows? I just saw them in the Automat the other day, and they were looking pretty cozy in there.”
Loki huffed, a pang of jealousy stinging him where he least expected it. They’d barely gotten along when he left… but that was the problem, wasn’t it? He hadn’t exactly been there to see things develop.
“Why are you telling me this?”
Verity shrugged. “Something wrong with catching up with an old friend?”
“No,” Loki grumbled, his generous mood thoroughly soured.
“You can probably still win him back, though,” she said with a barely-repressed grin, the bait too obvious. Still, he bit.
“How?”
“Go over there right now and sweep him off his feet.”
“What?” Loki snapped, thrown off balance by her suggestion. “Right here?”
“Why not?” She asked, pulling back to look him up and down with a teasing grin. “I thought you, of all people, appreciated grand, dramatic gestures.”
“I…”
Loki hesitated. What if he’d miscalculated? What if Verity was right, and Mobius preferred Sylvie’s company now? For all her impulsivity, she’d shown him kindness before. Agony pierced his heart to think of it.
“I dare you to march right over there and kiss him.”
Loki turned to stare at her. Her arms were crossed, an eyebrow raised in challenge. She was serious. Could it really be that easy? For all that they hadn’t seen eye to eye on many things, he found that he trusted her judgment. A spark of hope flickered to life in his chest.
“Fine.” If it didn’t work out, he could always make his way back out to the citadel and let the flow of time wash over him and his broken heart until he stopped thinking.
Loki turned to march across the room, cloak sweeping dramatically behind him, but Sylvie was already halfway there, approaching with a fierce look in her eyes, her jaw set as if she had bad news for him and wanted to get it over with as quickly as possible. He knew from experience that her tongue could be just as sharp as her daggers.
“Sylvie, wait!” Mobius called after her, hurrying to catch up, and Loki’s heart squeezed at the thought that he’d worry for her. It was kind of him, really, but Loki had no intention of hurting her, even if she threatened to break his heart a second time.
He raised his hands in a placating gesture as she marched towards him. At the last moment, just when he thought she would open her mouth to yell—she skirted around him, heading for Verity.
“Loki,” Mobius huffed, finally catching up and seizing him by the front of his cloak with shaking hands. “You—! I—”
“Mobius,” Loki said at the same time, his voice much softer than he’d intended it to be.
Their eyes met, a spark arcing between them, and Loki caught Mobius in both arms, pulling him into a fierce kiss.
Mobius yielded instantly, whimpering against Loki’s lips as they crashed together, the rough press quickly turning to sweet, liquid kisses. Mobius shivered in Loki’s arms and parted his lips, teasing with a curious press of tongue and Loki groaned as he allowed the intrusion, licking into Mobius’ mouth in turn and tasting sweet coffee and cream.
Strong hands twined deep into Loki’s hair, combing through it and tugging him even closer, pulling tiny sounds of pleasure from Loki’s throat—he hadn’t been touched in so long, the scrape of nails against his scalp made him shiver helplessly. He tightened his arms around Mobius’ waist, holding him tightly as if terrified he’d slip away as they kept kissing, gasping for air but drowning without each other.
Eventually their frantic kisses calmed and Loki pulled away, easing Mobius back to gaze into his beautiful, achingly familiar face. Norns, how he’d missed him.
“I missed you too, pussycat,” Mobius murmured, breathless and grinning like an absolute fool. “I can’t tell you how long I’ve wanted to do that.”
The sound of applause cut into the little bubble that had formed around them, and a wolf whistle broke the moment entirely.
“It’s about time!” someone shouted, and several people laughed. O.B. gave them an enthusiastic thumbs up, Casey grinned, and Sylvie and Verity watched them with twin knowing smirks. Finally, their eyes seemed to say.
“So you and Sylvie aren’t…” Loki murmured, and Mobius gave him an odd look.
“Of course not. You’re the only god for me, Lokes,” he teased, tucking a stray curl behind Loki’s ear. “Always have been.”
Tears pricked at Loki’s eyes, and through the delight and affection curling in his chest, it occurred to him that he’d been thoroughly fooled.
“Something wrong?” Mobius asked.
“Verity told me that you and Sylvie had been getting closer,” Loki said carefully.
Mobius nodded. “We have, but only because we needed her help to reach you,” he explained.
“That’s not what she—” Loki cut himself off abruptly with an amused huff. “Verity tricked me. I’m impressed.”
“Sounds like they’ve been practicing a little mischief of their own,” Mobius suggested. “Sylvie must be rubbing off on her.”
Loki grinned back, fierce joy swelling in his chest at the sound of Mobius’ laughter. “I can’t believe we fell for it.”
“Hook, line, and sinker,” Mobius confirmed, not sounding regretful in the slightest. He kissed Loki’s cheek. “They set us both up.”
Loki leaned in, pressing a sweet kiss to the corner of Mobius’ mouth. “We’ll have to get them back, of course.”
Mobius hummed in agreement and gave him a quick peck on the tip of his nose. “You bet. But first, you look like you could use some rest.”
Loki looked as though he was about to argue, but Mobius just smiled and brushed another kiss over his lips. His moustache tickled Loki’s upper lip, making him shiver.
“My place?” he offered, clear desire sparkling in his eyes.
Loki’s smile turned wicked. “I think our revenge can wait.”