Chapter Text
Loki had lived a very long life. He’d been a baby abandoned in the ruins of a ruined temple from a frozen world, and a deceived prince from one of the most powerful realms, then a villain driven by hatred, a redeemed hero who sacrificed his happiness in order to save the people he loved, and a friend rescued by those same people who also wanted to give him a chance. Modesty aside, there was very little he couldn’t or hadn’t done anymore.
There was absolutely nothing harder than trying to get these children to trust him.
“Where is dad?” Sean questioned, no greeting beforehand, as soon as he laid his eyes on Loki in the driver’s seat of their Honda Pilot. His little brother trailed a little behind him, shoes untied and a ball under his arm, still waving goodbye to their coach on the field.
“Why, I’m doing well, thank you for asking.” Loki answered, unlocking the door so the children could settle in the backseat. He adjusted the front mirror to be able to look at their disappointed little frowns better. “Something’s come up at work and they called your dad to help, so you’re stuck with me as your chauffeur for the day.”
The joke fell on deaf ears as both boys buckled up and exchanged silent glances, full of some meaning Loki couldn’t begin to guess more than with the certainty none were very pleased by the situation. Oh well.
Baby steps, Mobius had said. They’ll come around, he had said.
The calendar now officially marked a fortnight since any of them had looked at the god with anything but wariness in their eyes, and it was driving him absolutely mad.
“Ok, then.” Loki chirped up, false cheerfulness in his voice as he turned on the car and lowered the handbrake. “Let’s go home, I’ll get started on dinner today.”
The god promptly ignored the murmured “Oh, great.” from behind him and instead focused on the road ahead of him, steering the wheel to fall into the horrible traffic from rush hour when everyone was also trying to get home for some peace and quiet. Not likely he’d get those, to be honest.
[..]
It hadn’t always been like that. In the beginning, they were absolutely enamored by him.
Life was good, on the timeline, so different from the endless nothing Loki once had from his throne. As it turned out, he fit just right in Mobius’ family, who had taken him in as one of their own since day one, when the analyst had dragged him back to his home, still recovering from the eternity he’d passed in the End of Time and the consequences it’d brought to his health. Limited magic abilities, drained almost dry after so long being absorbed by Yggdrasil’s branches. Scars on his hands, now faded to a pale, white color, unlikely to ever disappear. Lasting damage to his spine and muscles, which reduced his strength and endurance drastically. The increased panic of being left alone for long stretches of time. All of it said, a sense of normalcy had been greatly indicated by the medical staff that overlooked his treatment, and Mobius’ offer was just too tempting to refuse.
To have a place to belong on a timeline, with a family to consider as his and the company of the best friend he’d ever had was a prospect Loki had never thought he’d get, and it had fallen right on the plate of a starving man. There were no doubts to his decision to follow Mobius to Ohio, back to the life the TVA had taken from him and Loki had resurrected. And it was something good.
His children were loveable little menaces who’d gotten along unsurprisingly well with their father’s friend, who also happened to be the god of mischief. Having guests at their house was not a recurrent thing and they were just thrilled to have someone new in their lives, especially when Loki turned out to be more fun then they’d have expected from someone their dad met at work. At the same time, the children were exactly as Loki’d thought they would be: Mobius’ through and through.
Kevin was the youngest by barely two years, and he had energy enough to rival a nuclear power plant. Everything in the boy screamed trouble, from his bowl-cut and perpetually scraped knees to the mischievous gleam in his eyes every time he set them on the matches in the kitchen counter. At the same time, Kevin was sweet, had a childlike curiosity ever present in his questions, and a certain keen desperation in the way he clinged to his family that made it clear just how close he was to them that was quickly applied to Loki, too.
The boy had taken a liking to him from the very first day they were introduced, and he just loved ranting to the god about everything and anything. The way Loki had accepted and joined him in his chaos just seemed to encourage him further. They were thick as thieves for a while.
Sean was no less trouble than his little brother, but with the slightly maturer mind of an eleven-year-old instead. He was a happy kid with a soft heart and a sharpness to details just like his father’s. Sometimes too smart for his own good, as perceptive as he was kind. He’d approached their new guest much more cautiously, with predetermined questions until he deemed Loki worthy of the benefit of the doubt. Within a couple of days, however, Sean seemed happy to have him around and had recruited him in his everlasting quest to convince Mobius to buy a snake - which Loki actually thought was an interesting idea.
So, in the suburbs of Cleveland, the four of them were learning the new dynamics of their routine. Mobius no longer worked at the jetski store, and instead was now an analyst at some office - also known as the TVA - while the kids were at school, which allowed their income to rise substantially and took off much of the tension the children once noticed on their father’s shoulders. Loki, still recovering, apparently worked at the same place yet never really seemed to have a schedule to follow. They ate their meals at the table and spent the weekends together. They had movie nights and went out to restaurants together. Every once in a while, they drove out to Lake Erie with the jetskies in tow to spend the day by the water.
It was nice, and strangely domestic, and they really felt like a little family for some time there.
That was, until the boys walked in on Loki and Mobius kissing at the kitchen one day and it all went to hell.
[...]
Loki leaned against the kitchen counter, still stirring the spaghetti on the stove, when he heard the loud laughter that carried from the living room, along with sounds that the god now absurdly recognized as from the Minecraft game. Abandoning the utensil, he walked silently to the door to peek at the boys playing, both unaware of his presence. By then, Loki knew that if he made himself known they’d retract back into their shells, and it wasn’t very fair in the first place. This house was theirs before it was Loki’s. They should be comfortable there.
Outside, the night stretched on, and dinner should’ve been served at least an hour before, but he’d lost track of time between getting the kids and himself home and making sure everyone showered, besides his back had been giving him trouble since the morning. He had no desire to spend hours standing cooking anything complicated that the kids wouldn’t touch anyway, so spaghetti it was. The delay was also, he admitted, an excuse to wait until Mobius could come back and dine with them, to keep the tradition and also avoid an unquestionably awkward meal.
On his back pocket, the TemPad vibrated to signal a message. Loki went back into the kitchen, retrieving it away from curious eyes and sneaky kids who would just love to find out they could use it to go back to the Jurassic period.
MMM - Running late. Everything ok there?
Loki sat on a nearby chair, sighing in relief when the tension on his lower back released, and began to type.
L1130 - Yeah, I picked the kids up from practice and now we’re home.
L1130 - Waiting on you to serve dinner.
MMM - I think it’s still gonna take a couple hours, OB’s still trying to work the machines.
“Great.” Loki murmured, a hand coming up to rub at his eyes.
L1130 - Tell them to return you to me soon or I’m going in there to drag you back.
MMM - You got it, boss.
MMM - Miss you guys.
Loki couldn’t help the little smile pulling at his lips as he stared at the screen.
L1130 - We miss you too.
L1130 - Now hurry up.
Loki startled when quick footsteps approached the kitchen and fumbled to hide the device back into his pocket, turning in his seat to find a blonde head poking at the door. He met Kevin’s blue gaze and offered him a tiny smile, earning an hesitant one back as the boy padded into the room in his pajamas, controller still in his hands.
“Hey there.”
“Hi.” Kevin shifted in place, eyes roaming around the place until they settled on the stove. “Dinner smells good.”
“Yeah, I made us my specialty.”
“Spaghetti bolognese?”
“Spaghetti bolognese.” Loki smiled fully now. It wasn’t a secret that he was no cook, but nobody could make a better pasta, and the boys were always up for it. He got up from the chair slowly, mindful of the pain on his back and the concerned look aimed at him, so he leaned on the table for just a second before recovering and going for the cabinets. “Go on and tell your brother to come here so we can eat, please.”
“What about dad? We’re not waiting for him?” Kevin questioned, already halfway to the living room.
“He’s going to be late today.” At that, the kid nodded and went to turn, but then he stopped and pinned Loki down with a contemplative stare. “What?”
“Can I ask you a question?” Oh, no.
“Yeah, anything.”
Loki already knew what was coming, had been waiting for it since that fatidic incident a couple weeks back. He’d just stupidly hoped Mobius would be by his side when it came. So it wasn’t really a surprise when the words followed just a moment later.
“Are you and dad together? Like, really together?”
The game sounds from the other room had gone suspiciously low, and he was sure Sean was hearing their conversation too, maybe had even helped Kevin architect it. Smart boys, Loki admitted, even if he would have preferred they’d cornered their father instead. He drew a breath and grabbed the silverware, setting it on the table just to have something to do while he thought about the answer, and eventually settled on the truth.
“Yes, we’re really together.”
“Oh.” Silence engulfed the room. “Since the beginning?” The actual question was louder than the one voiced. Why didn’t you tell us?
“No, no, it was…” Loki sighed, turning his back to get the pot from the stove and bring it to the table too. “A recent development. I’m sorry you had to find out the way you did.”
“Yeah, it was weird.”
“It really was, wasn’t it?” Loki chuckled, relief washing over him when the boy retributed the gesture. Between the two children, Kevin was the easiest to deal with at things like this, maybe because he was the youngest - he couldn’t stay mad for long, and mostly had been just following his brother’s example. Even though he certainly had been surprised to find out Loki’s new status on their family dynamic, Kevin didn’t seem too bothered until he noticed how Sean felt about it.
And all the implications it could bring along in their lives, too. Loki suspected that was the biggest problem in their minds, because it wasn’t just a friend of their father’s in their house anymore. No, it was a romantic partner. A potential parental, authoritative figure in addition to the only one they’d been accustomed to ever since their mother left them a few short years ago. Loki knew he had to tread carefully up that particular road.
“What do you think about it?” Loki recomposed himself, starting to fill the plates while he tried to sound non-chalant. Kevin shrugged, still lingering by the door frame.
“I don’t know. Dad never has girlfriends, or boyfriends. Or both, whatever, you know what I mean.” Loki couldn’t suppress an amused little smile. He hadn’t tried to hide his power from the kids because they were living together, and after almost two months of it they were pretty used to his identity and gender fluidity, even if sometimes struggled to put it into words. “I guess it’s just different.”
“A good different?” Another shrug, gaze trailing down to stare at the floor. Any sign of amusement fell quickly from Loki’s mind, replaced by a strange sense of helplessness.
Abandoning the cooling dinner, he approached Kevin in hesitant steps and stopped just in front of him, crouching down to his level in hopes of looking the least threatening as possible even if his joints cracked with the effort.
“Look, I know things are a bit strange right now, and I get it. I just want to make it clear that…” Complete silence from the adjoining room and he addressed Kevin, but obviously was heard by more than just a person. “We can take it slow, alright? Nothing has to change. It’s still your home, and your father. I’m not trying to take any of these away from you guys. I don’t want you to resent me for it.”
“I don’t resent you. It’s just-” Kevin stopped, a hand coming up to rub his own arm. He looked back into the living room, probably trying to look at his brother for an answer, then went back to stare at Loki, still at a loss for words.
“You need some time?” A nod in response, and his heart maybe broke a little bit. “That’s fine, too. No rush at all.” Loki leaned on the wall to draw himself up on still weakened leg muscles, ignoring the growing strain on his back.
“Now go on, call Sean so we can eat dinner before it goes cold.”
In the end, they did sit through an unquestionably awkward meal, but everyone on the table had something mulling in their minds, so it was over before they could notice it. Small victories.
[...]
They’d never forget the stunned expressions at the door on that warm September night.
The house was meant to be theirs for at least two more hours, since the kids had been on a birthday party just down the street and it wasn't supposed to be over any time soon, so neither Mobius nor Loki had been particularly careful to hide their affections. They’d confessed their feelings for each other only a few days back and hadn’t really had the chance to break the news yet, or to spend much time alone until that moment, and they wanted to make the best of those couple hours.
A nice dinner, along with a couple glasses of terrible wine, had resulted in their current position: Mobius pinned down on a chair with a lapful of needy god of mischief sprawled over him, hands roaming over his shirt and loosening his tie while their lips crashed together, tongues sweeping lazily against each other. Thick fingers cupping the back of Loki’s neck, caressing the hair on the nape of his head, sighs into his mouth as sweet as the alcohol that warmed their veins just enough to ignite the atmosphere of the room.
They’d waited so long for it that it almost felt like a dream. And it really could’ve been one, if it wasn’t for the door banging open and startling them away from each other as Kevin gasped in surprise and Sean stopped on his tracks, eyes widening to almost twice their size. Silence filled the room so loud that it felt like something physical.
“Uh… We came back to get the basketball.” The older brother murmured, still shocked and frozen.
“Of course.” Mobius had answered, more from force of habit than anything else. “I think it’s in the garage.”
“Right.” They looked at each other, still stunned. Then, Sean nodded and grabbed the handle. “Bye!”
The door clicked shut with a loud banging sound, and the two men still stood as still as statues for a few very long seconds.
“Oh, by the Norns.” Loki slipped from his seat to stand up in a hurry, cheeks flaming as his hands came up to cover his face. Mobius sighed, tilting his head back to stare at the ceiling.
“Well. That was something.”
[...]
When the TVA finally deigned to release Mobius, it was way past bedtime, and the whole neighbourhood was quiet, interrupted only occasionally by crickets or owls flying by. Loki was still wide awake when he heard the key turning on the door downstairs, and so he waited patiently for the company he knew was coming, relaxing for what felt like the first time in an eternity.
Comfortably resting among the pillows and blankets on their shared bed, his body still a bit stiffen but not aching because of the medicine, Loki accompanied the man’s movements around the house with his eyes closed by the sounds of light footsteps, the shower turning on and off, and the kids’ doors creaking when he got in to kiss them goodnight even though they had been asleep for a good two hours now. Then, finally, the door of their own room opened up and a warm body settled beside him carefully, smelling wonderfully of soap and the shampoo Loki knew was actually his.
“So you’re the shampoo thief.” He accused, with no real heat behind the words, and smiled when Mobius startled with the sound.
“Guilty.” Mobius smiled at him, then leaned to press a chaste kiss against Loki’s lips. “Sorry, love, did I wake you up?”
“No, I couldn’t sleep.” The god answered, sighing as Mobius laid down properly and pulled him to rest against his chest, one arm coming up to hold him close. His fingers caressed his side, soft and slow. “How was it at the TVA?”
“Time consuming, but it’s done, for now. They missed you there.” Loki hummed in response.
“I’ll go check up on Yggdrasil tomorrow, then I’ll talk to everybody.”
“We can go together.” The analyst yawned, pulling the covers to cover their bodies. Even though the night was cool, there was a certain chill in the air. “Did the kids give you much trouble?”
“No.” A stretched moment of silence followed the too-quick answer. Loki sighed, so much for the god of lies. “Well, something happened, actually. Kevin asked about it.”
“Oh. The incident?”
“The incident, yes.” Loki resumed the evening’s talk, glad for the shadows in the darkened room that made the words easier to find as Mobius listened attentively, fingers now smoothing down his dark hair.
“They don’t trust me anymore.” He concluded, finally giving shape to the ugly weight that had been sitting in his chest for the last few weeks. “It’s eating me alive.”
Mobius sighed, biting his lower lip for a second before moving them to be able to meet Loki’s gaze.
“It’s nothing personal, you know. They just need to get used to it. After the divorce and their mother moving away…” He trailed off, then shook his head. “It was unexpected for everyone, us getting together. This is a matter of finding out how we fit now.”
“I know that. I don’t want them to feel uncomfortable with me, it’s the thing. I know how it feels to find out your family is not what you thought it was. I don’t want to make them feel pushed away by my presence.”
“Loki, it’s not the same. Believe me. They’ll get used to it, give them time.”
They exchanged glances, and Mobius did his best to look assured as Loki searched his face for any signs to anchor his own conclusions. In the end, apparently finding what he wanted, the god took a deep breath and agreed. He drew closer to nuzzle against Mobius’ neck, arm sneaking around him as he tangled their legs.
“They can’t trust me, I know. I have to earn it. I will earn it.” Loki affirmed, searching until he found the hand he was looking for to intertwine their fingers. “I’ll win them over again. You’ll see.”
“I have absolutely no doubt you will. Now let’s sleep, and you can continue your scheming when the sun is up.”
Loki definitely would. He had spent centuries learning everything he had to know about physics and engineering, and a small eternity isolated from everyone he loved to keep them safe while holding millions of timelines in his own two hands. He was the most obstinate bastard to ever exist anywhere in the multiverse. How hard could it be, to win the trust of the two most important children in his world?