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It begins with a joke. Or rather more obviously in Loki’s eyes - a bet. It’s all Sylvie’s fault anyway.
“You know you and Loki are more tied together than anyone else here, shall I start making dinner reservations? Table for two right here please!” Sylvia says with a grin and a laugh. Oh and if that doesn’t warrant payback for later in Loki’s eyes. Unfortunately for him, she brushes the unsubtle glare off with ease and tries to swing back on her chair in the cafe they’re all sat at. Thankfully for both their heart rates Sylvie stops and instead goes back to her earlier target of pestering her new friends.
Sylvie had said to him before that she’d never had ‘friends’ before and the playful bite and remarks were her trying to navigate it all, but to Loki? That was pure mischief, plain and simple. In fact Sylvie had started to become one of the most popular people in the TVA!
“Sylvie -“
“What?”
“Stop that”
“Stop what?”
“That”
“I’m not stopping anything because I’m not doing anything. Honestly you really should chill out”
Loki turned to look at the man beside him and tried not to give anything away. For as much as he thought he couldn’t figure him out, he dearly wanted to keep trying. And Sylvie knew. But he was sure whatever he felt wasn’t reciprocated, none of it much was or ever had been. And maybe a week or so ago when Sylvie had asked (both of them the tiniest bit drunk after their mission), he had answered.
“Okay listen to me Loki, you have to tell him now you feel otherwise everything we went through? Everything he went through, was for nothing? And I know for a fact we don’t do that”
“It’s not that easy I’ll have you know”
“Find a way. I’ve had enough of this for today, I’m going to Hunter B-15 to annoy her”
His partner (work partner!) appeared not to have noticed anything happen in the first place. Either that or he hadn’t deemed it important. Or he had been paying some sort of attention but hadn’t wanted to join in the conversation. Loki frowned for a few seconds. It could be quite tricky to figure out what the mortal thought sometimes.
He knew if he asked however - even if just for a silly question- there would be honesty and truth in his answers, he would search for a way to make it (or Loki) better - which is why he hadn’t wanted to broach the conversation.
It just wasn’t necessary.
“We work together, we sorta have to be. Although…dinner does sound good tomorrow, what do you say sweetheart?” Mobius said winking at him before going back to his salad and trying to read whatever he had been before.
“We’ll I don’t know dear, aren’t we awfully busy with a case at the moment?” Loki rebutted ignoring the way his heart skipped a beat at the pet name. He was a God and he did not blush at one simple sentence from a fairly (give or take a few days) good man.
Sylvie seemed to take slight interest at what was occurring in front of her before Mobius shut the rest of the conversation down.
“Alright, alright let’s not make a big deal out of it, you win okay? Now can I finish my salad and we can get back to the case files?”
“Win what exactly?”
“Whatever game you two are playing here”
“Game? There’s no -“
“- Fine! You caught us! Loki and I were seeing how long we could keep it up for. Apparently not that long. I told you Loki, he is far too clever for us”
“What’s going on here?”
“Loki and I had a bet going, typical right?. How long could it take for you - or…anyone - to use something like…’sweetheart’ and not have them take notice. I don’t know if it escaped your notice but it was over quite quickly” Sylvie pretended to complain all while completely ignoring Loki’s half fearful, half annoyed look.
“Oh. I see. Well you did real well champ” Came the smirk and sarcastic comment.
“Haha”
“But what would you say if I wanted in on this”
“What?” Loki asked stunned. Sylvie’s eyes glinting with her own mischief. Loki and Mobius had played into her hand so easily.
“You’d…..you’d want to…call me names of endearment? For a bet? Thank you Mobius, as always you are far too kind”
“Well also it might help get rid a bit more of the ego you still have - Y’know there’s thing humans have called embarrassment? You might learn something from it - but also…maybe I just want you to know it’s okay to have feelings and be in touch with them” Mobius said and hoping Loki ignored the fondness of it all. Loki had. Sylvie hadn’t. His eyes pleaded with her not to say anything and calmed when she nodded.
“Okay and what does the winner get? Inevitably there’ll be one. Not many around here are together”
“Lunch. On them. And they have to do a weeks worth of everyone else’s case reports” Sylvie interrupted.
“It’s a deal”
“Why’d you have to go and do that?” Mobius complained the minute Loki was dragged away somewhere else and it was just the two of them.
“I see the way you look at him Mobius. It’s incredibly obvious as it is obviously sickening”
“When I told you I liked him, I didn’t expect you to draw up a great master plan. I told you I’d wait to tell him when the time was right”
“- when the time was right. Let’s face it if I hadn’t intervened, you’d never have told him otherwise. You’d have been content to stare at him forever and yet do nothing. And anyways you’re the one who chimed in and agreed to it all. So, tough you’re the one that has to deal with it now. Now seeing as all that’s out the way, I’m off to - “
“Find B-15? Anything you want to tell me about there?”
“Nope. Bye!”
Mobius let out a breath of laughter as he watched his friend run in the opposite direction and turned to sit back down shaking his head.
“Everything okay?” Loki asked.
“Yeah, just a Loki being a Loki. Nothing I shouldn’t expect by now. Come on we gotta get back to my office”
“So, you really don’t mind?”
Mobius looked up and stared at him from where they were sitting at their shared desk.
“No I know you agreed to be part of this little ruse. A little mischief, it’s good for the soul. I don’t. I don’t want you to feel like I’m taking away prospects from - or people judging - you. I’ve been told I can be a lot and nothing all at once. I don’t want people thinking I’m getting your hopes up so I can apparently dash them all. I don’t want them laughing at you instead with you. More to the point I don’t want people thinking less of me or rather you thinking less of me” Loki began and found himself continuing. The last sentence coming out without warning.
Mobius took Loki in for a moment, placed a hand on top of his and intentionally chose his words.
“Hey Loki, it’s alright. Would I have said yes if I thought I was going to get broken and used? Think about that for a second”
“No I know. Mobius. It’s just -“
“ - baby, stop. Get out of your head. You know I was joking about your ego being knocked down right? Well sort of” He said squeezing the variant’s hand once before letting go unaware of what had slipped out at the start of his sentence. And it was why Loki grabbed back ahold of his hand and wouldn’t let go for a minute.
“You are…a very kind man and I do not take a friendship for granted anymore. Please accept that”
“Sure, mind giving my hand back? Thanks. See told you a little humility goes a long way”
“Loki, honey, pass me the salt?”
“Mobius, dear, why is not possible for me to jump through the time window for a quick look at the blue planet?”
“Hey lovebug, you actually reading those files or napping? Shall we take a walk?”
“Sweetheart, you okay? I know you got a healing factor but i’d still go to the infirmary”
“Now look Angel, I thought maybe I needed to see where Thor was but no I did not steal your Tempad for it. I stole Z-5’s”
“Breathe through it sunshine, you’re okay”
“I am not sunshine, I am a God”
“Well you’re a bit of sunshine to me”
It continued for a month. A month of ‘honey’, of ‘sweetheart’, of ‘darling’ both in and outside of the TVA, and Loki felt like he was willing to burst. No one had noticed. No one had bothered to notice. Did anyone suspect what was up? Apparently not. So what was he doing this ruse for? More to the point who was this ruse for? Other than to have Sylvie roll her eyes at them for the fifteenth time that week in both fondness and exasperation.
He thought he had Mobius as a friend and if he suddenly stopped whatever it was, would he lose him? It had to be the only two ways it could go surely?
“Hey what’s going on in there?” Said the man in question opposite him.
“Nothing. I just. It’s been a long week. There’s been no more variants or time windows to explore and I’m cooped up here! I need freedom or at least some semblance of it”
“I know you’re bored but we’re doing good work here. And anyway you took off last week to try and I quote ‘see Thor on the blue planet to annoy him’”
“I know that!” He almost yelled causing another analyst to shush him.
“Okay. What’s this really about?”
“I just told you, didn’t I?” Loki said through gritted teeth.
“No. No it’s not. Be real with me here” Mobius said patiently.
A beat passed.
“It really is nothing I assure you”
“Ask me why I don’t believe you. But for your sake? I’ll let it go”
“Thank you”
“Hey, no problem sweetheart. Ah I was going to tell you yesterday but come on Ravonna wants us to go scout out another variant”
”Really? You just made that up to stop me sulking didn’t you?”
“Believe what you want to believe. Afterwards we can get pie, alright? Just remember -“
“No funny business”
“Hey I like my Loki’s coming back in piece is all. Now come on, oh love of my life, stars and galaxies”
“Let’s figure out if we can find the variant and if not we go back in 15, I don’t want us out here any longer than we have to be” B-15 said on the variant timeline they were there to capture.
As soon as the time agent spoke a car was sent barrelling towards them.
“Guess we found them”
“Mobius get behind us”
“Has it escaped anyone’s notice I’m an agent too?” Mobius spoke as he judged each hunter.
“Yea but you’re an anylast dear. I think that needs extra precautions don’t you?”
“Real funny Loki”
“Stay here Agent Mobius. The variant and I will locate the others” B-16 said still in charge sealing the deal.
“Got it. Go, go on, go” He ushered Loki along from where he stood behind a wall.
“I don’t want to leave you alone here”
“I’ll be fine hotshot”
“Keep this with you” Loki said as he handed over one of his prized knives and ran to join the others.
“Be still my beating heart” he said softly after not noticing the person behind him with a dagger of their own.
“Nothing here”
“Or here”
“Or over here ma’am”
“Very well let’s call it. I want us -“
A scream was lit up by the mountains they were surrounded by and all time agents stood in fear for a minute before racing to the source.
“I want you to know it was never personal. I just needed someone to get out of my way”
Mobius turned around to see the sword aiming right for his chest and spun throwing the dagger back at the supposed variant to throw him off.
“You think that would defeat me?”
“Worth a try. Everyday always something that’s worth a try, otherwise what are you living for? Me I live for my friends and a real nice dream of a jet ski”
“And what a glorious try it was. Now prepare to meet your end mortal”
Mobius tried to grab for the disposed dagger next to the variant but was hauled up by it instead. The time agent tried to get a few punches in but was thrown into the air by green sparks of magic and just when he’d tried to aim for the variant’s foot, he felt the sword in his side. Blood beginning to pool out.
The variant laughed. Disappeared in a cloud of smoke. Mobius let out one final scream. And dropped to the floor.
Loki got there first. The other agents scanning the area both for the scream and the variant. And where was he? Where was Mobius? He’d left him here surely? With his knife. The knife that was on the ground next to a sword covered in blood. That was next to….next to Mobius still bleeding out.
“Mobius!”
“Breathe kid, we’ll get him to the infirmary” B-15 tried to assure him.
“He won’t last that long”
“He will if we go now”
“Let me help him first! Please. Let me just -“ Loki whispered as his magic came into the air and flew over the analyst like a soft cloud.
“You’re going to be alright. I promise you. Just come back to me. Don’t die I beg of you. I don’t want to be anywhere without you these days. Stay partners with me. There’s so much for more for you. For us. I’d wait a thousand lifetimes for you my love”
With that the magic lifted and Loki nodded to the rest of the time agents.
“You can move him now. The bleeding should have stopped and he will regain consciousness with whatever painkillers you have”
“What do we do about the variant?”
“We’ll come back for them. We’ll have the upper hand next time. I am not risking Möbius’s life any longer than we have to. Let’s go” B-15 spoke sharply and getting a firm nod of agreement from Loki as they walked away from the scene.
“He’s lucky you were there you know” Sylvie said as she came to sit with him. It had been three days since Mobius got hurt and he hadn’t woken yet. The doctors, Sylvie, Casey and even B-15 had told him to leave the place for a bit but he never wavered. He would be there for Mobius when he woke up.
“I almost got him killed. Allow me the slightest pity party. B-15 was lucky in saying we should move otherwise they would have felt the fullest of vengeances. Ergo pity party, feel welcome to stay”
“No. You’ll just wallow and then never forgive yourself which means Mobius will never forgive himself and it’ll be a whole guilt trip thing I am not prepared for”
“I did though. I shouldn’t have left him alone”
“You were given orders”
“Orders I never usually obey but I did. For him. And now….now I might not even have him”
“He knows you’re here. And you will have him. Didn’t I say he cared about you once upon a time?”
“Thank you Sylvie, very motivational of you”
“I mean it. I can’t tell you how I know but I do. He’d wait forever for you. You just need to tell him that as well. Do it while he’s awake to hear it this time, would you?”
“You know it’s getting rather dull sitting here and staring at a wall. Might be time for you to open those eyes of yours darling. I need to stare at mine through them again, you know what they say, can’t top perfection”. A grunt came from the bed and Loki’s head snapped up so fast that it almost hurt.
“Mobius? I’m here, I haven’t gone anywhere. Just like I promised. Ugh I’ve become just like Thor” He frowned at the end before shaking it away. Thor had lost his person and for a moment he’d almost lost his.
Mobius eyes started to flicker open and Loki grabbed ahold of his hand squeezing it tight.
“Please come on, open those eyes. You don’t know how fond I am of those eyes dear” A squeeze back and eyes gently opening. A voice so well loved coming back even if a little raspy.
“H-hey Loki”
Loki almost started crying on the spot. He sent a message to wherever his mother was now that she’d returned Mobius safe and sound.
“H-hey, n-no don’t do that. It’s-o-kay. Baby, breathe” He said reaching upwards to wipe away a tear and brush a piece of hair away from his face.
“I’m so glad you’re okay. I really thought I was about to lose you. The way…the way I lost Thor, the way he lost Jane. The way…. I lost mother”
“But I’m r-right here. N-ot going anywhere”
“You could have”
“Hey, Honey. S-stop that. Don’t do that-t. It wasn’t your fault”
“You see right through me. And I….I could not have you leave me so soon. I make a promise right now to you, I will never let you leave my side again”
“He’ll of a promise”
“I’d make it every time”
“Go-ood luck to you keeping it. What’s with all the dramatics. The over dramatics I mean?”
“I told you. I thought I lost you. I….I’d -“
“Wait a thousand times for me?”
“Yes. How did you? How’d you? -“
“ - Even at the end, I listen”
Loki huffed out a laugh. He knew he couldn’t let this man - this all encompassing, infuriating, maddening, delightful, understanding, caring man - slip away.
“I don’t want it to be a bet anymore. I want it to be real. I need it to be real. I want you in my life. To be more in my life”
“ - “
“You don’t need to say anything or tell me so. Not right now, you’re still healing. I just…I wanted you to know. I shall leave you to the rest of your recovery”
Mobius was left staring at the dust Loki had left behind him and wondering what happened.
“So you ran away”
“No, I made a swift and brief exit”
“So you ran away”
“N-yes, fine! Yes I ran away and it’s been a week and I’ve not spoken to him since. Happy?” He repeated a few days later to Sylvie.
“You’re a disaster”
“I’d got the message thank you”
“You’re causing me a headache at this point. You’d better sort it before someone else snatches him up”
Another week had passed and his friend had been let out of the hospital. Ravonna had ordered him to stay on bed rest for one more week however which had the older man complaining from the start to the end of the day. At least he could figure out what to say to Loki.
Yeah the pet names had started as a joke but not a day in did Mobius think otherwise. There was something and he finally had to acknowledge it. If he’d heard right while on that mountain, his feelings were more serious than anything before. Loki’s speech sealed the deal. He had to find him now. Loki deserved to be happy and maybe after a lot of thinking, he did too.
“Open up Loki. I know you’re in there” Mobius said having knocked repeatedly on Loki’s door.
“Don’t make me bust it down with a stab wound”
Upon that last sentence, Loki threw the door open wide eyed.
“Hey, thanks. Can I come in? I’ve got something to say to you”. Loki opened the door wider and let him in.
A few moments passed without either speaking.
“Look we don’t have to talk about it. It’s all on me. I shouldn’t have been so selfish and you’d just got out the hospital after a severe injury. I’ve always been selfish I suppose but I’m learning to be better, it - just - maybe I still go back to those ways. I guess I just wanted you to know that you do mean something to me even if it’s not the same. And I’ll accept it truly. Aren’t you going to say anything?!” Loki said panting at the end and running his hands through his hair.
Mobius pulled Loki’s hands away and moved them towards his heart in an attempt to calm. It wasn’t worth speaking to the supposed ‘selfish part’ right now but something else? Something else he could do. He let go of his hands to put his own on his hips.
“Thousand lifetimes, remember?”
“I do. I do” Loki said repeated with more confidence. Perhaps all was not lost.
“Don’t make me wait any longer”
Loki breathed out a laugh assured in both their feelings and waited a beat taking in the figure in front of him before he leaned forward and kissed him tenderly. Mobius pulled away gently after a few moments.
“You sure about this? Really sure? I mean you could have anyone”
“I want you. I - I love you Mobius. Never fear I do not. You’re worth the hassle”
“Baby, it’s been you. It’s never not been you”
Loki gathered the man back up in his arms and kissed him fiercely.
“Say that again for me?” He said taking a breath.
“Baby, sweetheart, honey, darling, Loki” He pressed one more kiss to his partner’s mouth, Mobius deepening it, moving his hands from his side to curl around the man beside him and letting out a quiet moan when he pulled away. Loki left his forehead to rest on his and spoke softly.
“All of that you can call me forever”
“Forever huh?“
“Please. A God settles for nothing less”
He definitely owes Sylvia a gift basket.