Loki was terrifyingly powerful. This was a fact Mobius was becoming extremely accustomed to. Somehow, the ship could travel through time.

"Ok, now you gotta tell me how you did this," Mobius asked, leaning on the chair Loki was sitting in. They were in the control room. The light outside was glowing shimmery gold.

"Quite frankly, I'm not totally sure," Loki replied, flipping a few switches. "I… I think Aeyhle could be alive? She sort of just… absorbed some of our TVA tech."

Mobius clicked his tongue. "Is that where my extra TemPads went?"

Loki shrugged noncommittally, leaning back. "You need to stop asking questions I can't answer, it's terrible for my ego you know."

"As long as Aeyhle doesn't suddenly send us into Alioth or something, I'm reaching a point in my life where I might just not want to know anymore," Mobius replied. He wished Loki had named the ship something more pronounceable. In Loki's deep voice it sounded beautiful. Sort of like eye-lee, but breathier. When Mobius said it, it sounded like "aioli". Loki probably did that on purpose.

Loki was wearing a monotone suit, all deep green, almost black. His hair was slicked back. Mobius was still wearing pajamas, as Loki had failed to give him today's dress code.

"So, where are we going?" Mobius asked, looking down at Loki. He didn't enjoy not being the one in control of the mission.

"I punched in 'most dangerous he-who-remains' into the TemPad, and apparently that is in branch 5343BT, at a club on earth, in 3034," Loki replied. Mobius was certain that it had been an accident, but Loki talked like it was his strategy the whole time.

"So are we just gonna go around murdering people forever?" Mobius asked, sighing.

"I- I'm not sure. That could get boring. But we need to do something to try to slow the collapse of reality."

Mobius just nodded in agreement. Neither of them said 'you know what? Let's just stop. let it go. live out our lives and let reality collapse on it's own. It's not our responsibility.' But they were both thinking it, at least a little.

"How will we even know which one he is?" Mobius asked. "If he's just a variant of the Bob you met, then he could look like anyone."

Loki nodded slowly. "Maybe for once, luck will be on our side. Wouldn't that be nice?"

Mobius just laughed. Maybe a few weeks ago he would have insisted they make a better plan, but now he was the man that had walked back into the TVA empty handed just to burn it all down. Loki stood up from his seat. His suit was tight, really tight. And, Mobius was realizing, made of… mesh? He could see Loki's pale skin through gaps in the fabric.

"What are you wearing?" he asked.

"I did a bit of research this morning so we could wear era-appropriate clothing, the 3030's were apparently big on breathable fabric. No wonder, with Midgard heating up like that," Loki answered in a breath.

"Do you ever sleep?" Mobius asked incredulously, which Loki ignored.

"Anyway, time for your outfit. Do you have any preferences?"

"Um yeah, anything you can't see my nipples through." Mobius answered, taking a step back from Loki. Loki's mouth quirked to the side when Mobius said nipples. "Wow, you really are twelve."

Loki looked aghast. "How dare you question my maturity? But if you insist, I'll give you a closer weave." The god brought a hand to Mobius's shoulder, and in a flash of green light Mobius wore a suit to match Loki's, except in blue, with a little less skin showing.

"Aw well this is uncomfortable," Mobius griped.

"You're such a diva today."

"Says the original diva."

"Touche."

Aeyhle started beeping.

"Does that mean we're arriving, we're exploding, or something else? Who knows," Loki quipped, peering out the window.

"Loki, you're the one in control of this ship," Mobius replied. Loki shrugged.

"What is control, really," Loki's voice was flippant. "Hey can you hand me that dagger."

Mobius turned around and grabbed the blade dangling from a hook. Handing it to Loki, he said, "Do I get a weapon?"

Loki just stared at the dagger for a second, soft smile on his lips. He jumped into action seconds later, Mobius was almost convinced he had imagined the stillness.

"Oh but of course," Loki replied, reaching behind him and pulling out a pruning stick with a flourish. Mobius took it, but not very enthusiastically.

"Gotta admit I don't have great memories with these things," Mobius said slowly.

"Well it's the weapon you have the most training with, so it's better than nothing," Loki had untucked his mesh undershirt to fit the daggers under his waistband. Mobius didn't even try to pretend he wasn't staring. "Just pretend it's a walking stick or something."

Hell if I looked like him I'd wear threadbare, skin tight suits too.

Suddenly the ship was trembling. Mobius grabbed onto the chair to keep his balance.

"Is your magic spaceship smart enough to land somewhere inconspicuous at least?" Mobius shouted over the noise.

Loki was already making for the exit, and he whipped his head around to look at Mobius.

"Who knows! That's half the fun!" His voice was cheery, and then he was gone. Mobius twisted the pruning stick so it stopped glowing, no use in sending anything into the void unless they had to.

"You and I have very different ideas of fun," he called, trailing after the god.

…

Mobius could remember a few missions to earth during the 31st century going after dangerous variants (hell, maybe some of them had been Bob). It always surprised him, though, how much the planet changed after the 25th century. That was when the last of the trees disappeared, and when Earth started getting inspiration from alien cultures. It was like the entire planet had become 2050's Las Vegas. Everything that wasn't towering spirals of neon-lights, clubs, and gambling dens was barren desert. Oh, and the atmosphere was purple. Mobius couldn't remember why.

They stepped out of the ship and little clouds of dust puffed under their feet. A road stood a few feet away from them, leading into a city. The buildings disappeared into the hazy eggplant sky.

"So where is this club?' Mobius asked, finding that it was uncomfortable to put his hands in the mesh pockets. He stamped the pruning stick into the dust like a gentleman's cane.

"Just up ahead," Loki pointed to a building with a flashing roof. Even from afar, Mobius could see that the line of people waiting to get in wrapped around the building. "But don't immediately rush in, I want to get a good look at the patrons so I can make any adjustments to our outfits."

"Sure," Mobius consented, already making his way towards the club. "And remember, we can't do anything to give ourselves away until it is absolutely necessary. And we can't fail. If we attack him and he gets away, it just might be a catalyst for him to figure all this out faster."

Loki nodded, falling into step with Mobius. He didn't seem to mind the scratchy mesh pockets. The air was stiflingly hot and dry, and a gritty wind whipped past them. It sent Loki's hair flying back, despite his best efforts to tamp it down earlier.

The purple sky looked like it was moving, and around them, the parched earth stretched out into the infinite horizon. Mobius couldn't help but remember the Earth they had left Shane on, green trees, blue sky. Oh how utopias fall. Mobius snorted to himself, and Loki shot him a glance. Taking a deep breath, Mobius looked down, then spoke.

"Don't do it."

"Don't do what."

"Don't stab me in the back and run away."

Loki didn't seem angry, and that made it worse. His response was measured.

"Why would you think I'd do that?"

"Because, I just…" Mobius searched for the right words. "I feel like there's a voice in your head telling you to get out. Telling you you're better off alone. Not trusting anyone. The voice Sylvie brought back."

"You seem to think you know an awful lot about what's going on in my head."

"You didn't say I'm wrong."

Neither of them looked at eachother.

"I'm not sure that voice ever went away, really."

Mobius felt a pang of hurt and shoved it down. He stopped walking. Loki stopped a few paces ahead of him. They didn't look at each other. The scorched earth stretched for miles. Loki spoke again.

"It was always the easiest way out," his voice was quiet, but strong. "It was the role everyone else let me take on. It filled all the hurt and… and anger I had in me. I don't know if it will ever go away. Sylvie made me feel like it could've-"

"And that didn't exactly end well." Mobius finished.

Loki looked down. Mobius imagined their silhouettes in third person, black against the glowing amethyst clouds. He knew Loki was being extremely vulnerable with him. It just might not be enough.

"I don't want to do this alone, even if my mind is trying to convince me I should."

Mobius was silent for an eternity. He stepped up to Loki, and grabbed his arm. The god turned his head, looking at Mobius. His face was empty of expression.

"I'm here, Loki. And I'm not leaving unless you make me."

Mobius began walking away. He could feel Loki's eyes burning into the back of his head. He could hear Loki's unasked question.

But what if you choose to leave? What if you choose to go back?

Mobius just kept walking towards the flashing lights.

…

Music was pumping out of the building, the beat resonating in Mobius's chest. His back was against the stone wall, and Loki was peering around the corner at the people in line.

"Ok, so I think I can see the sort of makeup they're wearing… Oh surely they don't think that looks good…" He looked back at Mobius. "Midgardians, I swear. No sense of style."

"Says the man who wears horns."

Loki shot him a glance. "Alright, I think I have an idea."

He brought his hand up, first running it through Mobius's hair. The former analyst resisted the urge to shudder. Loki's magic itched his scalp.

"Did you just dye my hair?"

"Just the roots, calm down."

Next, he brought his hand over Mobius's face. Mobius closed his eyes, but still saw the flash of green through his eyelids.

"Here, see what you look like in this window," Loki said.

Mobius opened his eyes to see Loki was already doing his own makeup. The roots of Mobius's hair were dark now, probably blue to match his suit. A black line was drawn on each of his cheekbones. His upper lip was striped with thin, vertical lines.

"I look ridiculous."

"Go tell them that, it's their fault," Loki answered absentmindedly. He now had a diagonal line running from his temple to his chin on either side of his face, his bottom lip was painted totally black (or dark green? Mobius couldn't tell in the half light). A horizontal white line ran under and above both of his eye sockets.

"They really like lines," Mobius noted.

"Aw well who doesn't?" Loki said sarcastically, and Mobius chuckled. Loki linked his arm with Mobius's, and they walked out of the alleyway.

"I don't think we're supposed to cut the line," Mobius whispered as quietly as he could with the loud music booming from the building, tilting his head towards Loki.

"Hush," Loki commanded, and Mobius rolled his eyes. The pruning stick made a nice clack sound every time it hit the concrete. They approached who Mobius assumed was the bouncer, the person wore a cube mask over their head.

"Ah, hello, so sorry we're late," Loki said, voice gliding out of his mouth like syrup. The people around them looked disgruntled, and Mobius tightened his grip on the pruning stick.

Loki held out a hand to shake with the bouncer, head tilted, flashing his brilliant grin. The bouncer held out their hand slowly, like they weren't quite sure why they were doing it. Mobius understood the feeling. The second Loki touched the bouncer, he enchanted them. Mobius could tell from the way their muscles went slack.

"Right away, your majesty," the bouncer spoke in a distorted voice. Mobius was just glad they were human, or at least alive, otherwise the duo would be having some problems. The other people around them grumbled to each other, but they didn't want to mess with a king.

Loki gave the crowd another award winning smile, raising his free arm in a cordial gesture, dipping his head, and entering the club.

It smelled like alcohol, like, really strong alcohol. Loki took a deep breath. Mobius coughed. Lights were flashing in every color he could think of, and it was hurting his head. It was even hotter here than it had been outside. People were jumping and dancing all around them. Loki pulled him closer into the throng of people.

"What are we doing?" Mobius shouted over the din. Loki untangled his arm, pulling Mobius along by the hand.

"Dancing," Loki yelled back.

"Why?"

"We're blending in!"

Loki stopped, then put his hands on Mobius's hips. He began to match the swaying motion of the people around them. Mobius felt his face flush, and was suddenly very thankful for the erratic lighting. Surrounded by people and flashing lights and alcohol, face painted so every feature stood out, hair sticking to his skin with sweat, Loki really looked like a god. He looked beautiful. Alive. Mobius swallowed.

"How is this helping us find Bob?" Mobius asked.

"Oh I have a strategy, calm down. Have some fun!" Loki began to move Mobius's hips with his hands, laughing at his stiffness.

For all of the life that Mobius could remember, he had a specific set of rules. He had something he believed in. Something he trusted. He had a job to do, an idea to protect. That was supposed to be good enough, but it wasn't even real. His friendship with Ravonna, his deep conviction in the justice they were doing. It was eons. It was a fever dream. It was a lie. Uniforms and identical hallways and the color beige.

But this, this was all color. It was constant new information shoved down his throat. It was awake. It was standing on thin ice. And it was exhilarating. If Mobius had anything else to lose, it was this. This awareness. It was being able to reach out and touch everything.

"Oh, well, if you have a strategy-" Mobius answered. He closed the gap between them, so their bodies moved together. He put his free hand behind Loki's neck. The Asgardian looked thrilled, giving Mobius a crooked half-smile.

Bob found them first.

hehe this might be my favorite chapter yet, thanks to everyone still sticking around! and please please let me know how I'm doing in the reviews so I can improve! love y'all