A/N: This sort of follows my other works "Friendship and Trust" and "Safe and Sound" but can absolutely be read stand-alone.
Loki's eyes narrowed as he stared dubiously at the former TVA agent who stood beside an open time door, a smirk on his lips and a twinkle in his warm eyes.
"Come on, Loki. You'll like this one...trust me."
He did - more than he ever thought he could ever trust another living being. He trusted Mobius M. Mobius with his life, his heart, with everything.
But Loki was tired, tired of time doors and alternate realities and walking into the unknown.
He knew Mobius wasn't taking him anywhere dangerous and under normal circumstances he'd be up for any adventure, especially with this man by his side.
He sighed and relented, tossing his hands up in the air. "Fine. Let's see where you're taking me now."
He caught sight of the grin on Mobius' face as he stepped through the orange glowing doorway.
The slight thrill of anticipation that hummed in his belly instantly dropped and he frowned as he walked through to the other side.
He felt Mobius walk in directly after him and he shot his partner an annoyed look.
"A bar?" He asked dryly and before Mobius could say anything to defend himself, past the amusement in his eyes, Loki continued, "Alright," he let out a humorless laugh, "I know Sylvie must have told you all about Lementis but Mobius, I hardly think that now is the time…"
Mobius cut him off by placing a gentle hand on his arm. "Oh she did and as much as I would love to see you drunk that's not why we are here."
Loki furrowed his brow. "No? Then why are we here?"
Mobius smiled at him, that warm, sweet, adoring smile that warmed Loki from the inside out just by looking at it.
"For him." Mobius turned his head and lifted his arm, gesturing towards the bar.
Loki followed his movement and spotted the man hunched over the bar, cradling a large pint of beer between his hands.
His frame was larger, but there was no mistaking the blonde hair and the profile of his face.
His stomach dropped and a low, sharp gasp caught in his throat. Mobius squeezed his arm and Loki turned to him, gaping.
"Thor?" He whispered and he couldn't help the prick of tears at the back of his eyes and Mobius' smile widened to where his eyes crinkled at the corners.
"How did you…"
"There haven't been many variants of your brother, none that I can even recall, but studying you also meant studying him. And," he turned to face him, "I know after all you've just been through, a familiar face, one you care about, might be good for you."
Loki's heart leapt and he stared in awe at the man in front of him. Mobius constantly, consistently amazed him with his kind regard and thoughtfulness.
Loki, being the Variant he is, and knowing the standard timeline version of him had died, believed he'd never see Thor again and though he'd never admit it aloud, the thought had hurt.
Mobius, as usual, knew him so well that he never had to say a thing to know he missed his brother.
"I…" his voice caught in his throat, cut off by emotion. He swallowed thickly and placed his hand on Mobius' arm. "Thank you."
"My pleasure." Answered Mobius with an echoing smile. "Now go to your brother. I know he's missed you just as much."
Loki squeezed Mobius' arm and then glanced back at Thor and nodded.
His hand trailed down Mobius' arm as he released him, brushing over his fingers as he took a step forward and he felt Mobius give the tips of his fingers a small, assuring squeeze as he walked forward.
His heart was pounding as he approached Thor. His brother looked so different than how he had last seen him and not just physically.
He looked drained, lost, staring distantly at the amber beverage he clutched tightly.
He knew Thor always enjoyed ale, sometimes a little too much, but this drink was not in celebration.
His brother was not the confident, cocky Avenger Loki had last known him as.
He remembered what Mobius had first shown him when he got to the TVA, all he and Thor had experienced together - Ragnarok and Thanos- but he didn't know what became of Thor after the other Loki had died.
He usually would never hesitate to approach Thor, talk to Thor, tease Thor, threaten Thor, threaten Thor if need be.
Now he felt completely out of his element. He was not the Loki his brother remembered and he was not the Loki that had stolen the tesseract and escaped.
He had changed, suffered, grown and seemingly, so had Thor.
He cleared his throat as he paused behind the massive, muscled form of his brother.
Thor hadn't acknowledged him, his thoughts clearly elsewhere.
"Pardon me…" Loki began in a low, polite tone.
There were so many ways he could have approached this - teasing, insulting, mocking, but he knew neither he or Thor wanted or needed that right now.
"Do you mind if I sit?"
Thor startled slightly at the new voice, shook his head and then gestured to the seat beside him. "Not at all...be my guest."
Loki moved toward the bar stool beside him and as he took a seat, Thor finally looked his way.
Thor pressed a small, friendly smile to his lips as he looked over to greet the polite stranger but it quickly fell as recognition and shock took over.
"Loki?" Thor breathed and Loki pressed his lips together in a small, tight smile.
"Hello brother."
Thor was out of his seat quickly, almost startling Loki and Loki grabbed onto the bar as he watched Thor.
"What deception is this?" He demanded, his voice suddenly growing harsh and sharp, his features tightening to anger. "Who are you?"
"Thor, it is me. It's Loki." Loki was calm, earnest as he looked at him, he had expected this sort of reaction.
Thor's eyes trailed him. He knew he looked different, his hair longer, his eyes softer, a look that was very un-Loki like.
"No." Thor hissed. "My brother is dead. I felt him die in my arms," Thor's voice broke and he pointed accusedly at him, "you...you cannot be Loki."
Loki winced, remembering watching that particular moment, and his heart warmed a little knowing his brother mourned him then and continued to mourn him now.
"Yes, yes...you are correct." Loki nodded, holding his hands out toward Thor. "The Loki you know and remember did die at the hands of Thanos."
A flash of guilt and pain flashed across Thor's face and it pained Loki to see.
"But I am also Loki." He continued and Thor frowned at him skeptically.
"It is a bit…" he sighed with a small eye-roll. "Complicated."
"Explain." Thor demanded but his voice was just a little softer, his eyes pleading, and filled with curiosity and perhaps a little bit of hope.
Loki nodded slowly and leaned in toward him slowly. "Midgard - New York in the year 2012." He began and waited for the location to register in Thor's brain.
Thor's eyes narrowed slightly and he nodded. "The attack you led on New York. What about it?"
"After you and the Avengers had apprehended me, there was a little incident with the Hulk where the tesseract fell out of the appropriate hands and into mine. I stole the tesseract and escaped New York."
Thor scoffed and his walls went up again. "No, no, Loki didn't escape. He was taken back to Asgard."
Loki nodded. "In your timeline, yes, that is what happened. But I," he placed a hand on his chest, "I'm a deviant, a Time Variant. I escaped the normal flow of time with the tesseract and then was apprehended by what is called the Time Variance Authority. I am not meant to exist but I do." He leaned forward towards Thor and looked into his eyes. "I am Loki. I am still your brother, the one you grew up with, but my memories with you stop at New York."
Thor listened intently, his body growing less tense but his eyes showing his skepticism.
"I know." Loki let out a short, humorless laugh and shook his head and Thor's eyes widened slightly at the very familiar expression. "I know it sounds absurd and believe it was. I was abducted by the time police, it's a completely ridiculous concept and I could hardly believe it myself but I swear it is the truth."
Thor's expression gradually softened, his brow pressing together as he began to lean in towards Loki.
Loki's eyes pleaded with him and he never had wanted Thor to believe him so badly.
He had lost everything but now, at least, he may have a chance to make amends with Thor.
"New York?" Thor questioned and Loki nodded solemnly.
"Yes."
Thor's eye narrowed and he leaned his head forward. "You don't look like the Loki from New York."
Loki looked down, closing his eyes for a moment. So much had happened since New York that it felt like a lifetime ago - that he felt like a different person. He knew he was a different person.
"Much has happened since then." He opened his eyes and lifted his head, his eyes meeting his brother's. "I don't suppose I would look the same but that is where I deviated from: the so-called "sacred timeline"."
Thor took a few steps closer, his eyes sweeping over the Loki that sat before him. A Loki who did not have anger, hatred, malice in his eyes but held a soft regard.
Thor's breath suddenly hitched and his face softened in a dawning realization, a wave of emotions passing over his features.
"Loki." He whispered and reached out slowly, cautiously toward him. Loki leaned in toward his touch slightly until Thor grasped his arm with a small gasp.
"You're real."
"I'm real."
"You're...you."
"I am. I-" He let out a grunt as Thor suddenly grabbed him and pulled him tight against him.
Loki's immediate reaction was to tense up against the hold. He could count on one hand the number of times he's been hugged and it had been a very, very long time since Thor hugged him.
"Such sentiment, brother." Loki muttered against his shoulder and Thor let out a laugh that warmed his heart.
In the past Thor's hearty laughter had been an annoyance, worthy of many eye rolls. Today it was a joyous sound that he counted all his blessings he was able to hear again.
Thor squeezed him tight for another few long seconds and then released him, his hands moving to his shoulders. He had tears in his eye and a smile on his face.
"I thought I would never see you again, Loki. I believe some sentiment is warranted."
Loki returned a small, watery smile of his own, his hand gripping Thor's arm. "Yes." He said simply. "For once I agree."
He had learned much through his time with the TVA. He had learned to start opening his heart - first with Sylvie, though she had left an open wound that still was trying to heal. Then also with Mobius. The most unexpected friendship from the most unexpected man and it was a relationship he treasured dearly.
He never thought he'd have the opportunity with Thor and he wasn't about to waste it.
His face sobered, his own eyes glistening with emotion. "I never thought I'd see you again. I...I know what happened to Asgard, to our mother, to me…"
Thor's eyes darkened again. His brother had been through a lot of trauma in the time they were apart and was also clearly still nursing his wounds.
He momentarily diverted his gaze and waved to the bartender. "Another over here. And a glass of your finest wine for my brother."
Loki couldn't help but be a little touched that Thor had remembered his choice of drink and gave a small, tight smile when the barkeep brought over the drinks.
He took the glass into his hand, stared down at the dark red liquid but did not drink it.
Thor, however, downed his current drink and took a few gulps of the other.
Loki turned to him, brow raised slightly and a small smirk on his lips. Many things may have changed but that certainly hadn't.
Thor swiped his arm across his mouth and looked back at Loki.
"You must tell me what happened to you, Loki. I have had my own experiences with time travel…" he shook his head and there was that pained look in his eyes again. "...but you say there is a... time police force?"
Loki took a deep breath and decided he would need a drink after all and took a generous sip of the wine.
"The Time Variance Authority." He corrected. "Though whether they still exist is another question entirely."
Loki then went on to explain everything from the moment the Minute Men showed up and took him to the TVA, all through the hellish journey of the multivariate War, which Thor hadn't even heard of.
It was strange for Loki to not have Thor at least aware of what was going on in his insane life.
He went through two glasses of wine by the end of it (and a thought in the back of his mind that Mobius might be able to see him drunk after all) and Thor enthralled with every word.
His brother had never paid so much attention to him but he genuinely seemed interested in every detail.
Likewise, when Loki asked about Thor's adventures post-Thanos, he leant a listening ear, and a reassuring hand as Thor talked about "the Snap" and everything that followed.
He had never seen Thor so distraught. Angry, yes - Thor had thrown many tantrums in his younger days but he was never so grieved.
He could feel his own pain and suffering reflected in his brother's eyes and by the end of Thor's stories, he pulled him into another hug and Thor broke in his arms.
Loki swallowed thickly, holding back his emotions and tears as he held tightly onto him. It was something that had clearly been building inside of Thor for quite some time and Loki felt strangely comforted that Thor felt so comfortable in his presence to let himself go.
Thor was always the strong one - the bold one, the brave one and as a child, Loki had looked up to him, and was almost jealous of him at times.
Loki had had his moments of weakness, he had already been broken and now it was Thor's turn and for Loki to lend an understanding, supportive shoulder.
It didn't last very long - just barely a minute of Thor's large frame shuddering against him before Thor composed himself. He sniffled quietly and cleared his throat as he pulled out of Loki's embrace.
"I am so glad to see that you are alright, Loki." Thor said, keeping a hand on his brother's arm. "Words cannot express…."
"I know." Loki nodded and raised his hand to cover Thor's wrist. "I feel the same."
"However did you find me anyway?" Thor asked, finally releasing him and waving the barkeep for another drink.
His thoughts had solely been focused on Thor that he had forgotten about the man who had brought him here.
His heart did a little flip as his thoughts drifted back to Mobius and he straightened his posture and looked back out into the bar for the familiar grey head.
Thor turned inquisitively, also looking for whoever Loki may be searching for.
He finally spotted Mobius sitting at a table alone not too far away, but far enough to give them privacy, with only a glass of water and his lips turned up a slight affection.
One day he'd like to see Mobius drunk. In fact he'd like to get drunk with Mobius. He smirked to himself and stowed that thought away for later.
He tried to catch the former agent's attention but Mobius had his back to them, fully invested in whatever he was looking at on the Tempad.
"There is someone I'd like you to meet." Loki told Thor and Thor raised his brow expectantly.
"Mobius!"
Thankfully the establishment wasn't that full and he didn't have to raise his voice too loudly to get his friend's attention.
Mobius lifted his head, turned around and Loki waved him over.
Mobius' face lit up and he was out of his seat quickly making his way over.
Thor watched the seemingly average man head over to them and then glanced inquisitively at his brother.
Loki's eyes were soft, trained upon Mobius as he awkwardly half jogged his way over to the two gods, and a smile slowly grew on his lips.
Thor's brow lifted higher as he glanced between the two of them, the smile on the mortal's face equal to Loki's.
Mobius kept his eyes on Loki, and Loki on him until Mobius stopped beside him. Then Mobius looked at Thor and beamed.
"Wow." He breathed with a grin and gestured to him. "The God of thunder himself, here in front of me, it's an honor."
Loki's smile faded and he rolled his eyes dramatically as Thor chuckled as he shook the hand that Mobius had extended.
"You give him this fanfare?" Loki shot a sour expression at him and Mobius gave him a quick glance.
"I told you I was a fan of yours but he was not arrested for crimes against Time."
Loki's lips pressed together tightly and he stared, annoyed, at Mobius until Mobius leaned in closer to him and their shoulders brushed. Then his body visibly relaxed, his face softened as Mobius smirked at him knowingly.
"Don't be jealous. It doesn't suit you."
Loki scoffed in disgust, his nose scrunching up and then he turned to Thor.
"This is Mobius…" Loki began an introduction, his hand slipping onto his back as a shit eating grin split across his face.
"He abducted, imprisoned and tortured me."
Mobius released a heavy sigh and rolled his eyes, shooting an exasperated look to the smirking Loki and Thor raised an eyebrow.
"Loki..."
Loki looked up at the other man, blinking innocently. "Am I wrong?"
Mobius pressed his lips together in annoyance. "That is technically how we met, yes." He turned a look to Thor in hopes of explanation. "And I did not torture him."
"You locked me in a time loop where I was forced to live a painful memory over and over again!"
"I did apologize for that." Mobius said. "I had orders and it could have been worse."
"Oh and that makes it better does it?"
Mobius sighed. "No but it's ancient history now, don't you think?"
Loki hummed and lifted his shoulders in a shrug. "Hm, perhaps." He said, knowing full well he had forgiven Mobius, and never even blamed Mobius for that. The look on Mobius' face said he knew that too.
"Okay, so would you please tell him who I am now?"
"Oh right." Loki's grin widened, knowing exactly what he was doing.
"He's my partner." He turned his head and his gaze softened and Mobius turned an equally soft smile on him. "My friend. We've been to hell and back together."
"Multiple times." Mobius added with a weary sigh. "But we pulled through."
Loki nodded slowly, his hand moving to rest on Mobius' arm, his eyes shining with affection and respect and Thor watched the exchange with interest.
"Mobius." Thor said finally able to get a word in edgewise between the two and an amused smile lit his face. "You must be special if my brother calls you a friend."
A light flush coated Mobius' cheeks and he glanced at Loki.
"I'm just some guy who took a chance on a Loki." Mobius shrugged.
"A chance that changed my life." Loki said honestly and Mobius' flush reddened.
A smile slowly grew on Thor's face as he continued to watch the exchange between the two.
"It is an honor to meet you as well." Thor said to Mobius. "Am I correct in thinking it was you who brought my brother here?"
Mobius nodded and startled a little when Thor reached out and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"I'm not sure how you found me but I'm entirely grateful."
"Finding people is sort of my job." Mobius said with a small smile. "Makes it easier when it's for a good reason."
Thor's brow pressed together inquisitively as his hand fell back down to his side. "You work for this Time Variance Authority?"
Mobius took in a breath, his shoulders heaving up and down with the weight of it.
"I used to - I was the one in charge of Loki so to speak."
Thor barked a laugh and Loki's lips twitched.
"I cannot imagine anyone being in charge of Loki. You allowed this, brother?"
Loki scoffed and crossed his arms. "I didn't have much choice in the matter."
"You did." Mobius countered. "You had a choice to comply or not and you decided to help."
Loki rolled his eyes. "Yes, for my own survival. I would have been pruned and reset otherwise."
Mobius rested an arm over Loki's shoulder, a surprisingly intimate gesture that Thor seemed to take note only pleased Loki.
"Oh I think somewhere in there you enjoyed it. You seemed happy enough to discover your little apocalypse theory."
"That was a monumental discovery, thank you and…" Loki pursed his lips and shrugged, "perhaps I did. I was still a prisoner, though."
"Until you escaped."
Loki shrugged unapologetically. "I regret leaving you behind but I don't regret leaving. Though Lementis is not an experience I'd prefer to relive."
Mobius pressed his lips together and nodded once. "Yes, I don't think that was a fun time for any of us."
"Loki told me about your adventures across different realities and timelines." Thor said.
"Adventures." Mobius raised his brow and scoffed a bitter laugh. "That's a word for it."
"Not the word I chose, by the way." Loki added with a pointed look.
The three men continued to talk, Loki throwing snarky comments for everything his brother and Mobius had to say, while secretly reveling in the glee that being between the two most important men in his life gave him.
Eventually Mobius excused himself stating he should let the brothers get back to their private conversation.
He squeezed Loki's shoulder and Loki instivitvely leaned into his touch, turning to him with a small smile, then he shook Thor's hand again.
Thor watched Mobius return to his table and once he was seated, he turned back towards Loki, whose eyes were still on Mobius, with a small, knowing grin.
"This Mobius…"
Loki blinked quickly and glanced at Thor. "Yes?"
"He's your…" Thor led the word, a small hitch of his brow. "Friend?"
"Yes." Loki's brow creased and a small scowl pulled at his lips as his shoulders stiffened. "Is it that hard to believe I'd have a friend?"
Thor's mouth twisted in a knowing smirk and he leaned in to press a reassuring hand to his knee. "That is not at all what I meant brother."
"Then what did you mean?" Loki demanded a little more softly.
Thor smiled and explained, "It just seems to me that perhaps you see one another as more."
"More?" Loki's heart thudded hard inside his chest but he attempted to keep his voice even. "With Mobius?"
Was he so apparent that Thor could see right through him?
"It is the way you look at one another, Loki. I have never seen you look that way to anyone or anything."
Apparently he was that obvious, Loki groaned to himself.
He swallowed past the sudden lump in his throat and glanced down at the empty glass in his hand.
He was just beginning to accept and express his true feelings, the good, joyful feelings that being around Mobius brought him.
He did not know if he was prepared to talk about them with Thor.
"Except perhaps a dagger." Thor said with a chuckle.
"What?" Loki snapped his head up, his eyes growing wide.
"The way you look at a dagger." Thor continued to explain and Loki gaped at him. "So full of elation." He mimicked holding a dagger out in front of him and a smile lit his face. "Just holding it brings a smile to your face, makes your eyes light up. Then of course what you do with it…"
Thor continued to speak but his voice became garbled noise as Loki turned his head towards where Mobius was patiently waiting for him to finish his much needed reunion with his brother.
"Love is a dagger." He whispered.
"Yes exactly!" Thor's voice was suddenly clear again and as Loki looked back to him, there was that ever infuriating smugness on his face.
"What?" Loki nearly snapped at his brother.
"You are just realizing it now aren't you?"
"Realizing what?" He tried to play aloof but his voice was strained with the emotion he was trying to hide from his brother.
No, hide from himself. Because he didn't know what love was…how could he possibly understand love?He knew the answer he wouldn't fully admit to himself.
Love was much like a dagger but love was also a Grey haired human who showed him genuine respect, trust and kindness.
A genuine laugh burst from Thor's lips and Loki frowned at him.
"Why are you laughing?"
"Forgive me, brother, I do not mean to mock you. You have always been unpredictable but this…"
Loki tightened up. "What?" He demanded sharply.
"I never thought you would be involved with a simple mortal."
Loki scowled. "He isn't simple." He surprised himself how quickly he leapt to the defense of Mobius and how personally he took such a statement, as if it was a sleight against himself.
Mobius M. Mobius was perhaps the very definition of a normal human man but to Loki he was anything but.
"And we aren't involved." He quickly added and tried to ignore how much that hurt.
Thor gave him a knowing look. "Loki, that man adores you." He said and Loki's breath caught. "And not in the god-worship sort of way either. He genuinely, truly adores you."
Loki knew Mobius cared, he knew he had his unwavering friendship but adoration? Love? Could he hope?
"Nor did I mean to imply that he is unimportant. Clearly, he is very special to you, Loki and if he means so much to you, he must be special indeed."
Loki opened his mouth to reply but found himself at a loss for words.
"You seem happy, Loki." Thor's voice was soft now which drew his attention. "Are you?"
Loki reflected on all that has happened over the last few- weeks? Months? He had no idea how much time had passed since he first arrived at the TVA.
Much of that time was filled with dread but between all of the action there were moments…
When he once again found his Mobius after so many alternate TVAs and Variants, saw the recognition in the other man's eyes as they saw one another and wrapped each other in a short but tight and meaningful embrace.
Those rare, quiet moments in between battles where they rested beside one another, enjoying the comforting, familiar presence of each other.
When they found themselves on Midgard, and Mobius had thrust a candy bar at him and insisted he try it - and the delightful smile that blossomed on the agent's face when he reluctantly gave in and did so.
When, amidst the heat of intense battle, they knew they had each other's back.
When the war was finally over and they retreated to what remained of their TVA, once again falling into each other's arms out of relief that they had won, that they were alive, that they were together.
All of the nights they had spent together once back at the all but abandoned TVA.
When Mobius approached him with a cheeky grin and a Tempad and said he had a surprise for him.
Loki had not known true joy before knowing Mobius. He had felt elation and satisfaction but he had never been so truly happy.
"I am." He finally answered honestly, his eyes flickering over to Mobius.
He was drawn back to Thor when Thor placed a large hand on his shoulder.
"Then I am happy for you." He said genuinely, a warm smile on his lips and Loki couldn't help but smile back.
"Besides," Thor shrugged and let out a small humorless laugh and took another swig of beer. "Who am I to judge loving a mortal?"
Loki's heart flipped at the casual use of the word "love".
"Oh yes," Loki tried to clear his head of all thoughts of Mobius and their relationship and focus instead on Thor, as his words triggered a vague memory. "There was a human woman on Midgard that stole your heart, wasn't there?"
Thor's smile faded and his face glazed over with such melancholy that Loki's heart ached for him.
"There was." Thor said quietly and Loki could hear the waver of emotion in his voice.
Loki leaned in towards him in concern. "What happened to her?"
Thor looked up at him and stared blankly for a few seconds and then shook himself out of some distant thought he was having.
"Oh." Thor cleared his throat. "She's alive and well, probably doing something clever but she decided, well, we both decided, mutually, that we were better off without one another."
Loki's brow creased and he frowned. He knew Thor and he knew Thor was lying and he knew Thor was hurting. "I'm sorry." And he genuinely was.
He never wanted to see Thor truly hurting and Loki understood the heartbreak of having someone leave.
Thor waved him off with a gentle scoff. "It's fine. I'm fine."
Loki nodded slowly and pressed his lips together, knowing better than to press the issue further.
"There hasn't been anyone else?"
Loki was suddenly aware of the absurdity of the situation- he and Thor had never discussed their romantic interests before.
Thor ducked his head and his grip tightened on his glass. "No." He said simply and before Loki could ask anything more about it, he looked back up and forced a smile to his lips.
"But that doesn't matter!" He exclaimed. "I have my friends. They are enough."
Loki nodded again and frowned as he looked around. Thoe was alone when he entered the bar and there seemed to be no one else there who was with Thor.
He did recall Thor telling him about the Guardians of the Galaxy, as they so called themselves.
At any other point, Thor telling him he had befriended a talking racoon would have been strange but as it were, Loki had encountered an alligator Variant of his own self so nothing seemed strange anymore.
"They aren't here?" He wondered.
Thor shook his head casually and cleared his throat. "No, this is usually an activity I prefer to do on my own." He said quietly but then looked quickly at Loki.
"But I do not mind your company, Loki." Thor was quick to add. "In fact I am glad for it. I have missed you."
Loki allowed a small smile to cross his lips. "And I, you brother."
After another round of drinks, and more talking until they had talked each other out, the brothers finally, and a little reluctantly, said their goodbyes. They shared another embrace and then Loki left Thor at the bar and walked over to Mobius.
As he walked away from Thor, he felt a strange flurry of emotions within him. He felt a weight off of his shoulders that he was able to make amends with Thor, to be on good standing with Thor like he had seen would happen, had happened already to Thor.
He felt a wistful longing, not knowing if he would ever see Thor again after this but also knowing that he could, if he wanted to, visit him again.
And leaving Thor meant going back to the TVA with Mobius which meant facing everything that had been revealed in his conversation with Thor and all that remained painfully unsaid between them.
Not a word was spoken between them as Mobius opened the time door and they stepped through.
"Is everything alright?" Mobius finally asked, turning toward Loki once the time door closed behind them and noticed the pensive look on his face.
Loki stared at the ground, his brow pressed tight, his heart racing.
"You took me to see my brother." Loki's voice was calm but cool and he slowly looked up at Mobius. "Why?"
"Why?" Mobius echoed, furrowing his brow. "I knew it would make you happy and I thought, after all we've been through, you could use a little happiness."
Thoughtful, selfless Mobius, going above and beyond just to make him happy.
"Is this not what you wanted?" Mobius questioned, a frown marring his lips and Loki's temper suddenly flared. A completely irrational anger because Mobius had done absolutely nothing wrong.
He told Thor that he had been happy and he was happy, happier than he could ever remember being, so happy that it was almost too happy - it was too much, too overwhelming.
It was that deep-rooted self loathing that told him he didn't deserve happiness - he didn't deserve the love and kindness Mobius was showering him with.
Like the asshole he was, he was taking out his frustrations with himself on innocent Mobius.
"No it's-!" Loki exclaimed and then growled, running a frustrated hand through his hair. "It's precisely what I wanted, it's what I needed."
Mobius continued to stare at him, his eyes patient, the calm to Loki's raging storm.
"I'm sorry...I'm not seeing the problem here."
"You're always doing such wonderful things!"
Mobius' brow twitched up and his mouth parted slightly but Loki continued.
"Such wonderful, thoughtful, selfless things for me!"
Mobius stayed quiet for a moment, waiting for Loki to continue but Loki only stared back at him with fiery eyes.
Mobius blinked, trying to formulate a response to the strangely accusatory words.
"I do them because I want to do them for you and, well," he shrugged lightly, "most people say I'm a nice guy."
"Yes, yes you are." Loki almost sneered and he wasn't sure why he was being so hostile to the man and the same confusion echoed in Mobius' eyes and Loki felt a deep discomfort twisting in his gut.
"You are a nice guy and I…" he pointed viciously at his chest and his voice suddenly softened.
He took a few, deep even breaths and then released a sigh. "I'm not."
A look of realization swept over Mobius face and the perplexing was replaced with quiet understanding. "Loki…"
"I'm not!" He snapped and his heart was racing wildly, he knew he was going off the rails and couldn't stop himself. "You know me! You know me better than anyone and that is terrifying….but you know exactly who I can be."
Mobius' expression continued to be irritatingly soft and he took a slow step in towards Loki.
"Okay yes," Mobius began, keeping his gaze trained on Loki, "you can be an arrogant, conniving, mischievous asshole." Mobius said bluntly and Loki did not feel any better hearing the words he kept telling himself from Mobius' mouth.
Mobius then shook his head, his eyes imploring his. "But I also know you are so much more than that."
A smile crossed his lips that seemed to work like magic in soothing the fire that raged inside Loki.
"I know what you've done in your past and to some it may be unforgivable…" He tilted his head, making sure to catch Loki's gaze and Loki's heart flipped at the expression, "but not to me."
He continued towards Loki and with every step closer, with every word, Loki felt that raging fire being replaced with gentle warmth.
"Look at all you've done here, Loki." Mobius said, gesturing around them. "How you cared about everyone at the TVA, how you cared about the entire universe. How you did what you thought was the right thing not only for yourself but for the good of the universe itself, even at the risk of your own heart. How you fought like hell to make sure the universe was set right again."
Mobius' face was so expressive, so full of passion, passion for him.
"I know who you are at your very core and that...that's someone good, Loki. You are good."
Loki's chest was still heaving slightly despite the fact he hadn't been speaking but the weight of the emotional impact of the last few hours made him feel like he had been running for miles.
His face had softened, the storm within him officially calmed and he stared back at Mobius with a slightly awed expression.
There was a sudden desperate need to know pulling at his insides and he couldn't keep it inside any longer.
"What are we, Mobius?"
Mobius stared up at him, blue eyes slightly widened and he blinked, a little flustered by the sudden change in conversation.
"Friends." He answered simply, easily and Loki's face twitched only for a moment, his eyes betraying him with a flicker of disappointment that came along with a sinking feeling inside.
He tightened his jaw, swallowed thickly and then nodded.
"Friends, of course…"
He forced a small smile to the corners of his mouth and cursed himself for being so damn selfish. He had never even had a friend before, and he knew his friendship with Mobius was a special one and it should have been more than enough.
Mobius brow pressed together and he cocked his head. "Partners…" he continued, eyeing Loki for his reaction and though Loki's smile tightened, his eyes reflected his true feelings. Loki was more of an open book than he liked to believe and his eyes expressed it all.
Loki nodded again and began to pull away, but Mobius shot out his hand and grabbed his arm. Loki quickly glanced back at him and Mobius' gaze was intently focused on him.
"And though at times you drive me absolutely crazy, like with whatever the hell all of that just was, sometimes…" he let out a small scoff, and a smile, and shook his head. "No, most times these days...I find myself very badly wanting to kiss you."
Warmth exploded inside Loki's chest, and his eyes flashed and he was met with Mobius' apprehensive grin before he swooped in and crushed his mouth to his.
He pushed them back until Mobius' back hit the wall with a soft thud. A small groan of discomfort left his mouth, still upon Loki's and Loki took the opportunity of his open mouth to deepen the kiss.
He pressed his body flush up against Mobius, throwing his hand against the wall to support himself as his legs began to feel just a little weightless.
A new experience for him, but a welcome one and one he took hold of and ran away with now that he had it.
Mobius' hands floundered in the air for a moment but then one found Loki's back, just above his buttocks and the other found the back of his head, his fingers threading into Loki's hair.
Loki felt as if he were on fire with that final touch and his mouth continued to move hungrily, desperately against Mobius' and Mobius returned in kind.
He didn't know how long he had wanted this until he was actually doing it and he realized, as the warm feeling flooded his belly, that it was something he was craving for a very long time.
Loki could have gone for hours this way but Mobius eventually needed air and broke their fervent kiss.
Loki let out a shuddering gasp as they parted and Mobius tightened his hold on him as Loki's head fell forward onto his shoulder.
Their chests pressed together, both heaving with their heavy panting and Loki shuddered, feeling Mobius' hot breath against his ear.
"My god…" Mobius finally gasped out as he caught his breath and Loki grinned against his shoulder.
He tilted his head and brushed his lips against Mobius' jaw, slightly stubbly from lack of shaving. "Yes, I am." He growled against his ear, his voice low and rumbling with desire.
Mobius let out a sharp, shuddering gasp and his fingers dug into Loki's back. Then he let out a quiet, joyous laugh that flooded Loki with warmth and desire.
He moved his hand to Loki's neck, and pressed gently urging him to lift his head.
Loki did so and Mobius' hand found his cheek and their eyes locked. Both of their faces were flush, lips pink, eyes wide and dilated.
"You want to know what we are?" Mobius said and Loki's breath hitched in his chest.
"I don't know." He said breathlessly and his thumb brushed lightly across Loki's cheek. "All I know is that being with you has been an adventure of a lifetime and you are the most intriguing, fascinating, amazing being I've ever known. I want to do more of that -" His eyes flickered to his lips.
Loki breathed again with a small laugh and a breathtaking smile swept across his face that echoed as Mobius' own face lit up.
" - and I want it forever."
Loki let out another breath and he began to lean in towards him again but Mobius stopped him with a light pressure against his cheek.
"You deserve to hear it, Loki," Mobius said as their eyes met, "and I'll say it for all time."
Loki's brow pressed together and he shook his head. "Hear what?" He asked breathlessly.
His breath caught again and a fire burst to life inside of him as Mobius gently grabbed his other cheek and made sure to keep their eyes connected.
"Loki, son of Odin, Prince of Agard, mischievous scamp…." His lips turned up in an affectionate smile and he poured his whole heart into his next words.
"I love you."
For a moment the entire world stopped.
He had only had a similar feeling a few times before and it was always for a horrible reason- when he found out his true heritage, when he fell off the broken Bifrost after pleading with his adoptive father, after the Hulk had tossed him around like a ragdoll and he lay pathetically in his defeat, and when Sylvie had pushed him through the time door. All moments when he felt his life was over.
This moment, however, he felt more alive than he ever had and he knew his life would be changed forever.
His voice got caught in his throat, even as he opened his mouth to speak.
His eyes welled with the excess of the flood of emotions that filled him.
Words he had only ever dreamed of being spoken to him and to have them said by Mobius? The one who told him he deserved to hear it, and who showed him with every action that he meant it. The one who was the keeper of his heart and willingly so.
"You don't have to feel the same way." Mobius continued and Loki's heart clenched at the very notion. "I just wanted you to know, needed you to know, you are loved. Especially by me."
"I…" he started, his voice cracking and Mobius gave him a gentle, reassuring smile.
"You don't have to say anything."
If love would be anything, it would be what he felt right then and there. The overwhelming affection, the desire to be near him in every possible way, the warmth and joy that came from just standing there with him.
Maybe he wasn't ready to say it, but he felt it and he knew it was real.
His eyes flashed as he grabbed Mobius' face in his hands. He was breathing heavily, staring into the warm blue eyes of the one who loved him, and tried to convey as much as he could through his expression.
Something shifted in Mobius' eyes and Loki knew he understood.
Mobius' eyes lit up and then slammed shut as Loki once again swept in and kissed him, desperate and passionate.
They remained there for a minute or so, exploring each other with wandering hands and hungry mouths.
Then Loki grabbed onto Mobius' hands and shoved him toward the bedroom, never breaking their kiss, planning to show him what he couldn't yet say but felt deeply with everything he was.