Loki stared at the ceiling.

Boring, void of any sort of vivality with only a dusting of ash and dirt to break up the off white color.

He groaned, closed his eyes tight, shrouding himself in darkness. At least that was better than the ceiling.

For many, many nights, as they fought their way across time and multiverses, his one true companion was Mobius.

They had slept beside one another, watching over one another, keeping each other company, keeping each other warm, keeping each other sane.

After the war had ended and things began to settle, they were left with what remained of the TVA. The agency's future was still to be determined but the location, though somewhat damaged, was still functional and Mobius returned to his own quarters and assigned Loki a room of his own.

However, as much as Loki had been used to sleeping alone in the past, he had become so accustomed to having Mobius solid form beside him that attempting to sleep in the cold, empty, albeit otherwise comfortable, room was maddening.

His immediate thought, that cold, inner voice that constantly prodded him, told him that he was not a child and therefore did not need companionship in order to sleep.

However, one thing was becoming more and more clear: It was habitual now - and he needed Mobius.

He groaned again, more of a growl low in his throat and opened his eyes, now glaring at the ceiling.

"This is absurd." He proclaimed to the air and then pushed himself out of bed.

He walked out of the bedroom and into the small living quarters.

He marched toward the door with one goal in mind. Mobius was just down the hall and there was no reason not to go to him.

He paused at the door, his hand slightly outstretched suddenly rethinking his options.

They had both been exhausted and Mobius, fragile human that he was, seemed ready to collapse when he left for his own quarters.

Was Loki really that selfish to disturb Mobius while he got a true, good sleep for the first time in a very long time?

Yes, he decided. He absolutely was and hoped that the other man wouldn't be too irritated with him.

He steeled his jaw and then opened the door only to be greeted by the former Agent himself standing just outside his door.

The two locked gazes, eyes widened and lips slightly parted.

"Mobius!" Loki was the first to break the silence and tried to hide the glee in his voice at the sight of him. "What are you doing here?"

A soft, sheepish smile played across Mobius' face. "I couldn't sleep." He admitted, despite the utter look of exhaustion in his eyes. "I thought I'd come to see if you were having the same problem."

"I am." Loki said, stating the obvious.

"Clearly." Mobius retorted with a small smirk.

There were a few moments of silence where they just held each other's gaze.

"Would you like to come in?" Loki asked, already stepping out of the way to allow him to do so.

Mobius smirk turned into a soft smile as he gave a simple, short nod and walked into the room.

Loki softly closed the door and turned to fully face him just as Mobius turned toward him.

"I was actually coming to find you." Loki said.

"Oh?" Mobius raised an eyebrow although it was evident he had already known that.

"Yes…" Odin's beard, why was his heart racing so hard?

He cleared his throat and straightened his posture.

"Well I thought…"

Mobius' entire brow shot up at the very uncharacteristically flustered Loki.

Loki pressed his lips together, annoyed with himself. "I couldn't sleep, the same as you." He said quickly. "And I thought, perhaps, it was because I have become accustomed to…" Loki trailed off again, waving his hands as if he could somehow magic his feelings into words.

Mobius nodded, his face softening. "Me too."

Loki shut his mouth and raised his brow slightly but was entirely grateful, and a little surprised, that Mobius knew exactly what he was going to say.

He felt another swell of relief that he felt the same way.

"It felt strange being alone." Mobius continued taking a step towards him, and then let out a small, nervous laugh and a shrug. "Which is strange because I've always slept alone, for as long as I can remember anyhow.."

Loki's face softened and he nodded. "Yes." He said quietly in agreement.

Mobius stole a glance toward the bedroom and Loki followed his gaze.

Mobius' face twisted in contemplation and - was that longing?

Then he let out a soft sigh, so quiet Loki may not have heard it if not for the dead silence of the room.

Then Mobius looked towards the small couch in the room, his nose scrunching up slightly. "I suppose I will set myself up here then, if you don't mind."

Loki frowned and walked toward him. "Of course I mind." He said a little sharply and Mobius looked somewhat taken aback.

Before Mobius could say anything, Loki stepped in so they were only inches apart and he grabbed a gentle but pressured hold on his wrist.

Mobius blinked up at him, his eyes twitching inquisitively and Loki stared down at him intently.

"If you're staying, you're staying with me."

Mobius' eyes widened slightly and his lips parted but before he could get in another word, Loki tugged on his arm, leading him towards the bedroom.

A small zing of satisfaction swept through his body at the sight of the small, relieved smile that formed on Mobius' face and the way he followed him with no resistance.

The bed was barely big enough to fit two people. The TVA were not the type to encourage, or even expect, fraternization.

Boring bunch of bureaucrats.

It wasn't the first time and it certainly wouldn't be the last that Loki led a man into bed, but it was never under such platonic circumstances.

Loki didn't release Mobius until he had crawled back into the bed on the side where the covers were already turned over.

Mobius stood for a moment on the opposite side, simply staring at Loki, an odd expression on his face.

Loki felt strangely vulnerable, in the ghastly TVA issued pajamas, in a TVA bed, in a TVA room and looking back at someone he had no (current) intentions to seduce.

They were both too tired for such things and they hadn't even made any moves in that direction, though there was something undeniable between them that had to be addressed at some point.

Loki raised his eyebrows expectantly and the soft little smile returned to Mobius' face as he finally pulled back the covers and slid into the bed beside Loki.

A jolt of warmth shot through his body as their thighs and arms brushed.

They both froze and glanced at one another.

Loki sat propped against the pillow with his arms tightly folded over his chest.

Mobius slowly began to shift around, trying to find a comfortable position. Loki watched him, his brow slightly raised and when Mobius caught him looking, a light flush coating his cheeks.

"Oh, this is ridiculous." Loki said finally and turned his head in exasperation towards Mobius.

"We have spent many nights sleeping beside one another. This shouldn't be weird."

Mobius nodded, concurring.

"It was always sleeping where we could, when we could. We were always too tired to even think. Now…" he shrugged. "We have an actual bed and at least some sense of security."

Loki pressed his lips together, humming low in the back of his throat. "We were, for the most part, always on the floor."

Mobius nodded and they fell into another brief, slightly awkward silence. Loki glanced at him sideways and Mobius raised his brow.

"Would you prefer we sleep on the floor?" Mobius finally asked.

Loki shot him a look of annoyance. "No, I would not prefer to sleep on the floor, Mobius."

Mobius gave a small grin and then raised his arm. "Well then, get in here."

Loki's brow shot up and he hesitated only for a moment at the sudden open invitation but then quickly did as he was told and slid in beside Mobius, his head falling onto his chest.

Mobius' arm immediately came around him, a gentle touch in the middle of his back and then he pulled him in closer.

Loki responded eagerly to the gesture, curling his long frame against Mobius' side.

It certainly was a little different, atop a mattress, covered in soft sheets, a stark contrast to the cold, hard ground but the embrace - that was oh so familiar.

All tension left his body as he succumbed to the warmth of the man beneath him.

A tingle rolled up his spine as Mobius caressed his back in slow, circular patterns.

"This is much more preferable." Loki said quietly against his chest and Mobius laughed softly.

"I agree."

Loki's hand moved to rest on his chest, right over his heart. His long fingers gently curled around the material of Mobius' night shirt and gripped tight, pulling himself closer. He couldn't quite help himself - whether it was one of those left over habits from needing to hold each other closer to keep each other safe - or just simply because he wanted to, because it felt right.

"Loki..." Mobius' voice was low and created a comfortable rumble in his chest. Loki instinctively leaned into the feeling, now completely surrendering to it.

Loki hummed in response.

"You never have to be alone again."

It was said so softly, so casually that Loki barely registered the words.

Once they did, his stomach swooped, his chest tightened and he slowly opened his eyes. He couldn't bring himself to look at Mobius, but he held his breath, silencing the room further to make certain he had heard correctly.

"I mean it." Mobius continued, his voice barely above a whisper, his mouth pressed into Loki's hair.

"As long as I'm alive, you'll never be alone."

Loki closed his eyes again and turned his face further into Mobius' chest. The emotions his words drew out were strong and overwhelming and ones he was not usually prepared to deal with.

"If that's what you want." Mobius finished a little more quietly, more hesitant but his hand remained strong against Loki's back.

I never want to spend another night without you.

"You never have to."

Loki tensed. Shit. He said that outloud.

Then Mobius' words sunk in and crashed hard. He finally lifted his head to look down at Mobius, his eyes searching his for any sign of insincerity.

But Like always, Mobius' eyes expressed nothing but sincerity.

There was no judgement, no pity - just a promise.

"You want to stay with me?" He tried to keep his voice casual but the last time someone told him they could have a life together she had betrayed him not hours later, and he couldn't, wouldn't put his hope on another person that would only leave him alone.

And yet...

Mobius smiled at him and that hope blossomed to life in his chest.

"There's nowhere else I'd rather be and no one else I'd rather be with."

Oh help him. Warmth flooded his body, starting in his gut and moving it's way up his chest, to his throat and he swallowed thickly.

"Truly?"

"Would I be here if I didn't mean it?" Mobius countered quietly and Loki couldn't speak.

Loki hated the thought of being alone but fighting side by side with this man, having him constantly near to rely on, to run to, to fall on. He didn't know what to expect from his life going forward but the thought of not having Mobius reliably beside him truly terrified him.

"I can't…" his voice broke and he hated himself for it and Mobius softly knit his brow, encouraging him with kind eyes which Loki didn't know if it made him feel worse or better.

Loki closed his eyes tightly and took a breath before he admitted, "I can't lose anyone else."

He let out a small gasp as he felt a warm and calloused hand against his cheek and the words he had longed to hear for his entire life. "I'm never going to leave you, Loki."

Loki's breath shuddered and caught in his throat and he leaned down, pressing his forehead against his.

Mobius' hand then slid to cradle the back of his head, holding him there.

For only a mere moment Loki allowed the doubts to entertain his mind. All of the reasons why Mobius wouldn't want to stay, why he couldn't bear to stay, how he would look upon him with disgust and disappointment...

Then he remembered that Mobius had seen it all, his entire life, everything he had ever done and there he stayed, promising to never leave, holding him tenderly to him like he meant everything.

So for once, Loki shut off his racing mind and let himself be.

Loki rested his head back down on Mobius' chest and for the first time in his life he felt like he belonged. Mobius's arms completely encircled him, holding him in a way he had never been held.

So there, in the arms of a mortal who loved him, he could finally rest and rest he did.