Loki is fast asleep right across the table from him.

He trusts me not to hurt him.

Mobius ponders this with quiet astonishment. It's an unusual display of vulnerability from the God of Mischief. He has never known Loki to let his guard down around anyone (except maybe his brother) and he had seen Loki's entire life play out on the timeline... over and over... and over again.

Each time, Mobius had secretly been hoping that Loki would make different choices; that he would somehow break out of this vicious cycle of hurt, betrayal, violence, and his constant desire to... not rule, exactly... he was misunderstood in that way. Ever since Loki was just a young boy, Mobius had been a witness to his desperate quest to prove himself worthy in the eyes of his Odin. What Loki had truly craved deep down all along was not power or a throne but simple, honest, loving validation from his distant father. Mobius has been well aware of that fact since he was first assigned this "variant" and really took the time to understand him.

Scared little boy.

If he must be completely transparent, Mobius blames Odin and him alone for Loki's insecurities. A little more honesty and a few more "I love you's" along the way were all it would have taken to avoid the absolute devastation Loki would eventually leave in his wake.

Mobius watched him grow up; every moment in time from when Loki was just an innocent baby Frost Giant; denied the knowledge of his true origins and all the way up to the point (and beyond) when he learned the painful truth that had set him on the path to destruction. Or self-destruction was a better word for it. Loki is, in a tragic twist of fate, his own worst enemy; all of the Loki variants shared this specific trait but his Loki, in particular, took it to the next level.

Mobius has lost track of how many times he's had to sit on the sidelines and watch Loki sabotage his own existence to the immense frustration of everyone around him; he had observed everything that transpired in silent hopelessness as Loki continuously brought pain and suffering to those who loved him... all the way up until that last violent moment of his life where Loki's timeline had been predetermined to conclude... ended by the hands of a Titan.

It was maddening when Mobius knew that Loki was capable of being so much more. But even as he thought about it, he also knew that the TVA would never allow it; that he himself would never allow it. To set Loki free from the hamster wheel would mean risking the stability of the sacred timeline and that is the number 1 thing that must never happen.

As much as he believes in Loki's ability to evolve and become the best version of himself that he can possibly be, Mobius believes in the TVA's mission more and continues to remain a loyal and true servant of the Time-Keepers and the Time Variance Authority.

For all time, always.

Still, he couldn't help but pour a little gasoline on the fire of Loki's consciousness. This is why he had created that little sample of Loki's "greatest hits" in an attempt to provoke a reaction. Trying to get him to see. Trying to gauge what level of self-awareness Loki possesses. Every little clip had been specifically picked to incite an emotional response and Mobius hadn't been disappointed when Loki finally opened up to him.

"I don't enjoy hurting people. I don't enjoy it. I do it because I have to. Because I've had to."

"Okay. Explain that to me."

"Because it's part of the illusion. It's the cruel elaborate trick conjured by the weak to inspire fear."

"A desperate play for control. You do know yourself."

Of course, Mobius had not really been all that surprised by this. By the fact that Loki had indeed taken the time to analyze himself and what made him tick. When it came down to it, all of the genuinely great minds did exactly that and he'd always known that Loki was of a superior intellect. It was only natural that he would eventually use that incredible perceptiveness he wielded like a superpower to do some soul searching of his own and gain some insight into himself.

"You're always so perceptive. About everyone but yourself."

Loki's mother had been wrong, but they could hardly blame Frigga. She had not had the backstage access to her son that Mobius had had and on top of that Loki was a master of concealing his true feelings. In a very interesting way, Loki was like an ocean... he could be completely calm on the surface even when chaos was raging just below, and his depth ran as deep as the seas too.

But Mobius had been present at all of Loki's introspective contemplations when he had thought himself alone; had seen him struggle with people's perception of him versus how he wanted to be seen. Watched him as he never truly successfully came to terms with the consequences of his destructive and often deadly actions. Observed how he had never been able to justify any of it... not even to himself. Most people thought Loki didn't have a conscience, but they couldn't be more wrong. Mobius had seen the regret and the tears; had witnessed Loki tearing himself apart piece by piece when he thought no one could see... but Mobius saw... and it wasn't a pretty sight.

Those stark contrasts of Loki's personality were what made him different from all of the others. He was truly one of a kind; an idiosyncratic deviation in the seemingly endless line of cheap copies that kept showing up. Every little twisted part that came together to create this version of Loki was more complex than anyone imagined and so uniquely him. Mobius often wonders why he is the only one who can see that.

"I know you have a soft spot for broken things."

Maybe that was why? But was Loki truly broken or just evolving? And if the first was the case... was it they who broke him in the first place by never allowing him to grow? By pruning every version of him every single time one of them stepped out of line, fought to take charge of their own destinies; perhaps tried to better themselves, to become more than just the villain of their story? These are dangerous questions to ask but Mobius can't deny that he wants to be the one who puts Loki back together again. In whatever way he needs it. That he yearns to try.

That compulsion becomes even stronger now as he watches him sleep.

But Loki looks completely exhausted, and Mobius knows he's being unreasonable. That he is running Loki into the ground. They have spent almost every hour of every day together for about a month since Mobius picked him up in the courtroom; so busy working that there had hardly been a moment to rest for either of them. Time also moves differently here at the TVA and everyone has their limit; it looks like Loki has reached his.

Mobius feels bad. He had been so excited that his "favorite" Loki had finally created a Nexus event; never once had he contemplated that Loki was about to have his whole reality turned upside down and what that might do to him. Mobius had just wanted to meet him in the flesh, finally. After all this time admiring from afar. He smiles when he realizes that Loki would probably call it stalking.

Mobius takes the very rare opportunity to really stare at the sleeping man in front of him. To study him and take in every detail from the pale skin covering his strong jaw to the thick dark hair and long eyelashes fanning out over his high cheekbones... not to mention those pale pink lips and dainty nose. And how could he forget about those stunning blue eyes; always radiating Loki's sharp wit, that he knows are hiding right underneath his closed eyelids. Eyelids that flutter a little bit as Loki snuffles deeper into his arms and lets out a little sigh.

It's possibly one of the cutest things Mobius has ever seen.

He's beautiful.

It's such a random thought that it takes him by complete surprise. Wait, what? Of course, Mobius has always been aware that Loki is attractive but his beauty right now when he is completely relaxed with all his defenses down seems so much more potent and it's suddenly so hard to believe that someone that ethereal and innocent-looking could have possibly been responsible for all of the hurt that Loki has indeed inflicted. Not only upon others but also very much onto himself; a victim of his own pain, he had lashed out at everyone he had ever loved and vice versa until they had all turned their backs on him and he had no one left in his corner. Well, except for the man sitting across from him right now. It was sad.

Loki had gone from a privileged Prince of Asgard who had it all to being a despised outcast with absolutely nothing, in just a blink of an eye, and in the end, he had no one but himself to blame for the suffering he had experienced; for the pain of losing his home and entire family; an open wound that would never heal, for the constant ache of knowing that Thor was disappointed in him; had given up on him... and especially for the complete and total agony caused by the death of his mother that Mobius knew still threatened to suffocate Loki every single day. It was a true tragedy worthy of Shakespeare.

In that instant, Mobius has an almost impossibly strong urge to protect Loki; to reach out and shield him from all the pain. He leans forward; his hand moves of its own accord and hovers over Loki's lush locks. He can feel his fingers twitch, eager to make contact, to caress. In the end, he resists, barely, and retreats back in his seat… but can't help but wonder what is happening. He doesn't know where these impulses are coming from and tries to shelve it all in the back of his mind but to no avail. There are so many "maybe's" and "what if's" swirling around in his head; it's so out of the blue but it's also impossible to ignore that there are feelings of attraction stirring inside of him right now as he watches Loki. It's confusing.

Had they always been there?

He's never really given much thought to his own sexuality before. Never actually had the time which is ironic since he works for the Time-Keepers. There was just never really a moment to stop and think about this stuff. It didn't seem important in the big scheme of things. He has always considered himself a career guy; a work-o-holic focused on climbing the ladder to the top of the TVA organization, and he's well on his way. Never has he pictured himself as a family man or someone's lover. He realizes now that he needs to do some soul searching of his own before he can decide what to do with this shocking revelation.

It's not that he's ashamed of being attracted to another man or thinks that the TVA would disapprove; no one cares about that gender nonsense here. But they would probably prune him if they found out that he, maybe, harbors feelings for a variant. That is unacceptable and he knows it. He also knows that he didn't really have a choice in the matter; that you don't get to choose who you love. Obviously, it's too early for that word but there's clearly something blossoming here. Loki just sort of snuck into his heart while he wasn't looking, apparently. But he can't do anything about it now, he just has to let it play out. He also knows for a fact that Loki himself wouldn't be offended by this as he's been with both men and women in the past. It's just that it's so new and kind of exhilarating all at the same time. It's also scary... because he knows that Loki can't stay. He will need to be reset at some point and suddenly the knowledge that they are on borrowed time hurts in a way that doesn't make sense... unless...

No. You can't go down that road right now. You have work to do. Focus.

He yawns as he runs a hand across his face hoping to wake himself up a bit and tries to concentrate on the task at hand. They definitely need a break and some refreshments; preferably coffee, before they continue where they left off. He really doesn't want to rouse Loki from his nap as he looks peaceful for once in his life but it can't be helped. The clock is always ticking at the TVA and Ravonna would not approve of them snoozing on the job. He closes the file in his hand slowly, then taps it gently to Loki's arm, and tries really hard to ignore how adorably rumpled Loki looks as he wakes up.

"Hey. Come on." He says. It comes out softer than he intended as he stands up. "Let's take a walk."

Loki grabs his jacket and follows as he always does without question these days and maybe Mobius is just imagining things, but Loki seems to stare at his ass for a brief second as he rises from the chair. It gives Mobius a warm fuzzy feeling inside and he's already anticipating whatever exciting and existentially charged discussion awaits them before they are even out of the aisle. It's bound to happen eventually, it's frankly... just what they do. And Mobius loves bouncing that metaphorical ball back and forth with Loki; trying to figure out the fascinating enigma the variant represents; he actually thinks he may already be fairly close to solving the mystery. Simply because the magician had begun to willingly allow him a glimpse behind the curtain. Which was nothing short of a miracle if you asked Mobius, considering where they started out.

"I'll kill you."

"What? Like you did your mother?"

That had been a low blow.

Mobius knew it the moment the words left his mouth, had wished he could take it back. He didn't blame Loki for flying into a murderous rage.

Yet, somewhere between all of the mistrust and threats and getting on each other's nerves, something incredible had happened; they had somehow both managed to let their guard down around the other and eventually developed an affectionate friendship based on mutual respect; a special connection that is remarkably solid and Mobius doesn't care if no one else at the TVA gets it. Least of all Ravonna, who often comments on it.

Because on every level, he knows that what he has with her can't hold a candle to the kinship he shares with Loki. It is something rare and precious; he feels this to be true in every fiber of his being. He can't explain it. They just get each other in a way that can't be unriddled or defined; their energy is disorganized and all over the place most of the time... it's almost like they're chaotic kindred spirits that the universe cooked up to throw the cosmos out of balance. It had certainly thrown his world off-kilter. In the best way possible.

On paper they weren't a match, their dynamic clashes with everything the TVA stands for; perfect order - and yet, inexplicably, they were.

He and I. We just work.

Mobius smiles all the way to the cafeteria and it's not until they're in the line to order their coffees that he realizes that he is no longer afraid to turn his back to Loki.

I too, trust him not to hurt me.

He hadn't even noticed when that particular change had happened. But he is so glad it did.

THE END