Wait
Summary: Mobius questions his work methods after Loki escapes from the Roxxcart Apocalypse with The Variant.
Roxxcart Store, Alabama
He should have known better. Ever since finding Hunter B-15 dazed and a bit confused, Mobius knew this op was going sideways in a really horrible way.
"Looks like your favorite Variant betrayed you"
No. Loki wouldn't do that. They had worked together, gotten to know each other. Mobius had given him freedom to walk the halls of the TVA without the Time collar. He'd given him a fresh set of clothes. One of his extra ties. Treated him with respect. Heck, he'd even let him ruin his lunch just so he could explain a theory.
"Loki wait...wait!"
Loki paused at the portal, and for one brief moment, Mobius thought he was going to stay. Then he saw his worst fear become reality. Loki bolted for the portal and stepped through. It closed a second later.
No explanation. No apologies. No last second dig at Mobius and the TVA. He was just….gone.
Mobius's anger and frustration boiled over.
"Damn it!"
His Tempad began vibrating wildly in his pocket. He pulled up the pop up screen, and an avalanche of alerts began to roll up, too many to count.
04.23.2301 Vormir
02.16.2004 Asgard
12.27.1392 Ego
The Variant had used the reset charges to bomb the timeline...and Loki was with him.
"Crap. We gotta go. Now."
"Why what's happening?"
"They bombed the timeline."
B-15 and the other Minute Men reacted in stunned silence. It wasn't possible...was it?
"C'mon people, let's go!"
They sprinted back the way they came, past the trail of unconscious victims the Variant had left in his wake until they returned to the store entrance.
B-15 was organizing their exit.
"You two. Grab C-20. Let's go. Now! Who has the reset charges?"
Mobius shook his head. "It's an Apocalypse Event. We don't need them."
With that, the lights went out. The power went dead. People screamed. Outside, the storm was at its peak.
One of the Minute Men glanced down at a device on his wrist. "Ma'am. Ten minutes to Event." He was trying to stay professional. The rising panic in his voice said otherwise.
Mobius ran out into the rain, almost getting knocked over by the gale force winds as he established a portal. In seconds he was drenched. He turned to look behind him to make sure no one was being left behind.
Another portal opened up, and another.
A roaring sound of rushing water made him look up and wish he hadn't.
It was a tidal wave. Coming straight for him.
Mobius stepped through the portal…
...and was met with a wave of silence, reds, and muted lighting inside the TVA.
Even as they stood around, taking off soaked tactical gear, C-20 stood alone, her eyes wide-eyed and confused.
The other Minute Men checked the time line alerts on Tempads, but all the branches had been assigned and were being pruned.
"Sir."
"How are we looking?"
"Looks like we caught them all."
Mobius exhaled a small sigh of relief.
"Great. Okay. Good job, everybody. I just need someone to walk with me and C-20 to a Time Theater for a de-brief"
He checked in on C-20, who hadn't moved.
"Hey. You ready to go?"
"This isn't home."
"What are you talking about?"
"This isn't….home. My home."
"Of course it is."
For the first time since coming back, C-20 made eye contact with Mobius, looking for what...understanding? An explanation? Help? Whatever it is, she didn't find it.
"You're right. It's nothing. I think I'm just really tired."
"You sure?"
C-20 smiled. "Yeah. I'll be fine. Mustn't keep Renslayer waiting."
"Okay."
B-15 watched this exchange. Something wasn't right. C-20 looked how B-15 felt. Because she felt something too, knocking around inside her head. It was like a stray fly that kept buzzing around the inside of her skull..
"I can walk her down. I'll meet you there."
"Thanks. Oh but for a magical clothes dryer."
Mobius walked towards the elevators, his feet squishing as he left.
It was only after the elevator doors closed and they were alone did they both drop their facades.
"What's wrong? You can talk to me." When C-20 didn't say anything she added, "I had it happen to me too"
They both glanced around, realizing they were still out in the open and headed for the elevator. Right before they got there they stepped into a shadowed corner, keeping their voices low,
"What?"
"The Loki Variant. I encountered her at Roxxcart."
"Did she touch the side of your face...like this?" C-20 reached up with two fingers and touched her own temple.
"No. She was disguised or something. Grabbed my arm. But for a brief moment I saw her. A woman with blonde hair. Black cape. Broken gold crown missing a horn. After that…after that I woke up on the floor."
"But you think something else happened?"
"I had this weird dream."
Someone walked by carrying files. B-15 caught the sideways glance as he passed. "Listen. Once you're done with Renslayer you come find me. We need to figure this out. And don't talk to anyone else. Not even Mobius. Agreed?"
"Agreed."
Meanwhile, in Mobius's apartment….
It felt good to be dry again. Mobius was putting the finishing touches on his gray hair. Making sure he was presentable for Renslayer. He stopped mid comb and looked down.
Yesterday
They had been taking a break in his cubicle. Loki had his feet up on his desk, twirling Mobius's comb in his long fingers.
"Can I have that back please?"
"Why, you have others."
"I can get you your own."
"I don't want my own. I have this one."
"Yes, except it's mine."
"So was this tie, but you haven't asked for that back."
"The tie you can keep. You know what, never mind. Keep the comb."
"That's alright you can have it back. It's of no use to me anyway. I have way too much hair for this little thing to be of any use." He tossed it back on the desk. "You know, on Asgard, having long hair was a sign of power and influence among the Royal Court."
"So, that would make me, what.."
"Oh god no. You wouldn't even get into the palace. You look more like the peasant villagers who sweep the streets free of animal droppings."
"Gee thanks. Speaking of menial tasks. It's your turn to empty the garbage." Mobius pointed at the overflowing trash, mainly caused by Loki.
"I'll get my servant on it."
Mobius picked up the garbage and put it on the desk next to Loki's feet.
"Okay servant. The incinerator is that way."
The Present
Mobius put the comb down.
Damn you Loki.
It had to stop. Everywhere he went, he was reminded of Loki. His desk, the ride in the elevator...the library, the cafeteria. Mobius knew he was a softie at heart, but he thought he could handle this one. He was so sure of it. He had studied every moment of his life. Knew where all the chinks in the armor were.
Turns out Loki had played him like a well tuned instrument.
Well, it was time to face the music.
He exited the bathroom and grabbed his spare jacket. He checked his Tempad for messages and saw one from Renslayer.
Meet me at the TimeKeepers vault doors.
Mobius did a double take. He texted back.
What about C-20 debrief?
A Pause.
Done. Meet me at the Vault doors.
Odd.
He shoved the Tempad in his jacket and walked out of his modest living space.
Mobius knew the route so well that he didn't have to put any thought into it. Completely lost in his own thoughts he didn't even notice a pattern developing every time he passed people by.
They were stopping to stare at him.
He finally caught on at one the elevators where several Minute Men were waiting.
"Hey fellas, what's up?"
The door opened and they all got in. The doors shut. They were going down.
"We heard about your Variant, Mobius. How he escaped and then teamed up with another one."
"How they killed three of us on the way to the Time Vault."
"How you just let him walk away."
Mobius snapped. It was one thing to hear his own doubts in his head, but to hear them out loud was too much.
"What are you saying? Hmm? That this is all my fault.? That...that this was all my idea.? That I wanted him to escape and create havoc on the timeline.? After I've devoted my life...my life to this job in ways that you couldn't possibly understand? Is that what you're saying, because I just want to make sure I'm clear on this."
The elevator stopped and made a single Ding. You could've heard a pin drop. All the Minute Men got out. The doors shut, leaving Mobius alone in his own personal hell. He leaned against the closest wall and closed his eyes. Deep breaths.
He was going to change. Right here, right now. No more Mr. Nice Guy. After his meeting with Ravonna, he was going up to the timeline Monitoring room and would expand the parameters. Now that he knew that the Lokis were hiding in apocalypses Mobius would know what to look for. And when (not if) they found them, it was going to be Time Collars for everyone. No exceptions. No quality time in the office with good ol' Mobius. He was already narrowing down his choice scenarios for Loki's time loop prison.
He didn't want to do this. Any of it. It wasn't him. But Loki forced his hand. No doubt both Variants were hiding out in some nice pocket apocalypse trading stories about what a fool he was.
The elevator stopped a second time and he got out, heading for the Gold Time Keeper Vault where Ravonna was waiting for him. He smiled inwardly. His ally in the trenches. At least he had her.
For All time. Always.