Summary: "It was personal, now, after what she'd done. But he still didn't want to hurt her." Mobius had always been Renslayer's favorite. And even with him at her feet, with them on two different sides of a brewing multiversal war, she finds that she has to let him have a go at choosing his own path. Because they were friends, once. One-shot. Set during the S1 finale.

An Era's End

Ravonna could remember when she met Mobius, before he'd been brought to the TVA. Even then, he'd been a kind soul, helping out those in need. He'd had more optimism than anyone she'd ever met. Then came the accident. It all but destroyed him.

So she offered him a new life.

After the mind wipe, he quickly found his place in the TVA.

He tore through basic training like a wildfire, mastering everything he needed to know faster than anything she'd ever seen, the skill and talent of who he once was aiding him. After that, it wasn't long before he grew to be one of the best analysts in all of time.

While he didn't have the memories of his past life, he was still as kind and optimistic as he'd been then. He made a point of befriending others, even the hardened, battle-weary shell of Hunter B-15. Ravonna was pleased when he grew close to her once more, quickly rebuilding the friendship he hadn't known he'd once had with her.

He was well liked in the TVA. And the others' respect for him only grew as the eons went by.

Then the Loki variant arrived, and everything changed.

Mobius got curious. Too curious.

He started asking questions that Ravonna knew he did not need to know the answers to. He switched their TemPads behind her back. She caught him trying to free the Loki variant.

Then she had him pruned.

It would be a lie to say it hadn't bothered her; they'd been the closest of friends.

And she was sure he was gone, lost to the storm in the Void at the end of time.

But he wasn't.

He returned to her with a sad smile on his face, a pruning baton in his hands.

And she wasn't surprised.

The universe was on the edge of war, and they'd so clearly chosen different sides.

He spoke of free will and truth, of right and wrong. His voice trembled for the first time that she could remember. This all meant a lot to him; it was personal, now, after what she'd done. But he still didn't want to hurt her.

And then, he accused her of betraying him, and it became personal to her too.

"Wait, stop." He almost pleaded, as she opened a Timedoor. "Look, maybe we can build this into something better, together."

Her heart wrenched at his hopeless optimism. "I'm sorry, Mobius."

"I'm not gonna let you go." He twisted the baton and the end of it lit up orange, a hum pulsing from it.

She didn't want to hurt him. "Please, Mobius. Even with that, you're of no danger to me."

"Is that what you think?" He advanced on her. "Let's see."

Mobius thrust the weapon at her, but...he wasn't a fighter, and she'd once been a hunter herself. She sidestepped the attack, grabbing onto the baton to hold it still. And then, with no choice, she kicked him. A pained sound escaped his throat as he flew back, hitting the seating and tumbling to the floor. She turned the baton on him.

"Yep, you were right." He groaned, slowly propping himself up on an elbow. "Back here again."

Ravonna refused to say anything, keeping the weapon poised at him with a steady hand.

He made no move to get up, but let a resigned sigh escape his lips. "Go ahead."

Looking at him in that vulnerable, defeated position...it didn't sit well with her. It reminded her of his past life, of how he'd been when he gave in to her offer. She hadn't enjoyed wiping his memories, then. And she knew that she couldn't send him back to the end of time now. He deserved to be able to make his own choices again. They'd been friends. And she had to respect him- for his bravery, for his compassion, for the reliable friend she knew him to be.

And so, she lowered and deactivated the weapon in her hand.

There was a little spark of light in his eyes at that. She would've smiled if the universe wasn't about to split a million times to come. She would miss him.

"Where are you gonna go?" He asked as she approached the Timedoor, briefcase in hand.

She settled on an answer that would humor him, one that wouldn't eradicate his hope of her not being a complete enemy. Because he deserved that much.

"In search of free will."