Lokius C3

Loki found tears on his face as he finished the song in both his native tongue and midgardian for Mobius. 'Sorry, it has been a while.' Loki commented, excusing himself.

The tavern folk may not have understood the words, but they understood the emotion behind the words. Clapping as he moved back to his seat.

Mobius looked just as tearful as his friend sat. 'That was breathtaking, you took me on a full journey of emotions. Where did you learn to sing like that?'

'Well, the liesmith is always good for a tall tale at the feasting table.' Loki replied bitterly.

'Loki, I am trying here. Give a little.'

'I think I have given a lot already. Why don't you tell me something about yourself or is that against the sacred timeline?'

'I like jet skis. You saw that magazine of mine.'

'Maybe we should go steal one?'

'Drunken joyrides Loki?' Mobius asked.

'Theres little else to do while we hunt this variant and while I await being pruned by the TVA.' Loki said bitterly.

'And here comes the mauldlin stage of drunkeness.' Mobius commented, 'Anything you would like to talk about?'

'I would rather just drink thank you.'

'Is drinking helping? Would you rather stay in silence than talk? We both know you love the talky talky.'

Loki scoffed, finishing his drink. 'Considering I smell smoke, I think the time for talking is over. Shall we go?'

True enough. Black smoke was starting to fill the street outside. Shouting. People rushing around with water. 'Time to go.' Mobius commented. He pulled Loki after him. 'Seems our dates keep getting interrupted your highness.'

Loki held back. Watching the rising flames. Stood there as the chaos raged around them. 'What if I died here? The sacred timeline would not care. It would be over. I wouldn't hurt anyone else. I wouldn't have to betray anyone else I love. I wouldn't have to watch anyone else die.'

'Loki' Mobius warned, 'Come with me.'

'No'

Mobius stood by the open portal. 'Im not leaving you here.'

'I am not leaving.' Loki drained the last of his drink, throwing the flagon to the ground. 'I am ready.' He closed his eyes, waiting for the flames to embrace his body. Feeling the heat coming ever closer.

Until Mobius grabbed him and threw him through the portal.

'Fuck you!' Loki snarled shoving himself back up to his feet with one of his patented hair flicks out of his eyes.

'Not yet, you aren't in the right headspace.' Mobius commented closing the portal, 'I am not allowing you do to stupid shit just because you are drunk and grieving your parents deaths.'

'I couldn't care less about Odin. I am glad the monster is dead. I am only sorry that if wasn't by my own hand.' Loki snarled, pacing Mobius's small office.

Mobius folded his arms and waited, 'Are we starting to feel more like talking?'

'What do you care?' Loki spat.

'I care, because I am your friend or I would like to be.'

'Why? Did you fuck another loki and now you want to help me because you lost him? Is this why you are so determined to save me?'

'Yes.'

Loki paused in his anger to stare at the other man, he had been being sarcastic. He had never expected it to be true. '

'Yes, time works differently here at the TVA, so I would guess at 3 maybe 4 years ago. A Loki came through, one of the others worked with him and didn't get anywhere. So, I was called in. We clicked, and I tried to help him. Over time, I grew attached, too attached and.' Mobius paused, 'It broke my heart when he was pruned. I won't allow another Loki to be pruned if I can stop it.'

'You can't save me. You can't save any of us. We are just the monsters our parents talk of at night to scare children into submission.'

'Frigga didn't think that.'

Loki grabbed Mobius by the throat, 'Never speak my mothers name again!'

No regard for the tight grip around his throat. Mobius mouthed the name again.

Loki growled, slamming Mobius into a wall. 'Do not speak of my mother. Ever!!'

'Why? Because you love her and she loves you?' Mobius asked.

'She shouldn't. I got her killed.' Loki let Mobius go, slinking back in horror. 'I got her killed.'

'Loki.' Mobius asked, watching the horror spread across his friend's face as the truth sunk in.

'All my tricks, all my schemes, and what did it bring me? Glorious purpose?!' Loki demanded, 'No! It got murdered the only person who treated me like I mattered. The only person who never gave up on me. The only one who didn't see me as a monster. Frigga, she knew what I was as a baby! She still raised me, still loved me! She taught me magic. Bought me books. Sat with me when Thor and his friends beat me up for being too girly. She was everything to me. And the last thing I ever said to her, was to deny she was my mother. How could I?'

'You didn't mean it. It was an accident. You didn't say: hey, you, go upstairs and kill..'

Loki interrupted him, 'I might as well have. That staircase took the monsters right by her chambers. I didn't think. I was so angry at Odin. I wanted them to kill him. I never thought that mother would be at his side.'

Mobius pressed buttons on his tempad, 'Give me a moment.'

'What could you possibly give me to make this pain better!' Loki laughed bitterly, teetering on the edge of losing his mind.

'Theres a bottle of whisky in my desk drawer.'

Loki stalked over to the desk, ripping open drawers until he found it. Taking a long swig. 'Mobius, prune me. Let me have hope of seeing her again.'

'Perhaps, but you might like this more.' Mobius opened a door, 'Care to come with me?'

Loki sighed, following him through. Mobius grabbed the bottle just as Loki nearly dropped it. 'Mother?'

'Loki, this is not real. I created her out of your memories. Your past.'

Loki stood looking at Frigga frozen in place. 'Why?' He rasped, emotion heavy in his voice.

'Because you deserve to say goodbye.' Mobius pressed a button and the illusion came to life.

'Loki, my son.' Frigga said opening her arms, pulling him into an embrace.

'Mother.' Loki said horsely trying to hold back tears. 'Im sorry mother, I should have been a better son.'

'You were exactly the son you should have been.' Frigga promised, stroking his back as she held him.

'But you died, if I hadn't, if I'd been there.'

'Then you would have died too.' She said gently, 'That is not a fate you deserve. You have so much to give. So much life to live.'

'I am a monster.' Loki sobbed.

'No, the only monster is the one you pretend to be to keep everyone at a distance. Stop being scared to let everyone in.'

'Im sorry mother. Im sorry.'

'Shhh Loki. I love you.'

'I love you too, mother.' Frigga faded away leaving Loki holding empty air. He stared at the place she had been for a few moments before dropping his arms. He looked in shock.

'Loki, are you okay?' Mobius asked gently.

Loki shook his head slowly without speaking.

'Okay, lets give you this back.' Mobius gave back the whisky, pulling Loki back through the portal to his office. 'Okay, big guy, what do you need?'

Loki shook his head again without speaking.

'Hey, hey, talk to me Loki. I can't help you if you don't talk to me.'

Then the tears started to fall, slowly at first, then gaining in strength.

'Oh Loki.' Mobius pulled him into a tight embrace as the God completely broke apart in his arms. Following him to sit on the floor, as Loki's legs gave out. The mini melt down yesterday was nothing on the raw torrent of emotions flowing out of the God now. 'I'm sorry for your loss.' Mobius told him. Letting Loki cling to him to ride out the wave of emotions. 'It might not feel like it, but it will be okay. I promise.'