Sylvie sits on the floor of the citadel for a while. Her gaze flickering from the body of "He Who Remains" and the window behind him where the timeline keeps exploding. She's finally gotten her revenge… but at what cost? She stares at the infinite amounts of new realities branching out and the first doubts start creeping in.
Was Loki right?
No. He couldn't be.
Could he?
She'd succeeded, beat them all, won. She'd followed through with a plan that was years in the making; she avenged that little girl playing Valkyrie on Asgard, she got justice for her… for the innocence, they stole from her. She thought that she would feel happy, joyful, jubilant… but all Sylvie can think about right now is Loki; what she just did to him, and by extension herself.
Why do I feel so hollow?
When she'd fantasized about this moment during her endless lonely nights… this was not how she thought it would go, but of course… she could never have anticipated Loki or the imprint he would eventually leave on her heart.
I hurt him.
What have I done?
I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry.
She cries alone in the dark.
Mobius has fallen asleep in his now wrinkly suit when a time door opens in his private quarters and Sylvie comes stumbling out. She is very noticeably, alone. Where's Loki? It's literally his first thought. He sits up in bed and places the prune stick that he always sleeps with these days back on his nightstand.
"Mobius." She says and she looks like she's been through hell.
"Jesus, Sylvie." He runs a hand down his face. "You scared the crap out of me."
"I'm sorry." She looks regretful and afraid at the same time. "But I had to see you before I see him."
"What are you talking about?" Mobius wrinkles his brows. "See who? Are you okay?"
"Loki!" She chokes out. "And no, I'm not. I made a terrible mistake. I think I've hurt him deeply; I don't know what to do."
"I'm really lost here, Sylvie." He gestures for her to sit on the bed, and she does. "Tell me what happened?"
"I can't believe he hasn't told you." She says, which adds to Mobius' confusion. When would he have told me? I haven't seen him. "We found the one responsible for it all… for the TVA, everything. I wanted to kill him, but Loki disagreed, and we fought." Mobius puts an arm around her shoulder when he realizes she's on the verge of crying. "I thought that he was betraying me, but… Mobius, he was just trying to protect everyone. I couldn't see it; I was too blinded by revenge."
"Protect everyone from what?" Mobius asks, alarmed.
"The guy we met told us that if he were to die, it would unleash multiple other versions of him, and they would all be set on conquering each other. He said that he had created the TVA to keep the timelines from merging and his other variants from meeting… that it was the only way to keep all of the realities and the people living in them safe." Sylvie explains. "In short… if we killed him, we would be starting a massive war. I refused to believe him… I didn't want to… but Loki did, and he felt that the risk was too great. Mobius, you should have seen him… he tried so hard to get through to me… but I was beyond reason."
"Oh, Sylvie… what did you do?"
"I killed the guy anyway… and… and the timeline branched into infinity… just like he'd claimed it would. I think I really messed up."
"So, it was you." Mobius says. "We saw it all happen here. The multiverse has definitely been unleashed."
"No, no, no." Sylvie hides her face in her hands and Mobius rubs her back. "What have I done?"
"Listen to me." Mobius says, trying to sound confident. "We don't know how bad things are yet. So far, we haven't encountered any madmen set on world domination here. Maybe this guy was lying about that?"
"I really don't think he was." Sylvie says. "Deep down… a part of me suspected that he was telling the truth all along… Loki knew it too, because we're the same… I think that was the part of me he was trying to reach… but I pushed it down, I drowned it. I wouldn't allow any doubts to get in the way of my mission. I was so selfish."
"You can't blame yourself." Mobius comforts. "What the TVA did to you was unimaginable. Everyone here has been mistreated and abused by this organization… but you, especially. None of us can imagine what you went through or how angry and desperate that makes a person. You were willing to do anything to get some sense of justice, I can understand that. And I know I've said it before, but I'm so sorry for my part in all this…"
"I don't blame you anymore." Sylvie says. "You didn't know any better and I already forgave you. Besides, you saved me from that cloud monster in the void... I'm only alive now because of you. So, trust me, we're more than okay."
"Thank you." They smile at each other. "Now, I suggest we regroup, where's Loki?"
"What do you mean?" Sylvie looks confused. "I sent him back to the TVA."
"What?"
"I had to get rid of him somehow, he wasn't going to give up. So, I… distracted him long enough to push him through a time door." Mobius can tell by the way she paused midway through the sentence that there's more to that statement but right now he's more concerned with the fact that Sylvie seems to think that Loki is here.
"Sylvie. He's not here."
"What?"
"Loki is not at the TVA."
"That's impossible. I sent him to you. I know I did."
"Wait, what did you use to open the door?" Mobius asks. "I brought the tempad back with me."
"This." Sylvie shows him a bracelet with a black stone and gold lines around her wrist. "It belonged to the man I killed."
"It's no tech I have ever seen before. Can I?" When she nods, Mobius removes the bracelet, picks it up, and turns it over in his hands. "Are you sure you know how to use it correctly?"
"I came through to the right place, didn't I?" Sylvie points out.
"Good point." Mobius agrees. "But then… where's Loki?" As soon as he says the name out loud, the black stone glows in his hand and a time door pops up right in front of them. "Whoa. I did not mean to do that." He states. "I think this thing is highly intuitive. If it's controlled by thoughts or emotions, you will have to be pretty level-headed when you use it."
"Oh no." Sylvie breathes.
"What?"
"I may not have been very… emotionally stable… when I sent Loki through it." Sylvie looks guilty now and Mobius has a terrible suspicion that this relates to her earlier explanation.
"When you said you distracted him, what did you mean?" He stares pointedly at her.
"I… um… I… " Sylvie hesitates. "I kissed him."
"You… kissed… him." Mobius repeats, slowly. "And then you pushed him through to another dimension?"
"Yes." She refuses to meet his eyes. "I know it was the wrong thing to do but…"
"Don't." Mobius interrupts and that shuts her up. "I'm really disappointed in you right now." He says and Sylvie stares at the floor. "I know you're not stupid, Sylvie. You must have known that he has feelings for you… I mean, he had a way out of the void, but he still stayed to fight a giant monster for you… and trust me on this… he's never been that selfless in his whole life… until you. I hope you realize that you've just burned someone with massive trust issues in the worst possible way." Mobius rubs his temples in a frustrated manner.
"I know, okay?" She's speaking so silently that it's barely a whisper. "I know I fucked up. He didn't deserve that. Don't you think it kills me?! You are not the only one who cares for him, Mobius."
"I know. I'm sorry. Now is not the time for this." Mobius sighs. "We can discuss Loki's emotional issues later… right now I just want to find him."
"Where do we start?" Sylvie asks.
"With that…" Mobius points to the time door that remains open in front of them. "I was literally asking where Loki was when this thing reacted… " He lifts the bracelet. "…I bet he's on the other side."
"Great." Sylvie snaps the bracelet out of his hands and puts it back around her wrist. "What are we waiting for? Let's go retrieve him."
"Wait." He grabs her arm as she tries to stand up. "Hold on a minute."
"What?"
"We don't know what's behind that door and frankly, I am a little worried that Loki hasn't come through by himself yet. It's been open a while and he would definitely recognize it as a way home."
"Maybe he is not in its vicinity?"
"You don't really believe that, do you?" Mobius asks. "You saw for yourself how accurate our tempads were when we located you on Lamentis, and that thing you have is far more advanced." He rubs his forehead, not liking the conclusions he's arriving at. "I'm sure Loki is right beside that door on the other side… but isn't able to come through… which means that either someone or something is keeping him from it… or…"
"He's hurt… " Sylvie realizes and Mobius nods. "Let's go!" She jumps up from the bed.
"It could be a trap, Sylvie." Mobius warns.
"I don't care, I am going to go get him and you can't stop me." Her eyes are challenging, daring him to try.
"I wasn't going to… all I'm saying is that we have to be careful." Mobius picks up the prune stick and turns it on. "I suggest you find a weapon."
"I am the weapon." She states.
"Right… point taken…" Mobius has seen her fight, she isn't wrong. "Let me just call B-15, let her in on what's going on."
"We don't have time for that." Sylvie says and she seems frustrated.
"Sylvie… you are not on your own anymore." Mobius says. "You have to learn how to be a team player if you want to be a part of this group. That includes checking in with your people and not making rash decisions that put everyone else in danger."
"I'm sorry." She sighs. "This is new for me."
"I know, it's okay." Mobius says softly before standing up and accessing a control panel by the door. He types in a message, then hits enter. "I've sent B-15 a communication, she will have our backs if anything goes wrong."
"So now can we go?"
"Yes, let's go find our boy."
They both walk up to the door and take one last look at each other before stepping through.
Loki wakes up feeling confused and disoriented. He's also very cold. His whole body shivers uncontrollably. It's odd because he's a Frost Giant; he handles extreme cold better than extreme heat. Unfortunately, the room he's in seems even colder than the void and that's saying something because Sylvie and he were both freezing in that forsaken place. But maybe it's not actually the room that's cold, maybe it's just him? He's aware that he's lying on his side on a concrete floor… but everything is very fuzzy in his mind.
How did I get here?
He remembers Sylvie kissing him before pushing him through a time door. He remembers arriving at the TVA. He remembers finding Mobius and B-15… only, they weren't the same; they didn't recognize him. He remembers seeing that the statues had changed before realizing that he had to be in the wrong dimension and that it had already begun. The war.
Then there was sudden darkness. Someone must have knocked him out if the throbbing pain in his head is anything to go by. The next thing he knew, he was waking up cuffed to a chair in a locked room with a man standing in front of him. A man he recognized as the same person from the citadel where he'd just been. Except… just like with Mobius and B-15, he wasn't really the same. He had introduced himself as Kang The Conquerer and he'd had an evil grin on his face that instantly told Loki that he was not to be messed with.
Kang had asked him questions; interrogated him for hours… he had wanted to know the coordinates of the dimension Loki had originated from… more specifically, the tempad code for his TVA. Safe to say, Loki hadn't been very forthcoming. That's when the torture started… but still… he wouldn't break. Mobius trusted him to keep everyone at the TVA safe, and he would never allow this Kang person to take over his reality; Loki would die before betraying Mobius.
"So be it." Kang had said and the tone of his voice had left Loki chilled to the bone.
After that, there were no more questions, just pain. Excruciating pain. But nothing hurt more than watching Mobius stand on the sidelines and do nothing. Loki had been screaming, begging for it to end… and while there had been a hint of unease in Mobius' eyes, the man had just watched and barely reacted. Which confirmed Loki's suspicion that this wasn't his Mobius. This was some other variant; a pale copy compared to the real thing. He assumes they must have left him alone when he lost consciousness.
Loki tries to move his arm, but the action makes white-hot pain shoot up from his wrist to his shoulder, and he knows instantly that it's broken. Right now, he is more worried about the pool of red spreading all over the floor though. Blood. His blood, no doubt. The contrast is so stark. Loki is conscious enough to know that he's in real trouble. The pain in his head is intensifying and it's getting harder and harder to breathe but he can't move an inch. His body won't cooperate. He's never been hurt this bad before and it scares him.
A sudden wave of nausea washes over him and leaves him heaving… but the only thing that comes up is blood. Everything inside of him aches and burns and his field of vision is getting smaller by the minute. He's acutely aware that he's losing this battle. He's going to die; he can feel it… but at least he got to kiss Sylvie, even if it was only once and very brief. He can still feel the ghost of her lips on his own if he tries really hard to picture it in his mind. If he could choose to relive any moment in the time loop prison, that would be the memory he'd pick; that kiss. Because that was when he knew, without a doubt, that he was in love with her... that he loved her... and for just a few seconds, she had loved him back... and there was no greater high in the world; in that kiss, he'd finally found his glorious purpose.
So if this is truly to be the end of him... is not all bad, he decides... because when it comes down to it, he'd been allowed to experience what true love really was; he now understands Thor that much better in regards to Jane, and that in turn makes him feel closer to his brother... and on top of that, he'll also die knowing that he didn't betray Mobius' trust; he finds some solace in that as well. A part of him hopes to be granted redemption on the other side. That maybe, just maybe he's proven himself worthy of Valhalla after all… and that his mother will be waiting for him.
He is just starting to give up completely and let the darkness take him when he hears a voice.
"Loki!" It's Mobius. No. His blood freezes with the knowledge that his tormentors are back.
Why won't they just let me die in peace?
The next moment his body is being pushed roughly from the side onto his back and the pain is unbearable.
He screams.
Mobius and Sylvie step through to the other side fully prepared for a fight but are taken by surprise when they end up back at the TVA they just came from. More specifically, the jail. They've stepped right into a cell block. The door closes behind them and Sylvie looks just as confused as Mobius feels.
"This can't be?" Mobius breathes, looking around wide-eyed.
"Didn't we just come from here?" Sylvie asks before being roughly grabbed by Mobius who pulls her into another corridor and shushes her.
"Someone's coming." He whispers and peeks back around the corner where he comes face to face with... himself. There's a Mobius clone standing not twenty feet away.
"Is that you?" Sylvie whispers. "What is going on here?" Mobius doesn't know what to say. It's like looking into a mirror and it's beyond bizarre. It must be one of his own variants… but that can only mean…
"There is more than one TVA." Mobius states. "There has to be."
"I thought the TVA existed outside of time." Sylvie says. "How can it be affected by the multiverse?"
"I don't know." Mobius says. "But clearly, we can assume that every reality must have their own TVA now."
"Maybe they always did." Sylvie says. "Maybe that is how he kept it all separated? Think about it; every reality having their own time police, each making sure to prune every timeline that could potentially lead them to meet. Sounds highly effective."
"Makes sense, I guess." Mobius says. "You see Loki anywhere?"
"No, but I would start by looking in there." She points in the direction of the other Mobius who's standing right outside the cell where the time door opened. "What is he doing?"
"I don't know." Mobius wrinkles his brows. His other self is looking at something through the window and he seems torn. He puts a hand on the door to the cell, then hesitates to open it, only to let go of it again, before taking one more look inside; what he sees can't be pleasant, Mobius knows that look on his own face better than anyone; it's a mix of compassion and fear. He's clearly conflicted. A few seconds later, his duplicate sighs deeply in resignation before turning around and walking back out.
"Now, go!" Mobius whispers and they take off towards the cell.
None of them are prepared for what they see when they get there. The room is trashed, there's blood everywhere; stains on the glass window, smears on the walls and right in the middle of the floor, in another pool of blood, is Loki. Lying on the side with his eyes closed, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth. It's awful and makes Mobius want to throw up. Next to him, he hears Sylvie gasp.
Oh my God, what did they do to him? My variant just stood by and let this happen? That bastard.
Sylvie is quick to open the door; it's not locked. Of course not, why would it be? They hurt him so badly that there's no way he's making it out of here by himself. Mobius rushes in and is by Loki's side in seconds. Please be alive, please be alive, please be alive.
"Loki!" He kneels down and pushes the Asgardian onto his back in one swift move. The sound the demi-God makes breaks his heart. It's not human. He sounds like a scared wounded animal. It looks like it takes effort, but Loki finally opens his eyes to look at him; they're very hazy and it's immediately clear that Loki is in extremely critical condition. This is worse than what Thanos did before he sent him to New York to do his bidding. That was mostly mental torture, this is purely physical. It looks like they've almost beaten Loki to death. He's never seen him this bad and he doesn't want to think about the methods they must have used to bring a Frost Giant to this state; they're pretty resilient creatures.
Not even the Hulk could have hurt Loki this severely which is terrifying.
"You're okay. You're okay." Mobius babbles. "I'm here." What breaks his heart the most is that Loki reacts to his presence by trying to get away from him, and Mobius realizes with a pang in his chest that his friend doesn't recognize him for who he really is. Behind him Sylvie is pacing back and forth, tears running down her face.
He probably thinks I'm that other guy. But why would he be scared of me?
Surely, my variant couldn't be the one who did this? Could he?
Mobius feels rage boil inside of him at the thought. It's one thing for them to torture Loki this way but if they used his likeness to do it, that's another story. He doesn't want Loki to ever look at him and only see the face of the man who beat him within an inch of his life. I'll kill him with my bare hands if that's what happened, Mobius thinks. I don't care that he's technically me.
"Loki, it's me." Mobius tries again to calm down the frightened man. "I'm not him. Look, Sylvie is with me." He gestures for the woman to come closer; she hesitates… clearly not sure how to handle this situation. This is probably the first time someone she cares about has been hurt. Fighting, she can do. Providing comfort, that's unknown territory for her. Mobius tries to guide her the best he can. "Sit down, keep him calm and talk to him while I examine him."
"Hi Loki." Sylvie says as she sits down and gently picks his head up so she can lay it in her lap. The blood soaks through her clothes immediately but she tries to ignore it. There's a question in Loki's eyes. "It's really me. I'm here with Mobius. The real Mobius. We came to get you." Loki's eyes dart frantically from one to the other, still confused. "Stay still, we won't hurt you, but Mobius has to see how badly you're injured." At that Loki does stop fidgeting and Sylvie starts running her fingers through his bloody locks.
"Mobius? Sylvie?" Loki breathes out but is struggling to get enough air back in.
"Yes, it's really us, buddy." Mobius continues to look him over, trying to get an idea of where he's hurt. The answer quickly becomes obvious; everywhere. "Can you tell us what happened, Loki?"
"Kang… he wanted to know… how to find you." Loki manages to get out. "I wouldn't… tell him."
My God, he went through all of this just to protect us, to protect the TVA? Mobius thinks. He never thought they would gain Loki's loyalty to this extent. He's really changed.
"That was a selfless stupid act, Lokes." Mobius says. "But thank you. I'm really proud of you."
"Well, you know me…" Loki tries to smirk, but it becomes a grimace instead. "Always the hero." His breaths are becoming shallower, and Mobius is starting to really panic on the inside.
"Of course, you are." He smiles fondly at the demi-God's attempt at a joke. "Just focus on breathing for me, okay?" Loki nods weakly.
"I'm sorry that I sent you here, I didn't mean to." Sylvie cries. "I thought I sent you home." She's an absolute mess of tears and snot.
"It's okay." Loki is blinking more and more sluggishly, and Mobius knows they're losing him. "I forgive you." That just makes Sylvie cry harder.
"I shouldn't have kissed you like that…" She continues. "It was an awful thing to do and…"
"I quite liked it." Loki wheezes and then coughs up more blood. Sylvie is quick to wipe it away with her sleeve.
"You did?"
"Well... I didn't really like what came before, and especially not after, but the kiss itself... yes."
"Me too."
"I know, because…
"…We're the same."
Finishing each other's sentences now? Gosh, these two, Mobius thinks.
"Only sometimes." Loki smiles because they both know they have a least as many differences as similarities. "Hey Sylvie?"
"Yes?"
"Maybe we could do it again sometime?"
"I'd like that." She smiles even though she wants to cry.
"I'll do my best to make it happen then." Loki's chest stutters as he struggles for air, but he manages another breath. "But whatever happens to me, don't blame yourself." Loki is starting to sound like he's saying goodbye, he's clearly aware enough to know how dire the situation is, and it doesn't sit well with either of them.
"Don't talk like that." Sylvie whispers but Loki's eyes are drifting shut and he's becoming unresponsive.
"We need to get him out of here, Sylvie. Or he's going to die."
The next second the door suddenly swings open and the other Mobius appears with a prune stick. Sylvie reacts like a cat, she's on her feet in seconds, sword drawn.
"Who are you?" Other Mobius looks at Sylvie. "What are you doing here?"
"You know who I am." Mobius says. "I'm you."
"Obviously." Other Mobius states. "I'm surprised you actually came for him. Even if I did sense that… we… or you and he were close by the way he first reacted to me."
"We are… and if I find out you were the one who did this to him, I swear to God…"
"Did this?" Other Mobius sounds outraged. "I tried to stop this! If you're anything like me and I suspect that you are, you know that we hate violence…"
"Sure, you hate violence, but you stood idly by and let it happen?" Mobius spits. "You disgust me."
"I have no influence on what Kang does." Other Mobius says, calmly. "I tried to make it easy for your friend. I asked nicely the first few times, but he wouldn't cooperate."
"So, you turned to torture?" Mobius bites back angrily.
"Kang lost patience and when that happens, bad things follow. He's ruthless." Other Mobius sighs. "Listen, I came back here to help him. I am risking my own neck by being here."
"What? You want a medal or something? It's the least you could do." Mobius sneers.
"I get that you're angry with me." Other Mobius says. "But I did not hurt your friend… and right now I would suggest that you take him and leave. The guards will be back on rotation any minute."
"You're just going to let us?" Sylvie asks, skeptically.
"Yes. I wish for him to live too... he didn't deserve this." Other Mobius declares. "It may not seem like it, but I don't approve of what my boss does. It's barbaric." He continues. "Kang is a power-hungry maniac and we're all stuck under his cruel iron fist. My choices here are limited; I couldn't stop this from happening, but I can at least give your friend a fighting chance by letting you go."
"If you're hoping for a 'thank you,' you'll be waiting a long time." Mobius' voice is ice cold.
"I'm not. But I am hoping that you win this war." Other Mobius says. "Now, do me a favor and knock me out. I need a believable story for when Kang shows up or I'm dead. And don't hold back, he's not easy to fool."
"Don't have to ask me twice." Sylvie says and immediately whacks the variant over the head. He goes down like a sack of potatoes. "Can we go back now, what are we waiting for?"
They both look down at Loki who is now completely unconscious.
"We can't take him back to the TVA." Mobius states.
"What, why?" Sylvie asks.
"He is too severely injured, and he can't magically heal himself while at the TVA… any TVA… because magic doesn't work here. He'll never make it in this state."
"Then what do you suggest?"
"We have to take him to somewhere on the timeline."
"All I know are coordinates for apocalypses, those won't work for long and we would have to move him again."
"I know, we are not going there." Mobius fetches his tempad and starts typing on it. "We're going to Asgard in 2011."
"What? You can't be serious." Sylvie breathes. "Asgard… I… I can't go there… I…" She looks at him wide-eyed. "I haven't been back since they…. since they took me… I…"
"Sylvie, I get that this is going to be extremely emotional for you… but I am taking him home. If he is to die, he deserves to do so surrounded by loved ones and the only person who can possibly help him now is there."
"Our mother."
"Exactly." Mobius says. "Look, I understand that seeing her will be difficult, but I need your help to carry him."
"Yeah… of course, I'll help." Sylvie agrees. "I won't let you down."
"Thank you." Mobius opens the time door and they both drag Loki through it.
Mobius, Sylvie, and Loki arrive on Asgard in the Queen's royal chambers where they collapse on the floor. They quickly check on Loki and Mobius is thankful that he's still breathing. They're not too late… yet. Now they just need to locate the Queen. He's barely thought that thought through before he has a sword at his throat, and he looks up into Frigga's angry eyes.
"You are the worst pair of assassins I have ever seen." She states, hovering above them. Sylvie is on her knees next to him, but she seems shocked into silence, just staring at her 'mother.' It's clear that she will be of no help, he's on his own. "Who sent you to kill me?"
"Frigga." Mobius starts, then realizes his mistake when her eyes narrow. "I mean, Your Highness. My name is Mobius, and this young lady is Sylvie." He points to her. "We have not come to harm Your Majesty in any way. I promise."
"Then why are you here?" She asks, looking back and forth between them, suspicious.
"For him." Mobius moves aside to reveal Loki laying behind them and Frigga gasps.
"Loki!" She runs to his side. "I thought him dead. How can this be?" She bends down and quickly becomes aware of his injuries. "What did you do to my son!?" She roars, her eyes turning on them and flashing dangerously.
"It wasn't us." Mobius is quick to state. "We got him away from the people who did this, but he's so badly hurt that I fear he won't make it without the help of magic." Frigga regards him silently for a few seconds before lifting her hand and letting it hover a few inches from Mobius' face; then her hands glow green, and he feels a warm tingling sensation. Mobius understands that she's suspicious, but he is worried they are wasting precious time. "Please, I don't know what you're doing but he doesn't have much time."
"I sense you tell the truth." Frigga says and lowers her hand before focusing on her child. "Oh, my precious boy. I'll fix this, just hold on." She cuddles his still frame while activating her powers and making his entire body glow green. Sylvie and Mobius watch on in amazement as Loki seems to heal right before their eyes. When Frigga finally stops, there's sweat running down her face; it's clear that healing him has taken a toll on her, but Loki seems to be in better condition. With the blood and injuries on his face all gone, it looks like he's just sleeping.
"Is he okay?" Sylvie asks and the Queen looks at her as if she's trying to solve a puzzle.
"He's stable. I did what I could. It is up to him now to do the rest." She gestures to Mobius. "Help me move him?"
"Of course." Mobius says and together, they get Loki relocated from the floor and placed comfortably on the bed. The Queen sits down at his bedside, tenderly running her fingers through his now clean hair.
"Thank you." Frigga says. "For bringing him back to me… but he's not the same Loki, is he?"
"He's not." Mobius answers truthfully.
"My son fell from the rainbow bridge yesterday…"
"I know…" Mobius states and doesn't point out that they both know that he didn't actually fall; he let go. He looks at Sylvie who seems bewildered by this information.
"Is he dead?" Frigga asks.
"For now." Mobius says but knows the Queen requires more information. "We're time travelers, Your Majesty… and this Loki is not only from the future… he is also another variant of your son."
"I see. Why did you bring him here? To this specific point in time? We just lost him, the whole Kingdom is in mourning… and yet, you chose to show up with him while my grief is still fresh. There has to be a reason?"
"I'm sorry, Your Majesty." Mobius says. "But it was the only way. There can't be two identical Loki's on the timeline at the same time; it makes the fabric of time unstable. I brought him here now because this was the only point in time when we would have access to you while the other Loki is deceased. Your son will remain dead until someone named Thanos discovers his body and decides to revive him."
"I see… and when will this happen?" Frigga asks calmly.
"A day or two. I just hope it's enough time."
"I believe it will be." Frigga says. "My son is strong, he will pull through."
"I really hope so." Mobius breathes.
"I have royal business to attend to." The Queen bends down to place a kiss on Loki's forehead before she stands up. "You can stay and watch over him, no one will bother you."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." She nods her head in his direction and Mobius returns the gesture, then she's gone.
No sooner has the door closed behind the Queen before Sylvie is sitting on the bed next to Loki. Mobius watches her pick up his hand and place a kiss on it, and something inside of him melts with emotion. He never thought Loki would find this, love. Watching him on the timeline, he'd always known that Loki yearned for it, but Mobius never believed it was in the cards for him… a thousand years, and nothing… real… until this woman.
Mobius knows that he didn't react in the most supportive way when he first became aware of Loki's feelings for her… but seeing them now… they make so much sense. He had covertly watched them in the void; observed their interactions… and they just fit together like puzzle pieces. Yes… technically, they were the same being and it was a bit odd, but they are also somehow very much individuals with their own separate personalities… just alike enough to get each other on the most fundamental level but at the same time different enough to challenge each other. He finds their banter delightful; they were practically arguing like a married couple from the beginning, and the emotion in Sylvie's eyes right now doesn't lie.
Mobius understands it now.
He takes in the scene for a few minutes before joining her on the bed on the other side of Loki.
"You love him." It's a statement, not a question.
"You know… I really think I do." She says. "And I don't know how it happened; one minute he was annoying the crap out of me and pissing me off left and right, and the next… I can't imagine my life without him."
"That's usually the way it goes with Loki." Mobius chuckles.
"How does he do that?"
"Must be magic." He tries to joke but she's not biting.
"I think it's just him." Sylvie whispers and runs her thumb over his knuckles a few times. They sit in silence for a few minutes before Mobius breaks it again.
"I knew he had feelings for you about five minutes after we picked you up on Lamentis. You know how I knew?" Mobius asks and Sylvie shakes her head. "His eyes. The eyes always give him away. I told him you had been pruned and the reaction was instant. He tried to hide it, of course, but he was crushed… I could tell… and I just couldn't torture him like that, so I ended up telling him the truth. His relief was palpable after that… he didn't try to hide that at all. There was no point, he knew that I saw right through him. I always have. I guess it's a natural result of studying his life so intensely."
"It's more than that." Sylvie says. "You two have a connection. I could sense that right away and it became even more obvious in the void. You care about him."
"Yes, I do." Mobius admits. "At some point, I let a work assignment become personal. I've never done that before and I've known countless Loki variants, this one though… " He sighs. "… he got under my skin right from the start… of course, he started out being a pain in the ass… he's a Loki after all… but then suddenly… before I knew it, he had become my best friend. I still can't pinpoint the exact moment when I started to think of him that way instead of just another variant, but it happened."
"He has a way of sneaking into your heart when you're not looking." Sylvie states.
"That he does." Mobius agrees.
"He cares about you too, you know?" Sylvie says. "You should have seen him after you were pruned. He was devastated. I asked him if he was okay and he just nodded, but he was definitely not okay. I've never seen him so sad."
"You know… I actually tend to believe you… I thought that I heard him scream right before it happened, but I wasn't sure." Mobius pauses. "It's unbelievable… the transformation he's gone through from we brought him in and up until now. He tried to kill me when we first met, he ever tell you that?"
"No. I can't imagine Loki doing that to you, ever."
"That's because you didn't meet him at his worst. He was a psychopath when we collected him… fresh off a murder spree where he'd killed countless people without a care and tortured a few others while trying to invade Earth. He deviated at the point on his timeline when he was the most ruthless he's ever been. He really was more of an animal than a person at that stage."
"Really? I can't picture it." She says. "The Loki I met was snarky, vain, and self-centered... but not homicidal."
"I hope you never get to see that side of him." Mobius says. "A part of me wants to think it was mostly the Mind Stone's influence, but he tried to commit genocide before that stone was even involved."
"He what?" Sylvie looks shocked. "I think I need a little more clarification here, Mobius."
"I don't know how much I should say." Mobius hesitates. "I don't want your perception of who he is now to change. He would never forgive me if you rejected him because of something I told you."
"That wouldn't happen." Sylvie says. "We've all done horrible things. I've killed people too and he doesn't judge me for it. I won't judge him. Please, Mobius… I need to know… what species did he target?"
"Yours." Mobius finally says. "The Frost Giants."
"Jotunheim?" Sylvie gasps, her eyes wide.
"Yes. He wasn't playing around either… it was a serious attempt… he almost succeeded in annihilating the whole planet. Luckily, Thor stopped him at the last minute."
"But… why?" Sylvie asks. "I don't get it. I don't hold any resentment towards my race. Why would he? I know we grew up Asgardian but the people of Jotunheim… they're our people too."
"Listen, Sylvie… your upbringing was very different… his Odin made very questionable parenting choices."
"He did seem shocked when I revealed that my parents had told me I was adopted from the start."
"That's only half of it." Mobius sighs. "His Odin, he… he kept Loki in the dark about who he really was for more than a thousand years… while at the same time raising him to believe that the Frost Giants were nothing but monsters from the time he was a small child. He drilled that fact into his head for a millennia."
"No… that's horrendous… Father… he would never… " Sylvie breathes, then shakes her head. "Why would he do that?"
"I really don't know… " Mobius says. "Your worlds did have a history of being a war with each other, but it seemed unnecessarily cruel… and it left Loki emotionally scarred once he discovered the truth, especially because it was clear that Odin always favored Thor, and Loki concluded that him being Jotunn was the reason. I think he's dealing with a severe case of internalized racism that is going to take a long time to work through. I'm not sure he will ever get there, honestly. He adamantly refuses to take his Jotunn form, it's like he's doing everything he can to ignore that part of himself, and it's not healthy."
"That is sad." Sylvie says. "He's missing out. Being in Jotunn form can feel so amazing. Natural. Like… coming home."
"I don't think Loki will ever feel that way about it. He's been so traumatized by the way it all went down." Mobius says. "Learning his true origins… that really was the moment when it all started to unravel for him; the catalyst that sent him on the path he is now."
"I can't believe any version of my father could be that heartless. The man I remember was kind and loving, he never made me feel less than my brother, despite not being of his blood." She says. "What about our mothers? How different were they?"
"Oh, Frigga never changes. She always stays the epitome of loving warmth and doting mother no matter what timeline she's in." Mobius says. "The only difference I can see is that she didn't teach you magic, but it's possible that you were just still too young for that when you were taken. She didn't really start teaching Loki until he was a bit older."
"I see." She doesn't say more after that, but Mobius already has a pretty good read on this Loki variant as well. He has a feeling he knows where her mind is at right now.
"You should talk to her when she returns." Mobius says. "I think it would be good for you."
"I don't know if I can… in case you didn't notice, I pretty much become a mute the second she's in the same room. I'm too nervous."
"I think you can do it; I believe in you."
"What would I even say?"
"How about… 'Hello mother'… " They are both surprised by a voice coming from behind them and when they turn around they see the Queen standing there.
How much has she heard? Mobius wonders.
"You... know?" Sylvie stammers.
"Not right away… " Frigga admits. "But I knew there was something about you the second I saw you. I felt connected to you… there was a familiarity I only feel when it comes to my children."
"But I… I'm… not your child. Not really." Sylvie says.
"I may not have given birth to you myself, but just like with Loki, everything inside of me is telling me that you are mine." Frigga states.
"You really mean that?" Sylvie asks, hopeful.
"I do." Frigga says and opens her arms, a question in her eyes.
"Mother…" Sylvie whispers and hesitates for only a second before running into her open arms. "It's been so long." Frigga just holds her tightly, both of them have their eyes closed, and Mobius looks away feeling like he is intruding on a private moment.
"I'm here." Frigga says. "Now… let me see you." They pull apart and Frigga takes Sylvie's face in her hands. "What a pretty girl you are... and so strong too." Sylvie's eyes are shining with tears now. "You know… I always wanted a daughter… the boys club becomes exhausting sometimes." Sylvie laughs wetly at that.
"I've missed you so much, Mother."
"I hate to interrupt this touching moment, but I believe that is my mother…" The voice from the bed makes all three swerve their heads in that direction where Loki is now awake and trying to sit up.
"Don't be jealous, Loki. There's enough of me to go around." Frigga says jokingly but the relief in her whole face is obvious. Loki rolls his eyes, but his gaze stays glued to her. "He was always like this with Thor too, you know? Very possessive of me, not good at sharing. It would seem that he is yet to outgrow it. Despite being a grown man." She gives her son a pointed look with a raised eyebrow; Mobius chuckles at this and the demi-God sends him a warning glance. Sylvie on the other hand wastes no time running up to check on Loki.
"You okay?" She asks, her hand finding his cheek.
"Never better." Loki breathes out although it's clear he's still hurting a bit.
"You almost died." She drops her hand and looks down, ashamed.
"Hey, don't worry. You can't get rid of me that easily." He says, placing a finger on her chin to lift up her head. Their eyes meet again, and he moves a strand of hair behind her ear. "Loki's don't die, remember?" She laughs softly at that like it's some kind of inside joke and Loki smiles at her in a way Mobius has never seen him smile at someone else in a thousand years. "Hey Sylvie?" He suddenly whispers, staring into her eyes, seemingly forgetting there's anyone else in the room.
"Yes?" She whispers back and it really seems like they're in their own little world, so completely besotted with each other. Mobius thinks it's disgustingly cute.
"Is it sometime now?" Loki asks and when she nods eagerly, he leans in to place a quick kiss on her lips. Sylvie has other plans though. She grabs his face to keep him there and he lets her deepen it. This does not go unnoticed by the Queen.
"Well…" Frigga says. "It looks like you're my daughter in more ways than one."
"Mother!" Loki and Sylvie both exclaim at the same time and then blush profusely before mumbling something unintelligible, Sylvie hiding her face in Loki's shoulder. Their perfect synchronization is just so comical that Mobius can't help but laugh, making both of them glare at him.
"You are enjoying our embarrassment way too much, Moby." Loki says as his friend walks up to him. "You're very lucky that I owe you my life or I would teach you a lesson about laughing at royalty." The demi-God stumbles a bit when he tries to stand but Mobius is quick to catch him in a hug. "Thank you, my friend." Loki breathes out against his neck and Mobius is not sure if he's thanking him for steadying him or for saving his life, probably both. In any case, this reminds him very much of their hug in the void and warmth spreads through him. He holds Loki a little tighter too.
"I'm so glad you're okay." Mobius' voice betrays him by shaking a little, but if Loki notices, he doesn't mention it.
"Me too." He simply says because they both know it was a close call. As they break apart, Loki stares out the window next to the bed; Asgard in all its glory as far as the eye can see, he gives Mobius a serious look. "We can't stay here, can we?"
"I'm afraid not." Mobius says. "Your variant is going to come back to life any day now, we need to be out of here before that happens or chaos will unfold. I know it's going to be hard to leave, but…"
"I guess it's just as well." Loki says, Sylvie coming to stand beside him; both of them staring out at their former home. "This will always be my home… " He looks at Sylvie, grabs her hand, and pulls it to his lips to give it a kiss. "Our home… but it was another lifetime… we don't fit in here anymore and I think it's time we said goodbye." Sylvie gives his hand a squeeze in support.
"I agree." She says. "And I think we've already found a new home… if you'll have us?" They both turn to Mobius.
"Oh…of course… of course, you don't even have to ask." Mobius says. "You freed us from the company propaganda, and Loki almost gave his life to protect everyone at the TVA. You are both more than welcome."
"Thank you, Mobius." Again, Loki and Sylvie are perfectly in sync, much to the frustration of both of them.
"Would you stop doing that?" Sylvie sighs.
"What? You're the one who keeps talking over me." Loki argues.
"If anyone is talking over anyone, you are talking over me."
"Oh, here we go again. You're not going to try and strangle me with a vacuum cleaner again, are you?" Loki quips.
"Don't tempt me." Sylvie smirks. "Besides... you were the one who threw that vacuum cleaner at me first."
"Because you attacked me, silly woman." Loki counters. "But it's okay because I totally won that fight."
"Oh my God, in what fantasy world did you win?" Sylvie rolls her eyes. "I kicked your ass and you know it."
"If you did... and I am not conceding to anything... " Loki says. "It was only because you cheated."
"And how...pray tell, did I cheat?" Sylvie raises an eyebrow.
"You switched out Randy with a human bulldozer."
"You're absolutely ridiculous, you know that?" Loki is about to retort when Mobius butts in.
"Okay… as entertaining as this is… " He says... and it really… really is. These two are hilarious. "I think we should get going, the longer we stay here, the more we risk getting spotted."
"He's right." Sylvie says. "We should head back."
"I know." Loki agrees. "I just need a minute." Sylvie supports Loki as he carefully takes a step towards his mother, this time his legs hold him and his eyes shine with emotion as he addresses her. "Thank you, Mother. For healing me. I feel your magic coursing through me even now."
"There's no need to thank me. You are my son. I will always be here for you." She says as she pulls him into a hug. Loki closes his eyes and just breathes her in for a second.
"Good, because I'm going to need that when I come back. I don't know how much you know, but… " Frigga is quick to interrupt him as they pull apart.
"Your friend, Mobius… he told me everything."
"I see… " Loki says, sending a grateful look Mobius' way. "Then you know the other me will return."
"I do."
"Listen, Mother." Loki starts. "You are going to hear awful things about him, me. I… he… we are going to commit horrible crimes and Father is going to punish us the worst possible way. He is going to lock us up in the dungeons for the rest of our natural life… and he's going to forbid you from visiting. He… we… won't survive that." Loki takes a deep breath. "I know this is asking a lot but… I need you to defy Father's wishes, I need you to come to him, us... or he… I won't make it. Your visits are going to be the only thing that keeps me… him from going insane down there."
"Oh, my beloved, Loki. Fear not." Frigga runs a hand through his hair before sliding her thumb lovingly over his sculpted cheekbone. "It won't matter what you've done. Nothing could keep me away, not even your Father. I won't abandon you. I promise."
"I love you so much." Loki breathes in relief. "You have been the best Mother anyone could have wished for. I need you to know that." He implores. "Even when I seem distant or aloof or cold… even when I make you question it…please remember that I always… always loved you. Adored you, really."
"I will." Frigga smiles with tears in her eyes. "And I love you just as much. I always have and I always will." She looks at Sylvie. "The both of you." All Sylvie can do is swallow the lump in her throat and nod. She doesn't have to say it back. Frigga is well aware.
"I know that." Loki says. "I'm sorry I ever doubted it; our family."
"It's okay." Frigga reaches a hand up to wipe the tears that have fallen on his face and lets it rest there. "I'm proud of the man you've become... and the man you are still growing into. I only wish Thor was here to see it, he's so lost right now without you; you used to do everything together." At Loki's worried look, she is quick to soothe him. "Don't you fret. I will take care of your brother until our Loki returns to him." Then she uses her other hand to cub Sylvie's face as well. They share a long look before Frigga smiles and releases them both. "Now go and be safe. Both of you."
Mobius has a time door open by the time the three of them are done saying goodbye, and he gives a quick bow to the Queen as he passes her.
"Thank you for everything, Your Highness."
"No. Thank you, for giving me this extra time with my son… and bringing my daughter to me." Frigga says.
"You're very welcome." Mobius turns to the others. "You two ready?"
"Yes." He gets a twin yes in answer and the two Loki's glare at each other before turning towards the Queen.
"Goodbye, Mother." They both parrot at the same time again, and Mobius bends over laughing. Even Frigga can't keep a straight face.
"Is there an echo in here?" Mobius teases.
"It's not funny." They claim while rolling their eyes.
"Stop it!" They demand as they turn to each other.
"You stop it." They argue with fond exasperation.
"Oh my God, will you both stop it." Mobius is almost dying from laughter at this point. "Before you give old Mobius here a heart attack."
"Fine." They agree simultaneously once more, and this time Mobius shoves both of them through the portal before they can get into it all over again. He is right on their tail knowing one thing for sure; life at the TVA will never again be tedious with his two orphan mischief-makers running loose and keeping them on their toes. Just dealing with one Loki was chaotic enough and now there's a pair of them. God help them all.
THE END