"What are we doing here?" Loki grumbled as he walked into the time theatre. "Certainly, we have more important things to do here than watch more of my wretched life. To be brutally honest, I don't believe I've fully recovered from our last time, no thanks to you."
Mobius followed behind the god. "Well then, you'll be glad to know that this," he turned on the screen, "is not from your life. Not everything is about you, ya know." The screen in front of them flashed to life, portraying a young girl, curled up in her bed, facing another screen.
"This does not look relevant, significant, or even interesting! What does she have to do with me?"
"Wow, you are not great at listening. This isn't about you right now. So sit down and shut up."
Loki stared for a moment, then sighed in resignation and sat down as Mobius began to explain.
"You see, in another universe, we don't really exist. Well, we do, but not as physical beings. There, we're pieces of fiction, and the truly real people there in that world, look at us as entertainment and watch our stories. And this girl has watched your story over and over again...at least fifty times. Any guesses why?"
"Because I'm devilishly handsome and charming?"
"Nope! Because she understands."
For a second, the god's facade was broken, and the next moment, he scoffed.
"Her? Understand what? The pain and hurt I've had to deal with for centuries that no one has acknowledged, much less understood? You'll need a better story than that to break me."
"What if you just watch her story instead?"
The screen began to move, and slowly, the girl curled into herself as she watched Loki's story. The god could see a younger version of himself, standing in the treausre room, and his heart clenched, bracing himself to hear his fath- Odin's cutting statements...again. However, the screen changed so that on one side, it held the girl, huddled beneath a mass of blankets, and on the other, a separate image of others her age.
"You thought you could fit in? With us? With anyone?" They laughed and moved closer. "Even your parents didn't want to be near you!"
On the other screen, the girl quietly whimpered; Loki thought he was a tear slide down her cheek, though he was oblivious to those forming in his own eyes.
"You were born to die alone."
That hit a nerve.
"Your birthright was to die."
"Alright, Mobius, that's enough."
"There is nothing you could ever do to change that."
"Mobius," he stood, "I said, that's enough."
"You are alone, and you always will be."
"Enough!" He screamed, and the screen finally stopped.
The children's jeering faces made his blood boil, and the girl had tears streaming down her face. Loki did too, but he didn't notice until a moment later. Nor did he notice that he was standing, his chair had fallen, or that his fists were clenched.
"Do you still think she doesn't underst-"
"Stop," the god exhaled shakily, "just stop."
Mobius waited a moment, "You're not the only one who has gone through the sort of pain you've experienced. And right now, I think the only way to make progress with you is for you to help her." Loki gently scoffed, "And how am I expected to do that?"
With a quiet click, a glowing, red portal opened next to the table. "By talking to her."