Author's Note

Song Lyrics from Lawson - Four Letters
/watch?v=ONQACAueB3I&list=PLb-h0TgZRJZpYbnvq7gW1FBvsBMdCI_mZ&index=20

Additional Song: P!nk - Secrets
/watch?v=xtQ1RE5rilA&list=PLb-h0TgZRJZptIWDEcr7fbmMRLigLHlGQ&index=8

Whole Playlist:
/playlist?list=PLb-h0TgZRJZooJ-TPIjxWEFoYEnXi2vcl

The sound of heels clicking resounded through the big office-like room as Luciana headed towards her desk with quick steps. None of the other people paid the woman any mind, just continuing to tap things into their computers like busy worker bees. In between the clicking sounds of fingers hitting on keys one could hear the occasional rustling of paper as documents got filed and already existing records were flicked through and rechecked for any prior mistakes. Her own desk was a little in the back, allowing her some distance from the bustling sounds. A bit secluded, she also had quite a bit more space than the rest of the workers. Then again she had been assigned a more special task than the rest of the analysts.
In a swift motion, the brunette pulled forward her chair and sat down. But before she could get comfortable a rough voice resounded behind her.
"Look who is gracing us with her presence today. Agent Echo herself."

"Nice to see you too, Mobius. Is your age finally getting to you or did you just not look at your Tempad lately? I'm currently supposed to be here for a while." she responded with a slight snarkiness as she turned her head to face the man in the gray suit. He laughed once while pushing his hands deeper into the pockets of his dark brown pants. "Is it already that time again? Time really flies, doesn't it? Oh, but shouldn't you have been here like two hours earlier?"
"Well, I forgot to charge my Tempad so I had to stay a little longer than normally. Oh, but don't worry, it didn't have any impact on the sacred timeline."
"Right, right. I'm sure it didn't. You always check it meticulously after all. By the way, is that ash on your shoulder?" He reached out towards the spot of grayish particles scattered on the fabric of her jacket. Gently swiping his hand over her shoulder, the man examined the dust that was now stuck on his fingers. A little surprised, Luciana turned her head to look at what he had hinted at. "Hm? Oh, I guess I must have gotten that on me when I brushed against one of the castle walls right before entering the portal." she said, quickly wiping the rest of the dust from her shoulder. "Some of those countless hallways almost never get cleaned…"
"Maybe you should tell the servants to do their job better."
"Well, sure, I could, but that might mess with the timeline. And as you said, I have to check that it stays on the right path at all times. Can't take any risks while on the job." A slight smile appeared on the woman's lips to which Mobius responded with a slight chuckle of his own. "Right, your special task. How's that going for you lately? You being here now means you're reaching that point again soon, right?"
"It's the same as always. No changes at all. Everyone's on their set path, close to the finish line, as they should."
The man laughed. "Wouldn't expect anything less from our ever so perfect Agent Echo. Have I ever told you how impressed I am by your work?"
"Hm, just about five times… Each cycle."
"Hah, well… Living through the same events over and over again… Honestly, I don't know how you do it. I'd be bored to death after cycle number five."
"Mhmm, I think you'd last three rounds max." Her remark drew another chuckle from her opposite.
"Ah, I missed that snark of yours. Always makes our conversations so enjoyable, don't you think?"
"Glad that you're enjoying yourself, Mobius. But I have quite the bit of work to do and I'm afraid I don't really have a lot of time to do so." She gave him an apologetic look at which he quickly shook his head.
"It's fine, it's fine. Of course. Those reports don't write themselves after all."
"Yep, that's right."
"Alright, I won't keep you from hitting those keys any longer then. It was still good to see you."
"Likewise."
"After that cycle ends you're gonna have a drink with me alright? Non-alcoholic for you of course."
"Looking forward to it."
Nodding goodbye at the brunette, Mobius started walking away from her desk, but after a few steps he turned around again.
"Oh, by the way Lucy- That's a very nice necklace you got there. Really suits you." With that the man continued on his way, leaving a stunned Luciana behind. Subconsciously, she reached for the emerald pendant, closing her hand around it, pressing its heart shape into her palm.

So he noticed it as well, just like she did earlier…

Her thoughts went back to an earlier conversation with the blonde woman she had met up with before actually returning to the TVA.

"That's quite the gem around your neck. Where did you get that from?"
"Uhm, a friend gave it to me as a gift."
"A friend huh~ It's heart shaped. That must be quite the important friend."
"N-not really…"
The blonde let out an amused chuckle.
"What's so funny?"
"Nothing. It just seems like there's something on your mind. Have you finally decided to change what's gonna happen~?"

Luciana still remembered the smug look on the other woman's face as she had asked that question. She hadn't answered her, instead leading the conversation back to the important matter that had been the reason for their rendezvous. But somehow she couldn't stop thinking about it now. Changing what was set to happen- Was that even possible? And if so, how? How could one truly alter the events that the sacred timeline had set as the one true path?
Pondering these questions in her head, she started typing on her computer, writing down what had transpired on the current cycle she was on. However, while typing her report, as always she deliberately left out any of the slight divergences that had occured during her current loop.

And all my friends keep on wondering why
I haven't tried

"If you continue typing for much longer you'll miss your cue to go back."
A voice she could only describe as annoying disrupted her writing flow. Knowing full well who it belonged to, Luciana didn't even bother looking away from the screen of her computer. "I am as good as done, Miss Minutes." she replied half heartedly, scrolling the document back to the top to reread the whole report. Although she had already written more than two dozen of the same reports, all while in a different loop, she had to make sure not to forget anything. After all, these documents would later be checked for any discrepancies in the flow of events by her .
"Clock's ticking."
"Really? I can't hear any sound from you except for your annoying yapping."
"Funny. But the timekeepers won't be very amused when they hear-"
"The timekeepers have nothing to worry about." she cut off the orange clock mid-sentence. Pushing back her chair, Luciana rose to her feet. She casually slipped into her custom made brown jacket which she had hung over her chair earlier. The motion earned her a skeptical look.
"What? I'm done. You're free to check." Luciana gestured at the still glowing screen of her computer at which the organization's mascot only shook her "head". "You have a very bad attitude sweety."
The brunette shrugged. "So? You're free to complain about it. But I think as long as I'm delivering the demanded results, I'm afraid nobody will care."
"As long as you do."
"My, are you implying something unruly here? Miss Minutes I am hurt!" The played wounded expression she made didn't seem to impress her opposite much as the clock only stared at her with the same old face.
"Well, if you will excuse me now. There's a place on the timeline I've got to be."

With that Luciana pulled out the small device in her pocket and started typing something into the screen. A second later the bright orange portal appeared in front of her, waiting for her to step through it.
"Agent Echo, do you plan on going like that?"
The woman halted in her movement, looking down on herself. "Oops. I almost forgot." With a snap of her fingers, her body was engulfed in a bright light and a second later her outfit changed to a business-like attire. "Can't show up in my work gear, can I?" she chuckled before directing a little wave at the clock.
"Have fun, dear."
"When am I not?" Luciana responded with a wry smile, after which she turned and stepped through the portal, sending her to the next stop of her prewritten journey.

I've been down this road before

Stepping out of the portal, she found herself inside some kind of big hall. It had a churchy feel to it and to her right a big staircase led to a windowed wall with a strange symbol in its center. The two men standing at the end of those stairs both stared at her in astonishment as the portal behind her disappeared.
"Oh, you called Lucy for me! That's so nice of you wizard!" the blonde exclaimed in a happy voice before rushing over to her, embracing her in a tight hug.
"Uh, no. That, that wasn't me. That's not what my portals- And he's not listening."
"Lucy! It's so good to see you! It feels like it's been ages!"
"Well, a little over four years. Glad to see you too Thor, but could you let go… I kinda… Can't breathe like… that." the brunette choked out under his strong grip.
"Oh, yeah sure. Sorry. Nice outfit by the way."
Finally free from his grasp, Luciana straightened herself while taking a deep breath. She had to adjust her gray jacket and the black silk tie which had gotten wrinkled from being squeezed. "Thank you. I thought it would be better to adjust to Earth's dressing culture this time around. Anyways, what's the situation? Why are we on Midgard?"
"Oh, yeah, so…"

As Odin's firstborn went on to explain what was going on, the young woman studied the man in the red cloak. He was staring at them with a suspicious look on his face, raising an eyebrow at her when he noticed her stare. However, for whatever reason he chose to remain silent, not questioning her sudden appearance.
"I see. So, we're here to retrieve the Allfather." she said after Thor had ended his explanation.
"You don't seem very surprised Lucy."

"Oh, I am. The statue, I expected, but a play? Really? That seems rather ridiculous, even for Loki. Although, I gotta say I'm curious. What was it like?"
"Pompous. Self-aggrandizing. Excessive. Wait, that's not what I meant. You're not shocked he's alive?"
Luciana chuckled. "Well, it's Loki. The I'm dead, haha not really trick is hardly anything new now, is it?"
The blonde gave her an exasperated look. "You knew!?"
"Uhm, I didn't exactly know. But I had a hunch, I guess. But there really wasn't any time to follow up on it, you know? He sent me out on some kinda mission shortly after you had left and I haven't been to Asgard since."
"That weasel…"

A cough behind them interrupted their conversation. The dark haired man, who seemed rather annoyed by now, was gesturing towards a ring shaped portal next to him. "I'm not keen on keeping this open the whole day, you know."
Luciana gazed through the round-shape at the landscape behind it. She could make out a vast space with green grass and cloudy sky. It didn't seem like there was anything there, no houses, no streets, nothing. Was this really where Odin would be?
"Oh, yeah. Let's go Lucy!"
"Don't forget your umbrella."
"Oh, yes." Thor halted in his tracks, stretching out his right arm. Soon the sound of something crashing could be heard in the distance. The three of them stood in silence as the sounds of things breaking continued, the wizard's face growing more disturbed by the second. The blonde gave a half hearted apologetic look and mumbled "Sorry.", while Luciana laughed nervously. A few seconds later the umbrella finally found its way into the prince's hand and he proceeded to shake the rubble and broken pieces off it. "There we go."
The wizard just stared at him, probably wishing he had never let the Asgardian inside the Sanctum.
"I suppose I'll need my brother back."
"Oh, yeah. Right."

Moving his hands in a circular motion, the other man opened another portal above their heads. Barely a second later, Luciana could already hear screaming coming from the opened space. She turned her head upwards just in time as Loki fell from it, landing on the ground to her feet, flat on his stomach. Wherever he had been before, it didn't seem to have been a pleasant experience. Propping himself up on his arms he yelled in a disgruntled voice. "I've been falling for 30 min!"

While Thor turned towards the wizard again, unfazed, she bent down in front of the second prince with a smug smile on her lips.
"Now I finally understand why you always wanted them to kneel. I think I get the appeal~"
Hearing the familiar voice, his head snapped upwards, his eyes growing wide in surprise. She had left Asgard four years ago and he hadn't seen her since. Why was she here now? And where had she been all this time?
"Need a little help?" she said with a smile, holding out her hand.
"I'm quite fine on my own, thanks." he curtly responded before getting up by himself. Luciana straightened herself up again as well, only to find him staring at her. Or more like studying her, as his eyes looked her up and down.
"What is he doing?" the wizard asked, slightly confused, at which the God of Thunder replied in a whisper.
"It's the clothes, probably. I think it's the first time he's seen her in something other than Asgardian attire."
"Oh. Really?"
"Yeah, so-"

"You do know I can hear you two, right?" the brunette interrupted them, irritated by their gossiping. Having gotten caught, the man in the red cloak coughed once before speaking up louder. "Well, I thought it would be his job, but I guess you're the one who can handle him."
Snapping out of whatever had gotten over him, Loki scoffed. "Handle me? Who are you?"
The next moment he had already unsheathed his daggers, ready to strike at the other man.
"Oh, boy. Here we go…" Luciana sighed.
"You think you're some kind of sorcerer? Don't think for one minute, you second-rate…"
"Alright. Bye-bye."

Obviously having had enough of the Asgardians, the man swung his hand forward and the next moment the round portal moved towards the group of three. The last thing Luciana saw were the orange sparks that flew from it before she found herself on the vast green grass of the Norwegian meadow.

Got an angel in my sight