AN: Hello all! If you've made it this far, I can't thank you enough for hopping into this little timeline of mine. I do hope you enjoy the ride!

And surprise, have a midweek double upload!

Just giving a heads up that this chapter and the next one absolutely go together. They were written as one unit and I recommend reading them as such, although as usual, it's quite a long one!

It wasn't my original intention to give y'all so much Hazel POV in a row, but as they say, you write in the direction your story goes. And I am quite excited to finally be reaching this point—but more on that later. Right now we've got more plot to explore!

Thank you for your time, and happy reading!

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07 Bridge Between

"Double time it, kiddo, c'mon!"

They were near sprinting with panic, hurrying down the corridor in search of the closest Hunter unit. It should've caused Hazel to feel some level or trepidation; that woman always did. But the anxiety rising in her chest had nothing to do with it. Even seeing the soldier brought little reaction, and had the assistant not been so distracted, she very well may have wondered at the fact. It'd been many, many years since that person hadn't immediately caused a flurry of unwelcome emotions through her.

No, there were far more pressing concerns forming in the small woman's mind, flashes of the Variant being caught, dragged, baton swinging at him sure and true—

"Prune on sight!"

That command broke through it all, Hazel's stomach near jumping out her throat. Of course it'd fall from Hunter B-15; that dormant anger sparked low in her twisting gut, hands fisting against tweed fabric. At least Mobius still had his senses, shouting back at the dispersing unit and bringing a wave of relief to her chest.

"No! No pruning, no resetting, he can still help us!" The agent barked, waving off the remaining soldiers in every direction. "He's an asset, not a threat, and if any of you defy that order you'll not only answer to me but to Renslayer as well. Keep that in mind!"

Hazel felt her breaths start to even again as they moved, falling into her usual pace beside the frustrated man. At least Mobius was the highest ranking superior here; to disobey an order from a Special Agent came with high consequences. She just hoped it was enough, that they weren't already too late—

The mere thought of those ocean eyes fading away, disappearing in a haze of screaming lights, alone—

"Mobius," Her voice shook with an emotion she'd yet to name. They were rising up again, eager to take the hollow space that wrenching anger had been. In the back of her mind she knew something was off; Hazel rarely called him by name as it was, and they both knew it. But today had been so different, so new; like a bottle opened wide and spilling out, unable to stop or take back whatever it stained. And the soft pain tinting her words took over, filling the space between them.

"What if—what if they've already pruned him?"

"Please, I can't, not yet —"

Mobius paused, shoes cutting against the tile with the sudden movement. He glanced towards her with that look; the soft concern usually reserved for when no one else could see. The TemPad he'd been furiously typing on was swiftly shut, hand reaching out to clasp at her upper arm. She allowed him to guide her steps, moving them towards an alcove in the hallway, beyond where anyone would pass them by.

It was yet another painfully kind gesture, given at the least opportune moment. As his assistant she felt the urge to chastise him; there was a crisis right now, for Keeper's sake! But after the strain of this day, and that look on his face, Hazel couldn't find it in herself to protest. Frankly she never could, not when he looked so worried.

Stubborn old man. I'm going to miss you.

He glanced over her yet again, that all too familiar look crossing his features. Mobius was thinking, likely too hard, with that knowing gaze slowly taking over.

"Hazel, would it really bother you if they did?"

Everything in her came to a screeching halt. Of all the angles he'd take on this, why that one? Why reach right inside of her and squeeze these swirling emotions, adding to the confusion? Her tongue grew thick, mouth beyond dry without hope of relief. The heat overtaking her face was too quick to hide. Flashes of storming blues overtook the concerned ones before her, that hint of a smile tugging at wry lips—

That hand wrapping about hers, so unnecessarily gentle, and just holding on, to—to her

"Of course it would!" She managed, the words falling out of her in such an unconvincing squeak it was embarrassing. Thank the Keepers no one else was around to hear it. "It took us weeks t-to secure access to a Loki Variant, let alone getting one to actually talk with us! I-If we lost him now, we'd be set back a ton. We can't afford to—I mean, it would really be harmful to—We just—we can't—"

"It'll be okay."

The outright smirk taking over Mobius' face was more than enough to plug her babbling. She glanced away from it, hands fisting in annoyance; why did this man always have to look like he knew everything?! Maybe she would take a swipe at him. He'd said it was okay, and the assistant hadn't actually hit anyone else before, so

"Right, because your main concern with this Variant is the paperwork. Obviously." Mobius pocketed his hands, leaning towards her with that infuriating grin. "That's why you chewed me out on his behalf. Why you got so worked up about it, too. And of course, the paperwork is why you decided to hold his hand, right?" That annoying brow just had to raise at her. "Couldn't be any other reasons, of course not."

Oh, she was definitely aiming for that nose

" Boss!"

He chuckled softly, reaching over and giving her shoulder the usual pat. "It's alright, kiddo. Paperwork gets the best of us all sometimes. I know. It can be hard, confusing, and take a while to understand. I get it. Just be careful with how much paperwork you get into, is all. Don't get too overwhelmed, missy, I need you firing on all cylinders, especially now."

Oh, fine, your nose is safe. Darn you, Mobius.

Hazel managed a soft nod, teeth worry against her bottom lip. The agent had a way of knowing what to say; it was his job, after all, but still. Yet the emotions rolling in her were still fighting for dominance, the conflict playing openly across her face. She never had to conceal herself from Mobius; the man already knew her too well. Hiding anything from this man was pointless.

Yet Hazel couldn't find the words to express what she didn't fully understand, fingers gripping tightly against her skirt as she struggled. Something that couldn't, wouldn't be missed by the observing superior.

Mobius' look turned far gentler, that wave of understanding rising in him as always. It helped settle her racing heart, hand shifting to worry at her ascot. The motion was immediately noted, gaining a quiet sigh from the agent. The number of standard neckwear she'd worn out over the years attested to the nervous habit, after all.

"C'mon, Haze." His soft tone proved to gain her eyes once more, hand squeezing her shoulder in gentle encouragement. "Lay it on me."

That ocean rolling within her crashed, the tides washing over them both at his permission. And for this moment, tucked away here in the depths of the TVA, Hazel allowed herself to dive in once again with abandon, wanting, needing to know—

Mobius, I don't understand. But I want to. So much.

Her palm felt so cold—

"How could you do that?" It fell as a confused, broken whisper, shaking between them against the walls. " Why would you do that ?! I've been with you for years, Mobius, and not once have you ever—have you chosen to be—" She paused, fighting back tears as she struggled for the right words. A deep breath rose in her chest, eyes shutting briefly to steady herself, before snapping back to his concerned blues.

"You're different, Mobius. You're the top Special Agent for a reason, and it wasn't the same as the others. You didn't claw your way here. You earned it, respectfully, properly." It traveled softly between them, gaining her a fond gaze in return. "You've never treated a Variant like—like you did today. And it was…I don't want to see that again. I can't. Because it's—" Her voice hitched, eyes closing with a tight squeeze. "It's not you. Please, please don't—"

"Hazel." He cut her off gently, cautiously, hands shifting to grasp her upper arms in a firm hold. It coaxed her into returning the concerned gaze, that soft look crossing between. "I'm sorry. Really, I am. When I brought you into that room, I didn't fully consider exactly what could happen. I was too focused on what needed to happen. And I should have warned you. I didn't mean to put you through so much today. That's completely on me, and I'm sorry, kiddo. Truly. You're the last person here I'd want to disappoint, and I hope you know that by now."

The tears escaping down her face went mercifully unspoken, as did the trembling breath she took.

"But what you don't realize is the reason I did all that. Because you know me, Haze, I don't do anything without a good reason." He continued, hands slipping away to gesture. Goodness knew he couldn't go two minutes without doing that, the thought almost bringing a smile to her conflicted features.

"You're right. I don't know. But I also can't think of any reason that justifies ripping someone apart until they're broken on the floor." It slipped from her a bit too easily, the anger from before sparking at the image. "Especially when we're trying to get them to help us!"

He gave a sheepish look at that, one hand rubbing at his neck with a sigh. "Yeah, alright, I may have pushed a bit too much, too quick. But you gotta realize that he needed it." His hand rose to cut off the obvious protest rising, pushing forward with a far more serious look. " No, Hazel, he did. I've been studying Loki for ages, read every file, watched every Recall, far more than anyone else here has. More than they'll allow you to. I've analyzed him inside and out, as best as I can, and there's things about him that are all too clear. Things no one's been able to get through to him about. That I really, truly want to help him with. Keyword there—"

Her arms crossed as he went, trying hard not to look as if she were hanging on his every word. Yet, as per usual, she failed miserably at it. And the agent knew it, hooking her quick and reeling her in as clearly as he could.

"Loki's biggest issue is coming to terms with himself. He's an overwhelmingly arrogant narcissist that needs to realize how pointless his need for power is, especially here. And if he doesn't confront himself, if he doesn't see there's more to life than how he's lived it, then he'll never change. He'll never be able to help anyone else, let alone us. Loki needs to face these things, Hazel. Even if it's painful. He has to, or this is all for nothing. That's why I laid into him so hard. The God of Mischief needed a swift kick in the pants, and I've got my best shoes on today. And I ain't done with him yet, missy. Trust me, this is gonna work."

Her heart leapt and twisted at the explanation, the feelings within crying out in protest. Yet the rational part of herself knew he had a point. Understood that such a thing was important; shoving down the past, locking it tightly away without ever fully looking at it again? It was hard. And the places it could lead were even worse. She swallowed thickly, gripping that worn fabric hanging at her neck in a vice.

Yes, she knew that far better than could ever be said. But it didn't change the ache cording in her chest, burning up her throat and carrying softly to the waiting agent.

"Okay, Boss, I get that. I do. But—" She hesitated, thoughts of that long form sprawled on hard tile, that utterly lost pain invading a stormy gaze near causing more tears to fall. "I just—he's just—"

His hand, it trembled, so much

Her eyes snapped up to meet the agents, fighting back the moisture gathering there. "Can't you see he was struggling already? I've never seen a Variant look so—so lost, and confused, and—and so—his eyes were just—" She bit her lip and clenched her gaze, willing her voice not to break.

"He's already so alone, Mobius. Did we really have to make him feel that much worse? To hurt him so much? Because no one deserves that. Not even a Loki."

Especially this Loki.

She tried to ignore the thought, swallowing it down to join the storm growing in her again. That familiar hand took its usual spot at her shoulder, the weight of it bringing a small comfort. It coaxed her into looking up again, hesitantly meeting that gaze, far too old and wise for the face that wore it.

"You really are worried about this Variant, aren't you, kiddo?"

That tone, that soft curiosity he'd prod her with from time to time. It proved to bring a light flush to her cheeks, eyes darting towards the side, unwilling to let the whirlwind brewing reflect against his gaze.

"I just…I think he really could help us, Boss. If he's given the chance to. This one… This Loki just—he seems different. Really different. And maybe…maybe if he's given the choice, he might actually… choose to help us. Maybe he just—" She paused, the rebellious thought passing through and demanding to roll off her tongue. And before she realized it the words escaped, a whisper painted between them in the quiet alcove.

"Maybe this Loki just needs someone to help him realize it."

Even if I may not be here to see it.

She flinched as the thoughts escaped her, near hunching forward in reflex. If she wasn't on the pruning block before, so to speak, the assistant was certainly now. Mobius had spoken of Loki in absolutes; his Prime had grown and changed over time, hence this Variant could as well. That was linear and expected.

Yet everything she said just went against the dogma of the Sacred Timeline. Suggesting this Loki was different without influence; flawed, unusable, something the Time Keepers wouldn't approve. This was a delicate situation to begin with, and throwing that into more turmoil—

First you're insubordinate, now you're a blasphemer. When you go all out, Hazel, you really do. He's gonna turn those shoes on you any second now

Well, if she was going down, it might as well be swinging. Mobius would be disappointed with anything less, the thought spurring her forward, words falling desperately from her aching throat.

"But what do I know? I'm just an assistant. I mean, I shouldn't have even been in there. I have no idea what possessed you to do that, either." She turned away, arms crossing tightly as her voice just kept going. The agent hadn't lied about her motor mouth, as he called it, and it went particularly fast when she was nervous.

"I don't envy the conversation you'll have with Madame Ravonna later about it. I don't have near the clearance to observe Recall Strips, let alone Variant Questioning. You knew that but, once again, the rules don't apply to Special Agent Mobius M. Mobius." Her shoulders bounced as she rolled his name, an aggravated huff escaping with it. "Keeper's forbid he follow any protocols or keep his assistant out of trouble. Of course not. "

Her heart was sinking fast, mouth barely able to keep up as she went. Had she'd looked over and viewed her superior, the gentle fondness crossing his features would've been assurance enough. Yet the small woman kept curling into herself, clutching tightly, waiting for the proverbial axe to drop.

"And what does it matter really? Even if I am worried about the Variant—which I never said I was, by the way, thank you—it doesn't matter. He's a god and I'm sure I haven't crossed his mind once since we left." She'd meant to say 'we', though the 'I' in that thought comment drew a little smirk from her patient superior.

"Good thing too, given I'm p-probably not getting to see him again. N-not after everything I've done today." Her voice began to shake at that, auburn waves hiding the tears breaking down her cheeks.

"You're a mistake."

Just say it already—

"Wh-when is my replacement due?"

It broke softly from her, remaining in that cowed position for the inevitable dismissal. The silence that came at her question was agonizing. Why couldn't he just say it?! Hazel had messed up too many times; there had to be a breaking point. And doing so on this crucial of a mission had to be it. It had to be

"She isn't."

His reply got her immediate attention, watering gaze snapping over with disbelief. Mobius was smiling down at her; soft, kind, and proud. It was a combination she'd only seen a few times before, one she'd locked into her memory, causing her breath to hitch. The warmth rising in her was a welcome flood, blinking at the agent through her tears.

"C'mon, Hazel, you know how much I hate that kind of paperwork." He winked, stepping close to the smaller woman with an ever-softening smile. "I'd handle yours any day, kiddo. And don't you dare doubt that again." His voice grew firmer at the reproach, looking down at her with a warm gaze.

"Who else is gonna chew me out when I need it? I mean really. Did you have to pull the 'disappointed' card, too? Why don't you just sneak one of Loki's daggers and stab me right in the heart, why dontcha?" He shifted dramatically, fist pounding to his chest for emphasis. " Finally found some bravado in you and it's aimed at me. No sympathy for the old coot from the whippersnapper, as per usual."

Hazel wasn't sure if she wanted to hug this ridiculous man or follow through with his request. A strangled noise rose up as she darted forward, every tide within her crashing and receding all at once. His arms were already open, a warm laugh breaking as the assistant nearly knocked him over.

"Easy, easy! Sheesh, for a little thing you could be a linebacker." The chuckles rolled from him, covering the slight confusion rising through her.

That had better be a compliment.

Yet it passed quickly, arms squeezing him tight as they'd go. " Thank you, Mobius." It crackled from her, face buried into that familiar brown coat. He returned the hold with a nod, giving her a small squeeze before stepping back. She collected herself a moment, wiping at her stinging eyes with a soft laugh of disbelief. "R-really, thank you."

"Don't mention it, kiddo. You're my assistant and you're staying that way. Got it?" He mused, and she nodded rapidly, the sheer relief quickly taking over everything else. "You're good at what you do, Hazel. More than you ever take credit for. And I think you may be on to something." It fell in that usual thoughtful tone, retrieving the TemPad and flipping it open idly.

That earned her gaze, blinking up at him with her own rising curiosity. A light flush painted her cheeks at the compliment, waves bouncing as she stepped towards him. "Th-Thank you, Boss, really—but what do you mean?" Her head tilted with a raised brow. He flashed her a quick smirk, fingers darting hurriedly across the device.

"That Loki you're so worried about. You've given me a few things to consider. Important things. So, as usual," He reached over and ruffled her hair, gaining an annoyed sound out of the smaller woman. "You're doing great, kiddo! And look at that, someone came home in time for supper."

The TemPad was flipped towards her, security footage of the Time Theater patched through. And the image that met her brought everything to a halt, breath catching at the sight.

Loki had somehow ended up back in that room—and looked all the worse for it. To see him huddled against the wall caused that ache to prod at her again, hands fisting tight at her sides. At the very corner of the screen, the holoprojector could clearly be read. And it's words made her stomach lurch.

— END OF FILE —

Oh, no, he didn't—!

"Boss!" It fell as a desperate squeak, quickly turning it back and tapping on the screen. The rapid motion gained his attention, brows rising quickly in alarm.

"Oh, God —"

That spark of anger poked at her yet again, hand firmly clenching on a propped hip, leveling the agent with a knowing glare.

"You left the Recall Strip active?! Mobius !"

"I was interrupted!" The agent had moved before the reply came, feet heavy against the polished tile. The telltale clicks of her heels rapidly joined him, the smaller woman determined to keep up. Especially now—

"Do I have to start running checklists again?" It nearly snapped out of her, concern and panic creating a terrible cocktail in her gut. "Ask you three times if something's been done before we move on? Because I will , sir, and this time you'll have no excuse to complain! I just—I can't believe you today!"

" Dis-tract-ed! If they'd just left us well enough alone—"

Variants weren't meant to watch their whole Recalls! Especially this one! Her heart raced terribly as they ran, and the exercise wasn't the only source to blame. Hazel didn't have every fine detail about Loki's life, but the major bullet points had been loud and clear. And if he'd just watched them all, in full graphic detail, then he—

He knows. He knows how it ends. Oh, Keeper's, he knows

Death was an odd concept to grasp within the halls of the TVA. The workers lives were blessed with infinity, going on until the Time Keeper's decided otherwise. They hadn't technically been born, and frankly Hazel wasn't sure if they could die within the facility itself. Yet stepping outside of it, even one foot into the Sacred Timeline, opened up such a risk. She knew what it was, but had thankfully never laid eyes on the results. And to see it happen to yourself

He's alone, he watched that alone

Her distracted mind caused her feet to slip. Colliding with a wall certainly broke the thoughts, a loud noise of discomfort rising at the strike. These stupid heels! At least Mobius had gone ahead and missed this recent embarrassment. Pain laced down her arm as she shoved away, that tingling cold rushing to meet it. She flushed at the odd sensations before she hurried onward, managing to catch up with the agent outside the large doors.

Mobius turned at her approach, one brow raised at the flustered woman. "We really need to work on your cardio, missy." He quipped, glancing about the abandoned hall. The Hunters from before had been fanned out; it wasn't surprising the door went unguarded. And given their privacy Hazel allowed her irritation to show, glaring up at the man while bent in half, attempting to regain her breaths.

"L-last I checked, sir, m-my job didn't include sprinting on the regular. Keeper's sake," She muttered, straightening up and adjusting her outfit proper. It was a brief reprieve before the inevitable, heart twisting in her chest again. One hand rushed to her ascot as conflicted eyes crossed those doors, so intimidating in their own right—let alone for what now waited inside them.

"Mobius, what are we gonna do?" It fell as a shaking whisper, her eyes locked on those all too familiar symbols etched into heavy wood. "He knows. How do we—do you think—could he—"

Hazel hadn't given much thought to her own future. It was obviously here at the TVA; she was made for this, meant for it. She had a place here, and no matter how she felt, that was an absolute truth. Her stomach clenched at the thought, hands fisting tightly. No, not right now, this was not the time to chase that trail. Her days were destined to be here, protecting and preserving the Sacred Timeline, and that was the way of it. Why wonder about a future that's already been set?

She swallowed thickly, nails biting into her palms with a sharp ache.

No, there was something more important right now. And the thought of Loki having to go through his whole life, with her knowing the implications of it—her chest twisted, the pain of it all too familiar. If he wasn't hurting before, it was beyond guaranteed now. And to face such a thing alone

Mobius, I swear I'm hiding your Josta's for a week. How could you be so careless

"I'm not sure yet, kiddo. He didn't look so hot on the monitor." Mobius replied, soft and unsure, gaining her conflicted look. He returned it with a soft smile, shifting to disconnect the baton from his belt. "We'll just have to be careful, alright? One step at a time here. Just stick with me a bit until we get a feel for it, okay?"

The implications were clear; and part of her understood his concerns. There was an unpredictable Variant in there going through emotional turmoil. Yet the sight of that weapon in his hands brought a roll of nausea to her. She'd yet to see Mobius ever use one; agents weren't typically the workers meant for such judgements. It was a failsafe, a defense mechanism, usually reserved in the most dangerous of scenarios. It was necessary, in most situations involving rampant escapees.

But the thought of him swinging it at this Loki, those ocean eyes fading away, forced her to move.

" Boss—" Whatever had come over her today was trickling back in. And frankly if Mobius insisted her position was sound, and no one else was around to pass judgment, she couldn't help but allow them. It washed over her with abandon, that burning need rushing through her hand and latching against his wrist. The contact startled the greyed agent, gaining her a raised brow and curious look.

She swallowed thickly, words turning over in her head. Maybe the racing of her heart was just a new normal, given how much it'd happened today. A deep breath rose as she continued, voice soft between them. "You don't need that." It came out firmer than she expected, her shoulders evening with a determined nod. "He's not going to hurt us. If he wanted to, he'd already have, right? So he's not."

Mobius leveled her with an amused glare, eyes lidded as they met hers. "He threw a chair at me, Haze. A chair. Pretty sure he meant to hurt me then, let alone now."

Her cheeks pinked at the rebuke, though it didn't waver her resolve. She met his stare equally, head tilting with a deadpan tone. "You accused him of mother murder, Boss. And, if I recall, basically told him he was a monstrous man undeserving of any goal he had. So," She leaned forward with a raised brow. "If all he did after that was toss some furniture, I think we're good. Besides, I think he's got more on his mind than us right now."

Mobius blinked at her a moment before giving a long, irritated sigh. The baton was slowly deactivated and returned to its holster, the owner casting an amused glance over her. "Fine, point taken. Sheesh, he's really got you all torn up, eh? Gotta save poor Loki from the big bad Special Agent. Just keep on stabbing that heart, kiddo, your confidence in me is so reassuring."

Her thoughts stalled out a moment, face rapidly matching her hair. What did he mean by all that? Hazel never could tell what his quips meant half the time, but this one certainly held some kind of implication. One that caused her to stutter, heart twisting about in her chest as she gave him a sound glare.

"I am not torn up about anything, I just—I don't think going in there and waving a pruner is going to help however he's feeling, okay?! Keeper's sake, you just—" She muttered, arms crossing as she looked anywhere but at the smirking agent.

"Sure, sure, I get it. And I don't read a jet ski magazine everyday. Why would I ever do that? Got too much paperwork to consider." He smirked and reached for the door handles, her indignation only growing at the comeback. "C'mon, let's go check the damage and offer some clean up."

A frustrated exhale sounded as she followed after him, those twisting emotions rolling over like a swelling tide. Part of her wanted to demand he explain himself; to corner the agent and spill out everything she'd been feeling today. Mobius was always honest with her, and he'd at least try to help. But there wasn't any time for such things, and frankly, there was someone else who needed their counsel far more than herself.

And the moment they re-entered the silent theater, every other thought within her came to an abrupt halt.

Loki had remained in that same position as before. Yet unlike the grainy quality of the monitor video, his features now sat in complete view. And what she found there proved to latch onto the tides rolling across her, bidding the small woman forward with a softening gaze.

If he'd looked lost before, it was nothing compared to now. The conflict that'd been warring in him seemed to linger, painted across a pair of storming eyes. Whatever pains he'd masked had trailed across his whole being; hunched up on the step, elbows buried against propped knees. He looked for all the worlds like he wanted to disappear, fall back into somewhere else, and her heart felt a sharp ache to see it. The downtrodden prince hadn't even acknowledged their presence yet, face dropping into those long hands, as if he wanted to shut everyone and everything out.

Hazel couldn't find it in herself to blame him. After this day, after everything he'd just learned—she couldn't. And seeing him now, knowing all he'd just experienced, it made everything in her want to move. To race across the room and offer whatever reassurances she could think of. To provide this man anything he needed to stop looking like—like that.

Part of her was demanding to do this; to cross that gap between them and go. She had little reference for comforting others; only the harder moments when Mobius had found her, granting his assistant such kindness and wiping her tears. If she didn't have the agent then, she'd rather not consider what it would've been like. No, Hazel wasn't an expert on this, but—

"Listen to your heart, kiddo. When you're alone, when you're sad, when you're confused. Sometimes all we can do is just listen to ourselves, and go with our instincts. Don't worry about the rest, okay?"

And seeing Loki like this, the memory of a gentle chill passing over her, that small, kind smile—

That ocean, so near yet so far, bidding her closer—

And she dove.

Hazel moved. And she didn't look back.