Apologies for the short chapter. It was getting too long, so I had to break it up, and this made the most sense.
...
Mabel's mind couldn't comprehend what it had just conjured.
A young Loki, his jet black hair shining in the sun on Asgard. He and Thor, running through a field of long grass and wild roses. It was like she'd been right there with them, watching from behind a familiar tree, longing to join so he could show her his firework trick again.
It wasn't real. It couldn't be real.
Maybe it was a trick. Some magic Loki could do to make her see these things. But he was prevented from doing magic in the TVA. Maybe a part of sex she didn't understand; coming together so thoroughly as to share memories.
She wiped her cheek and climbed onto the elevator, pressing the close button as fast as she could. She had to get it together. All she wanted was to go home and bury her face in Zabu's fur, and cry.
That smile. That grin at her admission of the possibility of falling in love with him cut her deep. It was as though he wanted nothing more in the world than to possess her heart. And she wanted to give it to him. But if she did, it would cost them everything.
She breathed in and out trying to slow her beating heart. She still had to correct her file.
Mabel exited the elevator and hurried to the front desk. She rang the bell. The severe head librarian looked up at her from her keyboard.
"Excuse me," said Mabel, her voice shaky. "I'd like to see my file. I think there's some missing information that needs to be corrected. For Mabel M. Mobius."
The librarian regarded her for a moment, then punching in some information, looked up at her with disinterest. "I'm sorry, that file has been checked out."
Her confusing visions gave way to absolute exasperation. "I don't understand. By whom?"
"That's private information."
She huffed. "But it's my private information floating around the TVA."
"No file is private. Only the individual who checked out the file."
Mabel's fists clenched at her sides. This was an exercise in futility. "Good day," she said to the librarian through gritted teeth.
She got into the elevator again and it whizzed her to the transport area. She needed to see Mobius.
