Mabel still hadn't decided whether or not she would take Scarlet's advice, yet already she yearned for and missed Loki's touch.

She'd taken Zabu to get some exercise in the Time Cell. Normally they were used as a form of torture, but she'd managed to rig it to pull from one of Zabu's good memories instead of one of his worst fears. She was sitting on a rock, watching him run through the primordial jungle, chasing a butterfly. He leapt into the air, swiping at it with his paw.

She smiled at the joy on his face. She wondered if he ever missed being a Pet Avenger in his timeline. If he felt fulfilled being a housecat in a small apartment to a lesser TVA Manager.

Her mind drifted back to Loki. His eyes. They'd broken her when he'd looked into her face, before almost kissing her in the library. She could see how much he longed for approval, to be loved just once. He was a damaged darling. A good guy doing bad things. The duality was frightening and exciting.

Scarlet had called him a rotten schemer, but Mabel knew the truth. He was frightened of who he was deep down. That he'd never be good enough.

She couldn't change him, but maybe he wanted to change himself now that he was here. Now that he knew the truth of his future. If only the TVA would give him that chance.

Understanding all of this, the most terrifying part was that she wanted to love him. Not because of his flaws, but despite them. That ancient familiar draw pulling her into his orbit. He was right. She was afraid of the darkness in herself when she was around him.

Finally getting his fill of play, Zabu rested his head on Mabel's lap panting, his gigantic teeth hanging over her legs. She ran her fingers through his rough fur.

"Ready to go home?" she asked.

Zabu mewled and she opened the doorway. He bounded through and she followed, only to stop short in her tracks with a gasp. A woman stood in her living room.

"Judge Renslayer!" she exclaimed. Apparently breaking into her apartment was a new trend.

"Hello Mabel," said Ravonna. She leaned over casually to smell one of Mabel's flowers. "I like what you've done with your apartment."

Mabel's heart raced. Yesterday she would have given anything in the world to have Ravonna Renslayer in her living room, shooting the breeze. She was everything Mabel wanted to be and more, working her way up from Minuteman to Judge.

Today however, she felt a sinking dread in her stomach.

It took everything she had to put on a smile. Zabu seemed to catch on to her guarded demeanor and sat under his sunlamp. He watched Ravonna wary and calculating, but quiet.

"I'm sorry I used the Time Cell for my own benefit."

Ravonna shrugged. "We've all done it." She took Mabel's TemPad from her and started scrolling. Mabel held her breath. When she looked satisfied she hadn't found anything incriminating, she handed it back. She seemed impressed. "Very clever. Using the Time Cell to run through good memories."

"To what do I owe the pleasure?" Mabel asked, sticking the device back in her pocket.

"I thought I'd drop by and see how you're doing. You're Mobius's favorite, and well, I feel I owe it to him to check on you. You're in my chain of command after all."

"I'm honored," said Mabel.

"I think it's time we talked about your career. Do you have a moment?" She gestured to Mabel's couch, and something inside her flinched. Ravonna was requesting as though it were her apartment. Mabel smiled graciously and they sat on opposite ends of the couch.

"I've been impressed with your work lately," said Ravonna. "Your reset rate is top notch, and your stats are great. Everyone in your squad loves you. I think your chances look good for upper management." She sat back and crossed her legs.

Mabel couldn't help the smile on her face. All she'd ever wanted. "Thank you! That means so much coming from you. It's what I've been working toward for so long."

"There's just one thing."

Mabel felt her stomach drop.

"I'd like to talk to you about your association with Variant L1130."

"What about him?" Mabel tried her damnedest to keep the anger from her voice.

"I worry you and Mobius are getting too close to him. He's dangerous. His role on the timeline is a scheming rotten scourge so that other, more worthy beings can achieve greatness. Mobius working with him has my approval, but I wonder why he's come to your apartment twice now?"

Mabel hated to lie. She hated it with every fiber of her being. But her instincts screamed at her now. She put on a smile and opened her stance on the couch.

"Oh that. I'm helping Mobius collect data. We thought maybe the Variant would be more open to someone who acts interested in his exploits. It seems to be working."

Ravonna eyed her shrewdly. "I see. What have you learned so far?"

Mabel forced a light laugh from her throat. "That he loves to talk about himself!"

Ravonna smiled. "That seems to be the case across the board with these Loki Variant's."

"It will all be in my final report to Mobius." Mabel leaned back and inspected her nails casually. "Do you think L1130 will be reset after this?"

"Time will tell, but most likely. Don't worry, you won't have to be in this position for much longer."

Mabel's skin crawled. "That's a relief," she said, the words stinging like poison.

"Just stick to your duties, and I'll put in a good word with the timekeepers."

"Thank you so much," said Mabel. She drew to her feet, eager for Ravonna to be gone. She felt exposed, vulnerable. Why did she no longer desire to do everything the TVA asked her to do?

She walked Ravonna to the door. The judge turned as she exited. "Be careful Mabel. I'd hate to see you squander your chances and have to be deleted."

A shock went down Mabel's spine at the threat. Ravonna's face relaxed into an ominous smile and she started laughing. "I'm joking Mabel, I'm sure you wouldn't be that reckless."

Mabel swallowed and pointed at Ravonna with a strained chuckle. "Of course not!"

"For all time?" said Ravonna with a smile.

"Always," said Mabel.

Ravonna turned and strode down the hallway. Mabel closed the door and leaned back, shutting her eyes tight as she tried in vain to stop her runaway heartbeat. Zabu lifted his hulking frame from his bed under the sunlamp and pushed his head against her leg growling at the door at Ravonna.

"I need to understand these visions. Now," she said.

Zabu looked up at her, his big yellow eyes conveying his disapproval.

"I know you don't like him, but I think it's the only way. I have to go see him."

The ancient cat sighed. He nodded.

"Thanks boy," she said scratching his ears and kissing him on his head. "I'm so glad you're on my side."

He licked her hand with his rough tongue and lumbered to his bowl. She took out a steak for him from the refrigerator and filled her watering can. She walked around her apartment giving each plant a drink and stopped at the planter Loki had stared at the other day when they'd made love the second time. It did look familiar now. Something about it made her think of him. She thought about Loki's hand in hers this afternoon. That warm skin to skin touch that made her heart race, and shivers run through her body. She set down the watering can and made her decision. She wanted him more than a promotion, more than approval from Mobius, and more than the air in her lungs.

She wanted to embrace the darkness.