"Sigyn, pay attention." Her mother closed the book.

"I am!"

"You're distracting the princes."

Sigyn let go of the braid she was weaving into Loki's hair, and flopped on her stomach on the blanket spread out under the large sycamore. They looked at each other and he gave her a little smile.

She felt the blush in her cheeks.

"Thor, what do you think of the passage?" asked her mother.

"I think I'd rather be out hunting than listening to this dullard drone on about love."

"You mistake the meaning of the passage brother," said Loki.

Thor rolled his eyes and wielded a stick like a sword.

"Mercutio is speaking of madness. Feuding families and those caught between. How chaos can cause collateral damage. Is that right?" he asked.

"Very good young prince! Impressive. Despite your age you're very cunning."

"Of course he is," said Sigyn.

Loki smiled at her again.

"And what do you think my girl?" asked her mother.

Sigyn screwed up her face thinking. "I think it can still mean a metaphor for love. That love can drive us mad and make us to do things we wouldn't normally."

"Yes indeed," said her mother. "It's something to think on isn't it? What a clever girl."

"Of course she is," said Loki.

Sigyn looked up. They smiled at each other again.

The vision was gone. Mabel gasped and panted, holding Loki as tight to her body as possible.

"Mabel, what's wrong?"

Tears poured out her eyes. "Hold me. Hold me please."

He rolled them over and tucked her head under his chin. "Tell me what I did to hurt you."

"Nothing. Just, can you hold me for a while? Just hold me."

She took deep breaths, her cheek against his shoulder, her arm tight around his torso. He ran his hand along her back.

Her whole life at the TVA was a lie.

Mabel propped herself on her elbow and gazed down at him. His hand was in her hair, stroking with gentle pulls. She ran her fingers over his muscles, and he let out a deep guttural sigh every time she dragged her nails over his skin.

"Will you tell me now what you saw?" he asked. He took her hand, kissed her knuckles and held her fingers against his chest.

"I will once I finish it. There's more to it, I just need more information."

"And if I'm not around?"

"Don't say that," she said burrowing her face into his chest. "Please, don't say that. We'll find a way. I'll find a way."

"Sh. Don't worry darling," he said stroking her neck. "I have my own scheme. Soon as I find the other Variant, I'll…"

She looked up at him. Her vision was real, she had a life before this place. She had a loving mother. She had a future. And she wanted it back. With him. "Tell me."

"I don't want you complicit. Suffice to say, survival is my forte." He caressed her cheek with his thumb.

"It is, isn't it?" She stared into his blue eyes. They were tender, sweet. She wanted to look into those eyes for eternity. And as soon as they found the Variant, she already knew she would help him. Free Mobius, free Scarlet, free Zabu and her friends. Bring down this organization that had stolen a life with him in the beauty of Asgard. Or wherever they ended up. It didn't matter. As long as they were together. Her glorious purpose.

He kissed her eyelid softly, and her heart swelled at the gesture.

"It is," he said. "Now why don't you tell me why you started speaking Asgardian while I was making love to you?"

She paused, nuzzling her forehead against the sharp jut of his jaw. Had she? "Didn't you like it?" she asked, trying to cover.

"I loved it." He tilted her chin up. "I'm not sure how to say this…" He pulled her up and she drew her leg over him straddling his torso. She slid down, dropping kisses along the heated skin over his muscles. She felt him grow hard under her. "I've never felt…" He drew her up to his face. "I've never felt worthy of…"

"Sh…" She kissed his neck. He leaned it back so she could cover it with her mouth, over and over and lick into that dip at the apex of his throat and chest. She couldn't think about tomorrow. She couldn't think about how her heart was so completely his; that the thought of him being pruned stole the breath from her body and froze her blood. About how they were falling in love together. She wouldn't kiss his mouth yet, but she would show him how much she cared. "I need mischief."

He grinned. "Then mischief you shall have." He rolled her over.

As Loki dressed, he looked down at the naked woman lying asleep in his bed. She was on her stomach, the sheets askew, her soft flesh visible in the places the blankets refused to cover.

Undeniably, this wasn't part of the plan. Then again, being in this god-forsaken wasteland of concrete and dim lighting wasn't either. He drank in the sight of her. He could adjust.

No one had ever believed in him like she did. It made him want to prove himself for her. She'd ruined his life in the best way. He was different because of her. He wanted to make her his queen. They could rule this place together, and then he could… He could fulfill his new glorious purpose. The one he'd made up his mind to finish the day he arrived after viewing his life roll before his eyes on screen. Nothing else was more important.

Accept for her.

Mabel's sleeping form, her back rising and falling with her shallow breaths stole his heart again.

She rolled over and stretched, and his blood turned hot. He tightened the knot in his tie and crawled over her, pulling her softness into his arms as she blinked awake.

"Mm," she purred, pushing her face into the crook of his neck to place a heated kiss under his jaw. She opened her mouth to caress the spot with her tongue. The blood rushed straight to his cock.

"Time to rise darling," he said as he brushed the hair from her eyes. He'd never imagined he would be having a moment this domestic with someone. It had seemed boring, useless. Now, he didn't want to leave.

"Time for you to rise," she said, molding her body to his, winding an arm around his neck. She put her hand over his burgeoning arousal in his trousers. He groaned as he kissed her temple, her eyelids, longing to fit his mouth over her those plump lips that were so very tempting. But he'd wait like she'd asked. For now.

"Shocking behavior," he said, mirth in his voice. "Who are you, my little temptress?"

Her eyes became fiery as she slid her leg around his. He had to stop himself from unbuckling his belt and taking her again. Five times in one night. She was insatiable, and he was spent. "I know I'm irresistible, but we have work."

"Shocking behavior. Who are you my little worker bee?" she asked, kissing at his neck.

He smirked. "If you keep that up, I'll never leave."

"Good." She genuinely looked like she didn't care about her job. He wanted to believe it was all for him, but somehow he knew it had to do with her vision.

"I don't relish the idea of agents rushing in and deleting me whilst naked and on top of you." He held the back of her head in his hand, going over her forehead and cheeks and chin with his lips.

She grew serious.

"No one is going to delete you," she said, looking into his eyes.

"Mabel. I have plans, and should those plans fail…"

"Just come back to me when you find the Variant. By then I'll have all the information I need. And I'll help you." She rolled out of his arms and pulled on her underwear as he watched.

He sat up and drew her onto his lap holding her chin. "Do you want to be with me?" he asked.

She held his face in her hands. "More than anything."

"Then I'll come back. I'd do anything for you."

Her heart overflowed. It was his. She did what she'd waited to do until it was right. She pressed her lips to his.