LAMENTIS:

Loki sat on the rock with Sylvie, watching the pieces from the planet above hurling toward Lamentis. Soon, very soon, he would die. He resigned himself to his fate, as he had done so many times before. This time however, he didn't see a way out.

His mind drifted back to Mabel. His sweet muse, his new purpose, his heart's song. What must she think of him? He could die here. That was alright. But having Mabel think he'd abandoned her was too much.

She'd come to him yesterday with no reservations, revealing her body and her soul to him. That familiar pull, like destiny trying to piece them together to make a whole.

Then she'd kissed him, and it was the sweetest kiss he'd ever received. It was full of her love and devotion. A kiss that knit them together. He'd eagerly met her lips with kisses of his own that told her he loved her back, holding her warm body close to his.

Now knowing what he knew about Variant's and the TVA, he wondered who she'd been on her timeline. Something adorable like a children's teacher or a florist. And yet, there was a fierceness behind her eyes that said she was not to be underestimated as a warrior. He thought about how strong she was, almost Asgardian strong. Like when she lifted Zabu like he was nothing, flipping himself over her shoulder in her kitchen, knocking him flat.

He'd never get to find out who she was now. He felt his heart breaking.

And breaking that he would never get to fulfill his new Glorious Purpose. He'd let everyone down that he'd ever met.

He looked at Sylvie, a better version of himself. One not trying to rule, but just right wrongs. Were all the women in his life to show him up in everything? She felt closer to him now than Thor. When he'd met her, he hadn't expected a female him. But at this point in this ludicrous TVA escapade, nothing shocked him anymore. And a day with her made him feel not so crazy. She was like a sister now.

"I'm sorry you don't get to go back to your love," said Sylvie.

He half smiled, feeling the ache at being forever away from Mabel. "I'm sorry you'll never see your postman again."

She smirked sadly. "Do you think what makes a Loki a Loki is the fact that we're destined to lose?" she asked.

"No," said Loki. "We may lose. Sometimes painfully. But we don't die. We survive."

She took his hand and smiled at him. Sylvie was amazing. If he could love this version of himself sitting beside him, maybe he could learn to love himself too.

Loki smiled back. Three women had changed his life forever. His mother who believed in him. Sylvie who understood him.

And Mabel. The woman who accepted and loved him.

The meteors hit the planet, and he closed his eyes, ready for the end.

A familiar reverberation noise came from behind them. He jumped up as two orange doorways opened.

"I just wanted to tell you we got both of them," said Mobius. He stood at Mabel's desk, leaning on it.

She'd already heard. They'd been in interrogation for hours.

Mabel stared at her screen blankly. The numbness ate away at her insides. She looked up at Mobius, and he flinched.

"Good."

Mobius put his hands on his hips and blew out a breath. "Mabel. I know I told you they were working together, but now I'm not so sure. He said something to me…"

"Whatever it was, it was a lie." She expected hot tears to come, but all she felt was a creeping chill.

Mobius pulled up a chair and sat down. He leaned closer. "You and I are alike. We both believe in second chances. What happened kiddo?"

Mabel looked back at her screen avoiding Mobius's searching stare. "I'm not a child anymore," she said. "Some people are the same forever. They never change."

"You don't believe that."

"What do you want me to say?" she snapped. Several managers looked in their direction.

The coldness went up her spine and down her arms. She'd been deceived twice. Once on the sacred timeline and once here. Never mind how his blue eyes still seared a hole right through her in her mind's eye. They were destined to repeat the same cycle over and over again. He'd known who she was and knew he could play her for a fool. "Do you want me to say I fell for him? That I love him more than I've ever cared about anything? That he cares for only himself, and always will? I won't be duped again."

Mobius put his hand on hers. "Oh kiddo. I'm sorry you're hurt."

"I'll be fine." She poised her fingers over her keyboard but couldn't move.

"You bring out the best in people you know. You inspire them to be better. I just want to leave you this from the interrogation. Watch it when you have the chance." He downloaded a file onto her TemPad. "I also wanted to tell you what a pleasure it was being your mentor."

She looked up surprised. "What do you mean?"

"Exactly what I said. I need to speak to Ravonna." He kissed her on the forehead like he had so many times before.

A wave of dread crashed over her and she stood as he walked away.

"Mobius!"

"Yeah?" he said turning around.

She ran to him and hugged him around his middle. "Please don't do anything stupid."

He patted her head and held her arms, then chin bumped her.

"What did Loki say to you?" she asked.

Mobius lowered his head and whispered in her ear. "He said the TVA is lying to us."

"I need to speak with the Variant," said Mabel to the Minute Man outside the Time Theater. "Mobius's orders."

"I don't think so," said Hunter F-31.

She flashed him a counterfeited permission that she'd programed on her TemPad and he rolled his eyes.

"Two minutes," he said.

She entered and opened the Time Cell door. Mabel walked in to find Loki on his knees in the palace, the time collar around his neck. She resisted the urge to run and help him up. A lump rose in her throat at very handsome he was. Just the sight of him made heat wash over her, and her heart beat faster. But she couldn't…

He looked up from his position on the ground, and when he saw her, his face lit up like the heavens over Asgard.

"Mabel! Mabel darling!" He pulled himself to his feet and took a long step toward her but stopped.

She was sure her anger showed on her face. She breathed deeply, summoning her courage. "I only have two minutes and I need to get this all out. Why did you betray me?" she asked.

He sighed. "I didn't mean to leave. I was pursuing Sylvie, and…"

"Just stop, please. You know we're all Variant's now right?"

"I do," he said confused. "How do you know?"

"My vision. My memories."

Comprehension dawned on his face. "I was helping your memories return."

"Little did you know what you'd unleash." Her Asgardian accent returned. "That Sigyn would remember what you did to her."

Loki stared at her, his eyebrows knit and eyes wide. "Sigyn. Sigyn. You can't be. That's impossible."

The time door opened again, and a Minuteman grabbed her arm. "Time's up," he said. He yanked her through before they could say another word to each other, as she watched Loki's face crumple in heartbreak and confusion.