"She'll be alright," said Scarlet. She patted Loki's arm. "Sylvie said she's recharging."
He nodded, his lips pursed. He knew this, but still refused to leave her side.
Loki sat next to Mabel's sleeping form in the little ramshackle hut. Zabu was at her feet. She'd been placed on a mattress, two clean blankets he'd conjured lay underneath and over her. He hadn't left her side since he'd brought her to the field.
After removing the dagger and cauterizing the wound, he'd carried her out of the garage, up through the city ruins. When he'd reached the top, he was met with two armies, two dead Loki's, several injured. He'd found that after his counterpart had left the battlefield, they'd all lost the fight in them, and just held their weapons at bay. He understood the feeling. He was tired of fighting himself too.
Scarlet left the hut.
Loki took Mabel's hand again, stroked the soft flesh, held her knuckles to his lips.
"Wake up darling," he said. He didn't think anyone could be this precious to him. Only Thor and his mother had ever fought for him, and what a mess he'd made of that. He'd do better this time.
He didn't know if she could hear him or not, but he spoke anyway.
"I didn't know I needed anyone to believe in me," he said. "I haven't thought much of myself since you… Your version in my timeline, fell from the Bifrost. Before that happened, I remember playing, you and I, in the rose field. You jabbed me in the gut with your wooden sword quite skillfully in fact, rendering me useless on my back. You knelt beside me immediately and told me to lie still." He chuckled sadly. "You said… you said that you'd take care of me.
I told you that wasn't how warriors fought. That you had to finish me off if you wanted to be strong. Now I know you were right. It's what we do for each other that makes us strong. I think you've always thought that way, even in your timeline. It's what I…" The word was there. It caught in his throat in the best way. It felt good, right. 'It's what I love most about you."
"I need a favor," said a voice behind him.
He swiveled. Sylvie stood in the doorway, her hand on the frame. She sat down next to him. "I can't wait anymore. It's time to bring them down."
"What do you need me for?"
"We can enchant the monster together."
"I don't know how…"
"Why do you think her memories returned?" she said, gesturing to Mabel.
"Because I was enchanting her?"
"You were connecting soul to soul while you were… I assume I know what you two were doing."
He couldn't believe he actually felt a blush bloom on his cheeks.
She ignored his glance away from her. "You know how to connect to someone's consciousness. It's no different, we could enchant Alioth together."
"I can't leave her…"
Sylvie bent down and put her hand on his shoulder. "We're doing this for her. So no little girls get brainwashed or taken again. Just for living their lives. We're doing this for all our Sigyn's."
He ran his hand down his face. "I know you're right but…"
"Let her heal, help me get past Alioth, and I'll do the rest. There are two TemPad's. She brought one, Scarlet brought the other. You and Sigyn can go wherever you want once I'm past the cloud and live freely."
He nodded. "Alright."
He leaned forward and kissed Mabel on the temple, her skin soft under his lips. "Take care of her," he said to Zabu. The Tiger whimpered and nodded. Loki held out his hand tentatively. Zabu leaned forward. Finally he made contact with his head and ruffled his fur. The cat gave him a loud purr.
"So you did enjoy that steak I brought you," he said.
Zabu shrugged.
Loki smiled and followed Sylvie out the hut, running right into Mobius.
"Mobius!" Loki hugged him fiercely. He was so glad he was alive. He hadn't gotten to talk to him since setting Mabel down in the tent.
"Mischievous Scamp," he said, slapping his back.
"I didn't mean for her to get hurt," said Loki.
"I know you didn't."
"I'm going to help Sylvie. Look out for her until I get back?"
"I'm headed back to the TVA as soon as she wakes up."
Loki furrowed his eyebrows. "Why?"
"To burn it to the ground."
Loki smiled. "Good luck my friend. Thank you for coming to find me."
"Hey, it's what friends do."
He gave Mobius another fierce hug and followed Sylvie down the hill.
…
Mabel took in a sharp breath, coughing and gasping. Everything hurt. Her muscles, her head, her eyes. She blinked, as her vision came into focus. Above her was splintered wood and a rusting corrugated metal roof. "Where am I?" she asked.
In answer, she felt a warm huge animal crawl onto the mattress she was laying on and put his full weight on her.
"Zabu, sweetie, I love you, but you're killing me," she grunted. He mewled and lay next to her rubbing her head with his. She stroked his fur. "I'm glad to see you too."
"You finally awake?" asked a voice. Mobius stood over her on the other side.
She smiled. "Barely. Where's Loki? Oh god, is he alright? He was chained, and cold, and burned. I need to see him…" she struggled to sit up, but Mobius put a hand on her back helping her sit up.
"Whoa, whoa, he's fine. Take your time."
"What happened?"
"Your ex stabbed you, and Loki… dispatched him, and carried you back to us."
Mabel's head hit the mattress. It all came back to her. Her eyes pinched shut. No matter what, to be so hated by someone you used to love hurt. It hurt deeply.
"Where is he?"
Mobius sat on a broken chair and leaned back with a groan. "He's helping Sylvie get beyond the horrifying purple cloud monster."
Mabel sat up instantly, her breath stealing away as sharp pains stabbed into her muscles. "I told her I'd help her, I made a promise. What if Loki gets destroyed, what if…?"
"Mabes, you have to calm down. You're going to put yourself in another coma."
She sighed as a hot tear rolled down her cheek. "In the garage… He got the jump on me… I'm useless."
Mobius moved to the ground next to her, cross legged. "Whoa. I don't like to hear this talk. That was not your fault, do you understand? His sort do not play fair. And by that, I mean abusers, not Loki's."
"It's not just that. I don't know who I am anymore." More tears, more confusion. "I don't know what's up or down. I don't know what's right or wrong."
"Listen, I don't know what you prefer to be called, but I can tell you this. You are strong. You're kind and smart and you want to help people. You'll rush into danger to do so. It doesn't matter that you have powers, or that you were a damn fine Hunter at the TVA. What matters is your integrity. Keep loving big, keep believing in second chances. Ok?"
She sniffed, her nose stuffed up as big tears splashed out her eyes. "I'm going to miss you so much," she said through a strained voice, knowing this was goodbye. He was going back.
"I'll miss you too."
"Mobius?" she asked wiping her nose, salty tears burning her cheeks. "Who are you?"
He smiled. "How'd you know I remembered?"
"You're still my Mobius, but you seem… different. Sylvie helped I'm guessing."
He nodded. "My name is Dwight. Guidance counselor, John Adams middle school, Galveston Texas. Family man."
"Of course you were," she said smiling, taking his hand. She bit her lip hesitating. "Why did you give me your last name?"
"You have more than that." The sigh he breathed was filled with heartache, and she felt it down to her toes. "You know how we name our Hunters when they move up to managers?"
She nodded.
"I think somewhere deep inside I knew I was naming you after my daughter. You reminded me of her. Still do."
Mabel closed her eyes. "Oh Mobius." Grief was heavy on his shoulders. "She's gone isn't she?"
It was his turn to nod.
"I'm honored. I'm so honored. She was so lucky to have you."
He squeezed her hand. "Listen, you don't have to go by that if you don't want to. It's not your real name."
"I'm happy to for a while longer."
"Can I join?" asked Scarlet from the opening in the shack.
Her best friend was a much needed break from the sorrow of this conversation. "Scar!"
Scarlet jumped on the mattress and hugged Mabel to her. "Girl, you had me so worried."
"I'm ok. You ok?"
Scarlet pulled away and held up her pinkie. Mabel smiled and linked hers.
"Listen, I'm going back with Mobius…" said Scarlet.
A tremor of alarm went down Mabel's spine. "But you're free now. We're out. You could have a life…"
"We'll never be free until they've been destroyed. You know how it works. I already exist again in my timeline. I could never go back. I have to do my part."
"Listen Mabes," said Mobius. "If Sylvie doesn't get beyond the cloud, and Scarlet and I fail inside the TVA, then I want you to run. I want you and Loki to run."
Mabel stared at them. "We could help…"
"You can help. Scarlet and I have a plan if you're up for it."
"Yes," said Mabel.
Mobius made a fire, and Zabu settled against Mabel and Scarlet, receiving extra pets as Mobius laid out his proposal. Alligator Loki had slithered in and parked himself next to Zabu and closed his eyes. The Tiger did nothing to get him to move.
