The pair barrelled into the mining shelter, ground still shaking as Loki closed the door behind them, facing the door as he took a step back, letting out a few panting breaths, heart racing from adrenaline. Loki shook his head slightly, hands coming to rest on his hips, taking a few steps further into the structure.

That's definitely one way to get the blood pumping.

He leaned against the wall, head resting back against the metal, eyes closed as he caught his breath.

The woman's own breaths came out quick and heavy, eyes surveying the shelter, seeing if there was anything they could use to charge the TemPad. But of course, there wasn't. At least not anything powerful enough. She let out a sigh, her hands moving to rest on her hips as she glanced over at Loki, seeing him catching his breath.

"Bit out of practice, huh?" She asked breathily, smirking ever so slightly. Loki lowered his gaze from the ceiling, looking over at her. "A little bit rusty?" She prodded, raising a brow as Loki sent a brief glare her way.

"I am not 'rusty'." Loki rebutted, brows creasing as he straightened himself. "In fact, quite the opposite, thank you very much." He said loftily, raising his chin. The woman let out a scoff, turning away from him, missing the look he sent her way. "So, what now?"

"Now, I find a way to get us out of the mess you got us in." She said with a huff, folding her arms over her chest, before finally looking back at him.

Not much has changed there I suppose.

"If you hadn't have tried to stall me and go on about overthrowing the Time Keepers-"

"Oh, please-" It was Loki's turn to scoff. "You never would've made it to the Time Keepers."

"Is that right?"

"Yes."

"Well, we'll never know because someone derailed my plans-"

"Your plan was mediocre at best-"

"Yeah, well, you'd know all about mediocre plans."

Loki blinked at her words, taken aback. He was finding she had quite the skill at catching him off guard with her quips. The pair let out a few heaving breaths from their bickering, eyeing each other before the woman looked away, once more looking round the structure they found themselves sheltering in.

"I don't know who you think you are-" Loki began lowly, tone a mix of irritation and arrogance, but the woman quickly cut him off, holding up a hand.

"I'm going to stop you right there." She paused. "Last thing I need right now is your arrogant bravado, so if you don't mind."

The little...

"Yes, well, unfortunately for you, this arrogant bravado has the TemPad in his possession." Loki replied smoothly, a smug grin pulling at his lips as he shrugged. "Unless you had forgotten." He creased his brows, tone mocking. "So I suggest you play nice."

"Oh, so you know how to recharge the TemPad then?" The woman asked, raising her brows, her own voice taking on a mocking tone.

Damn.

Loki's smug smile dropped, jaw tightening as he glanced down at the floor, realising she was right. He didn't know how to charge the device. Or even how to work it really. Mobius made sure he couldn't get his hands on such a device during his time in the TVA.

"Yeah, exactly." The woman said with a sigh, waving her hand dismissively. "So if anyone should 'play nice'..." She paused, giving a false tight smile. "It's you."

God, he makes it so easy to put him in his place.

The woman began to head towards the door, knowing they had little time to find a power source, charge the TemPad and get off of the doomed moon before disaster struck. And she most definitely didn't fancy being blown to bits, especially not when she had her plan to try and salvage.

"Where are you going?" Loki asked, brows furrowed.

"For a pleasant stroll." She quipped back sarcastically, stopping by the door. "Where do you think I'm going? To try and find something powerful enough to charge the TemPad." She rolled her eyes, reopening the door as she briskly stepped back outside, the meteor shower having calmed.

"Right." Loki muttered under his breath before scrambling after her.

The duo walked through the rocky terrain, the violet sky giving everything a purple hue, making it look almost pretty. If it wasn't abandoned and on the brink of destruction. The woman strode ahead, moving with purpose as Loki rushed after her a few feet behind.

"So, what's the plan?" Loki called after her, letting out a breath. "Will you slow down!"

"If you haven't noticed, we're kinda in a time sensitive situation." The woman quipped back, not bothering to look at him as he caught up to her. "So, no I won't 'slow down'. Keep up, your highness." She sighed. "And there has to be something nearby that can power the TemPad. A city, a generator, something." She shrugged, eyes scanning their surroundings.

"You seem pretty calm despite the circumstances." Loki commented, eyeing the woman.

"Well, when you've lived years in apocalypses, you learn pretty quickly it's best to keep a calm head." She replied cooly, side glancing at the God. "Panic and you make mistakes."

"Ah, mistakes." Loki mused, feigning thought. "Yes, I know them quite well." He smirked, glancing down at the woman, eyes dancing with amusement. She turned to look up at him, rolling her eyes, but the quirk of her lips said she appreciated the lightness. "And if you know me, then you already know that." He was fishing, trying to get more out of the mystery woman from his future.

"Subtle." The woman commented, raising a brow.

"Thank you." Loki nodded, smirking still. "I take pride in my diplomatic nature." The woman huffed out a wry laugh.

"Please, you're as subtle as a bull in a china shop." She said, tone coloured with amusement as Loki frowned.

I'm diplomatic. I can be. When I want to be.After all, they don't call me the God of Lies and Silver-tongue for nothing. What does she know anyway?

"So-" Loki broke the silence once more, both of them still walking at a brisk pace. "Variant, do I at least get to know your name?" The woman pursed her lips, seeming to think about it for a moment, Loki waiting with an arched brow.

"Ruri." She said finally said, looking ahead once more.

So, definitely Midgardian then.

"Ruri." He repeated, testing how it sounded on the tongue, before giving a small nod, looking ahead also.

Delicate yet strong.

His eyes flickered over her, taking in the quiet strength as she walked, despite her smaller stature, she certainly was no mouse. Her attitude towards him was enough proof of that. Daring to speak to a God in such a way. He found he didn't mind it. It was... refreshing. Not that he would admit that, no. Mobius also held him in a similar regard, not putting up with any of his 'crap' as Midgardian's would say.

He took in her appearance, the black leathers she wore, slight padded armouring on her torso, slightly baggy trousers made for movement in battle, clearly.

Quiet strength, indeed.

"Someone from my future..." Loki began to muse quietly to himself, eyes glancing around them. "Someone who has my dagger, speaks to me as if we have some sort of... rapport." He pursed his lips, raising his chin faintly. "Guarded and cautious, yet brash and rather blunt."

"Are you finished?" The woman- Ruri sighed. "Can we focus on the task at hand?" She added, tone holding a note of exasperation.

"I'm just trying to figure out why you won't simply tell me who you are." Loki shrugged, narrowing his eyes, side glancing at her. "It could make this..." Loki paused, trying to find the right word. "Alliance... easier."

Alliance. Such a simplification... But I know... For him, that is all this was.

"No, what would make this easier is if you stop asking questions and let me get on." Ruri raised a brow, tilting her head as she regarded him.

"You're rather prickly." Loki commented, a hint of amusement tugging at his lips. "For one so small." He paused. "Or maybe it's because of that fact." His tone held playful teasing, eyes trailing over her, both of their paces slowing slightly as they walked. Loki put his hands in his trouser pockets, looking casually around them.

Ruri shot a glare Loki's way, seeing the amusement in his eyes.

Asshole.

"I have good reason to be 'prickly'." She huffed out, straightening her back subconsciously. "And I'm not that short. You're just freakishly tall." She retorted back, voice sounding like a petulant child almost, only making Loki's smirk widen.

"I think you'll find I'm average height for a God." He mused loftily. "And the word 'freakishly' is a little harsh don't you think?" He glanced down at her, brow raised. "You're lucky I don't offend easily."

That's a lie.

Ruri simply made a 'pfft' sound in disbelief, shaking her head. "Sure you don't." She muttered, leaving Loki once again blinking in surprise at her words. Her eyes stayed ahead, spotting what looked like a settlement in the distance. "There." She nodded towards it, once more quickening her steps. "Let's go see if there's anything we can use for the TemPad, or find someone who would know where to look."

Back to business.