"State your name, age, species, and any special abilities." Loki said in a bored voice.

He was working at the TVA and they had brought in what he assumed was another Variant. She was a Japanese woman, with dark hair, caramel skin and strangely, bright blue eyes, eyes that he would have otherwise thought belonged to a seer like Heimdall.

But honestly that was the only interesting thing about her. She was in a college uniform, and just looked like a boring mortal student.

But the strange thing was the security presence. There were TVA officers guarding the door and pacing the hallway. So what was it about this mortal, he wondered, that warranted such discretion.

"Hmm…" the girl drummed her fingers on the desk. It was a peculiar drumming, like she was playing the piano. "I'm called Kurai, for now, I suppose."

"Pray tell, what is so hard about a name?" Loki said, irritated. "Can't you just answer the question?"

Kurai smiled. "I'll answer the real question. Why am I here?"

"You're a Variant," Loki said, bored again.

"I'm not a Variant," Kurai continued. "I'm here because I stole people from the sacred timeline before their death."

Loki raised an eyebrow, finally interested. "How...unusual. Care to explain yourself?" He leaned forward, resting his arms on the table. "I'm all ears."

"If someone is about to die I can't stop their death—that would make them a Variant. like you."

A flash of irritation crossed his face, but it was quickly replaced by a smirk. "Ah, I see. You do have a point there, Kurai. Death is a part of the timeline, after all. But stealing someone from their timeline before their death..."

Kurai laughed happily. "I wish I could say it was my idea."

Loki chuckled dryly, continuing to write in his notebook. "Oh? Someone else's idea, you say? Now that is a twist I didn't see coming." His eyes flicked up to meet yours, teasing and playful. "Who was it that had such a brilliant idea?"

"Well, your working for the timekeepers, I have a council of elders."

His eyes widened slightly at the mention of a council of elders, and he sat back in his chair, regarding her with newfound interest. "A council of elders, you say?" He set down his pen, steepling his fingers together as he leaned back in his chair. "Well, well, well."

"Weeeeell…" Kuri sighed. "They saved me from dying. they froze my time so to speak. So that way, I'm not a variant, and no one here at the TVA notices me taking people from their deaths. No variants. No body, no crime."

His lips quirked in a sly smile. "Crafty. I like it. And how many lives have you saved so far? Are they people who deserved to live or just those who were lucky enough to catch your attention?" He raised an eyebrow, intrigued by this new information.

"A little of both." Kurai said, evading the question. "Anyway. I was on my way to save you, when the Avengers screwed everything up and you ended up here.

Loki's smile faltered for a moment, a hint of disappointment flashing across his face before it was quickly replaced by amusement. "Oh? You were on your way to save me?" He chuckled, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "Well, isn't that just like you.'

"Well not really." Kurai laughed. "I'm kinda on a good guy policy. My bosses don't like you at all. So this is… a bit of a rebellion on my part. But I've become convinced that you, Loki, are worth it."

"You might regret that." Loki laughed, a deep and genuine sound that sent shivers down her spine. "So you've rebelled…" He leaned forward, his eyes locked with Kurai's as he studied her. "Well, I must say, it's quite an interesting twist. And as for me?"

"I'm here to take you away." Kurai whispered to him. "Where your skill can be put to good use."

Loki's smile became predatory as he leaned back in his chair, studying her with a gleam of interest in his eyes. "Oh, really? And where exactly do you plan on taking me?"

"To the place the Elders created." Kurai said. "Ageha, a place for second chances. A place where time stands still."

His eyes narrowed slightly, a hint of suspicion creeping into his gaze. "The place they created, you say?" He paused, considering his next words carefully. "And what exactly do you plan on doing with me once we're there?"

"Well Loki," Kurai leaned forward, and her next words shattered Loki's world. "How would you like to see your mother again?"

Loki's eyes widened, a flash of shock crossing his features before they narrowed once more. A long, tense moment passed, and then he let out a low, disbelieving laugh. "You...you know about her, do you?"

"She died," Kurai said bluntly. "And anyone who dies, I know about. I saved her, and she is where I'm going. She's the one who convinced me to come for you."

His laughter died abruptly, and for a moment, he looked absolutely stunned. Then, slowly, his expression shifts to one of disbelief and hope. "You saved her?" He swallowed hard, the muscles in his throat working as he tried to contain his emotions. "That would mean..."

"That woman is almost as charming as you. she convinced me to save you, and she keeps trying to get me to fall for you. Imagine that, huh?"

Loki's eyes widened, a mixture of shock and a hint of something that almost looked like fondness or even love crossed his features before he regained his composure and his cocky smirk returned. "Well...if she's almost as charming as me, maybe she's worth keeping around."

"Would you like to see her?" Kurai held out her hand, stepping hard on the ground. A golden light shot up from the ground where she stepped. The beam of light reminded him of the Bifrost.

He hesitated for only a moment, his hand hovering just above hers as he weighed his options before he finally grasped her hand firmly, his expression determined and hopeful. "Yes. Please."

The two entered the ley line and vanished into the world of frozen time.

They were never heard from again.