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Chapter Text

He finds him out back at the edge of the house grumbling about rocks and digging in the dirt. Mobius cradles his cup of coco, and watches as Loki throws rocks away, puts seeds in the ground and curses weeds. Finally, he makes his way over and sits in the grass next to the god.

"Whatcha doing, pussycat? I don't remember my yard ever doing anything to you."

Loki huffs. "Your yard must be built on ancient bed rock. There's nothing here but rock! How is anything supposed to grow when it can't get root!"

Mobius gently smiles. "Sometimes, someone just needs to break the rock."

Loki doesn't miss the implication of Mobius's words. Their eyes meet and Loki's scowl softens. He sits back next to Mobius and stares at the blue flowers he transplanted earlier in the day. Mobius recognizes them as native to Asgard. Long dead. Extinct. Loki must have grabbed them on his trip to see Sylvie.

Loki sighs. "I'm making a garden, like my mother had. Figured she wouldn't want me to forget all those gardening skills she taught me."

Mobius is blunt. "You miss her."

Tears touch Loki's eyes. His throat bobs and he gently nods. Mobius lifts an arm and Loki falls into his embrace. They sit letting the wind blow through their hair and the coco gets cold.

"I'm sorry," Mobius eventually whispers. "For your mother. What I said. And for taking you away from her -"

Loki doesn't hesitate to cut him off. "Thank you, Mobius, but I didn't belong in Asgard. I belong here with you." Loki lifts his head from Mobius's shoulder. He takes Mobius's face and presses their foreheads together. "I miss my mother, kjaere, so much. I always will. But you and your little family are my world now. Do not equate my pain to your actions. I simply couldn't bare it."

Mobius can't suppress the niggle of doubt in the back of his mind. Like this should not exist. Like he shouldn't exist or this little piece of heaven. He presses his forehead harder against Loki's and kisses the inside of the hand on his cheek. "I love you, too."

Chapter Text

He wakes up to the toilet flushing. The lights are too bright, there's an awful taste in his mouth and, oh, yes, he's completely soar from sleeping on the bathroom floor. Mobius groans and turns his face into the tile.

Gentle hands wrap around him before Loki lifts him like a feather. On a normal day Mobius would complain, tell him he has two feet for a reason and tell the god to put him down or he's throwing the chocolate fountain out. But today all he manages is a light push to an unyielding chest before the world goes fuzzy again.

The next time the world becomes clear, there is the smell of soup in the air. Loki is cross-legged on the bed beside him with big eyes and a thumb pushing way to hard into his own palm. Mobius knows he needs to eat but he just feels nauseous at the thought of food.

"Soup?" he asks.

"Jane said it is good for the sick. Gave me a recipe." Loki doesn't look directly at Mobius, as if he's in a completely different world.

"Since when do you talk to Jane?"

"She called, asked how you are. Thought I would ask her for advice since she's human and all."

Mobius knows there's more to this but his brain is too cloudy to really think it through. "Where's the kids?"

"I asked Sylvie to take them. They were ecstatic so they should be fine. Are you hungry?"

Mobius shakes his head sending the world into a tail spin. He squeezes his eyes shut and breathes deeply causing a harsh cough. He doesn't quite know if he blacked out or not, but the next thing he feels is Loki's head on his chest, listening to his heart, he thinks. "Lokes?"

"I've never seen you like this," Loki chokes, "It's scaring me."

Mobius knows how hard that is for Loki to say despite getting better at expressing his feelings. He puts a hand on Loki's head. "I'm alright, pussycat-"

"I don't want you to die."

Loki says it so matter-of-factly that it stops Mobius short. Yes, he won't live forever. But that's not really the issue is it. It's what happens after that is the problem. The fog is returning. Before it takes him under he whispers, "Not today." Then all is black.

Chapter Text

…has not repaid his debt

I’ve been searching for a trail to follow again.

Take me back to the night we met

The radio is playing again. Mobius’s neck, back and hips scream at him as he jerks awake to the song. He’s greeted by the cold interior of the truck he took from his variant the day before. This universes variants of him and Loki were a piece of work. Vann Siegert. In no reality would he have thought that he could be a serial killer. But then again, whoever imagined Loki being the God of Stories. He knew Loki had a beautiful god in him. But he’s also aware of the incredible evil.

Mobius sits up and opens the truck door, letting his legs hang out. He needs new pants. These ones are all cut up from rounding up the Child of Thanos variant of Loki. Either he just set up the biggest mass murder duo in the universe or he set them on the path to something better. He hopes the latter.

When the night was full of terrors

And your eyes filled with tear….

He parked by the ocean hoping the sound would give him some peace. The nightmare came anyway just as it always does. Loki’s tears as he walks out that gangway. The last look they share through the window. Then the rip of space stitching up, swallowing Loki whole.

He’s rubbing his wrist again. Mobius can’t remember gaining the scar but he knows from its placement he got it in a bad time. He still feels it sometimes, the need. More since Loki left. It’s why Mobius left the TVA amongst other things.

He starts scratching. A green shooting star catches his eye. The music gets louder.

I had all and then most of you

Some and now none of you

Take me back to the night we met

“Where are we?”

“I was following you.”

“No, I was following you!”

“Mobius, you were clearly ahead of me.”

Mobius chuckles. When has he ever been ahead of Loki. If he was they wouldn’t be in this situation.

Mobius M. Mobius does not cry. He bottles it up, forgets its there. It was like that until the Christmas party at the TVA. Now, even now, tears touch his cheeks as he looks for some sign. Gently, softly, he sings along.

“I don’t know what I’m suppose to do…”

“I don’t know what I’m suppose to do

Haunted by the ghost of you”

Loki's voice bounces off the branches surrounding him. Tears stream as he listens to Mobius’s voice so far away. Sometimes he is strong when he sees the things his family, old and new, do. Not now. Mobius’s pain is his own. But he can’t quit now. Loki sings, too, forcing his fists to stay closed. Forcing his body to stay put. Once, he would have followed Mobius anywhere. Now…

“Take me back to the night we met.”

Chapter Text

When Loki gets bored he likes to 'surf the branches.' Sometimes he does it by accident because the Watcher likes to startle him when he's decorating the branches. The entity does it a little too often but it keeps them both entertained. That being said, most of what he watches makes him feel happy and yet desperately, totally and undeniably alone.

Thor might get married. Sometimes he has kids. Sometimes not. He's king sometimes. Other times not. Frigga dies or she doesn't. O.B. becomes an amazing author. Other times a ground breaking scientist. B-15, Casey, D-90, everyone lives whole lives not knowing he exists. Biographies. Then Mobius....

His variants lead interesting lives. Most even live to meet a Loki. He has his favorites close by to watch again and again.

In one, a variant named Hansel meets Loki at a fashion show where Loki is trying to prove to Thor that she is more pretty than all of the humans on Midgard. Hansel adores her. Zoolander does not. It's fun to watch Hansel be bewitched again and again. Comedy.

Vann Siegert is Mobius if Mobius lost a few screws which almost comforts Loki in a sadistic way. He hates who he was but seeing Mobius as Vann brings a little peace. Even a soft man like him can kill because he thinks it's for the best. It awes him that the child of Thanos Loki, as brainwashed and lost as he is, saves Vann from his fall. Poetry.

Then there's Roy and all the other cowboys. Loki can't understand why there's so many cowboy variants of Mobius out there. There is a cowboy Loki who finds Roy on one of his escapades with Chon. It takes til Roy's old for Loki to realize how much he cares and settle in a little dirt town for the remainder of Roy's life. Tragedy.

Loki loves plays. His Shakespearean actor self performs stunningly. And Mobius, an apple seller in the town market, who's name is Adam, goes to every performance. Once Loki-speare sees that, he's a goner. Loki's favorite part is where he stands on the table in the house, using an apple for a skull and Adam claps. Historical.

There is a Loki out there that never went to Johunheim with Thor, didn't discover his heritage there, and never committed genocide. That Loki was sidetracked by a servant given to Thor, was rejected and given to Loki. In that world, Loki has someone to go to when all the lies are uncovered and his true skin shows through. When Thor eventually returns, that Loki performs self exile, he was never as Asgardian prince anyway, to be with that servant in a happier more excepting place. Fantasy.

He wanted Sylvie to be okay. If he was honest, he never thought that would look like a woman named Dona. Sylvie is still cursing his name for that twist of fate, but she's happy. She's whole. Romance.

Then there is him and there is Mobius. Nonfiction. When he looks to Mobius he expects and waits to see him settling down, starting a family. Forgetting. But Mobius doesn't. When Mobius is at his lowest, which is too often for Loki's comfort, he returns to the sidewalk in front of Dons house and watches. Then he goes on as if looking at what he had is medicine. Loki still sits, watching him watch others. Never happy. Never satisfied. The grass is always greener...

Chapter Text

"This is all just temporary. Isn't it?"

It's more of a statement than a question. Thor pauses in his drinking and looks over at his sister who has wet eyes and a face of anguish. She sits knees up to her chest, arms around them sitting in her beach chair looking out at the ocean.

In the shallow part of the water, Mobius, Jane, Love, Kevin and Sean splash each other. Sometimes Love will shove one of the boys and they will grab her and dunk her. Jane throws a ball to Mobius who uses it to throw at the kids if they get too rough. The laughs and squeals fill the beach, permeating the air with a joyful atmosphere until it hits Loki's umbrella.

Thor puts his drink in the sand. "What, the beach? We can come next week -"

"You know what I mean," Loki snaps back bitterly.

Thor watches Loki's eyes as Mobius gets tackled by his boys and all three go under. "Yes. It is."

Loki jerks around to face him. "You weren't supposed to agree!"

"We would be lying to ourselves if I didn't agree." Loki glares at him. Thor sits up, speaking softly. "We both have been through too much to say otherwise. But if there is one thing I have learned from Jane's cancer it's that you can't let your fear of the worst stop you from living a happy life. Mobius will die." Loki flinches. "So will Jane. But if you live waiting for that day, you'll miss all of the joy these days could have brought because your fear denied its existence."

Loki sniffs and wipes her eyes. "When did you become so wise?"

Thor smiles, gently placing a hand on Loki's shoulder. "And at the end of it all, we'll have each other."

Loki's smile is wobbly but it's there. "Thank you, brother."

"Hey, are you guys doing a heart to heart?"

Thor and Loki look up to Mobius, who, with Jane, are making their way over. Loki calls out, "I thought you were getting drowned by our sons."

"They tried, but they can't kill Super Dad!" Mobius leans down and gives Loki a chaste kiss before settling in front of the chair where she proceeds to massage his shoulders.

Jane smiles at Thor, a knowing look in her eyes. Thor smiles back.

Chapter Text

1. Hair- Loki looses all track of time when Mobius runs his hands through her hair, combing it, braiding it, clutching it. Mobius treats her hair as he treats Loki: respectful, but harsh when needed. In return, Loki loves to bury her face in Mobius's and like Mobius, it's safe and calm. What would Loki do with out either of their hair.

2. Waves- Loki tightens his arms around Mobius's waist. The only reason he would get on this machine instead of staying on a boat is to make this man happy. The waves hit his skin, cooling him. Mobius laughs and covers Loki's hands, squeezing them in comfort. Loki relaxes. Mobius has him. Always will.

3. Sun and moon - Mobius is not sure he enjoys being called Apollo. Loki is radiant, dressed in blue, glowing like she's the moon. The people worshipping them don't care about who is who. But Loki insists Mobius is the sun and she the moon. Orbiting the sun, using his light to shine. Mobius thinks he wouldn't shine without Loki. In reality they orbit each other and make each other shine.

4. Sickness- Mobius is pretty sure there are twenty happy meals on his counter, ten different medications from Jane and her crew, two wild children trying to be quiet and clean the house unsuccessfully and one clingy god all trying to make him feel better. Maybe he should get sick more often.

5. Sky and clouds- Loki loves lying on his back in the back yard with Mobius and the kids. The kids can never sit still but he and Mobius will lay for hours looking at the clouds. Mobius will point out animals while Loki points at castles and people. It's their time away from time. Loki could be here forever looking at the sky if he could.

6. Innocence - Kevin and Sean are in agreement. They miss their mother but they also have come to love Loki. She is there for them to wipe their tears, rough house, teach them and keep the nightmares away. Their mother is not. When Loki has a bad day, they make some eggo waffles, coco, and a card and give her their time. After all, their mother needs them as much as they need her.

7. Lightening and thunder - Loki doesn't mean to flinch at lightening and thunder. He just does. He has been on Thors bad side to often. But nowadays, he is happy to see the rain that comes before the knock on the door. It's a gentle rain, one that soothes him. As the rain calms, so does their relationship.

8. Market-"Hey, Loki, look at this!" Loki turns. Mobius has a red apple in hand. He tossed it at the toe of his shoe but instead of bouncing up, it hits his shin and skitters across the linoleum. Loki snorts. "Good job, Edward."

9.kiss- Mobius kisses differently than anyone Loki has ever kissed. It's not out of hunger or urgency. It's slow and the pressure is enough to convey how much Mobius values him. It's a caress rather than punishing. It's considerate in letting Loki Lead. He refuses to abuse it. It's Mobius's kisses that ruin him.

10. Telephone- "How are you doing?" "You don't have to do this." "Thank you for calling." "I am grateful for you." The conversations between Jane and Mobius are generally like this with only variations in content. But the conversations soothe the self-doubt. They always look forward to these calls.

11. Happiness-"You make my brother happy." Thor crushes Mobius, emotion building. "You help him in ways I never could. I... I'll forever be in your debt." Mobius hugs him back and says, "There is no debt to be paid. I just hope to live up to your expectations." Thor shakes his head. "You've already exceeded them, brother."

12. Soft- Mobius is always self-conscious of his stomach but Loki doesn't care. He will lay his head on Mobius's stomach and fall asleep soon after. Sometimes he pokes it and squishes it much to Mobius's shame. But then Loki will kiss him and will say he's so soft with reverence. It makes Mobius feel like he's wanted in a way he never has felt before.

13. Gift- Loki loves to give gifts. They range from dead mice as a cat to giant pies that would take Mobius years to eat. But his favorite by far is the little toy jet ski figurine that Loki found when shopping with Jane. He keeps it on the nightstand so he can see it every night and morning. Loki always sees it and smiles.

14. Pain- Loki's pain grows the further away he is from his anchor. Mobius is in one of the tip top branches of the tree, helping another Loki find love. The interactions and the far away aura causes Loki's fists to shake but they never release the branches. Doing so would cause more pain than he could bear.

15. Blood- Mobius is a bloody mess, sitting at the foot of Loki's throne. The blood is not slowing. "Why would you do this?" Loki hisses, tears in his eyes. Mobius just grins. "I'd do it all again, Lokes. I'd do it for all time. Always. Just no matter what don't let go."

16. Freedom - The walk back to the TVA is long. Too long. But it's worth it when Thor, Casey, O.B., Sylvie, B-15, and Mobius gang up on him and he has the longest hug of his life. Tears are shed over him. Loki is finally free.

17. Gathering- Burning Love blasts from the radio but Loki can't hear it as he and Kevin shoot across the water. "Race you!" Loki shouts to Mobius and Sean. The air whips through his hair. Casey and O.B.s burgers catch his nose. He sees Thor, Jane, Sylvie, Love and B-15 playing volleyball. Everything is exactly how he never knew he wanted it.

18. Tricks- The birthday gift blows glitter and streamers all over Thor's face. Love squeals in laughter alongside her aunt who whispers in Thor's ear, "Loki'd." The god of thunder grabs Loki and gives her a noogie while laughing and choking on glitter.

19. Sorry- There are many hard things Sylvie has had to do in her life. Apologizing to Mobius and Loki has to be in the top ten. But she loves Kevin and Sean. She loves this little family Loki created even if she will never admit it. She wants to be a part of it. "I'm sorry," she says between gasps and being held by the two best people she has ever known.

20. Forever- As the credits roll, Loki looks to Mobius, tears and hope in her eyes. "Do you think we'll love each other that long," she asks.

"What, two thousand years?" Mobius asks. Loki nods. He chuckles. "I don't think two thousand years would quite cut it."

Loki's eyes fill with worry, but she chooses to be optimistic. "You mean... forever?"

Mobius nods. "Too sappy?"

Loki giggles. "The sappiest, you folksy dope. My folksy dope." She holds his face and kisses him with a desperation unknown to her. Then she says, "But forever sounds just right."

Chapter Text

When Loki first came back from Yggdrasil, everything was sun and joy and excessive parties. There were tears. He reunited with those he loved including his brother who probably cried more than Loki did. It was a whirlwind of getting Mobius back, telling Sylvie, getting Thor onboard the TVA and just learning how to live again.

But after the dust settles and Thor and Sylvie return to their timelines waiting on his visits, Loki finally notices how distant Mobius is being. The man was there no doubt but the emotions that used to fill Loki with joy and comfort was not. Mobius was pulling away from him so Loki decided leaving the TVA for an hour wouldn't end the multiverse and took Mobius to a beach on a world far from Earth.

They sit watching the setting sun glint off sand the colors of the universe. Mobius is tense, jaw taught, eyes narrow. Loki watches him chew on nothing til he feels like he will pop.

"You left." That was not how Loki wanted to start this off but here it is. "The TVA was your life and you left."

Mobius chuckles but it is dark and makes Loki's hair stand up on his neck. "Oh yeah. Was that supposed to mean something to you?"

Mobius is mad. Just like he was when Loki left him at Roxxcart. He remembers the result of that. Neither of them handled it well. But Loki has been stuck too long to mess this up now. He takes a deep breath and trudges on. "I had to go. I couldn't find another way. I needed you to be safe-"

"Don't make this about me or Sylvie or anyone but you. You left. That was your choice. Not mine. Or Sylvie's. Or-" Mobius cuts himself off. He's shaking, furious.

Loki's eyes shine with tears. "Say it," he whispers. "Say you hate me." He wants Mobius to say it, even though he knows it will hurt immensely.

But Mobius doesn't say anything. Instead he leans forward, head in his hands. When the sun is gone, he whispers, "You have no idea how much you walking out on that gangway destroyed me."

Loki's tears fall, because he does know every second since Mobius left the TVA and the pain they were both in. "It killed me to walk out there, Mobius. I'm sorry I didn't say goodbye. I just...couldn't." What he doesn't say is that if he had he would have been evaporated with the rest of the universe.

Loki has a terrible vision of all this disappearing again, of Mobius turning into nothing but strands. He leans into Mobius hoping he won't push the man away. The man tenses but doesn't move. Instead he sighs shakily, and says, "I've missed you."

"I'll make this up to you, Mobius," Loki mumbles into the soft gray hair of his best friend, "I promise."

Chapter Text

"I can't do this."

Mobius turns to Loki who is sitting on a lawn chair, umbrella open over him with sunglasses and a lemonade, watching Kevin and Sean shoot each other with water guns. Mobius jokes, "What, the god of stories not being able to do something. That's a sight to behold-"

"I'm serious." Loki's voice bares the gravity of a heavy, fearful heart. A rock burrows itself in Mobius's gut. He puts down the tongs for the burgers and sits at the table with Loki who doesn't acknowledge him.

"What can't you do?" Mobius asks. The kids yell and disappear around to the front yard. Mobius yells at them to be careful before turning back to Loki.

The Jotuns face is curled in a grimace that looks close to disgust. He magics the origami swan Sean made him into his hand and flips it around. He groans. "A parent. I can't be a good parent."

They haven't reached that stage with the kids yet but Mobius knows it's been on Loki's mind for a while. One day Loki would fill that hole in the kids lives in some capacity, whether that be a stepparent or just another guardian. Mobius doesn't worry about it. The kids need a big grown up mischievous scamp in their lives. But Loki...

The god continues when Mobius doesn't immediately respond. "My birth parents didn't want me. Odin was manipulative. I love my mother but they both lied to me. I don't know how a real parent should act. And I've read up on your phycology. Who's to say I won't be just like Odin and hurt your kids for my own selfish-"

"Now, hold on, Loki, lets take a breath here," Mobius cuts in. Loki sighs but Mobius continues. "You have one of the biggest hearts I know. And you are not the same person who screamed at Odin or killed Laufey. You're a changeable being. I have no qualms with this arrangement. I wouldn't let you near the boys if I thought you would hurt them."

"Rose colored glasses," Loki says under his breath.

Mobius sighs and grabs Loki's hands. He squeezes them tightly. "Remember what I said all that time ago. It still applies now. You can be whoever, whatever you want to be. Even a good parent."

Loki smiles if only a little. "Thank you, Mobius."

The boys come screaming around the bend and take a well aimed shot at the two. Loki roars to his feet, conjuring a water gun of his own and is off to soak the wild duo. Mobius wipes his face and laughs. This is far from over but he has a feeling that everything is going to be okay.

Chapter Text

To say Loki has fallen multiple times is an understatement. The bifrost he couldn't rightly say was the beginning of it but it certainly constituted a major shift in his life. He fell from Asgard, fell to Earth where he was felled by the Avengers. He fell into a desert where he got caught by the TVA, fell through several floors, fell a few times while being angry at Mobius, fighting Sylvie, the train, and on and on until Victor Von Doom kicked him out of his tree for the power of the multiverse.

He did not fall when he rose up against Kang or Ravonna or the fictional timekeepers. With the help of the TVA, multiple heroes across the multiverse and some other unsavory people, Loki rose against Doom and managed to find a way to keep the multiverse alive without his being there constantly.

Now he's fallen again. It's not as major as some of his falls. It's not a fall from grace or power or anything of such grand proportions. But it sure feels like it is. Like a vacuum sucking all his air out and he'll die if he doesn't stop it.

Mobius is scrubbing the dish way too hard. Loki knows Mobius is frustrated and it's cause of him. Loki watches, his anxiety building, filling his chest like a balloon. His words are weak. Pathetic. "I'm sorry."

Sometimes Loki forgets how cold Mobius can be. "Not now, Loki." But this little burst of anger causes Mobius's hand to slip and the knife he is washing cuts his hand. The sound of pain he makes causes Loki to feel woozy. Despite Mobius's cold shoulder, Loki comes and grabs Mobius, leading him to a chair where they sit and Loki heals the cut.

They are silent as this happens. When Loki's done, Mobius mumbles a thank you, but doesn't really look at him. But he doesn't leave either so that's a win. Loki doesn't let go of his hand, squeezing it, rubbing a thumb over where the cut used to be. He fell but it's time to rise again.

"What I did was..." Loki can't believe he's saying this,"...wrong. I'm sorry. I will be more alert from now on. I'll do whatever you want me to do." Even take himself out of the picture. But he doesn't say that.

Mobius knows though. He always does. The man sighs and grips Loki's hand in turn. "What happened today scared me. I could have lost my entire family today, Loki."

Loki looks away, hot shame poisoning his chest. "I know."

Mobius yanks on him forcing him to look up. "Do you?" He pulls up Loki's sleeve where burn marks reside under bandages and light magic. "Because you're a part of that and you sure don't act like it."

Oh. Sometimes Loki forgets how important he is to Mobius. Sometimes he doesn't even believe it. Loki takes Mobius's shoulders, rubs them as he says, "This family is important to me, too. I'm sorry I endangered us. But I promise that I will protect everyone the best that I can." He swallows hard. "Including myself."

Mobius breathes heavily before going to hide in Loki's shirt, his hiccuping breaths breaking Loki's heart. He holds him until morning, feeling stronger because he faced this instead of running. He rose once again.

Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall. - Confucius

Chapter Text

Just because Mobius knows where he came from and has a good life currently, it doesn't mean he's any less of a nowhere man. And yes, after Loki left, he took Brads words and ran with them for better or for worse.

He doesn't rightly know how to describe it. He's happy. At least he's better than he was. Right now, he's watching his family on the beach while he sits on a jet ski watching from what feels like miles away. Loki and Thor and Sylvie are playing with the kids. Splashing and throwing a ball around. Casey and O.B. are reading on their towels while B-15 and D-90 argue over which food is better, hot dogs or hamburgers. Jane is on the dock typing on her laptop, busy at work like always.

Then there's him. Alone on a jet ski in the middle of the ocean.

He wanders a lot. Not physically. That time is behind him. He does mentally and his friends notice which is probably why they were hesitant to let him ride alone. He doesn't feel good and he knows he doesn't feel good. But there's not much he can do about it.

If he had to describe it, it would be like this. Some days he can smile and laugh because things are fun and happy. Other times, he knows things are funny but he can't smile or laugh about it.

Some days his mind is running in warm beaches carefree and excited. Others, his wandering mind falls in a hole inside of him that can't be filled or fixed. He desperately looks for a way out but nothing helps.

Some days he wants to be around his family and have fun at a movie or play as a dragon and fight knights of old. Others, he wants to isolate. When he feels in-between, he feels guilty because he knows his friends feel his energy and like today, they worry about him instead of having a good day.

He gets so angry at this wandering that the cloud, the hole, the wandering gets worse. He wants it gone but it won't go anywhere. Some days all he wants to do is sleep. Hope he feels better when he wakes up. And when it doesn't the wandering leads to incidents like his wrist which he doesn't remember. Or now where he contemplates driving the jet ski further out and disappearing.

Loki and the kids help the wandering a lot. He stays busy taking care of two boys and the god of stories. It limits the wandering. The prescriptions B-15 gives him also helps. He never knows if he should be grateful for her background or not.

He hears Kevin squeal from here. Loki's waving at him, urging him back to them as if he knows his thoughts. Maybe he does. Some days Mobius has a hard time. His head wanders, makes him a nowhere man. He revs the jet ski and off he goes to the dock. Today he won't let nowhere man win.

Chapter Text

Thor throws open Loki's bedroom door, already in his armour and a grin so big it's blinding. Loki flinches, making a harsh mark across the picture he is drawing. "Really, Thor, can't there be one day where you are not ruining something of mine."

"It's a big day, brother," Thor cheers, throwing open the curtains. Loki hisses at the light. Thor comes to his bed, slapping Loki on the shoulder. "Today is the day I become king. I expect my brother to-oh, is that the man of your dreams again?"

Loki slaps his hands over the picture. "It is none of your business, Thor. Besides you know it is more complicated than that."

Thor sits on the edge of the bed, rattling the frame. Loki holds the sketch to his chest protectively. "I'm starting to get concerned. You have never seen this man and yet he keeps showing up in your dreams. Why?"

Loki looks to the ceiling, his head hitting the head board. Why indeed. He sighs and takes out a book from the night table. He flips through it to the last page. The same face flies by in various degrees of talent. Cropped straight hair, never shaded. A moustache. Bright eyes. Sometimes he wears a suit and tie like they do on Midgard. Other times, he wears peasant clothes as if he were from Asgard. Mostly he wears anything in between the two.

Loki gently puts in the new one. The man looked cold in this new dream. Like he was standing in Jotunheim. If Loki remembers correctly, he was a baby being saved from something by this man. He misses the comfort the mans arms made for him while he was a cuddled and wonders if it would have been the same if he was an adult.

Thor watches him with rapt attention, "Who is he, Loki?"

Loki snorts. "How many times have you asked me that?" When Thor doesn't reply, he knows Thor is paying attention this time. "I don't know." Then in one moment of rare vulnerability, Loki says, "but when he appears, I always feel..." Weak. Seen. Respected. Loved? "Consumed. Like I'm known in my wholeness and there is nothing I can do about it. I can't ever tell if it's coming from me or somewhere else."

"Do you think its some sort of dream influencer trying to trick you?"

Loki snorts, "No. I don't think so. If there was, they made a huge mistake not finishing the job when I was young." Then he turns serious again. He remembers his brief escapade as D.B Cooper, how he searched the plane, the lobby, the spaces in-between for the man. No sign. No hope. "I just...I want to meet him." He rubs a finger over the mans face, the warmth seemingly flowing into him. "If he truly knows me..." Then maybe he really can be wanted and loved...

Thor breaks the moment almost immediately. "Your mind is a mystery, Loki." The darkness comes back. Thor stands and moves to leave. "Be ready in an hour. Meet me for some ale. It's a glorious day, brother." Then he's gone.

Loki rolls his eyes. "Glorious." He snaps the book shut and stands. He has work to do. Frost Giants aren't going to let themselves in.

Chapter Text

5 important touches in Loki's life:

1. Mobius's arms around Loki make him more emotional than he has any right to be. The last hug he had was from his mother, the one person who ever believed in him. He supposes that's a lie now.

He rests his chin on Mobius's shoulder, his face barley kept from from touching the shorter mans. It's welcoming, warm. And means more than he can describe. It's like coming home to someone who wants him there. Who see's him as more than a nuisance. Tears touch his eyes. "Thank you, my friend."

2. Loki sees the full circle in taking Mobius's hand. From hating the man and all he represents to...well, he won't admit anything. Not now. Mobius's hand is warm, squeezing like a real businessman. But then he begins to disappear, and as he does, Loki refuses to let go.

This handshake means a goodbye to the most important person in his life. It's a desperate plea not to disappear. It's to show that he knows and trusts Mobius. It's over too soon, leaving Loki alone. Again.

3. When Thor sees him exit the tree, he drops his hammer. Loki rarely sees Thor cry, but now as Loki approaches him, he does. Fire lights Thor's eyes and he knows there is so much anger from when he saw him die. Loki holds out his hand and Mjolnir comes to him. Thor gasps. Loki smiles.

"Hello, brother." Loki gets tackled. Thor babbles into his robe, sobbing and holding him so tightly he might pop. It feels like bones mending. Long, painful, healing. "I missed you."

4. Mobius is wholely unprepared for Loki's kiss and the god of stories knows it. It's no secret that Mobius didn't think he mattered much to Loki and this must be confusing to him. But Loki wants to do this while they're sober, the others are asleep and no one will disturb them. He won't timeslip to avoid negative consequences. If Mobius rejects him, he wants Mobius to remember, to be able to have his memories for once. It's only fair to him. No more forgetting.

Mobius's eyes say everything from 'are you sure' to 'I want this but what if...' Loki gently takes Mobius's face and says against his lips, "You taste like key lime pie." Life has begun again.

5. It's long after they're married when Loki takes her most vulnerable form. A female Jotun. Not to say she wasn't powerful in her female form or vulnerable. But it's being blue that changes everything. Mobius has seen everything but this because Loki couldn't take the idea of harming Mobius or tricking him into something he doesn't want. It's the first time he's ever seen her Jotun form and it makes her sick. And yet...

He holds her gently, caressing each line, kissing her eyes and following the expanse of skin like a map. He starts to turn blue with cold but still holds his slow and reverent pace, relishing every piece of her.

"You love this?" Loki asks between gasps and moans.

He looks in her eyes, filled with warm, starry love. "Oh, Lokes, don't you know. Blue is my favorite color and rubies my favorite gem."

Chapter Text

O.B. and Casey watch Loki pace with big eyes and hands that tinker with random objects despite their attention being elsewhere. "You're finally moving in with Mobius," Casey says cheerfully, "Congratulations."

"No!" Loki snaps, "Not congratulations. That means he thinks I'm ready to take a larger part in the kids lives. That means more PTA meetings, taking them places, being there all the time, making sure they're healthy, smart, safe-"

"I don't think Mobius is all that worried about it," O.B. objects, "If he's not, you shouldn't be either."

Loki stops, lays his hands flat on O.B. and Casey's desk and growls, "My father treated me like I was second best. Not worth his time. Unworthy. Now I have to treat those kids in some way acceptable and not at all like my father when I have never had that support to begin with."

Casey shrugs, "I don't know. My dad always beat me for stealing fruit but I turned out alright."

O.B. stares. Loki squints as if another piece of Casey's story just fell into place.

O.B. turns to him. "I don't know a lot about parenting. But I do know that you were taking care of us for a long time, even before the tree. You got parenthood in you. And we'll be there, too, when you need us."

Loki still doesn't feel great but he nods anyway. "In these uncharted waters, I'll need as much help as I can get."

********************************

Val and Jane watch Mobius pace with a drink in one hand and prying eyes for show. Val takes a drink and says, "You're having Loki move in? You poor mortal man. You'll have a heart attack within the week-"

"You're not helping," Mobius growls in his whisper reserved for anger and desperation.

"I thought you were excited for him to finally move in." Jane says as he starts to sweat.

"I am!" Mobius despairs, "But what if that's just it. I want it. Not him."

"What are you crowing about?" Val snorts, "That man would follow you to the grave."

"What is it with you and death today?" Mobius slumps into a seat next to Jane and rubs his eyes. "I don't have anything to offer him. Just two wild kids and my old self. That's not much, not for a god-"

Jane takes Mobius's shoulders, bringing him to face her. "Mobius, you need to breathe. Breathe with me." The two inhale and exhale before Jane continues. "I had my doubts when I started dating Thor. It was uncharted waters for both of us. That's why we broke up. I don't want that time wasted for you. Talk to him. But if it's any consolation," she winks, "we'll be here beside you. Just call me anytime."

Val laughs, "The drinks will always be free on me." Mobius smiles but he's not sure if he feels any better or not.

Chapter Text

Watching someone die isn't new to Loki. Over his eon long stay in Yggdrasil, he's watched Thor, Don, Frigga, Odin and others die again and again in so many ways he's become mostly unphased by it. It's a fact of his creation now.

That doesn't mean the fight outside his tree doesn't curddle his stomach. Everyone is there in the Void, making their way to the stairs of the tree. Ravonna and Aolith. Fantastic Four. Kang. The new Avengers. That includes Sylvie, Thor and Love. The TVA. Victor Von Doom is too close for comfort. But so is Mobius who is climbing the stairs as fast as he can.

Loki is shaking. Mobius shouldn't be here. Why is he here? Why, why, why? Could he make Mobius timeslip? Hack his tempad with little magic reserve he has? How to save him? How?

It happens before Loki could come to a conclusion. Sylvie fires a wave of magic that hits Doom head on. His armour much to her horror absorbs it. Energy manipulation. He turns arm raised to the trunk of the tree, ready to fire the same energy Sylvie threw at him. It becomes a deadly arrow. He fires. Mobius screams Loki's name before jumping stairs to put himself between the entrance to the tree and the arrow.

It's a direct hit.

For the first time in eons, Loki's fists loosen on the branches. The floor barley shakes as the body of Mobius hits it. Sylvie lets out a gutteral scream. So does B-15, Casey, O.B. but none shakes the branches, the Void, the worlds, like Loki's who's scream pierces the Void like a banshee. The Void shakes as he lets loose his last reserve of power, leaving himself vulnerable. He can't breathe, hear, move.

Doom steps over Mobius's body like it was nothing but a pebble in the road. Fire is lit to the branches in front of Loki's throne. Death. So much death. Then he's there. Chanting a spell, stealing the powers Loki has held so closely to keep the branches alive. He's weak, useless. Doom's eyes glow as he takes the living branches and disappears.

Loki falls off his throne, no will to move... except. His horns are gone, rolling towards Mobius's body. He army crawls to the motionless man, limbs weak.

This was not how it was supposed to end.

Time is the fire in which we burn. He had too much and now he has none. Sylvie, the TVA, all of them are coming. Loki failed. Mobius...failed. Loki, tears streaming, death itself screaming at him, lays across this man that he never dared to admit he loved and sobs. He caresses the moustache, the silver hair. He closes blue eyes that once looked at him with praise and wonder. Loki cups Mobius's face, gently kissing slack lips, ones he once thought would forever give him power to do the impossible, ones he always dreamed of devouring, never got to, now tasting of time passed, there and gone.

Loki failed.

Loki, god of stories, roars.

Chapter Text

There are days when Loki truly believes this is all a dream. Where he thinks he'll close his eyes on Mobius's sleeping form and open them to the emptiness of space. He doesn't mean the tree though he does think some days that he has gone crazy sitting there and created this illusion out of the branches, killing everyone in the process.

No. What he means is space, floating, waiting to get picked up by Thanos. Or maybe that was a dream too and really he's just waiting for death in the cold hands of space never to be found.

But then, before he drifts too far, a touch, a word, even a petty argument will bring him back to reality.

Call him self-deprecating, but Loki could have never dreamed up Mobius. Not in the state he was in on Asgard. There is no way he could just dream up a mortal man with a sweet tooth, a heart of gold and a clear understanding of everything Loki has ever done and then love him, trusting him with his children, his life. No, Loki couldn't have made Mobius up. In what reality would he have believed he deserved this man. And yet here he is. Loki's anchor when reality doesn't feel real.

This is one of those moments.

Loki wakes up disoriented. A roof instead of stars? Warmth instead of cold? Where is he?

A snort makes him jump. He turns and in the moonlight there he is, sound asleep, silver hair glowing bright white. Loki breathes deeply. He's safe. He's home.

Loki turns on his side and stares at Mobius, still drifting but keeping his gaze on what's real. At some point he reaches out and touches Mobius's moustache, his hair, his neck.

When Mobius wakes up and he sees Loki watching him the man grins making the last of the drifting disappear. "Hey, pussycat," Mobius whispers, turning on his side to face Loki.

"Hi," Loki whispers back, hand stroking Mobius's clavicle.

"Was it that dream again?" Of floating and darkness and cold. Of loneliness and self-hate. Loki nods stiffly.

Mobius worms his way closer to Loki where he's taken and held. Loki tries not to squeeze too hard, not to bite so hard to the point Mobius bleeds, but the warm body in his arms, the soft flesh of Mobius's shoulder between his teeth grounds him. Mobius is singing softly the song he sang on the train. It washes over him and soon all is real again.

But the trees dance and the waterfall stops                       And she sings she sings come home                                     And  she sings she sings come home

Chapter Text

Here's what completion looks like to Loki right now:

Yggdrasil is running off an illusion alone. The branches are still thriving. All of her friends are alive. She gets to be with them. Her glorious purpose is not done alone.

Right now she's living in Ohio with a ex-jetski salesman and his two sons who mean the world to her, who she would live, die, sacrifice everything for. They have a movie night every Friday and attend every sporting event, play and school function they can.

Sylvie is willing to be in her life. While being with Sylvie hurts sometimes, her mirror is necessary. She knows they will always have this twist of self-hate and self-love. It's inevitable. But the kids help to keep the peace when things go south. Sylvie loves them. If she wants to be an aunt, an aunt she will be.

Completion is seeing O.B. out of the confines of the TVA, working in her front yard on lawn mowers that Mobius doesn't know how to work or competing with the same person on who's grill is better. It's also seeing O.B. write a book and publish it telling of their adventures. It's a best seller.

Casey knows what a fish is. He remembers. That doesn't stop the awe when he sees one for the first time in eons. Casey loves the TVA and has had multiple promotions. Loki thinks he hasn't stopped smiling since.

B-15, now leader of the TVA, also loves doctoring the kids. Loki couldn't ask for a better care provider or a better friend. Somehow she has become thick as thieves with B-15 and D-90. They have many missions together and open discussions. These moments are precious to her. How she became friends with two cops she originally hated is beyond her.

She could also say the same thing about Mobius's choice of company. Loki appreciates Jane's honest and supporting nature. It helps Mobius release pressure Loki knows she can't lift. How Valkyrie got to be a part of it, and why she is interested in Mobius concerns Loki but Val helps him have fun so who is she to complain. They both have friends. They make everything more complete.

But Loki knows life couldn't be truly complete without Thor and her niece. She can't explain it but with everything they went through, Loki feels like her bond with Thor strengthened. He comes over daily. Gives them gifts. Makes it rain. They talk, fight, even play games. Loki bonds with Love over mischief that drives the two families wild. It's everything Loki never knew she wanted.

And that's how it looks from the porch as Loki looks over the group as they laugh and play and eat. Loki's eyes land on Mobius who waves at her as he laughs at one of Vals jokes. Loki's hand goes to her stomach. Maybe they're not complete just yet.

Chapter Text

Don't be mistaken, Mobius is still pissed at Loki. One doesn't spend a thousand years traversing the multiverse to just forgive the god of stories after one conversation. But they have been working on it. Loki has showered him with praise, gifts and offers of a bright future. Mobius is hesitant to believe it which Loki doesn't take offense to. He thinks Loki is still trying to figure out if this is real, too.

But then O.B., Casey, B-15 and D-90 rounded them up and hand them a file telling them to be out by tomorrow. The case file is of a Don and a Loki who both died. Loki died the same as he did on the sacred timeline. Don on the other hand was on a business trip and got swept out to sea. His body was never recovered leaving his children fatherless.

"You can slip in," Casey said, "Come up with an alibi. You're good at that."

But Mobius can't fathom this. Settling down with a family he can't remember? How is he supposed to be a father when he can't even remember what foods his kids like? And Loki! Oh, Loki...why would a god stuck in a tree for so long confine himself to rural Cleveland? It would be asinine.

But then Loki is taking the file, thanking their friends and giving Mobius the brightest smile as if his world was just made. Mobius will forever be ashamed of how he reacted to this: he runs. Hard and fast.

He ends up in the automat, bent over the table having a panic attack. It's new and frankly very uncomfortable. Then there's hands sitting him down and Loki telling him to breathe with him.

When it's over and Loki has brought him water, Mobius chokes out, "You don't really want this."

Mobius will give him this. Loki has never looked so confused. "I don't want what?"

"Come on, Loki. Do you really want to hole up with an old man and two kids? That's not the life you deserve. You can go anywhere. Do anything. Not to mention if those kids find out I'm not their real dad-"

"Mobius-"

"I can't fake it. I don't know what their favorite foods are! Their fears, or worries or problems at school-"

"Mobius!" Loki envelopes him in a hug. Mobius gasps as Loki rubs his back. "Please, breathe and listen to me. Okay. Are you listening?" Mobius can barely nod. "Good. All I have done for eons is watch you and my family regretting that I never got the chance to live a life with you. I didn't get a chance all those years ago. I won't miss it again. I'm tired of excess, of greed, of selfishness. I want you and anything you'll give me. Whether it's on that timeline or here or anywhere. Just...just let me be with you."

Mobius chokes and lays his head on Loki's shoulder. How could any of this be real? But they built their relationship on trust. Mobius trusts Loki. So what he says must be true. His voice is broken and tired, almost non-existent but he knows Loki hears him by the way he holds him tighter. "Okay."

Chapter Text

He thinks they used it as exposure therapy to show him his own stupidity but if they think him watching Bella sit in a chair as the seasons roll by is going to fix anything then they are sorely mistaken. But Mobius will give this to them: he does feel like that sometimes. 

He felt like the world spins on as he sits at his desk doing paperwork. That's why he left. He felt it when he was at his house letting time pass. So if there's a camera going around his head as the seasons change while he's sitting at a booth at McDonald's then call him Bella Swann cause time is passing and he hasn't moved on.

He jumps when an apple pie and milk shake are slapped down in front of him. Sylvie slumps into the seat across from him. "Eat," She demands. He glares at her and turns back to watching cars pass out the window. 

Almost immediately the speakers playing music start playing 'Why can't we be friends.' Sylvie looks up and shouts, "Shut up!"

The patrons around her look confused. The song doesn't stop, Mobius doesn't eat and the world keeps turning. 

Sylvie slouches back, angry, and hisses, "I'm sorry about judging you about eating pie, alright. So will you please eat that one before we're dead?"

You see, Bella Swann jumped off a cliff because being risky let her see Edward. Her's is a little more honorable in his opinion. If he jumped off a cliff it wouldn't be to see Loki. It would be a pleasant surprise if he did though. 

Sylvie sighs. "I don't know why they thought I could help you."

"I don't know why you're trying," Mobius finally says.

"I'm doing it cause you're killing yourself and Loki wouldn't be happy about it."

Mobius has a million snarky comments to say to that but he ops for a kinder approach. "You don't owe him anything, Sylvie. You both freed everyone from the endless cycles of pruning and opened agency. You two accomplished what you set out to do. The result has nothing to do with me-"

"It has everything to do with you."

Mobius's wrist itches again. He stands, taking his jacket from where it is hanging on his chair. "B sent me cause she had this crazy idea you could help. She was wrong. See you around, Sylvie."

But as he turns to go, she calls out, "He's gone. Everyone has moved on. You need to, too."

The music stops. Mobius's grip on his jacket tightens. "I'm not everyone." As he leaves, the music starts again.

Why do the birds go on singing?
Why do the stars glow above?
Don't they know it's the end of the world?
It ended when I lost your love

In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: it goes on...-Robert Frost

Chapter Text

Mobius would be having a better time if Loki wasn't sitting in front of the kids gutting that pumpkin like it was a body. He would also feel better if every couple of minutes Loki wouldn't take some of the insides of the pumpkin and eat it. By now he and the kids are done and waiting on Loki. The god grabs another handful. Mobius groans.

"Please, stop," he says, "that is disgusting. At least cook it first."

Loki gives him the sassiest look known to man. The slime flashes green and is burnt in a second before Loki eats it.

Mobius rolls his eyes and turns to the kids. "All right, guys, time for the big reveal. Kevin, you first."

Kevin grins and spins his pumpkin around. On it is a box with a stick coming out of it.

Sean scoffs, "Mjolnir! That's not a carving, dummy!"

"Hey," Mobius snaps, "we don't call our brothers dummies."

"Well," Loki hums but Mobius shuts that thought down real fast.

"Don't start." Then to the kids, "It looks good, Kevin. Sean?"

Sean had decided to get a white pumpkin this year and as he turns it around, Mobius sees why. Carved into it is a ghost. Slimer to be exact. He'll give Sean this: he has the most artistic hand in the family.

Mobius can tell Loki is nervous about his words. "That's creative, Sean. The slime is very life-like."

He he glances at Mobius. Mobius smiles and nods. Sean beams while Kevin shoves him and turns to Mobius. "Your turn, Dad."

Mobius sighs and turns his. It's an old fashioned pumpkin with triangle eyes and a curvy mouth that you see on TV. He winks at Kevin. "Not all of us can be artists, can we." Kevin smiles and gives him a fist bump. Then he turns to Loki. "Loki?"

A big grin crosses Loki's face. "Yours all look stunning. But remember, the hand that handles the tool the best makes more use of his piece." Mobius is about to tell him to stop being condescending when Loki spins the pumpkin and the table gasps. The pumpkin is the most intricate thing Mobius has ever seen. A haunted house with witches, ghosts and cats well carved and detailed shows up any pumpkin yet. The boys start yelling, pointing at different things. Loki is laughing, enjoying the attention.

Mobius will admit this is a piece of art worthy of, well, the gods. His eyes roam to the bottom and there it is. Four ghosts. Two small ones are chasing each other. The bigger two, one with horns, the other with a mustache, are holding hands. And between them, much to Mobius's surprise, is a fifth ghost, teeny with big eyes.

Mobius looks up at Loki who is looking at him. Loki crosses his fingers as if wishing for luck. Mobius laughs cause it is just so human. And then crosses his fingers, too.

"All right, boys," Mobius calls, "let's take a picture. And be careful! Don't drop the pumpkins!"

But the boys are already gone, running out the door to the front lawn.

Mobius sighs, grabbing his and he and Loki walk to the door together.

"So, you want to try," Loki asks almost nervously.

"What? For a baby?"

Loki nods.

Mobius grins. "Yeah, Lokes." He kisses the taller man's jaw. "I'd love to have a baby with you."

Loki seems to lighten as if a burden is taken from his shoulders.

Outside the boys are rolling in the grass, pumpkins disregarded. Mobius whistles and the boys stop, crawling back to their pumpkins and lay there with them.

Mobius lies next to Sean while Loki is by Kevin. One pumpkin is under each of their arms or under the boys chins. Loki and Mobius put their arms across the boys backs before Loki conjures the camera.

"Smile big," he says,"this is going on the mantle."

The boys giggle. Mobius calls out, "Everyone say halloween!"

"Halloween!"

Chapter Text

"Loki, why are you sitting on the table?"

Loki looks up, fingers in his mouth. He doesn't break eye contact with Mobius as he takes his fingers out of his mouth and dips another banana in the chocolate fountain. "I'm eating."

"Do you have to sit on the table to do that?" Mobius asks, arms hidden behind his back.

Loki looks at the fountain then back at Mobius. "Yes."

Mobius decides not to engage this one and moves on. "Okay, well, when you're done with your fountain, I have a surprise for you."

Loki's eyes grow big. He quickly shoves the banana in his mouth and shuts the fountain off. He scoots to the edge of the table and dangles his legs over the edge. "I'm done. What's the surprise?"

Mobius chuckles. He walks achingly slow up to Loki where he settles between the gods legs. Loki rubs his side, almost teasingly and Mobius glares. "Don't."

Loki grins but stills his hand. "Later," he purrs.

"Focus."

Loki gives him doe eyes. Mobius sighs, but his smile doesn't fade. "During the fall, there is a popular treat we have that I think you'll find delectable."

"Delectable? My, my, dear, Mobius, such rich vocabulary."

"Shut up, hypocrite. Now give me a number between one and four and close your eyes."

Loki wiggles his brows before closing his eyes. "Two point three four-"

"Two it is." Mobius pulls a case of candied apples from behind his back. He takes out a caramel apple drizzled with chocolate. His stomach growls. Soon, he thinks, putting the three others on the chair next to him and pressing the other against Loki's lips. "Take a bite."

Loki sinks his teeth into the apple and his eyes whip open. He chews on the piece he took, staring in awe. "Are these-"

"Candied apples," Mobius says proudly, "Sean said you were staring at them yesterday."

Loki's eyes soften. He takes the hand Mobius is using to hold the apple and pulls him in for a gentle kiss. "Thank you, Mobi," he whispers before reaching over and taking out a ruby red cinnamon apple. "Your turn."

Chapter Text

Sean has finally got all the leaves in a pile and is raking them into the bag that Love holds open when Kevin barrels out of the house and jumps into the pile, sending the leaves in all directions. Love and Sean scream, "Kevin! We just finished that!"

Kevin giggles and takes a large pile of leaves and dumps it over his head. Sean wants to hit him but he's more concerned that Love is going to kill Kevin with those light up eyes of hers and he'll get blamed for it. So instead Sean just grabs the rake and starts again, grumbling under his breath.

As Love and Sean start raking again, Kevin says, "When do you think Loki will propose to Dad?"

That makes Sean pause. He hadn't really thought about it. Love speaks up. "I think it'll be the other way around. Aunt Loki is too chicken."

"She's not chicken," Sean says defensively, "She just wants the best for Dad."

"Do you guys want a new mom?" Love asks.

Kevin frowns. "Loki's not our new mom. She's the mom that stepped up."

Sean rolls his eyes. "We miss Mom. We do. But she hardly ever sees us. Loki does more for us than Mom ever has. She treats Dad better, too." The rake hits the ground too hard and gets stuck. Is Sean bitter? Yes. Kevin doesn't know everything that happened between their parents. But Sean does because he was up every night listening to it. Now Dad doesn't remember it, either. Sean will never forgive himself if he lets something like that happen again.

Love seems to sense the tension and sighs. "I miss my Dad. I know he killed a lot of people. But I still love him and miss him. I'm happy Uncle Thor and Aunt Jane are taking care of me but..."

"It's not the same," Kevin finishes, his cherry attitude deflating.

The three work or sit in silence for a while, thinking about parents and old days.

Finally, Sean says, "I want to be a Lokison." He stands straight. Love and Kevin watch him. "It would be a new start. I think it would make Dad happy and..." Sean shakes his head. "I think being the son of a super hero and super villain would be really cool."

Kevin grins. "Kevin and Sean Lokison. You think they'll have a kid?"

Sean and Love exchange knowing looks. "With the way they are, we'll be big brothers in no time."

Kevin whoops and destroys the pile even more. Love and Sean scream and follow him in.

Chapter Text

Loki is going to throw up. And no that is not an exaggeration. She's two seconds away from throwing up all over Mobius's birthday key lime cake. But she doesn't out of sense of her dignity. Just because she's a changed woman doesn't mean she has to humiliate herself. Not one bit.

Despite this, she is happy Mobius is happy. His birthday has gone off without a hitch. He's gone and played volleyball with Val, B-15 and D-90. He taught O.B. and Casey how to jet ski. Now he's at home playing Monopoly with the boys, Thor and love while she, Sylvie and Jane put the finishing touches on the cake. Which she thinks it's ridiculous because D-90 was a baker in a previous life (which disturbs her a little bit considering how coarse he can be) and the cake looks absolutely perfect. A jet ski with Mobius riding it. D-90's idea. Not hers.

Despite Loki's distaste for it, Mobius loves the cake and before she can adjust to singing, eating and the works, it's gift time. The need to throw up is even stronger.

"Me first," she says without thinking. She needs this over with. Her anxiety will abate when she sees his reaction.

Mobius laughs, "I wouldn't expect anything less." Loki comes to his side, handing him a small bag. As he takes out the paper, Jane and Sylvie get ready to take pictures, phones at the ready. Loki holds a finger up to her smiling lips and conjures up a sign.

Sylvie and Jane's jaws drop. Thor takes two times to read it before he looks like he's going to faint. Loki doesn't miss the knowing look the kids give each other and she can't help but wonder just how much they know.

Sylvie starts taking a million pictures while Jane says, shakily, "What have you got, Mobius?"

"Well," Mobius says finally taking out the little onesie but much to Loki's frustration, holds it up backwards so the front is to the others. Thor really does faint now. Sylvie starts bouncing up and down while Jane squeals. "I don't really- why are you all freaking-"

He finally turns it and sees what it says on the front of the sky blue onesie. 'Dad loves me more than jet skis.' He whips to Loki and spots the sign. 'Jet ski baby coming soon.' Complete with an ultrasound.

Loki envisioned Mobius's reaction in a million different ways. Breaking down sobbing was not one of them. While the women scream, the kids holler and Thor breaks their side table with his fall, Mobius puts the onesie down, takes away the sign and envelops Loki in the warmest hug she's ever had.

"Thank you," he says wetly. He kisses her cheek before getting on his knees and doing the same to her stomach. He keeps his lips against it as he says with fat tears pouring down his face, "I'm so excited to meet you. I love you so much."

His quick acceptance of this baby and the amount of love pouring out of him brings tears to Loki's face. She wipes some of Mobius's tears from his cheeks, in awe of how powerful they are. Softly, she says, "Me too."

Chapter Text

Kevin has a fascination with the night sky. Only Sean and his dad know. He likes to envision himself up there sometimes, meeting aliens and fighting intergalactic crime. Maybe that's why he was so ready to accept Loki when he first came into their lives. He was from space. What more could Kevin want?

But then Loki became more involved. Which was fine. Kevin had no complaints with having the master of mischief as part of his life. But sometimes it was hard not to feel like he was replacing Mom.

Something Dad and Loki had decided to do was every Saturday they would each take a kid and spend time with them. I was a little weird to Kevin but he couldn't deny that he likes having all the attention to himself those days. So that's why he's out here in the woods with Loki by a fire staring at the stars.

"What's your favorite constellation?" Loki asks as he maneuvers in another log.

Kevin shrugs. He feels awkward. He knows Loki feels awkward, too, cause he rubs his palm a lot. It's not the first time they've had an outing but it is the first one after a rare visit from Mom.

Loki sighs and turns to face Kevin. "Kevin, I know I'm not your mother. I can't and would never replace her-"

"I know," Kevin blurts before he means to. He holds his breath, waiting for Loki to continue. When he doesn't, Kevin lets it out and sighs. "I just...miss her. She was my mom. Is my mom. We did everything together." Suddenly there are tears in his eyes and Kevin wants to sob. He rubs his face furiously. No way he's being weak in front of a god.

But Loki gently takes his hands away and says, "It's okay to miss your mother, Kevin." Now there are tears in Loki's eyes. "I miss my mother, too." For whatever reason that sets off more tears and before Kevin knows it he's wrapped around Loki, sobbing into his shoulder. Loki holds him tight, reassuring. "Why did she leave us?" Kevin wails. "I don't understand. Why weren't we good enough?"

Kevin cries for a long time. By the time he is done, the fire is out. Loki carries him back to the car. Kevin is too tired to worry about Loki's driving. He doesn't know how Loki passed the driving test but who is he to complain.

As they drive home, Kevin relaxes. Finally, he looks at Loki. "Thank you."

Loki's brows scrunch together. "You're welcome?"

Kevin giggles at how its a question rather than a statement. "For listening. For being the mom that stepped up."

Loki inhales sharply but when he looks at Kevin, it's soft and teary. "It's my pleasure, Kevin. Far more than you can ever know." Then with a full heart, he says, "Oh, and, Kevin. You are more than enough."

Kevin feels something lighten. Not completely but enough to make him happy. He smiles. "The answer to your question, by the way, is Leo."

Chapter Text

Loki has seen many ghost movies in his time on Earth. But the first time he watches Beetlejuice and sees that afterlife he promptly says, "If that is our afterlife than I'm taking all of us to the end of time, barricading us in Yggdrasil and never dying."

"I'm surprised you haven't done that already," Mobius says then shoves more popcorn in his face.

The boys, who are on their stomachs watching the film from the rug with a blanket and pillow, don't seem to care for the disturbing images that gets Loki thinking about all the people he's killed.

"How do you think we're going to die?" Sean asks Kevin.

Kevin snickers. "You'll die falling out of a tree."

Sean is insulted by that. "Oh, yeah, well, you'll get bit by a dog with rabies and-"

By this point Loki can't take much more and announces he's getting more popcorn and runs to the kitchen. Typical of Mobius, he notices something is wrong and leaves the boys to their bickering.

In the kitchen, Loki stands at the window looking out at the ghost decorations swinging gently in the yard. Mobius watches his stiff body language for a moment before he says, "You okay?"

After a long moment, Loki turns around. He sighs, leaning against the counter, gripping the marble tightly. "I...um," He hates how hard this is to get out. "I can't stop thinking about all those people I..." He swallows hard. "If that afterlife was real, there's some man out there running around with a hole in his head instead of an eye. There are Jotun's blasted to bits and people from New York who-"

"No hold on," Mobius jumps in, "I'll stop you right there." He comes up to Loki and bars the god in by putting his hands on either side of him, also gripping the counter tightly. "Did you do all those things? Yes. And was it all horrible? Yes. That is something that will never go away. But you," Mobius stops almost emotional. He cups Loki's face and says, "You proved your self worthy, Loki. That you hate what you did and will never do those things again. You can be forgiven if people allow you to be. You are redeemed."

Tears are in Loki's eyes. "Not everyone is like you, Moby."

"I know," Mobius whispers, "And it's their loss."

At that, Loki kisses Mobius, hard and desperate, then buries his head in the man's neck and sobs.

Chapter Text

"What is she doing?" Sylvie asks. She and Loki stare out the window, cups of hot cocoa in hand watching as Love repeatedly throws out her hands as if trying to throw a fireball. "Is she playing pretend?"

"She's trying to be like you two." Loki and Sylvie turn to Mobius who is trying to cut open a pomegranate but is having a hard time going about it because Stormbreaker is trying to do it for him. Ever since Mobius asked Thor if he could use Stormbreaker to cut wood, the ax has followed him around, taking a special liking to him. Loki personally thinks it's demeaning but Stormbreaker just wants to be used and accepted. Loki can understand that.

"What do you mean?" Loki asks, her painted nails tapping on her cup.

Mobius fully turns to them, waving his knife around as he speaks. "Remember that torch trick you did the other day? She liked it. A lot. She wants to do magic. Like you guys."

Loki and Sylvie exchange looks. "Aren't you concerned about that?"

"No. I think it's sweet. You should teach her. She would love it." As he finishes, Stormbreaker swings down on the pomegranate, making Mobius scream and juice go everywhere. Loki giggles at the mournful look on her partner's face as he stares at the pulverized fruit. Then she says to Sylvie, "Let's go talk to her."

Outside, Love is still thrusting her hands out, getting angrier and angrier that nothing is happening. Loki and Sylvie sit behind her and Sylvie announces their presence with, "What are you doing, Love?"

Love jumps and turns to her aunts. She has a hard time looking in their eyes. "Nothing," she mumbles.

Loki raises a brow and pats the step between the two. Love slowly sits and the two turn to her smiling. "We want to show you something," Sylvie says.

Loki extends her hand and out pops fireworks. Love stares in awe, a smile covering her face. Then Loki passes a flower to Sylvie, that as it passes, turns into a snake. It wraps around Sylvie and hisses. Love giggles and tries to grab it but it disappears as soon as she grazes it.

Her embarrassment gone, Love twists to Loki with a big grin on her face. "I want to learn magic, too!"

Loki smiles gently. Somehow she feels her mother near. She places the flower in Love's hand and says, "The first step is truly believing it. Now imagine..."

A couple hours later, as Mobius is working on his jet ski, Sylvie sends him a picture with the caption 'a new coven has been formed.' Mobius smiles at Loki and Sylvie crowding Love who is proudly holding a glowing snake.

"Look at that," he says showing the phone to Stormbreaker, "She's a pro already." Then realizes what he's doing and turns away though it only brings the ax closer. Maybe he should learn a little magic himself.

Chapter Text

Mobius likes to watch people's faces when he walks by and has a cat with him. It's not unusual to see people walking pets but not every animal can turn into a person's spouse. Mobius should probably be more concerned about how it looks but he isn't. Not only does he have a cute wife, husband and everything in between, he's got a cute cat that follows him around, too. Forgive him if he wants to show off.

He doesn't know why Loki does it. He doesn't complain though because waking up some mornings to a ball of fluff on his chest is enjoyable. Even more often it's like having an emotional support cat there to help him in the darker days. He knows Loki knows that the purring helps him amongst other things.

Being able to go to the TVA with a cat confuses people and he enjoys watching them puzzle it out. A work cat is even more confusing than the god of mischief being his normal self. Even now as he walks down the street with Loki at his side his neighbor's stare. What's even better? It's Halloween. Meaning paranoia is rampant and Loki is in his element.

While black cat decorations line the street, Loki clearly gets a kick out of being the flesh and blood cat instead of plastic. He generally makes the neighbors uncomfortable but being a black cat just adds to the mischief. People avoid them. Bad luck galore is walking the streets.

Then there's Ben. Loki likes Ben a lot. Mobius thinks that's because Ben is Mobius's friend in almost every universe. Loki once told him of a world where he was a model named Hansel. Ben was a man named Zoolander and they did a lot of mischief. Sounds kind of weird but Mobius knows better and just accepts it. He can see why Don was friends with Ben. He's a calming yet entertaining presence. He cares about Mobius's family as much as his own. He comes around a lot when he's not on business trips. But that's not all. Ben is the only one outside of the family who knows the whole truth.

That's the man Mobius sees now. He grins."Hey, Ben," Mobius calls out cheerfully, stopping beneath the tree Ben is putting ghosts in.

Ben squints down at them and waves. "Hey, Mobius! Hi, Lokitty!"

Loki's ears twitch, indicating his distaste for the name. As Ben climbs down, Loki climbs up Mobius's leg and back to wrap around his neck. Mobius grits his teeth in order not to scream.

Ben hits the ground as a neighbor passes by. Loki hisses at them then purrs at Ben. The poor neighbor looks terrified.

Ben waves at the neighbor then says to Mobius, "Be careful. Black cats are not very welcome right now."

Loki growls. Mobius rubs between his ears to calm him. "Believe me. I think they'll get the worse end of the fight."

Ben chuckles and says, "Are we still good to come by and trick or treat?"

"Only if we are," Mobius teases. The men laugh until Loki bites Mobius's ear forcing him to say goodbye.

As they walk away, Mobius hisses, "You're so bossy." Loki's ears are flat. He's upset. Mobius signs. "Don't worry, Lokes. You will always be my favorite."

Loki is suddenly moving and before Mobius knows it he has both arms full of Eisir Loki, eyes on fire. He leans into Mobius and murmurs against his lips, "Show me."

Chapter Text

It had taken Loki what felt like eons to accept her Jotun form. Being able to see others accepting it across the timeline certainly helped. But when it came to her family it was another story.

Mobius wasn't shown it until a year into their marriage. Loki knows he's seen it before. Doesn't make it any easier to show him when the memory of Volstagg getting hurt rolls through her brain constantly.

But he doesn't get hurt. In fact it's one of the best days and nights Loki has ever had. Mobius adores her Jotun form which is still hard for her to wrap her head around.

What she really didn't think about was telling the kids she's Jotun.

So one morning when morning sickness hasn't taken her out completely, and she's sitting at the counter eating gummy worms on cereal and orange juice, she doesn't hear the kids come in and is shocked when they start screaming.

It took an hour, maybe more to get her out of the bedroom and the boys out of the bathroom. She didn't know why she was blue and couldn't change back. Mobius chalked it up to the baby. She just about throttled him for that.

So here she was lying in bed, blue, sick and all out of tears. She had scared the boys. Her sons. What mother does that? What good mother, stepmom or not scares her children so they hide in a bathroom for an hour?

She's about to start crying again when there's a knock at the door and two blonde heads poke in. "Loki," Sean calls out. She doesn't turn, scared to face them.

The boys come in anyway and sit on either side of her. They are silent for a long time until Sean asks, "Will our baby sister-"

"Or brother!" Kevin jumps in.

"Or brother!" Sean repeats, "Will they look like you?"

Loki frowns. She hadn't thought about it. "I don't-"

"I hope so," Kevin says, laying back on her pillow, head close to hers. "Can you imagine having a frost giant sister. It would be so fun!" Sean is in immediate agreement. They go on back and forth for a while before they both lay with Loki, cuddling her, despite the cold.

"I'm sorry for scaring you," Loki murmurs, "I should have told you. It was wrong not to."

"We're sorry for hiding," Sean says, "You're our mom. Not a monster. We're sorry we acted like you were."

"We love you, Loki," Kevin assures and buries himself in her side. Sean follows, too. Loki sighs. She feels a little better. It's not much but it's a start.

Chapter Text

It was Loki's idea to get a family portrait done. Originally they wanted a painting done or a mosaic like on Asgard. Mobius flat out refused, knowing a baby would not sit that long. So Loki reluctantly agreed to more conventional methods. An expensive photographer with equipment that took up the entire yard.

Then there was the matter of doing the pictures, figuring out outfits and getting the boys to stop rolling in the dirt. Just because Loki can clean them up with a snap of their fingers, doesn't mean the boys should do it.

For whatever reason Loki wanted them all to look as 'human' as possible. That means all five of them wore plaid matching shirts. Of course Loki distinguished themselves from the boys with a green plaid shirt while the boys were in orange. Little baby Dagmar got thrown in the mix of green and now they are all out standing in the cold as leaves swirl around them and the photographer shivers.

As Mobius guessed, the shoot doesn't go well. The wind messes up their hair. Dagmar is crying ninety percent of the time. She keeps turning blue much to Loki's frustration and the last straw is Kevin climbing the tree, falling and destroying his clothes.

So, with one picture left to take, Loki sits on their front step, tears in their eyes, watching Sean carry Dagmar around. Mobius sits down next to them. As soon as he settles, they say, "I'm sorry."

Mobius raises a brow. "What for?"

They practically explode. "I don't know, Mobius. Maybe the disaster of this day. We don't have a decent picture. This is our family. I'm proud of it. I want to show how amazing we are like we do on Asgard. But without a picture..."

Mobius thinks for a moment, watching as Kevin throws a ball at the tree only for it to come back and hit him. "Who says it has to be perfect?" Loki turns to him, complete disbelief on their face. He smiles. "This is our family, right? Not Thor's, not Odin's, not the woman in the PTA you hate so much. Not even Ben's. This is our family. And we are the embodiment of chaos. There's no shame in that. There's no shame in showing who our family really is."

Loki's tears return. They wrap their arms around Mobius. "Where would we be without you?" They murmur into his shoulder. With a kiss to his cheek, and a bit of herding, the last picture is taken.

A month later, Mobius is putting this picture on the wall over the fireplace. He grins happily as he looks at what he never thought he'd have again. Kevin is throwing leaves everywhere. Sean has wrestled Mobius to the ground so he's sitting on Mobius while the two wrestle. Loki is trying to take a stick out of Dagmar's mouth. They are both blue.

If this doesn't describe the Lokison-Mobiusdottir family he doesn't know what would.

Chapter Text

Loki felt Halloween was a bit much sometimes. As the god of mischief, a shapeshifter, and gender fluid he saw Halloween as thus. The costumes he saw were dull, the tricks were fake and overdone and don't get him started on the decorations. The candy, though. He's not ashamed to admit he would steal from Kevin and Sean for that.

So that's why he's sitting on the couch with a bowl of candy not going trick or treating while the boys argue over who's costume is better, Thor or Captain America, and Loki finishes putting Dagmar's Valkyrie costume on. Dagmar squeals as he ties the ribbon for her head piece under her chin. He stands. "Ready to go, boys."

Sean and Kevin look over, but only briefly, saying, "We're waiting for Dad," before they start arguing again.

Loki goes to the stairs and yells, "Moby, are you ready? The boys are getting antsy."

"Just a sec, pussy cat," Mobius calls back. Loki sighs and turns back to the boys who are close to swinging their candy buckets at each other.

When Dagmar squeals, Loki knows Mobius is coming. He turns, growling, "About time. The boys are-" he sees Mobius and everything in him stops.

Mobius is dressed in the robes Loki wore at the end of time, stitched and fitted to Mobius's body. It floats around him all too well. The horns on his head look heavy but Mobius holds them up proudly.

When he gets to the bottom of the stairs, Loki chokes, "Why are you wearing that?"

Mobius grins, hands on his hips, "The kids were dressing up as their favorite superheroes. I thought I'd join in."

Loki will never admit how hard he blushed at that. "Moby..."

Mobius kisses his cheek and takes Dagmar as if he hadn't just said the most breathtaking words Loki has ever heard. "We'll be back before eight. Don't eat all the candy. Let's go boys!"

As Mobius goes to the door, Loki spins to them. "Wait!" Then with a quick flash of green, Loki is in his old TVA uniform save for a jacket like Mobius's and a gray mustache on his upper lip. The boys giggle and Dagmar screams.

Mobius starts to blush, too. "Loki, you don't have to-"

Loki speed walks to Mobius and says, "I'm still not a fan of the costumes. But I do have a hero. It's only fair that I get to show him off, too."

Then with a sweeping kiss and 'ew's' from the boys, they are off. And show Mobius off Loki does and vice versa.

Chapter Text

Some days Sylvie will come over several times a day with gifts, food, or gossip from the TVA grapevine. It doesn't bother Loki much. She likes it when Sylvie willingly comes over. But on those days, Mobius will give Sylvie the biggest stink eye Loki has ever seen.

She wonders if he ever looks at her like that.

Loki wonders if the boys ever dislike her for barging into their lives and taking their dad's time. Then she looks at her slowly growing stomach and wonders if she's destroying this child with everything that is wrong with her.

She feels like poison, entering the veins of Mobius, Kevin and Sean's lives and slowly messing things up. That she's filling her and Mobius's child with poison, leading it into a like-minded life. She wonders if she is being a poison not just to her new family but to everyone.

These are the days where she understands Mobius best. She knows he's not happy all of the time. It's something he has no control over. He covers it up well but those who know him best know he's depressed and wants to be alone sometimes. Loki doesn't want to be. But when the poison starts she feels she deserves it. Everything she's ever done comes creeping back.

Mobius of course always notices when she's feeling this way. He soothes her doubts with gentle words and by including her in anything and everything no matter how trivial it is. The kids begin to pick up on it, too, and start making her food and involving her in their games or chores which she could do without the latter. Sylvie will sense a problem and come running with a new prank up her sleeve. Or the found family and Thor will arrive from wherever and they'll have dinner and a movie. They do that anyway but those nights are extra special.

It doesn't take all the poison away. It's always there in the back of her mind sometimes vocal, sometimes not . But seeing everyone show they care is more than she dares ask for. Some days Odin's words will echo in her head. 'No's', and 'be more like Thor's' and things about kings. But then she'll hear Mobius's 'that's not how I see it', or 'you can be whoever you want to be' or 'you're my favorite'. She's worth everything she is given. The poison comes but she knows it can't change facts. It's what, and who, she chooses to believe that makes the difference.

Chapter Text

Loki is pacing back and forth in front of the TV. Campaign workers scutter around him, trying to stay clear of his foul mood. On the couch about ten yards away, Indianapolis 'Indy' Bones chomps on a pork loin, salad, soda, two cream pies and a rotisserie chicken (just in case he gets hungry). He takes a spoonful of pie and shoves it in his face before saying, "Come on, Prez, come sit. Eat. It'll calm you down."

The opponent gains another state. Loki growls, "I'm not president yet."

"And when has that ever stopped me from calling you that?"

Loki shakes his head, trying to cover his insecurity. "You assume too much."

"You'll always be president to me. Can I have some seasoning?"

Loki stares at him for a long moment before coming to the opposite side of the coffee table and conjuring up the spice. "Do you even care you might not be VP?"

"I'll be honest," Indy says, "If I became VP I'd miss running around the globe finding lost artifacts and putting them in museums." He holds up a chicken leg as if in emphasis before taking a bite and saying, "but if we don't win, I miss out on working with you. It's a win-lose situation either way."

Prez snorts, "You just want it for the free food."

"Don't be ridiculous. I want it for power and free food."

It takes Prez a minute to understand the joke but when he does he chuckles. He finally sits next to Indy. His voice is shaky as he says, "I have to win, Indianapolis."

Indy takes another bite of pork loin. "No, you don't. You aren't defined by winning or losing this. If you do lose, you can just come work with me. I live in chaos. You'll fit right in."

Prez is silent for so long after that Indy has to look at him. Prez's eyes are glassy. "If you are sure, I would appreciate the offer. Thank you...Vice President Bones."

Indy smiles. "You're welcome, President Loki."

At some point Prez stops watching the numbers and just eats and laughs with Indy. They finish the food quickly and have to order another plate. And another and another. They eat until the campaign manager arrives. The results are in...

Chapter Text

It's the humans versus the gods.

In retrospect, Loki should have seen how this was going to play out the minute he, Thor and Sylvie decided to go easy on Jane, Mobius and the kids. Love had no such qualms and spent the whole game tackling and beating up Kevin.

The rest of the two teams held beliefs that the gods would win and destroy the humans...until Jane threw the ball at Thor's face, and it bounced off into Mobius's hands, who, despite what anyone thinks, is a fast runner and scored the first touchdown.

It pretty much goes downhill from there.

It doesn't help that Ben is with Dagmar on the sidelines and he keeps cheering for Mobius, being of no help at all. Loki has to tell himself not to knock Ben out with the ball several times.

This is how the game plays out in Mobius's front yard for the world to see.

Humans win 30 to 7. The one touchdown the gods got is because Sylvie got sick of Jane and Mobius playing footsie, intercepted the ball and ran it across the yard like a deranged cheetah.

The rest came from trick plays. Jane, Mobius and Sean made a dangerous trio that obliterated Thor, Loki and Sylvie too easily. Loki can say with no issues that he is embarrassed that Thor got a ball to the face too often, Sylvie got tackled too often, and Loki got distracted too often...by Mobius's physique. Come on! Mobius can't crouch over like that for an hour and a half and not have Loki checking him out.

Loki doesn't realize it's part of their tactic until Mobius winks at him after a brutal tackle leaving Loki breathless and staring at Mobius's sweaty body from the ground. He doesn't make any of the calls after that.

Ben finally calls the game after Sylvie gets sacked for the hundredth time and Sean steals the ball then sprints down the yard with Love on his heels. Everyone has scrapes and bruises but only one teams dignity is tattered.

Mobius sticks out a hand to Loki, a grin on his face, "Good game."

Loki scowls, "I'm not talking to you."

Then the three gods and Love stalk to the house while the humans howl in laughter at the sore losers.

Chapter Text

Loki is sick to her stomach. While Sylvie and Jane and Val run around her, making the finishing touches to her flower crown, white dress and gold for a cape, she panics. "I can't do this," she chokes as Sylvie puts the crown on her head. "He doesn't want this. He'll wake up one day and realize what a mistake he's made. He's just lying to himself right now. Thinks I'm all that's left for him. He doesn't want me-"

"No," Sylvie jokes, "he just wants you so he can be King of Asgard and turn everyone mortal."

Loki glares at her, tears bright in her eyes. "He's not evil, Sylvie, he's just-"

"Just what?" Loki jumps. Val, Sylvie and Jane turn to Mobius who makes Loki's heart stop and body heat up when she sees him. He's in white robes with a gray and blue fur cape over his shoulders and a green leafy crown covering the majority of his head. He's beautiful even if the Asgardian wear clashes with his humanity. He nods at the women, "Can I have a word with Loki?"

Sylvie and Val nod and make their way out. Jane smiles. "You're not supposed to see the bride before the wedding."

Movies chuckles, "On the rest of earth. This is New Asgard."

Jane winks at him as she leaves, "Still Earth."

Then they are alone. Loki and Mobius take each other in. The tears in his eyes make Loki shrink in her dress. "You look ravishing," she says, trying to sound confident but she can't fool Mobius.

The man kneels down by her seat in front of the mirror and says, "I thought you'd be having doubts."

She looks away from him, defensive, "Why would I have doubts? It's our wedding day. It's full of joy and love and-"

"Fear." Loki looks at him in shock. He smiles weakly, "You think I'm making a mistake. I think you are making a mistake. We're both scared, Loki."

The admission makes her tears fall. She cups his cheek and says, "I don't want you to regret this."

Mobius kisses her palm. "I regret many things, Loki. But trust me. I will never regret loving you. If the world was destroyed and Mephisto himself tore us apart, I'd still never regret this day."

"You sap," Loki sighs, "I'll never trust anyone more than you."

Mobius smiles, then holds out a dagger. Loki gasps at the jewels and the gold that make up the dagger. "Then will you marry me today in about fifteen minutes and be the person that I will always turn to, the person I will always run to, the person I will always be there for through thick and thin for the rest of my days, alive or dead, for all time, beyond the end of time and always?"

A second proposal. Loki giggles and wraps her arms around his shoulders and kisses him. "Yes, you folksy dope. A thousand times yes." She passionately kisses him then says, "Mobius, will you marry me, and be the person that I will forever trust, forever run too, forever love in every capacity that my heart can reach, for all time, beyond time and always? Will you forever be my stars, and my moon, and my sun everyday for the rest of my life?"

These are their vows. They both know it and yet it feels right to say it to each other alone than to the entirety of Asgard. They don't need anybody to witness their union. All they need is them.

Mobius kisses her slowly, softly. "I will, forever and always."

Loki cuddles into his chest, feeling warm, slightly scared, full of love and joy, "Lets make it official, Mobius."

"Oh, pussycat," Mobius says, "we already have."

Chapter Text

Sometimes Loki will have to go back to Yggdrasil to replenish the magic there. It doesn't scare him as much as it used to. He used to think if he did something wrong he would end up trapped again. Now it's just a common ritual.

When he's there, he likes to look at the new branches, see it's variations and how people are using their agency. Most of the time he avoids looking at his own branch where he and Mobius have made a life. But today, he decides that maybe, just maybe knowing wouldn't be so bad.

What he sees surprises him. Sean somehow ends up with an apprenticeship under Peter Parker, who became the new Iron Man after Stark retired his company. He and Kevin both have their own armors under their favorite colors. They both grew up to work for the Avengers and S.H.I.E.L.D. much to Mobius's stress.

Their daughter, Dagmar, grows up learning magic and learning to fight with Love. She carries Asgardian traditions learned from by Valkyrie and Jane and Sif. She becomes a second Valkyrie to Val, jotun and human. She is captain of the guard in New Asgard. Dagmar is pure and good, just like her father, but fierce and sneaky like her mother. She is a sight to behold.

Then, to Loki's amazement, there's a little boy, milky blue, following Mobius into the TVA and working alongside agents, saving branches and healing others.

Loki doesn't catch his name right then. He's too in shock to think. But it's undeniable with the high cheekbones and pitch black hair that this is his son. He must be almost a decade younger than Dagmar.

Tears touch Loki's eyes and he feels his stomach. A missing piece to their puzzle that he had no idea was missing. He watches the boy admire Thor and his father. Thor teaches him so much and when he's grown he follows in Mobius's footsteps, analyzing branches and in Loki steps, saving them.

When Loki walks away that day, he is in tears. He and Mobius raise warriors. All four of them turn out all right, saving their worlds and universes, being what Loki and Mobius couldn't have even dreamed of. He doesn't tell Mobius what he's seen and tries to forget himself. If he tries to make it happen, it might not come true. That is his agency. With it his kids have theirs.

Chapter Text

"You really don't remember Mother?"

Loki looks up from cutting up figs to Thor who is cutting up various pieces of fruit and giving them to Sylvie who is mixing it all into a big bowl of honey. Thor's arm is outstretched, an orange held out to Sylvie who is barely touching it, surprise on her face. Slowly she takes the orange and sighs. "Not really. My memories of Asgard are fuzzy and not very reliable. All I know about her is what Loki told me." She looks at him then, sadness in her eyes, and says, "She sounded amazing."

He and Thor speak at the same time, "She was."

They are silent for a moment, knives hitting cutting boards and honey squelching in hands. Then Thor speaks up, a slight grin on his face. "I remember the first year Loki was old enough to help Mother with her special treat, we were both so excited to help. She let me cut up figs while Loki played in the honey." Thor chuckles. Loki can't say he remembers this but he has a feeling he knows where this is going. "I got so upset watching Loki having fun that I insisted we trade jobs while mother was cooking the first batch.

"Of course Loki agreed. He was always good with knives. But then he got tired of cutting and I refused to give him his job back. He threw the knife at me. Got me right in the arm." Thor points at a baby scar on his arm, barely visible unless you pointed it out. "Mother forbade us from the kitchen for years after that."

Loki smiles. "Wise choice on her part. You might have lost a finger if we kept going."

Thor laughs hard until they noticed Sylvie who has stopped mixing the fruit and honey and is looking at it with longing unknown to even Loki. "It sounds like fun," she whispers, "I wish I could remember that." Then heavy tears start to drip down her face even as she makes no sound.

Loki feels them, too. He looks at Thor who has already got a tear going down one cheek. They nod at each other then move around the table to Sylvie who tries to push them away, insisting she's fine. They embrace her anyway.

They don't know how long they stand there crying and hugging but it is enough time that to them it starts to feel like their mother is there with them embracing all of them. That feeling doesn't leave for a long time.

Chapter Text

Loki has shown Mobius his Jotun form a couple times. The first was in an emergency in which he promptly switched back. The second was an intimate encounter in which Mobius showed her she can control the frost and just how much he loved Loki in every form (which resulted in the pleasant introduction of their precious daughter into the family. Not that Mobius thinks about that often cause why would he). After that it was more frequent. Family pictures. Tricks on Ben. Even just to sit at the table and do paperwork.

But today, Mobius thinks, is one of the few times Loki is proud to be a frost giant.

It's one of those rare days where he and Loki get time to themselves. Where the kids are out with friends and Ben takes Dagmar for a couple hours so they have breathing room. It's a hot day, too, making Loki hide under an umbrella while Mobius jet skis cross the lake or at least as far as he can go.

He doesn't remember when he passed out. It was from heat exhaustion, he knows that much. When he wakes up to a beautiful hue of blue and what feels like a soft icicle surrounding him, he doesn't have it in him to pull away. In fact, he feels so good he clings to Loki tighter.

"Mm," Mobius hums, rubbing his face against Loki's collarbone, "Cool."

"I'm so pissed at you I can't even form the words for it," Loki stutters, "if you ever do something so stupid like that again, I'm destroying your jet skis."

"Come on, Lokes, it wasn't that bad."

"You fell off the jet ski while it was running. Don't tell me it wasn't bad."

That's the first time Mobius notices that Loki is wet. He had to swim out to get him. He hugs him a little tighter. "Sorry."

Loki does the same. They lay in the sand awhile. So long Mobius starts moving his hands over the many markings, taking in the blue like it's medicine to the eyes. Once he can sit up Loki gets him water and after a long drink, Mobius holds Loki's hand and says, "You realize you saved me in this form, right?"

Loki finally looks him in the eye, red eyes bright in the sun, "I suppose..."

"No, you did. You cooled me down. You saved me by being you."

"I wouldn't have had to if you drank your water like you're supposed to."

Despite the harsh words, Mobius can see the purplish blush on Loki's cheeks. "My hero."

Loki curses at him. Mobius laughs. Despite the teasing and circumstances, Loki stays blue the rest of the day.

Chapter Text

Shopping is such a mundane thing. He knows Sylvie and Val and Jane and Loki enjoy going out and wandering around malls and little local antique shops. As for Mobius, grocery shopping is enough for him.

That being said, Mobius pushes a cart through a grocery store on the outskirts of Cleveland, Loki wandering from section to section behind him. It's Thanksgiving next week which means lots of potatoes for Kevin, about a dozen pies for dessert and enough to feed two gods, a valkyrie, a mini goddess, two hungry growing boys, him, Jane, and the TVA family.

Mobius doesn't think he's made a meal this big in his life.

"Okay," he says, looking over the list, "we got the turkey, the gravy. We got potatoes at home. I think we got enough pies...do you think twelve is enough?" When an immediate answer is not forthcoming Mobius turns. "Loki?"

Loki stands at the apple stand, staring at the fruit in his hand. He looks haunted almost like he's in another place all together. Mobius knows that look and is quick to put an end to it.

With a gentle hand to Loki's arm, Mobius shakes him. "Loki? Are you with me?"

Loki takes a sharp inhale. He now looks directly at the bright red apple and puts it back. "I'm sorry. What were you saying?"

Mobius leans against the stand, trying to meet Loki's eyes. "Do you want to talk about what just happened?"

Loki looks too tired to fight. He runs his fingers over the apples as if savoring the feeling. "It's nothing, Mobius. I just..." he sighs, "...some days it feels like this isn't real."

"What? Grocery shopping?"

"Everything," Loki says immediately. He finally looks at Mobius, eyes haunted. "Some days it feels too unbelievable that I'm on a timeline with you grocery shopping and arguing over fabric softener. I sometimes think I created this world from my own insanity." Loki's eyes tear up. "You're not real."

Mobius knows that feeling all too well. He takes Loki's hand and smiles weakly. "Tell you what. You pinch me, I pinch you. We do whatever it takes to make this real. Okay?"

Loki smiles weakly back, "Okay."

Mobius nods. "Okay. Now about those pies..."

Chapter Text

Loki's words echo as they find Sylvie, lose the branches, find Ravonna and go to 1893. The list Loki gave is long and Mobius has to recall a lot of events to pinpoint where those people showed Loki he was the problem. Mobius is ashamed he is on that list. The beginning of their friendship was not great and he can admit to that. After all this, he wishes he could take a lot of what he said back.

Loki notices his melancholy outlook as they ride the ferris wheel, looking to see if a higher viewpoint will help them find Ravonna. "Hey," Loki says, nudging his arm, "are you all right?"

Mobius leans on the ledge of the bared window, looking out at the city below. "I'm fine."

"You said that the other day and you weren't."

Mobius knows Loki doesn't mean to be snarky but it's hard not to take it that way. He sighs.

"What you said in the automat...I'm sorry. For being one of the people to call you a problem. You're not. You're far from a problem. What I said was...malicious. It wasn't right. I'm sorry."

Loki is silent for a long time. The cart reaches the top and stops, swinging gently. Then there's a soft, "Thank you," then louder, "I don't think I remember the last time I got an outright apology."

Mobius shakes his head. "You're not the problem. You were never the problem..."

He's saying it more to himself than to Loki. The list rolls through his brain again. It's everyone Loki ever knew. Everyone he tried to trust, didn't trust, cared for, didn't care for. Save Frigga. Bless her soul...

"Mobius," Loki's voice brings him out of his melancholy. He looks at him and is surprised at the determination in Loki's eyes. "What you said was harsh. But a lot of it was something, maybe everything, I needed to hear. I don't want you blaming yourself for something you didn't mean."

"Do you still believe it?" Mobius asks, getting to the source of his pain, "That you are the problem?"

Loki's brows pin together. He wasn't expecting that question. He leans over, matching Mobius's position. "I don't know. I think I was for a long time. I'm not sure if I still am."

Brad's words replace Loki's list. Mobius clenches his fists. "I want you to know that Brad is wrong. You're not a problem for me or B-15. You definitely weren't for your mother." Loki's eyes lock on Mobius's face. It's so intense, Mobius has to look away.

He hears Loki open and close his mouth several times, struggling with his words. Finally, as the wheel starts lowering and the sun fades, Loki says, "Thank you, Mobius."

Mobius eyes the ground. They can't talk about this now. They will though. Later. So he simply says, "No problem."

Chapter Text

Loki never believed he would have a family of his own. When he was young, he envisioned it. Back when he thought Fandral was everything, Odin might like him and love didn't seem impossible. Then he grew up. Fandral became just like everyone else, and Odin got colder. Love was impossible.

So sitting here watching Dagmar sleep on her fourth day in this world also seems impossible. Loki pinches himself constantly, trying to see if he's in the tree still. How did he get a husband like Mobius, two obnoxious boys like Sean and Kevin and a beautiful daughter like Dagmar? How did he get this family? He still feels unworthy of many things. This is one of them.

"Lokes?"

Loki turns to Mobius who is standing in the doorway to their bedroom watching Loki with a soft smile on his face. "How is she?" he asks.

Loki sniffs and turns back to Dagmar. Her blue skin is a sky blue, lighter than most Frost Giants. Loki assumes it's the mix of Jotun and human genetics. Mobius comes and sit's next to him. Together, they stare at Dagmar, totally enchanted by her.

Suddenly Mobius says, "I can't believe we have this."

Loki takes a moment to digest that. "What?"

Mobius takes Loki's hand, holds it tight. "You were in a tree not too long ago, Loki. I was a nowhere man. This entire thing was something we couldn't afford to dream about. Now we're married, have three kids and live in suburbia. Doesn't feel real, does it?"

Loki swallows hard. "No. It doesn't."

They watch her in silence, the midday sun passing the window. The boys will be back soon. Loki looks at Mobius, and how many of his features match Dagmar's. The hair, the eyes, the shape of her face. It makes Loki feel warm.

"I have a family," Loki whispers, "my own family."

Mobius lays his head down on his arms, "Is it everything you wanted?"

"And more," Loki says softly.

"Good," Mobius smiles, "it's everything I never knew I wanted."

Dagmar coos and Mobius seems to turn into a puddle. He coos back and pulls the girl from her crib, swing side to side as he walks her to the window.

Loki watches, a pool of anxiety and peace roaring in him. He decides to focus on the peace because the opposite is unthinkable. This is real. He believes it is, and therefore it is. The trees blow outside. The world is silence.

Chapter Text

Loki is dying. He knows that he is. He can't speak, can't move, can't do anything except listen as Thor tries to find an escape before Thanos blows this ship to smithereens. He hopes he does. He hopes his death isn't for nothing.

But, then again, he wishes Thor were here. He wishes he wasn't alone again. Alone in death. Just like he always has been, always will be. It makes tears come to his eyes, roll down his face and he can't move to wipe them away. He finds a star out the torn hull. It flickers and shines. It's not much, just a giant mass of hot gas but it's still comforting.

But then the star disappears. The ship shakes. A form, a human appears over Loki. Silver hair and a mustache glow in the fading light. He wears a suit, quite an ugly one, and his eyes don't speak malice but pain and sadness. Loki wants to run. His legs don't even twitch.

The man kneels beside him, eyes shining. Loki tries to meet those eyes. To threaten the man before he can attack. But the man stretches out his legs, then carefully, oh so carefully, lifts Loki's head and neck and places him in his lap. Loki's heart races.

But the man simply combs his hand through Loki's hair, untangling knots as the world burns. Loki keeps his eyes focused, not understanding who this man is. His sad stare is echoed in his voice as he says, "I wish this could end another way."

Loki wishes he could speak. What does the man mean? But the man keeps stroking his hair as he says, quietly and desperately, "And you, my father, there on the sad height, curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray. Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light."

Loki has heard drunk star sailors speak of angels that come at a man's death to guide them home. He had never believed those stories. Hope for the weak he had thought. And maybe it is. Maybe this isn't real. Maybe it is a hallucination of a damaged, dying mind. But Loki can't find it in himself to care as the man curls Loki into him, holding him like he truly cares. It's warm. Comforting. Loki cries. He wants to sob, but can't. So he cries to a being who just might not care.

"You're not alone, Loki," the man whispers to him as another part of the ship explodes. He wipes the tears from Loki's eyes, hands gentle. "It's okay. You can let go now."

The last thing Loki feels is the man's tears on his face. The man's face tunnels before everything goes white.

Chapter Text

He didn't come back. That has been the truth for several hundred years now. That hasn't seemed so real until now when Mobius is standing next to Captain Carter looking out at the gangway to the nothingness before them. Captain Carter is talking, thanking him, Mobius thinks, or maybe discussing something with O.B. It really doesn't matter because all he sees is Loki out there leaving them all behind...

Mobius doesn't register he is moving until he's halfway down the stairs and even then he doesn't feel in control as he closes the hatch behind him and locks it much like Loki did all those years ago.

He reaches the hatch to the gangway. Mobius stands there like Loki stood there but he doesn't look back. He can't. If he does all he'll see is Loki's sad face and he can't handle that right now. So Mobius stands facing the door, waiting for it to open. He'll be back. He'll be back. He'll be back.

There's a pounding on the door outside of his isolated cocoon but Mobius doesn't really hear it. There are voices but all he hears is for you, for all of us. He's reaching for the button that will release the hatch and allow Mobius outside when there's a loud crash.

There are arms around him pulling him away. He doesn't put up much of a fight, but he does land one good punch and a good scream before everything goes black.

****************************

Mobius knows he's in the med unit the second he wakes up. He can't say he knows why but judging by the straps around his wrists he'd say it's because he did something stupid. It takes a long moment for his eyes to adjust. When they do, he sees his friends B-15, O.B. and casey. Even D-90. But no Sylvie, no Carter, not even Gambit. And especially no Loki.

"What happened?" He groans. He reaches to rub his eyes but his hands only go so far off the bed. 

B-15 eyes the straps, tears in her eyes. "You tried to kill yourself."

"I...what?" Mobius tugs at the straps again. There is no give.

O.B. doesn't look at him as he says, "You tried to get out to the gangway. Captain Carter barely got to you in time." When he does look at Mobius, O.B. looks torn apart. Physically and mentally. "One more second and..."

O.B. can't go on. Mobius looks up at the ceiling. He doesn't remember and yet...

One second more and this pain would have stopped. Pain and confusion and heartache. One more second...and it would have been all over. Suddenly he's crying. Tears are dropping on to his pillow quickly, faster and faster. Before he can start hiccuping, Mobius turns into the pillow as best he can, hiding away from everyone and everything he knows.

Maybe, just maybe, if the world doesn't exist around him, he doesn't exist either. He can only hope.

Chapter Text

Loki finds him in their bedroom, a sad look on his face. The laundry basket is sitting next to him. Only half of the laundry is folded. The other half is spread all over the bed in piles of crumpled fabric. Loki goes to the bed and sits with Mobius, a worried look on his face.

"What's wrong?" Loki whispers. Then he notices the pair of socks in Mobius's hands. Unicorn socks that belong to their two year old who is currently asleep in her room for her daily nap. Mobius is running his fingers over the socks, squeezing them and feeling the double fabric that is the unicorn's eyes.

"How much time do you think we have?" Mobius asks.

"What do you mean?"

Mobius sighs and puts the socks on the bed beside him. He doesn't look at Loki. It's like he can't bare to. "I mean... Kevin, Sean and I are human. We won't live forever." Loki's stomach drops. "Dagny is half human. How much time does she have? And honestly," he finally looks to Loki, tears in his eyes, "how much time do we have with you?"

How many times has Loki asked that question? How many times has he agonized over it? But he doesn't let it get to him now. He's not the one that needs comforting.

He takes Mobius's hand and leans on his shoulder, giving Mobius a place to ground himself. He says, "Years ago, before Dagmar was born, I had the same concern. I asked Thor about it and he told me that we can't let the fear of the worst stop us from living. If we wait for the day it all ends, we will miss all of the joy of today. One day I may have to leave. One day we will all die. That's what makes today special."

Mobius snorts much to Loki's surprise. Mobius wipes at some tears in his eyes and squeezes Loki's hand. "Wise and sappy. I never thought I'd see the day."

"Oh, shut up," Loki hisses, before gently nudging Mobius who laughs. They sit in silence for a moment, taking everything in. After a while, Mobius grabs the socks again, tears on his cheeks.

"How has two years passed already?" He sniffs.

"Daddy?" Mobius and Loki look up. Dagmar stands in the doorway, yawning, holding her stuffed alligator. Her blonde hair sticks up like a bird's, and her blue skin shines in the light. When she sees Mobius's tears, she gasps and runs to him, climbing into his lap as fast as she can. Mobius grabs her and lifts her up. As soon as she settled she puts her hands on either sides of his face and says, "No crying!"

Loki thinks he pops something from how hard he has to try to keep his laughter in. Mobius sighs and holds Dagmar tighter. "It's okay to cry, prinsessen. Tears are my way of showing how much I love you."

"Love me?" Dagmar asks, wiping at his tears.

Mobius nods. "I love you lots."

Suddenly Dagmar is crying and it alarms Loki but he forces himself not to grab her. Mobius's eyes widen. Dagmar rubs her face then rubs her wet hand over Mobius's equally wet cheek. "Love you." Then she spreads her arms wide. She loves him lots, too.

Mobius starts crying harder. He squeezes Dagmar to him, crying, "Oh, Dagny, skatten min."

Loki is overcome. The anxious feeling of not enough time returns. He wraps his arms around both of them. They flop back into the clothes and lie there, taking in each other's warmth or cold until they are all asleep.

Chapter Text

Sean loves being a big brother. He didn't get to enjoy Kevin as a baby since they're only two years apart. But Dagmar he enjoys every second of. From the moment he saw her he vowed to be the best big brother ever. And for the past year he'd say he's done a good job. He's fed her, carried her everywhere, played with her, even changed her diaper once (not his favorite part by any stretch of the imagination).

Kevin has not spent as much time with her. He had wanted a little brother to pick on like Sean picked on him. Obviously that didn't happen and frankly, Sean is just fine with that. He wants Dagmar all to himself. She gets real happy when she's with him and it makes Sean feel good. Kevin loses out as always.

That is until a few days after her first birthday.

Sean is in the family room playing on his dad's phone, 90% sure his dad is in the garage looking for it but Loki isn't here to call it so Sean is not going to worry about it. He hear's Kevin in the kitchen talking but then Dagmar squeals and when he looks up, Kevin is entering the living room with a crying Dagmar.

Sean drops the phone so fast it would set a world record. "What are you doing?"

He's over to Kevin in seconds, moving to take Dagmar but Kevin pulls her back, "No."

Sean stands in shock for a moment before growling, "What do you mean no?"

"You have her all the time. It's my turn!" Dagmar cries harder. Sean would tackle him if he could.

"Kevin, give me Dagny!"

"No!"

She cries so loud that now Mobius is coming into the house, "What's going on in here?"

"Nothing, Dad!" Sean calls then while Kevin is distracted, yanks Dagmar out of his arms. She immediately stops crying and laughs, patting his face and gurgling, "Sun."

Sean likes being called sun. It's ridiculously cute. He's probably recorded it a hundred times over. He hears the door shut and rummaging in the garage. Mobius is gone. Sean sighs in relief until he sees Kevin's face, bright red and full of tears.

"It's my turn with her, Sean," Kevin yells, "you get Dagny all the time!"

Sean will admit he could have reacted better than he did to this. He scowls, "You never wanted to spend time with her! It's no wonder she screams at you."

Kevin turns purple, "She's my little sister, too!"

"Then you should have acted like it before ignoring her for a year!"

Kevin charges at him. Sean dodges and sticks out his foot, tripping Kevin who flies to the ground. Dagmar suddenly shrieks with laughter and claps. Sean and Kevin give her a strange look as she makes grabby hands at Kevin. "Kav," she coos.

The two boys look at each other before Sean puts Dagmar down and she crawls to Kevin. He goes to pick her up but she pushes at his baby fat and looks at him expectantly. Sean picks up what she wants quickly and grins, "Play dead, man."

Kevin looks confused before realizing what Sean means and flops over on the carpet. Dagmar squeals and when Kevin tries to sit up she pushes him again. This goes on for a while before Dagmar gets tired and crawls back to Sean to sleep. When she is, Sean sighs. Guess it's time to apologize.

"You can carry her around tomorrow, if you want," he offers.

Kevin glares at him. "I want her to like me like she likes you."

"She didn't like me at first, remember. She would scream every time Loki or Dad gave her to me. It takes time for her to adjust."

Kevin sighs and crawls over to Sean. They sit against the couch and watch Dagmar sleep. Then, without warning, Kevin says, "I hate being the middle child."

Sean recalls all the memes and videos about the middle child and gently shoves his brother. "I'll tell Dad and Loki you want to help more. I'm sure they won't care."

"And you'll let me help, too?"

Boy, isn't that a finger point if Sean ever saw one. He sighs. There goes his alone time with Dagmar. "Yeah. I will too."

Kevin grins.

Chapter Text

Loki's birthday generally consists of lots of mead, lots of gorgeous people and even more gorgeous possessions. It usually occurs in a palace filled to the brim with people who simultaneously hate him and respect him as a Prince of Asgard.

He hasn't had a birthday like that in a millennium. His last birthday consisted of everyone praising Thor for his upcoming coronation and after that his next birthday was a torture session in the bowels of Thanos's ship.

Then he was in a tree for an eternity. And now it's his first birthday back. To be frank, it's probably been a couple birthdays since he's been back but this is the first one out of the TVA.

He's in Paris, a place he has always wanted to see. It's supposed to be romantic and euphoric though the angry security guard and rain is not helpful in that area. But that's okay because he's in the Eiffel Tower with Mobius, looking out at a world that is now his home.

"Thank you," Loki says, inhaling deeply the rain soaked air, "for bringing me here. This is wonderful."

"Oh, we're not done yet," Mobius says and turns Loki to him. Loki knows Mobius is hiding something. A gift he thinks.

Loki knows the drill. He closes his eyes and holds out his hands. Mobius laughs. "Who said I was giving you a gift?"

"Your body language. Now hurry before we get pneumonia from the wonderful rain my brother has sent to annoy us."

Mobius chuckles and mutters, "Smart-alec."

There's a rustling sound and then heavy metal, cold and unyielding is placed in Loki's palm. "Open up."

Loki doesn't exactly know what to expect but it's not an arm ring, beautifully crafted with green and orange jewels. Loki's eyes widen as he realizes just what the arm ring is representing. The entire thing is an elaborate tree, spelling out his name in Asgardian. This is done with the green jewels. But upon closer inspection of the orange jewels, Loki sees mobius strips, trapped by branches and roots, entrenched in the tree as if there is no way out.

Loki looks to Mobius, both in awe and confusion. Mobius brushes the arm ring with his fingers. "It's a symbol, Lokes. I am interwoven into your story in such a way that I will never again be separate from it." He finally meets Loki's eyes. "This is us. I will never be separated from you."

Tears touch Loki's eyes. Oh. He looks at the arm ring with new eyes. How the strips are entangled in the branches and roots, practically covered in them. The L of his name hooks on one, the K another. The strips are small compared to the tree, miniscule, less important than the tree.

Mobius is small to many but not to Loki. With his magic, he takes the strip in the center near the trunk of the tree and grows it until it looks like it's hugging the tree instead.

Then he steps forward and kisses Mobius deeply. He magic's the arm ring to his right arm and gently holds Mobius's head, angling so Loki can show his passion the best way that he can.

When Mobius needs to breathe, Loki only separates by an inch before whispering, "You made me who I am today. Never forget that."

Mobius's blushes, his lack of self-worth showing but before Loki can address it, he wraps his arms around Loki and asks, "How was your birthday?"

Loki shrugs, "Good."

Mobius lifts a brow, "Just good?"

Loki grabs his tie and nuzzles into his neck. "I can think of other ways to make it perfect."

Mobius shivers and tries to step back. "Not in the Eiffel Tower."

Loki huffs, "Why not?"

"Because one, that guard is about to come over here and yell at us and two, I'm cold and wet and I'm not doing this here."

Loki snorts but detaches himself from Mobius's throat. "Fine. But only cause your immune system is frail."

Mobius rolls his eyes, "I love you, too."

If Loki kisses him a little too passionately and gets yelled at by the guard for it, well who could blame him.

Chapter Text

Ben is the lead singer. He just has that lead singer vibe. At least that's what Don thinks. But being able to scream and sing along with his friend, even if he is just a backup singer still makes him feel like a king. They have been in Florida for a week and Don can rightly say he needs to move somewhere with an ocean and immediately. The sounds, the smells, the waves. It's what he never knew he needed.

They are finishing the last song of the night, something about Cinderella and only being able to be with the prince until midnight when he sees her. The patron with long black hair and a beautiful face. She watches the scene almost in boredom until she notices him staring.

She is probably the most beautiful person Don has ever seen. He finishes the song strong then runs into the crowd, jumping tables to land in front of her. She doesn't seem shocked that he did so.

"Hello," he says, sliding onto the bar stool next to her, "I'm Don."

The woman takes a sip of her drink, observing him. He suddenly feels very self-conscious. He's not wearing his normal clothes. Just a strange hoodie and ripped jeans. He doesn't look like something she would be interested in. But then she smiles and coos, "Loki."

Don relaxes a little, not enough to feel comfortable but just enough that she can. "So," he says, "how did you like the music?"

Loki hums and leans toward Don. "I've heard better. It would have been perfect if the backup singer had a bigger part, don't you think?"

Don blushes hard. He's never been good at going fast. That's why he gets a drink and goes and hides after these concerts. Loki must notice his sudden hesitancy because she frowns.

"Oh, I apologize. I thought..." She shakes her head, "nevermind."

She stands up, ready to leave and Don panics. He races in front of her. "I'm sorry!" He scrambles, "I'm not good at this. You're really pretty and from what I can tell, quite passionate. I got nervous. I'm sorry that what I said came across wrong. Could we try again...?"

Don feels like a complete idiot. Like a school kid trying to talk to his crush. But Loki doesn't turn away. In fact, she cocks her head and smiles.

"We can. But I only have until midnight," she says, voice soft, tantalizing.

Don smiles. Like Cinderella. He bows and gestures toward the beach. "Well, my dear princess, shall we check out the waves. I hear they are lovely this time of night."

Loki giggles at that. She loops her arm through his and says, "Anything you want, my prince."

Chapter Text

Mobius can't really breathe. He thinks it's funny, really, how he can be in a trunk of a tree and get no oxygen. Ironic even. Something that is supposed to keep him alive is killing him. That makes him laugh deliriously as he stares up into the branches, observing the throbbing magic and stars beyond it.

"How could you laugh at a time like this?"

Mobius's head feels like lead as he turns slowly to the god on the throne next to him. Loki is an absolute mess, tears heavy and fat cascade down his face. He looks tired and worn. Mobius smiles and pat's his foot. "Life is funny. You should laugh more."

Something is running down his face. Mobius wipes his nose and when he pulls away there is blood. Huh. "You know, when I thought time radiation killed you it was supposed to skin you or something. But a big nose bleed is probably my preferred way to go."

Mobius chuckles at that. Loki's voice cracks when he says, "Don't talk like that, elskling."

"You know," Mobius continues, completely ignoring Loki's words, "I thought when I die I'd be alone. Some guy like Doom would have got me. Or maybe old age," Mobius again struggles to lift his head to see Loki's face. "I'm glad it's with you. I'm glad it's for you."

Then he doubles over, coughing until his jacket sleeve is coated red. He struggles to stay sitting up, so he leans on Loki's leg instead, resting his head on the gods knee. He laughs again. Leaning on a god's knee. What has become of him?

But then the leg is nudging him, bringing him back to reality. "You have to stay awake, Mobius. Help is coming. You just have to stay awake a little longer."

Mobius wants to crawl up on the throne and curl around Loki, burying himself so far into the god that when he dies and his body disintegrates there will still be some of him left here, never to leave again. Instead he whispers, "I forgive you, Loki. For everything that's happened. And I thank you. You are the best thing that's ever happened to me. Don't forget that."

"Mobius," Loki is sobbing now, voice choked, "please..."

But Mobius doesn't respond. He's looking back up at the branches, enchanted by what Loki has created. To himself he whispers, "There is nowhere else I'd rather be than here..." The he closes his eyes and no matter how hard Loki nudges him they don't open again.

Chapter Text

"Are you sure you don't want to be on the timeline for Christmas?"

Loki can't really see what Mobius is doing which is driving him slightly crazy. If Loki wasn't terrified to hurt the branches or shift the tree, he would turn and look. Instead he listens to Mobius grunting and huffing as he says, "I think that's the twentieth time you've asked me that."

"Can you blame me?" Loki feels one of the branches shake and he forces himself not to turn. "Here it is Christmas day at the TVA and you're here stuck in a tree with me by your own free will."

"I'm not stuck, one. Two, you're right. It is my free will and I want to be here. And three-Aaahh!"

Loki does whip around this time. "Mobius!" He can barely see behind his throne and the entire tree shakes as he tries. There on the stone floor is Mobius, jacket gone, sleeves rolled up, holding an ornament. There's a smug smile on his face even though it takes him way too long to get up, indicating pain from his fall.

"I don't think the Watcher will appreciate you stealing his ornaments," Loki growls once he can breathe again and his heart isn't trying to get out of his ribcage.

Mobius comes around the throne, throwing the purple ornament between his hands. "Well if he didn't want them stolen then he shouldn't have put them on your tree."

Loki watches his movements, almost enchanted. "I don't think he counted on a folksy dope TVA agent climbing said tree to steal them."

Mobius proceeds to sit on the arm of the throne, acting like he's judging the ornament. "For some Watcher, he certainly doesn't see everything does he?"

Loki swallows hard. Mobius hasn't aged much since Loki last saw him. It's only recently that Mobius has found a way to the end of time and he spends more time here than anywhere. That doesn't change the fact that he will age and one day these visits will cease. At that thought Loki extends his arms toward Mobius. He already completely shifted the tree. One little movement won't destroy the world.

Mobius sees this and a soft almost sorrowful look crosses his face. "Okay," he whispers. Then he stands and slips onto Loki's lap, wrapping his arms around the god in a tight embrace. Loki does the same, ensuring Mobius won't fall. When Mobius is snug against Loki, chest to chest, hip to hip, Mobius strokes his hand through Loki's hair, soothing the tears that come to his face.

"I'm here, pussycat," Mobius whispers as tears come to his eyes, too, "I won't leave you."

Loki takes a deep breath, memorizing the feeling of Mobius's body under his arms and his thighs pressing on his. "Merry Christmas, Mobius," he whispers.

The ornament sitting on the arm of the throne reflects the kiss Mobius places on Loki's temple, small, gentle and full of love and sorrow. "Merry Christmas, Loki. Do me a favor, would you?"

Loki swallows hard, burring his face into Mobius's chest. The smell of wood and smoke fill his nose. "Anything."

Mobius lays a head on Loki's shoulder and closes his eyes. "Never let me go."

Chapter Text

Loki's pretty proud that his Dad finally allowed him to create this ski resort. It's been very lucrative for Jotunhiem. More so than Loki ever dared dream. This isn't the glory Laufey would have liked for his home but it has given Jotunhiem status. It's a start.

Loki stands after the grand opening staring happily out at all the people, thanking them for coming and looking for Thor. The man had wandered off with Jane so time after the ribbon was cut. Loki may not have a date but he knows how to third wheel. He'll make this the best trip they ever had. He just wishes they would have waited...

"Excuse me..." Loki jumps. He didn't hear anyone behind him. He's losing his touch. He turns to another Jotun, one he hasn't seen before. He's a deep blue, deeper than Loki's father, with long silver hair that is gathered into a braid and a crooked nose. He has gentle eyes, eyes that Loki almost immediately gets lost in. But those eyes widen in shock and horror. The man drops to his knee. "Prince Loki! My apologies! I didn't know-"

Loki does not panic. If he grabs the man a little too harshly and drags him to his feet too roughly is a whole other story. "No! No! Don't be sorry. I answer any questions no matter how improper."

The man looks absolutely ashamed. "I'm sorry, your highness. My son's and I came here to try skiing. But we're just not quite sure how to go about it."

Loki's stomach drops. "Oh..." He looks around the man to two boys watching with big eyes. They look just like their father. Crap. Loki pushes through his disappointment to say, "Where is your wife? I wouldn't want to guide you without the whole family being present."

The man looks surprised. "Oh. I'm a single dad. No wife here for me."

Loki doesn't think he's felt so much hope and joy in his life. With a big grin, Loki holds out his arm to the man, "Well, it's my honor to take your lovely family on a tour."

The boys gasp in excitement, but their father shakes his head. "Oh no, I can't take so much of your time."

"Nonsense," Loki cheers, "tell me, what is your name?"

The man stares at Loki for a long moment before shaking his head and chuckling. He presses a hand to his chest, before saying, " I'm Daggry." Then he gestures to the boys. "This is Kjekk and Nadig. Say hi boys."

The two shyly way that Loki. Kjekk is the one who smirks and says a small hello. Loki has never interacted with kids much but he can figure it out. He smiles and waves at them, complimenting them on their braids and asking them if they are ready to ski (to which they very loudly said yes) before sticking out his arm again. "Shall we?"

Daggry blushes but nods. "Okay." He takes the princes arm, gentle and kind. Kjekk runs ahead of them and Nedig sticks his hand in Daggry's, staying close. Daggry smiles at them, then asks Loki, "Do you know how to ski?"

At that, Loki blushes, "Oh, well, you see..." As he begins the tale, they head to the slopes, Thor long forgotten.

Chapter Text

"So what, your a dad now," Thor laughs as he strikes another barrel off the shore, making Kjekk and Nedig scream and dive back under the water. That causes waves which makes the human scream in delight.

Loki rolls his eyes, "No, I'm not a dad. If Jane had kids would that make you a dad?" He throws an icicle at another barrel. It goes through it, skewering it and making the dock workers yell.

Thor pauses at that. He sets down Mjolnir and crosses his arms. "Are you comparing Daggry to Jane?"

Loki pauses, too. He's never been in a serious relationship. He likes to party and he's never been with a person longer than a day, maybe two. But it's been different with Daggry who is lower class, has two kids and loves the sun more than the snow. Loki looks across the sand to the Jotun who is stretched out like a star, sunbathing. He cracks an eye open when Nedig yells but otherwise doesn't move.

It's honestly embarrassing how excited Loki got when Daggry said he and the boys would come to Earth with him. Daggry doesn't go anywhere because he has to support that family of his but this time he said yes. Which meant that Loki could stare at that gorgeous skin and lovely mustache the whole trip. But even better, he gets to spend time with his two favorite people and doesn't that just put a cinch on it. Thor is a favorite. Always will be. And somehow Daggry made a home on that list, too.

Loki groans and slumps into the sand, making the Earth shake. "I suppose I am."

Thor looks positively giddy. "You're in love! With a single dad! A DILF! You're in love!"

"Yes, thank you for broadcasting it to the entire earth." Loki scowls but doesn't mean it.

Thor suddenly hugs his arm, squeezing tight, "I'm glad you finally found someone."

Loki smiles gently. "So am I." At that moment, Daggry stands and makes his way to Loki and Thor who looks at him like he was just coronated King.

"So," Daggry says, clearly still basking, "what else are you going to show us? Surely sunbathing isn't why you brought me here."

Loki grins even though that is half the reason. "The humans, since we come here so often, finally made something in our size. Have you ever heard of a jet ski?"

Chapter Text

The Watcher likes puzzles. He can always find one or two maybe more on each branch. If he wants harder puzzles, he looks to the branches generally. Captain Carter was a puzzle. So was Thanos. Doctor strange. Wanda Maximoff. The one he's working on now is the hardest one of all because the people in it should never have met and yet...

The very first time I remember you, you are blonde and don't love me back.

There is a world where the heroes are cowboys and villains classic outlaws. Here, a man named Donovan chase's Loki from one end of the West to the other. It's a one-sided love. The lawless never learns to love the lawful. They just chase each other around and around and around, two snakes eating their tails.

The next time you are brunette, and you do.

That's why the second piece is confusing. Donovan is an assistant to Van Helsing who is obsessed with Dracula. When Dracula gets ahold of Asgard's prince, a new hunt begins. One that drains Donovan of life but as Loki drinks his blood, and Donovan allows him, a new curse blooms. Not long after that Donovan becomes a vampire, too.

After a while I give up trying to guess if the colour of your hair means anything. 

At first the curse is not a curse. As a raised Jotun, Loki leads Jotunhiem to new heights. He meets Daggry due to this. Daggry is like most of its variants with two kids and no one to help. A Jotun version is a welcome surprise. Their love story is almost typical in nature. But the Watcher knows there's nothing typical about it.

because even if you don't exist, I am always in love with you.

This is when he notices a pattern. There is no Don in this world. His parents never met. That does not mean dreams cease. Loki draws Don. On parchment, windows, his cell wall, on bed sheets and weapons. Bad day are good. The images take Loki through his childhood, finding out the truth, Thanos, the Grandmaster and death. No happy ending. Just drawings left to the wind.

I remember most fondly those lifetimes where we get to grow up together,

So the Watcher goes to the roots and finds a few. It's not often you find a mortal Loki in a small town at five years old playing with a little blonde boy. They grow up together, rich and poor, virtue and vice. Field trips, prom, graduation, college. It's a typical happy life until Don gets in a car accident. It's not so happy after that. The Watcher moves on.

when you share your secrets and sorrows and hiding places with me.

Loki as the hunchback of Notre Dame is new. A blue, ugly, ravaged monster. At least until Aube finds him. It's cute watching Gypsy Aube make hunchback Loki happy, watching the sunrise and being friendly. But like in any hunchback tale, Aube dies leaving Loki to his own demise. The Watcher thinks the puzzle is biased toward pain. Next.

I love how you play along with my bad ideas, b efore you grow up and realize they are bad ideas.

(And in our times together I have many bad ideas.)

Loki is mischief. Dagsbrun, oddly enough, is, too. Enough so that Odin kicks them out of the palace every chance he gets. Childhood on Asgard is long and that means lots of bad ideas are committed by both of them until Dagsbrun gets older. Their last bad idea leaves Loki as a Jotun and Dagsbrun in prison. Another tragedy added to the growing pattern.

When we meet as adults you're always much more discerning. I don't blame you.

You can't kill a god with human poison. Vann Siegert learns that the hard way with a Loki that got banished and was hit by Vann's truck. Vann is weary of Loki for a long time. At some point in their travels, that all goes away. Ideally, two killers together is not a good sign, but here as they go from one state to another, it becomes almost domestic. Too bad it all ends in death row before Loki can get him off the planet.

Yet, always, you forgive me. 

The Watcher can count the number of happy endings on one hand. This one is one of the few. Prince Loki, cursed to be in Jotun form until he finds love. Aube who trades himself and eventually forgives and loves this beast. Loki dies briefly at Aube's suitors hand before the curse is lifted by Aube's love. A beauty and a beast situation. It's stories like these that make the Watcher feel alone.

As if you understand what's going on, and you're making up for all the lifetimes in which one of us doesn't exist,

The Watcher wonders over bonds between timelines. There is a reality where superheroes and gods don't exist. In this world, Loki is a character in a book. A book that Don cherishes throughout his life. He has to buy several copies because they always wear out. He always roots for Loki even though he's the villain. By now the Watcher questions what things stretch beyond the bounds of time and space.

and the ones where we just, barely, never meet.

Sometimes they just don't meet period. Such is the way of life. In a world where Loki becomes a singer, he never meets Don. Don goes to a concert, maybe two, but they never meet. They never touch, speak or lock eyes. Loki goes on with his life. So does Don. It is fascinating how different one's life could be if one never met the other beside him.

I hate those. I prefer the ones in which you kill me.

The most common event is the New York invasion. Lots of people die there, led by Thanos through Loki. Don is in New York several times when this occurs. And every time he dies, usually at the hand of the scepter. Loki never realizes what he kills that day. It's only a tragedy to those who know what could have been.

But when all's said and done, I'd surrender to you in other ways.

There are also worlds where Loki gives up everything. Somehow those always end up happy. The current piece in the watchers hand shows Loki giving up his godhood and everything that goes with it, becoming a normal man. It's something common between Don and Loki. Sacrifice. Power for suburban life. And a prince is happy there. Content. The Watcher smiles at these because out of anyone he knows power makes no one truly happy.

Even though each time, I know I'll see you again, I always wonder

There is a Loki who is friends with a man named Shakespeare and preforms for him. There is a man named Adam who watches everyone of the shows Loki is in. They do meet and Loki does shows long after Shakespeare moves on. He does them in Adam's home every other night. One day Adam, gets sick, contracting the plague. Loki feeds him one of Idunns apples and he never misses a show again. It's one of the Watchers favorites.

is this the last time?

Sometimes there's an odd one that doesn't quite fit. Like Hansel and Loki. Two models, both immature but crazily obsessed with the other. Even after Hansel loses his beauty, Loki competes and plays around with him. They never really settle down but they certainly love one another, shown by the letters and make up products they send one another. Queer platonic is the word. An odd shaped piece to the win on the outskirts of the puzzle.

Is that really you?

Donna is a single mom who loves her boys dearly. Loki is a boastful man who learns humility after Donna put some in his place. Loki treats her like a princess and starts boasting of her instead. At first the Watcher didn't recognize them but their personalities don't change much. The two dance into a sunset, proud and humble.

And what if you're perfectly happy w ithout me?

The hardest part of completing the puzzle is trying to figure out the pieces that don't fit. Like Loki and Sigyn. A happy and beautiful couple and many universes. Ones that have no room for Don. These pieces don't fit the puzzle that seems to be overwhelming the tree. He sets those aside for another day.

Ah, but I don't blame you; I'll never burn as brilliantly as you.

One of the last pieces he finds is of a cocky Loki and a hungry Indianapolis Bones. They make a great presidency for eight years. Then they travel the universe, unearthing ancient artifacts and eating all kinds of cuisine. It ends badly with the snap, one that is never reversed. Through this Loki, the Watcher finds him...

 It's only fair that I should be the one to chase you across ten, twenty-five, a hundred lifetimes 

Running. He's been running for too long. The Watcher barely recognizes him from when the tree was created. He has run from timeline to timeline, helping save Loki's, watching others, serving the TVA and staying out of others hair. But that's not what's odd about him. It's the green glow that is odd. The glow follows him, signaling a big power at play. One that as the Watcher puts the last piece in place he finally is able to see.

until I find the one where you'll return to me.

Loki, god of stories, looks back at the Watcher from the center of the tree. The branch clutched to his chest glows orange, a man running through his hands. This is the puzzle. This is why the puzzle works. Because the god at the end of time is watching one man among trillions. Again, the Watcher has to wonder what does this love cost? The orange light jumps to a faraway branch and Loki's face falls.

It costs everything. The curse has a name. With the puzzle finally finished, the Watcher names it. It's simple, clear, cold, true.

Tragedy.

Chapter Text

Loki is not surprised to find his daughter on the floor of the family room, petting her cat and singing some nonsensical song. What he is surprised to find is Mobius, sitting on the couch with his arms crossed, glaring at Loki as if Loki has just offended him in the most horrific way known to man.

"Honey," Loki tries to joke with a smile on his face, "I'm home!"

But Mobius doesn't smile, in fact his frown deepens. "You know, Loki," Mobius starts and Loki knows this isn't going to go anywhere good. He tries to think of anything he has done to annoy Mobius and comes up blank. "You have many qualities for which I love you. You're passionate, loyal. You love with every fiber of your being. Your protective, and unfailingly so."

"Thank you..." Loki says but he feels as if he is missing something.

"So how is it," Mobius continues on, "that out of your amazing traits the one that our daughter seemed to develop is the need to murder."

Now Loki's beyond confused, and falling into mortified. "What?"

"Tell him what you did today, Dangy," Mobius says, not even looking at their daughter.

Loki's little girl looks at him with the cutest smile and says, "I shot the mailman!"

Nothing is making any sense. The gleeful smile on Dagmar's face. The mailman. Mobius sees nothing is cleared up so he says, "That's right. Mr. Sweeny came with the mail, didn't see the cat and stepped on her tail. Our five year old flew after him in a rage and tried to kill him with a stapler."

Loki knows he shouldn't laugh. He really shouldn't. But it's really hard not to when the innocent looking daughter looks positively giddy and her father is not and the said stapler is on the couch next to him.

"It's not funny, Loki," Mobius growls, "I really don't want my daughter committing homicide at five years old."

But Dagmar is laughing and so is Loki. Mobius grumps, leaving the room while Loki slides to the floor, having a difficult time breathing. Dagmar crawls over to him and says, "Did I do a good job?"

Loki hugs her tight, bringing her onto his lap. "Of course, Dangy. But your father is right. No more trying to kill people. No more staples for you."

Dagmar can't quite make her face disappointed enough for Loki to feel bad. "Okay, mama. No more staples." Then she laughs again and buries herself in Loki's embrace. 

The heart of a Don, the instincts of a Loki, Loki thinks as he cuddles her back. 

Chapter Text

Loki doesn't understand why Mobius is doing this. There are a gazillion worlds beyond this tree yet Mobius keeps coming back. He keeps falling back into Loki's arms on the throne. He keeps wondering around as if the same branches have changed. He keeps talking to Loki as if Loki will have something new to say or do. The god never will. And it tears him up every time Mobius comes because this man deserves more than sitting by Loki on a norn's forsaken throne for eternity.

"You should stop," Loki says one time as he and Mobius sit staring at the same green nothingness.

"Stop what?" Mobius asks as he takes another bite of that awful key lime pie.

"Coming here," Loki says, not daring to look at Mobius and the concern look he is no doubt getting. "You're wasting your time and life sitting here with someone who can't move or do anything."

"Don't be silly, Loki. Time can't be wasted at the end of time."

Loki has a hard time not exploding that yes actually it can be. "That's not my point."

"Then what is your point," Mobius says so harshly it catches Loki off guard. "That I'm wasting my time with you who I want to be with rather than wasting my life on some poor person on the timeline who could never be you."

Loki flinches at that. Mobius did try to date once. It ended in disaster and that's how Mobius ended up here, pruning himself and getting Loki's to help him get to the end of time. To get to Loki. "Sorry..."

He can feel Mobius's eyes on him, analyzing him and Loki hates it. "What did you do," Mobius asks, "before I came?"

Loki swallows hard. "Watched you. I watched you, Thor, Sylvie, the others, but mostly you."

"Would it help you if I left and you just watched again?"

The very words make Loki's heart ache. He covers his face with the branches in his hands. That is all the answer Mobius needs. "I don't care if you're bound to a chair, Loki. I don't care that doing what half the normal people do is impossible. I want to be with you in whatever form that takes."

"You're going to want more at some point, Mobius. I can't give it to you."

Suddenly Mobius is kneeling in front of him. He takes the branches in his hands, flinching at the cold heat. "I'm not leaving. I am doing this with you. This is our bowl of poison."

Loki flinches at the reference. He sighs and rests his forehead on Mobius's. "I don't deserve you."

Mobius's hands pull away, blisters already formed. "We don't deserve you," he says, then hugs the god. Loki cries.

Chapter Text

Loki finds it intriguing when a man from a dying planet shows up on Asgard. Well, it's not a dying world. It almost died. The humans had exploded an asteroid and saved Midgard but also there was a lot of death. At least that's what they thought. Asgard knew better when half of the astronauts showed up several different times. Heimdall said that the asteroid was full of the same thing the rainbow bridge was made out of. That's why they showed up here, completely confused and disoriented.

Some of them were loud, disorienting. Others were more mature, more heroic would be the word. Odin wanted them gone immediately, sent back to Earth. But if Loki were to be honest, he didn't want the one named Oscar to go. He was the most enthused to be on asgard, ruminating on Space often and how he 'totally thought he boogie would be even less interested if Oscar didn't have a strange interest in Loki. He would stock it up to just being the prince, if he didn't see how the rest of Oscar's friends treated him. No, Oscar was genuine. Asking questions, telling stories and listening to Loki's stories in turn. But the one thing he forcefully asked was if they won? Did human kind still live? By this point, how could Loki tell him anything but yes.

The day Oscar is to leave, Loki follows them to the bifrost. Oscar's friends are eager to go, to see their families, daughter, friends.

Loki takes Oscar's shoulder and says, "It was a pleasure to meet you, Oscar. I wish we could have had more time together."

Oscar turns to him, a big smile on his face. "I feel the same, loki. I will miss you on Earth. Maybe you could come and visit sometime. I could show you my ranch and the stars from my planet. I'll be a hero now so I'll be able to take you wherever you want to go."

Loki feels almost jealous that Earth is receiving this man. "Yes, I believe I will have to."

"Oscar, let's go!" His friends call but Oscar doesn't turn away.

"You know," he says, "I always loved Star Wars but I think I found something better that I can start loving about space."

As he walks backward to his group, Loki can't help but ask, "What is that?"

As the bifrost starts to spin and the room fills with light, Oscar says, "You."

Then he's gone. And Loki tries to forget. But he'll be honest for once. It only takes him a day to decide to go to Earth. He doesn't come back for a long time.

Chapter Text

Time is running out.

That is how Loki got in this mess in the first place. Time was running out for the bake sale / bakery tournament between the parents and Loki had overheard Judy, the head of the PTA, saying how her lemon bars always sold out so fast at the bake sale, essentially saying no other person is as good a baker as her. And boy wasn't that a challenge that Loki could not possibly pass up.

So with five hours until deadline, Loki googled a lemon bar recipe and set to work. One hour later Mobius comes home to a kitchen that smells of burnt graham cracker and stains of lemon with Loki sitting in the middle of it, on the verge of tears and green magic crackling at their fingertips.

"Did Thor stop by with Val again?"Mobius asks, remembering when his brother-in-law and friend came last time, tried to make caramel popcorn and nearly blew up the house.

"No," Loki snaps, "it's just me and my inability to ever bake anything that doesn't burn or taste like the bottom of a shoe!"

At that, the pieces fall into place. Mobius comes and sits by Loki. He takes a bite of a burnt lemon bar, makes a face then says, "I'd say less shoe and more like ash."

Loki is about ready to explode until he gets the reference and he rolls his eyes. "Cracker Jack does taste like ash, thank you very much."

"If it's any consolation," Mobius says, standing and getting some water, "Judy of the PTA's lemon bars are atrocious. Nobody likes to say it though cause they're all scared of her."

"How do you know-"Mobius gives Loki a look and the man rolls his eyes again. "I just want the kids to know they don't have to worry about me screwing stuff up for them with other parents. I'm just as good as Judy. I can do what Judy does. I can make them proud just like she makes her kids proud."

"You think they don't know that?" Mobius sits again, "they think you are the coolest thing since Iron Man."

"But not Captain America or Thor."

"Well, you can't win them all," Mobius pats his hand and ducks down to look in Loki's eyes. "My point is, they will be proud of you, Loki, whether you're baking is atrocious or not. The boys could care less about that. They care about you. And you care about them. That's enough." Loki smiles weakly.

"You seem so sure about that."

"That's because I am sure." Mobius winks. "Now. Time is running out. Let's make one last batch and show Judy what we're made of!"

"Burnt graham cracker and yellow slime?"

"Exactly."

Chapter Text

"Wow, you are fat."

Loki turns to Sylvie, glare cutting into her like a sword. "I am not that big yet, Sylvie. I'm not even a full trimester. Keep your disparaging comments to yourself."

Sylvie, a martini glass in hand, rolls her eyes as Loki checks out her stomach in the mirror. A baby bump is visible. "Looks like it's going to be a big baby."

"Can you try not to insult me for once in your life?"

"That's Mobius's job, not mine. What sister doesn't insult the other, especially when they are pregnant?"

"A good one," Loki grouches. She cups her baby bump in sighs. "I bet Mobius thinks I'm fat."

"Oh, norns," Sylvie puts down her martini, deciding to try to get through this without drinking. "When has he ever cared about something like that?"

"People change," Loki argues, "Mobius could decide he really doesn't want another kid, then where will I be? Stuck here with you or Thor with a poor baby, that's where."

Never mind. She needs more than a martini. Sylvie drinks the small cup in one gulp, then goes and stands by Loki who despite all her words, looks very focused on her growing belly and not at all worried her husband is going to dump her for something he did. They both did, Sylvie corrects when she spots the bruise behind Loki's ear.

Never mind another drink. She thinks she might throw up.

Loki sighs and finally stops feeling her stomach. "Do you think this is strange?" She asks.

"What? That you're pregnant or that it's Mobius that made you pregnant?"

Loki scowls at her. "Funny. No, I mean that I'm married with a kid on the way and you are me working at McDonald's, not married to the most wonderful man in every universe and not having a baby."

"First off, my variant is a woman so if anyone is getting pregnant, it's her. Second, I am perfectly happy with my life as is right now in 1987. Maybe by 2022 I'll be ready for something but also maybe not. I have three nephews and nieces to spoil. I am content."

"How do you know it's going to be a girl?"

"Because I know everything," Sylvie sniffs. Loki rolls her eyes and sighs, staring at the two of them in the mirror. Sylvie softens as she looks at Loki's stomach. "Are you happy?" She asks.

"Impossibly so," Loki says, meeting her eyes in the mirror, "Are you?"

Sylvie smiles, too. "Impossibly so."

Chapter Text

September 1-My therapist is making me write in a journal so I can express everything better. Mobius says to give it a shot. Maybe it'll work in the long run. I don't believe it but I also promised to try therapy and I'll be damned if I don't give it my best. For Mobius and the kids. 

September 20-I finally told Mobius I'm pregnant. On his birthday and in pure Loki fashion. He was in tears. It's not what I expected. Everyone is so happy. I am, too, but I'm also scared. There are so many things that can go wrong in every way imaginable. I must talk to Judy about this.

October 15- I'm so sick of morning sickness and not being able to eat anything! I have never been so annoyed with Mobius in my life. It's not even that he's being a typical man like all the other women complain about. It's that he's doting. He's so doting I want to hurl. I did puke on him today, though. His fault for being a helicopter husband. Go to work!

November 4- I miss Mobius! He had to go on an extended work stay. B-15 needs him for something. Having time with Kevin and Sean is fun but I want Mobius back. Maybe he won't come back. I've been so rude to him recently. But he loves Kevin and Sean so he must come back. Sylvie's right. I need to sleep. 

January 10-Holidays have come and gone. I've been sleeping more. I'm also permanently in my Frost Giant form now. The kids are getting used to it. They brought up a good question of if the baby will be blue. Mobius hope so so he can call it blueberry. I hope not. I don't want it to be ashamed and called a monster. I want it to be seen for who it is, not what society makes it. Maybe I'll homeschool. That's safe. 

February 14- It's a girl! Sylvie was right. She's being a little too smug about it but she was right. It's quite the celebration, bringing a princess into the world. Thor did a huge feast. The kids and Love are making toys. Val and Jane and Mobius are celebrating with drinks. I'm just glad she's healthy and, if her erratic movements have meant anything, happy.

March 27- I'm going to explode if she doesn't stop kicking me. Mobius like feeling it but I tell him if he likes it so much next time he can give birth to one. We are arguing over names. I want Princessen but Mobius says it's too gaudy. He wants Yama but I know that's short for a jet ski brand and I'm not naming our daughter after a jet ski. Mobius just says we'll keep thinking about it. We have plenty of time.

April 23- She's a month early but here she is! Dagmar Clepsydra Mobiusdottir. Born last night at 7:23 p.m. The boys are always watching her. She is blue, but I love her that way. She looks like Mobius and even has a fuzz of hair that would have matched his if he were still blonde. Now she's recorded in history. My history. And I am writing it. For her maybe I can journal just a little while longer.

Chapter Text

"This is so cool, O.B."

"A five-star rating You really outdid yourself."

O.B. puffs out his chest, as if he was just told he won the Nobel Prize. He watches his friends flip through the book he has given them. A 1,200 page novel of their adventures. From the time Loki was arrested to the time he returned from the throne and had Dagmar. It's titled TVA. The cover is of an hourglass pouring sand the color of the universe with stars behind it. It's a best seller.

"You must be so proud," Mobius says as he looks over the reunion between the characters that represent him and Loki, "It's really good. If I hadn't lived this I would say it's a masterpiece."

"I see you used everything I said in our interviews," Loki says, looking at when he met Douglas and Don.

"Of course," O.B. says, "I wanted it to be accurate. Of course I had to pick up contact clues along the way. But everything is as accurate as I could make it."

"I hear they want to make it into a movie," Loki wiggles his eyebrows, "or maybe a television series."

Mobius shakes his head. "They could take too much out. Write it wrong. Plus who knows if our actors will get it right. They won't appreciate the story like we do."

"I don't care what happens," O.B. says, finally sitting in the chair between Loki and Mobius. He takes a long drink of lemonade before saying, "I'm just happy people read my book. And liked it!"

"You're so humble, O.B.," Mobius chuckles as he puts the book on the table and looks out at his yard. All the toys and the lawn mower and a tree with acorns that fall out of it. O.B. likes that tree. It keeps him fed when he and Mobius are having it out over the grill or how to mow the lawn. As they look and drink in silence, Dagmar comes out, her alligator in hand. O.B. adores her. It's his honorary niece. How could he not?

"Hi, Uncle O.B.," she says as she climbs into Loki's lap and takes the book from him. She flips through it, a little frown on her face, "where's the pictures?"

The group chuckles. O.B. says, "There are none. This is a story for big kids."

Dagmar seems to pout at that, but Loki soothes her with, "It's our story, Dagmar. Of how your father and I met. How we had to fight to be together and how you came into being. It's our family history."

"I thought it was a fairy tale book," Dagmar says.

O.B. can't help but smile at that. Loki looks at her then at Mobius before saying in a soft, sad voice, "For many people, datteren min, it is."

Chapter Text

Loki hears the thunder first. Which is backward since lightning always comes before but in this case, it comes after. Then the loud thud that indicates another hole in the yard that Mobius is increasingly getting irritated about fixing. Loki is waiting for the day Mobius tells Thor off. He has a feeling it's going to happen sooner rather than later.

Loki is at the kitchen sink, washing dishes when the sky clouds over and the thunder hits. He's just finished a cup when the doorbell rings. "It's unlocked," he calls, moving on to a plate.

The door opens and closes and seconds later Thor is in the kitchen in sweats and a t-shirt, Mjolnir in hand. "Good morning, brother!" Thor says, "Lovely day, isn't it?"

"What are you doing here?" Loki asks without turning, "I thought you, Love and Jane were on a vacation in Maui or something?"

Thor puts Mjolnir on the table and says, "I missed you. I thought we could do something today. You know, brotherly bonding like old times."

Loki holds his tongue on the fact that old times consisted mostly of him getting beaten up or bullied. Instead, he turns to Thor, hands soapy and says, "Mobius doesn't want the house burned down."

Thor looks confused for a moment before laughing and saying, "Funny. No, we're going outside, brother!" he says at the same time thunder cracks outside and a slight drizzle starts.

Now it's Loki's turn to be confused, "Wait, you want to go..."

"Let's play in the rain, brother! We haven't done that since we were kids. Remember! You used to love it! You would shout and cheer and we'd stomp in puddles. It was fun!"

Loki is surprised by the simple request. He honestly expected fighting or some stupid sport Thor likes and he would trash Loki at it. Not something so...sentimental. He looks out at the rain slowly getting harder. He's making Thor anxious. Loki smiles. It's a peace offering. A way to make them whole.

"Okay," Loki says softly, "let's play in the rain."

Lightning strikes as Thor hollers, then drags Loki outside where big puddles are already starting to fill the street and the hole Thor made in the yard. It takes Loki a moment to get in the game, but when he remembers Roxxcart and how much he missed Thor, the sentimentality comes.

They spend an hour maybe two running up and down the street, soaking wet, kicking water at one another. They laugh as cars almost hit them and as they wrestle in the mud. If the neighbors get angry about flood damage though...well...oops.

Chapter Text

"Who called you fat!"

Mobius stares at the furiosity in Loki's voice. They are in the backyard sitting in the grass sipping lemonade because Mobius broke the mower again and its a nice day so why not enjoy it. At Loki's yell he almost chokes sending lemonade up his nose. Loki is furious. He grips his glass so tight it's cracking. Mobius knows he's holding back. If he let loose, that cup would be long gone.

"Nobody called me fat, Lokes," Mobius coughs, setting his glass down in the uneven dirt. " Somebody just made a comment in passing that I could go on a diet."

That doesn't seem to ease Loki at all. In fact it seems like it makes him even more livid. "So they called you fat."

"No!" Mobius sighs. He really shouldn't have gone in the candy aisle today or brought this up. "It's just people being people, Lokes. I'm not taking it offensively. I mean I could lose a few pounds. The chub is getting a bit much-"

Mobius pats his gut and it jiggles. A real dad bod is what he's got. And not the hot kind. When Loki doesn't say anything for a moment, Mobius looks up, concerned. Loki looks back at him, his anger turned to sadness.

"Do you think your fat?" he asks.

Mobius is a bit shocked by the question. "I ... I mean, yeah, a little bit. I'm no male swim model that's for sure. This isn't a big deal, Loki."

Loki takes a very deep breath, "Yes, Mobius, it is."

Loki is quick to land on Mobius, pinning him to the earth. His head and hands go to Mobius's stomach, squeezing massaging and peppering kisses through fabric which Mobius is fine with. He has no desire to give his neighbors a show. Loki is slow with it. Worshipful and it takes a lot from Mobius not to laugh but it tickles.

Finally Loki wraps his arms around Mobius's waist and stares up at him with half lidded eyes. It makes Mobius's body hot. "I love this about you, Moby. You're not like the warriors of Asgard, tough and course or so toned you can't ever be soft. You are soft. I love that. I never belonged with the tough and hard bodies. Soft is exactly what I needed." Then he dives back down, snuggling him, content.

Mobius understands where Loki is coming from and chuckles. "Okay. I think I get it. No getting rid of fat. Got it."

"No, no," Loki says, half smothered by Mobius's clothes, "not fat. If you were to lose this softness, it would be losing a piece of you. The man with the stomach is who I fell in love with not the analyst with abs. I didn't know I needed soft until you. Now I never want to let it go."

Mobius catches the undercurrent of what Loki is saying and it makes something in his chest light up. "Okay, Lokes," Mobius says, petting his hair. "It won't go away. Not for a long time."

At that Loki holds him tighter. The sun moves along.

Chapter Text

B-15 never thought she would end up here. Sitting at an analysts desk and not just any analyst. Her friend. Mobius. Who is in Doc Clocks care as she sits here staring at his desk covered with papers and plants and other junk. His blood flashes in her eyes again and again and she has to remind herself that his blood isn't on the floor around her. She has to remind herself her friend is still alive.

Mobius hasn't changed much over the course of the last millennium. He still eats pie. He's still kind to everyone.

He still loves Loki.

B-15 had seen the video that Miss Minutes had made Mobius do. She'd seen how he talked about Loki. She always knew this was about him. It's no secret, especially when he stares at the statue for at least five minutes a day. That doesn't mean it doesn't sting. He doesn't stick around for her or O.B. or Casey. He sticks around for Loki.

And that is what scares her the most.

It's not that Mobius has a death wish but who says he won't take the chance now to exit stage left? Who says he will come back from this? And even if he did, how would that affect him? Death is not an easy thing to face, then come back from. She would know. Variants can be... deadly.

B-15 sighs and starts opening the drawers of Mobius's desk. It's invading his privacy. She knows that. But is it really invading if the guy might be dead within the hour?

He has files in the bottom drawer. And behind the files, full to the brim, are granola bars, kisses, sour patch kids, gum and more. B-15 smiles. She should have known he had a food stash. The top drawer has his jet ski magazines in it. Then on the top of them...

B-15 takes out the picture that is smothered with fingerprints. One corner has a coffee stain and it's bent in so many places it's amazing Mobius can still look at it. The picture of Loki, the one from when he was first brought in, glare's back at her. It's an ugly picture. It's not flattering. But it's Mobius's and that makes all the difference. Maybe she should bring it to him. Remind him what it is he's fighting for.

"B." B-15 turns in Mobius's seat. Casey stands behind her, looking ill. "There's been another attack. A woman. She's dead. Same stab wound. Just... further in."

B-15 swallows hard. She has to remember this is not just about Mobius. This is about everyone under her. Everyone who is getting attacked and killed. The people Loki left for.

She shoves the picture in her pocket. She'll get this to Mobius... eventually. She turns to Casey, "Tell me everything..."

Chapter Text

"... Think not on him till tomorrow; I'll devise thee brave punishments for him. Strike up, pipers."

Loki opens his eyes. He's standing on Mobius's desk, every analysts eyes on him, including Mobius's that don't look all that amused. Loki's not fooled though. The man's amusement is clear behind his eyes. He liked it. From what Loki can tell, he's the only one that does.

Smile, Loki wills at Mobius, watching the man's lips twitch, smile, come on.

Mobius looks behind him then up at Loki. Slowly his unamused look fades and he shakes his head. "You know I think O.B. would have enjoyed this. Couldn't bring him up?"

Loki slaps his hands against his legs, "You're supposed to clap, Mobius. And cheer, and say 'bravo, Loki, you brilliant actor. Can I have your autograph'?"

Mobius rolls his eyes, stands and claps, "Brava, your highness. A play well done. Never seen a better one man show in all of my existence."

Loki grins and takes a deep bow, "Thank you, my handsome fellow. What would you say to joining me for a spot of tea?"

At that Mobius giggles. He comes up to the desk, takes Loki's hand and kisses it. His eyes are deep as the depths of space as he says, "It would be my honor, my King."

That's when the illusion crumbles. Desks and analysts turn to timelines. Linoleum turns to hard stone. Loki's suit fades into a deep green robe. Around him the timelines float, wrapped around his arms, torso, legs.

But his hands are free. They are finally free.

And he's ever so been grateful for it. To be able to hold Mobius, to feel his skin, his hair and let Mobius touch him in turn is more than he dared to dream in this place. It's not perfect, but it's not hell either.

Mobius releases his hand and Loki steps down from his throne into Mobius's awaiting arms. "You know," Mobius grins, "It's one of your variants birthdays today. I think a celebration is in order."

Loki rolls his eyes says he wraps his arms around Mobius's waist. "Everyday is one of my variants birthdays."

"All the more reason to celebrate." Then with a sultry tone, Mobius whispers, "My bounty is as boundless as the sea, my love is deep: the more I give to thee, the more I have, for both our infant. "

"Romeo and Juliet," Loki says raising a brow.

"The only one I know," Mobius chuckles, "Well save Two Gentleman of Verona. I like that one."

"Are you saying we're going to die like Romeo and Juliet?"

"No, but we might as well be just as tragic."

Loki feels the weight of those words but he refuses to let them ruin his happy mood. He gently rests his crowned forehead against Mobius's and whispers against his lips, "Thank you, Mobius."

"Happy birthday, Loki," Mobius sighs.

The tree glows blue and green when they kiss and Loki can't help but think that the flashes of color are meant to reflect the colors of them. Forest and ocean. Moon and earth. God and man. Flowers bloom along the timelines around Loki. Mobius grins at them.

"Looks like we have a real garden now."

Loki rolls his eyes, "Yes, I suppose so."

Chapter Text

There are a million reasons why Loki loves Mobius. His kindness. His softness. His heart of gold. His mustache. The way he sees the world and everything in it. His acceptance of people and encouragement for them to grow if they desire. How he saw Loki when no one else did. His eating habits. Loki loves it all.

If only the rest of the universe didn't see what he did than he'd be doing all right.

It starts with chocolates on the doorstep. From Ben which Loki will let pass... for now. Then the flowers from Sylvie and the weird stuff bears from Thor and his batch of crazy. Loki's favorite would probably be Valkyries who sent a bottle of wine with a winky face on the tag. The things he could do with this ...

But then they get to the TVA and while Loki had stockpiled Mobius's office with chocolates, Valentine hearts and flowers that doesn't stop other people from stockpiling their gifts outside his door. Some even have the audacity to come over during lunch and give Mobius candy bars or cards or ridiculous things like gum. Right in front of Loki. As if he isn't there!

It's not like Loki isn't aware of Mobius's charisma. He's married to a man for Norns sake! But a lot of the time he wishes other people wouldn't notice it at all.

So when it's halfway through lunch and Loki is only eaten a fourth of his grapes, he's not at all surprised when there's a tap on his arm. Loki really doesn't want to look at the chocolate on Mobius's mouth given to him by some actually sane man but he looks up because it's Valentine's Day and he needs to show Mobius love, too. And Mobius is grinning at him like Loki is the best thing in the room. Loki melts. He can't help it. Those eyes are for him and him alone. He can't think of a time when those eyes looked at anyone else that way.

"Hey," Mobius grins at him with chocolate in his mustache, "do you want to irritate some people?"

That gets Loki's attention. Mobius's grin gets bigger. He leans forward, motioning Loki toward him with his pointer finger, "Come here."

Loki honestly expects him to whisper his idea in Loki's ear. But he also tends to forget Mobius has a mischievous side, too. So the kiss is both wholy unexpected and anticipated. But then Mobius is holding his face and then there's his tongue causing Loki to short circuit. It would be ten times better if there weren't a hundred eyes watching.

But then Mobius pulls back, completely nonplused by how he just had his tongue in Loki's mouth in front of the whole TVA. He strokes Loki's cheek as he says, "My time is all yours, Loki. Always has been, always will be."

Loki recognizes the truth behind those words. He truly does. Doesn't mean he's not going to be a butt about it. "What if someone buys you the most expensive, the most beautiful jet ski in all the timelines?"

Then Mobius has the audacity to look out over the people as if considering it. "Well, in that case-"

Loki hits him on the shoulder and Mobius laughs. Loki does too when he sees all the angry stares.

Mobius takes his hand and pulls them both into standing position, saying, "Let's go home, Lokes. I have a gift for you."

Loki blushes and grins. "Why, Mobius, skipping work? On Valentine's day? Tsk. Tsk. What will the higher ups say?"

"The higher ups can kiss my butt. Except B. She'd probably ripped my head off long before she ever went to that level."

Loki spies one agent eyeing Mobius despite the display that just happened. A low growl fills his chest. Even now these people don't see to get that Mobius is off the market. Fine, he'll do this his way. Mobius yelps as Loki pulls him in, wrapping him tightly in his arms.

"They will be answering to me if they go to that level. Your rather delectable backside is mine."

If they get in trouble for the PDA that occurs after that, that's prying eyes fault.

Chapter Text

The first time it happens, Dagmar runs home crying and Sylvie nearly knocks the principal out. The second time they pick her up and she's crying. This time Mobius gives her teacher a lecture. The third time Dagmar starts a fight. This time Loki and Sylvie get involved.

Loki never thought about telling Dagmar not to turn blue at school. It's who she is. Loki had been kept from it. And it took aeons of time to accept it. He didn't want Dagmar to feel stunted or shunned by it. He had forgotten in the process how cruel other people can be. It amazes him how he could forget that when he was a victim of this cruelty. But honestly why would he want to remember it.

So when Dagmar is home and sitting outside on the back porch stairs, fully blue and curled in a ball, Loki calls Sylvie. He's going to need more than one frost giant for this. Sylvie arrives almost immediately, already blue and upset. "You need to be blue as well," she says. Of course that was the plan but he doesn't argue. He just turns blue and marches out the door.

"Go away!" Dagmar shouts and the pain in her voice nearly cripples Loki. His daughter shouldn't sound like that. It takes everything in him not to go over and cuddle her, protect her. A six year old shouldn't feel like this.

He and Sylvie sit on either side of Dagmar and when she looks up, she's startled by two frost giants looking back at her.

"Hi, Dagny," Sylvie says, her voice soft. They only time it ever is is when she's with the kids, "how are you?"

Dagmar looks between her aunt and her mom. Loki sees the war of anger and sadness before the girl bursts out, "Why do people hate us? I'm blue. I thought it was cool. But they hate me! Why?"

Sylvie exchanges looks with Loki. Isn't that a loaded question. Loki sighs and fidgets with his wedding ring.

"The universe," he begins, "is filled with beings who don't understand each other. Who assume the worst of those who look, sound or believe differently than they do. People act first ask questions later. Different is threatening."

"Why?" Dagmar says, creating a small snowflake in her palm, "I don't want to hurt anyone. Why do they think I will?"

Sylvie takes charge this time, "When people don't understand something they get scared. They think they will get hurt. Their pride. Their lifestyle. Their families. Fear destroys. Fear kills."

Dagmar frowns, "I don't want them to be scared of me. I want them to be my friends."

Loki doesn't want to kill her heart. Sylvie doesn't either. He knows beings are difficult. Stuck in their ways. But Loki also knows better now. He knows people can change. You don't marry one of the kindest men in the universe and not learn a thing or two.

"Your father told me once to kill them with kindness," Loki says, creating a snowflake of his own, "And if that doesn't work, it's their loss."

"What if Daddy is wrong? What if kindness does nothing?"

Sylvie sighs. She and Loki wrap their arms around Dagmar simultaneously and the three frost giants grow cold together. "Well," Sylvie whispers, "it's worth a shot. I used to be angry and mean. It got me nowhere. But your father was kind to me when I was mean to him." She looks Dagmar in the eye, "He's not wrong. Give it a try. If it doesn't work, I know a whole lot of people who will kick their butts for you."

"Sylvie," Loki warns but the girls are laughing. It makes him smile, too. If it starts to gently snow that's their problem as well.

Chapter Text

Thor adores his baby niece. He has long anticipated being an uncle but he was also aware that Loki is not the best with people. Or at least he wasn't. Mobius was a very pleasant surprise and Thor is very ashamed of how defensive he was upon meeting the man. In his defense, Loki has never had good taste in men or women. For some reason that offends Loki more than it should and makes Mobius laugh harder than it should.

Nevertheless, after a few years Dagmar enters the picture and Thor is ecstatic. Jane gets a good kick out of watching him bounce off the walls anytime he sees a picture of the baby. Love always asks to see Dagmar which gives him an excuse to invade Loki's home... until either his sibling or Mobius kicks him out which makes him incredibly sad.

So the night Mobius and Loki decide to go out on a date and have a special evening Thor readily volunteers to babysit. Just him, Kevin and Sean, and Dagmar. Of course she sleeps through most of his visit, so he ends up spending most of his time playing Monopoly with Kevin and Sean. Dagmar awakens later sometime after dinner and cries but that doesn't deeter Thor. Instead he grabs a folded bundle from his bag and goes to her room.

He doesn't expect her to stop crying. He's not her parent. But he does talk to her and sing a little lullaby he remembers from his youth until she calms. Then his grin gets even bigger.

"Hey, Dagny," he says, voice soft, "I brought you a gift. It's something you're Aunt Sylvie helped me get." He takes the bundle and unfolds it to show a green blanket with intricate gold designs. Thor gets teary just looking at it. He remembers when his mother made this blanket. The time she took to make it absolutely perfect. He also remembers Loki being snug in this blanket, fast asleep while Thor held him for what felt like hours. He kept that blanket long after Loki outgrew it. He thought about destroying it after he found Loki in New York, but he didn't. Instead it was burned up in Ragnarok, never to be seen again...until Sylvie help him get it before the world blew up. Now it can be used again. And Thor swears he won't cry over it. He won't!

"This was your mother's blanket," Thor says, lying the blanket out flat before taking Dagmar and wrapping it around her. "It was made by your grandmother and held on to by me to give to you."

Dagmar coos as Thor picks her up and holds her close to his chest, rocking her back and forth. She's so tiny, so vulnerable. Thor never got this with Love. The fragility of a newborn. It's almost... humbling. "I'm happy you are in my life, Dagmar," Thor says, "I'll be the best uncle you ever have. I promise."

Dagmar coos again and reaches for his face. Thor gives her his pinky and she squeals. If he cries, that's his business.

And if he pretends to not notice that Loki's duplicate is standing outside the door listening in as he's doing this, well that's his business, too.

Chapter Text

When Jane and Thor announce they're having a baby, Loki is over the moon. He can't say he's as excited as Thor was when Thor found out that Loki was pregnant but he's very excited that Thor is having a child. He just hopes and prays it's not a son. Any son of Thor would be a terrorist.

But with Thor announcing baby Thorson/dottir on the way, comes other problems. Problems Loki wishes he had caught on to because as an adopted child how could he not. He blames it on the kids having the flu and Mobius getting a promotion. Not even a week after the announcement Love acts up. And in true Loki fashion, too. Tantrums, mean pranks, fights in school. It's deja vu.

Thor tells Loki this all over the phone while Loki watches Kevin and Sean trying to play hide and seek with Dagmar. They are an odd family. A mixed family. And with the new arrival on the way it seems the two adopted members of said family should probably talk.

"I'm on my way," Loki says, standing up. He tells Sean he's in charge then time slips to Thor's kitchen making the god of thunder scream and wake up Jane in the next room. "Where is she?"

Love is outside in the snow, running around, pulling up the yard in her haste to get out her anger... or get attention. Loki waits for a moment, remembering when he did awful things for attention. He destroyed himself doing that. He can't let Love fall down that same path. Not when she has guardians that clearly love her.

"Love." She stops and twists to him, an angry scowl on her face. Loki waves her over. "Come here. I want to talk to you." At first she doesn't come so Loki has to threaten to hide her Barbie collection if she doesn't. So she wanders over, angry and bitter. She plops on the stairs, arms crossed, face pinched. Did Loki look like that?

He sits down next to her and they stare at the snow for a while. Finally, Loki decides to just be blunt like Love always is. "Love, we have a family who adores and loves us. But I know that doesn't change the fact that we are adopted."

"I don't want to talk about it," Love huffs, almost yelling.

"No, you want to cause trouble and rip up the yard because you feel that's the only way you'll be able to get Thor and Jane's attention." Love flinches at that. Loki almost feels bad. Almost. "You have forgotten that I've been where you're at. I used to steal Thor's light all the time. It doesn't work, Love. Don't try being something you're not. Thor and Jane love you for you. Don't waste your time doing things though make life harder from them. It's not worth it."

Loki knows it sounds cruel. That his words might bring more pain than good but isn't that what Mobius did. What Sylvie did. They were blunt and that helped him become better. To heal. Sugar coating things for Love is not going to solve anything.

He watches as her face contorts between anger and sadness. Finally, she says, "I don't want them to forget about me. They have another baby now. I'm not even their kid. Why would they still want me after that?"

Loki honestly expected the worst reaction and there's still a chance of that. But if she is willing to listen he will take it. "I remember when Dagmar came along there was a brief moment where I was worried I couldn't show the same love to the boys as my daughter. But when she finally came into the world, that love for Sean and Kevin didn't change. If anything I ended up loving them more. And I know that my mother loved me just as much as Thor. It took me long time and a lot of comparing and arguing but I eventually realized that. Thor and Jane are going to love you just as much as they do now. And if they don't, tell me and I'll break Thor's back."

Love smiles at that. "Will you let me come live with you if they do?"

Loki feels ill at the thought that she feels that way, that she has to look for other housing because of a new family member. He nods, "Of course. But I promise it won't come to that. Okay?"

Love sighs but nods, "Okay."

As the snow continues to fall, Love leans into him and whispers, "Thank you."

"I care about you, Love. Don't forget that," Loki whispers, "Come on. Let's go see if you can arm wrestle Kevin to the ground."

Love really grins of that. As she runs through the time door, Loki makes a mental note to talk to Thor. There will be no more ifs about love and misunderstandings of belonging. Love will not be like him. He swears on his life she won't be.

Chapter Text

It's not like Loki hasn't dealt with opposition to this before. Odin was very vocal about Loki not changing genders. So was half of Asgard. Getting push back from humans is nothing new. This scenario though is a little strange.

It's a parent-teacher conference. It's not Loki's first but it's her first as a married woman. Mobius's name is now Mobius Friggason - Mobius and Loki is Loki Friggason - Mobius and she'll tell anyone who will listen exactly that. So she's absolutely giddy when she gets to the school. All the way until she meets Sean's teacher. A lady who double takes, looks at her paper, then ignores Loki the rest of the meeting. Or at least until Loki's husband points it out. Husband. Loki's husband. She loves the sound of it way too much.

"My wife," Mobius says, almost hissing, "has done well to help the boys with their school work. She's very intelligent."

The teacher finally looks at her again. "I have it listed that he is your husband, Mr. Mobius."

Mobius doesn't flinch. "Your records may be outdated. She is Mrs. Mobius - Friggason. For legal reasons we don't change it to Friggadottir when she is my wife. That does not change the fact that she can be my wife."

The teacher sighs and sets down her paper. Loki can almost guess what's coming next.

"Don't you think that is confusing for children Sean and Kevin's age?"

There it is. Loki speaks up, "They are allowed to ask me questions to ease any confusion. But if I may, what does my choice of gender have to do with Sean's performance in school?"

The woman scowls and Loki knows she's going to spout something about kids and consistency but Sean and Kevin are nine and eleven. And Loki wouldn't do it if she thought it would hurt them. So everything that comes next she ignores. Mobius on the other hand gets redder and redder until he pulls her up and makes their way out, not acknowledging the teacher at all.

He marches to the principal, practically yells at him for the disrespect against Loki, then drags him out to the car and drive them home. Loki is frankly turned on by the whole protective affair but she knows she must address this.

"You don't have to do that," she whispers, "this isn't new. And it won't be the last time it happens."

"I know," Mobius sighs, massaging her hand on the console between them, "I just hate that it does."

"I'm used to not being accepted. The fact that you accept me, the kids, Ben, our friends, that means the world. It does hurt, Moby. I won't argue that. But having you here, and everyone... it helps."

Loki can feel Mobius's frustration practically bubbling under his skin. So she kisses his hand and he smiles a little.

"Mr. and Mrs. Mobius - Friggadottir. It has a nice ring, doesn't it?" He says.

It does but Loki's feeling a little snarky. "You mean Mrs. and Mr. Friggadottir - Mobius. Yes, it has a beautiful ring." Mobius laughs so hard it nearly takes them off the road but he's laughing and Loki's smiling and that's all that matters.

Chapter Text

Sylvie likes to take the kids whenever Mobius and Loki need a break and guaranteed they don't take up that offer often but today is their anniversary so of course Sylvie's ready to take them the minute they call. They land outside McDonald's and from there she takes them to a park. It's a small one much like the town. Has some swings, a couple slides and random exercise equipment. It's a warm day so Sylvie takes off her coat and sits on a bench. Sun shines down on her and she lets the sound of the kids wash over her...

Until one of them screams bloody murder.

Sylvie's eyes jerk wide open when a painful whail fills the park and she's on her feet in seconds ready to send her mace through some persons unsuspecting body. There is no one there. No one but wood chips, toys and two boys standing over a little body. If that doesn't get Sylvie into an even bigger panic then she doesn't know what would.

She sprints to them and slides on the wood chips to Dagmar who is screaming in pain and holding her arm to her chest. Sylvie grabs the little girl's shoulders, trying her best not to hurt her more. "Dagny, what's wrong?" Then to the boys, "what happened?"

Kevin and Sean are pale as if they are the cause of this when Sylvie chooses not to believe it. "We don't know. She got on the slide and then she fell over the side of it."

"She fell over the side of it!" Sylvie hisses and the boys back up. She has to take several deep breaths so she doesn't scream. She can fix this. Nobody has to know. She curses. Mobius is going to kill her.

She takes Dagmar's arm as gently as she can but still the girls screams, "It hurts!"

"I know," Sylvie has to answer, "you have to breathe, Dagny. Take deep breaths, in and out." She does a few as an example before continuing, "I'm going to heal your arm, but it's going to hurt, okay. Can you be a big girl?"

"No!" Her niece practically squeals and Sean is on his knees immediately. Kevin is on his phone no doubt calling Loki. Which means she has very little time to finish this off.

She holds Dagmar tighter and says, "Sean, hold her. This will hurt." Sean does she says and Sylvie surges her magic into arm, mending bone while her poor niece screams bloody murder even louder.

But then it's over and Sean is panting and holding into Dagmar while she pants and sobs but her arm is fixed. Thank the norms Sylvie learned healing magic. Thank the norns...

Someone clears their throat and Sylvie slowly turns to where Kevin stands. Behind him is Loki, arms crossed, a big scowl on their face. "You're aware Mobius is going to kill you right?"

Sylvie sighs. Yes. Yes, she does. But for right now she takes Dagmar and cuddles her, grateful she's okay.

Chapter Text

Mobius knew this day would come. Deep in his bones he knew. That doesn't mean he wasn't in denial of it. The alarms are going off like crazy. A rogue agent is on the loose. He hopes Jimmy, Gwen , they all get out of this okay. He never meant to drag them into this. But, he supposes, it was inevitable.

He's going to see Loki. He's finally found a way to the tree and no one is going to stop him from getting there. Well, save a blond woman who is in denial as much as she is and has a pension for stabbing things. Sylvie looks back at him, standing between him and the pruning sticks. Her mace is at the ready. Eyes burning.

"Go back upstairs, Mobius," she hisses, "and we'll pretend this never happened."

"Why are you against this?" Mobius says quietly, "you don't care about me, Sylvie. Move over."

"He's gone!" She slowly stocks forward as if he's a rabbit about to sprint, "I don't know why you can't get that through your thick skull."

Mobius cares about Sylvie. He does. But love clouds judgment and he's not letting her through. Not today. "Do me a favor, Sylvie. Keep your fake tough love to yourself and let me pass."

That brings her to action... just as Mobius counted on. She lunges and he does what he does best. He moves out of the way before he gets his head cut off and bolts to the pruning sticks, managing to grab one before Sylvie's machete slices past his arm. She whirls, trying to hit the stick but Mobius turns it on stopping her dead. Still as a statue. Stoney. Calculating. Mobius doesn't have a lot of time. If he waits, she'll win. He hears footsteps. Her lips twitch. He curses.

"You have people here, Mobius," Sylvie says, "people who rely on you. How would they feel if you just disappear?"

Hypocrite. That's the first thing that crosses his mind. And for once he allows himself to be angry about it. "Loki relied on you and you shoved him through a door and disappeared. Don't talk to me about reliance."

Sylvie looks ready to pop. The steps get closer. Mobius turns the head of the stick to his chest. Sylvie takes a deep breath. "Don't," she says one more time, "he's gone. This will lead to nothing."

Mobius shakes his head, "I have hope, Sylvie. I thought you said Loki taught you to have that." Sylvie pales. Mobius smiles weakly. "I'll see you again, Sylvie. But don't worry about me. I'm fine."

She's shaking now and Mobius almost feels proud he broke her shell. He stabs the stick into his chest, letting the pain consume him. The last thing he sees is the betrayal in Sylvie's eyes.

Hunter's barge into the room to Sylvie staring at where the time stick has dropped to the floor. "Turn off the alarm," she says, "he's out of our hands now."

Chapter Text

Here's the kicker. Don is a book seller in downtown London. He's not even from Britain. He just moved here to get away from his crazy ex. So none of this should be possible. Not some guy trying to steal a book about Romania. Not his work partner Doug writing his own book instead of working. And certainly not one of the world's biggest movie stars walking into his bookshop looking for nothing in particular.

Don would not lie. He's attracted to the superstar. Who wouldn't be? The man has won five emmies, a Golden globe and is running for an oscar. The thick black hair, sharp jaw and porcelain skin is a killer. Literally if you watched Crimson Peak. Or was that another movie? Don honestly doesn't know anymore.

The point is when Don is just sitting watching his life go by, the literal actor of the century walks in and boom! He's done for. Loki Friggason has on a Gucci black suit and sunglasses, ducking into rows of shelves as if that will keep him hidden. Don can't help but smile at that, but also frown. He wouldn't want to be a celebrity. The amount of pressure it would bring would be too much to handle.

Don doesn't realize he's come around the desk and is walking up to Loki Friggason until the man turns and levels his face at Don like a cold statue come to life. He's heard about the stare but never believed in it. Beneath Loki Friggason's hard exterior, he believes there is a heart of gold, not just some body to look at.

Loki looks at him for a long moment and Don can't decide if he's a deer in headlights or a bug under a microscope. "Yes?" Loki asks, voice wavering between sharp and cordial. Poor guy, Don thinks, he must get stared at a lot. That includes you, Don.

Don clears his throat, "Is there anything in particular you're looking for?"

Loki stares for another moment longer before shrugging, "I'm just browsing."

Don glances at the book in Loki Friggason's hand. It's at Norse book with a picture of the world tree on it. He points to it, a smile on his face. "That's a good book. The legends of the gods are something else."

Loki Friggason raises a brow. "Oh, and what is your favorite story?"

Don smiles, "The one where Thor has to dress up as a maiden to get his hammer back. It shows we all have to do crazy things we would not normally do sometimes to get back what we deserve. Also it's just a funny tale. How often do you see someone going to such a length to get a hammer?"

Loki cracks a smile. A genuine one that makes Don's insides light up. "Yes. I like that one, too."

Don smiles, too, because how could he not. That's until Doug says from the desk, "Uh, Don. That guy's stealing a book."

Don curses and it's only worth it because it makes Loki laugh as he takes off to save his books.

Chapter Text

Naming baby number two is a lot harder than naming baby number one. Dagmar was a brief argument about language and meaning that Mobius and Loki surprisingly agreed on rather quickly.. She was a joy and is a joy in their lives. That's not to say their son isn't either. His coming did not surprise Loki though Mobius was caught off guard and offended when Loki also wasn't. But that was completely overshadowed by the preparations and excitement from all the family, including Dagmar who was over joyous at finally not being the youngest anymore. Loki can't blame her. He hates being the youngest, too.

So basically the name thing fell by the wayside as Sean dealt with high school, Kevin did sports and Dagmar started Valkyrie training. The baby gets bigger and bigger until Loki pops like a balloon. And the name game begins and it's a heck of an argument because Mobius got to name his two sons ("but I can't remember that!") and Loki is the one who gave birth ("I did all the work! It's my right") and they can't leave until they name him so they sit in the hospital glaring until Thor decides to be a wise cracker and say, "Let me name him! I have the perfect name!"

Needless to say Thor is escorted from the room and is replaced by Sean, Kevin and Dagmar who immediately cuddle Loki and the baby, way too excited for the abundance of energy Loki has. But the look in Mobius's eyes tell her all she needs to know. The man has an idea.

"Hey, kids," he says," why don't you name him? Your mom and I can't seem to agree on one."

The kids all turn like a hive mind in a horror movie, staring at their father until Sean says, "Seriously? You're letting us have free reign?"

"Not to name him anything asinine like Jambalaya, Kevin," Loki says pointedly, "be serious about it."

Kevin scowls but nods, "Okay. Maybe... Bob."

Sean hits him hard, "We're not having our brother named after a minion. How about... Mario?"

"Yeah," Kevin snorts, "cause every kid wants to be named for an Italian plumber."

As the boys argue, Dagmar crawls closer to Loki, looking at her baby brother with thick black hair and dark blue skin. A little boy that looks just like her and her mother. She rests her hand gently on his chest, feeling him breathe. She nods. She knows exactly what to name him.

"Hlif," she says, a smile splitting her face, "Old Norse for protection. He will protect and be protected." Then she kisses the blanket and the baby cools. The boys look at each other. So does Loki and Mobius. Mobius nods and smiles.

"I think that's the perfect name, Dagny," he says, "we'll name him Hlif."

"Hlif," Loki says, trying it out on her tongue. She looks down at her son, another generation of the Loki-Mobius family. The baby slowly blinks awake with eyes the color of the sky. Loki smiles. Hlif works just fine.

Chapter Text

Being the god of stories is not easy. Of course it's not. It's lonely. It's a burden. A glorious purpose. But it's also mind numbing and sometimes Loki can't remember what's real and what's not.

So he tells himself stories, which when he thinks about it is ironic. The god of stories with trillions upon trillions of lives at his fingertips, tells his own stories. Maybe it's because he is unsatisfied with his ending or jealous of others. Either way when he feels himself slipping, becoming seemingly inanimate, he tells himself a story.

Sometimes when he's feeling close to robotic he'll create illusions to go with the stories. Images of when Thor and he were children of the possibility of being joint kings in a future that can never happen. Images of Sylvie never having gone through what she did. Stories of the lives his friends could have led. B-15 a spectacular doctor, O.B. a successful author and Casey a happy man on a fishing boat enjoying the ocean.

And Mobius. Mobius with all his heart, his kindness, his strength...

Loki can't make himself do many stories about Mobius. They are never real enough. The illusion to unnatural or plot to forced. Mobius would never do this or that. None of it is real so it kills Loki to tell those stories all the more. But he has to. He has to see Mobius. Just one more time. And another. And another...

Loki would call it an addiction but he does watch other things. Or maybe he's in denial. Who can tell anymore.

At some point he loses track of his illusions. They run rampant some days when he's preoccupied with a branch that needs extra care or if some strange presence is bothering him like the Watcher. So when Mobius appears all of a sudden, pushing through branches, and complaining about jungles, he's not surprised. It's probably a leftover memory of some jungle man Loki saw on a branch somewhere and made it Mobius's problem. Ignore.

But the illusion doesn't go away. In fact, it pushes through the branches, getting tripped several times before breaking into Loki's space, sweaty, but grinning. It's a sad grin mixed with hope and tiredness.

"I could punch you right now, you know that," he hisses and Loki frowns. That doesn't sound right. Loki tries to wave the illusion away. All that happens is the timeline's sway as if pulled by a wind. The illusion watches his hand and seems to gather what he's doing because his look becomes even sadder. Loki doesn't like that look. Why can't he change it? The illusion kneels by Loki's feet and gently reaches out like so many illusions before. Loki expects to feel cold air. Instead, warm flesh and blood encircle his wrist.

Loki gasps. It's not possible. It's not. Because he's alone. Always has been, always will be...

"Loki," the soft voice echoes off the branches and tears prick the gods eyes, "I'm real. I'm here. And I'm never leaving you again."

Loki can feel the breath on his face, the warmth of his body, can hear the echo of a real voice. The storyteller cries.

Chapter Text

Van Helsing is simultaneously the smartest man Don knows and the worst man he's ever met. He didn't mean to get caught up in this monster nonsense but getting attacked by a blonde vampire with an attitude problem will do that to you. So he gets saved by an obsessed vampire killer, Van Helsing, and decides he wants to hunt down the vampire who tried to kill him. What he didn't know is that the blonde had a brother who looks like a Mona Lisa.

So now he's sabotaging Van Helsing and waiting for the hunter to turn on him because the Mona Lisa vampire can keep himself away from Don. Boy he wishes he would have let Sylvie kill him. Life was easier then.

"What's his next idea?" Loki is scoffing from the window he's perched on, "arrow stakes?"

Don is at his desk in one of those inns that Van Helsing has him holed up in. Trying to make him nocturnal or something. "Knowing him he already has a prototype," Don says, distracted by papers and blood.

There's another round of silence before Loki's hand falls on his shoulder. He didn't even hear him cross the room. "If you're thirsty, go out. I'm too tired tonight. Just try not to kill anyone."

Loki doesn't dip in for a drink. Don's neck is still sore from last time. Instead, Loki blows out the candles, leaving moonlight washing over them. His eyes twinkle as he stares down at Don, a worried look on his face. "Why won't you let me change you?"

Ah. This again. "You know that's not for me, Loki. I don't even want to be a part of all," Don waves his hand around the room, "this."

"Van Helsing will kill you when he realizes you sympathize with us. You're easier to kill than I am."

Don shrugs, "I can run. Finish this plan then go into hiding. Avoid Transylvania for a while."

"He'll find you a lot easier than he finds us. You're not stealthy, Don."

Don sighs, finally throwing down his quill, "Why do you want me to change? I thought immortality was a curse and blood sucks and all that mumbo jumbo. No sun, no food. Not to mention you'd be losing your free meal every day. Why are you so persistent?"

They stare at each other for a long while. Finally Loki says, "Do you remember how you found me?"

Don does. The vampire had been hurt somehow. One of Van Helsing's traps. He looked sick, starved. He was angry, expecting to be killed. But Don is not that person. He helped Loki, honestly expecting to be drained of blood. But he wasn't. Instead the vampire became gentler overtime and eventually he let him go.

"You said everything would be okay," Loki says, "you were gentle. No one has ever been that way to me. You've been kind. And..." Loki takes a deep breath, his porcelain skin strained, "I don't want to lose you."

Don really looks at him then. The tense shoulders and clenched jaw. The sad eyes. Don sighs. Does he believe this? He doesn't know but he can't deny a fact like that. That's how he got here in the first place.

He doesn't want to die.

He gently puts his hand on Loki's arm, making the vampire look at him. "Tell you what. If worse comes to worst, you can do it."

Loki's throat bobs. "You mean, I can change you?" Don nods. "What if I'm too late?"

Don squeezes his arm. "You won't be. I trust you."

Loki seems to relax at that. Don feels his stare glide to his neck. He's tired but he won't say no. "Just a sip."

"Always," Loki huffs before leaning down and sinking his teeth in.

Chapter Text

Loki will be the first to admit that they don't understand sports. While they had sports of a sort on Asgard, they tried not to be super involved. It always led to some kind of embarrassment. That could also be said of the sports on Midgard. It's not surprising that Thor likes the sports here. He and Ben come over most weekends and spend the day watching anything from racing to golf to pickleball. Mobius and they can usually usher them out after a few hours save for football season when Mobius joins the fray and it's Loki's turn to leave the house. Must be something from his old life, he'll say, which is the truth if you ask Ben. Loki just thinks he likes being annoying.

Then there's the kids.

Loki understands this a little better. It improves teamwork skills, social skills, and the body's mobile capabilities. They trained and fought as a child and it did them well as an adult. It doesn't mean they understand why some parents but their kids in every sport imaginable. Mobius just shrugs. He doesn't know either.

Despite that, the kids love sports. Love does soccer, volleyball, baseball, anything that allows her to throw energy around like she throws Thor's hammer. Dagmar likes archery and oddly wrestling. And she's good at it. Loki's going to blame Thor for that one. As one would expect, Kevin loves football and wrestling, too. But then there's Sean who is more like Loki but doesn't want to be left out so he joins baseball and basketball. He's not the most skilled but he manages. Barely.

And that's where they are now, at a baseball game watching Sean strike out for the third time. Sean's shoulders slump as he drags himself back to the dugout. Mobius and Thor are hollering about doing a good job but Loki knows it means nothing when you just failed your team and embarrassed yourself.

They excuse themselves and go to the gate by the dugout and stand there until Sean sees them. He drags himself over to them, pure sadness in his eyes. "I messed up. Big time."

Loki leans on the gate, long hair snagging in the metal. "Did I ever tell you about the time Thor and I played one of his ridiculous games. I was on Sofa team and the goal was to keep the ball out of the water. I fell into that stream five times and never caught that ball. I let Sif down and made myself look like a fool," Loki winces, "we can't all be all stars."

Sean snorts, a slight smile on his face as he shakes his head. "Will you help me practice later? If you're terrible maybe it won't be so bad."

Loki feels like they should be offended by that statement but they're going to choose not to be.

"If you think that will help," they say. Sean really does smile then and runs back to the dugout. The next time he's up he does it ten times worse but the weight on his shoulders has been lifted. Mobius gives Loki a knowing smile and Loki feels like the sun. Maybe for once their team is actually going to win because of them.

"Strike," the umpire yells, "you're out!"

Chapter Text

Loki spends an embarrassingly long time staring at his phone, looking at the little closed envelope that indicates his message is unread. He will give Mobius the benefit of the doubt that they both are not used to cell phones. Neither of them check them frequently and it always catches them by surprise when it goes off for some reason. So Loki can't fault Mobius for not looking at it save the fact that they were going back and forth and now there's no answer at all.

Loki hates living in this apartment in downtown Cleveland. If anything happened to Mobius he would never know it. Like right now when Mobius is leaving him on unread. Loki must be logical about this. Maybe one of the kids got up with a nightmare or need water. It's almost midnight. That could happen. Or maybe Mobius himself fell asleep. He's been doing that a lot lately. Time jet lag, kids, the works. It can do a lot to a man. Well, not Loki. But Loki is a god. There's a difference.

He stares and stares, exiting and reentering the text. The same words sit there. The envelope remains closed. 'Can I come over?' sits glaring at him. He wants to just time slip over there. But he also knows Mobius needs space. He knows he's still mad about the tree, and it's not like he was the one who asked to come here. Loki practically begged him. Who knew the god of Mischief was a domestic sap.

They had been on this timeline for a couple weeks. Nothing huge has happened. Mobius has slipped into his new life with horrible unease. Loki has slipped in, too, equally uncomfortable. This hasn't been easy by any stretch of the imagination. For them or the kids. But they are getting by a day a time. Sometimes he wonders if things will ever be okay. Maybe that's why he's gripping his phone so tightly now. Because if Mobius gives up he should just go straight back to the tree. Alone. Again. Like always. Why does he always screw everything up?

But then the phone vibrates and Loki would be downright embarrassed about how fast he looks at it if he wasn't halfway into a heart attack. The words blind him in the dark room but they also fill him with hope. 'I would like that very much.'

Loki hardly feels his body twist and jerk he's so fast to time slip to Mobius's living room. Of course that nearly results in Mobius spilling two cups of hot chocolate on himself but Loki catches it just in time. After a scrambled rush of apologies and shushes and whispers they finally just look at each other. It's odd seeing Mobius in a T-shirt and sweats. It's endearing. Mobius smiles sheepishly, "Cocoa?"

Loki smiles back and takes a mug, "Thank you."

"Sorry for the late reply," Mobius says, "I was going to ask you that and surprise you." Loki's heart flutters. Mobius wants him. He truly does and it couldn't make him feel any lighter than he does now. It makes him think that maybe, just maybe, everything will be okay. 

Chapter Text

Mobius doesn't know where they came from. He's pretty sure Loki doesn't either. He assumes their pets of the Watcher. Where else would three-eyed, universe colored birds come from in the middle of nowhere. To be honest, Mobius loves them the second they arrive. If birds are in the multiversal tree, then Loki won't be alone every time he has to leave. Guaranteed, that's not often. Just when he has things he needs to take care of. It gives him a sense of comfort. Loki won't be alone again.

Loki on the other hand, hates the birds. "They peck at everything," he grouches, then glares at the one trying to make a nest in his hair, in the circle of his crown, "and they are nesting on me!"

Mobius can't help but laugh. To be fair, Loki's hair would make a fine nest but that's not a home for birds so he shoos them away and they squock at him angerly and he's 99.9% sure that the Watcher is laughing.

"I think their cute," Mobius says on one of the times when Loki is experimenting with doubling himself so he can move and still power the tree instead of just sitting. Mobius takes the throne while Loki stands on the edge of the stairs, muttering to himself.

"They're not cute," Loki growls, "their spies for the Watcher. He doesn't trust us not to be stupid. He thinks we're toddlers in need of babysitting. We're not kids!" He shows that last part out at the top of the tree, as if the Watcher is listening.

Mobius snorts, "Give him a break. I don't think the guy socializes much."

"That doesn't mean he can socialize via his creepy birds. Stop babying them!"

Again Mobius laughs as he holds about five babies with the parents on both his shoulders watching over them. He feels honored. He doesn't think he's ever held a bird before, never mind multiple. It makes him... soft.

Loki's feet appear in his vision then he's on his knees, vines in his hands, looking at the baby birds. The dad bird squawks and Loki gives him a fat glare. "Don't back talk me or I'll chuck you out with the garbage."

"What garbage?" Mobius laughs and the baby's cheap at the sudden jar of his chest. Mobius about melts when Loki's eyes soften at his laugh. With a shaky hand, he conjures a double and hands it the branches. They don't die though there is a brief flicker of light when the branches are passed. Then he reaches up and with the tip of his finger pets the feathers of one of the babies who coos in contentment.

"See," Mobius hums, "they like you. You just got to give them a chance."

"I know where you're going with that and it's not going to work. Just because you gave me a chance it doesn't mean I have to give three-eyed spies a chance."

Mobius hums as one of the parents starts picking through his hair. Loki will. Just a head tilt and it's over. But right now he'll just enjoy the view.

Chapter Text

It was odd at first. Mobius slipped into speaking Asgardian as if he just slipped into breathing. It was easy to go between English and Asgardian, especially after learning the languages of the tree over time. So that was no problem when Loki was over at the house. No, the problem was the kids.

Loki will have moments where he slips into Asgardian without noticing until the kids give him a strange look. Or Mobius will scold them, flipping between languages like it's a book. So after many arguments and confusing lectures between parent and child, Loki decides to take up the mantle of teaching Kevin and Sean Asgardian. "Get them while they're young," Mobius had joked while spitting out five different languages across the universe. Loki doesn't like to think about how all those languages got into his head. He's too scared to ask because odds are Mobius doesn't know and that means it was implanted and that scares loki. Erasing memories is one thing but implanting things...

Loki doesn't think about that while he's teaching the boys Asgardian and when Dagmar comes into the picture it gets a lot easier. Dagmar is raised to know both and much to Loki's pride, after years of practice, Asgardian becomes a central language in their home. Thor is an endless tease about it.

"So," he says while drinking mead on Loki's patio, "you are single-handedly keeping our culture alive."

"Hardly," Loki scoffs, "it's just easier. Mobius and I slip up too much. And don't act like you haven't been teaching Jane. She's gotten a lot better since I last spoke to her."

"My credit that to Mobius. I'm pretty sure he speaks to her in Asgardian sometimes."

Loki sits across from him, enjoying the sun shining down on them. How he missed the sun when in Yggdrasil. Inside he hears Sean speaking to Dagmar in Asgardian. Something about lemonade and cookies.

"I'm glad you are. Teaching them that is," Thor says, "it makes me want to teach my family. I don't want to forget Asgard. Our people and culture. I don't think you want to either."

Loki doesn't know if he would ever admit it if that was the case. So much about Asgard hurt, and still hurts sometimes. But so much of it was good, too. It would be tragedy to take away the good because of the bad. Odin's ego and the attitude of the kingdom. He could do without that. His mom's garden, magic, smile. He needed that.

Kevin comes running around the house. Thor shouts hello and Kevin echoes that in Asgardian. Loki smiles. He's not wrong. A piece of their culture is being preserved in these kids. His kids.

"We should talk to Val," Loki says, "see what all we can bring back of our culture."

Thor grins at that as if he was waiting for Loki to come to that conclusion, too. "Whenever you're ready, brother, we will go." Loki nods and tips his head back, listening to the mix of languages that has become home.

Chapter Text

Bleeding hearts. Somehow that makes more sense to Mobius than any other flower he could have choked up. If it was up to him, anyone who got Hanahaki would throw up bleeding hearts. It just made sense. That's essentially what is happening. Your heart is bleeding petals. Only fair the flowers match.

To be frank, this was the worst time to get hanahaki as well. If he could decide that, it wouldn't be in the middle of an impending war with a psychopath that looks like Tony Stark who wants to take over the multiversal tree. But that's not how it works. He's been pruned, stabbed and used as a tool for a conqueror. He beyond knows that's not how it works. And yet...

"You're jumping to conclusions," Sylvie was saying, sipping on her sparkling water, "making assumptions. And isn't that just the basis of it. People making assumptions that other people don't love them."

Mobius takes a long drink before saying, "And 90% of those people are right. The other half doesn't love them. So really I have a very high chance of being right."

"Or you're in the 10% and you're making yourself sick for nothing."

"Or you're just in denial and before the war even starts I'll be drowned in thorns and petals."

"That's not funny," Sylvie throws her bottle over the railing toward the statue. Mobius watches it fly before it lands on some poor interns head. Mobius snorts and takes another long drink. But then he's coughing and by the end of it he's on the floor surrounded by teeny petals and Sylvie is sitting by him, an unreadable expression on her face.

"I wish you would believe me," she mumbles.

Mobius picks up one of the petals covered in blood. He wonders if bleeding hearts can come in red. "They're kind of beautiful," he mumbles, "when, you know, they're not covered in gore."

"And I thought I was morbid," Sylvie chuckles weakly. An alarm goes off somewhere. Neither of them move. "He really does love you," she continues, "whether you believe it or not."

Mobius coughs again but not petals just air. Just a clog in his throat and spots in his vision.

"Don't happen to know of anything to keep it at bay a little while longer do you?"

"If I did, I would have given it to you by now."

Mobius subconsciously wonder sometimes if she hates him and sometimes he remembers that's just her prejudice against the TVA that limits their relationship. Still, when she says no sometimes, he wonders how honest she's being.

Mobius slowly drags himself to his feet. "Let's go," he reaches his hand out her, "it's about time we save him."

Sylvie shakes her head, "None of this makes sense. You know that right."

"Has anything ever made sense," he says.

A petal falls onto Sylvie's leg. She sighs. "Yeah. Let's go save him."

Chapter Text

Don can admit that his neighbors are nosy. It comes with the suburbia life if he were to be honest. Everyone knows the couple down the street is getting married in Vegas, that Miss Walker has on sets of Alzheimer's and Don has a nasty divorce that pretty much consumed his whole life.

So when another single dad with the scariest most insane children they have ever seen enters the neighborhood, it's all whispers and strange looks from there. Don has a front row seat to the chaos as the guy literally lives across the street. He's got a lot of kids. A pair of twins. Three more boys and a girl. One girl out of six kids. Don can barely handle his two kids, let alone six.

But somehow on some spring day before school gets out all six kids and his two boys all pile in his kitchen because Kevin just happened to mention Don was making cookies for the block party. So he has all these pairs of eyes on him waiting to be fed and it makes him slightly nervous.

"Where's your dad?" He asks as he rolls out the dough and starts pressing cookie cutters into it.

"He'll be over soon," the tall boy, Jormungandr, says. That doesn't answer Don's question. But the boy is right. When the first batch is done and the kids have stole all the cookies and are screaming bloody murder in the living room, that is when Loki appears.

To be fair, Don has only seen him from a distance and he knew the guy was a looker from first sight. Nothing compares to the guy standing in his doorway even though he looks pissed off and ready to fight. Tall. Shiny. Gives off an immortalish look. Dang. "Are my kids here?"

And just like an idiot, Don says, "There are many kids here. Which ones?"

Of course that's when the girl starts screaming about death and then there's a horrible shriek from one of the twins. Loki is in the right to be unamused.Don sighs, "Yeah. Come in." And the guy does. "Sorry. My boys brought them over. Figured they could stay as long as they needed."

Loki seems a bit weary at that and Don keeps staring so it just gets more awkward from there.

"They haven't broken anything?" Loki asks as if it's routine.

Don chuckles, "No. They are delightful." Which so far is a lie but Don likes kids so it's fine.

Loki can tell it's a lie. "I'm sorry they intruded. They're still adjusting."

"It's fine. They are welcome anytime."

And that's when Loki really looks at him and Don falls. He falls hard.

"They are a handful. I wouldn't want to upset your wife."

Don smiles and what he says next changes everything, "Don't worry. Single dad. I love a good challenge."

Loki smirks, and a new twinkle comes to his eye, "So do I."

Don refuses to read into that more than he should. In hindsight maybe he should have.

Chapter Text

"I messed up."

Loki doesn't hear that often from their brother. They can probably count the number of times they've heard it on one hand. Not even. So they answering their cell to Thor sounding pained and saying that is... satisfying. But Loki also promised themselves they'd be a better brother so instead of mocking Thor they says, "Shocker." Maybe it's equally rude to say that but they could have said a lot worse.

"Funny, Loki," Thor snips and Loki hears car horns on the other line.

"Where are you?" Loki asks as they watch Mobius wrestle the boys in the grass outside the kitchen window. Dagmar is in her playpen that she's getting too big for, squealing at the boys.

"Jane kicked me out," Thor says in lieu of a real answer.

"I highly doubt that," Loki says, sipping coco, "she just needs you gone for a couple hours. Give her some alone time with Quinn and Love and she'll welcome you back with open arms."

"My kids aren't that bad," Thor argues.

Loki won't argue there. They love their nieces to death but they also know being a mom is hard. It's underappreciated work. Odds are Jane is fed up or overstimulated. Best get to the point.

"What did you do?" They ask, watching as Dagmar tries to climb over her pin.

Thor groans as if the world is ending. "I don't know," he grouches, "I was playing with Quinn and she just got mad at me."

"What were you playing with her?"

"An axe."

Now Loki knows that's not the question they asked but Thor's answer gives enough away anyway. "You gave your two year old daughter an axe."

"Father let us play with weapons all the time."

Loki bites their tongue so hard they taste blood. Nope. They are not taking that skeleton out of the closet today. "You really think that wouldn't disturb Jane just a little bit."

"Love plays with Stormbreaker all the time."

Loki sighs so loudly Mobius must hear it because he looks at the window in concern. "Thor, Loki says slowly, "don't give Quinn another axe until Jane lets you, okay."

"But-"

"Mobius is calling. Tudelu," Loki hangs up and presses their forehead against the glass. Men.

Chapter Text

"Did you ever meet any Jotun versions of me?"

Mobius is looking over the newly formed flowers, scanning them for O.B. to do research on when Loki asks this. He had a feeling this question was going to come up sooner or later and he hopes Loki is more... accepting to this side of himself then he ever was before.

He taps the scans and sends them to O.B.'s tempad before turning back to the throne where Loki still sits despite not having to do so anymore. He sits hunched, elbows on his knees, deep in thought. Mobius comes around and sits on the arm of the chair, measuring his words carefully.

"A couple times. Why? What's on your mind?"

Loki shrugs and looks at one of the branches near him. Ah. He must have seen something. "The Jotuns," Loki begins, "I... I have seen them. Seen me. And he seems so..." he seems to choke on the words before spitting them like venom, "good. Happy." Then he shakes his head as if confused. "I lived in the most coveted place in the galaxy and I was not happy. I was not good. But when I see this Jotun me growing in the horrible conditions that Jotunheim had... it was opposite." He finally looks at Mobius, eyes consumed with confusion and hurt. "Were the ones you met happy?"

Mobius sighs, "No. The ones I met we're not raised on Jotunhiem. The ones who were," a vile taste permeates Mobius's tongue, "we're disposed of quickly. If Odin never took you a branch started relatively quick. I never got to properly meet you as one."

Loki looks away. "My whole life could have been different if I had lived on Jotunhiem. Thor and I's relationship would have been different. My parents would have been different. I had friends."

Mobius reaches out and begins to card his fingers through Loki's soft hair. The man shakes. He leans down and presses a gentle kiss to the top of Loki's head. "I love you."

Loki looks up at him and Mobius just knows they need to have a serious discussion about what Loki has seen but right now he needs to focus on the moment.

"Even though I'm blue and not happy," Loki says and very faintly Mobius sees the blue tint to his skin.

"Especially when you're blue and not happy," he whispers.

Loki sniffs. "My real mother was good, too, wasn't she?"

Oh, boy. What did he see in that branch?

Mobius gets himself comfortable and decides to start simply and get to the hard parts later. "Your mother loved you, Loki. More than anything. They both did..."

Chapter Text

Loki appreciates Mobius's efforts. He truly does. He brings him food from every inch of space and time. Loki loves the sweets. Always will but Mobius is always worried about him getting a cavity and there's no dentist at the end of time that he can go to so he doesn't get very many. Of course a dentist is the last thing on Loki's mind but oh well. Mobius also brings games which is easier to play after Loki figures out how to power the tree without touching it. He always brings odd bits and pieces of life up to the tree and the tree starts to feel homey. Mobius also brings books. Lots and lots of books. Earth books, Titan books, Cree, Skroll, you name it.

His most recent find is a book called Of Mice and Men. A classic, Mobius claims and Loki forces himself not to look through the branches to see if that's true. He reads it as Mobius requested while he hops back to the TVA for some emergency meeting. To say Loki's in tears by the time Mobius is back is an understatement. He's two seconds from throwing the thing into space when Mobius steps through the time door.

"Lokes," he says with two milkshakes in hand, "what are you doing?"

Loki twist to him, trying to decide if he's angry or sad. "Why did you make me read this! It's horrible!"

Mobius pauses and stares for a long moment before sighing and says, "Like I said. It's an old Earth classic."

"Classic," Loki huffs, "Shakespeare writes tragedy better than this!"

"Two different eras, Loki. We all got our own version of the classics."

Loki glowers and throws the book across the tree, letting it land with a loud thud before taking a mint shake from Mobius. "Didn't like it then, huh?"

Loki has a million things to say to that. It reminds him of everything and nothing. Frost Giants. Asgard. Thor. Odin. Mobius. Himself. He hates it. A lot.

He falls into Mobius, holding him close while listening to him slurp his shake. "I saw Thor and I through it all," he whispers, "I hated it."

Mobius hums and finally stops gulping his vanilla shake. "Of Mice and Men. I always liked the title. Makes you wonder what you are. The mice or the men."

"Mice," Loki says far too easily, "I'm a mouse. I'm..." he swallows hard.

Mobius rubs his back. "You know, Lokes? I think we all are. Deep down I think we are all mice."

Loki sighs. "I hate human literature." Mobius can't help but chuckle at that one.

Chapter Text

Don can't say he regrets getting trapped in a frozen castle with a blue man with horns the size of his torso. He do it again if it meant his kids would be safe. But now he's starting to think he was wrong. Because blue monsters don't save you from Bilsnite or give you libraries or try to woo you with snowball fights. Monsters don't have smiling red eyes or mischievous grins.

Loki was one of a kind, that is for certain. His castle with its movable objects was as well, even his brother the hammer which was most prominent. No , Don never thought that he'd fall in love with it. But he did. And along with it he fell in love with the beast.

Now as he stands beside Loki in a gorgeous green suit that clashes with his blue skin, and Don in a golden suit the color of the sun, he realizes it's true. He eyes the tree below, slowly withering, slowly losing leaves. Loki is running out of time.

"Thank you, Don," Loki says, interrupting the man's thoughts, "for everything you've done the past few weeks. I... the... others... greatly appreciate it."

Don finally looks at the cursed beast... no... man beside him. The threatening, angry man has turned into a softy who likes Don's food and likes to listen to him read. It's... sweet. "I've enjoyed helping, Loki. Your palace is beautiful when it's not covered in grime and daggers."

Loki smiles at that but it is tinted in sadness. "Do you miss your children?"

Dons smile fades at the mention of his children. He looks away and clasps his hands. "I do. I do very much. I think about them everyday and hope they are all right."

Don hear's Loki swallow then Loki says in a sad almost pain-filled voice, "I have been selfish. I shouldn't have taken you from them. You are a good father. And I'm..."

The man trails off and Don looks at him in concern. "Loki..."

Loki shakes his head and looks at Don. "I want you to return home."

Don starts. Home? What does that mean- "I want you to go back to your children. I didn't have a good father, Don. They do. It's selfish of me to take that from them."

"Loki..." Done murmurs, shock in his bones and hope in his voice.

Before he can say thank you or try to touch Loki's arm, Loki thrusts out his hand and in a flash of green, Don is on his horse, packed and at the gates. As he runs away, he vows to come back. Loki is not alone anymore. He will prove it. And Loki will be free from that tree. Forever.

Behind him, the beast roars.

Chapter Text

It's around the time that Loki and Mobius's second child begins to kick that Loki begins to write. It's not easy by any stretch of the imagination. The blank white sheets stares at her as she tries to think of where to start. Where to start is always the hardest.

At some point Loki must have been sitting there long enough for Mobius to notice something was up because O.B. arrives and sits across from her like it's the most normal thing in the world. Loki doesn't say hi. She's debating between needing to pee and finally putting some word down.

"Mobius said you were starting a new project," O.B. starts, "he said I could help."

Of course he did, Loki thinks, tapping her pencil harder against the paper. "What are you doing?" O.B. asks.

"I'm writing," Loki says, doodling a dagger on the edge of the paper, "I want to write our family history. Mine and Mobius's. So our mistakes and triumphs are not forgotten."

O.B. taps his fingers together, staring at Loki with wide eyes and a straight face. "You want to write an autobiography?"

Loki shrugs. "Yes. No. Maybe... I just want our family to be remembered," she looks in O.B.'s eyes then, big and vulnerable, "all of us."

O.B. smiles at that. He gets the hint and Loki appreciates she doesn't have to expand on it. "Will it be for the kids or for everyone?" O.B. asks.

Loki's ego wants it to be for everyone. To shove her joy and life in others faces and say look, I succeeded, I beat you. Don't fight me again. The other side that sounds like Mobius says let it be sacred to their family. So she shrugs instead, "I don't suppose it matters. We'll always be remembered. I just want the record to be accurate."

O.B. has a look on his face that Loki doesn't care to discern. Instead she asks, "Where should I start? Obviously the beginning but how far back should I go?"

O.B. shrugs, "Depends on how accurate you want. How much explaining you want to do."

Not much if Loki would be honest but that would defeat the purpose of this whole strange pantomime she started. She sighs deeply, shakes her head. "I suppose... Johtunheim would be the place to start." Then to O.B., "Will you help me?"

O.B. smiles and nods, "Of course. What will you call it?"

Loki thought for a moment of all the things she's seen and done. Of all the heroes and villains she's met and fought beside. Of sad endings and happy endings. She smiles bitterly. "Marvel."

Chapter Text

His name is Ikol.

It took Loki a long time, maybe too long, to figure out how to send a piece of himself back to his family. His soul. Which just happened to be in the form of a magpie that was aptly named Ikol. By who, Loki isn't sure. Probably himself all things considered. It doesn't matter. Because with Ikol he can feel his family. Dig his claws into O.B.'s shoulder as he works. Annoy that ever loving crap out of B-15. Steal Casey's grapes. And Mobius...

It doesn't really matter now. Mobius found his way to Loki one way or the other. And yet he still keeps Ikol by his side, in and out of the tree. Some days Loki believes Mobius loves Ikol more than him which is preposterous sincd it's a literal piece of his soul but still...

Loki can hear him talking to Ikol who's on some branch laughing at something. He's ridiculous, being jealous of a bird. The bird he made even! There's a loud smack and that tips Loki over the edge.

"If you are done making out with the magpie, I would greatly appreciate your attention over here!"

There's a bit of shuffling then Mobius is next to him... with the blasted bird on his shoulder.

"Hi," Mobius says, all teeth and mirth. Loki glares daggers at Ikol.

"Is there a reason," Loki begins, "that you must have that bird with you even when in my presence? It was meant to be a help and solace at the TVA, not a pet."

Mobius chuckles and Loki can practically sense the lecture coming. It tastes like his own medicine. "Now, Loki," Mobius hums, giving the bird a blueberry from his pocket that has Loki wrinkling his nose. "That's not how we treat the one piece of you I had for an eon. Huh, Ikol, you precious thing."

Loki wants to puke even if Mobius's argument is valid. "He's a nuisance. I should disband him."

"No!" Mobius practically whines, grabbing the bird and squeezing it, letting the magpie give an exasperated caw. Loki rolls his eyes and lets Mobius's words sink in. The only piece of Loki he had for eons. Loki left nothing when he exiled himself to this fate. The bird was a gift. A way for Loki to intervene as needed once he found out he could do so. It wasn't supposed to be permanent. But as Loki watches Mobius cuddle the bird and the little piece of his soul seemed to bury itself the man's chest, his heart's softens. Mobius loves that bird just like he loves Loki. He has to remember that. The bird is an extension of him. If the bird didn't love Mobius like it did, there would be something wrong.

As the magpie coos, Loki reaches out and grips Mobius's thigh. The two smile at each other.

Then much to Loki's pleasure, Mobius says, "Thank you for sending him to us," then kisses him.

Chapter Text

Sylvie, at some point after living a normal life on the timeline, has become sentimental. It tears at her constantly. She hates it while simultaneously loves holding the pieces of her real life together. Her employee of the month panel. Polaroids of her new home town. A little vase that was a housewarming gift from her neighbors downstairs. Then there's the family aspect.

She tries not to hold on to such small things. Pictures and toys and badly drawn art pieces can only mean trouble if she had to run. But she can't help it. These kids ruined her.

Like this little card in her mail right now, written in a little girls scowl and sent through timelines to her. Its covered in balloons and animals stickers. Dagmar's fifth birthday.

Sylvie likes being an aunt to three rambunctious girls and two nerdy, clever boys. It's something she never imagined having in her life. Frankly, she thinks she's terrible with kids. Thor likes to argue otherwise. And if Sylvie takes a long look at her fridge she gets why he thinks that.

But now she rubs her fingers over this card and can't help but be grateful. Grateful Mobius is forgiving. That Loki has a big heart and Thor has open arms. That they allow her to see Kevin, Sean, Dagmar, Quinn and Love grow up despite all her problems. That she can train them to fight alongside Val and do homework with O.B. She's part of a found family and it comforts her to no end. She'll never admit it though. Not even to herself.

The words on the card are written in glittery purple gel pen. You're invited! on the outside. On the inside is a scribbled date and time. Some letters and numbers are clearer than others, showing Mobius's handiwork. So she makes a mental note of the date than goes to her shoe box hiding at the bottom of her closet. In it are some of those hand-drawn pictures, polaroids and letters. There are many birthday invitations.

Sylvie remembers when she met Jack. How she looked around McDonald's and decided she wanted to try everything life had to offer her. She didn't completely understand it. How life was. She understood loss. She understood pushing people away. But after the tree and Nightmare and Loki and Mobius collecting their little family, she started to figure it out.

A text pops up on her phone. Loki asking if the letter got to her. She gently puts the card down and texts back yes. She'll be there.

She puts the box back and looks out the window.

Despite the persistent sense of paranoia in the back of her mind, she thinks maybe being soft isn't so bad.

Chapter Text

The last thing Don expected out of his life was becoming a formula one racer. That doesn't mean he didn't want to be one. Oh, no, he wanted to be one very badly. He just didn't expect it to happen. But it did and Lightning McQueen is what they call him. He kind of likes the nickname, Steve McQueen be damned. He's the fastest racer for about three years. That's when Jackson Storm shows up and not long after that Loki.

Guys a good racer. Don won't argue that. Guys rich though and his car is always the latest model. He's got the fastest pit crew in the world. That doesn't mean Don's not attracted. In fact he's dangerously so.

Don supposes it's the same for Loki because after a few races and a few barbed comments, he follows Don everywhere. At first it's strange, and the reporters think it's strange so a million different articles pop up about it. When Don wins his first race of the season, Loki is there. When his car gets trashed in a truck race, Loki is there. Any pranks to be done, Loki is for sure there. So when he randomly shows up at the bullpen for lunch, Don's not surprised.

"Lightning McQueen," Loki says as if he did not just see him thirty minutes ago, "I do say mayonnaise is not a good look on you."

Don rolls his eyes, wipes his mouth and says, "I suppose you're here to annoy me."

"On the contrary, I'm here to get to know my competition better."

Don hums, "You're cute, Loki, but not that cute. If you want to read me you're going to have to try harder than that."

Loki squeezes his sandwich so hard the pickles fly out all over his suit. Don laughs a little too hard and chokes on the mouthful he was trying to swallow. So there they sit food all over them and Don choking to death. When he can breathe again, Don looks at Loki and smiles, "Okay, you win."

Loki looks at him strangely but for once doesn't comment. Not on that at least. "What, at racing, because that's obvious, old man."

If Loki wasn't so enamoring it would be like Jackson storm all over again.

"We should race together off the record," Loki says, watching as the racers begin to leave.

"That sounds like breaking the rules," Don huff's even though he does that all the time.

The look Loki gives him lets him know he's too far gone for it to matter. "My dear, Don, I wouldn't have it any other way."

Chapter Text

Loki knows something is coming. He's been preparing for it for a long time. Doom is a smart man. He can get what he wants. So Loki is back in the chair, holding the branches tight. He'll have to pry them from Loki's dead corpse. But he's not the only one preparing and that is what scares him the most.

When Mobius comes through the time door for what Loki wonders could be the last time, he's wearing that stupid black vest that will do nothing to protect him. Loki grips the vines tighter. Ikol caws somewhere. Flowers wilt. Loki feels angry.

"You shouldn't be wearing that," he growls, lowly.

"You're right," Mobius says way too lightly, "I should be wearing my old hunter suit but everyone doesn't want me on the front lines. A real shame. I'd like a shot at Doom. Just one little punch."

"You shouldn't be a part of this at all," Loki says quite loudly. The little spies The Watcher sends stops moving, chirping. Mobius stares at him for a long while. Ikol flies by and lands on his shoulder. Mobius sighs and walk slowly to the throne, where he cups Loki's cheeks and looks deep in his eyes before delivering the killing blow.

"I will never regret going to war for you, Loki. This was inevitable. And I am willing to fight for you. I always have been. Always will."

And Loki forces himself not to cry. To not let go of the branches, take this man in his arms and never let him see the outside of this tree again. But that would go against everything he did this for. Instead, he twists his head and kisses Mobius's palm.

"If Doom comes after you," Loki says against Mobius's soft skin, "You have to promise me you'll run. No hanging around trying to protect me. You run, Mobius. Don't be noble."

Mobius chuckles hallowly, "You worry too much. Sylvie and Thor won't let me out of their sight. Besides, Sam Wilson and his team are with us and where he goes, Bucky Barnes is sure to follow. We'll be all right."

Loki snorts. "I don't trust any of them. Sylvie is the most competent. Stay close to her." Then he finally lets the tears slip, "Be safe."

Mobius leans down and kisses his forehead before stepping back, a smile on his face, "Always."

When Mobius is gone, Loki really does cry. Doom is coming. Now Loki must prepare, too. There is never enough preparation. Because of Mobius is killed... Norns help the branches of that does occur.

Chapter Text

It's hard being the last one standing.

Casey never really thought that far ahead. He never thought about wars, death, change. His life consisted of being behind a desk (and apparently robbing people. Boy he must have had a crazy life before all this). So really, after all of this, he never expected to be the last man standing. Casey doesn't like thinking about what all that entails. Record keeping mostly. And it rips him apart.

He sits in the old R&A as he writes in one of O.B.'s old notebooks everything that has happened. The hard part is he doesn't know everything. All of the knowledge of Kang and He Who Remains died with Loki and Sylvie. He only has what O.B. and he wrote down. So the TVAs beginning is sparse. So is how their memories were wiped time and time again. What isn't sparse is O.B.'s history and Loki's.

Casey knows everyone thinks he's crazy. But he has to tell their story somehow. He can't let it all be forgotten. Not Mobius's love for Loki. Not Loki's sacrifice. Not the part Victor Timely played or Sylvie killing He Who Remains. O.B.'s books and smarts. B-15's leadership. He even adds in the friends they made a long way. Gwen's hope. Gambit and Jimmy's poker. Ingrid's betrayal. Even Captain Carter's appearance and disappearance. Their stories are told.

Casey feels alone now. More alone than he cares to be. How did Loki stand it for so long? But he keeps going because nobody is going to tell their story right but him. Only him and he can't stand it if someone gets it wrong. But their ghosts haunt him. Mobius died at the tree but his ghost haunts the automat. Loki died with Mobius's name on his lips but his spirit permeates everything. B and Sylvie died fighting Doom, protecting the TVA. Some say they still see their temporal auroras sometimes. And O.B... well there's a reason Casey basically lives in R&A. There's a reason he never leaves the TVA.

He uses all the books O.B. never finished writing. Handbooks written for after Doom that never got to happen. Purples. Blues. Reds. O.B. was always prepared. Casey's spends centuries writing, getting every detail right. And when he finishes, he feels empty.

He throws away his long since empty juice box and goes to the loom room that looks over the uncovered tree, ever growing, ever alive. And Casey hugs those books even tighter. "Look guys," he says slowly, laying the books out across the floor, "I did it. You will never be forgotten. Ever." The gold TVA letters gleam up at him. Casey smiles. Finally, he can rest.

Chapter Text

Loki was cursed. He knows it. How else would one explain his hideous appearance. Ancient Greece is no place to grow up in apparently. One false moving you get cursed, turning everyone to stone just for being ugly. Odin is his main suspect. Nobody hates his tricks more. But he can't take the ugly off. Like he said. It's a curse of hatred from one who should have loved him...

...But doesn't.

So Loki's life consists of stone statues. Of covering his entire body so no skin can be seen. And he does this for years. So long he can't remember what it felt like to be looked at like something good. Special.

So Mobius is a bit of a surprise. Loki bumped into him by accident. Turned half of the people to stone because of an outburst. On his way out he practically tripped over the man. And in consequence he tried to turn him to stone. To Loki's shock, the man stared straight ahead and smiled.

Maybe that's why the infatuation began. Either way, Mobius is now in Loki's home, blind as a bat and smiling at Loki like he holds the world in his palm. Loki is terrified. Terrified that this seeming protection against himself will eventually give out and Mobius will disappear. Turn to Stone like everyone else. And Loki would be alone again. And again, and again. He shakes his head.

"So," he says wearily, "you're never going to turn to stone?"

Mobius looks directly at him and Loki has a hard time not flinching away, to not hide the snakes. "No. I can't see you, Loki. Though some days I wish I could. Even if it turned me to stone."

Loki's snakes hiss as he says, "It would kill you." Loki couldn't survive that. He couldn't kill this man. He's never wished he could turn to stone more than he does right now.

Mobius smiles as he feels for his cup and carefully sips from the clay vessel, "What a lovely way to go."

Loki full heartily disagrees. It's a horrible way to go. It's terrible to watch. He prays he never has to see Mobius's beautiful eyes, silver hair and smile turn to stone. "Loki?" The man hums.

"Yes?" Loki says, gently reaching out and feeling Mobius's soft hand that turns over and curls around Loki's.

"I think time is on our side," Mobius grins, "Why else would I be blind if not for the chance to love you."

At that Loki's heart soars.

Chapter Text

Loki believes in the fates, norn's, whatever destiny wielder you decide is out there. The point is he believes if things are meant to be, they will happen. So it is with college, his job, and even love. That's why he sticks his number in a Norse mythology book for a young blonde man to find if the fates were really wanting them to be together.

Almost a decade later and Loki will admit it was a stupid move. He had started to lose faith in fates after employment failures made him worthless in his father's eyes. After his relationship with his brother slowly started to fray. And after the death of his mother. If there are fates they must hate him.

So the book, the man, anything to do with that night so long go fades away. Loki meet someone else who doesn't pay any real attention to him. Sylvie is his friend who tries to get him out of his head. It only works half the time. The man with blonde silvering hair never truly leaves.

Which is in itself horrible and a taunt from the fates when it's a week until he gets married and Sylvie just happens to pull from her 'miscellaneous odds and ends' drawer a napkin with three letters in black handwriting on it. MMM.

It's a chaotic mess after that. Sylvie apparently got the napkin when she worked briefly at the cafe Loki and MMM had gone to for that special night. Found it glued to the bottom of the table she said and decided to keep it as a momento. And here Loki was again giving the fates one more chance. It seemed impossible. How's he supposed to find some one based on the initials MMM. It's a big world after all.

But he does find him, at a wedding rehearsal to some woman who looks like she could beat him up in an Applebee's parking lot. And the man, Mobius, now fully silver haired, looks content.

Loki leaves then, goes back to that cafe that sells every kind of pie you can think of. Back to the table by the back window where he sits staring at the cracks and loathing fates tricks.

But then someone enters the same booth. Orders a key lime pie and eats it as they stare at each other. The Norwegian lore book sits beside Mobius. He smiles gently, "Hi."

"Aren't you supposed to be getting married?" Loki says.

"Aren't you?" Mobius says back before pushing the pie toward Loki and extending a fork to him. Loki takes it and they eat the pie in silence, seemingly catching up over the last ten years through chews alone.

When they leave, it's together. And they walk, hand in hand through the city until they find Mobius's car. Then they drive. And Loki thinks of fates fair because for once everything is working out perfectly.