Chapter 1
Mobius sat at his desk, the man absent-mindedly reading the same line of text over and over in one of the files he was supposed to be analysing. Something about some human woman named Peggy, arrested for crimes against the sacred timeline. It was an interesting file, but he just couldn't get into it. He hated days like these.
There weren't variants anymore, not after Loki created the Time Tree, but the TVA had been left with the task of getting remaining variants back to their place on the timeline. The work was important, but Mobius often struggled with files and reading, information boring him. He would rather be out there tracking down those variants in the void himself. He sighed and shut the file, he'd have to finish this later, his brain just wasn't letting him attack the task at hand. It wasn't like he was pressed for time. He pinched the bridge of his nose and shut his eyes, exhausted. Suddenly arms wrapped around him from behind and a kiss was planted on the back of his neck, the man who wouldn't let him go out into the field himself. He was startled at first, but upon realising who it was he relaxed into his husband's arms.
"Hey Lokes," he murmured, warmth in his words. Mobius stood and embraced Loki, giving him a quick kiss. "How was work?" He said with a chuckle.
Loki laughed. He spent a lot of his days in the Time Tree, weaving new strands of reality into the web of time. He'd changed up his clothing over time and had seemed to have settled with a loose, emerald-green, long-sleeve shirt, black pants and a green cape and metal horns- when he felt like it.
"It was hard," he said, looking like he was holding back tears. "But now I get to see you! And the timeline should be stable now for about a week." He leaned his head into the crevice of Mobius' neck. Loki had figured out that if he made certain timelines cross at certain places, they would work out well and no problems would come up for certain amounts of time. It was a craft, and he was mastering it more and more each day.
Mobius smiled. He knew just how taxiing Loki found his job, and he knew how these precious moments stolen between time healed Loki. "How have things been down here?" Loki asked, looking up into his husband's eyes.
"Eh, people are adjusting, but I can tell they're finding it hard."
"And what of you?" He took Mobius' hand in his. "How are you handling it?" He tilted his head and his voice softened, "I know change is difficult for you."
"Spying on me, huh?" Mobius said, dodging the question.
"You know everything about me, it's only fair." Loki said with a smile, then he stared into Mobius' eyes, silently begging the man to be honest with him.
"Today was hard. I couldn't focus, and I got stuck reading the same line over and over." Sometimes Mobius doubted Loki's love for him, he was a god- and he was just a human variant of a jet-ski salesman, now just an analyst who's job and life paled in comparison to Loki's. But he knew that was just his mind, his brain trying to decive him. Loki would never judge him, and he knew his husband's love was pure and true.
Loki smiled sadly, he knew how Mobius' bad days made him feel, and he never wanted his husband to have to go through it.
"Well... we've got all the time in the world, Moby. You'll have a better time with it another day." Mobius nodded.
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*in the morning*
Mobius smiled, the light of the TVA peering past the blinds shimmered on his husband's hair and glowed on his skin. He loved just watching him sleep. Now that Loki spent his days and nights weaving the strands of time together, these moments the two got to spend together were truly precious. Loki slowly opened his eyes, chuckling when he was met with Mobius' blue ones staring back at him.
"Hello beautiful," Mobius said, kissing his shoulder softly.
"I love waking up with you," Loki said softly. He knew he was the only one who could take care of the Time Tree and ensure that the ever-growing web of time would stay untangled, but sometimes, in these moments he felt tempted to run away from it all. But then he remembered that's why he had to stay, so others could live the life he longed for. So Mobius, and all his variants, would be okay.
"Me too."
"I have a surprise for you," Loki said, sitting up in their bed.
"Yeah?"
"Get ready, we're going on a date," He got up and pulled on a forest green exercise shirt and changed his pyjama bottoms for a pair of black and green board shorts.
"Where are we going, and when?"
"It's a surprise!"
"Well how am I supposed to know what to wear, then?" He said, standing up and putting his hands on his hips.
Loki hummed in thought for a second and then exclaimed an "Aha!" He waved his hand and a blue exercise shirt and orange board shorts took place of Mobius' pyjamas. "There." Mobius chuckled, he loved Loki so much. "Ready,?" Loki asked his husband.
"I'm ready," he replied, linking hands with Loki. He said it made it easier to timeslip with someone if there was physical contact, but Mobius had a sneaking suspicion that Loki had said that just to hold Mobius' hand every time they timeslipped. He wasn't exactly complaining.
They appeared on a beach, a beautiful secluded still spot with almost white sand and crystal-blue water. The best part though, was the Jet-ski sitting on the water with a bow stuck on the top. Loki had planted it there while weaving the strands of time together, knowing Mobius would love it.
"Do you like it?" Loki asked, a hint of nervousness in his voice. He searched his husbands face for any sign he'd done something wrong, he wanted it to be perfect, but Mobius just threw his arms around him and sank into his chest for a moment.
"I love it, Loki. I really do- I can't believe it!" Mobius smiled and ran up to it, "Can I sit on it?"
"I'll do you one better, you can take it out for a spin," Loki said, catching Mobius' smile.
"But I don't know how..."
"I think you do, somewhere within you."
Mobius nodded and hopped on, beckoning Loki on as well. Loki jumped up and wrapped his arms around his husband's waist and held on as he turned the key and the vehicle started moving. "I love you, he shouted as they skidded around on the water, the wind threatening to steal his words.
"I love you, too!" Mobius yelled back.
They continued riding around until the sun went down and Loki timeslipped them back to the TVA. "Thank you for today," Mobius said, kissing Loki lovingly. "You're amazing."
"I know," Loki shrugged, smiling. The two hugged and got changed, then headed to the cafeteria for dinner.