I See You

Kurinth followed Mobius and Loki out of the court room. Mobius waved the Hunters away from Loki, much to both of their dismays. Hunter B-15 gave Mobius a cautious look before releasing her grip on Loki.

Kurinth followed Mobius and Loki as they both took off down the hallway. Loki eyed Kurinth cautiously as they strode along beside them.

”You.” They spoke, voice dripping with anger. “You were the one looking ever-so-curiously at the Tesseract, weren’t you?”

”Uh…” Kurinth spoke, feeling nervousness start to settle in their stomach. “Maybe?” Mobius gave Kurinth a familiar look. “It was a glowing, blue cube, alright? It was interesting.”

”That ‘glowing, blue cube’ holds power you could never dream of beholding during your pathetic, mortal lifespan.” Loki growled at me, their once smooth and velvety voice back to being low and gravely.

”Alright, take it easy.” Mobius eased Loki down. “Let’s just walk in silence, huh?”

Loki eyed Mobius with caution, then glanced out the windows of the hallway the three were walking down. “I’m gonna burn this place to the ground.” So much for silence.

Mobius smiled softly. “I’ll show you where my desk is, you can start there.” His words were always so softspoken. He easily caught Kurinth’s attention every time he spoke.

As they walked, Loki’s pace slowed down, and with it, so did Kurinth’s and Mobius’. Loki stared out the window, now, fully taking in what was outside these office walls.

Mobius motioned towards the window. “Have a look.”

Loki approached the window with curiosity and caution, their eyes lighting up at the sheer gravity of it all. Kurinth recognized that look, because they had the same one the first time they saw the TVA for all its ‘glory.’

”Home sweet home.” Mobius said as he stood beside Loki.

Loki turned to Mobius, a little confused, now. “I thought there was no magic here.”

”There isn’t.”

Loki continued to stare out at everything, at the vehicles, the buildings, the erected statues of the ‘sacred Time-Keepers.’ Kurinth resisted rolling their eyes thinking about them.

”That’s not real.” Loki said.

Mobius shrugged, then moved so he could press a hand to Loki’s upper back and urge them along down the hallway. “It is, and, unfortunately, so is all the paperwork.” Mobius said. “Good tinder for your fire, though. C’mon.”

Kurinth followed behind the two. 

“This place is a nightmare.”

”That’s another department.” Mobius said. “Now that department I’ll help you burn down.”

Kurinth hopped on the elevator with Loki and Mobius. They took their place beside Mobius instead of the god, still a little wary from their first encounters with each other.

Mobius looked at Loki like he was a kid on Christmas morning for a brief moment, a small smile plastered on his face, before he offered his hand out to Loki to shake. “I’m Agent Mobius, by the way.” He said.

Loki simply stared at Mobius’ hand, unimpressed, and Mobius pulled his hand back instantly.

”Are you taking me somewhere to kill me?” Loki asked him.

”No. That’s where you just were.” Mobius answered. “I’m taking you some place to talk.”

”Well I don’t like to talk.”

Kurinth resisted the urge to laugh. Clearly, judging by their trial, that was not true in the slightest.

“But you do like to lie, which you just did.” Mobius quipped. “Because we both know you love to talk.” Mobius made a humorous gesture with his hand as he spoke, “Talkie-talkie.”

Kurinth chuckled beside him, earning a fairly threatening glance from Loki. They then looked at Mobius, brows furrowed in both irritation and confusion. ”How long have you been here?”

Mobius sighed. “I don’t know, it’s hard to say. Time passes differently here in the TVA.”

Loki looked equally as confused as before they asked the question. “What does that mean?”

”You’ll catch up.”

The elevator came to a halt, and the doors opened. Mobius guided Loki and Kurinth down the hallway, past a few Hunters coming their way. Kurinth couldn’t help but steal a few glances at Loki.

Out of all the L Variants that had been brought in by the TVA, Loki Laufeyson was the most… interesting. Mobius clearly saw it, as did Kurinth. While Mobius was chasing a hunch for his case, Kurinth was simply interested for the sake of being interested.

It wasn’t often that there was this much excitement around the TVA, after all. At least, not in their little corner of the world ever since this ‘highly dangerous Variant’ case was opened.

”So, you’re part of the TVA’s courageous and dedicated workforce?” Loki asked Mobius, clearly mocking him.

”Yes.”

”You were created by the Time-Keepers.”

”Yep.”

”To protect the Sacred Timeline.”

”Correct.”

Loki then began to laugh as they made their way down the steps. Kurinth followed behind Loki, now.

Mobius glanced back at Loki as he made his way down the steps. “Is that funny?”

Loki stopped where they were standing at the top of the steps. Kurinth stepped to the other side of the staircase and slowly made their way down it, towards Mobius.

”The idea that your little club decides the fate of trillions of people across all of existence at the behest of three space lizards, yes, it’s funny.” Loki made their way down the steps, now. “It’s absurd.”

Mobius tilted his head slightly at Loki. “I thought you didn’t like to talk.”

Loki was clearly left speechless at Mobius’ words. It seemed the god of mischief had met their match when it came to clever quips and observations. 

Mobius motioned inside the Time Theater when it opened with his pruning stick. “After you.”

Loki cautiously made their way inside the room. Kurinth followed behind the two, incredibly curious where this interrogation was going. The doors closed behind them, and Kurinth now stood beside Loki at the entrance to the room.

Loki glared at Kurinth, then at Mobius. “For the record, this really does feel like a killing me kind of room.”

”Not big on trust, are you?”

”Trust is for children, and dogs.” Loki spoke as they made their way over towards Mobius. “There’s only one person you can trust.”

”Yourself? I like it.” Mobius remarked as he set up the computer in front of him. “Slap it on a t-shirt.”

”If the TVA truly oversees all of time, how have I never heard of you until now?”

”’Cause you’ve never needed to.” Mobius answered. “You’ve always lived within your set path.”

”I live within whatever path I choose.” Loki spoke harshly.

Kurinth snorted as they came up beside Loki. “Lucky you.” They remarked.

Loki glowered at Kurinth. “Yes, lucky me.” They spat. “Who are you to dictate what path I take in my own story, hm?”

”Who said I dictate anything?” Kurinth shrugged. “I’m a Variant, just like you.”

”A Variant.” Loki repeated. “Then what does the TVA have you here for? To take orders like an obedient lap dog?”

”More like a lap dog that’ll be killed the moment I’m not useful.” Kurinth said. “I was in a jumpsuit once, just like you.”

”Oh, is that right?” Loki said, arms now crossed over their chest. They were staring at Kurinth harshly now, their piercing, green eyes boring holes into their figure. “And pray tell, what makes you so different from myself?”

”Absolutely nothing.” Mobius spoke before Kurinth nabbed the chance to. “Okay, have a seat, Loki.”

Loki, still glowering at Kurinth, moved to grab them. Mobius pulled the control for the collar around Loki’s neck from his pocket and looped the god back, a blank stare now on Loki’s face.

Kurinth, a little startled from the act, took a step towards Mobius. Mobius pat them on the shoulder comfortingly as he spoke to Loki, “I told you, time moves differently here in the TVA.”

It was now that Kurinth got the chance to size Loki up. They were a foot or so taller than them,  and thin, but not lanky. Kurinth could tell Loki held some serious force behind those biceps of theirs. From their raven black hair to their green eyes that always seemed to threaten Kurinth from afar, they had no trouble admitting that Loki definitely looked intimidating.

But Mobius believed Loki was not a dangerous Variant, and Kurinth trusted the man with their life (quite literally), so they let go of some of the tension that they had been carrying. 

“Come on, sit down.” Mobius told Loki, then exchanged a concerned look with Kurinth before he took his seat. “Let’s get into this.” He spoke so casually and nonchalantly, like Loki wasn’t just glaring daggers at them both a mere second ago.

Loki cautiously approached the chair on the other side of the table and pointed to it, briefly.

”Go on, have a seat.” Mobius urged them.

Loki sat down in the seat, still remaining eye contact with Mobius, then crossed their arms over their chest.

”If looks could kill.” Mobius joked.

”What do you want from me?” Loki asked him.

”Well, let’s start with a little cooperation.”

”Not my forte.”

”Really?” Mobius said. “Even when you’re wooing someone powerful you intend to betray? Come on.”

”You don’t know anything about me.” Loki rolled their eyes.

”Maybe I’d like to learn.” Mobius said as he opened the can of Josta he had seemingly brought in with him. That made two of us, Kurinth thought. “I specialize in the pursuit of dangerous Variants.”

”Like myself?” Loki concluded.

”Mm… no, particularly dangerous Variants, like Kurinth here.” Mobius said as he took a sip from the can in his hand. “You’re just a little pussycat.”

Loki eyed Kurinth curiously now, seemingly their interest now piqued towards the other person in the room.

”I got a set of questions for you.” Mobius said. “You answer them honestly, and then maybe I can give you something you want. You wanna get out of here, right?” Loki tilted their head in interest. “Yeah, so we’ll start there. Should you return, what are you gonna do?”

”Finish what I started.” Loki answered.

”Which is?” Kurinth asked.

Loki eyed Kurinth again, this time with the same look they had given them earlier. “Claim my throne.”

”You wanna be king?” Mobius said.

”I don’t want to be, I was born to be.” Loki said defensively. 

“King of what, exactly?” Kurinth questioned the god.

Loki scoffed, and shook their head. “Neither of you would understand.”

”Try me.” Mobius said.

Loki shifted in their chair for a moment, debating their answer, before they smacked their lips and answered, “Midgard.”

”Aka Earth.” Mobius wrote on the pad of paper before him. “Alright, now you’re the king of Midgard. Then what? Happily ever after?”

Loki grinned briefly. “Asgard, the Nine Realms.”

”Space.” Mobius added.

Loki cocked their eyebrows at Mobius. “Space?” They repeated.

”Space is big. That’d be a nice feather in your cap.” Mobius said. “‘Loki, the King of Space.’”

Loki narrowed their eyes at Mobius. “Mock me if you dare.” Their voice was low and gravely once more, attempting to be threatening. Kurinth concluded they were all bark, no bite, however.

”No, I’m not.” Mobius chuckled. “Honestly, I’m actually a fan. Yeah. And I guess I’m wondering, why does someone with so much range just wanna rule?”

Loki was silent for a split second before they answered, “I would’ve made it easy for them.”

”People like easy.” Mobius said.

”The first and most oppressive lie ever uttered was the song of freedom.” Loki continued.

”How’s that one go?” 

“For nearly every living thing, choice breeds shame, and uncertainty, and regret.” Loki monologued. “There’s a fork in every road, yet the wrong path always taken.”

”Good, yeah.” Mobius said as he wrote. “You said ‘nearly every living thing,’ so I’m guessing you don’t fall into that category?”

Loki chuckled at Mobius’ words, then looked away from the man, around the room. “The Time-Keepers have built quite the circus, and I see the clowns are playing their parts to perfection.” Loki looked to Kurinth when they said ‘clowns,’ and Kurinth felt a little miffed by their words but remained silent.

They were here to observe, after all, and help Mobius with this case wherever possible. If that meant sitting in on an interrogation where the one being interrogated was hell bent on insulting Kurinth, so be it. They were in Loki’s shoes once before.

Mobius chuckled as well. “Big metaphor guy. I love it.” He said. “Makes you sound super smart.”

”I am smart.” Loki said defensively, brows furrowed.

”I know.”

”Okay…”

Loki and Mobius shared a moment of awkward silence, before Mobius turned to the console in front of him. It began to whir as it was turned on, and started to project an image of what Kurinth recognized as New York on the screen before the three of them.

The pieces of the picture delicately fell into place. Loki stared with interest for a moment, before they scoffed and turned to look at Mobius. “What is this?”

”A sampling of your greatest hits, if I may.” Mobius pressed play on the console.

Before them, an image of the Avengers armed and at the ready was displayed. This obviously made Loki uncomfortable, because they darted their eyes away and sighed, now shifting in their chair as if they were ashamed.

Over the video, Loki began to speak, “If it’s all the same to you… I’ll have that drink now.”

Mobius sipped his can of Josta as he watched. Kurinth couldn’t help but stare on in curiosity. Obviously, seeing the Avengers brought back a memory Loki didn’t want to remember. 

Mobius offered his can of soda to Loki with a small shake.

”No.” Loki said. “And I remember. I was there. Anything else?”

”It’s funny, for someone born to rule, you sure do lose a lot.” Mobius said. “You might even say it’s in your nature.”

”You know, things didn’t turn out so well for the last person who said that to me.” Loki threatned Mobius.

”Oh, yeah. Phil Coulson.” Mobius said with a nod of his head. 

On the screen, an image of the man projected before us, holding a very large weapon as a weapon pierced through his upper body.

”Didn’t the Avengers come together to literally avenge him by defeating you?”

”Little solace to a dead man.” Loki spoke, their words cold.

”Do you enjoy hurting people?” Mobius asked, the screen changing before them. “Making them feel small?”

Loki shifted very uncomfortably in their chair. If Mobius was aiming to make the god uncomfortable, he sure was achieving his goal, Kurinth thought.

”Making them feel afraid?”

”Your games don’t frighten me.” Loki raised their voice.

”Making them feel little?”

”I know what I am.”

”A murderer?”

”A liberator.”

“Of eyeballs, maybe.” Mobius said, then changed the screen once more.

The image before them now was one of Loki using some sort of device on a man’s face, presumably ‘liberating’ his eyeball. The Loki on the screen was smiling as if they were enjoying the act. Kurinth didn’t buy it.

”Look at that smile, you are enjoying that.” Mobius said. “Did you enjoy hurting them?”

”I don’t have to play this game.” Loki said. “I’m a god.”

”Of what, again? Mischief, right?” Mobius raised a brow at Loki. “Yeah, I don’t see anything very mischievous about this.” Mobius glanced at the screen, then back at Loki.

”No, I don’t suppose you do.” Loki spat.

Mobius sighed. “Let’s talk about your escapes.” Mobius said. “You’re really good at doing awful things, and then just getting away.”

”What can I say? I’m a mischievous scamp.”

”This is one of my favorites.” Mobius pressed a button on the console before him, and a new projection started to appear on the screen.

A flight attendant appeared on the screen, walking down the aisle of a plane with a tray in her hands. Her outfit was very different from the ones Kurinth saw during their time on the timeline. She was dressed in all red, a hat atop her head and a smile on her face as she passed by passengers. 

She then stopped in the aisle and spoke, “Bourbon and soda?”

The camera panned over to the passenger in the seat… It was Loki. Well, Loki with short hair in a very well pressed suit. They looked dashing, Kurinth thought. Definitely a step up from the TVA jumpsuit they were in currently.

”Thank you.” he said.

”Absolutely.” The flight attendant spoke. “Is there anything else I can do for you, sir?”

Loki smiled as they reached into the breast pocket of their jacket, and pulled out a piece of paper. “I suppose we’ll find out, won’t we?”

They handed the paper to the flight attendant, who took it with a smile on her face. Loki winked at her.

When she turned to walk away, Loki stopped her. “Uh, miss?”

”Yes, Mr. Cooper?”

”You might want to take a look at that note.”

The flight attendant stared at Loki, obviously confused for a moment, before Loki whispered, “I have a bomb.”

Loki’s hand was resting on the suitcase in the seat beside them. The flight attendant looked on with rising horror as a smile grew on Loki’s face.

The camera then panned to a window of the plane, police cars outside and waiting. Loki was looking out the window, sunglasses now on with an amused smile on their face. 

Today’s Loki groaned, and put their hand over their face in what seemed like shame. “I fail to see how this has any relevance or bearing on…”

Mobius shushed Loki. “No, this is the good part.”

A bag of money was now on the screen - a lot of money, Kurinth noted. The flight attendant was holding it as Loki strapped a parachute onto their torso. They then swifty turned to face the flight attendant with a smile on their face.

They pulled their shades down and winked at her before taking the bag of money from her. The flight attendant smiled bashfully at them. 

“See you again someday.” Loki said.

They then turned to face the back of the plane with a grunt. “Brother, Heimdall, you better be ready.”

The plane was now in the sky, and in the sky, Loki was now falling down from it. Mid-air, a beam of light erupted from the sky and Loki had disappeared, money left behind in their wake.

Mobius slapped his hand on the table. “I can’t believe you were D.B. Cooper. Come on!”

”I was young, and I lost a bet to Thor.” Loki said defensively, obviously not as amused as Mobius was. “Where was the TVA when I was meddling with these affairs of men?”

”We were right there with you, just surfing that Sacred Timeline.”

”Oh, so that had the Time-Keeper’s seal of approval, did it?”

”Well, I wouldn’t think of it in terms of approval or disapproval.” Mobius said. “That’s sort of a… Let’s get back to escapes, and a little psychobabble.”

Loki sighed.

”What is it that you think that you’re really running from?”

Loki put their hands in the air, then sighed and rose from their chair. Kurinth watched them cautiously. “Enough.”

Mobius then pressed a button on the remote in his hand and Loki was now back in the chair, sighing in irritation.

”Back in your cage.” Mobius said. “See, I can play the heavy keys, too.”

”I was just standing up to make a point.” Loki explained.

Mobius chuckled. “I’m sorry, go ahead.”

”It won’t be as meaningful now.”

”Okay, well, stay seated.”

”I’ll do what I want to do!”

”Sure.”

Loki groaned, then rose from their chair and walked across the room. They turned to face Kurinth and Mobius. “What exactly is it that you want?”

”I want you to be honest about why you do what you do.”

”Liar.” Loki declared.

”I’m serious!” Mobius said, then rose from his own chair. “All I seek is a deeper understanding of the fearsome God of Mischief. What makes Loki tick.”

”I know what this place is.”

”What is it?”

”It’s an illusion.” Loki said. “It’s a cruel, elaborate trick conjured by the weak-“ Loki looked at Kurinth when they said ‘weak.’ “-to inspire fear. A desperate attempt at control.”

”Now, you all parade about as if you’re the divine arbiters of power in the universe.”

”We are.”

”You’re not.” Loki said. “My choices are my own.”

”Your choice is your own.” Mobius said. “Good, let’s go with that. I think this one’s gonna fire you up.” Mobius then pressed a button on the console.

There was now a crowd of people on the screen, accompanied by Loki’s voice, “The bright lure of freedom diminishes your life’s joy in a mad scramble for power…”

”Precisely.” Loki agreed with themself. “I was… I am on the verge of acquiring everything I am owed, and when I do, it’ll be because I did it. Not because it was supposed to happen. Or because you, or the Time Variance Authority, or whatever it is you call yourselves, allowed me to.”

Loki looked at Mobius as they monologued. “Honestly, you’re pathetic. You’re an irrelevance. A detour. A footnote to my ascent.”

”You finished?” Mobius said. “You’re gonna start taking things seriously.”

Loki groaned and put their hands on their hips.

”If you hadn’t picked up the Tesseract, you would have been taken to a cell on Asgard.”

On the screen, Loki, now in the familiar robes Kurinth saw them entire the TVA in, was bound by chains.

Loki looked on with interest as a woman they seemingly recognized appeared on the screen.

”Hello, Mother.” Loki greeted her. 

Mobius motioned towards the screen and mouthed ‘Mom.’

”Have I made you proud?”

”Please, don’t make this worse.”

”What is this?” Current Loki asked. “This is nonsense, more tricks. This never even happened.” 

“Not to you.” Mobius said. “Not yet. Look, the TVA doesn’t just know your whole past, we know your whole life, how it’s all meant to be. Think of it as comforting.”

”This is absurd.” Loki said as Mobius flipped another switch on the console. 

Loki’s mother made a reappearance on screen. “Am I not your mother?”

Current Loki approached the screen now, like a moth drawn to flame upon seeing their mother.

Loki on the screen chuckled softly. “You’re not.”

”Hm.” Their mother said. “Always so perceptive about everyone but yourself.”

”And then the Dark Elves attack the palace, and you think you send them to Thor.” Mobius said.

Loki appeared on screen once more. “You might want to take the stairs to the left.”

”But instead, you send them…” Mobius continued.

Loki’s mother appeared, in the grasp of a dark elf. “I’ll never tell.”

A knife was plunged through her torso, and she made a pained noise.

Current Loki looked on in absolute shock and horror at the events happening on the screen. They took a step back when their mother’s lifeless form appeared on screen.

Their breath was now shaky, and they seemed to be coming undone. “Where do you have her? Where is she?” They asked so calmly.

”You lead them right to her.” Mobius said.

”I don’t believe you.” Loki said, their voice never breaking, but their expression was. “It’s not true.”

”It is true.” Mobius nodded his head to accentuate his point. He then pointed to Loki, voice now stern. “That’s the proper flow of time, and it happens again and again and again because it’s supposed to, because it has to. The TVA makes sure of it.”

Loki did not seem to care for his words. “Where is she?”

”Now why don’t you tell me, do you enjoy hurting people?”

”I don’t believe you.”

Mobius raised his voice. ”Do you enjoy killing?”

”I’ll kill you.” Loki threatened.

”What, like you did your mother?”

That was a low blow, Mobius. Kurinth wasn’t surprised when Loki grabbed the chair they had been sitting in and tossed it not towards Mobius, but at the screen behind him. Mobius dodged the chair, then pressed a button on the remote he kept in his hand when Loki moved towards him.

“Hey, woah, Mobius.” Kurinth said, hands now raised as if they were calming the situation. “Let’s take a step back.”

Loki fell on the floor with a pained grunt and a wince.

”Sorry, the Time Twister just loops you, not the furniture.” Mobius said, now glancing from Kurinth to Loki as he approached the table. “You weren’t born to be king, Loki, you were born to cause pain and suffering and death. That’s how it is, that’s how it was, that’s how it will be.”

Another projection on the screen. “All so that others can achieve their best versions of themselves.”

The Avengers appeared on screen, most likely in their battle against Loki. Current Loki looked on, then shook their head and closed their eyes for a brief moment.

Kurinth approached the table now, wanting to make sure Loki was alright, for some reason. The interrogation had gotten pretty heated, and Kurinth was more empathetic towards others than was in their best interest, at times.

”What is this place?” Loki spoke.

Mobius held out his hand to Loki. “Come on.”

Just as Mobius helped him to his feet, the door to the Time Theater opened, and in waltzed Hunter B-15. 

“What are you doing?” she asked.

”My job.” Mobius answered. “Is it yours to interrupt?”

”We have a situation.”

Mobius sighed. “There’s always a situation.” Mobius then looked at Loki and pointed to them. “Don’t go anywhere.” Mobius then glanced to Kurinth. “Kuri, keep an eye on him.

Mobius walked towards the exit of the Time Theater, then turned back to the Variants to speak. “It was just getting good. Spirited.”

When Mobius and Hunter B-15 left the room, Loki turned to me.

”So you were going to just stand there while your… lackey, verbally assaulted me?” They asked Kurinth.

Kurinth raised their brows, clearly taken aback by the accusation. “What?”

Loki groaned. “Never mind. I’m getting out of here.”

”You’re not going anywhere.”

”Oh? And who’s going to stop me?” Loki said as they pulled the remote for the Time Twister from their jumpsuit pocket. “Certainly not you.”

”I’m capable of more than you think, Loki.” Kurinth said, then started to approach them. “Clever. Sneaking the Time Twister remote from Mobius’ pocket like that, wish I would have thought of that during my first interrogation.”

“What, so you sat here like a dog and took the verbal onslaught?” Loki said, then made a ‘tch’ noise. “Typical.”

”Hey, I was complimenting you.” Kurinth rolled their eyes. “I even felt sympathetic when you watched your mother die.”

”I don’t need your sympathy.”

”Good, because I don’t have any more to give you.”

Loki furrowed their brows, now, not in confusion as before but in anger - they started to step closer to Kurinth, their hand clenching into a fist. 

Kurinth stepped away from them cautiously, hands up and ready to fight. “Loki. I don’t want to hurt you.”