The Time Variance Authority… Or Whatever
A FEW DAYS LATER
“You know this, Loki.”
”I do?”
Kurinth rolled their eyes. “Yes, we went over it before.” They said. “What happens when a Nexus event reaches the red line?”
”Very bad things.” Loki quipped.
Kurinth was obviously not in the mood for Loki’s games today, judging by the way they promptly pinched the god’s arm.
”Ouch.”
”C’mon.” Kurinth said, now urging Loki along. “When a Nexus event reaches a red line it becomes…?”
”Unstable, and unable to be reset by the Time Variance Authority… or whatever these people call themselves.” Loki scoffed. “It leads to a multiversal war.”
”Right. Good. We’re both being indoctrinated together, now, see?”
”Yes, I see.” Loki groaned, then tossed the magazine that Kurinth had given them aside. “I’m sure there is a different version of myself somewhere that would not be entertaining this drivel.”
”And that different version would be dead.” Kurinth said in a hushed voice. “I’m looking out for you, Loki. We’re both trapped here, unwillingly.”
“Ah, yes. That eases my mind.” Loki said sarcastically. They then sighed dramatically. “Kurinth. Do you honestly believe that the TVA knows not just our entire life’s history, but our future, as well? How our lives play out?”
”I don’t believe in the TVA but something tells me that the things Mobius showed me during my first interrogation… They were real.” Kurinth answered. They caught Loki’s gaze and looked away to find something else in the room to look at. They settled on their hands. “During my life… I met Charles Xavier. I became something great, only to fall to the hands of Thanos, just like you.”
”It seems we have a lot more in common than I originally thought.” Loki snorted. Kurinth could see the pained look in their eyes when they remembered what they saw in the Time Theater.
“It just really makes me wonder… who’s behind all of this? It’s certainly not three space-lizards parading about as the divine arbiters of power in the universe.” The same words from a few days ago, Kurinth noted. “I believe in a lot of things, but the Time-Keepers?” Loki chuckled.
Kurinth nodded. They agreed. There was no way the Time-Keepers were behind all this - something much bigger than themselves was going on here. It was an idiotic concept when Kurinth was first brought here, and it is still an idiotic concept.
Ravonna and the other TVA members happily drink the kool-aid, however.
”I think you’re right… something else is going on here.” Kurinth said, their voice now lowered to a hush.
”We actually agree on something?”
Kurinth shrugged. “Crazier things have happened.”
”That is true.” Loki agreed. They sighed. “Am I stuck pretending I believe in this nonsense until I come up with some semblance of a plan?”
”Plan?” Kurinth repeated, eyebrow cocked in confusion. “What do you mean ‘a plan?’”
”To get out of here.” Loki answered. “Find out who the puppet master pulling the strings is. Perhaps I can start with this Variant that’s been terrorizing the TVA and its minutemen?”
Kurinth scoffed. “You're never escaping the TVA, no matter where you go or what you do.”
”Yes, well, I am a master at escaping the inescapable.”
Kurinth raised a brow at the god. They supposed that much was true, judging by how Loki managed to nab the remote for the Time Twister from Mobius a few days ago. It was a miracle that after that whole event, Loki was able to stay in the TVA.
Although they were fitted with another collar for the time being, much to Loki’s distaste.
Kurinth and Loki read over different TVA ‘propaganda’ in the library for a while, before Kurinth became hungry. They were unsure how often or how much gods normally ate, but Kurinth was a very normal human that was very, very hungry.
Kurinth tapped Loki on the shoulder. Loki glanced up at them, brow raised in question. “C’mon, let’s go get something to eat.”
”I’m not particularly hungry.”
”Then just accompany me to lunch.” Kurinth said. “Or would you rather me drop you off with Mobius while I go grab something to eat?”
Loki grumbled something Kurinth couldn’t hear when they rose from their chair, earning a satisfied grin from Kurinth. The two made their way to the cafeteria.
~
“Kurinth, may I ask you a question?”
Kurinth looked up at Loki from their sandwich, an eyebrow now raised in suspicion. “Shoot.”
”I find myself wondering what your powers are, exactly, that the TVA keeps you chained with an implant.” Loki said. “So, may I ask what your powers are? For future reference, of course, when we’re in the fie-“
”I possess telekinetic abilities.” Kurinth cut them off from their rambling. “Also, a… Form of telepathy.”
”Telepathy?” Loki repeated. “What does that entail? For you, I mean.”
”I can touch a person and see their memories.” Kurinth explained.
They then cleared their throat and glanced away from Loki, expecting the look of horror and disgust they were so accustomed to. When it didn’t come, they were a little confused, but relieved.
“I’d never use my powers on you, Loki.” Kurinth stated. “Just… to make it clear.”
Loki raised a brow. The two stared at each other in silence for a few moments before Loki smiled at Kurinth. “I appreciate it.”
Kurinth smiled back. “You and Mobius are really the only ones who haven’t given me any grief for being a mutant, so far.”
”Oh?”
”Ravonna isn’t a fan.” Kurinth shrugged. “She’s not a fan of me in general, but that’s besides the point. She was the one who originally suggested that I be subdued with an implant.”
Loki now had a thoughtful look on their face. “So, without this implant… biological powers work in the TVA?”
“Yeah.”
Loki thought for a moment or two before a wicked grin flashed on their face. Kurinth raised an eyebrow in question. Loki noticed the questioning stare, and cleared their throat.
”Just thinking.”
”About?”
”Something the TVA overlooked.”
Kurinth still stared on, now in confusion. Loki noticed their stare, then sighed and picked up their drink. Loki held the plastic cup of water in their hand.
Kurinth noticed a chill in the room. They then glanced down at their drink, only to see a frost had started to slowly build on the outside of the cup near Loki’s hand. The liquid inside froze over.
”What…?” Kurinth said out loud, now extremely confused. “How did you…?”
”You aren’t the only one with powers at a biological level.” Loki answered, then set the cup down. It went back to its liquid state, and the frost had now thawed.
”This implant… you haven’t tried removing it?”
”No.” Kurinth shifted uncomfortably. “It’s implanted in my head.”
Loki frowned. “I’m sorry.”
Kurinth waved their hand dismissively. They were also surprised by Loki’s sudden sympathy for them. “When I’m out on the field, I can use my powers.”
The two sat in silence for the remainder of their lunch, both quietly thinking to themselves. When they were finished, Loki instinctively waved their hand to magic the garbage away, only to find they couldn’t. They groaned, then grabbed their tray and followed Kurinth.