Chapter 5- only one bed
"So really, when you think about it, it makes perfect sense!" Loki finished with a dramatic stretch of their hands, drawing attention to the box where an attempt at explaining one of their many failed plans had taken place.
Mobius looked in dismay at the remnants of some leaves floating in vinegar.
"Right,but what doesn't make perfect sense is why you had to ruin my lunch to explain that."
This clearly wasn't the reaction they wanted.
"It was ruined anyway." They crossed their arms, then looked at the floor. "Sorry," they mumbled, quiet enough that Mobius thought he'd imagined it.
He was so surprised at this that he glanced up at the gods face, noticing an un-Loki-like expression.
They were worried.
He changed his tone to put them at ease.
"Don't get me wrong, I love your enthusiasm- heck, I could do with some of that! But maybe tone it down on my lunch in future?"
Loki smiled a genuine smile at the praise and watched as Mobius dumped the ruined salad in the bin.
"Anyway, maybe you were right."
Loki cocked an eyebrow in question.
"It was already ruined." He winked at them before making his way to the vending machine.
Loki strutted behind him. They were confused at the way they felt. It had been a joke, certainly one of the tamer pranks they'd played over the years, and yet the moment after they'd done it, Loki felt shame. Regret, even, worried that they'd been the person to cause the dismayed look on the agent's face. Which was ridiculous, of course, why should they care if Mobius' salad was slightly soggy? It was just a salad.
They watched him play with the vending machine, tongue poking out between his lips as he squinted at the options. Loki saw Mobius’ expression change to delight as a thud came from the bottom drawer.
"You okay, salad murderer?" Blue eyes bored into them, shaking them out of their staring.
"Yeah, just planning more ways to murder your hideous lunch," they replied, nonchalantly.
They felt their heart miss a beat as Mobius laughed.
Stop it.
"Shame, I was about to reward what I thought were your innocent intentions." The older man held up a red packet.
Loki narrowed their eyes at the unfamiliar object.
"What is it?"
Mobius put a hand to his heart, feigning wounded.
"See, this is why you're so annoyed all the time, you haven't lived. They're maltesers." At their blank expression he continued, "A candy. It's chocolate with, like, a crispy inside. Try it."
He held out the packet.
Loki hesitated, instinct telling them not to, before picking one and taking a small nibble. They closed their eyes as the sweet velvety substance melted on their tongue, a small groan as they popped it all in their mouth. As they opened their eyes, Loki noticed Mobius looking a little flustered.
"Enjoyed that I'm guessing?"
Loki nodded their head feverently, reaching for another before they stopped and asked for permission with their eyes.
"All yours," Mobius chuckled as he handed over the bag, smiling as he watched them eat another in small bites, savouring the sweetness. Their pink tongue poked out, licking the last remnants of chocolate on their pale fingers.
Wonder what else that tongue could do.
Mobius startled out of his thoughts, feeling the heat rise. Where did that come from? He'd come to care for the god, sure, but desire? Lust? These things were new to him.
His eyes ran down Loki's slender figure, noticing how the shirt fit snugly against their strong chest, sleeves rolled up to show powerful forearms. There was no denying they were well-built, and yet they also moved with the grace of a dancer, their hands able to wield a sword or a fine paint brush. It was something Mobius had always admired about them, the way they could flit from gentle to fearsome.
Beautiful.
He really needed to stop this.
Although, he supposed, there was no harm in recognising that from an objective perspective. Anyone could see how ethereal they really were. Most of the time Mobius was fine with this, although he'd recently caught himself spending more time in the mirror before going out to meet Loki. And he often felt strange when around them, a mix of peace and excitement, their presence and smell and laughter intoxicating, eyes bright but with a lingering sorrow. And this was scary. Uncharted territory. Wrong.
"It is a crime that you kept this from me for so long."
The deep voice knocked Mobius out of his spiralling contemplation.
Loki noticed he was looking at them.
"What, have I got malt-teaser down me?"
They spun around looking for the offending item, not realising B-15s presence until they were face to face. They both froze, eyeing each other wearily. Loki popped a malteser in their mouth and crunched slowly. B-15s left eye twitched at the noise. Mobius felt it was time to intervene.
"Okay you two, God, you're like siblings."
At this, B-15 gave an affronted sniff.
"You shouldn't be giving them chocolate, Mobius, they'll be wreaking havoc everywhere,"
"They've been good, they deserve a treat."
Loki beamed at the praise.
She wasn't convinced.
"Anyway, I came to inform you of a new variant energy, a minor one like you requested," she made it clear she didn't agree.
"What does she mean, you requested?" Loki asked, turning to their partner.
Mobius gave him a knowing smile, "I thought it was time to try you on a mission again, somewhere you can't sneak off for a magazine."
They turned their nose at the accusation, but he could tell they were pleased.
"Your loss, Mobius, your loss."
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“I have the target in sight! Eleven o’clock!” A hunter barked.
The target in question was slowly meandering through the snow to the train station, a suitcase in each hand and a trilby hat perched atop their head. The variant was dressed in a thick black coat and grey trousers. The shine of their russet shoes reflected the soft glow of the golden streetlights, placed sparingly along the road through the woods. Snowflakes adorned their silhouette, thick flurries that grew increasingly heavier with each howl of wind.
The hunters had been ordered to track down the variant, appearing at a nexus event in Norway, where an avalanche crushed a hotel and killed thirty-two people inside. The variant was supposed to be the thirty-third death, but they had decided to leave the night before to avoid the incoming storm. A wise decision, but, thanks to the TVA, ultimately made no difference in their fate.
Mobius shivered, his teeth chattering. He tugged a pair of gloves onto his numb hands. Loki, unaffected by the cold, hesitated a moment, before conjuring a long, blue scarf and shoved it towards the agent, staring in the other direction to avoid eye contact.
Mobius gave a grateful smile in return, already feeling warmer with the knowledge Loki cared about him. Even if it was just to kill some space lizards in the end. He trudged behind the hunters. His breaths puffed in clouds before his face, and his nose was beginning to run.
Fortunately, the variant was captured quickly, secured with handcuffs and shoved through a portal ready for their trial. One by one, the hunters took out their tempads and returned to the TVA.
Mobius brought out his own, but the screen slipped through his shaking fingers and fell to the floor.
A crack froze Loki in his tracks.
“Did you just-”
“Yes,” Mobius sighed as he retrieved the damaged tempad, “It’s broken. We won’t be able to use it to get back.”
Loki’s eyes grew wide and panicked as he faced Mobius.
“The hunters should return soon when they notice that we haven’t arrived with them,” Mobius reassured him, burying his own apprehension.
“And what if they don’t?”
“They will. You’re valuable - you’re useful. And I’m not exactly dispensable.”
With a dubious look, Loki folds his arms.
“What do we do now? We’re in the middle of nowhere and I refuse to get on a train full of humans,” he pouts.
“There’s not many options, puppy. It’s the train or the hotel, but if we stay at the hotel, we’ll have to leave by morning, or we’ll be crushed.”
As soon as Mobius finished his sentence, a fierce gust tore through the trees. The icy wind bit at his face and the snow began to fall heavier. A branch cracked nearby, plunging to the forest floor.
“The storm’s picking up,” Loki observed, feigning nonchalance, brushing snowflakes from his hair. “We should go to the hotel. Or wait for them to pick us up here. How long till they notice we're gone?"
Mobius shrugged and pulled his coat tighter around himself, not just for the cold.
“I don't know. They'll sort out the variant first. It shouldn't be too long till someone notices we're missing. They have to give their work to someone. ”
Loki smiled and inched closer to Mobius.
Together, the pair trudged up the gravel path that led to the hotel. The building was grand, covered in twisting vines and patches of dark moss. The sound of a violin poured from the open windows on the ground floor, it’s sweet melody merging with the deep bass of a cello to create a merry composition. Astilbes of multiple colours lined the foundation of the building, their petals torn and scattered from the frosty gales.
The large, glass doors were difficult to open against the wind. Once inside, Mobius slowly thawed.
A fire burned in an ornate fireplace, warming the reception room. The chandelier twinkled in the orange glow. The plush, red carpet quieted their footsteps as they walked around the finely decorated seating area.
Loki sauntered up to the receptionist and leaned his elbows on the mahogany desk.
“We’d like a room for two people, please,” he said, flashing her a smile.
“Certainly, sir. Do you need any help with your luggage?” She replied pleasantly, her brows drawing in a confused frown when she noted a lack of suitcases beside Mobius, who stood slightly behind Loki as he admired a small bonsai sitting on a side table.
“No, thank you. I think we’ll manage,” Loki laughed.
The receptionist told them the location of their room and handed over a key. She directed them to the restaurant in the next room for a hot meal.
Loki gave the key to Mobius, who shoved it in his pocket.
The pair walked through the restaurant doors to their left and waited to be served.
The restaurant was quiet. Only a handful of guests were spread across the tables, of which many sat alone and watched the musicians perform on a low platform on one side of the room. There were a few couples dining and sipping wine, talking in low murmurs beneath the elegant music.
A waitress, who’s name-tag read Maja, approached Loki and Mobius with an easy-going smile.
“Good evening, welcome to the Ambrosial. How may I help you today?” Her voice was chipper and relaxed with a subtle accent.
“Thank you, a table for two please,” said Mobius.
“Of course. Follow me.” The waitress led the pair to a table by the window.
They took a seat. Mobius pulled off his gloves and stuffed them in his pockets. He removed his coat and unwound his scarf, before draping them over the back of his chair.
“Would you and your husband like some champagne? We give a free bottle to every couple,” Maja offered.
“We’re not-”
Loki grabbed Mobius’ hand on the table to interrupt him.
“Oh, come on, Mobi. It’s been a while since we’ve had a drink together,” he said with an affectionate smile.
Mobius interlaced their hands, ignoring the pounding of his heart, and rolled his eyes, “Alright. That would be lovely, thank you.”
The waitress left them to browse the laminated menus, returning moments later with a bottle of champagne and two flute glasses. She took their orders, writing the items on a small notebook.
Mobius kept his hands still, the feeling of Loki's soft skin paralysing him. His fingers held him strong, thumb drawing soothing circles mindlessly on his knuckles.
The champagne arrived, and Loki removed his hand to attend to it. Mobius quickly put his hands under the table, immediately missing the contact.
Loki popped the cork, twisting the muselet six times -counting each out loud in an excited whisper- until it was released.
Mobius cheered quietly, tipping his flute as Loki poured.
“To free stuff,” Loki toasted, clinking Mobius’ raised glass with his own.
They each took a sip and relaxed, chattering mindlessly until their food arrived.
The dishes smelled amazing and tasted just as good.
Once full, the pair resumed talking, sipping champagne until the bottle was empty.
At some point, the musicians retired for the night and the staff had uncovered a karaoke machine in the corner.
Mobius leaned drowsily on the table as he watched Loki shoo off a man painfully wailing a modern ballad. Loki pried the microphone out of the guest’s hand and addressed the room.
“Testing, testing. Is this thing on?” He said, tapping the mic, “Of course it’s on, you all heard that idiot’s caterwauling. Time for something better.”
Loki swayed on the spot as he tapped on the screen, searching for a song.
“Here we go. Applause is welcome,” he yelled with confidence.
The music began and he erupted into song, occasionally slurring words and repeating lines.
The small audience clapped along. Some joined in but were barely audible over Loki, who had turned the speakers up to drown them out.
Mobius smiled from the table, watching Loki’s black hair glisten underneath the lights. In his ears, the music was fuzzy and muted, only the sound of Loki’s sweet, drunken voice pierced the haze. His vision was blurry, swinging in and out of focus as he stared at the god on the stage.
He stood and leaned heavily on the table. He wasn’t entirely sure what he was doing, but he knew that he wanted to be closer to the music. With that in mind, Mobius stumbled towards the small clearing in front of the stage.
Loki finished his song, bowing as a quiet but genuine applause scattered through the restaurant. The cooks, having just finished cleaning up, stood at the doorway to the kitchen and joined in. A young couple took Loki’s place on the stage and began to sing a slow love song with a lilting melody.
Loki hopped off the platform and walked over to Mobius.
“You may praise me,” he said with a laugh.
“You have a very beautiful voice.”
Loki flustered, ears turning pink. He managed a flourish of his wrist in place of a bow.
Mobius smiled and offered his hand.
“May I have this dance?”
“But we’d be the only ones!”
“Since when did that stop you?” Laughed Mobius.
Loki laughed, and draped his arms over Mobius’ shoulder, as the agent placed his hands on the gods waist. It seemed that there had been no reason for Loki to worry, as it didn’t take long for other couples to join them in dancing.
They swayed together for a while, growing closer to each other until they had no room left to move. The pair stood still, embracing, whilst other guests danced around them. Loki looked into Mobius' eyes, surprisingly sharp for someone so drunk.
"We might die tonight. " he murmured.
"Shushh," Mobius whispered back, the sound causing vibrations on the gods ear lobe. "Just enjoy now."
He looked at the other man's lips, noticing how the agent did the same. Their noses bumped. He could feel the warm puff of breath from Mobius' mouth. He wanted this, he realised suddenly. He wanted to be held, wanted to be touched. Wanted Mobius.
Suddenly, the staff turned off the music, which had been abandoned to play the same song on a loop for the past twenty minutes, and started to encourage the guests to leave. The diners peeled off one by one as they returned to their rooms.
Loki and Mobius were the last to leave, drifting through the doors at quarter-past twelve. It locked behind them, leaving them to weave their way through the corridors by themselves, searching for their room.
It took three times of walking through the same hallway from the lobby, until Mobius pointed out that they had been going in circles, and should probably use the lift that they had stumbled upon once again.
They clambered into the lift and Loki pressed each of the buttons, making them light up a pale yellow. The pair giggled at each ding of the opening doors as it stopped at each level all the way up to the top floor.
Mobius recalled the correct floor and punched the corresponding button. He had to hold Loki’s hands to stop him from pressing more.
Eventually, they tumbled out of the lift on the right floor and staggered through the hallway. Loki knocked on several of the doors running away from Mobius as he chased after him. He knocked over a plant at one point, and Mobius just kicked the dirt beneath the pot and pulled Loki away, dragging him along to the door to their room.
It took a couple of minutes of fumbling with the key until Mobius was able to open it, struggling to keep Loki quiet, which ended up in a ferocious ‘shushing’ contest.
They slipped into the room and kicked off their shoes by the door, but got no further as they realised-
“There’s only one bed,” said Mobius.
“It seems so,” Loki said, completely unbothered, before he dived onto the bed, scattering the rose petals that had been carefully placed atop the covers.
This was clearly set up as a lovers' suite. Vanilla-scented candles were burning throughout the room, spaced across the nightstands and the dresser. A bottle of champagne in a bucket of ice sat on the coffee table - two flutes beside it.
“But I heard you ask for a room for two.”
“Yeah. I guess they thought I meant two, together,” Loki lounged on the bed, waving his hand airily.
Mobius sighed. Loki clearly didn’t have an issue with the sleeping arrangement, but then again, he wasn’t exactly sober.
Mobius wasn’t either, but Loki’s extra half-glass seemed to have made a big difference between the two.
“Okay, well I’m going to get changed. Could you” -Mobius gestured to Loki- “magic up some clothes for me or something?”
“It doesn’t work like that.” Loki rolled his eyes and sighed. “I’d have to put them there first.”
“Put them where?”
Loki huffed and flailed his hand. “You know.”
Mobius shook his head. He walked over to the bed and threw his coat and scarf on the floor.
“Come on, then. Let’s get you to sleep.”
“I’m not tired,” said Loki, his eyes barely open and his head lolling on his shoulder.
Mobius chuckled, pulling back one of the duvets.
Loki crawled underneath it, sprawling on his front and taking up most of the bed - an impressive feat considering it’s size.
“Hey, where am I supposed to sleep if you take up the whole goddamn thing,” Mobius asked with a chuckle.
“Right here.”
Loki patted the spot right next to him with a tired smile. He rolled onto his side, giving Mobius more space to climb in beside him.
“Thanks.”
He switched off the light and got into bed, facing Loki.
The room was almost pitch-black aside from the light escaping around the edges of the door leading to the hallway and a faint red light from the TV mounted on the wall.
It was quiet enough to hear each other breathing, and the rustling of the bed sheets as Loki squirmed.
“Stop moving, I’m trying to sleep,” Mobius whispered.
“But, Mobi, it’s been a very long time since I slept on a comfortable mattress like this.”
The nickname along with the spike of shame brought a flush to Mobius’ cheeks.
“Sorry,” he muttered.
Loki rolled over, peering at the silhouette beside him. He swept his hand across the sheets until he found Mobius’ and interlaced their fingers.
“Please. Don’t feel guilty. My living situation is hardly your fault.”
“I know,” sighed Mobius, “but I feel like I should at least be able to make you more comfortable.”
“You already do.”
Loki reached up to press a palm to Mobius’ cheek and felt him smile. His thumb skimmed his cheekbones. He rested his head on Mobius’ chest, listening to the calming beat of his heart.
“I wish we could stay like this forever,” Loki mumbled sleepily.
Mobius froze, pulse quickening. His heart jumped into his throat and made it difficult to talk.
“I-”
A whoosh tore through the room and several sets of footsteps thumped on the ground.
The light flickered on just after Mobius untangled himself from Loki.
“Agent Mobius! We’re here to return you to the TVA,” said Hunter B-15. “Why didn’t you arrive with the rest of us?
Mobius scrambled to his feet, weaving between the soldiers to reach his coat. He pulled the tempad from the pocket and handed it to B-15.
“I dropped it and it broke, so we decided to stay in the area for when you came back to get us.” His heart pounded wildly - what if they had seen Loki and him lying together?
“I see.” B-15 glanced at the variant sleeping on the bed and raised an eyebrow.
“There-there was a mistake. We asked for two beds,” Mobius supplied weakly, pulling on his coat.
“I see,” she said again.
At her command, most hunters transported themselves back to the TVA, leaving only three behind.
Mobius shook Loki’s shoulder, but the god just twitched in his sleep and sighed.
B-15 stepped forward, preparing to force the variant awake, but Mobius held up his hand.
“It’s fine, I’ll just carry him.”
Mobius did just that, picking Loki up with a surprised grunt - he wasn’t as heavy as he thought he was going to be.
B-15 raised a brow, which Mobius promptly ignored before his cheeks could turn pink.
Once back at the TVA, Mobius began to carry Loki to his cell, breaking away from the hunters. But as he looked down at the god cradled to his chest, he remembered his earlier words about having been sleeping uncomfortably for some time, and changed course.
He took Loki back to his own bedroom, nestling him amongst the pillows on his bed.
It was strange to see the variant lying on his bed, his long dark hair spread out on the pillow and face completely relaxed.
Mobius pulled the blanket over him, before laying on the other side of the bed. He watched Loki’s chest steadily rise and fall as he drifted to sleep, finding himself echoing Loki’s last words.
I wish we could stay like this forever.