Chapter Text
Off the coast of Norway, rather than somewhere more tropical or at least a lake in the summer, was not where most people would automatically think to go jet-skiing. But Thor and Love had practically threatened Loki into visiting after the close call during the Multiversal War and the new version of the TVA promoted the idea of a more balanced life than before, leading to regular mandatory vacations off-site, removing a potential excuse for why he couldn’t go. He had no way to wiggle out of it. And if Loki was stuck with the emotional discomfort of reforging a relationship with his brother or at least a similar Variant of him, he was at least dragging Mobius along to New Asgard for support.
Hence the jet ski. It was Mobius’s vacation too.
Currently, Loki was tucked on a small, secluded, and private bit of beach that required a little climbing down rough terrain to reach the patch of pebbly sand. Or they could simply use a Time Door instead. There were easier spots to reach, but Loki didn’t want to attract attention. Especially after his Sacred Timeline version made such a large impression on the survivors of Ragnarok. And it meant that he was the only one present to laugh as Mobius managed to knock himself off the jet ski by turning too sharply for the fifth time.
Apparently if Mobius ever rode a jet ski in his life on the timeline, the muscle memory was too faded to keep him on his treasured machine now. He tended to get too excited and enthusiastic about it. But he always bobbed back to the surface with a proud grin, eager for another attempt. Though he did sputter and glare whenever a thread of green magic sent a wave to splash him upon resurfacing occasionally.
Loki was allowed at least a little mischief.
He currently had no intentions of making a fool of himself out on the water. Mostly, Loki was satisfied sitting on the shore. Watching Mobius finally living his fantasy after eons in the TVA trying to crush that dream out of him. He deserved to have the chance to be happy and have everything that the TVA’s old methods denied their people.
The TVA that He Who Remains created was not a place for dreams. Or change. Or comfort, kindness, or connection with other people. But Mobius managed to cling to all of them. He was stronger and braver than anyone that Loki had ever met. Was it any surprise that Loki adored him?
As yet another overly ambitious move sent Mobius back into the water, Loki sent a thread of magic to turn off the personal watercraft and tow it back towards the shore. When Mobius resurfaced and found it gone instead of waiting for him, he was left with no choice except to swim back to the beach as well.
Breathing hard from the exertion, Mobius eventually stumbled up next to him and collapsed on the waiting towel. His hair was plastered to his head while he dripped sea water everywhere.
“What was that for?” asked Mobius.
“According to the colorful bottle, it is time to reapply your sunscreen. Because humans can apparently burn from too much sunlight.”
“It’s not that hot at this time of year.”
“I know. That’s why I agreed to accompany you. And yet,” Loki gestured towards the clear blue sky, “behold the sun. Besides, your lips are turning as blue as a Frost Giant. I think a break to warm up is warranted.”
Green light swept over Mobius and left him perfectly dry. Though it did have the amusing side effect of making his hair stand up in all directions. That didn’t stop him from giving Loki a fond and indulgent smile.
“Show off.”
Bowing his head in acknowledgement, Loki said, “Naturally.”
“Fine. You win,” he said, shifting around until he was facing away from Loki. “But you’re helping with reaching my back.”
Dressed in only a blue pair of swim trunks obtained specifically for the occasion, there was no ignoring either scar on the man. No longer red and angry-looking, but certainly obvious and permanent. The thick vertical line ran parallel to the man’s spine, just a little longer than the palm of Loki’s hand. It still caused a brief flash of guilt and regret that he couldn’t have prevented the injury. But now he could carefully smear sunscreen across Mobius’s back without needing to reassure himself that he survived it.
They’d come a long way.
Turning his head as he applied sunscreen to his arms, Mobius said, “I can practically hear the gears grinding back there. What are you thinking about?”
“A few different things. Mostly about how much has changed.”
“Yeah, I’d guess that you would have never imagined this in a thousand years. Hanging out on a beach somewhere with an old analyst with a heart of gold, far from the palaces of Asgard and a throne. And I certainly didn’t see any of this coming when I convinced Ravonna to let me borrow you.”
“But I do not regret it,” he said firmly, leaning forward to let his chin rest on Mobius’s shoulders as his arms coiled around his middle.
Whatever the two of them shared, it defied simple explanations or descriptions. They were certainly friends, though it wasn’t exactly the same as the forms of friendship that he shared with B-15, Casey, OB, or even Sylvie. There were other aspects to the friendship that made it unique. But Mobius also wasn’t his husband, consort, or a mere romantic dalliance. They were friends, partners within the TVA, and a strange collage that they’d crafted together to suit their different wants and capabilities.
Loki loved him while Mobius was in love. Sex wasn’t likely to happen until long after Mobius’s natural lifespan on the timeline, but they slept in the same bed most of the time. Cuddling and kissing were deeply enjoyed by both of them, physical contact something comforting that they indulged in constantly. Occasionally the fact that Loki was a self-admitted hedonist meant that he might decide to enjoy himself alone, but Mobius would be waiting to wrap his arms around him and curl up together afterwards. And if Mobius started getting uncomfortable or jealous because someone on a timeline grew too flirty with Loki, a hug could usually reassure him that Loki wanted no one else in the multiverse to ever replace him.
It was messy, piecemeal, and theirs. And Loki would always treasure what they’d carved out together. It felt right.
Twisting around to face him, Mobius said, “You’re in a serious mood for a day at the beach.”
“Merely a contemplative one.”
“Well, I suppose this is as good of a time as any then. I have something for you.”
Raising an eyebrow as Mobius dove for their bag of beach supplies, Loki asked, “Oh?”
“After our discussions about everything to do with us, I decided to do some research. I didn’t want to make easily-avoidable mistakes, especially since I have zero memory of past relationships.”
“Another crime against you by He Who Remains. Though I’m uncertain if it would have been useful. We do not follow any standard or traditional patterns.”
“True and I wouldn’t have it any other way. But I did stumble onto something that sounded familiar during my research.”
With a small shout of success, Mobius finally pulled out a small black box from the bag. It was an interesting design, with a hinge on the side to open the attached lid. But it was too small to contain much. The box fit easily in the palm of Mobius’s hand.
“Across different eras, different cultures, and different species, there are people who are like you,” he continued. “Incredibly loving and wonderful people, but who simply don’t fall in love. Generally not huge percentages of the people are born like that, but more than you’d think.”
The sound of the waves and steady breeze seemed to fade away as Loki’s thoughts came crashing to a violent halt. He couldn’t quite comprehend what Mobius was saying. It didn’t seem possible. He’d mostly come to accept his own limitations. He knew that his loved ones would accept what he could offer in return. But he mostly knew it was some strange flaw that he couldn’t explain. Fundamentally broken, but able to adapt to the missing piece like Odin learning to compensate for his missing eye or Sif learning to fight with one arm.
But there were others like him? People who could never fall in love, no matter how perfect their potential partner might be?
“In this time period on Earth,” said Mobius, “they would describe someone like you as aromantic.”
“It is so common that they have a word specifically for it?”
“Yep. And it gets better.”
Mobius pressed the small box into Loki’s hand, prompting him to open it. Nestled inside was what appeared to be a tie clip, but an oddly colorful one. Along it was strips of color going from a dark green, a lighter shade, then white, gray, and finally black.
“Those colors are supposed to represent people who are aromantic. And since green is such a nice color on you anyway,” Mobius gestured towards Loki’s own swimwear, “I thought you might like it. Brighten up your outfit since you’ve complained about the uniform repeatedly.”
Despite still trying to absorb everything that Mobius was telling him, that managed to coax a small chuckle out of him. It wasn’t quite as shattering to his identity as learning of his true origins, but it was still an adjustment. There was nothing wrong with him. He was a little different, but there were others. And it wasn’t merely due to him being a Frost Giant; multiple species had people like him.
And Mobius was excited enough about sharing the news and quieting those lingering self-doubts that he’d found a small trinket specifically meant to represent those like Loki. Because Mobius never thought that he was cold, heartless, or broken. He just wanted to be certain that Loki saw it as well.
“You’re right,” he said quietly. “Green is one of my preferred colors. Though I might wait to make use of it until we return to the TVA.”
Accepting the box and returning it to the bag for now, Mobius admitted, “Yeah, might have been better to wait until you actually had a tie on. I just wanted to see your reaction.”
“When did you have a chance to find such a gift?”
“I found it before the vacation, but as for actually picking it up… That would be last night when Love convinced you and Thor to have a braiding competition with her hair. You were a bit distracted. Never even noticed me ducking out for five minutes to use a Time Door. I returned to some very elaborate patterns.”
“I wasn’t going to let him win,” he muttered, earning a laugh from Mobius. “I have a reputation to uphold as the brother with an actual sense of style.”
“And you did a great job at it. I’m gonna say that the illusionary flowers and sparkles on your side of her head was cheating though.”
Loki rolled his eyes, but couldn’t hide his grin. That had been rather amusing and Love adored the effect.
Conversation tapered off a little. The two of them settled down together so they were both seated on the towels and staring out at the water. Knees bumping into each other and shoulders pressed together. Everything quiet and peaceful as the waves washed over the pebbly beach. Warm, but not uncomfortably hot as the sun shone down on them.
It was almost as if someone had found a perfect moment and created a time loop. Not to torture or punish. Just so they could sit there forever, relaxed and happy in each other’s presence.
Vacations were certainly one of the better ideas for the TVA.
After a while in comfortable silence, Mobius said, “Loki?”
“Mmmh?”
Rather than saying anything else, Mobius nudged him lightly in the side. Loki turned to face him properly and abruptly found Mobius’s mustache tickling his skin as he leaned in for a kiss.
Soft, gentle, chaste, and sweet. So similar to their first kiss, which should have been their final one as well. It should have been Loki’s final memory of his friend. Instead, that final kiss had become the first of many and the catalyst for them both to figure out what they wanted together. And as long as they spent most of their time outside of time in the TVA where age wouldn’t touch them, there would be many more kisses to come.
Letting one hand press on Mobius’s chest, the beating of his heart far more important than the feeling of scar tissue, Loki returned that kiss. Matching the light and tender connection with the same amount of love. Different than what Mobius felt, but just as real.