Chapter Text
Loki never thought he'd find Thor at a beachside resort. Or a beach in general. He didn't seem the type. But as they draw closer to the strange ship, the static in the air confirms that yes, this is indeed Thor's humble abode.
A little girl comes running out of the ship, a big grin on her face. "Aunt Sylvie!" She yells before barreling into the woman beside Loki. Sylvie freezes for a moment before bending over and giving the little girl a hug.
"Hello, Love," Sylvie says, "where is your Uncle Thor?"
Love doesn't answer but instead turns to Loki, squinting at him. "Who are you?"
Loki goes down to her level, squatting, looking into her eyes intently. "I am Loki. Who are you?"
Loki knows very well who she is but he doesn't think saying that will go over well. The girl cocks her head at him. "I thought Loki was a tree. And had long hair. And was dead."
Sylvie snorts, and has to cover her mouth to keep from laughing. Loki glares at her before saying, "I was taking care of a tree for a long time. I still am."
Love looks at his clothes, "You don't look like a gardener."
Loki cocks his head at her, "What is a gardener supposed to look like?"
"Dirty," she says, "and messy."
Loki frowns at that before he can say much there's footsteps on the landing pad. "Love, what did I say about going-"
When Loki sees Thor, he feels as if all the air in his lungs has been sucked away. Judging from the look on Thor's face, he is not far off from feeling the same. Loki has to close his eyes for a second. Let himself feel the weight of gravity on this sandy knoll and the air in his hair. Images of one Thor after another fills his mind. Sad Thor's, fat Thor's, angry, betrayed, happy, married, kids, old, dead. Lastly, his on Stark Tower, pleading with him to stop his insanity and even earlier, begging him to come home.
Home. Thor never knew what home was for Loki. But, back then, neither did he. Mobius, with wild hair and shining eyes, smiling at him from the other side of the kitchen this morning fills his mind and Loki's heart slows. He opens his eyes and sees the anger and tears in Thor's. Thor has to take several breaths before he can get any sound out.
"Loki?"
The sound of his name is enough to make Loki crack, too. As tears flood his eyes, he holds out his arms. "Hi, Thor," he barely manages to say, "I've missed you."
There's a war on Thor's face going between anger and outright crying. It lands on the latter, and Thor stumbles the last two yards between them into Loki's arms where he clutches him tightly, making Loki's back pop. But it doesn't matter because he's crying, saying things like, "Loki, my baby brother, oh, Loki," and Loki is crying, clutching him just as tightly. Loki looks up where a clear sky and bright sun shine. "The sun is shining, Thor," he whispers, "it's shining on us still."
***********************************
Thor is loud. Everyone and everything on this planet knows it by now. Loki thinks he takes it well all things considering. The cursing, the name calling, the tears. Thor isn't subtle about how he feels. Loki only has one defense against all of it. First and foremost and forever: I am not your Loki. He didn't live through half of what Thors did. Loki has lived a whole other life splitting off from when he got arrested by the Avengers. But Loki let's Thor rip out trees and let his emotions out. That's what Mobius would have done if he saw Loki die and some version of him come back. But then Loki starts thinking too hard about that and the horrible memory of Mobius not knowing Loki invades him.
Mobius, it's me!
I don't know you.
Loki has to force it down, go to the water and get a drink. And there he sits watching Sylvie splash in the waves with Love until Thor sits beside him, worn out, cuts on his hands, utterly defeated. "I really wish you hadn't come," he moans.
"Why?" Loki asks.
"Because all you're going to do is disappear again and I don't think I'm going to survive you leaving...again."
Loki rubs his thumb into his opposite hands palm. "I assume an apology would not help anything."
That's when Thor finally looks at him and Loki sees the glass eye and tears on his face. "Not this time." Loki nods. That is completely understandable. A sorry from Mobius wouldn't fix anything either. As the sun begins it's decent, Thor asks, "Where have you been this whole time?"
Isn't that a loaded question. "I believe Sylvie explained the TVA to you," Loki says.
Thor nods, "Yes, but she said you were gone in some tree. That no one could get to you and you couldn't leave. And yet here you are."
Loki spreads his hands, "Here I am."
"How?"
It's a fair question. And a long-winded one. Loki sighs. Okay. Back to the beginning. "I believe Sylvie told you about how she branched the timelines." Thor nods. "Well, when that happened, the multiverse grew incredibly fast and it was causing problems..."
Then Loki explains it all to him. He Who Remains's plan, time slipping, having to learn how the mechanics of time works, trying again and again, and failing. Leaving. Only being able to watch for an indefinite amount of time. His friends coming and releasing him. Even now Loki feels the pull of the tree and it feels like a missing appendage that was the branches. The fear that everything is going to disappear any second. That none of this is real and he's delved into insanity on his throne instead of standing guard like he's supposed to.
By the end of it, Thor looks absolutely sick. His head is in his hands, rocking his body is if to ward off some enemy. Loki let's him think it through because his mind is going elsewhere now that the story has been told. To a man he's watched over so long that it gives him anxiety now that he can't. Especially since said man hasn't been feeling well. Those glowing eyes...he can't be attached to the tree...can he?
"So you were alone," Thor suddenly says, "for all that time?"
Loki nods slowly. "Yes."
"How?" He croaks,"the Loki I know couldn't go one minute without attention."
Loki smiles at the memory of chasing Mobius down the TVA hallways. "That was me for a long time." Then he sees Mobius behind the glass, staring in horror as he leaves. "But I have more important things than me now." Loki let's that sit, then says, "tell me about you? You have a daughter."
Thor takes a moment to take in Loki's words before chuckling, "Niece actually. Well...adopted." Loki raises a brow. Before he continues, Thor brings them mead, then tells Loki of Thanos, the long five years of video games and alcoholism before the ultimate fight. How he trained with a band of intergalactic heroes until he found himself again. How Jane and he broke up, how she got cancer, wielded Mjolnir then died. How Love came to live with him and he's been trying to live on ever since.
"So you really gave the kingdom to a Valkyrie?" Loki says.
"She's a better leader than I ever was," Thor says, drinking the last of his mead.
By now the sun is setting and another image comes to mind of Mobius on the street looking at his house letting time pass.
Then Loki sees his dead face right before he turns to ash.
Loki is on his feet before anyone can blink, and a huge roll of panic fills his chest. "I have to go."
He's turning to run to Sylvie when Thor catches his wrist. "Wait, you aren't..." Thor stops as if he just realized something. His face drops and so does his hand, "... of course you're not."
Loki's panic and need to address this war until he says, "What, Thor?"
He shakes his head. "I thought you might stay. That we could..." Thor stops again and chucks his cup into the water.
Loki gets it now. Thor thought he would settle here, be with him and Love now that he's home. That things would be the same as before. Loki can't allow him to think it's because he hates him or is up to his old tricks so he kneels beside his brother and whispers, "I have my own Jane."
Thor stops mid swallow and looks at him, "What?"
Loki cups his hands together and above them appears a small image of Mobius. Thor sees it and his jaw drops. As tears form in Loki's eyes, he says, "This is my Jane. He hasn't been feeling well as of late. I must get back to him and make sure he's okay."
"Who is he?" Thor asks, his eyes never leaving the image.
Where does Loki even start. He explains the time theater, the loom, Mobius's impact on his life, everything Mobius has done for him, including dying, and even then it's not enough. There is not enough words in the world to explain Mobius. Who he is. What he means to Loki. But if anything it's his tears that trigger Thor into believing him. Loki closes his fist and Mobius disappears.
"That's why I must go back, Thor," he says, "I will return but first I have to make sure he is all right."
As Loki stands, Thor stands, too. He envelopes Loki in yet another hug, whispering, "Don't be afraid of his mortality, Loki. Enjoy the time you have."
Loki squeezes him back and says, "I don't plan on letting him, or you, or anyone go ever again."
Thor leans back, his hands going to either side of Loki's neck and with tears in his eyes, he says, "Neither did I."
***************************
Click-click.
There's a whirring sound then a satisfied hum. Mobius's first thought is that it's Saturday. That's why there is light shining through his eyelids. Second is that he feels a breeze which means Loki open the window sometime last night indicating a warm spring night. Third, that his picture is getting taken and he probably looks like a cockatoo.
Mobius squints with one eye to the other side of the bed where Loki kneels in nothing but his shorts and his ring, hair extremely messy and his Polaroid camera pointed at Mobius. There's another click and out comes another picture. Loki plucks it up and puts it beside the first on his pillow.
"Good morning," Loki chirps way to happily, indicating he has been up for a while.
Mobius opens both eyes and says in half mumble, "Don't you want some pictures of me that look at least half decent?"
"Oh, Mobius," Loki drops onto Mobius's pillow, giving his a wide berth for the photos to develop. His fingers dance across Mobius's naked shoulder bringing up goosebumps along their path. "I could capture the radiance of the moon, the stars, the sun and none could deny your superiority, even if you look like a snoring wildebeast."
"I don't think that sounds as romantic as you think it does."
"Of course it was. I complemented your mortal glory to that of the cosmos. Now hold still. I want another one."
"Loki!" Mobius howls, diving back into his pillow, trying to wiggle his body back under the sheets where the camera can't get him. He doesn't expect Loki to plop on top of him, squishing his belly into the mattress before he pulls the covers back on the other side. Sunlight hits his eyes and Mobius squints even more. He doesn't know how many Loki takes between that maneuver, and Mobius trying to get him off him. They end up in a big pile, Loki's knee stuck in his groin, Mobius's elbow in Loki's ear and the camera stuck between Mobius's solar plexus and his clavicle. Finally, Loki decides to put the camera on the floor...and then roll right back on top of him.
"Heavy," Mobius huff as he tries to get Loki's chin to stop digging into his sternum.
"Mobius M. Mobius, are you calling your fiance fat?"
If Mobius had said this at any other time he'd get the nearest object thrown at him. He wiggles around and finally gives up. "No, I'm saying if you were a weighted blanket this would be a lot more comfortable."
Loki rolls his eyes. His hands skim Mobius's chest, feeling him and settling on his stomach which he holds so gently that Mobius shivers. This is exactly what Loki he was waiting for.
"The kids are still at Ben's. They can stay over for a little longer. There is no rush."
Loki wiggles and his intention is more clear than anything else he's done today.
"Norns, Loki, if you want attention there's better ways to say it than jumping up and down on me."
"Where's the fun in that?" Loki grins before he rips the covers away and attaches his mouth to Mobius's.
-April 24, 20--
****************************
Click- click.
Loki lowers the camera as they enter the kitchen. Sean and Kevin turn and Sean scowls, "Loki!"
"Sean!" Loki scowls back, "You sound just like your father. Both of you are adverse to pictures."
"Can I see?" Kevin reaches for the polaroid in Loki's hand but they hold it way above their head.
"It's not developed yet and besides you have syrup on your fingers."
Kevin sticks his fingers in his mouth before turning back to his waffle. "Why would you want pictures of us eating?" Sean says as Mobius puts a plate down in front of him, two waffles, buttered and filled with whipped cream on it.
"It's called 'a slice of life,' Sean," Mobius winks at Loki, "It'll be a masterpiece when it's done."
Loki quickly snaps a picture of Sean's waffle then Mobius in his King of the Grill apron. "Sit down and eat," he says laughing before putting a waffle with horns on Loki's side of the table.
Loki snaps another picture, then says, "The next one needs a mustache."
Mobius comes over and sits, eating a big bite of his waffle, "Sit down. You're taking the kids to school."
Before Loki does, they go to the window and takes a picture of the yard, the sun glinting over a dozen toys.
-May 15, 20--
**************************
After Loki finishes taking pictures of the lake at dawn he takes a picture of the jet skis hooked up to the truck. Click-click. And the rented lake house. Click-click. Sylvie likes to duck out of the cameras sight. He hasn't got a good one of her yet. Just blurry images that probably represent her better than a normal picture would but this is his memory, not hers.
Loki creeps through the lake house, passes the kids sleeping by the fire, passes Mobius, who is sprawled like a star in their bed (and it takes everything in Loki not to go in and cuddle him like the squishy he is) (norns he loves the squish!) to the back of the lake house where Sylvie sleeps in the second bedroom, curled in a ball under about a hundred blankets and an alligator push that Love got her. Loki almost hates to wake her up.
Almost.
Loki takes a quick picture of the last moment of peace. Click-click. Then he grabs her phone, goes to her sounds and sets one off. A piercing beep fills the room. Sylvie screams awake. He snaps a picture mid yell, hair askew, makeup smeared. She spots him and her face goes a whole new shade of red.
"LOKI, I'M GOING TO SHOVE THAT CAMERA SO FAR UP YOUR ANUS MOBIUS IS GOING TO FEEL IT, I SWEAR ON THOR'S LIFE!"
Loki laughs and takes off down the hall, Sylvie chasing him, his camera going off as they go.
-June 1, 20--
*******************************
She's watching Kevin, Sean and Love run with sparklers. Click-click.
Mobius sets off a tank which he stays behind to watch its whole path. Click-click.
Thor shoves two hot dogs into his mouth at once. Gross but click-click.
"Loki, come set off this firework," Mobius calls after she takes the hundredth picture of Love holding a Roman candle which is probably the worst thing they could have given her.
Loki gives him big doe eyes, "But...pictures."
Mobius holds his hands out, "I'll take some. You need to be in these pictures, too."
Loki hesitates for a moment, then looks deep into Mobius's eyes before handing him the camera. It's the third time she's ever done so. "Try and get yourself in as many as you can."
Mobius shakes his head. "I see myself enough. It's your turn." Loki smiles weakly then goes and grabs a punk.
Mobius takes picture after picture of Loki doing sparklers with the kids, using firework swords to battle Thor and her face as she watches the firework show. Mobius is rather proud of these. The lighting is perfect, authentic. After that he just stares. At Loki's eyes, the glow of the fireworks off her skin. She's beautiful. This would be a whole lot better if Mobius didn't have a splitting headache.
-July 4, 20--
**************************
Mobius's bones are aching. He feels as if he has the flu without the stuffy nose and coughs. He has felt like this for a while. He assumes it's a sickness though he is starting to wonder with all the headaches and...dreams...if this is something he should actually be worried about.
He doesn't want to get up. He really doesn't. But the sun is shining and it's on his face and he's pretty sure he hears Loki downstairs rearranging furniture while talking to the boys...and there's the sound of glass breaking. He groans into his pillow. No. Mobius is going back to sleep and he's going to-
"Mobius!"
"Dad!"
There's a sudden flash in his vision. He feels like he's getting pruned all over again. His boys in space suits are being dragged away but he can't see by who. Loki has green...branches?...timelines...and they are pulling him into a dark space in the ground as Mobius slowly disappears, the looks of horror on their faces searing into his mind-
"Mobius?"
Mobius startles awake. When did he fall asleep? His head hurts. His mouth is dry. "Loki?" He asks before turning on his side. There they are at the foot of the bed with a very poorly done pancake with in a smile, bacon for eyebrows and a mustache and a candle where the nose would be. Mobius sits up in surprise, pushing down nausea. "What is this?"
Loki and the boys grin, "Happy birthday, Mobius/Dad!" Then the boys hurry to give him breakfast in bed while Loki snaps pictures. A sentimental feeling takes over.
"Birthday?" Mobius asks, turning on the tempad to look at the date. August 29th. Oh. It is his birthday. He totally forgot about it. The boys tried to celebrate it last year but Loki and he had only been there a couple months so it was awkward and honestly Mobius didn't feel very connected to the day of his birth so it really didn't matter. He still doesn't but this year the boys are more content and Loki looks down right giddy.
"Yeah, Dad," Kevin says, placing the plate in his lap while Sean tries to open the syrup bottle, "you're like a gazillion years old now."
Loki snorts. Mobius glares at him and that's when he notices how well dressed Loki is. There are no creases in his black dress pants. His white dress shirt is practically see through with the buttons down to the third one, revealing way too much and the sleeves rolled up. His hair is longer now, curled and the lies around his neck. Then the ring and pendant. The pendent is shiny and very noticeable on Loki's chest, enhancing the muscle there. The ring looks bigger than normal. The sundial is catching the light, blinding him.
Mobius holds up a hand to block the light but only ends up blinding himself with his ring and Loki's magic. Loki chuckles, "Our love is as brilliant as the sun."
"Loki," Mobius grumps right as Sean gets the lid open and squirts syrup all over Kevin, the bed and Mobius. Sean goes red. "Oops..."
There's another snap of the camera then, "happy birthday, folksy dope," before Loki's running out of the room like it's on fire.
Mobius sighs. Brat.
**************************
After Kevin and Mobius take a shower and put the bed sheets in the washer, Mobius comes downstairs and spots what all the banging was this morning. Balloons, baking materials and more litter the floor and float on the ceiling. Mobius enters the family room, and he sees Loki on the floor surrounded by even more balloons. A sign over the TV says happy birthday. He sits cross legged looking at the pendants pictures, gripping it with a white knuckled grip and eyes practically bulging out of his head.
Ah. It's one of those moments.
So Mobius goes and sits by him even though his bones are screaming and all he wants to do is lie on the couch and sleep. They sit in silence for a while until Mobius bumps Loki's shoulder and says, "This seems like a bit much, doesn't it?" Loki finally looks away from the pendant and around the room. "I mean we are getting married next week. Going all out on this seems like a bit much."
"It's your birthday, Mobius," Loki says, flipping the pendant shut, "Our wedding is about us. This day is about you."
Mobius rolls his eyes. "I don't need a day about me. I'm content as is."
Then Loki rolls his eyes, too, "Then let us celebrate you. You just have to open gifts and eat cake. How about that?"
Mobius shakes his head, amused. Then he grips Loki's arm, serious now. "You okay?"
Loki takes a deep breath, his face flinging between trying to smile and concern. Finally, it lands on tired. "I forgot where I was for a moment. I thought I was back in the tree and that this was a dream." He grips the pendant again.
"Did the pendant help?" Mobius asks.
Loki nods. "Yes. The pendent is real. I can feel it. So that means all of this is real. My illusions aren't that strong so all of this happened." He finally looks at Mobius and smiles. "I'm okay now."
"We're going to have to write that down for Judy to know about," Mobius says, immediately looking for Loki's phone so they don't forget and they can relate this to the therapist.
Loki groans. "How long do we have to be in therapy?"
Mobius shrugs, "Beats me. At least until B-15 is happy."
"And why are we letting her decide?"
"Because I have more brains than the two of you combined." Loki and Mobius turn as B comes into the room, a box in hand and a big grin on her face, "Happy birthday, Mobius."
There is a chime of voices as O.B., Casey and D follow her in. There's a flash of lightning then thunder. Kevin comes roaring down the stairs saying, "Uncle Thor and Love are here!"
Mobius looks at Loki who has a sly grin on his face. "Everyone. Really?"
"When I said we were celebrating you," Loki winks, "I meant it."
*****************************
"Happy birthday, Mobius!"
Mobius groans so loud that Sylvie shrinks back before she can smack a big red kiss on his cheek. As she does, he says, "Birthday smirthday. God knows how old I am. There's no use in celebrating anymore."
Mobius is cutting his own cake because he absolutely refuses to let Loki do it and D doesn't need to make Loki jealous with his culinary skills. Sylvie takes the knife from him and hip bumps him out of the way before doing a lot more elegant cut than he was doing. "Nonsense," she says, "every birthday is important no matter how old you are."
"Says the princess who still looks like she's in her prime."
Sylvie rolls her eyes before reaching into her skirt pocket and pulling out a piece of paper. "Here." Mobius takes it as she she shimis her black mini skirt down and rearranges her teal tank top. He looks at the paper. Free pie at her town bakery for a year. Mobius raises a brow at her as she floofs her hair that also has gotten longer.
"Free pie?"
"Don't say it like it's a bad thing. We need to hang out more, especially now that you are becoming my in-law."
"You don't like pie."
"Nonsense. The TVA just makes it disgusting."
Mobius rolls his eyes. He hears the front door open and the kids cheer before Ben is joking with the kids. He can almost count down to the millisecond when Loki shows up in the kitchen to get away from Ben. The second he sees Mobius he stops, stares then glares at Sylvie.
"Will you stop kissing my husband," he bites, "you're going to cause a scandal."
"Oh, please," Sylvie bites back as Loki gets a rag and starts wiping Mobius's cheek, "he's not your husband yet and besides he likes my kisses better."
Loki goes feral eyed as Mobius coughs and it is almost impossible to wrangle him back in before Loki attacks Sylvie and ruins the cake. Mobius is laughing the whole time until a searing pain explodes in his head. His ears ring and for a moment he sees Yggdrasil, pulsing but something is off. It's not vibrant. It's yellowing...Mobius feels sick.
Then he's back and Loki just barely catches his eyes lighting up before dimming again. He frowns and whispers, "Are you okay?"
Mobius nods, "Yeah. Just a headache. Didn't sleep well."
Loki frowns. "Should I tell everyone to leave-"
"No, no," Mobius says quickly, watching as Sylvie takes the Cake to the family room, "I'm fine. Let's just keep it short okay?"
Loki smiles weakly, "Okay. Meet me in there. I'll get my camera."
Then he's off, hitting the stairs, two at a time. Mobius sighs and rubs his head. Maybe he should see a doctor. Maybe being bound to a tree isn't all it's cracked out to be.
Mobius makes his way to the family room where Thor is watching from the doorway as Sean looks at a book O.B. has and Kevin is trying to arm wrestle Love. Thor looks at him as he stops by the man, watching as well. Thor claps his shoulder and Mobius stumbles. "Happy birthday, Mobius. May this year of renewal be as good as the last."
"Tell me that after we get through the wedding," Mobius says, "Do you have your clothes figured out?"
Thor nods. "Asgardian traditional wear. Brunhilde had it especially made for this event. I'm still figuring out Love's though. She refuses to wear anything Asgardian."
Mobius chuckles, "Fair enough. Don had a problem getting Kevin to wear pants for the first six years of his life. Kindergarten was a nightmare."
Love slams Kevin's fist down and she cheers and high fives Sylvie and B-15.
"Are you ready?" Thor asks, "To be married?"
Mobius shrugs, "Ready as I'll ever be. Loki and I have been talking out our fears about it but that doesn't stop the nerves."
Thor squeezes his shoulder, eyes misty, "You have made him incredibly happy. I've never seen him care more about anyone than you. And you have returned that affection full measure. I'll forever be in your debt for that."
Mobius grins and pats his hand, "No debts, Thor. I'm just glad you're here. He wouldn't be the same without you."
The grin Thor gives him is probably the biggest Mobius has ever seen from him.
Suddenly one hand lands on Mobius's shoulder and the other covers his eyes. Sparks of blue reflect off the hand. "Guess who!"
"Ben!" Mobius howls, "You're going to give me a heart attack one day!"
Ben laughs and spins Mobius around before giving him a big hug. He's still in his tracksuit so that means he came straight from the gym. Mobius embraces Ben. He has gotten used to his tactile nature over the past year and it's been an anchor when things are rough. Ben has shown him their childhood photos, yearbooks, weddings and more. He was close to Don. That was undeniable. Mobius just wishes he could remember that closeness because just like with his of love jet skis that transpired his memory erasage, his body immediately reacts to love Ben but he can't understand it. It's a predicament in and of itself. Like right now when Ben is burring his face in Mobius's shoulder to hide his tears.
"How old would he have been?" Mobius asks, thinking of his dead variant. The one he replaced.
Ben shakes his head. "It doesn't matter. I'm just glad you're here. Losing your best friend sucks, you know."
A dull pain fills Mobius's chest. A scar that didn't heal properly. It has a name. Funny how that scar can make you so happy when it filled you with so much pain only a little over a year ago. Mobius nods. "Yeah. It really does."
Click-click.
Mobius turns to see Loki with his polaroid camera raised. He lowers it and grabs the picture that came out. As Ben pulls away, Loki slaps it against his chest. "Keep it. I don't need a picture of your hideous self in this house."
Mobius rolls his eyes. How Ben likes Loki is beyond him when Loki acts like this to him all the time. Ben smiles and says thanks before Loki is ushering Mobius into the room.
"All right, here's the birthday man," Loki yells and Mobius wants to run and hide. He should have saw this coming. "Let's show him we care! Or I'll skin all of you!"
"Loki," Mobius hisses but the group is laughing is Loki pulls Mobius into the recliner by the fireplace and puts the cake on the coffee table that has been dragged over to it.
Sean starts the song off and is a full line in before the others join in, "Happy Birthday to you! Happy birthday to you..."
And as the song goes, things slow. Mobius looks at the smiling faces. His friends. People who made him like living. Who cared for him even though he gave them no reason to. The TVA family. His family. Ben. Sylvie. Thor. Love. They all smile and sing and come here even though they will all be here for the wedding next week which is ten times more important. They are here and even though Mobius has had a hard time believing it, they love him. They all love him. In some very real and scary way they do.
And for some reason, that makes Mobius tear up. Not because they love him but because he can't shake the feeling that this is all going to end. And not in the distant future either.
The singing stops and they all look at him expectantly. Mobius looks between the candles and them. "Make a wish, Dad," Sean says, voice cracking. Mobius can't believe he's already a teenager. He looks at Kevin then Loki who has his camera ready.
Mobius takes a deep breath and blows.
Click-click.
-August 29th, 20--
*******************************
Catching Mobius mid blow was not easy. He looks like a blowfish as the candle flames whip away from him. Mobius had to do it three times because the thing would just not go out. The rest of the party was fun. Filled with wrestling, eating and Mobius hitting D-90 with a spoon for trying to make ice cream and getting it all over the kitchen. It was a good laugh.
Now it's about 4:00 a.m. Mobius and the kids are fast asleep. Loki's pictures from over the last couple months lay in front of him. Ones of Sylvie running down the hall after him, knife in hand, with the face of a maniac in booty shorts and a rat's nest for hair. Ones of Kevin and Sean eating waffles, syrup all over fingers. And his favorite of Mobius sound asleep as the sun comes up on him. He looks peaceful. Younger. Loki can't help but stare at the strange luck tattoo on Mobius's shoulder. He had to wait until the kids were gone to take this picture. If the kids ever saw it he doesn't want them asking why there was a bruise on the tattoo. Mobius would never forgive him for that.
Loki loves these pictures. He has so many. Mobius says he needs to have a scrapbook. When his fiance goes and visits Sylvie he'll get one for Loki but for now they lay on the coffee table until he puts them back in the manilla envelope.
Loki has to think about who he wants to use his camera next week. He's leaning towards B-15 or D-90. They won't try to modify or break it. The only problem is that D-90 is doing the cake so he'll have sticky fingers and B-15 is literally in charge of everything going smoothly and will probably forget to take pictures. Which reminds him, he needs to go with Ben to get his dress. Loki can't believe he agreed to let Ben help him with this. But Ben has been super involved, making this the best wedding Don never had. He's actually gotten into a fight with B-15 over it. Ben even wants to officiate it before Mobius talked him out of it. Now it's between Thor and O.B. Loki's almost tempted to take Mobius's advice and let them flip a coin for it.
Which leads Loki to the picture of Mobius and his hands, they're two rings put together side by side for the photo to remember their engagement by.
He's getting married. Him. Loki Laufeyson, terror of New York, son of a frost giant, discovered by Odin and god of lies, mischief and now stories. To a man who seems so plain and yet...
And yet he's not. Mobius is colorful, bright, mischievous. Loving, caring. Everything Loki never knew he needed. And Loki is marrying him. His small choke seems to echo in the room. This is real and yet Loki keeps thinking it's not. Maybe he'll wake up one day. But today is not that day.
Loki stands and stretches before getting some water from the tap. He sees the neighbor across the street is just getting back from graveyards. He had promised to help the guy with his garden next week. Winterizing or whatever even though it's just the beginning of September. He needs to put that on the calendar. Next to the giant heart that says wedding.
Eight more days. Loki can wait.
Thump!
Loki stops mid drink when he hears something hit the floor upstairs. It's not even 4:30. Did one of the kids get a nightmare? He heads for the stairs, trying to be quiet so no one else wakes up.
"Kevin? Sean?" Loki calls at the top of the stairs. There's no answer so he goes to their room that is still cluttered with toys and books yet to be picked up.
The two are sound asleep, snoring and twitching. They are peaceful. Loki would stay and watch for a moment if the fact that they didn't make the noise wasn't turning in his brain. If it wasn't them, it was Mobius.
Loki makes his way to their room quietly and quickly, trying to be quiet with the door. It doesn't matter. The bed is empty, but their bathroom light is on. It's glaring into their room, harsh and unwelcome. "Mobius?" Loki calls quietly, walking over to the bathroom.
When he gets there, Loki stops dead in his tracks, "Mobius..."
Mobius is leaning on the toilet, head on his arm while the other lays in his lap. He's pale. Sickly pale. One Loki has never seen before. But that's not the worst part. The worst part is that his eyes are glowing the brightest colors Loki has ever seen. Every color of Yggdrasil and... yellow. The color the grass turns when it's dying. He's shivering as if it's not 70° in this house. Rather like Loki has held him in his Jotunn form too long. Mobius's breathing is shallow.
Loki steps into the bathroom and that's when Mobius blinks and finally looks at him, "Hi, Lokes."
Loki pauses. He feels sick. This is not happening. It's not happening. Not now. Not ever!
"I think," he says so quietly that Loki has to strain to understand him, "I think something is wrong..."
Then Mobius closes his eyes and shakes harder. Loki only glances at the bowl but that's all he needs to do to know what is in it.
Blood.