Work Text:
Let time pass.
Mobius was sitting on the porch when it happened. He tapped gently at the floorboards to set his rocking chair into motion and took a careful sip of coffee from his favorite mug. It was a little too sweet, and a little too milky, but that was just the way he liked it.
He’d barely set the cup on the small table beside him when he heard a soft voice. It was so quiet that he thought he might have imagined it. He tilted his head and closed his eyes, straining to hear the sound again. It felt familiar, warm somehow, and suddenly his heart began to ache. He pressed his lips together, angry with himself for letting the sound of the breeze play such cruel tricks on him.
When it came a second time, he promptly pressed his heel down to stop the chair from creaking.
“Hello?” he said, opening his eyes and looking around. There was nothing there. Nothing for a good long while, in fact. Rolling green hills stretched out around him in all directions. There wasn’t another soul for miles.
He began to pace across the wooden floor, rubbing his eyes with the palms of his hands, wondering if this was it – if he was finally losing it.
“Mobius?”
He jumped, thankful that he was not still holding the steaming mug to his chest. The voice was louder now, much clearer than before, and he quickly spun around and scanned the area around him once more.
“Yes,” he said, trying not to let his voice tremble. “Yeah, Loki. It’s me.”
“Mobius,” Loki sighed. He sounded relieved. “How are you?”
“How are you?” he replied, sounding exasperated. “You start talking to me out of nowhere with a disembodied voice and your opener is how are you?”
“That’s fair,” said Loki with a small chuckle. “I learned a new trick, and I wanted to try it out. I’m sorry if I startled you.”
“You didn’t,” Mobius lied. He took a deep breath and shook his head. “That’s some trick.”
“Isn’t it?” Loki agreed. There was a smile in his voice.
“How are you doing that?”
“I…” Loki started, but he seemed to have trouble finding the words. “Magic,” he said finally.
“I could have figured that bit out.”
“Right. I suppose so.”
“Can you see me right now?” Mobius asked, looking around in all directions. He even looked up toward the sky. It was grey, a little misty in the early morning, but not unpleasant.
“No,” Loki replied. “I mean, I could, but it feels a bit weird. I do have a vague sense of where you are. But I wouldn’t want to intrude.”
“That’s very noble of you.”
The god scoffed.
“I hope I haven’t caught you at a bad time.”
“You haven’t.”
“That’s good. You didn’t answer my question,” Loki continued. “How are you, Mobius?”
Mobius sat down in his rocking chair and tilted his head back. He wasn’t entirely sure how to answer.
“I’ve been good,” he said.
“My, what a detailed and thoughtful answer.”
Mobius couldn’t help but laugh. He settled back into the chair and plucked his mug from the table.
“Alright, alright. Well, I got a house out in the country. It’s quiet here. It’s nice. I drive into town about once a week, talk to a few folks about this and that. Stock up on groceries, all that fun stuff. There’s a pretty decent coffee shop, and one of those old school diners.”
“Do they have key lime pie?”
Mobius grinned.
“Sometimes.”
“Is it good?”
“It’s excellent,” Mobius chuckled.
“Good.”
“Loki, why are we talking about key lime pie?”
He was quiet for a moment, so Mobius took another drink of his now lukewarm coffee.
“What would you like to talk about?”
Mobius swallowed. He had so many questions, he wasn’t sure where to start.
“What… what happened to you? And where are you? Are you… are you alright?”
“I’m fine.”
“What a detailed and thoughtful answer.”
And Loki laughed. It was wonderful and sad at the same time.
“I am at the center of the universe. I am watching stories unfold before my eyes. So many lives… So many people, and places, and events. So many things are happening all at once. I am…” he let out a long breath. “I am holding it together. I am keeping it safe.”
“Thank you,” Mobius said suddenly, and his heart ached. “I didn’t get a chance to tell you. I didn’t think I ever would. Thank you, Loki. For everything.”
A breathy chuckle.
“You’re welcome, Mobius.”
They sat in silence for a long while. Mobius clutched his mug to his chest. He opened his mouth and then closed it again. The words were on the tip of his tongue.
“Are you lonely?” he said finally. The words hung in the air.
“Sometimes,” Loki replied. “I like to gaze into the timelines. I watch people go about their lives. It feels like I’m wandering with them.”
“That must be fascinating.”
“It can be,” Loki agreed. “Sometimes it’s exciting, but even the mundane things are nice to see. It’s vast, and it’s endless.”
He was silent for a beat, and then, “But I still get lonely.”
“Yeah,” Mobius sighed. “Me too.”
Mobius was shopping at the little market on the corner when it happened again. It sounded like a breath behind his ear. It startled him briefly, and he fumbled with the bag of chips in his hand.
“Hello.”
Mobius looked around to see if anyone was watching. He pulled his phone from his pocket and pretended to answer it.
“Hello,” he said, and felt his lips curve into a smile.
“Is this a bad time?”
“No,” he replied as he tossed the item into his basket. “Just doing some shopping.”
“Very exciting.”
“I do all sorts of exciting things; you don’t even know the half of it.”
“Oh? Do tell.”
“Well just before you called, I was involved in a high-speed chase.”
“That seems unlikely.”
“Yeah, you’re right. The speed limit here is 25. I almost got pulled over, though.”
Loki laughed. Mobius shivered at the sound.
“I should let you finish what you’re doing. I can check in later… if that’s alright?”
“Of course it is,” he replied too quickly.
“Perfect,” said Loki, and Mobius was sure he could hear a smile in his voice. “Though I don’t… Time doesn’t really work the same way for me as it does for you. I’m still not sure how to navigate this properly.”
“Is there a way for me to contact you?”
Loki thought for a moment.
“Just say my name.”
Mobius swallowed.
“Just say it?”
“Yes,” he said simply. “Just say it, and I will find you.”
Mobius could feel their connection sever, and he placed the phone back into his pocket. He continued to weave his way through the aisles until he found himself surrounded by spirits, and he stopped in front of a selection of wines. He didn’t know the first thing about wine, but upon seeing a dark bottle donning a curled serpent on the label he simply couldn’t just pass it by.
He returned to his house and put away his groceries. He changed into a pair of comfortable sweatpants and a cotton shirt. He waited a short while until the sun began to set, and he took out a glass from the cupboard above the sink.
His house was cozy and quiet. He didn’t need much. A single bedroom and bath, a kitchen with a small table to the side as his designated dining space. He had a comfortable couch and a television set. There was a little ceramic bowl on the floor that he picked up and placed on the counter. He pulled a can of cat food from the pantry and clicked open the lid, and smiled to himself when he heard a quiet thump and the pattering of paws coming his way.
“Finally decided to get up and see me? I see how it is.”
He placed the dish back on the ground and the tiny cat made an excited sound before digging in.
He pulled the bottle of wine from its paper bag and was grateful to see that it had a twist-on cap. He wasn’t sure he even owned a corkscrew. He poured himself a healthy glass and brought the bottle with him to settle in on the couch. He tugged a thin grey blanket down from where it hung over the edge and tucked it in around himself.
He took a deep breath.
“Loki?” he said tentatively.
He waited.
He swirled the red liquid in his glass and took a small sip. He wasn’t sure what sort of notes he was supposed to be getting from it, but it tasted decent enough.
He cleared his throat.
“Loki,” he said, louder this time.
Silence.
He tried not to be too disappointed. He looked down at himself and started to feel silly. What was he doing?
“Hello.”
He felt himself grin.
“Sorry about that,” said Loki, “It took me a second to find you.”
“That’s okay,” he replied. “It sounds like you’ve got a lot going on up there. Or out there. Wherever you are.”
Loki huffed out a laugh.
“Still getting the hang of it. I’ve never talked to anyone before.”
This puzzled Mobius.
“You haven’t?”
“Nope.”
“What about Sylvie?”
“Oh, you know. Somehow I don’t think she would be too pleased to find that I was keeping tabs on her.”
“But I would?”
Loki was quiet for a moment.
“Would you?” he asked. He sounded nervous.
“I’m sorry, that came out wrong. I’m happy that you reached out to me, honestly. I don’t want you to think I’m not.”
“Good,” said Loki, and his trademark smile was palpable. “What are you doing?”
Mobius looked down at himself again. What was he doing?
“I’m just sitting on my couch. Drinking a glass of wine.” He decided that lying would be stupid. Why would he?
“How is it?” Loki asked, sounding genuinely interested.
“It’s wine,” he replied, and Loki laughed. “I don’t usually buy the stuff. It tastes fine, but I have no idea what it even is. Let’s see…”
He grabbed the bottle from the coffee table and inspected the label.
“Umbria Rosso. Vibrant aromas, fruity hints, spicy notes, and a velvety, well-balanced flavor. Enjoy in a ‘Bourgogne’ glass. I don’t even know what that is.”
Loki laughed again, and the sound of it warmed Mobius more than the wine.
“Describe it to me. Not what it says on the label.”
Mobius took another sip and let it linger.
“It’s not very sweet.”
“Go on.”
Mobius licked his lips.
“I like the flavor of it. It almost tastes like…” He took another drink. “Berries? Blackberries, maybe? I don’t know.”
“What does it smell like?”
Mobius brought the glass to his nose and inhaled. He thought it smelled like wine, but Loki seemed to want to know more, like he wished he was there to enjoy it with him, so he closed his eyes and tried harder.
“It smells a little spicy. Like black pepper, almost.” He really was trying his best.
“How does it feel on your tongue?”
Mobius swallowed. He felt his cheeks flush.
“How does it… what?”
“Wines have texture. Some are rich and full-bodied. Some leave your mouth feeling dry. Some feel like nothing at all. What does this one feel like?”
He took another sip.
“It feels smooth. Maybe a little dry, I guess? It’s, um…” He cleared his throat.
“It sounds lovely.”
Mobius looked down at his empty glass. His head felt fuzzy.
“Definitely getting some fruity notes,” he said.
Loki barked out a laugh.
“Sorry,” Mobius sputtered, trying to contain his stupid grin. “I’m really bad at this.”
“You’re not,” Loki replied sweetly. “You’re doing great. I do miss the taste of wine, but having you describe it to me is almost just as good.”
Mobius leaned over and poured another glass. He’d drained the first one rather quickly and probably didn’t need another, but it wasn’t like he had any morning plans.
“What’s your favorite kind of wine?”
Loki made a small humming sound as he thought about it.
“Asgard had the best wine.”
“I don’t think I’ll be able to find any of that around here.”
“True. But that’s okay. I do enjoy a nice Pinot Noir.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” said Mobius, already planning to write it on his next grocery list. “What have you been up to? Any good stories to tell?”
“So many,” Loki replied. “I just saw a young boy reunited with a cat that that had been lost for weeks. He was so overjoyed.”
Mobius smiled.
“I like cats. I have one, actually.” He glanced over the couch to find his kitchen empty. “Well, she was just here a second ago. I don’t know where she is now. I think she’s just using me for the food.”
“Well of course,” Loki said with a chuckle. “What’s her name?”
“I named her Loki.”
“You didn’t.”
Mobius laughed hard at that and wiped his eyes.
“No, I didn’t. But now I kind of wished I had.”
“You’re a menace.”
“Well, I learned from the best.” He took another drink. “They called her Penelope at the shelter, so that’s what I stuck with.”
“It’s a cute name.”
“I thought so too.”
“Does it help?” Loki asked, and Mobius furrowed his brow.
“Help what?”
“With the loneliness?” There was a hint of melancholy in his voice.
“Yeah, a little. I’m not so great at making friends. I don’t really have a backstory that I can tell people about, so I get worried when people start asking me questions. Where I’m from, what I do, that sort of thing. I usually just say I work from home. I have some acquaintances, it is a small town after all, but we’re not really close enough to go out for a drink at the bar.”
“Or invite over for a bottle of wine?”
Mobius bit his lip.
“No, that’s just you.”
He heard a sound like a quiet hitch of breath.
“I miss you,” Loki said after a long silence. Mobius felt his eyes sting.
He tipped the glass back and emptied it before setting it carefully on the table. He laid back onto the couch and pulled the blanket up over himself.
“I miss you too,” he said, not bothering to hide the sadness in his tone.
“But this is nice,” Loki added, trying to sound more cheerful. “I’m glad I found you. It’s good to hear your voice again.”
The goofy smile returned to Mobius’ face.
“Not a lot of posh accents around here. I missed yours too.”
“Oh, it’s not that posh.”
“Whatever you say, Your Highness.”
Loki made an odd noise that Mobius couldn’t quite place.
“You alright?” he asked.
“Yes,” the god replied quickly, but it sounded rough around the edges.
“Alright.” It was quiet again for a long while, and then he said, “Tell me another story.”
So Loki did. He told Mobius about a woman who was nervous about flying. He told him about a man and his garden, about his prize-winning tomatoes and his yearly rivalry with the other gardening enthusiasts at the county fair. He told him about a young girl who had been getting picked on at school, and the satisfying shriek from the girl who bullied her when she found the fake spider that had been tucked into her backpack.
He told Mobius lots of little stories that he had seen, playing out in front of him everywhere all at once. And Mobius listened, quiet and content, with a smile on his face.
“I’m sorry, I should probably let you get some sleep,” Loki said finally, after hearing the man yawn for the third time.
Mobius was tired, but he didn’t want to stop listening to the sound of Loki’s voice. He could feel himself drifting in and out of consciousness as he imagined the scenarios that the god described. He didn’t know what time it was.
Time.
It was something he was still getting used to.
“I guess you’re right.”
“Of course I am.”
Mobius laughed.
“We could do this again. I could buy another one tomorrow.”
“I would like that.”
“Having a party?”
Mobius smiled at the woman behind the register as she placed the bottles of wine he’d procured into a cardboard carrying case.
“Oh no, just having a friend over. They like wine, but I don’t really know a lot about this stuff, so I figured I’d try and cover all the bases, you know?”
“A friend?” she asked with a knowing smile, and he swallowed nervously. “I’m sure she’s bound to like one of them.”
“Good,” he replied with a quick nod. “That’s good.”
And thus, their routine began. Mobius went about his days as usual. He enjoyed his cup of coffee on the porch from his favorite mug, a heavy ceramic piece that he’d purchased from a little shop in town. It was handmade, and deep green in color.
He watched some TV. He watered his plants. He made a ham sandwich for lunch, and meatloaf for dinner. He packed the leftovers into a plastic container, and Penelope gladly accepted a small bite when he offered it to her. He filled her dish with food, which she ate happily, and then he pulled a glass from the cupboard.
It was a real wine glass this time. And he opened the bottle, which had a real cork, with his newly purchased corkscrew.
He settled in on the couch in his comfortable sweatpants and pulled the blanket up to his waist.
It was nice, this new routine of theirs. Each night he would open a bottle of wine and read the label aloud. He would close his eyes and try to describe it, the way it smelled, the way it tasted. He tried to explain the texture, though he still wasn’t sure he grasped it. He’d turned to Google to find out all he could from various wine tasting guides, but the internet could only teach him so much.
“I’m more of a whiskey drinker myself,” he said, swirling the pale liquid in his glass and trying to analyze the legs. He could see them, but he didn’t know what they were supposed to look like.
“That’s a spirit I haven’t dabbled in much. Truth be told, it goes straight to my head.”
“Are you a lightweight, Loki?”
“Oh yes,” the god said with a laugh. “I start doing parlor tricks and everything.”
“Oh boy,” Mobius replied with a grin. “Well, if it makes you feel any better, when I’ve had a few too many I start to believe I can dance.”
Loki laughed even louder at that.
“I would love to see that.”
“Oh, you really wouldn’t.”
“Come on, I’m sure you must have some moves.”
“In what universe would anyone look at me and think, ‘oh, that guy’s definitely got some moves’?”
“In mine,” said Loki easily, and Mobius rolled his eyes. “Anyway, enough talk about the moves you may or may not possess. How does this one taste?”
“It’s drinkable,” Mobius replied, draining his glass. “I feel like I should be watching some bad TV and eating potato chips.”
“Is it sweet?”
“Almost too sweet,” he said, taking a look at the bottle. “Notes of peach and apple. I can see that.”
“So you wouldn’t buy it again?”
Mobius thought about it as he poured another glass.
“Nah, I don’t think so. It’s probably going to give me a headache tomorrow.”
“Better add it to the list.”
“Right, right,” Mobius agreed, and he took out a little notebook from where it was lodged in the couch cushion.
Inside the notebook was a list of wines they had been compiling. Some of them had little stars drawn beside their names, and some of them had sad faces.
“We’ve got a sizeable collection here. I’ve been taking pretty extensive notes.”
“Have you?”
“Totally,” Mobius lied as he drew out a frowning face beside the sweet Riesling.
“What did you write about the one yesterday?”
Mobius’ face began to resemble his drawing.
“Yesterday, let’s see… Light, a little dry… Hints of strawberry…”
“Your notes are terrible, Mobius. We had a Cabernet yesterday.”
“Oh, yesterday? Right, I must have gotten it mixed up with the one from a few days ago.”
“Yesterday you were certain that it was a full-bodied wine with notes of black cherry and cedar.”
Mobius pinched the bridge of his nose.
“How do you remember this stuff?”
“I remember everything you talk about.” Mobius pressed his lips together to hold back a giggle. “Your ‘notes’ are just a bunch of checkmarks and stars, aren’t they?”
Mobius clutched the book to his chest.
“Hey, I thought you said you couldn’t see me.”
“I can’t,” Loki replied with a laugh. “I just know you too well.”
“You could though, couldn’t you?” Mobius asked. His question was met with silence. “Loki?”
“Yes,” he said quietly. “I could.”
Mobius looked down at himself in his worn-out t-shirt and fluffy blanket. He knew what he wanted to ask.
“Do you want to?”
He heard a faint intake of breath and waited.
“I would, if you’re inviting me.”
Mobius thought for a moment. He didn’t have enough time to change into something more presentable.
He brushed his hair back with his fingers and sat up straight. He pushed his shoulders back and worked out the kinks in his neck. He licked his lips.
“Okay,” he said finally, and took a deep breath.
He couldn’t quite place the feeling, but he could sense that something in the room had changed. He couldn’t see anything, though he didn’t expect to. But he did have the sense that he was being watched.
“There you are,” came the voice, and he tried not to shudder.
“Hello,” he said in reply. It felt strange. He wasn’t sure where to look.
“Pretend I’m sitting next to you,” Loki said, obviously sensing the awkwardness in Mobius’ posture.
Mobius nodded and settled back against the arm of the couch, turning his body to face the opposite cushion. He was staring at empty space, but he tried to picture the god’s lanky body sitting there beside him, long limbs sprawled out in true Loki fashion. He found the corner of his lips turn upward.
“I didn’t expect company. Sorry I look like a slob.”
“You don’t,” came the voice again. It was quiet and breathy, as though Loki had just awoken from a deep sleep even though they’d been chatting for what seemed to be hours.
“It’s ok, you don’t have to be nice,” Mobius said shyly, and he tugged at the edge of the blanket.
“It’s nice to see you dressed down for a change. It suits you nicely.”
The sound seemed to come from one direction now instead of all around him, though Mobius still wasn’t sure where to look. He instead turned his eyes to his notebook once more.
“There aren’t any checkmarks on here. But there are some stars,” he said, turning it around to face the empty space in front of him.
“And… little sad faces. Wow, Mobius. Very thorough, indeed.”
“Yeah, I thought so,” he answered with a nod. He smiled as he took a drink from his glass. “This one is a sad face.”
“Why are you still drinking it, if it’s a sad face?”
“Well, I did buy it, so I don’t want it to go to waste.”
“That’s reasonable,” said Loki. “How… how did you buy it, exactly? Do you have actually have a job somewhere?”
“Nah,” he replied, leaning back on an elbow. “Not a lot of employment opportunities in town, and I don’t have the people skills to be a barista.”
“Sure you do. You’re a very likeable man, Mobius.”
“Well,” he started, scratching at the back of his neck and hoping that Loki couldn’t see the blush that was surely blooming on his cheeks. “People aren’t the nicest when they haven’t had their morning cup of coffee. I wouldn’t want to be the one standing between them and their first hit of caffeine for the day.”
“That’s a very good point. I’ve seen people nearly come to blows over mistaken orders, it’s actually sort of frightening.”
“Exactly,” Mobius agreed, taking a sip from his glass. “You accidentally short the caramel on the wrong macchiato and suddenly you’re in a chokehold. No thanks.”
Loki’s laugh was infectious. He could imagine the little wrinkles at the corner of the god’s eyes when he flashed that wide smile of his, perfect teeth shining brightly in the light. He wished he could really see him.
“So how did you do it? All of this?” Loki asked.
“Well, truth be told, it’s not completely legit. TVA perks and all that. I’m sure you approve of that sort of thing.”
“Greatly.”
“Of course,” Mobius chuckled.
“It’s lovely.”
“It’s small,” he said, looking around at the modest living space. He only had a few pieces of furniture, and there was nothing on the walls. “And I haven’t really decorated.”
“Why not?”
“Oh, I don’t know,” he replied with a sigh, setting his glass down on the table. “I guess I wasn’t really sure about it. I didn’t know if I would stay. But it’s nice out here. It’s quiet. The people in town are friendly enough, and I have Penelope. I’ve settled in, and I probably should start really making it my own, but it didn’t really…” he hesitated, glancing around. “It didn’t really feel like home, I guess.”
“Do you miss the TVA?”
“Nah, not really. I miss some of the people there, of course. But that wasn’t really home either. It was… missing something.”
He let the silence stretch out around them and stared down at his hands. He fiddled with the edge of the blanket.
“How long have you been here?” Loki asked finally, and Mobius shrugged his shoulders.
“Couple years, about.”
“It’s been two years?” the god replied, sounding surprised.
“Yeah.”
“Mobius, I’m so sorry,” Loki said sadly. “I didn’t know. Time…”
“Moves differently there, I know,” he interjected, and offered a small smile. “It’s okay. I didn’t know what happened to you, not exactly, and I certainly didn’t expect to be able to talk to you again. I thought you…”
He felt his eyes begin to sting and the words caught in his throat.
“I thought you were gone. But you’re not. So let’s stop being sappy and talk about this gross wine some more, alright?”
Loki made a noise that sounded halfway between a laugh and a sob.
“Right. Let’s talk about wine.”
Mobius spent the next few nights shopping online for home décor. When he looked at his cart, he realized that every item he’d picked turned out to be a different shade of brown.
“How adventurous of you,” Loki teased, and Mobius rolled his eyes.
“Oh, don’t give me that, every single one of your suggestions has been something green.”
“That’s not true.”
“It is,” Mobius laughed, pointing at the screen. “Look at all the stuff you’ve had me click on, all of it – green!”
“It’s a lovely color.”
“You’re ridiculous.”
“I know.”
Mobius ran his hands through his hair and sighed.
“Well, it can’t all be brown, I’m going to have to change some of these.”
“If you want it all brown, then you should do it. It’s your house, after all.”
“I want it to look nice. There’s no way this is going to look nice. And besides, I want you to like it too.”
Loki coughed.
“Oh?”
“Come on, you spend enough time here. I can throw in a little green.”
Mobius couldn’t see him, but he knew the god was grinning.
“Blue,” Loki said.
“Blue?”
“Blue,” he repeated, sounding very sure of himself. “It’s a nice color. And it suits you.”
“Does it now?” Mobius asked, amused.
“It does. It matches your eyes.”
Mobius blinked. He glanced away from the empty space on the couch beside him, though he wasn’t sure that helped. He didn’t know what he looked like to Loki, didn’t know which direction he was watching him from, if there even was a direction. He didn’t know how any of this worked. But he got the sense that the god was staring directly into his eyes.
“Blue,” Mobius decided, and began scrolling through the throw pillows.
Mobius was lying in bed, and the room was dark. He’d been out later than usual, helping to tidy up the local bookstore after a small event in town earlier that evening. It was too late to pop open a bottle of wine, and he was pleasantly full from the slice of pie that the sweet lady at the diner insisted he take as thanks for his trouble. It was banana cream, and he decided that it came solidly in second place in his carefully curated ranking of pies.
Penelope had only been a little bit angry with him for feeding her late, but she quickly got over it.
He thought of calling out to Loki, but he was feeling sleepy and didn’t want to nod off in the middle of a conversation again. He was embarrassed about it the first time it happened, but Loki didn’t seem to mind.
It didn’t matter what time it was when he reached out. It didn’t matter if it was more than once, or if days spanned in between. Time moved differently where Loki was. He wondered what it felt like for him, if their conversations ever paused, or if the god could simply fast forward to the next. He existed beyond time, so far away, and yet every time he was called upon, he came.
Mobius missed him. He enjoyed their long chats in the evenings that went well into the night, until Mobius could no longer keep his eyes open. He also enjoyed the early mornings, describing the weather and the flavor of cream in his coffee. He enjoyed everything about Loki, but he missed him. It was a comfort to have his voice so near, but he wished so deeply that he could just reach out and touch him.
He wasn’t sure how Loki felt about him. The god flirted with him all the time at the TVA, anyone with eyes could see it, but wasn’t he that way with everyone? He was a charmer to be sure, speaking with anyone and everyone came so easily to him. His trademark grin, the way he slicked his hair back with his fingers, everything about him was hypnotic, and suave, and sexy.
He closed his eyes, and he could practically see him standing there, smiling mischievously. Tall and thin, bright green irises glittering in the light.
What Mobius would give to be able to reach out and touch him. He desperately wished that he had, when they were together. So many things he would have done differently, had he known.
He wondered what the god’s hair felt like between his fingers. He wondered how sharp those hips really were. He wanted to know what he tasted like, his thin lips and clever tongue. He wanted to feel his chest rise and fall beneath his palm.
He felt warm all over then, and he bit the inside of his cheek. His usually comfortable sweatpants began to feel too hot, too tight against him, and he released a long breath through his nose.
He wanted Loki, wanted him so bad that it burned. His heart ached, but he ignored it. He thought of Loki’s slender hands instead, delicate and precise. He thought of Loki’s jaw, his perfect cheekbones, his wonderfully angled features that were practically carved from stone.
He pulled the blanket off his body. It was warm, too warm, and he bit down on his lip.
He let a hand slide into the waistband of his well-worn pants and hesitated.
What was he doing?
His pulse quickened as he thought of Loki’s shoulders, wide and broad. His cock strained against his clothes as he thought of Loki’s narrow waist, pictured his own hands gripping him tightly.
He pushed his pants down with a small sigh, and he didn’t waste any time. He wrapped his fingers around his length and stroked himself firmly.
This wasn’t something that he did often. It surprised him a little, how quickly his thoughts began devolving to filth as he thought of Loki, just the sight of him in his memories.
The veins in his arms when he rolled his sleeves up to his elbows. The milky white skin that peeked out from his collar when he stretched. The pointed tip of his tongue as it dipped out to lick at the key lime pie on his lips.
“Loki,” he groaned, and he gripped a little tighter, moved a little faster. He imagined Loki’s eyes on him, narrow and dark and full of lust. He imagined the god beneath him, squirming and begging, and-
He heard what sounded like a sharp intake of breath, and he quickly clasped a hand over his mouth.
His heart was pounding in his ears.
“Is this a bad time?” came Loki’s cautious voice.
He didn’t know what to say.
He was completely frozen in place, eyes squeezed shut, hand still wrapped tightly around his cock. He was thankful that Loki never actually looked in on him unless explicitly invited.
“S-sorry,” he managed to choke out, not sure where he could possibly go with this. “No, I just… I must have been talking in my sleep.”
The words sounded so stupid to his own ears that he cringed.
“Mobius,” Loki said softly, sounding amused. “Are you saying that you accidentally moaned my name in your sleep?”
Moaned?
“W-what? I, ah… Maybe? I guess?”
He felt his face burn so hot that he thought he might spontaneously combust. He sort of hoped that he would.
“I see,” Loki replied, not sounding the least bit convinced. “A good dream, then?”
Mobius said nothing. What could he say? He was trying to think of something, anything, but nothing useful came to mind.
“You don’t have to tell me,” Loki said finally. There was something different about his voice. It sounded deeper, somehow. “I’ll let you get back to it.”
“I’m sorry,” Mobius blurted out, and he grimaced.
“What are you apologizing for?”
“I made you uncomfortable.”
“Mobius,” the god sighed, and there was certainly something there, something low and sultry that was making him squirm. “I’m not uncomfortable in the slightest.”
“Oh. Right. Well… that’s good,” he said, willing himself to just keep his mouth closed.
“You may continue, if you wish.”
Mobius felt his cock twitch against his palm, and he sucked in a breath. He couldn’t believe this was happening. Maybe he really did fall asleep, and this was all a dream.
“A-are you…” Mobius cleared his throat. “Are you… are you saying…” he let the question hang in the air, but Loki didn’t budge. “Would you want that?”
“To hear my name on your lips? I can think of no sweeter sound.”
“Fuck,” Mobius breathed, and the god answered with a soft chuckle. “You really do have a way with words, don’t you?”
“It’s my specialty.”
Mobius released a shuddering breath and bit his lip. He could work with this.
“Alright. Keep talking, then.”
“I can do that,” said Loki quietly, and he took a deep breath. It sounded strained. “Mobius.”
His name sounded different then, so much more intimate than he’d ever heard it before. It was smooth like honey, thick and syrupy sweet, surrounding him and swallowing him up. It sent a shiver down his spine.
“I knew exactly what you were doing the moment I heard you call my name,” Loki continued, low and sultry, positively dripping with lust. It was almost unnerving how much it turned him on. “I always hoped I would hear you say my name in such a manner, but it was even more delicious than I ever dreamt it would be.”
The confession surprised him, and he felt the warmth of it blossom in his chest and creep over his skin. He began stroking himself languidly, letting the feeling grow and shift.
“It’s so good, Mobius, so good to hear the hitch in your breath as you touch yourself to the thought of me. To the sound of my voice. Mine.”
Mobius couldn’t hold back the small sounds he was making. He didn’t want to.
“I can hear your heartbeat pounding in your chest. I can hear it growing faster now, the blood pumping through your veins, filling your cock as I whisper in your ear. I can hear the sound of your hand as it moves across your skin, so slowly, yet you want to go faster, you want to let go and fuck up into your fist with wild abandon, you want to cry out my name as you spill over your fingers.”
Mobius was panting now, rocking his hips and screwing his eyes shut. It was so good to hear Loki’s voice all around him, he never wanted it to stop.
“You want to paint me with it, to claim me, and I would let you. Oh Mobius, I would let you do so many things to me.”
So many things. He wanted to do so many things to Loki.
“I would let you mark me, and I would take it gladly. I want it on my face and in my hair. I want to feel it on my skin, I want to taste it, I want…” Loki hissed, and Mobius could finally hear the break in his voice, the ragged breaths between the words. “I want to see you,” he said, quieter now, and it sounded strangled.
“Yes,” said Mobius, raw and gravelly. “Okay.”
He heard a low humming sound that started in Loki’s chest and settled in the back of his throat. It was like a mix between a purr and a groan, and he gripped himself even tighter.
“Gorgeous.”
Mobius wouldn’t necessarily call himself out of shape, fieldwork for the TVA kept him fit enough and he still liked to go for a run a few mornings each week. He was, however, very certain that he bared no resemblance to any of the Asgardian men that Loki had seen before. But the compliment sounded genuine, and it made his cheeks burn.
“Gods, Mobius. You look absolutely delectable.”
Mobius let out a nervous chuckle and opened his eyes. He was still alone in his room, but he could feel Loki’s eyes on him. He tried not to be embarrassed.
“Your shirt,” Loki said, and Mobius looked down at himself. “Pull it up higher.”
He gripped the hem with his fingers and dragged it up over his chest, letting it gather just below his neck. He involuntarily flexed his muscles and felt a bit silly about it.
The sound Loki made in response made him feel decidedly less silly.
“You’ve been working out.”
“Oh, shut up,” he laughed, feeling his face split into a wide smile.
“I refuse,” Loki replied curtly. “How lucky I am to see you like this.”
“Not many people do.”
“Then I am even more grateful for the opportunity.”
“Is it everything you hoped it would be?” Mobius teased, but he wasn’t prepared for the moan he received in response. “Oh, fuck,” he ground out, feeling his muscles clench.
“Was it not obvious?” Loki asked roughly, and Mobius’ head began to buzz. “So good Mobius, you look so good. Keep going, please, I want to watch you come apart.”
Mobius let out a shuddering breath as he began to move again, and he knew he couldn’t last much longer. Not with Loki watching him like this, not with the little noises he was making, quick breaths and low groans that sounded like they were coming from all around him.
He arched his back and shoved his pants down lower on his thighs, wanting to hear more of those wonderful sounds, proof that Loki was enjoying this as much as he was.
He slid his free hand across his stomach and over his chest, and he writhed as he circled his wrist. It was a performance, the sexiest show he could possibly muster, all for Loki.
“Gods, your cock,” the god mewled, sounding as though he might just fall apart. “You’re so hard for me.”
“Yes,” Mobius hissed, pressing his head back against the pillow. He rocked his hips up into his fist, fucking into it like Loki had described. The god’s breaths were coming in short gasps, egging him on.
He slid his hand over his nipple, feeling it harden under the pad of his thumb, and Loki groaned. He did the same with the other before dragging his fingers up and into his hair, tugging gently.
“Harder,” said Loki, so he did, pulling at the strands and tilting his head, exposing his neck. “How I would love to get my mouth on your throat, to feel your pulse beneath my lips. How good you must taste,” he mused wistfully. “So good,” he repeated, breathless. “You’re so beautiful like this, Mobius, so-”
Mobius slid his fingers into his mouth and Loki suddenly seemed to be at a loss for words. He did that, he did that, he made the silver-tongued god lose his ability to speak and he ran with it as fast and as far as he could with it.
He sucked at the digits in his mouth, moaned against them, making a show of it as he dragged his fingertips back out and across his tongue. He felt filthy, he felt good, and he shoved them in again, opening his mouth wide. He spread the saliva over his lips, and they curled back, baring his teeth as he pumped his cock frantically, harder, faster, rolling his hips as he did. He dug his heels into the mattress and arched his back, biting his lip hard enough to hurt.
“Fuck,” Loki whimpered, and it was enough, more than enough to send him over the edge.
He spilled over his fingers and across his stomach, now rising and falling at a rapid pace. He continued to stroke his cock with his now slick hand until there was nothing left, and he jerked and twitched until his spasming muscles finally began to relax.
It was quiet then, save for the sounds of their stuttering breaths, gradually evening out to a normal rhythm.
“Was that…” Mobius started, finally able to catch his breath. “Was that good for you?”
“Oh yes,” Loki replied quietly.
“Did you…”
“Oh yes,” he said again, and Mobius grinned.
Mobius woke late the next morning to the bright sunshine as it poured into the room through the slats in his blinds. He stretched his arms over his head, feeling fantastically well-rested, if a bit dirty. He didn’t know what time it was. It didn’t matter.
He laid there a while longer, breathing deeply and smiling softly to himself as he thought of the night before. As he thought of Loki.
There was a quiet scratching sound at the door, so he finally dragged himself out of bed to answer it.
“Good morning,” he said, looking down at the little cat. She stared up at him, annoyed that her breakfast had not yet been served. He would have to make sure that her next meal was presented right on time lest she begin taking her anger out on his couch cushions.
After he fed Penelope, he took a shower. After his shower, he took a walk. When he returned from his walk, he brewed himself a cup of coffee in his favorite mug. He wasn’t entirely sure why he even owned any others.
He stirred in a healthy pour of caramel flavored creamer and then sat on his porch to look out at the land. There were flowers blossoming on the hillside, and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky. It was a beautiful day.
“I’ve been experimenting,” Loki said, an adorable giddiness in his voice that Mobius couldn’t get enough of.
“Have you now?” he asked as he cut open the top of a cardboard package, one of many now strewn about his living rom. He pulled from it a deep blue throw pillow.
“I have,” Loki continued, and Mobius could practically picture him pacing in circles, waving his hands in the air like he did when he was thinking out loud. “I’ve been delving into the timelines, weaving through realms and watching people go about their lives. I’ve been doing this all along, but I’ve never been able to do anything but watch.”
Mobius stopped fluffing the fabric in his hands and looked up.
“Yeah?”
“Well, there was a woman watching a film I had never seen so I thought I would drop in and take a peek. She was eating popcorn.”
“Okay?” Mobius asked, not sure where this was going.
“I always see people eating popcorn when they watch movies. I’ve never tried it myself, but it’s always seemed interesting to me.”
“We’ve had popcorn,” he said, placing the pillow on the couch. He began to unwrap the next one.
“Mobius that was caramel corn, it’s entirely different.” He laughed. “Anyway, as I was saying, this woman was eating popcorn and I decided to inspect it.”
“You’ve been investigating popcorn?”
“Mobius, I could smell it.” He stopped again, quirking a brow. “I’m always in these places, watching these events unfold before me, but I can only ever see them. But I could smell it, Mobius, I could smell the butter and the salt, I could smell that some of the kernels had been burned at the bottom of the dish she was carrying it in.”
“That’s… interesting,” he said, taking a seat on the couch.
“Isn’t it?” Loki continued, sounding ecstatic. “I went to a bakery. Fresh loaves of sourdough being pulled from the oven smell amazing.”
“Well now you’re just making me hungry,” Mobius joked, and Loki laughed. It was a delightful sound.
“That wine you opened tonight, the Chardonnay,” he went on, and Mobius picked up his glass. “It smells awful, I can’t believe you’re drinking it.”
“Oh boy, here we go again,” Mobius groaned, rolling his eyes. “I told you already, I bought it, so I’m going to drink it. I don’t want-”
“Don’t want it to go to waste, I know,” Loki finished for him, and he couldn’t help but smile. “Put a sad face next to that one.”
“Already done,” said Mobius, taking a long drink just to spite him. He grimaced a little as he swallowed. It really deserved that sad face.
“You smell nice, by the way,” Loki said softly.
“Thank you,” Mobius replied, blushing.
Mobius’ new wine tasting hobby became much more educational with Loki’s reclaimed sense. He still probably failed more often than he succeeded in describing the flavor, but it was honestly much easier with Loki’s input. Apricot, caramel, oak, molasses, he never would have gotten any of those scents on his own.
As it turned out, Loki didn’t just have a fine taste for wine. He was also apparently great at decorating. Mobius’ previously drab little living room, though clean and comfortable enough as it was, now sprang to life with colors that he never would have chosen himself. He was nervous when he looked at his online shopping cart, filled with pillows and curtains and vases of various shades, deep blues and dark mustard, a gold framed mirror and a dark wood tray to hold his fancy new wine decanter. Each box he unpacked over the following weeks was like an adventure, and when he finally had everything in its place, it started to feel like home.
He was sitting on the couch wrapped up in a plush new throw blanket when Loki came to him, and his excitement was palpable.
“Hello,” Loki said, a contagious smile in his voice.
“Hello,” Mobius replied. “Experimenting again?”
“How did you know?”
“I just know,” he said simply, and Loki chuckled.
“I’d like to try something,” said Loki, sounding more serious now, so Mobius sat up straight. “It’s not perfected, I can’t… It’s not solid,” he continued, and Mobius could hear that he was becoming anxious.
“Okay,” he said encouragingly, settling back against the cushions. “Whenever you’re ready.”
The room fell silent, and Mobius waited. He felt a hum of energy, like static in the air, faint but present in the atmosphere. He sat perfectly still.
After a few moments, the image of Loki flickered into sight, standing in the middle of his living room.
Mobius tightened his fingers around the blanket and his eyes widened.
“There,” Loki said quietly, and there was a small smile on his face. He was somewhat transparent and blurred around the edges, but he was there.
“Hello,” said Mobius. He was completely awestruck, grinning like a fool, and his heart was beating a mile a minute.
“Hello,” Loki repeated back to him, and there was a tremble in his voice, a familiar glisten in his eyes. He found it endearing, how emotional the god always seemed to be. He felt everything so fully, and he wasn’t afraid to show it.
“You look amazing,” said Mobius, and he meant it. Loki looked like the god he was always meant to be, powerful and strong. His cape, his horns, the deep dark fabric wrapped around his body like a forest in the night. He stood tall and proud, and there was a faint emerald glow like a halo surrounding him.
“Thank you,” Loki said sheepishly. He looked down at himself, and then held out his hands to inspect them. “Not fully solid yet, but I’ve been making progress.”
“A hell of a lot of it, I’d say,” said Mobius, still baffled by the sight before him. It was Loki. He was there.
“I’ve been working on this for a while. I didn’t want to show it off until it was ready. I’ve been testing it out in the timelines. I’ve been trying other things too, but I haven’t perfected them yet.”
“What kinds of things?” Mobius asked curiously.
“Touching things. I can do it sometimes, but it takes a lot of focus. I imagine it’ll get easier, just like everything else.”
Something seemed to catch the god’s attention then, so Mobius leaned over to see what it was.
“Well, hello there,” Loki said sweetly. It sounded unbearably cute.
Penelope was stretching after a nice long nap in Mobius’ linen closet. She was especially fond of sleeping on his freshly washed towels.
She padded over softly and looked up at the god curiously. She eyed him up and down, circling him slowly as she did.
After a lengthy inspection, she finally got close enough to rub against his leg, only to pass right through it.
“Oh dear,” said Loki, looking down at the confused creature and frowning. “I’m afraid I wasn’t prepared for that. Maybe next time.”
She looked up at him and squinted, like she was trying to figure him out. Mobius was worried that it would all be too much for her tiny brain to process and that he would have to find out if cat therapy was a thing that existed. Instead, she slowly wandered back to the closet as though nothing out of the ordinary had occurred.
“I think she likes you,” he said, and Loki grinned.
“Of course she does.”
Each time that Loki visited seemed to be an improvement from the last. Mobius couldn’t see through him anymore, and he no longer flickered in and out of view. He could interact with objects and began to take on small tasks like sliding Mobius’ glass across the table to him or stirring the cream into his coffee. Each one felt like a new revelation.
Eventually Loki managed to sit on the couch. After mastering that, he began pouring the wine and brewing the coffee. He started altering his clothes, an activity that provided them both with endless entertainment.
Loki hadn’t tried to touch him yet. He didn’t ask questions, and he didn’t push. He wanted it so badly, but he knew that Loki hadn’t quite perfected it. He would wait patiently for as long as it took.
It was difficult for him not to instinctively reach out to tuck Loki’s hair behind his ear each time it came loose. It happened often when he told a story, gesturing around wildly the way he always did when it was approaching the really good part. Mobius always tried to keep his hands busy so that he wouldn’t forget himself and grab Loki’s shoulder by accident or brush their fingers together when they both reached for the television remote. It was becoming harder with each passing day because Loki was constantly inching closer to him, consciously or not.
The nights grew colder with the changing of the seasons and Mobius was sitting on the couch under his new favorite blanket. It was the color of dark chocolate, deep and rich and almost shiny in the warm lamp light. For as much as Loki teased him about his fondness for the color brown, he managed to weave it throughout the house quite tastefully.
Loki was in the kitchen pouring wine into the decanter. Mobius wasn’t nearly sophisticated enough to need one, but Loki certainly was, so he ordered it online with only a minimal amount of fuss.
The god returned with the equally fancy tray, and Mobius shifted to the side to make space on the couch beside him. He was so wrapped up in how lovely Loki looked, this time sporting a pair of casual black trousers and a green cotton shirt, that he almost didn’t notice that there were two glasses on the tray. He lifted the blanket to allow Loki to slide in next to him, and he gently laid it back down over his thighs.
He looked pointedly at the pair of glasses and back to Loki, who had a small smirk on his face, but said nothing.
Loki smoothed his hands over his lap and tilted his head from side to side. He rolled his shoulders back and closed his eyes.
Mobius waited. He waited for what felt like an eternity before Loki finally cleared his throat, leaned forward, and began to pour two glasses of Pinot Noir. He handed one to Mobius and then held out his own, gently tapping them together.
Loki lifted the glass to his nose, swirled it gently in a lazy circle, and then took a drink.
Mobius’ jaw dropped.
“I can do it now,” the god said with a content sigh. He looked up at Mobius over the edge of his glass. “Solid.”
“How about that,” Mobius mused, watching intently as Loki licked his lips. “How is it?”
“It’s delicious,” said Loki, flashing a bright smile. His eyes glistened in the dim light.
“Good,” Mobius replied, not sure what else to say. They stared at one another for a long time, and Mobius fought the urge to look away. He felt a blush begin to creep up his neck, but he held Loki’s gaze. It seemed important to him.
“May I?” Loki asked finally, and he held up a hand.
Mobius wasn’t exactly sure what he was asking, but he nodded anyway.
Loki reached out slowly, long delicate fingers trembling slightly as they neared Mobius’ face.
They were cold when they finally pressed against his cheek, and he closed his eyes. It was real, Loki was real, not just a cheap illusion that turned to smoke or dust or sparks in the air. The fingertips against his skin were solid, and he didn’t care how the god had done it, didn’t care that it was magic, because it felt so real.
He felt Loki’s thumb trail upward from his jaw, tracing a line back and forth over his skin before resting at the corner of his mouth.
He was about to lean into the god’s palm when it was suddenly gone, and he opened his eyes.
Loki plucked the glass from his hand and leaned over to set them both down on the tray. He turned then, fully facing him, and took Mobius’ face in both of his hands.
“Can I kiss you?” Loki asked softly, and Mobius felt his heart swell.
“Yes,” he whispered back, and then added, “Please.”
Loki leaned forward and pressed their lips together. It was slow and tender, and Mobius thought he could spend the rest of his life doing just that.
Their mouths moved lazily against one other, warm and gentle, and the faintest swipe of Loki’s tongue across his own made him shiver. He pressed in closer, letting Loki deepen the kiss, and he felt something wet against his cheek.
He pulled away slowly, and Loki smiled despite the tears that trickled down his face.
“Are you crying?”
“Of course I’m crying, I’m always crying,” Loki chuckled, trying to blink them away.
He looked beautiful. He was so powerful, so otherworldly, and yet so incredibly human.
Mobius reached forward and wiped the tears from his cheeks with his thumbs, but when they were gone, he still didn’t want to let go. Loki’s cold skin against his own felt invigorating.
“Come here,” he said warmly, and Loki furrowed his brow.
“I am here,” the god replied, and Mobius huffed out a laugh.
“Over here, closer,” he explained, and laid back on the couch, his head propped up on one of the soft new pillows. He reached out his hand.
Loki stared at him for a moment hesitantly, as though he wasn’t sure if he was actually allowed to accept. Mobius wiggled his fingers encouragingly, which earned him a small smile.
Loki followed his lead, leaning forward and trying to squeeze in beside him. Mobius pulled him the rest of the way down until the god was laying halfway on top of him. He wrapped his hands around Loki’s narrow frame, hugging him tightly against his chest.
“Was this hard to do?” Mobius asked, tangling his fingers in Loki’s hair. It was soft and smooth, curling slightly at the ends, and he was happy to finally get his hands in it.
“A bit,” Loki replied. His breath felt warm through the thin fabric against his chest. “But I think it’ll get easier, just like everything else.”
“That’s good,” said Mobius, scratching his nails against Loki’s scalp. The god sighed, pressing his face more firmly into his chest. Mobius could feel him slowly begin to relax against him, muscles loosening as he moved his fingers delicately through his now messy locks. One of Loki’s arms was tucked underneath his body and the other was draped over Mobius’ stomach.
“This is nice,” Loki murmured sleepily between little hums of pleasure, and Mobius got the feeling that the god wasn’t used to this sort of attention.
“I think so too,” he said, holding him tighter. “We can do this anytime you want.”
‘Anytime’ was very often, as it turned out. Loki was very tactile, more than Mobius expected him to be, but he found it endearing and enthusiastically sought to indulge him at every opportunity.
Loki liked to lay with his head in Mobius’ lap, having his hair played with absentmindedly while they talked about his adventures through the timelines. They watched movies sometimes, cuddled together under the blanket and eating popcorn. Loki was obsessed with popcorn.
Mobius picked up another rocking chair and another handmade mug, the color of burnt umber with an intricate handle, so that they could sit on the porch and drink coffee together. When he went to the diner, he began to take two slices of key lime pie to go, and the lady at the counter winked at him when he left.
Even when Loki wasn’t around, busy performing his duties to the timelines, he felt content. He used to feel lonely, he used to feel lost, if he was being honest with himself, but he finally felt like he was in a place he wanted to be, living instead of simply letting time pass.
He watched some TV. He watered his plants. He made a turkey sandwich for lunch, and spaghetti for dinner. He packed the leftovers into a plastic container, and Penelope gladly accepted a small bite of a meatball when he offered it to her. He filled her dish with food, which she ate happily, and then he pulled two flute glasses from the cupboard. He couldn’t believe how much his selection of specialized drinkware had grown.
Loki poured them both a glass of champagne and topped it with a splash of cranberry juice. They clinked their glasses together and sipped on them happily late into the night.
They kissed sometimes. It was a tender thing, the soft press of lips and brushing of noses, sometimes deep and thrilling but never going too far. Mobius wanted more, but he didn’t want to rush anything, and Loki seemed content with the way things were going. But tonight, Loki was looking at him with a playful glint in his eyes, and Mobius felt his face warm.
They cuddled on the couch, Loki half on top of him as he liked to be, cheek pressed to Mobius’ chest and his arm wrapped around his middle. He shivered when Mobius began stroking his hair.
“Are you cold?” Mobius asked. The god’s skin always felt cool to the touch, and he often wondered about it.
“I always feel this way,” Loki replied, seeming to understand what Mobius was really asking. “I come from Jotunheim; it is a trait I’ve had since birth.”
“I see,” Mobius said softly, letting his nails drag over the back of Loki’s neck. He shivered again.
“But no, I’m not cold, because you’re so very warm.” Mobius felt Loki’s fingers slip underneath his shirt, brushing against his skin. “So warm,” he sighed, and tilted his head up to press a kiss to Mobius’ neck.
Mobius turned his head to the side to expose more of his skin, and he let Loki latch onto it firmly. His teeth grazed against him gently as he opened his mouth, letting his tongue glide over the junction between his shoulder and his neck. Loki’s thin lips were cold, but they felt wonderful on his quickly heating skin. Loki’s hand slipped higher beneath his shirt.
Loki sucked softly at him, not quite hard enough to leave a mark. His breath felt hot, and the dueling sensations made Mobius’ head spin.
Mobius tightened his grip in Loki’s hair, and the god moaned against him. He could feel Loki’s hips tremble against him, an aborted movement that was surely going to be an unintended thrust. It took every ounce of his self-control to keep from tearing the clothes off his body right then and there.
“I-is this alright?” Loki stuttered, the sound muffled as he continued to press small kisses across Mobius’ throat.
“Yes,” Mobius said quickly, sounding strained. It was hard to think with Loki’s mouth on him, growing more urgent with each passing second. As soon as the word had crossed his lips it was like the dam had broken, and Loki’s pent-up emotions began rolling off of him in waves.
Loki dragged a leg up over Mobius’ thighs and gripped him tightly under his shirt. His palm smoothed over Mobius’ ribs, pressing against him eagerly as he propped himself up to get a better angle. He moved to the other side of Mobius’ neck, sinking his teeth into the tender skin.
Mobius let out a startled yelp, and Loki shot up straight.
“S-sorry,” Loki stammered, eyes wide in embarrassment. His face was flushed. “I got a little carried away.”
Mobius laughed and reached out a hand, grabbing Loki by the forearm and squeezing it gently.
“It’s okay, just caught me a little off-guard. Come back here, it’s fine.”
Loki leaned over him again, shifting awkwardly as he tried to maneuver into a better position, and Mobius helped guide him until he was straddling the man’s hips. He was in his sweatpants, and he was sure Loki could feel his excitement through the thin fabric. He hoped it wasn’t too much.
Loki’s lips parted and his brow quirked, looking down at Mobius with half-lidded eyes.
“Should we do something about that?” Loki asked playfully, and his voice seemed to deepen an octave.
“Only if you want to,” Mobius replied, hoping desperately that he did.
Loki’s answer was a slow roll of his hips, pressing further down against him, and Mobius sighed.
“Say my name,” the god practically growled, and Mobius grabbed both of his thighs in his hands.
“Loki,” he whispered.
He could hear the god’s muscles begin to quake beneath his fingertips.
“To hear my name on your lips in such a manner… I could never tire of it.”
He gave another slow twist of his hips before bending down and kissing him deeply, pressing his tongue into his mouth.
Mobius kissed him back fervently, tangling his fingers into the god’s hair and pulling. Loki’s whole body seemed to jerk in response, so he did it again.
“You like that?” Mobius teased against his mouth, and Loki squirmed.
“So much,” he sighed in return, clutching at Mobius’ shoulders, letting the man beneath him take full control of the kiss.
Mobius took the god’s lower lip between his teeth and bit down experimentally, eliciting a low groan. He pressed up against Loki’s crotch, gripping his hips tightly and pulling him down against himself, chasing the friction.
“More,” Loki whined, grinding back against him. “Please, Mobius, I need more…”
“Tell me what you want,” Mobius murmured amid heated kisses.
“I want you to fuck me,” Loki moaned, and Mobius’ cock twitched impatiently between them. “Would you… would you want to…”
“Yes,” Mobius interrupted, stifling a laugh. “Yes, of course I would want to.”
Loki grinned then, hiding his face in the crook of Mobius’ neck.
“Of course,” Loki repeated back to him, giggling. “Silly question, I suppose.”
“Ridiculous question,” Mobius agreed, shaking his head. “Was I giving mixed signals with the kissing? Was it the hard on?”
Loki barked out a laugh, sitting back and looking down at him. His lips were pink, and his dark hair was falling into his face. He looked gorgeous.
“Come on, Your Highness,” said Mobius, giving Loki’s thigh a playful slap. The god sucked in a quick breath and let it out with a shudder. Mobius raised a brow. “You like that too?”
“So much,” Loki replied in a strained voice. “Let’s go to bed.”
They stumbled their way into the bedroom, Loki grabbing at Mobius’ clothes and tossing them onto the floor as they went. His own disrobing was an infinitely simpler task, and with a snap of his fingers he was fully undressed, standing at the foot of Mobius’ bed.
Mobius decided that it wasn’t fair. No one should look as good as Loki did in that moment, a faint blush down his neck and across his chest, his sharply defined abdominal muscles rippling with each quick breath he took. It was the body of a god, he supposed, not as mountainous as the god of thunder, but athletic and lithe, tall and pale and perfect.
Loki was looking a little anxious, and Mobius realized that it was because he’d just been standing there staring for far too long.
He closed the distance between them and shoved Loki backward onto the bed, perhaps a bit harder than he initially intended, but Loki seemed to enjoy it immensely.
Mobius climbed on top of him, slotting himself between Loki’s open legs, letting the god wrap himself around him tightly. Loki’s skin was still cool to the touch, but his breath was hot, and his tongue was hotter, licking up into his mouth as soon as he was close enough to do so.
The press of their bodies made Mobius’ head swim. It felt amazing, Loki’s soft skin sliding across his own. The god’s cock was hard against him, throbbing and wet, and he groaned as he rocked their hips together.
Loki put a hand on Mobius’ chest.
“I want to taste you,” Loki purred, licking his lips. “I want to feel you on my tongue.”
Mobius’ brain stopped working momentarily, and he let Loki push him so that he was sitting back on his heels. He barely had time to process what was happening before Loki’s mouth was on him, slick and warm, taking in his full length and moaning around it like it was the most satisfying thing in the world.
Mobius leaned back on his hands and tried to steady his hips as Loki sucked him off, the motion slow but firm, letting his lips drag languidly over the tip and then back down again. He could feel the back of Loki’s throat, the sweet suction as the god hollowed his cheeks when he came back up, and he fisted his hands in the sheets.
Loki was looking up at him through wet lashes, hair disheveled and clinging to his cheeks. He was making a show of it, sticking out his tongue and lapping at the tip, circling the head before dipping back down and swallowing around him. The sound of it was obscene and his jaw dropped open at the sight. It was the sexiest thing he had ever seen.
Mobius’ arms began to shake, and he was teetering closer to the edge. He reached forward and his hand hovered over the back of Loki’s head.
He didn’t want to be too rough, but Loki seemed to like rough, so he grabbed the god by the hair and yanked him off of his dick. Loki gave him a devilish grin in response.
“Fuck me, Mobius,” he whispered, craning his head back to look up into the man’s eyes. Mobius slid his fingers from Loki’s hair to cup the side of his face, and Loki leaned into it. Mobius pressed his thumb against Loki’s lips, and he gently nibbled at it, making him sigh.
Mobius pushed him backward again, and Loki parted his legs. Mobius kneeled between them and took the god’s cock in his hand.
Loki arched his back and hissed as Mobius stroked him. It was light and teasing, and Loki began writhing beneath him. It made Mobius feel powerful.
He removed his hand and began to run his fingers over Loki’s thighs, scraping his nails up and over his hips and across his chest. He leaned in and sucked at one of the god’s nipples, making him shudder and moan. He reached down again, barely swiping his knuckles over Loki’s twitching cock as he moved his lips to the other, licking until it hardened under his tongue. He moved his hand lower, brushing against Loki’s balls and sliding between his thighs, feather-light touches that were driving the god mad. Loki spread his legs even more, practically shaking with anticipation, when the sudden realization hit.
“I don’t have any lube,” Mobius blurted out, and it sounded so loud in the quiet room. He cringed. “I didn’t… I didn’t really anticipate…”
Loki laughed, and the warmth of it made Mobius smile despite his mortification.
“Mobius, I don’t know if you know this, but I can do magic.”
“Right,” he chuckled, shaking his head. “But how does that… Does that mean you can… What?”
“Don’t think about it too hard,” Loki said in a playful tone, pressing a chaste kiss to his temple. “Just keep doing what you’re doing, please. I promise it will be fine.”
“I… A-alright,” Mobius replied shakily, watching the god’s face.
Loki’s eyes were sparkling in the dim glow of light that poured in through the open doorway. He wasn’t quite smiling, but there was a blissful expression on his face. Mobius wanted to stare at him forever.
He repositioned himself so that he was laying along Loki’s side, propped up on one elbow, and he hitched one of the god’s legs over his own. He reached between them and dragged his palm over Loki’s hard length before slowly pressing a finger inside. He was surprised at how easy it was. He felt slick and pliant against him, and Loki’s mouth dropped open.
“That’s some trick,” Mobius said.
“Shut up,” Loki groaned, arching his back. “Don’t stop.”
So Mobius continued, gently working him open with one finger, and then two. He kissed Loki lazily as he did so, reveling in every little hitch of his breath, each choked off sound as he curled his fingers and began fucking into him in earnest. He pressed his lips against Loki’s sharp jaw, moving lower to lick at his neck, biting down and sucking the tender skin into his mouth. Loki’s legs were shaking, and he was twisting his fingers into the sheets.
“Want you inside me,” Loki groaned, biting his lip and pressing his head back into the pillow.
“Patience,” Mobius whispered against his ear, and Loki’s hips jerked. “I want to do this for a while.”
He watched Loki’s face intently as he fingered him, working into him faster, as deep as he could manage. The god’s expressive eyebrows were drawn together tightly, and his mouth hung open.
“Mobius, please,” Loki whined, face twisted up in pleasure.
“Not yet,” he growled, surprising himself, and Loki made an obscene noise. He should have guessed that Loki would like to be dominated like this, and he wished there was something around that he could tie him up with. He’d have to remember that for next time. “I want to do so many things to you.”
Loki reached up and grabbed him by the back of the neck, pulling him down and crashing their lips together.
Loki moaned into his mouth with each perfect curl of his fingers, little breaths punched out of him at every thrust. He spread his legs even wider, bending his knees, and Mobius slowed his movements to a snail’s pace. He could tell by the way Loki began to clench and unclench his fists that he wanted desperately to touch himself.
Mobius continued to tease him, moving his fingers at a leisurely speed, and he loved the way Loki’s mouth went slack against his own. He gradually worked his way up to a moderate pace, feeling Loki squeeze around him, before slowing down again.
The kiss was sloppy, Loki kept jerking his head back and gritting his teeth when he started to fuck into him faster again, so Mobius moved his lips to his jaw instead. He worked his way lower, biting down on Loki’s neck, and the god suddenly reached down and grabbed onto his wrist tightly.
“Wait,” Loki choked out, panting. His legs were shaking, and his muscles were drawn tight.
“Are you sure?” Mobius asked softly, starting to pepper his chest with light kisses. He moved lower still, feeling the hard planes of muscle ripple beneath his lips as Loki took in shallow shuddering breaths. Mobius kept his fingers still, but the god seemed to have lost control of his hips.
Loki propped himself up on his elbows and gripped the sheets tightly in his fists. His lips were pressed together in a firm line. Mobius inched closer to the leaking head of his cock, and Loki’s eyes widened.
Mobius wrapped his mouth over the tip and Loki’s hips jerked. He threw his head back, chest rising and falling rapidly as he panted loudly.
“Wait, wait,” he begged, writhing beneath him, and it was everything Mobius could have wanted. He wasn’t even moving anymore, he simply held the god’s length firmly against his tongue and watched him sputter and squirm, so close, so close it was almost painful.
He shuddered when Mobius finally removed his fingers and let his cock slide out of his mouth.
Loki fell back with a thud and a high-pitched whine.
“Was that too much?” Mobius asked, settling in against Loki’s side. He pushed the hair from Loki’s face and stroked his cheek.
“Apart from nearly killing me just now, it was perfectly fine.”
“A bit dramatic.”
“Everything I do is dramatic.”
Mobius huffed out a laugh and the god gave him a small smile.
Loki reached out and pressed his hand against Mobius’ chest. He dragged his fingertips down the man’s sweat-slick skin and bit his lip. He was staring up at him hungrily through his lashes. His cheeks were red, and his hair was a mess, and he looked absolutely perfect.
Mobius gave him a while to catch his breath, and when the god finally regained control over his limbs, he raised himself up to his knees.
“Come on,” Loki said in a rough voice, and he wrapped his fingers over the headboard. He tossed his hair back and glanced over his shoulder, a wicked smile on his face.
Mobius couldn’t believe that anything could be so sexy. He quickly got to his knees and ran his hands over Loki’s back, scratching his nails over the cool skin. He lined himself up and began to slowly press inside.
He moved slowly at first, rolling his hips and getting used to the sensation. It wasn’t long before Loki was urging him faster, pressing back against him eagerly.
“Harder,” Loki panted, and he looked at Mobius with a pleading expression on his face.
Mobius would give Loki anything he asked for.
He dug his fingers into Loki’s sharp hips and slammed into him, and the god practically shouted in surprise. His knuckles whitened as he gripped the headboard tighter, hanging on for dear life as Mobius fucked him with everything he had, knowing it was exactly what Loki wanted.
The sound of profanities was music to Mobius’ ears. It was all the usual ones, plus more in a language he didn’t understand. Loki was arching his back, trying to hold himself steady as Mobius crashed into him.
Mobius reached out and grabbed a fistful of Loki’s hair and pulled, making him cry out, and Mobius wanted to hear him make those gorgeous sounds forever.
Loki was shoved forward with a particularly hard thrust, and he pressed his hands against the wall. He scrabbled uselessly for purchase as Mobius continued fucking him at a brutal pace, encouraged by the god’s cries of yes and harder and more.
Mobius wrapped his arms around Loki’s waist and pulled him back against him roughly, and Loki yelped as they almost toppled over.
“You,” Mobius growled into Loki’s ear, pouring every ounce of lust into it as he could. They were completely still now, Loki sitting back into his lap, quivering at the sensation of the man’s cock throbbing inside him. Mobius’ forearm was pressed firmly into the god’s chest, and he wrapped his free hand around the base of Loki’s dick and squeezed. “You feel so good,” he moaned as he kissed the back of Loki’s neck, nudging his hair out of the way with his nose. “You’re mine.” He could feel Loki twitch against his palm.
“Yes,” the god practically sobbed, reaching back and grabbing Mobius’ hips tightly in his hands. “I’m yours, always, always.”
“I want to see you,” Mobius whispered against his skin. “I want to watch you. I want to know what your face looks like when you come.”
He grabbed Loki’s shoulders and the god gasped as he allowed himself to be shoved forward on the mattress. He turned around quickly onto his back.
Mobius grabbed Loki’s legs roughly in his hands and pressed them forward, bending his knees and practically folding the god in half. A look of surprise flashed across his face before it dissolved into unadulterated pleasure.
Mobius slammed into him, palms planted firmly on the backs of Loki’s knees, holding him in place. Loki reached his hands over his head and gripped the edge of the mattress tightly in his fingers. The muscles in his arms stretched and rippled with the effort, and Mobius moaned at the sight of it.
The god’s face was like an open book. His lips curled and his eyes rolled back with each particularly positioned thrust. His brows knitted together, and he made little choked off noises in the back of his throat.
Mobius reached a hand forward to tangle it into Loki’s hair, using his bodyweight to keep the god in that impossible position. Loki whined and he bit his lip, tilting his head back and exposing the tight cords in his neck.
Mobius was losing steam fast, fucking into him with wild abandon, trying his best to hold on. He took the god’s cock in his other hand, spitting on it to slick it up more, and Loki squeezed his eyes shut.
“Yes,” Loki choked out as Mobius pulled at his hair while stroking him roughly. He snapped his hips forward, keeping the pace as best he could, just a little bit longer, just a little bit more.
Loki bared his teeth, chest heaving and legs shaking as he came, and Mobius was right there with him. He collapsed forward on top of him, exhausted, and he kissed him sloppily on the neck. He didn’t care about the mess smeared between them; all he could focus on were the sweet little sounds that Loki was making as he tried to catch his breath. He hummed contentedly as Mobius’ fingers loosened in his hair, skating over his scalp in a soothing motion.
They laid like that for a long while, wrapped around one another, until the sweat cooling on Mobius’ skin began to make him feel chilled. He was still inside Loki, soft and warm, but he finally pulled away begrudgingly. He grabbed his shirt from the floor and used it to wipe down Loki’s stomach, across his chest, and along his neck. It was practically everywhere, now that he really looked at him, and Loki peeked up at him with one eye open.
“Sorry,” Loki said, lips curling into a smile.
Mobius laughed as he laid down beside him, grabbing the blankets and pulling them up. They were pressed together side by side, and Loki intertwined their fingers.
“I really missed you,” Mobius said quietly, closing his eyes and settling back into the mattress. “I’m glad you’re here. I’m glad I can touch you now.”
“Stop,” Loki murmured. “You’re going to make me cry again. You know I will.”
“Happy tears are fine,” he replied. “I’m okay with happy tears.”
“Oh good,” Loki sighed, “Because they’ve already started.”
Mobius chuckled and turned on his side to place a kiss against Loki’s wet cheek.
“I’m so glad you came back to me,” Mobius said again, and Loki wiped his eyes.
“Nothing could have stopped me,” said Loki softly. “I love you.”
“I love you too.”
Mobius was rather fond of his new routine. He went for a run in the morning, shortly after sunrise. He made a pot of coffee and poured it into two handmade mugs. He made two sandwiches for lunch and brought home two slices of pie. He invested in a popcorn popper because someone complained when he burned the kernels on the stovetop one too many times. He bought a bottle of whiskey, and finally gave in when someone insisted on a new fancy decanter with a pair of matching glasses. He ordered a new set of sheets with a very high thread count and broke them in immediately.
Mobius was happy. Mobius was alive, thrumming with excitement for each day that passed, and he was finally living, not just letting time pass him by.