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"Okay, explain to me one more time," Thor asks, eyeing the two men before him as he tried to wrap his head around all of this.
It's a lot to take in.
He was minding his own business, trying to get back into shape after they saved the universe, again, when a rectangle appeared. A man with silver hair and a stern suit stepped out followed shortly by his very dead brother.
Suffice to say he was taken aback and angry he'd been fooled by his brother once again.
He'd been taken to this facility that showed him memories of his past and present and the different versions of him.
If he hadn't seen it with his own two eyes, he wouldn't have believed it.
He saw Loki's death again, the final one with Thanos and how there were no tapes after. He was well and truly dead.
After a short explanation and an invitation to lunch, Thor found himself in Asgard, full and thriving.
If the facility, the TVA he thinks it was called, wasn't enough to convince him of alternate timelines, seeing his home restored to its original perfection with his mother alive and well was more than enough.
He had a million questions, most revolving around his brother. If he died how was he here?
The silver haired man, Mobius, merely lifted a picnic basket and they started to eat, with a promise to answer any questions once they've gotten some food in them.
What Thor had gathered was that the TVA was a secret organization in charge of making things happen the way they were meant to. Originally they had destroyed anything slightly off kilter. A version Iron Man who didn't make an iron suit in prison was destroyed. Or a version of Captain America who stayed with the love of his life was gone.
He learned that Loki, the one before him now, had comen in and turned their organization upside down and now they ran it in a way where the only things destroyed were the ones posing a real danger to every timeline. A version of Thor who followed Loki into his anger at his dad or a version of Doctor Strange who followed his anger instead of his calm, ones that posed a threat to everything.
It's abstract and bizarre, but he thinks it makes sense.
It makes just enough sense for him to understand that the Loki in front of him isn't his brother from his own timeline. This Loki got ahold of the tessaract when the Avengers had gone back in time to grab said object and he got away. He was taken into custody shortly after. He never made it to his death at the hands of Thanos
"So this device," Thor starts, gesturing towards the little box Mobius had been showing him. "It can take you anywhere at any time?" He's apprehensive, watching the way Loki moves.
Loki had always just wanted control. He wanted control of everything and he was selfish until the very end. His one act of selflessness is what got him killed.
This Loki had disappeared right at the time of his life where his brother had been at the height of his power hungry control. He'd just gotten arrested by the Avengers.
How could he have changed this fast when in his reality it took years?
This poor kind man was falling for Loki's tricks, much like everyone else, Thor himself included.
"Correct."
"Then you should keep it well away from my brother," Thor says, not one to mince words.
He wants to believe that his brother has changed, but he can't. He's been fooled one too many times for that to be true.
Loki's smiles slowly fades off his face and he pulls away from his partner, like any touch is a burn. He swallows thick and bites back tears, visibly putting up a wall.
Thor feels bad at the clear hurt, but he can't control his own feelings, his own fears, either and he doesn't trust his brother.
All the excitement from finding Thor is completely gone and the air is thick with tension.
Loki thought that maybe the Sacred Timeline Thor would understand that Loki was good, that he'd changed for the better. He died to save him, after all.
Instead the words are cruel and hit him where it hurts, words he's thought to himself a million times before.
He's not good enough.
He will never be enough for Mobius.
His brother will never believe he's worked hard to be better.
Some things never change.
Mobius grabs Loki's hand and they have a silent conversation.
Thor feels rather uncomfortable as he watches them, surprised to find someone knows his brother well enough to communicate without words.
Loki bows his head and excuses himself for a moment, walking off towards the rolling hills behind them, far enough away to not hear their conversation.
Thor watches him go warily before turning towards Mobius.
"He's a good guy," Mobius starts.
"I'd like to believe that," Thor expresses.
Mobius watches him a moment as if studying him. "But it's hard," Mobius says. "He wasn't exactly trustworthy your entire life. I get it."
They watch as Loki conjures some food for a stray sheep, giggling when it eats from his hand.
Thor grins as Loki is soon swarmed by animals, all of them trusting him to be kind. It warms something inside him to see his brother happy.
"It's okay not to believe him yet," Mobius starts, drawing Thor's attention back to him. "But be kind. Don't let your cruel words cut him. He's been through a lot to get to the place he's in. It would hurt to see that all disappear."
Thor nods.
He can't make any promises, but he can certainly try.
Loki comes back to them, an easy smile on his face as they continue their lunch, enjoying one another's company.
Loki explains all that he's been through, from the moment he was arrested by the Avengers to where he is now. Mobius interjects every once in a while to correct him or explain his side of things, but for the most part he's happy to listen to Loki talk.
It's sickeningly sweet.
Thor isn't quite sure he believes all of it, but he finds the stories entertaining nonetheless.
If any of it is true, he would love to meet this female Loki who wanted nothing more than to be a Valkyrie when she grew up. She sounds like a force to be reckoned with.
In turn, Thor explains what has happened in his timeline after Loki was arrested by the Avengers in New York since it seems like Loki only had the key points of the story.
Their conversations are interrupted as the ground starts to shake. Loki's head shoots up and he jumps into a fighting stance, placing himself in front of Mobius immediately. The air crackles with his magic and Thor is immediately on edge.
Loki and magic never went well for him, but there seems to be bigger problems at the moment.
Over the hill a horde of a dozen ogres appear, screaming and howling as they rush towards Asgard.
Thor is amazed at Loki's immediate jump into action. He's even more amazed by Mobius pushing himself up to join them, pulling out what looks to be a shock baton.
"You are human. Maybe-" Thor starts, hesitant to let the man join the fight. Sure he knows plenty of powerful humans, but he is not sure how well this man can fight. He doesn't need the distraction as he's fighting.
"Trust me brother. He will be fine," Loki interrupts his thoughts. "That thing does more damage than it looks."
Mobius meets Loki's eyes apologetically and Loki waves him off like this is a conversation they've had before.
Thor summons Mjolnir, pushing thoughts of their relationship to the back of his mind. Right now he needs to focus.
The fight is long and grueling. The ogres are more than half their size and strong as hell. Loki's magic is starting to wane. He hasn't had as much practice as the Loki Thor knew in his timeline. His body sways as the magic drains him physically.
Mobius, who had actually surprised Thor with his fighting capabilities, was beginning to slow, each pass of his baton slower than the last.
Thor is pinned against a tree by a couple ogres, thoughts far from Mjolnir, something he's found himself doing more often as of late.
There's a startled shout from behind Loki, coming from the silver haired man and Thor struggles to free himself. Mobius is in danger and he cannot be of help.
He watches as Loki's eyes go wide and he spins towards the danger.
Mobius was on the ground, his baton tossed a dozen feet from his reach as an ogre advanced on him.
Mobius crawls backwards in a desparate attempt to get his feet beneath him, but the ground is slipping beneath his shoes.
Thor throws off the ogre on him and beats him to a pulp, rounding on the other ogre.
Loki screams, drawing Thor's attention from his own creature as he darts towards his husband, pure fear and adrenaline pushing him forward.
Thor is thrown to the ground by the other ogre and he struggles in his grip.
He bashes the ogre's head against the tree and watches as it collapses next to him.
Loki dips for just a moment and Thor thinks he's tripped before he's found completely speechless.
There's only one ogre left, the one now on top of Mobius and Thor can do nothing but watch as Loki attacks, Mjolnir glinting bright in Asgard's sun as he swings it against the creature.
The ogre falls off of Mobius and Loki swings again, dropping the hammer as the creature disappears into a golden dust.
He scrambles towards Mobius the second that he's sure they won't be attacked again; frantically searching for any wounds.
Mobius is muttering words to him before Loki pulls him into a bruising kiss, tears in his eyes as relief floods him.
Thor stumbles towards then, staring at his brother in complete shock and awe.
"You," he starts.
Loki pulls back, wiping the tears from his eyes as he meets Thor's gaze.
"Y-you," he sputtered, glancing at Mjolnir. Loki follows his eyes and Thor can see the exact moment it clicks in all of their heads.
"I just... I just picked it up," he whispers, dumbfounded.
Mobius grins bright. "Told ya you changed." He pushes Loki's shoulder affectionately as the man laughs, delighted, staring at the hammer.
Thor pulls his brother into a bone crushing hug, tears lining his own eyes as he realizes his brother really has changed.
And if he changed then everything he said was true, or close to true, and he's been through so much.
"Congratulations brother,"
And Loki laughs as he hugs his brother tighter.