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"So, you mean to imply that you brought me here without any idea on what to do with me?" Loki asked incredulously.
"If we let you roam free we will never be able to track you down again." Mobius replied, his gaze shifted down to his shoes, so as to avoid eye contact with the prisoner. "At least I'm offering you the luxury of staying in my apartment for the time being."
Mobius had told Loki that by picking up the Tesseract at the Stark Tower, he disrupted alternate timelines, but the TVA had no idea whatsoever of what was disrupted exactly. As the TVA attempted to look into this important matter, Loki was to stay under Mobius' supervision.
"I'd rather rot in a jail cell than to share an apartment with the likes of you."
Mobius had an exasperated expression about his face. "Look, Loki, they asked me to keep an eye on you. I can't just leave you in a cramped cell-- I do not wish to."
Loki's eyes swam to the juice box sitting on the table. He stared at it, willing himself to escape from this reality; he wished for anything but to linger here, in this gloomy, despairing place any longer.
"You can fix your blasted timeline yourself," Loki snapped, shooting up from his seat. "I do not wish to dawdle here any longer." With that said, he turned to leave, but the collar that was wrapped around his neck buzzed and sent electric sparks down his spine, dealing an immense amount of pain. Loki grunted, his hand automatically shooting up to the metal band and whipped around to glare at the agent.
"What in the nine realms was that for?"
"You can't blame me," Mobius shot back as he replaced the remote in his pocket. "Since you're being so difficult."
"Take it off," Loki demanded, his tone dangerously calm.
"Not until you learn to behave."
With a disgruntled expression plastered on his face, he sat down again.
*
Mobius' apartment was in the uppermost levels of the TVA. The lift that brought them there opened up to a hallway lined with endless rows of wooden doors with metal engravings bolted to them.
The TVA agent ushered him out of the cramped space, placing a hand on his back to beckon him out of the lift. Through the thin material of the beige prisoner jumpsuit Loki was forced into, he could feel the strong muscles of his back starting up like a cog in the machine. The sensation sent goosh flesh up Mobius' arm; he was stimulated by the movements and he tried not to shiver as he stepped out.
Mobius led his prisoner down the monotonous hallway and halted at room 221. He fished his keys out from his pocket and placed it in the lock, a soft click emitting as he turned it. He flung open the door and they stepped into the dark apartment.
The room was drenched in light once the door snapped shut. Loki spied a small couch an ornate coffee table and a television in the living room. Loki pondered the question of whether it was in black and white or not. Everything looked so pristine, so spotless... Loki felt a strange sense of tranquility when he looked around.
"You can sleep with me if you like, I don't mind." Mobius offered nonchalantly.
"I'd rather sleep with a rotten fish."
Loki's snarky remark left Mobius rather hurt, albeit he tried to hide it.
"You can take the couch then."
Just then, a phone that was sitting on a table in the corner of the room rang. Mobius hurried over and picked it up. "Hello?"
"Yes,"
"Yes, thank you."
"I'll be right there, sir."
"I've left a few files at my office. I'll be right back. Feel free to get something to eat from the fridge or clean yourself up in the bathroom," Mobius placed down the receiver and said. "Don't do anything rash. Although I wouldn't care if you did, the collar will work its wonders if you do so." He grabbed his keys from the coffee table and left.
Loki was on the couch, staring into space aimlessly for another five minutes, finally having a moment to himself ever since he broke free from Stark Towers. He didn't even remember the last time he had privacy, since no one trusted him enough to leave him on his own.
He wondered why Mobius, out of everyone trusted him. He was so used to people distancing themselves from him that he couldn't tell if Mobius was being genuine or was just ordered to do so. Then again, he trusted him enough to leave him in his apartment, even if it was just for a few minutes. He wondered if this was a test to see if he misbehaves.
Loki wandered into the small bathroom Mobius owned and shut the door firmly behind him. He stripped out of his prison outfit, leaving him bare except for the collar around his neck, the dim, red light embedded in the metal pulsating steadily with a fixed rhythm. Steaming hot water trickled out and pooled in the bath immediately when Loki turned the tap on. When the water rose to a certain level, he turned it off and settled down with a relaxed sigh.
The boiling water on his skin felt strange and tingly. Because of his Jotun heritage, he wasn't accustomed to searing temperatures, but he was able to relax until he heard the door click open.
"S-sorry," he heard the voice of Mobius stutter. Loki stared back at him with a stoic expression. "Sorry, I didn't know you were taking a bath."
"It's fine, I don't mind," Loki said after a moment's hesitation.
"I-I'll get you a towel." Mobius averted his eyes and scurried out.
He returned with a towel and some clothes.
"What's that?"
"I thought- you might like something to wear other than that tattered prison outfit."
"It won't fit me,"
Mobius scoffed. "Just try it on. From what I've seen, you detest that prison outfit more than anything else." He placed them beside the sink and left.
Loki mustered a smile and lifted himself out of the tub. With water dripping down his sides, he grabbed the towel and dried himself off. He glanced at the outfit Mobius left him. With a skeptical expression, he pulled the plain white shirt over his head.
A familiar scent wafted past his nostrils and he brought his sleeve up to sniff it. He didn't even realise he had been taking in the scent of heaven ever since he was with Mobius. Now that it enveloped him as well, he felt the familiar warmness fill him up from within. There was no denying that Mobius smelt good.
He flung open the door and found him sitting on the couch with a cup of tea. The sound of the door grating against the floor made Mobius look up. A smile spread across his face when he saw Loki with his shirt on. "See, I told you it fits."
Loki shrugged in reply.
"I think I'm going to turn in for the night." Mobius finally said.
"Good night,"
The lights clicked off and Mobius retreated into his room with a faint smile.
With a sigh, Loki reclined on the couch. His eyes surveyed the space above him, tracing invisible patterns with the extravagant engravings on the ceiling. The only light in the room was the red light on his collar, which plunged the space around him into total darkness every time it blinked. He was exhausted, but he couldn't bring himself to sleep. He just didn't feel like it.
He was left alone to his thoughts, his mind exploring the questions whizzing around in his head. What even was this place? Who is that man? And why is he so terribly nice? Loki wasn't used to people showing consideration towards him. When Mobius lent him his clothes, he felt like he was soaring. This simple act of kindness stirred something in him. Now it left him with a wave of questions that washed over him, seeming to want nothing but to drown him.
What felt like an hour passed, and Loki sat up, still unable to drift off. These stray thoughts haunted him, and besides, the couch was too stiff. He stalked over to Mobius' room blindly, stumbling into the coffee table on the way. He stood awkwardly for a moment, unsure whether to enter or not.
His hand closed around the doorknob and turned it noiselessly. The door creaked open, allowing him entry. The room inside was simply furnished, acting as a home for a few bookshelves, wardrobes and a double bed parked next to the wall. Mobius was curled up in the sheets on the plush mattress, his eyes closed and the rise and fall of his chest slowed. He looked serene when he slept; Loki couldn't suppress the smile that was spreading across his face. He was glad that no one could see him now.
He sat down next to the sleeping figure of his chaperone, the mattress dipping under his added weight. His virescent eyes, now void of mischief and replaced with affection, whizzed to Mobius' tangled grey hair. Loki reached out and smoothed it down, his digits intertwining in his locks.
Mobius sensed the intrusion and his eyes fluttered open groggily. "What, you can't sleep?" he mumbled, squinting up at Loki. "Take the space next to me, I don't mind."
Loki was about to refuse when he felt Mobius' grip tighten around his wrist. With a deft move, he was hauled onto the bed and beside the half-asleep Mobius. In no time, Loki was incarcerated in Mobius' arms. As if nothing had happened, Mobius snuffled and went back to sleep.
Loki attempted to push his arms away gently, but Mobius could have easily been a brick wall. He locked Loki in place, giving him minimal space to shift around. Loki's emotions acted up inside of him anew. He had no clue what to feel towards this intimate gesture. He wasn't even certain if he enjoyed it or not. He ultimately decided that it felt nice to be snuggled up in the sheets with him, wrapped tightly in his warm embrace. He looked over his shoulder at Mobius, who was lost in his dreams again, in a fantasy world no one could reach. He suddenly felt a rush of gratitude and love towards the man that rested before his eyes. In the heat of these intricate feelings, he leaned down and placed a kiss on the other's forehead. "I'm sorry," the two words he never thought he'd ever say fell out of his lips. He wasn't sure of the reason behind his actions. He simply felt obliged to. The unfamiliar feeling subsided, and he instantly regretted his doing. He turned, and with Mobius' arms still wrapped securely around him, he fell into a dreamless sleep.
Somewhere in his dreams, Mobius smiled.