The so-called mechanical bull rocked back and forth, unseating its latest rider in a matter of seconds. The man tumbled gracelessly to the foam mat beneath amidst the shouts and laughter of his friends.
Loki grinned as an amusing thought crossed his mind, and he turned to Verity. āWho do you suppose would last the longest?ā
In which Loki poses a challenge and gets a taste of his own medicine⦠and then gives it right back.
just a little lokius fic set right after X-5's capture :)
āWeāll be right behind you,ā says Loki, waving B-15 off.
She looks at him, eyebrow raised, but walks through the time door with X-5 securely cuffed at her side.
āUh, Loki?ā Mobius asks, confused.
āYou okay?ā Loki asks, shoulders squared and hands in his pockets. Heās tense.
āWhat?ā Mobius blinks at the god in front of him. āYeah, Iām fine?ā
āAre you sure? X-5 pushed you into the wall pretty hard.ā Loki clears his throat and continues, āLooked like you hit your head.ā
Mobiusā reaches to touch the back of his head, his fingers brushing a small, tender lump. He winces.
Loki takes notice and moves in closer. He replaces Mobiusā hand with his own, gently cradling the back of his head.
Green light glows from Lokiās palm and Mobius feels a thrumming across his skull. Itās not painful or uncomfortable, in fact itās one of the most comforting feelings Mobiusā has ever experienced. His breath hitches, at the sudden warmth caused by Lokiās magic and proximity.
Loki looks down at Mobius, eyes dancing between the agentās gaze and his slightly parted lips.
It would be so easy to pull Mobius in, close the gap between them, and for Loki to seal his mouth over Mobiusā.
Instead, he finishes healing the bump on Mobiusā head, and steps away. His gaze is soft and he isnāt as tense as he was moments ago.Ā
Mobius swallows, pushing down the hot desire that had built in his chest. He really thought for a moment that Loki was going to kiss him, and that it was going to be the most glorious thing that has ever happened to him.
āAre you hurt anywhere else?ā Lokiās voice pulls Mobius back.Ā
āUm, no, Iām really fine now.ā Mobius touches the spot on his head where a lump should be, but touches nothing but smooth hair and healed skin. āPromise. And, uh, thank you.ā
Loki smiles at him and reaches out to grab Mobius by the forearms. He smooths his hands over the rough fabric, up and down, and Mobius feels himself flush ever so slightly .Ā
The amount of tender care Loki is performing for Mobius is such a turn from minutes ago when he had X-5 up against that wall, pinned by the shadows of his two clones. The piercing, dark gaze reserved for X-5 has now softened, and Mobius is swallowed by pools of tranquil blue.
āI donāt like seeing you hurt,ā Loki says, casually, and it catches Mobius off guard. āAnd youāre welcome.ā Mobius canāt help the dopey smile that spreads across his face at Lokiās sincerity.
They stand there for a moment, just smiling softly at each other like idiots. Itās nice.
Mobius is the one to speak up.
āBy the way, that whole thing. The crowd,ā Mobius waves behind him and then gestures towards the spots where the two other Lokis stood, āConjuring up multiple yous. That sure was something.ā
Loki just shrugs. āYouāve seen me do it before, Iām sure, in your many years of studying me.ā Thereās a slight teasing tone in the godās voice that puts Mobius at ease.
āSure, itās one thing to see it on a screen,ā Mobius says. āBut to see it in person? To see you in action like that? I know I said it was a little over the top, but itās awesome. Youāre awesome.ā
Loki chuckles and looks down at his shoes, willing the moisture in his eyes away. And because Mobius knows Loki, he tries to distract him by saying,
āNow, was that illusion projection or duplication casting?ā
āOh, shut up,ā Loki says looking back up at Mobius, he laughs and a stray tear makes its way down his face.
Now itās Mobius turn to inch forward. He reaches up to wipe Lokiās cheek, and lets his hand linger to cradle his face.
Loki sniffs and leans into Mobiusā palm, almost nuzzling into the touch.Ā
āWe should go,ā says Mobius. āB-15 will come looking for us.ā
Loki nods and Mobius pulls away. Neither revel in the sudden cold left between them.
Mobius taps away at his TemPad and pulls up a door. The agent nods for Loki to follow him but before Mobius can move Loki grabs his arms and pulls him back.
āLoki, whaāā Mobius is cut off by soft lips pressed against his.
Itās quick, a peck really, nothing major, but Mobius freezes as Loki pulls away, his brain stuttering to a halt. Loki retreats back a little and shoves his hands in his pants pockets once more.
āBetter late than never, I suppose,ā Loki says with a shy smile on his lips.
āLoki,ā Mobius breathes out and closes the gap between them once more.
His hands come up to hold Lokiās face and Loki is swift to wrap his arms around Mobiusā waist. They kiss, softly and with purpose, forgetting about the disaster waiting for them through that glowing, orange door.Ā
There isnāt a soul around to spoil this one precious moment. Itās all theirs, and itās all that matters; wrapped around each other in this empty lot in 1977 London.
Lokiās hands wander underneath Mobiusā suit jacket and slide up his back, bringing him even closer, if thatās possible. Mobius sighs into Lokiās mouth and tangles his fingers in the godās soft, dark curls, unable to deny the heat unfurling in his belly.
Loki is the first one to pull away, much to Mobiusā dismay. He presses their foreheads together and bumps his nose against Mobiusā.
āWe really do need to be going,ā the god says quietly.
āWhen all of this is over,ā Mobius starts, āand weāve won⦠will you stay?āĀ
Lokiās throat feels tight, constricting around the lump of emotion settling there, and his eyes water.
āWhere else would I go?ā Loki asks.
āAnywhere you want,ā Mobius replies. āYou could go home.ā
Loki shakes his head and presses forward to place another kiss to Mobiusā lips, sweeter this time, feeling the lump in his throat dissolve into his chest and blooms into something warm and promising.
When they pull apart, Loki looks down at his analyst and says, āIām already there.ā