Nexus

Chapter Three

The doors opened automatically, leading into a large room. Red stripes adorned the walls, with lights in between. One of the walls was covered in scale-like triangles, and there was a table and two chairs in the center of the room. On the table was a strange red device.

"This is the time theater." Mobius explained. "We typically use it to review the events of the sacred timeline. Although," his voice dropped to a whisper, "Some of us just watch it for fun. I've heard that a few of the people around the office are putting together different files to make a movie."

"You can see the future with this?" Mobius looked at him for a moment, something like pity on his face, then asked "Would you like to know what would've happened?" "Yes."

He pressed a button on the device, projecting an image on the wall of an older Thor, bearded and laughing next to an older Loki. The image grew blurry and he quickly wiped away the tears, trying to steady his breath. Another image replaced it, this time of Thor and him fighting together. Then another, Thor sitting by his side, an arm wrapped around his shoulder. Another, both of them sitting with their mother, watching stars in the night sky.

It kept changing, years in minutes. Laughter, tears, anger, forgiveness. So much that could never be.

"Stop." He didn't even try to hide the tears. "Please." "Are you alright?" Mobius stopped the device, and it froze on an image of Thor's smiling face. "It's my fault." "It was an accident, you said it yourself. It was never meant to happen that way. In the sacred timeline-" "He survives." "Exactly. That's how the Timekeepers planned it."

"So the Timekeepers keep him alive?" "Yes..." Mobius looked at him with concern. "Where are they?" "Kid, only TVA employees can get an audience with the Timekeepers. And even then, It's only the best of the best. Even Ravonna's only seen them once. You might be able to talk to Miss Minutes-" "Absolutely not. I never want to see that infernal clock again." "Really? I think she's kinda cute." "You're mad." "That's fair." "How do you reach the point when the Timekeepers will see you?" "Well, either you do something really good, or you do something really bad. A while back, some variants tried to escape, and they- Never mind, forget I said anything.

AN: It took me a week and I still can't figure out what to put here, so I'm just gonna leave it blank and go on with the story.

He turned, trying to run, only to reappear where he started. He tried again with the same result. Mobius' hand was outstretched, holding a small device."Let me go."

"I can't do that." "Let me go!" He repeated, shouting. "Calm down, kid." "You said you wanted to help!" "I can't help you if you keep-" "Just let me fix this!" He slammed his fist into the table, shattering the glass and watching the blood spill from his hand. "I need to fix this..." "Kid..." Mobius watched him, opening and closing his mouth, seemingly deciding what to say. "There's some things even the Timekeepers can't change."

"But they can control time." "Not exactly." "So they aren't powerful?" A shard of glass cut into his palm as his grip tightened around it. "They are, but-" "Prove it!" Mobius stepped back, holding up his hands. "Kid, listen-" He opened a deep cut on Mobius' arm with the piece of glass. Mobius pressed a button on the device before he knocked it out of his hand.

He backed Mobius against a wall, pressing the shard of glass closer to his throat, only vaguely aware of the soldiers entering the room and surrounding them, and shouted. "Damn it! If your precious Timekeepers are so powerful, why don't they just bring him back?"

There was a sudden pain in his chest and he looked down. The hole in his torso grew, sparks ringing the edges. He met Mobius' eyes again and whispered a single word.

"Why?"