fiction | Part of the journey is the end

8. The nexus event - 2

Loki and Mobius walked out of the Timedoor and back into the Time Theatre. Loki said they were in a loop of their own, referring to the fancy technology and threatening interrogation tactics.

"The two of them do seem to be going in circles," said Wanda.

Mobius asked Loki to explain how the TVA was lying to him or if it was just a cockroach's survival mechanism kicking in.

"It's not!" everybody yelled.

"Just listen to Loki for once!" said Thor.

Loki said he would tell Mobius if he stopped beating him up. Mobius asked how long Loki had been working for the Variant. Loki scoffed at the idea.

"They literally just met," said Sam.

Mobius asked if they were partners then.

"Well, I guess they're romantic partners," Bucky said awkwardly.

"No," Thor said firmly.

"Absolutely not. She's difficult and irritating, and she tries to hit me all the time."

"True love," said Tony.

Thor groaned and Loki winced.

Mobius guessed Loki didn't do partners unless it benefited him, and he intended to betray them at some point.

Loki crossed his arms. It was true, to an extent.

Mobius asked what caused the nexus event on Lamentis.

All of them grimaced at the reminder.

"I still don't think it makes sense," said Stephen.

Loki said he wouldn't tell him as he would be immediately pruned afterwards.

"Good," said Thor. "That seems something like the TVA would do."

Mobius said they reached a dead end then, and Loki agreed. Mobius stood up and told Loki to give him his regards to Lady Sif.

Everyone's eyes widened.

Loki panicked and told Mobius to wait. "Of course, it was me pulling the strings all along," said Loki. Mobius sat back down.

"Mobius isn't going to believe this," said Natasha. "He saw through Loki's lies once before."

"She came to me on Asgard a long time ago, and then she took me to one of her apocalypses, and that's where we hatched our plan together."

"Wouldn't the TVA detect Sylvie arriving at Asgard?" asked Wanda.

Loki said Sylvie was a pawn, and something big was about to happen, and then he'd dispose of her.

"I think it's the other way around," said Loki.

Mobius said the TVA saved him the trouble as she had already been pruned.

Everyone's stomach dropped.

"NO!" yelled Thor, tears welling up in his eyes.

Loki's eyes widened. "The Variant. She's gone?"

Loki narrowed his eyes. "That can't be true. Weren't B-15 and the other Minutemen guarding the room Sylvie was in? Mobius is lying."

Thor stopped crying. "What?"

"And TVA Loki is falling for it?" asked Clint. "Now the God of Mischief is the one getting tricked."

"Well, he has a crush on Sylvie, so maybe TVA Loki isn't at the top of his game," said Sam.