Love Is A Dagger (Loki x OC)

Chapter One

THE ARCHIVES - THE TIME VARIANCE AUTHORITY - TIME UNKNOWN

"And you're sure this variant is connected to me?"

Loki raised a brow, glancing up from the report he had been skimming. He was now fitted in TVA uniform which was far better than that awful, drab jumpsuit. And that blasted collar had been removed - wise and foolish at the same time.

Although, it could do with something a bit more... refined. And the colours are still extremely dull.

Mobius had asked him to go over the case files, the reports of the ambushes, to see if he could spot anything the TVA couldn't. But it seemed whoever was on the warpath against the TVA was well versed in covering their tracks. Sneaky and stealthy it seemed.

"I mean, how can you even be sure?" Loki threw the document down, leaning back in his seat, looking over at the agent sat opposite him who was also looking through the files.

"Loki, we're the TVA, it's our job to be sure." Mobius replied lowly in return, closing the file he had been staring at for the last few minutes.

"Well, you don't even know who they are-" Loki pointed out, shrugging lightly. "Which is why you needed my help in the first place." He paused. "You're hoping our elusive variant will catch wind of the God of Mischief aiding the organisation they seem so intent on disrupting, making them slip up, assuming they know me well enough for it to rattle them." He tilted his head slightly as Mobius raised his brows, letting out a wry huff.

"You're quick, I'll give you that." The agent wagged a finger at Loki as the God's lips twitched.

"Mobius, I'm a God." He replied, tone turning mocking. "Of course I'm quick." His brows furrowed, hand lifting from the table in a gesture of 'duh, obliviously'.

"Yeah, yeah, I know." Mobius conceded, eyes rolling faintly. "Except, not quick enough it seems." He added with a sigh, waving a dismissive hand towards the stacks of files. "I mean, it's bad enough when it's another you we have to deal with, but whoever this is really is taking the biscuit." He shook his head. "They're giving you a run for your money."

"Oh, I assure you-" Loki huffed out a dry laugh. "They are no match for me." His tone held his signature air of cockiness, arrogance.

This variant most certainly won't outsmart me.

"Yeah, I thought you'd say something like that." Mobius muttered, reaching for another file. "Keep up that bravado, helps with morale." He quipped, smirking faintly as Loki sent a quick glare his way.

Bravado. The nerve.

—

ROXXCART, HAVEN HILLS - ALABAMA - 2050

Finally. The hunt has led to this moment. Time to find out who you are, variant...

After a lot of searching and theorising, Loki and Mobius had managed to find out where the variant had likely been hiding. Loki had discovered apocalypses were the most likely answer, a place where no matter what the variant did, it wouldn't cause a branch. No nexus events could be created.

Clever. I'll give them that.

Stepping into the eerily silent, dimly lit superstore, Loki eyed their surroundings, taking in all possible hiding spots and escape routes their variant could take. Letting out a sigh, he swiftly let a shimmer of magic travel over him, drying his clothes from the storms rain as B-15 frowned at him, stepping back.

"What the hell was that?" She asked, tone a mix of surprise and irritation. Loki raised a brow, pursing his lips as he turned to look at her, hands in his trouser pockets.