The Variant's Shadow - LokixOC - ONGOING

* Confusion² *

Ophelia had spent so much telling everyone that she hadn’t been sleeping when the man had appeared in front of her two years ago. Now, she was starting to even doubt herself and wondered if she’d lost her mind for good. The more that man was talking to her, the more it seemed to be the only reasonable option. There was at least one thing in each one of his sentences that she’d had to ask him to repeat and explain to her. Even then, the sentences weren’t making any sense. 

Magic was apparently real. He was a God. She was working for a Time Authority she’d never heard of. He had to bring her back there even though it had exploded. Ophelia had prayed countless times for him to come back and for something to finally happen to her, but this was a bit much even for her taste. 

“You’re being very quiet,” Loki said. “It’s never a good sign.”

He also apparently knew her quite well, which was concerning since she had no idea who that man was. Ophelia let out a long sigh, trying to gather her thoughts after almost an entire day without getting any sleep. “This place, the… TVA. You said it was destroyed and I was sent here. So none of this is real ?” she asked, more hopeful than anything else. 

“This is the life you had before the TVA,” he corrected. 

“So… the Ophelia you knew… Well, she died.”

“No,” he immediately replied. “I’m here to get you back. You asked me to.”

“I’ve never done such a thing.”

“Not yet.”

“So I’m her past ? She’s dead, then.”

As much as he didn’t seem to like that idea, it was the truth. Just like the life Ophelia hated so much was her real life and not a horrible nightmare. 

“Do you like it here ?” he asked. “What year is it ?”

“1937.”

He smiled. “Have you been to that march yet ? Women’s vote, right ?”

“Last month, I-” She frowned. “How do you know about that ?”

“That’s the memory Sylvie used to find your name.”

Ophelia held a finger up and looked back at her piece of paper. Loki hadn’t said anything when she’d started taking notes and simply smiled, as if he’d known she’d have done that. “Sylvie…” she whispered before looking back at him. “The woman who’s you, but not you, because she was born a girl.” He nodded at her, because to him it all made perfect sense. “Do you realize how insane that sounds ? You appear in my living room after two years, tell me all of this, and you just expect me to believe you ?”

He looked down and sighed. “I know this is a lot, but it’s the truth.”

“Well, you’re in luck,” she laughed. “Because I hate my life so much that I’m ready to believe anything as long as it takes me away from here. How do we go back ?”

“I don’t know.”

“Right. How do you…” She wiggled her hand around, unable to find the words she was looking for. “How do you get into people’s living rooms ?”

“I don’t know,” he repeated. 

“Perfect,” she replied, forcing herself to keep smiling. “I’m not much, but Philippe says I’m a good helper.”

“Who’s that ?”

“My boss. I can watch and learn if someone takes the time to explain things to me, in words I can understand,” she quickly added. “Maybe I can help you or…” She turned her notes over, looking for something he’d told her. “You know, I could help your friend ? The one with the time machine ?”