Across All Time

Chapter 9- What Makes a Loki (Loki)

The hologram flashed five. Bold and warning. I have used up half my time and found no one other than depressed variants stuck in lives they hate. I had little hope. And little clue as to where I was.
I stood in what appeared to be an back ally of sorts behind calm little houses. Painted whites and browns, the only variation of color is a smaller house that is white with robin egg blue framing. My face was sticky from tears that I was furiously wiping from my face. Then I heard it. Slight laughter and quiet shushes coming from the blue tinted house with an open window.
"Go on, supper won't make itself," laughed a soft voice that sounded almost like me. Someone answered, but it was too soft to hear. I crawled to the house, and sat beneath the window, still wiping my face, when I froze. The voice started to hum a familiar tune, one that reminded me of my mother, of Asgard. I sat transfixed in the soothing sound until it stopped all of a sudden. It was quiet for a moment, until the voice began to speak again.
"I know you're there, and if you do not face me I will remove you," the voice said softly. I tensed but saw no other choice. I stood up, back facing the window with my hands up.
"I am no threat," I said in return.
"Oh I know that, but I also know when someone is in pain and I need to see you. I know who you are. Why don't you face me?" They said unthreatening. So I did, and was shocked.
It was another Loki variant, but unlike any I have seen before. While us Lokis tended to be chaotic and dangerous, the only danger this one gave off was of a mother bear.
They sat gently in a wooden chair wrapped in a baby blue robe. Their long black hair was down and resting gently on their shoulders, and resting on their chest was a sleeping baby swaddled in pink. I met their eyes which were calm and at peace, but carried something else. Pity.
I suddenly thought about how I must look. Dirty, rumpled and red faced from crying. I quickly cast a spell for new clothes and a clean face. The pity didn't leave the variant's eyes though.
"You can stop that," I snapped, "I don't need your pity."
The variant didn't change their expression, but glanced down at the baby.
"I go by Lika now. And this is Mobius," they said gesturing to the baby, "We chose it because Randal had a dream, and when we woke in the morning, he put his hand on my womb and said he liked the name. I think it was more than a dream," they softly said.
"I don't understand why you're telling me this," I admitted frustratedly. They sighed and stood up and softly walked closer to me. Then, without waking it or even taking their eyes off the baby- Mobius, they shift into a copy of me. I stared in shock and Lika glanced at me, then shifted into what must be another variant. They did this multiple times, taking one form and then the next, but keeping the sleeping child against their breast. Finally they shift back into their original form.
"You aren't the first variant who has arrived here, searching for someone, and I doubt you will be the last, but one thing remains the same, you are all searching for a variant of one person. Times like these make me glad Randal and I have it so easy," they muttered, "He isn't here, and you are wasting your time listening to me," they said.
I paused for a moment.
"I don't think I can continue. This search is infinite, I don't have the time to look all across time," I confided, "and what I saw, what I know..." I sighed, on the verge of tears again, "the only thing us Lokis seem to be able to do is lose and be hurt." I whispered. Lika stood for a moment, before they walked towards the window sill where I looked in. They sat and looked right into my eyes.
"You are wrong. I may have lost a lot, felt hurt a lot. I have lost Thor and Odin, but I have also gained so much because I fought for it," they said. "And that is what it means to be a Loki. To fight, to never give up, even after death. To never stop."
I breathed in, thinking of all the times I had all the odds against me, of all the times those I've loved have been hurt. But I was still here. Despite all the times I should have died, or been trapped, and yet I was here. And I still have time.
I looked into their eyes and nodded. "Thank you," I said simply.
They said nothing but smiled slightly. I heard footsteps and the sound of laughter approaching the room.
"You better go, go find whoever you are looking for. They clearly mean a lot,"
I nodded and started backing away. I turned back and waved farewell quickly, but as I did Lika's spouse walked in. Same hair, same height, same smile. They had stains all over their shirt, and Lika and the Mobius variant of a spouse were laughing.
I felt tears well up again, but good ones this time. Tears that came with renewed hope. I must continue searching, and I had to be quick.
I found a clear area and created a new time door. At first I dreaded leaving this lovely timeline, but I felt the need to move forward just as well. Maybe, just maybe, Mobius and I could have what Lika and Randal have. And then I remembered the tree and my Glorious Purpose and that image washed away. I sighed and stepped through the orange portal.