Unlikely Allies

Chapter 10

Loki and Jane are still walking hand-in-hand when Thor approaches.

She drops it when she sees him.

It hurts.

It really, really does.

And it shouldn't, which is the worst part. It shouldn't hurt. She's not his. She was never his. It's not as though he's losing her because she was never his to lose. But it doesn't help heal the hole in his heart or the cold against his palm where he held her only moments ago.

"Loki, that was amazing," Thor gushes. "I've never seen you use such power."

Loki chuckles, a bit uncomfortably. "It was a team effort, truly. I would give Sylvie more credit than I would give myself."

Sylvie, who's taken the lead as they approach the citadel, looks back at them over her shoulder, a smirk on her face. He just rolls his eyes. He's being humble; he's not complimenting her.

Changing the subject, Loki tells his brother, "You did your job wonderfully. You were a brilliant distraction – and fearless, too." He wasted no time. He saw what had to be done and he did it without hesitation. It was impressive, truly.

Thor pats him on the shoulder once, and then he goes to stand on Jane's other side. That hurts, too. He hated his brother until a few days ago, until Mobius forced upon him memories of the future he'll never have, but it hurts. It shouldn't hurt, of course, just as Jane dropping his hand shouldn't hurt. It shouldn't hurt that Thor would rather walk by Jane's side than his. It shouldn't hurt that Thor would rather walk next to his lover than his adopted brother he's been feuding with more often than not. But it does hurt, and he hates it. He hates that he's gotten so soft. He hates that he's always been so soft; that despite all he's been through, he's never been able to change that.

Is this the wrong thing to be focusing on as they're approaching a hidden citadel at the end of time that's guarded by a giant cloud monster? Probably. Is that going to stop him? Not likely.

"Hey, where's Mobius?" Jane asks.

Loki glances around, and there he sees Mobius a dozen steps back or so, looking around at the ominous setting they've led themselves to. When he notices the three looking at him, he cocks his head to the side, brows furrowed, and raises his hand in an awkward wave.

"Just making sure you were still with us," Thor calls back to us.

Mobius's confusion fades, and he cracks a smile. "You're not getting rid of me that easily."

"Good," Jane says. She gestures for him to come join them.

The three of them slow down a little, just enough for Mobius to reach them, and Jane steps toward Loki, making a space for Mobius between her and Thor. A look of hurt flashes across Thor's face, only for a moment before he covers it up, but Loki finds himself feeling... vindicated. She didn't think much of her choice, he's sure. She didn't set out to put Mobius between herself and Thor. But she still did it.

Jane looks up at the analyst. "I'm guessing it's too much to ask that you have any idea where we're going right now?"

Mobius shakes his head. "I didn't even know about the Void, never mind the citadel beyond the Void."

Jane looks between Thor and Loki. "Any guesses on what we're getting ourselves into?"

Thor gives a halfhearted shrug. "Something bad, I'm sure."

Jane huffs an insincere laugh. "That's just a given at this point."

Sylvie looks at them over her shoulder. "Will you guys hurry up? You are too tall to be walking that slow."