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The chill air was almost abrasive at the back of Loki’s throat, with every panted breath. His taxed muscles were straining… burning, and he could feel beads of sweat gathering on his brow as he darted and weaved around the tall trees, the forest near silent around him.
He couldn’t recall when he'd last felt so alive.
It had taken an inordinate amount of convincing for Mobius to come round to the idea of letting him go out exercising alone. He persistently and vehemently offered to accompany Loki, of course, but even though Mobius wasn’t at all unfit, hard cardio was definitely not his thing. Loki knew that he wouldn’t be able to keep up once Loki hit a comfortable pace, even with the residual weakness still plaguing his body, and eventually Mobius came to his senses and grudgingly relented.
What Loki hadn’t told him was that he planned on heading out before sunrise the very next day, keen to be out and back before the sun got too high and made him too uncomfortable. He had to admit that he’d felt kind of guilty, stealthily slipping out from under Mobius’ arm in the predawn darkness, and retreating to the living room to change.
But, well… he’d left a note, at least.
He was also considering popping by the village afterwards to grab some pastries and a couple of cups of goriichu, just in case Mobius did turn out to be a little irate and required some sweetening up… quite literally.
Feeling that he’d be reaching his limits fairly soon, Loki began to slow to a cooldown cadence, breath slowing infinitesimally as he took the opportunity to admire the way the trees in the far distance were cast into silhouette by the orange-yellow glow of the rising sun behind them. In the opposite direction, however, grey clouds had been rolling in from over the ocean, and Loki felt the first splatter of rain hitting his flushed face as he fell back into a walk, following the trail that would lead him into the centre of town. The sensation hovered somewhere between unpleasantly cold and wonderfully refreshing, but regardless, it merely contributed to his present joie de vivre.
Arriving in the marketplace, he greeted the familiar pair of cafe staff in the local dialect, both of them looking quite weary and still half-asleep as they opened up for the day. They perked up when they saw him however; gushing over his healthy glow, and commenting on how fantastic it was to see him out and about by himself, finally.
Loki agreed with them on that, although he had to admit privately that he’d gotten so used to Mobius always being nearby when not at home, that he found himself already missing him.
Ridiculous, he admonished, his lips curled in a self-deprecating smile.
After collecting breakfast, he began briskly making his way back towards the chalet, wary of their drinks getting cold. The rain was coming down heavier now, and although he was able to cast a shield spell over himself for a short time, the drain on his magic was still too much for him to sustain for longer than a few minutes, and he had to let it go — especially as he started feeling dizzy, which had been an annoying side-effect of spell-casting lately. He still held a smaller one around the comestibles, though, out of pure determination to avoid eating soggy pastries at all costs.
Halfway home, his steps faltered suddenly as a quiet, feeble squeaking noise gave him pause, and he stopped short on the paved road, straining his hearing over the loud pattering of rain.
There, again.
Loki followed the sound, drawn by its pitiful helplessness, and as he turned into a nearby laneway behind a stretch of cottages, he could sense he was getting close to the source. Another little squeak, and then he saw it; a tiny, pointy-eared creature, its fur matted and sodden as it wriggled weakly on top of another larger version of itself.
That one… that one was not moving.
Placing his package and cup tray on a nearby garden wall, Loki was able to release the shield for a short time, taking advantage of the meagre shelter provided by the house’s rear awning. He then crept carefully towards the distressed animal, upon closer inspection revealing that the one that was presumably its parent was most assuredly deceased.
The baby did not appear to be a newborn, for although a little weakened and scrawny, its eyes were wide open and relatively alert, and as Loki drew nearer, it clambered to its feet and boldly attempted to step towards him. However, it lost its footing and tumbled from the back of the elder creature that it was perched upon, rolling to a stop near Loki’s feet and blinking up at him rather endearingly in the rain.
An unnamed something exploded in Loki’s chest. Without thought, he unfastened the sleeves of the hoodie that he’d earlier tied around his waist after warming up, slipping it over his arms and grimacing at the feeling of the fleeced fabric catching on wet skin. Pulling the zip three-quarters closed, he scooped the animal up with a careful hand, delicately wiping rainwater from its face and whiskers before easing it through the remaining opening, one hand supporting it from the outside as its adorable little head peeked out and it sniffed his chin curiously. It tickled, and Loki couldn’t help chuckling.
“Hello,” he said, stroking a finger between its ears. “I’m very sorry for your loss, little friend. But I’ll do all that I can to make sure you’re taken care of, alright?”
Predictably, Mobius was waiting for him on the little-used front porch when he got back, the transparent relief on his face at spotting him inciting a mild flare of guilt.
“Loki, where have you been?”
He stood from the wooden garden seat and hurried over to him, uncaring of the rain. Loki ushered him back under the shelter though, pressing a quick kiss to his forehead.
“I thought we agreed on just half an hour to start with,” Mobius reminded him, concern presenting as frustration even as he slipped an arm around him. “Ugh, you’re soaked,” he added, not letting it deter him from pulling him close for a moment.
“I did only run for half an hour,” Loki assured him, “In fact it was a little less than that, I fear. It seems I was… overestimating my capabilities.”
He was mildly ashamed at this, but Mobius frowned disapprovingly.
“You didn’t push yourself too hard?”
“No. No, I promise I didn’t. And…” he held up the hand that was awkwardly carrying both the paper bag and cup tray, ensconced as they were in a glowing virident haze of warming energy, “I brought back treats.”
Mobius’ perturbed expression morphed irrepressibly into that of fondness… then promptly into confusion, as a tiny squeak emanated from inside Loki’s hoodie. A little wriggle from the lump under his hand preceded an involuntary hiss of pain at the scratch of needle-sharp claws against his skin.
There was a brief moment of silence between them, then-
“Kjære,” Mobius said pointedly, suspicion heavy in his tone, “What else did you bring home with you?”
Sheepishly, and with some hesitancy, Loki lowered the zip just a little, and a pair of pointy ears poked out, followed by a grey furred face and inquisitive golden-yellow eyes.
“I found it all alone out in the rain, alongside the corpse of its parent,” he explained quietly. “I… I couldn’t leave it there, Mobius.”
“Ohh no, of course not,” Mobius agreed, his eyes instantly softening. He reached out cautiously, allowing the little ball of sodden fuzz to sniff at his fingers. “Hey there, cutie.”
Loki couldn’t help but smile, completely unsurprised that Mobius had immediately taken to the… whatever it was, as soon as he laid eyes on it.
“It’s sorta like a Midgardian domestic kitten,” Mobius commented as they headed inside, and he relieved Loki of the food and drinks, “Only its ears are more pronounced, and its eyes are a bit larger, I think.”
“It also has two tails,” Loki supplied, and Mobius snapped his gaze towards him, as if to ascertain whether or not he was joking. Loki smirked, lifting the not-kitten out of its comfy nest and turning it to show Mobius its rear.
“Well that’s new,” Mobius said, huffing a laugh.
“Oh… and it’s apparently a male,” Loki commented, holding it up a little higher as he peered underneath.
“Yeah okay. I’ll take your word on that, thanks.”
Loki grinned as he headed off to find a spare towel to dry off the creature, Mobius meanwhile muttering heartfelt appreciation as he opened the bag from the cafe and smelled the irresistible baked goods within.
“You’re awesome, Loki,” he called out after him as Loki opened the linen storage closet near the back door.
“I know,” Loki replied absently, scanning the shelves. He located a small fluffy hand towel and carefully wrapped it around the animal, rubbing its fur down as gently as he could while carrying him back to the kitchen.
He could have used magic to dry him, but Loki felt an inexplicable concern that he might hurt or frighten the poor thing somehow, as ridiculous as he knew that to be. Though on top of this, he’d also recently made an agreement with Mobius that he wouldn’t use magic in scenarios where there were… less mystical solutions available, as it were, because of these odd random occurrences where even the simplest spell could cause him dizziness at best, almost blacking out at worst. The most dire reactions were not common, but every time it happened it had been wholly unpredictable. So even though Loki himself wasn’t too bothered by it – unless it showed no signs of improving with time, of course – he acquiesced to the request out of his own concern for Mobius’ anxiety levels.
As he wandered back into the kitchen, Mobius was busy setting out the pastries on a plate. Loki snagged one and practically inhaled it, ravenous now that he’d fully cooled down from his run. He reached to grab his cup of goriichu, the not-kitten in its towel still tucked up in his other arm, but Mobius pulled it away from him, barely looking up.
“You’re dripping water everywhere,” he scolded lightly, then spared him a quick glance, “Plus even if you are some kind of freak who insists you’re not cold whenever it happens to suit you, it’s not actually normal for someone’s lips to be that colour. Go shower, Loki. I can look after… Mr Fuzzy here.”
“We’re not calling him that,” Loki snorted with disdain.
“Well, go think of something better, and report back to me,” Mobius smiled, giving him a playful shove after he gently lifted the bundle from Loki’s arm.
Upon returning to the kitchen a short time later, Loki leaned against the doorframe as he watched an unsuspecting Mobius sitting at the table with his back to him, talking to the creature as it wandered across the table from its towel, making a beeline for the remaining pastries.
“No,” Mobius admonished, lifting it up and plonking it back on the towel, “Not yours.’
Two large yellow eyes shone piteously as they gazed up at Mobius. Then it started across the table once more… very quickly finding itself back on the towel. It blinked in confusion and mild shock.
“You’re a mischievous scamp, just like Loki,” Mobius muttered as he leaned down to look him in the eye. Loki took that as his cue, strolling in casually and taking the opposite seat.
“Nothing wrong with that. Is there, Scamp?”
“‘Scamp?’” Mobius questioned skeptically, “Is that actually what you came up with?”
“Of course not. But I like it better than anything I thought of.”
He waved a hand over his waiting take-out cup, a quick emerald wash of his seiðr instantly rewarming the contents before he picked it up and relished the first sip. A glance at Mobius and his pointedly raised eyebrow had Loki feigning innocence, instead turning his attention back to Scamp, who was predictably attempting another run at the pastries.
“Are you hungry, little one?” he asked, lifting him onto his shoulder, “You must be, but somehow I don’t think that pastries are an appropriate source of sustenance for you.” Loki took one for himself though and bit into it, and Scamp’s whiskers brushed his cheek as he sniffed interestedly. The animal’s claws were not nearly as uncomfortable now, clinging as they were onto the thick knit sweater that Loki had wisely selected for this very reason.
Mobius watched them thoughtfully for a few moments, then rose to begin combing the pantry and refrigeration unit for a variety of food samples.
“Alright, Scamp,” he said a couple of minutes later as he laid everything out, along with a small dish of water, “What is it that you like to eat?”
He sat back down to observe curiously as Loki extricated Scamp from his sweater, placing him on the table in front of the mini-buffet. There was some locally-grown produce: a couple of chunks of fruit and some berries, a purplish root vegetable, and a type of tree nut the region was known for. Mobius had also found a piece of leftover fish from the previous day, and a sliver of raw meat he’d cut from a larger piece that was intended to be part of their dinner tonight — unless Scamp decided otherwise.
The fruit and berries were quickly rejected, and the nuts garnered some interest until they too were abandoned. The meat was given a few cursory licks, but Scamp lingered by the fish the longest, and after poking his little charcoal-coloured nose at it for a while seemed just about to dig in… when he turned and gambolled over towards the pastries yet again. Loki almost choked on his drink as he laughed, Mobius growling in exasperation as he relocated the not-kitten to his towel and placed the fish right in front of him.
“Eat,” he commanded, and Scamp happily obliged, chirping softly as he did so.
They watched him in silence for a while as they finished their own breakfast. But soon enough Mobius cleared his throat, and Loki knew what was coming.
“So what exactly were you planning on doing with the little guy?”
Loki sighed.
“I haven’t given it any thought, Mobius. It was a matter of rescue first, deal with questions and repercussions later.”
“Understandable,” Mobius replied. “Well… today is the second day of Sansiidi, so I don’t think there will be anything like a vet or animal shelter open, if this tiny town even has any such thing.”
Sansiidi was the three day break that occurred after every nine working days on this world, and although many businesses around here still remained open, Mobius was correct in that a veterinarian or suchlike was unlikely to be one of them.
Loki was caught off guard by the little burst of delight he felt at realising that he may get to keep Scamp around for a couple more days. He tried not to let it show, however, carefully schooling his expression.
“We may have to go and ask around town today,” Mobius continued, “Find out what the usual procedure is here for dealing with stray animals. I mean, we don’t even know what it is- what he is, I’m sorry. It may be that he’s simply a wild animal from the forest, whose parent wandered too far from their natural habitat.”
Trying not to imagine Scamp being forced back out into the wild, Loki nodded reluctantly. The not-kitten finished his meal, washing his face with a paw before cautiously approaching and sniffing at the water Mobius had provided, lapping at it for a few seconds before climbing back onto his towel. He curled up into a tiny ball of grey fuzz, his two tails coiled over his paws.
Making a quick gesture with both hands, Loki conjured a padded wicker basket under and around Scamp, whose head shot up in startlement before he resettled. Vertigo swept over Loki and he clenched his jaw for a moment, eyes closing as he waited for it to pass.
He felt a warm hand close over one of his, and after a deep breath he looked up at Mobius.
“You okay, beautiful?”
“Of course,” Loki assured him, hating being the cause of that furrow in his brow, even at the rather unsavoury acknowledgment that it was something he should be used to by now.
“I’m sure Scamp didn’t need a fancy bed,” Mobius said with a hint of sternness, although the corner of his mouth lifted as he spoke.
“Mm. Worth it.” And Loki left it at that.
Later that morning they headed out into town, after dealing with a minor incident involving far too much excrement than should be possible for such a tiny creature to produce. Mobius forbade Loki from using magic to clean it up, so it was extremely fortunate that the owner of the rental accommodation had stocked the chalet with plenty of cleaning supplies, incidental to the housekeeping service that visited twice during each nine day working week.
A newly bathed and dried Scamp was settled inside the picnic basket that they sometimes took with them to the beach, trilling with interest as he poked his head out of the hinged cover.
“Don’t even think about escaping,” Loki told him firmly.
As if in understanding, Scamp immediately slipped back inside, and Loki smirked at his apparently masterful animal handling skills. With a snort of amusement, Mobius led them to the small building that housed the tiny offices for local law enforcement and the local government representative, which also served as an information point. As he went over to the reception desk to make some queries, Loki sat in a nearby waiting area with the basket in his lap, sticking his fingers inside and wriggling them around to entertain Scamp. Little claws grabbed onto him and released him as the not-kitten repeatedly attacked. Loki sneakily shot some green sparks from his fingertips, and he heard a little squeak of surprise. He did it again, and Scamp chirped happily.
Loki had to quash the overwhelming impulse to retrieve him from the basket so he could play with him properly.
Mobius came back over with the receptionist in tow, who asked if she could take a quick look at the creature. Loki lifted the lid of the basket, his incredible reflexes put to good use when Scamp immediately attempted to leap to freedom. The receptionist’s eyes softened as she cooed at him, scratching under his chin as Loki restrained him gently.
“This is the young of a hoorijiin,” she told them, “A native species that have also long been domesticated as pets.”
She stroked the back of Scamp’s head as he tried to sniff her hand.
“I’d say this one was likely born wild, as we very rarely get domestic strays wandering the village. Most here who keep a hoorijiin are quite responsible at keeping them within their domiciles, as the fines for allowing any variety of pet to roam free are exorbitant.”
“So, what are our options with this one?” Mobius asked, “We’re only visitors here, and where we’re staying won’t allow pets, even if that was on the cards.” He glanced sideways at Loki in such an odd way that Loki frowned, unsure of the meaning behind it.
“We don’t have any facilities here that can take him,” she said, “But several times a week we have someone who transports any unwell pets or stray animals to a centre in the larger town nearby for treatment or foster care.”
Scamp nipped at her finger and she grinned.
“The guy in question is heading out the day after tomorrow, after Sansiidi. So this little one can go with him then. In the meantime, we can try and find someone to look after him-”
“That’s okay,” Mobius cut her off hurriedly, again side-eyeing Loki, “We can definitely take him until then. I’m- I’m sure one more day with us will be fine.”
“Alright, well, that’s exceptionally kind of you. If you change your mind, feel free to return him here and I can sort something else out.” She bent down to Scamp’s eye level. “I’d take you myself if I could, sweet boy. But I already have three others at home.”
With a sheepish smile she thanked them profusely, and gave them the details they required for the shelter transport service. In turn, Loki informed her of the location of the body of the adult hoorijiin, so that it could be removed by the council. As they exited the building, Loki felt a rush of relief that, for the time being, Scamp was still under their care. He didn’t realise until that moment the extent to which he’d been fearing that they'd be leaving with the basket empty.
Mobius stayed behind in town to purchase supplies for both Scamp and themselves, and Loki took the playful hoorijiin cub back to the chalet, keen to have some quality time with him now that there was an impending deadline on their time together.
And thus began the most vexing hour and a half that Loki could recall in recent memory.
It started out with an innocent (and extremely one-sided) game of tag. Unfortunately this came to an abrupt end when Loki tugged Scamp free from the curtain he'd scaled the height of, only for his vicious claws to make several large tears in the fabric. Loki was able to fix this in an instant, of course.
But unfortunately, that was not the last time that he would need to call upon his magic.
Tracking Scamp as he explored the chalet was surprisingly rather diverting; his adorable curiosity and sweet little reactions to various discoveries so endearing that Loki found his insides melting a little, over and over. How such a small, insignificant ball of fuzz could hold such sway over him was a mystery he had no real desire to delve into. It simply was, and he accepted it readily.
And it was lucky he had sunk his talons so deep into Loki’s heart already, because the next thing he did was urinate all over the floor of Loki’s en-suite.
Technically, Loki could have cleaned it up manually, but the only way he would have been able to keep Scamp away long enough to do so was either beyond a closed door where he wasn’t being supervised, or within magically conjured containment. So in this case, it was easier for Loki to simply disappear the mess.
He felt horribly guilty, imagining the look on Mobius’ face… especially as he felt a little lightheaded afterwards.
The next debacle was a result of Scamp’s intrepid adventuring getting him trapped behind the washer in the laundry room after a fall from the top, and as Loki soon discovered, the damned appliance was firmly fixed to the floor somehow. Short of breaking property in order to free him, Loki’s only option was to shroud Scamp in his seiðr and levitate him to safety… ensuring that he securely latched the laundry door behind him as they made their way back out to the living area.
But seconds later, Loki found himself needing to grab the wall for a moment, his vision greying and the room tilting sharply.
Okay, not good. Definitely time to stop.
He knew better than to use magic in relatively quick succession like this, but it’s not like he could’ve left Scamp there, squeaking away pathetically at his sorry plight.
One could only hope that the cub’s boundless energy would start to flag soon.
Loki’s certainly was.
A languid caress of fingers repeatedly running over his brow slowly brought Loki back to consciousness. He inhaled deeply, eyes still closed, idly wondering why it felt like there was a light pressure on his throat.
“Loki?” Mobius prodded softly.
He forced his eyes open, finding a concerned but affectionate smile hovering over him.
“Everything alright, sweetheart?”
Drawing together muzzy thoughts, Loki frowned as he tried to remember what in the Nine Realms had led to him falling asleep on the couch… then the events of his rather hectic morning came flooding back all at once.
“Ohh, I’m so glad you're home, my love,” he breathed in a vehement murmur, his eyes closing in relief for a moment.
“That bad, huh?” Mobius’ smile widened, though there was a hint of sympathy there too. Loki brought a searching hand up to his throat, only for his fingers to meet warm, fuzzy fur. Upon contact, a purring grumble reverberated through the compact body, strong enough for him to feel.
“He was lying like that when I got back just now,” Mobius said quietly, “He woke up and growled at me when I first came in, but was okay once he sniffed my hand.”
“Why would he do that?”
“If I didn’t know better, I’d say he was trying to protect you,” Mobius replied with mild amusement, “In his funny little Scamp-y way, at least.”
Loki considered this for a moment.
“He was doing the same with his parent,” he recalled, “When I found them. Lying over them like this, I mean.”
He reached up to stroke the cub, affection surging as the realisation hit home.
“Why were you asleep, anyway?” Mobius asked. “Was he really that much trouble, that he wore you out so much?”
“Ugh, you have no idea,” Loki griped, then looked away shamefacedly; reluctant to divulge everything, yet unwilling to keep secrets from Mobius. “You see, I… I, uh, I had to use magic,” he grimaced guiltily. “On several occasions. And it seems I didn’t react too well on the last- …well, let’s just say it was lucky I was standing right in front of the couch at the time.”
Mobius closed his eyes in agitation and took a calming breath.
“Loki…”
“I’m really sorry, Mobius. I swear I wasn’t simply being lazy or- or reckless without just cause. But he was persistently and infuriatingly getting into-”
“Mischief?”
“Well… yes.”
Mobius rolled his eyes in resigned exasperation as he bent down to kneel by Loki’s side, kissing him gently before giving Scamp a few strokes as the cub sleepily raised his head.
“You. You’re in big trouble,” he told Scamp sternly, “Keep that up, and I’ll take back all the yummy food I just bought for you.”
He chirped softly in response, then lay his head back on Loki’s collarbone.
“You got everything we need?” Loki asked hopefully. “Please tell me you found something in which he can… do his business.”
Mobius snorted.
“Charming, but yes. I completely raided the pet supplies section, probably excessively. But I figure anything that’s not perishable, we can donate to the animal shelter that’s taking him in.”
Loki nodded, not at all keen to think about that part just yet.
The remainder of the day was spent taking turns at Scamp-wrangling – which was significantly easier with a second person present – as well as teaching him how to use the receptacle that was similar to a Midgardian litter tray (according to Mobius, at least), and he fortunately picked up the skill with surprising ease. He was actually a rather intelligent creature, and proved to be quite adept at hunting down an appealingly scented toy that Loki and Mobius hid in random places around the chalet for him. Every time he succeeded, he’d return it to whoever was closest, dropping it at their feet and chittering with pride.
“Yes, you’re very clever,” Loki cooed at him after what must have been at least the twentieth time. Scamp’s response was to chase his own double-tail for a few moments, then fall over looking stunned, causing Loki to reevaluate his possibly premature assessment.
That night, after a relatively quiet evening during which they snatched a few moments of peace thanks to a treat-dispensing puzzle-ball, they went to sleep with Scamp curled up in his conjured basket between them. Mobius joked that they were as hopelessly paranoid as parents with a newborn baby, but Loki didn’t regard it as particularly unreasonable of them. As Scamp had proven time and again that morning, there were countless ways he could get himself into trouble or cause damage, so this was the smartest option.
However, Loki had to concede that Mobius had a point, after he awoke in the pre-dawn hours to find Scamp gone. In his half-asleep state he’d flown into a blind panic, convinced that they would find the cub suffocated under the duvet, or crushed beneath one of them. He couldn’t even bring himself to check; Mobius had to do it. But when the rest of the bed was mercifully revealed to be hoorijiin- free, they ventured out into the living area, finding a ball of grey fuzz curled up on the couch cushion, after he’d obviously gotten up to relieve himself sometime during the night.
Crashing hard after the adrenaline rush, Loki near collapsed onto the couch next to him, and a worried Mobius was on the verge of pouring him a stiff drink to help calm his shattered nerves. Eventually Loki pulled himself together however, even able to laugh off his ludicrous overreaction, especially once Mobius had rubbed his back soothingly for a time, and Loki had done the same to a perfectly oblivious Scamp.
Mobius still seemed troubled afterwards though – or possibly even saddened? – but when Loki questioned it, he simply shook his head dismissively and offered a weak smile.
Somehow they managed to get a couple more hours’ sleep, Scamp choosing to settle across Loki’s neck again, as if dutifully assuaging his fears.
In unspoken agreement, they didn’t leave the chalet at all the following day; partly because it was impossible to venture far anyway, but mainly so that Loki could make the most of the limited time they had with the cub before he had to leave them the next morning. Mobius seemed only too happy to oblige, as he was clearly very taken with the adorable feline as well.
Sitting on the floor late that evening, they shared a bottle of a local wine equivalent as they rolled a ball that tinkled with a hidden bell back and forth for Scamp to chase, in a (quite possibly vain) attempt to wear him out before bedtime.
“Loki?” Mobius spoke up with gentleness, “Are you gonna be okay tomorrow? I mean, do you want me to take Scamp to the collection point on my own?”
Loki immediately shook his head.
“No. No, I want to be there.”
“That’s fine. I just thought I’d ask, because I know how attached you are, and I want to make this as painless for you as possible.”
“It doesn’t matter where or when I say goodbye, elskede, it’s still going to hurt just as much,” he responded truthfully.
Mobius nodded, eyes soft in empathy.
“How is it you bonded with him so quickly, anyway… and so strongly?”
Loki thought on this for a few moments as he sipped his drink, Scamp batting impatiently at the ball he’d dared to ignore for more than a second. Loki flicked it across to Mobius, and the cub squeaked joyfully as he charged after it.
“I suppose it’s likely got something to do with the way he was all alone,” Loki eventually murmured. “He was by himself, helpless and scared, in a harsh, cold and possibly unfamiliar environment, if he did indeed wander down here from the forest. The only connection he’d ever known that had made him feel safe and loved had very recently been brutally shattered, and he was at a complete loss as to what he was supposed to be doing… how to get by.”
The pause that followed his musing was heavy with significance.
“A kindred spirit,” Mobius commented at length, his voice rough.
“Well, not so much these days,” Loki smiled at him lovingly, “But yes, my heart went out to him as one who understood. And it will again, tomorrow, because who knows how long it will be before he finds someone who loves him again?”
Mobius sighed quietly, his expression seemingly one of guilt, although Loki couldn't for the worlds figure out why.
Scamp tired out soon after that and fell asleep on the rug, so they took the opportunity to steal out to the back porch for some quiet time, given they’d missed their sunset ritual the last two nights. Pressed up together in comfortable silence, they finished their drinks as they admired the breathtaking haze of stars, spread like so much glitter spilled across an onyx sky.
“Thank you for letting me keep him, kjære,” Loki whispered into the cold night air, “Even if it was only for two days.”
“Anything for you, Loki.”
Unable to face packing up Scamp’s things before bed, they were rushing like crazy very early the next morning to make it in time to the place where they were to meet the animal transportation. Loki had the cub tucked inside his jacket once again, and he barely noticed or cared when those lethal little claws dug into him tenaciously, as he rubbed at the soft fur behind Scamp’s ears.
Mobius carried their picnic basket that, with preposterous sentiment, Loki insisted he would no longer be able to bring himself to use anymore, and it was chock full of barely-used pet paraphernalia… excluding the conjured wicker bed, which was the only item Loki was holding onto for posterity.
The man that the receptionist had told them about was standing by his vehicle, awaiting anyone who wished to make use of the service that day. There was only one other client present however, a young couple who were sending their canine-like animal away for some sort of surgical procedure. Once they had filled out their electronic forms and given their pet goodbye pats, they departed, leaving Loki and Mobius to check in Scamp.
Not finding it within himself to speak, Loki left the talking to Mobius, ever grateful as always. He retreated a few steps and extracted Scamp from inside his jacket, snuggling the fuzzball against him as he bent his head down, lingering over the sensation of the fine whiskers tickling his face.
“Loki, it’s time,” Mobius called softly. He turned, finding the driver standing ready with a secure transportation crate in his arms. Moving towards them hesitantly, he held Scamp up in front of Mobius, who scratched under his chin and mumbled a quiet farewell. Loki touched noses with the cub one last time, before carefully lowering him into the cage. The man fastened several latches to close it, and Scamp gazed up at Loki and Mobius, squeaking a little in mild consternation.
“Okay, all set to go,” the driver said with incongruous joviality as he picked up the carrier, securing it safely in the back of the vehicle.
As Mobius squeezed his shoulder, Loki took a deep breath, stepping over to poke his fingers into the crate and allowing Scamp to nuzzle him one last time.
“Goodbye, Scamp. I’ll miss you,” he whispered. “Wherever you end up, make sure to sow some chaos, alright? Just for me.”
“Why does that feel like the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do?” Loki asked as they made their way up the road, a tightness building in his throat as he hoped the waver in his voice hadn’t been too noticeable. “In here, I mean,” he added, touching his palm to his chest.
“What, harder than walking away from all of your friends to sit in a cold, unforgiving seat alone for the rest of eternity, while power-thirsty timelines drained everything from you and then some, almost completely destroying you?”
“Well-”
“Or harder than spending literal centuries timelooping thousands upon thousands of times and learning more about temporal physics than anyone has ever known, or will ever know, and then brutally discovering it was all for naught anyway?”
“… Alright, third hardest,” Loki conceded, neither of the previous examples remotely alleviating his heartache. He swallowed thickly as his mind persistently tortured him with the lasting visual of a pair of big yellow eyes, widened in fear and confusion as Loki had reluctantly backed away from the transport vehicle.
There was a brief silence, then-
“Loki? Are you crying?” Mobius asked, a touch of fond amusement finding its way into the otherwise commiserative question.
“No.” He turned his head, desperately trying to blink away the incriminating tears.
“Yes you are.” And of course Mobius couldn’t be fooled. “Oh my gods, that is so cute.”
“No it’s not. Shut up.”
“It seriously is,” he said, scooping up Loki’s hand and bringing it to his lips.
Loki refused to speak, knowing that his reddening cheeks were doing all the talking anyway, damn it. He shoved his free hand in his pocket, scowling.
“Should I be concerned, or even offended?” Mobius said teasingly, “That you apparently give your heart away so easily?”
A sideways glance and an eye roll were more than that comment deserved, but Loki magnanimously delivered anyway.
They continued walking hand-in-hand back through the village, the sun reaching above the tree line of the nearby forest as the air began to warm very slightly.
“I know I couldn’t have kept him,” Loki said at length, once he’d recomposed himself, “I mean, even without the ‘no pets’ rule at our accommodation, it’s not like I’d have been able to take him back to the TVA anyway.”
Mobius squeezed his hand lightly.
“Says who?” he asked. “Honestly Loki, I think you’ve pretty much earned a lifetime free pass to do whatever the Hel you want at the TVA. I don’t think anyone would care if you decided to keep a pet, as long as it mostly stayed inside our quarters.”
A pleasant shock of liquid warmth stole through him at those last words.
“Our quarters?” Loki nudged him cheekily with a raised eyebrow, though he knew that a genuine smile was shining from him, brighter than the rapidly rising sun. Mobius looked down shyly at the little slip, one shoulder lifting in a bashful shrug.
“Besides,” he carried on, ignoring the matter for the time being, though Loki made a mental note to not let that one go, “OB has Maggie now, so it’s not like you’d be the first.”
“OB has what?”
Mobius’ eyes widened.
“Oh, you haven’t met Maggie yet!”
“Maggie?”
“OB has a cat now, Maggie. She hangs out in R&A, and is the sweetest little nuisance you’ll ever meet.”
Loki was intrigued, not to mention thrilled to hear even further evidence proving the TVA really had emphatically changed in his absence.
“We never had a chance to pay a visit down there before you and I left. I gotta introduce you; priority one when we get back. I bet you two will be best buds- she reminds me a lot of you, actually.”
“Hmph,” Loki grunted in mock-irritation, “I’m not sure whether to take offence at that or not.”
Grinning, Mobius drew to a halt, tugging Loki back towards him.
“Aww, it’s okay kjære,” he drawled as he hung his arms loosely around Loki’s waist, “No need to be jealous of her. You’ll always be my sweetest nuisance.”
“… Thank you?”
“For starters, a kitty can’t take me out for breakfast,” Mobius said, pointedly side-eyeing the picturesque beachfront cafe they’d stopped in front of, then looking up at Loki with that beseeching gaze that he damn well knew he could never resist.
“Oh how generous of you, to insinuate my worth as a companion ranks higher than that of a household pet, purely because I’m sentient.”
“You said it…” Mobius smirked, as Loki slipped an arm around him, guiding him towards the patio entrance.
“Careful Mobius, or I might rethink this whole ‘shared quarters’ thing you may or may not have just mentioned.”
“… I mean. Are you interested?”
“How can you even ask that? Of course I am!” Loki exclaimed, and his arm tightened around Mobius. “Will it be allowed though, do you think?”
“Loki… free pass, remember? You could probably claim a whole suite of rooms and have them remodelled to replicate your private chambers in the Royal Palace of Valaskjalf, if you wanted.”
“There’s a thought.” Loki held the door open for him, and they nodded to the waitstaff who were bustling about behind the counter.
“Mm. You’d need all that extra space to allow for the menagerie of strays you’re gonna end up accumulating.”
“Ha. No. Just the one would suit me fine, I think.” He tried not to sound too wistful, but didn’t quite manage it.
Mobius gazed at him once they’d seated themselves, elbows propped on the table in thought as he considered something.
“We could always come back,” he eventually suggested, “Once we’re settled in at the TVA, I mean. We could come back and locate Scamp when he’s been admitted to the shelter – adopt him properly.”
Loki positively lit up inside at the possibility.
“I didn’t even think of that.”
“Well. It’s a good thing you have me.”
Loki reached over and took his hands, and Mobius smiled at him warmly.
“You are all I need, Mobius,” he said, intent and earnest, “For all time and always.”
“Likewise.” Mobius regarded him adoringly, a particular expression that never failed to give Loki butterflies. “But Scamp… he would kinda be the cherry on top.”
Loki chuckled.
“Something like that.”
“The cream on the key lime pie,” Mobius continued. “The frosting on the cake. The cheese on-”
“Should I go fetch a couple of menus?”
“Gods, please.”
Loki laughed again as he stood, the early rays of the morning sun through the window warming him with promises for the future.