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allherdaydreams · 3 years

Text

Valley of Kings — Chapter One

Vali | The Middleman

Universe: Vikings Pairing(s): None yet (there will be several later on, mainly Ivar x fem!OC and much later on, Harald x fem!OC) Word Count: 3,160 Warnings: Bad writing ig? Author’s Note: I don't really love this lol, but I decided I'm just going to publish the chapters on here when I'm done and have slightly edited them and hope for some feedback, etc. Sorry if it's not great! Anyway, lemme know if you wanna be on a taglist and I’ll add you! Constructive criticism would be greatly appreciated ❤️

read the prologue here

I remember the smell of the air — as spring was leaving, with summer slowly taking its place, the wind was gentle and sweet with the scent of wildflowers. The hunting cabin which belonged to the royal family of Kattegat rested in the foothills just east of the town; to the south surrounded by trees, and to the north, mountains. The smell of pine and woodbine lingered in the air, too, though all of the sweet scents of the wilderness were drowned out with that of the meat we roasted over the fire each night we stayed there.

I remember the way the grass tickled the back of my neck as my friends and I watched the clouds. I had never understood why Sigyn insisted on being barefoot every moment that we were out there, but in midday, the dew had only just faded and the greenery was soft underfoot. The clear blue sky gave us a false sense of security.

It was the last truly peaceful day I would have in a long, long time. I must have been fifteen or sixteen, but I had always looked and acted older. My friends were all older, too — I was the same age as the youngest son of Ragnar, Ivar, but I only spent time with him when his brothers were around. I had been inseparable from Ubbe, Hvitserk, and Sigurd since I was small. We all figured we would stay that way forever.

We had been at the cabin for many days, and planned to head back into town at the end of the upcoming week. That day, Hvitserk and I had both killed a deer, Sigurd had caught many rabbits in his traps, and Ubbe had tracked a boar, though he was still waiting for the right time to shoot it without the probability of getting attacked. (He was much wiser than Hvitserk and I; had it been either of ours to kill, we would have gone after it with no hesitation or regard for our safety at all.)

My sister had come with us — Ivar went, too, and wherever Ivar was, Sigyn was never far behind — but had never enjoyed hunting. Instead, she chose to spend the trip in and around the cabin, cooking and cleaning. When the chores were all done, she spent the rest of her time alone out in the yard, lost in her own head. She was, it seemed, daydreaming at nearly every waking moment of her life.

When we reached the cabin that day, we found her in her usual spot on the grass, staring off at the clouds even as we reached her. Ivar crawled toward her, but instead of trying to grab her attention, he only laid down next to her.

"What are you thinking about?" He asked, staring up at the sky. As the other princes and I walked into the cabin, I heard Sigyn begin to tell a most detailed story, as she always did when Ivar asked that question.

"I am dreaming of a far away kingdom on the edge of the world..."

When we had resurfaced from the entrance of the cabin, Ivar and Sigyn were still laying in the same spot. Hvitserk had flashed me a grin as he nudged my arm before strutting over and laying down on the vacant side of Sigyn. Knowing he wished for me to follow, I laid down next to him.

"You know, Sigyn," Hvitserk said. "If you come with us to the Mediterranean, you will get to see a far away kingdom."

"Yes, Hvitserk, I know." She responded simply. "But it would not be as magnificent as the ones I dream about. Besides, I love Kattegat and I have no wish to leave. We have been over this."

Sigyn had always been straightforward. She was very honest about everything, and often didn't understand the difference between our jests or when we meant what we said. I suppose that my sweet sister assumed that everyone would be as charmingly frank about their feelings as her.

Sigyn had the softest, steadiest voice I had ever heard. She often kept a calm tone which made her seem as if she had the most level head in Norway. Only when she was in great distress or feeling something very strong did her tone ever noticeably change. Not to say she was emotionless by any means — she felt a great deal more than I could ever wrap my head around — but she was always calm. At least, she always was when she was around us.

"Are you going to be okay here while Mother and Father and I are gone, Sigyn?" I asked gently, leaning upwards just slightly to look over at her past Hvitserk. Hvitserk's brows furrowed slightly, and he looked over at her too as she gazed thoughtfully at the clouds. She nodded slowly, turning her head to meet our gazes.

"I think so. You will not be gone very long. I will have Ivar and Muninn." I smiled at her sweet tone, but had to keep myself from grimacing.

"We may be gone all summer," I reminded her.

"Or longer," added Hvitserk. She nodded again and looked back at the clouds.

"Perhaps you will. And I will miss you everyday. But you'll come back." Hvitserk and I looked at each other, and I shrugged as I laid back down. I knew she understood — she was always the more intelligent twin — but I just didn't want her to be hit with the emotions all at once when I would not be there to talk over them with her. We may not have spent every waking moment together, but we had never been separated in our lives.

We stayed there for a long time, quietly and sparsely conversing amongst ourselves. When Ubbe and Sigurd had finished skinning the meat for dinner, they called us over. Sigyn and Ubbe were the best cooks among us, so they were the ones to prepare our meal while the rest of us sat around them and talked. It was not long until we heard the sound of hooves coming up the path to the cabin, and Hvitserk and I stood and craned our necks to see who the incoming rider could be.

"It's Bjorn!" I called the others. Sigyn and Ubbe looked up then, put down the food, and quickly joined the rest of us as we all watched the eldest prince of Kattegat approach.

His expression was grim — though he was usually serious, I wasn't used to him looking so discouraged or unhappy. He dismounted his horse once he reached the cabin, tying the reins to a fence post.

"Hello, Bjorn," Sigyn said, walking up to him with a smile. She turned towards the tall horse, stroking his head gently, her attention now completely focused on the stallion. Bjorn smiled faintly as he gave her a nod.

"Hello, Sigyn," As he passed her, he patted her shoulder. Tearing his eyes away from my sister, he looked towards the rest of us, and his expression darkened again. "I come with news. You will all want to sit down."

By the time Bjorn had finished his story, all of our faces looked just as grim as his. Sigyn, who was sat on a bench behind Ivar, was the only one of us who didn't look angry in the slightest — her downcast eyes made it seem as if she was on the verge of tears as she absentmindedly ran her fingers through Ivar's hair. She had always had a habit of soothing herself with soft textures when anxious or upset; usually, one of us lent our hand or hair for her to play with, if there was no small animal close enough for her to pet.

We were all quiet and contemplative for a while, all of us stuck in our own thoughts. I wondered what Hvitserk was thinking.

"You think our father never knew?" Ubbe brought his gaze up from the table to the sky, which had turned to grey. I saw in his eyes a calculating worry. He was trying to find reason in something where there likely wasn't anything that was good enough to justify it.

"It's possible," Bjorn mused, watching the knife in his hands as he turned it over slowly. "In those early days, it wasn't easy to navigate the sea."

"He knew. He had to." Hvitserk spoke from beside me. I glanced at him and nodded in agreement.

"If he did, he should have told the people," Sigurd decided aloud. "Everyone lost relatives; fathers and uncles, sons and daughters. They would have demanded revenge."

"That is why he didn't tell them," Ivar shot back, glaring at Sigurd.

"What do you mean?" Ubbe asked as his brows furrowed. Ivar rolled his eyes.

"It was a waste of time." He said simply.

"Ivar..." Sigyn's voice trailed off. Her face made it clear that she wanted to say something, but didn't know how to approach her volatile best friend.

"They were dead, Sigyn! Ragnar wanted to sail to Paris. He wanted to be famous. Isn't that more important?" He turned to look at her, and she drew her hands back from his hair and into her lap. "Hmm?"

Sigyn looked at the ground.

"I don't think so," She said solemnly.

"You can say that." Bjorn replied, shrugging. Ivar turned again, back to facing his brothers and I.

"I can say that? What does that mean?"

"Here's what it means —" Hvitserk interjected. "— at least to me. Our father abandoned us. We were just kids, and he ran off. Only the Gods know if he's still alive. And now, we hear he kept this big secret from everyone. That he was not truthful or honest."

"This makes me feel sick," Sigurd shook his head again. "How could our father not tell the people what had happened?"

"Maybe if he had told them, they would have killed him." Bjorn replied, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"If it's true..." Ubbe began. "If it's true that our father lied to his people and abandoned them, then I hope he never comes back."

"He betrayed our name. If he ever came back, I would kill him." Hvitserk snarled, ripping Sigyn out of her mind and back into the present. Her head shot up to look at Hvitserk.

"Me too." Sigurd agreed. Sigyn looked back and forth between the two of them, her expression somewhere between alarm and betrayal.

"Screw you!" Ivar exclaimed. Hvitserk scoffed and looked down, shaking his head. "All of you. He never did anything wrong. He is our father. And that is the end of it. You all sound like a bunch of Christians."

"I love our father as much as you do—" Ubbe said, but was interrupted by Ivar.

"Who said I loved him, Ubbe? I said I admired him. He's Viking. And you are soft." Ivar's voice was defensive, challenging, angry; as he usually was.

"I am not soft! None of us—" Ubbe gestured to his other brothers and to me. "— are soft. But we want to understand what our father did, and what he was."

He crouched down in front of Ivar, glancing up at Sigyn before making eye contact with Ivar. "As his son, his fame does not interest me. What he used his power for—" Ubbe pressed a finger to his temple. "— now that would interest me."

"By now, my brothers, there will be a lot of anger in Kattegat. Now they know the truth. Our father betrayed a whole generation of people," Hvitserk said.

"So if he ever came back—" Sigurd started to say, causing Bjorn to sit up straighter and stare at his brother.

"I don't think he is ever going to come back!" Bjorn exclaimed, frustrated. "I think what happened in Paris finally broke him. You all can say whatever you want, but he was a human. People started to talk as if he was a God — he was not a God! He was a man! A man with many dreams and many failings. I've learned that in the years since he went away. If I was him, I wouldn't come back."

I glanced at my sister now, who was watching Bjorn sadly.

"Despite all his failings, he is still the greatest man in the world to me," Bjorn looked down at the ground again as finished his sentence.

"He cared for you — he cared for all of you," Sigyn said, looking to each prince in turn. "He made mistakes, but as Bjorn said, he is only human." Bjorn and Ivar nodded, but Hvitserk and Ubbe shook their heads.

"Sigyn, we were not lucky as you were to have a father that was there for us. If he truly cared enough, he would have stayed." Ubbe told her. His voice was gentle, as it always was when he spoke to her, but I could hear the frustration behind his words. "You should learn that about love now; love means loyalty. Dedication. You don't abandon those you love."

I watched my sister grapple with finding the right thing to say. Ivar reached a hand behind him, blindly reaching for Sigyn's own. Once he had grabbed it, he guided it to his shoulder before letting it go. Her fingers traced shapes onto his shirt.

"I must go to your home now, Vali, Sigyn," Bjorn looked towards each of us in turn. "I have more preparations for the voyage to discuss with you father, and now I should talk to him about this as well." I nodded at him.

"I will go with you," I replied, and looked towards Sigyn, who met my gaze.

"I should stay here, then. There is no need for both of us to go," She decided.

"Perhaps we should head back to Kattegat early," Ubbe suggested, looking to his brothers. "See the reactions of the people."

"We already know how the people will react, Ubbe," Hvitserk said. "But yes, we should go and see what we can do."

The journey to my home was longer than usual; we had gone around Kattegat instead of cutting through it, which was the quickest way there, but didn't seem appropriate. A silence hung between Bjorn and I for most of the journey.

"You did not speak," Bjorn said finally, just before we had reached my home. "You did not speak when we were discussing my father."

I nodded at him. "It was not my turn to speak. Not my conversation to have." Bjorn let out a short hum of amusement.

"I think you discount your wisdom. Or maybe your importance," Bjorn decided. I didn't have an answer to that.

We dismounted our horses as we reached out family's land. Bjorn walked ahead of me, but stopped slowly and leaned against one of my father's many souvenirs from past raids. I stopped beside him, and he glanced at me before nodding his head over to the water. When I followed his gaze, I was met with my parents wading in the shallows with the little model ships I had helped him make.

My father must have noticed our presence somehow, because he turned to look at us before he walked over. Bjorn drew close to him, then spoke in a low voice.

"Did you know Ragnar lied to us all? The settlement in Wessex was destroyed as soon as we left." My father looked from Bjorn to me, then to the ground as he thought for a moment. He nodded, glancing back to me before looking Bjorn in the eyes again.

"I knew," He said. "A farmer who had escaped the slaughter told you father and I what had happened. Then, Ragnar killed him, so no one else would find out."

"You were a good friend to my father," Bjorn replied simply.

"Bjorn? Vali?" My mother's voice reached my ears, and I turned from the men to her, smiling.

"Helga," Bjorn answered, immediately walking towards her.

"Hello, Mamma," I called to her, following Bjorn again.

"What brings you back so soon, Vali? I thought you were going to be gone hunting for another week," My mother questioned as she walked out of the water and met us on the sand, embracing me.

"I decided to come back early. We caught plenty of game," I lied, but she nodded and smiled as she drew away from me. She turned to Bjorn.

"And what brings you here, Bjorn?"

"I was just coming to see how the boats were progressing," Bjorn explained.

"What do you say, Helga? What shall we tell him?" My father asked, walking along the docks.

"We think that it won't be long before you have boats ready and able to take you to the Mediterranean Sea," My mother told Bjorn happily.

"If it exists," My father muttered.

"Of course it exists," Bjorn insisted, looking up from the model boat my mother had placed in his hands.

"It's just a map, Bjorn; marks on a paper. A child could have drawn it! How can we know it's real?" My father asked. Bjorn studied the boat more as he thought over his words carefully.

"I learned from my father. The only way to tell if something is real..." Bjorn knelt down, gently pushing the model back into the sea. "...is to sail there."

I would like to think I can remember everything of that day — of most days spent at the hunting cabin, in Kattegat; with my friends, with my sister; the days that bled into each other and the nights that ended with sunrise instead of slumber; that phase in my life where I was preparing for the rest of it, learning the arts and trades and traditions of my people.

Indeed, I would certainly like to think that nothing of those days has escaped my memory. But as I write this, and as I try to recall every moment of every day & night spent in the sweet comfort of home, of youth, of camaraderie with those whom I still love most in the world, I recognize that the mind is never so sharp as to be able to recall every last detail or feeling from many years prior. My mind is not as sharp as it once was, either — I have accepted that soon, if it hasn't already, it will begin to fail me.

Perhaps not all of this story happened in the way I remember it — who is to say, when so few of us are left and still able to recount our adventures? — but the stories of my people & my past deserve to be told. Otherwise, who will remember the Norsemen? The Vikings are gone. I am one of the last to be able to remember the Golden Age. This story is mine to tell.

tags // @peachyboneless @youbloodymadgenius sorry y’all probably forgot about this fic its been so long lmaoo i’ll unadd you if you want

#vikings fanfic #vikings #vikings tv show #valley of kings saga #ragnarssons #ivar the boneless #ubbe ragnarsson #hvitserk ragnarsson #sigurd snake in the eye #bjorn ironside

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mimisempai · 3 years

Text

Wait for me on the other side 3/8

Chapter Summary:

Rain... Fireworks... Romance?

https://archiveofourown.org/works/32948254/chapters/82052251

April 15, 2021 - 7:00

Loki, his heart pounding, approached the mailbox whose flag was raised.

He opened it and unfolded the small note with trembling fingers.

Thank you for this lovely attention. I haven't stopped wearing it since I received it.

You tell me that this connection with me allows you to open up to others and not feel alone anymore and you ask me if I want to continue this correspondence?

I don't want to stop either!

I don't know if we'll ever meet, but I want to continue to get to know you and for you to get to know me.

Tell me what you like.

Yours, Mobius.

Loki breathed a sigh of relief, put the letter in his pocket and left. He would have to work before he could write. This was no longer a matter of a quick word, he wanted to take time to think before he wrote.

As he walked through the school gates, although he loved his job, for once he couldn't wait for the day to be over.

April 17, 2019

Mobius was sitting in what had become his special Loki spot, the armchair in front of the bay window, a steaming cup of coffee next to him, reading Loki's latest letter.

I love Norse mythology and my work.

My favorite cocktail is Gimlets, gin and lime.

This brings me to my favorite color: green.

I have a sweet tooth, I like all kinds of sweets and pastries, and on the other hand I also like everything spicy.

I like quiet evenings reading and listening to music.

I like Jane Austen, The Brontë sisters and Paulo Coehlo.

I like to use metaphors but I have heard that they are not always great.

And although I can't stand violence, I like daggers, especially old ones.

Oh and I forgot, I like the house on the hill.

Mobius promised himself to go and see in Sylvie's antique weapons store if she had any antique daggers.

I can't stand cruelty, condescension, and lies.

And although they are green I hate peas.

Mobius laughed at the last sentence, he finished his coffee and went to get his notepad to start writing.

April 19, 2021

Loki, sitting cross-legged on his couch with Croki's head on his leg, was reading Mobius' latest letter.

I like to take watches apart and put them back together, to see the mechanism inside. They are all different.

I like to walk in the streets of New York and discover places by chance.

I like to draw, or rather make sketches that I never finish.

I like whiskey, Jack Daniels, and occasionally a good glass of red French Bordeaux wine.

I like all kinds of music, but my preference is for jazz.

I don't like lies, preconceived judgments, and gratuitous meanness, well, just plain meanness.

And I also like the house on the hill.

How did you end up living there anyway?

Loki read the letter again, folded it up and put it in the little box with the others before going to bed and thinking about what he would answer the next day.

April 21, 2019

Mobius went out still in his robe because it was a day of rest. He was surprised to see that Loki had already answered if he was to believe the little flag. He refused to question the fact that his heartbeat had accelerated.

He went to get the letter, then read it in front of his breakfast, Croki at his feet.

I rented it after college. It was the strangest place I had ever seen. I couldn't imagine anyone building it. Or... I couldn't imagine anyone building it and not living in it. I liked the way it sort of...hovered over the water. I loved that path that led to it. I don't know why, it has a strange, timeless charm.

April 23, 2021

Loki, on break between classes, took the letter out of his pocket and read it again.

Yes, the fact that you have to walk so much to get to the front door and that it's uphill, it's like you have to earn the right to enter the house. Every time you enter the house, it's like you're embarking on a quest whose prize is the right to enter.

I'm sorry, I must sound eccentric.

April 24, 2019

During his lunch break, and all day, he read that simple phrase from Loki over and over again.

Don't apologize, you can be eccentric. You can be whatever you want.

Mobius had always felt different, both in his personal and professional life choices, and this simple phrase eased some of his inner struggles. He couldn't ignore the warm feeling in his chest.

*********

A few weeks passed. The wind was blowing violently on a late spring day in New York. Loki was walking rapidly towards the school. His phone started to vibrate in his pocket, he grabbed it to answer the call.

-Yes?

Loki lost the smile on his face.

-Look, this isn't easy for me either. You know that... no, I'm not mad that you called. I just... I'm sorry, I have to go to work and I...

He was approaching the school and didn't want to continue this conversation as more and more students came in.

-I don't think that's a good idea. No. Sigyn, I'm asking you not to come. Because we need more time... Especially if we want to stay friends. I just don't think we should... look, I'm on my way to work, we'll talk about it. Bye.

Loki sighed, shaking his head as he walked through the large front door.

" Already feeling demotivated?" asked Natasha as she greeted him with a smile.

"Oh no no!" protested Loki.

"That's good timing. Heimdall has caught the flu and we need someone to cover his classes while he's absent. Since you have an art degree, I was wondering if..."

"No worries! I'm happy to oblige."

"Perfect," Natasha thanked him, "You can check with the assistant about Heimdall's schedule and make arrangements then. Thank you Loki, really. If the exams weren't coming up, I wouldn't have asked you."

Loki replied, "No worries, really."

If anything, he was glad to see that even though he was the last one in and the youngest teacher, he was trusted.

At the end of the week, as he walked home with his arms full of groceries, he thought maybe he should have thought about it before saying yes.

Because he was exhausted.He hadn't realized how much time and energy it would take to handle two positions.

Fortunately, Heimdall was back at work on Monday.

Loki put his groceries in the car and thought he'd stop by the house on the hill before heading home.

When he arrived, the little flag was up.

He took the letter and opened it.

Hi, pen pal. You haven't written in a while. I hope all is well.

You actually I

This is ridiculous, just a few words to write and it makes me sound like a babbling teenager.

Well I'm writing it down: I MISS YOU

It was obvious that the last words had been written with force.

Loki felt a strange warm feeling in his chest. He had also hugely missed the correspondence, so he hurried to answer on the spot and put the letter in the box before going home.

**********

Parking the car in front of the mailbox, Mobius chose to ignore the butterflies in his stomach as he saw the little flag raised.

He took the letter out of the box and once he got home, Croki fed, he went to his favorite place to read the letter.

It has been a difficult week.

I couldn't get away from work and only had the strength to go to bed at night. I can't remember the last time I looked up at the sky, or saw a damn tree. That's what I miss. The nature around me.

It's not so bad when I'm busy. It's when I have a minute to breathe, to look around, that it seems really hard. I wonder what I'm doing here, alone, in this gray city. I miss the trees.

PS: I missed you too

June 15, 2019 - 9:00 pm.

In the evening, Mobius left the house with a small tree in the pickup's trailer. He was driving towards the city.

June 15, 2021 - 9:30 pm

In the middle of the walk from school to his apartment, Loki saw the black rain clouds gathering in the sky. Suddenly there was a rumble of thunder in the distance and as he was on the home stretch, the rain began to pour.

June 15, 2019 - 9:35 PM

Arriving at 105 MacDougal Street - Greenwich Village, obviously still under construction, Mobius parked the pickup and pulled a shovel and the tree from the trailer. He began digging a hole outside the construction site that would become Loki's apartment building. Once finished, he began planting the tiny, fragile tree.

June 15, 2021 - 9:35 pm

Loki was completely soaked as he walked the last few yards to his front door. He struggled to find his keys, dropped them, and grew more and more frustrated as the rain poured down on him, when suddenly it stopped. He was baffled, as thunder and lightning continued to flash across the sky, and the rain continued to fall all around him, but not on him.

He looked up.

Above him were the dense green leafy branches of a young tree that formed a canopy swaying in the rain right above Loki. It hadn't been there a second ago, but now it was sheltering him, and Loki was stunned.

June 15, 2019 - 9:37pm

Mobius smiled as he swung the shovel into the pickup's trailer before heading home.

June 15, 2021 - 9:37 pm

Loki, overcome with emotion, broke into a smile and whispered to Mobius, even though he couldn't hear him, "Thank you."

Raindrops fell through the green branches as Loki danced under the tree, his face to the sky.

*********

2019 - A few days later

Casey stood on the small path in front of Mobius' house, "Wow!!!"

Mobius motioned for him to follow him inside.Casey entered, still stunned by the house.

"So, this is where you're hiding?"

Mobius replied with a smile, "Yeah.You want a beer?"

"Yeah thanks."

Mobius pulled two beers out of the fridge and they went to the chairs in front of the bay window and talked about the house for a while. Casey had lots of questions.

Casey took a sip and his face became more serious.

"Mobius. I didn't just come here to escape my pathetic existence in the city. I came to talk to you about TK and ask you to come back with us. We need you."

Mobius shook his head, "TK? Sorry Casey but no."

"I'm sure if you talked to her..." insisted Casey.

"Forget it.Ravonna doesn't want me to come back. I don't want to come back. Everyone's happier now."

Casey argued, "What about your work? Your work was awesome. Even she admitted that. Look, I know it's hard, but if you put your problems with her aside, you-"

"I said forget it." replied Mobius, this time with a sharp tone before softening, "Sorry. It's just... I like it here. And I like my job at the store."

Casey nodded and accepted the answer before asking, curious again, "Are you in a relationship with anyone?"

Mobius answered after a slight hesitation that didn't go unnoticed, "No."

"Why did you hesitate?"

"I didn't hesitate."

"Yes, you did."

Mobius insisted, "I...I'm not involved with anyone, okay?"

"Okay." replied Casey, who smiled playfully before continuing, "All I'm saying is that maybe you should think about the future."

Mobius began to laugh. He couldn't stop himself.

Casey looked at him as if he had gone crazy, "What?"

Mobius continued to laugh.

"What?"

**********

A few days later, with Loki's letter open in the passenger seat of his pickup, Mobius drove to the train station near Brooklyn College of Arts.

He parked, picked up the letter and got out, heading for the entrance to the station.

Around this time two years ago, I lost something.

In the Brooklyn train station.

I was going back to my parents and left it on the platform. See if you can find it for me. I won't tell you what it is.

Then put it in the mailbox. It's your mission if you choose to accept it.

Mobius could not resist a challenge. So he found himself at that moment looking for an object he knew nothing about. He walked through the station. There were a few people. He looked for a single man and saw none. Just a few families and an elderly couple.

He continued to search when suddenly, through the window overlooking the station platform, he saw a young man with long black hair get up and get ready to board the train.

Mobius wasn't sure if it was him, but he felt deep down that he was Loki, and he was amazingly handsome. Mobius hurried through the door and onto the station platform. He was about to head towards him when he stopped.

The young man had embraced a woman who had her back to Mobius.

They kissed and said goodbye.

Neither of them noticed that Loki, for it was undoubtedly Loki, had left a book on the bench behind him. Mobius saw it, but it would be awkward to approach and interrupt the kiss. He hesitated.

The train driver announced the final boarding.

Loki separated from the woman, obviously reluctantly, and boarded the train.

The woman Loki had kissed did not move and watched the train pull away until it was completely out of sight. He did not notice the book. Mobius watched him leave and once he was gone, he approached the bench. He looked at the book that Loki had left behind. It was a well-worn copy of Persuasion by Jane Austen. It had definitely been Loki.

********

Loki impatiently went to the mailbox, thinking that perhaps Mobius had already been to the station.

He opened it, and was disappointed when he didn't see the book and just a little note.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING ON THE 4TH OF JULY?

Loki, a little disappointed, answered immediately on the same piece of paper and just as he was about to leave, he heard the characteristic sound of the little flag being raised and went back to the box and opened it. He grabbed the small paper and unfolded it.

L: Going to the fireworks, I guess.

I go every year. Why?

M: Would you like to watch them together? From the cliff. The fireworks on the lake are beautiful

L: I know, I watched them from the house the time I lived there.

You're not asking me out, are you?

M: No, no. I just thought it might be nice to do the same thing, that's all.

L: The same thing, two years apart.

M: It's better than staying home.

L: Okay. Let's go see the fireworks.

M: See you in 10 days then. July 4th at 10pm in front of the mailbox.

Mobius did not wait for an answer, and walked happily back to the house. Even though he had denied it, it still felt like a date of some sort.

The butterflies began to fly again.

July 4, 2019/2021 - 10:00 pm.

Two years apart, in the same place, Loki and Mobius sat next to the mailbox. Mobius brought one of the seats from the garden furniture and Loki brought an old folding camping seat in his car.

He is armed with his pad and pencil.

The strange and timeless conversation started again, always punctuated by the little flag that went up and down.

L: Did you go to the station? I never got my book.

M: Let me keep it for a while. I want to read it.

By the way, there's something I wanted to ask you.

Who was the girl at the station?

Your fiancée?

Why didn't you tell me about her?

Loki thought it sounded like Mobius was jealous, but didn't want to get the wrong idea.

L: You don't tell me about your love life either.

M: Because I don't have one unfortunately.

My God, I can't believe you didn't tell me you were married.

L: I'm not married. We broke up when I moved to New York.

I'm on my own.

The fireworks just started.

M: They started here too.

I'm sure yours are better, since it's supposed to get better every year.

L: Probably. Let's enjoy the sight.

Afterwards, during the fireworks, the flag did not move for a while. Then when the grand finale was over, and the silence fell, the flag suddenly rose, making Loki jump.

M: At the station, when I saw you... I didn't expect... I mean, you didn't tell me you were so gorgeous.

Loki read these words and could not suppress a small gasp of surprise. He looked around embarrassed even though he knew for a fact that no one was there.

L: Not fair.

You saw me but I still don't know what you look like.

Mobius ran his hand over his face and figured that since it was truth night, he might as well go for it.

M: You're right. I wouldn't mind knowing what I'll look like in two years. Why don't we meet in the future and tell me what you think?

Loki thought about it and then looked at his watch, it was 10:43 pm, he took a deep breath, suddenly excited and nervous

L: Why don't you call me on July 4, 2021 at 10:44 pm

As Loki finished the last line of the "4" the phone rang.

He almost fell out of his chair.

He steadied himself with a pounding heart and picked up, "Hello?"

________

Who is on the other end of the phone...?

Chapter 1 - Chapter 2 - Chapter 3 - Chapter 4 - Chapter 5 - Chapter 6 - Chapter 7 - Chapter 8 (End)

As always, bear with me as it is not beta'd and english is not my native language I hope you enjoyed it nonetheless🥰

#lokius fic #alternative ending #no powers au #loki #mobius m mobius #loki series #lokius #loki x mobius #time husbands #timefrost #developing relationship #penpal

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butcheredtongue · 4 years

Note

Could you please tell me about your favourite Mechanisms songs bc. I wanna get into them but idk where to start asdfghjkl

!!!! Omg OK here goes a lot of incoherence. First things first! The mechs are a band that's harder to get into on a song by song basis bc of the nature of their work--each album tells a story from beginning to end, with alternating prose and music for each song. None of their stories have happy endings but they're all v cool and diverse and they really slap so yaknow. They also bend genres and have fantastic prose (idk if u listen to tma but jonny sims' writing... Hell yes) The albums are as follows:

Once upon a time (in space)

this one is, as the title suggests, about fairy tales......... But in space! Really gritty reimagining of a bunch of well-known fairy tales and nursery rhymes telling the story of a revolution against an evil king with a lesbian love story at its core.

Fave song: Pump Shanty, a sea (technically space) shanty that makes my soul leave my body. Its got a gay bit too so hell yes.

Ulysses dies at dawn

In a cyberpunk future set on a planet dominated by a sprawling city led by the criminal Olympian underworld, a group of paid criminals (all reimagined Greek myth figures) look to break into a vault held by the war hero/war criminal Ulysses (fun fact! Their gender is unknown throughout) which is labeled only "penelope".

Fave song: Elysian Fields, which is a really beautiful song and the last of the album. Never fails to make me cry.

High noon over camelot

This album is my absolute favourite. Arthurian legend but it's cowboys in a dystopian space station doomed to a fiery end, with a conflict between the saxon ghouls of the lower floors of the station and Camelot above, led by sheriff Arthur and his two loves, lancelot and guinevere (POLY RIGHTS STAN THE PENDRAGONS THANK U AND GOODNIGHT). Also has my fave character, mordred and a really interesting story about identity, prejudice and absolute bangers.

Fave song: all of them. But especially Hellfire, featuring a mad preacher talking about his planet's fiery doom. 10/10 would be lectured on my sins again.

The bifrost incident

To start with, just thinking abt this album makes me cry. It's very good though. It's about odin, queen of asgard, who has just built a railway through the bifrost, a wormhole she has harnessed. The train, on its maiden journey, was destroyed, and the album picks up the pieces of what exactly went down. Feat. Loki who is a wlw and a freedom fighter (opposing odin's tyranny etc) who has had her mind broken and her wife Sigyn, who tries to get Loki back. Thor is also there, and is less of an ubiquitous hero than one would assume. Overall v interesting characters and really just a gorgeous ending.

Fave song: End of the Line. It makes me cry.

Honourable mentions:

Tales to be told vol 1 and 2, which I haven't listened to but I'm sure are very, very cool.

Anyways I haven't been into the mechs very long but I'm happy to ramble abt them forever akfkakfjs. Thanks for the ask and stan the mechanisms

#The mechanisms

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mimisempai · 3 years

Text

Wait for me on the other side 5/8

Summary:

Une rencontre... un baiser... une mini dispute... Loki et Mobius se rapprochent et chacun dans leur temps se rend compte de ses sentiments...

Thank you for all the people who came aboard the ship of this story! Your comments are really the essence of my motivation. I hope you'll continue to enjoy your reading!

https://archiveofourown.org/works/32948254/chapters/82281988

BiFrost Bar - 2021

Thor exclaimed, "Why didn't you say it was your birthday? We would have had a cake for you or something."

Loki replied with a gentle smile, "It's just the time passing. I hate to make a big deal out of it."

Thor looked at him with his piercing eyes, "You keep a lot to yourself don't you?"

Although lately he was starting to open up a little more, Loki couldn't argue with him.

Thor continued, "There's nothing wrong with that. But I sometimes wonder what else you have in your life besides work. A family? A girlfriend or a boyfriend?"

Loki remained silent at first, then, faced with Thor's kindness, he finally began to talk about himself.

Sigyn's House - 2019

Sigyn introduced Loki with enthusiasm, everyone toasting him, kissing him, congratulating him.

Loki tried with difficulty not to show that he was slightly annoyed.

They arrived near Mobius and Sylvie, who was really looking forward to leaving.

"Loki, I'd like you to meet, Mobius and uh... Sylvie. He's going to help us find our lake house."

"Hello." greeted them Loki.

Mobius replied, "Hi." while Sylvie nodded.

Seeing that they were holding their coats, Sigyn asked, "Are you guys already leaving?"

Mobius looked at them, his gaze fixed on Sigyn's arm around Loki's waist and replied, "No, we're staying."

He felt Sylvie's irritated look on him.

"Very well." said Sigyn, "Come on Loki, I still have some people to introduce you to."

Loki gave a small pinched smile and followed his enthusiastic girlfriend.

A little later, Mobius was looking for a bathroom and in doing so, passed by the door of a room, half-opened. Inside, Sigyn was kissing Loki.

Mobius stepped back quickly and heard Sigyn ask, "Were you surprised?"

Loki replied in a tone that Mobius found dull, "Yes, I was. When are they going to leave?"

Sigyn asked worriedly, "What's the matter Loki?"

Loki sighed and replied, "Nothing. I'm fine... It's just I had a long day, plus the crowded train, I don't know. I guess I thought we'd be alone tonight."

Sigyn protested, "But these are my friends, Lo. They're going to be our friends. I want you to get to know them. We're going to make a life here."

"I know. I know..."

BiFrost Bar - 2021

"We moved in together when I finished college of the arts. He had rented this big house. A beautiful place, on the north side of town. We were going to live there forever. That was the plan."

Thor, who was listening intently, asked him softly, "What happened?"

Loki shrugged, "The problem is that it was his plan not mine."

Thor nodded, understanding.

Loki pulled himself together, "No, I'm not being fair. I thought I wanted it too. I don't know. Anyway, I ended it."

Thor put his hand on his arm and said, "That's your right Loki. You don't have to justify yourself, whatever your reasons, you had the right to end the relationship."

He took a sip of beer before continuing, "But then, who are you writing to?"

Loki didn't answer. He didn't know how to explain Mobius.

At Loki's silence, Thor added softly, "Sorry. It's none of my business."

Loki shook his head, "No, it's okay. You're right, there is someone."

He twirled his glass in his hands to give himself a little composure.

"It's kind of a... long-distance relationship."

"For how long?"

Loki sighed, "a long time."

Thor looked interested, "How did you two meet?"

Loki swallowed and replied, "We haven't met."

"What?"

"We just write letters to each other."

Thor laughed, "Is this a joke?"

Loki shook his head again, "No, I promise."

"You mean, it's like a pen pal?"

Loki nodded his head...

Thor laughed, but Loki didn't join him and drained his glass. before continuing, a little sadly, "It's the story of my life. Keeping everything at an appropriate and safe distance. Everyone... The girl who loved me, who wanted to marry me, I pushed her away, I run, I run away all the time. While now, the only man I can never meet... him, I want to give him all my heart."

Thor squeezed his hand and looked at him with a compassionate eye, "So you've never really talked face to face?"

" Nev-" Loki paused, suddenly realizing something, "No. Wait. One time..."

Sigyn's House - 2019

Loki left the house after his discussion with Sigyn. He really needed a break. He sat down on the stairs and suddenly realized he was not alone. Mobius was there too, alone.

The silence lingered, neither of them knowing what to say.

Then suddenly Mobius said simply, "Happy birthday."

Loki growled and replied, "If one more person comes up and says that to me tonight I'll kill them."

Mobius looked apologetic and stepped back a little in surrender.

Loki sighed, "Sorry for the reaction, I know it's not a big deal. Just one more year. I guess I'm not really in the mood to party."

Mobius replied, "Neither am I actually."

"So what are you doing here?" asked Loki, curious.

Mobius hesitated and replied, sitting down on the steps next to Loki. "I was hoping... to meet someone."

"Who?"

"Someone Sigyn told me about."

Loki nodded, "Ah. A reunion?"

Mobius chuckled, "Sort of."

"So what are you waiting for?"

Mobius sighed, "I'm trying to get some courage."

Loki smiled, "I understand." He tightened his arms around himself, feeling the coolness of the night and asked, "So you're the one who's going to find us a house on the lake, right?"

Mobius, sure of himself replied in a confident voice, "Yes, I will."

Loki was a little taken aback by the assurance of his answer.

"Are you a real estate agent?"

"No, I have a house above the lake."

Loki looked surprised and Mobius added, "And you're going to rent it after I move out." He coughed and pulled himself together, "I mean, you could. If you want to."

"When are you moving?

Mobius replied, "I'm...not sure. I guess once you finish your PhD in literature?"

Loki glared at him.

Mobius wanted to smack himself on the head and tried to make things up, "Sigyn said you were in the College of Arts and studying literature."

He paused and the silence was awkward.

Loki looked confused and Mobius felt he had lost the thread of the conversation, if there ever was one.

"What makes you think we would like it? How can you be sure."

Mobius replied seriously, "You'll like it."

Loki asked point blank, "Can you swim?"

Mobius replied, "Sure, I took lessons when I was a kid."

Loki shook his head laughing, "No, I mean, can you swim from home?"

"Oh."

Mobius laughed with Loki.

"Uh no. You can't. That's a downside. There's no path to the water."

"That's a shame."

Mobius nodded before adding, "Actually, I thought... You'd have to see it, but I always had the idea that I could change it. Nothing major. But a few new elements could really transform the house. A deck in the back that would be over the lake. And stairs…," Mobius paused, embarrassed by his enthusiasm when Loki wasn't supposed to have seen the house.

Loki continued his sentence though,"Stairs that go down to the water?"

Mobius nodded, "Yeah. That's it, like a gentle curve down... So you could go out the back door and down to the lake whenever you feel like it."

"That sounds really nice."

Loki turned his head toward the house where the party was still in full swing. He sighed, "It's pretty late. Shouldn't you go back? If you want to find the woman of your dreams tonight?"

Mobius replied with a wink, "Actually, that would be the man of my dreams."

"Oh..."

"Does that bother you?" asked Mobius.

"Oh no, I'm just surprised, pleasantly surprised to know that I'm not the only one here who's attracted to a little bit of both."

Loki gave him a teasing shoulder nudge. Mobius chuckled in response and added, "To answer your question, I'm not interested in finding the man of my dreams, I'm much better off here."

Loki blushed slightly at the implication of Mobius' words.

Mobius asked him gently, "Loki, have you read Persuasion by Jane Austen?"

Loki startled slightly and replied in surprise, "It's my favorite book. Why?"

"I have a friend who likes it."

Loki replied with a half smile, "Your friend has good taste."

"Yes he does." Mobius replied, a playful glint in his eye before adding, "I've been meaning to read it. Could you tell me a little about it?"

Loki waited a little and thought before answering. He wrapped his hands around his knees and began to speak with his chin in his lap, "It's about... waiting. These two people meet. They almost fall in love, but it's not the right time, and they have to part ways. Then, years later, they meet again. They have another chance. But they don't know if too much time has passed, if they've waited too long, if it's too late to make things work."

Mobius replied, "That sounds sad."

Loki shook his head, "It's not. Not at the end. I wouldn't have read it, I hate books that don't have a happy ending."

They were sitting pretty close to each other, Loki straightened up a bit and turned his head to Mobius who had also just moved closer.

They looked at each other for a long moment before simultaneously leaning towards each other until their lips met.

They kissed for a long time, forgetting everything around them. Both of them felt a sense of adequacy, of harmony at that moment. After a while, Loki pulled back and hesitantly said, "I don't know why I did that."

Mobius replied softly, "We did this, not just you, I'll try to explain..."

He was leaning again on Loki who did not move back when the door behind them opened on Sigyn and Sylvie.

Mobius and Loki quickly separated and both stood up at the same time, looking like children caught with their hand in the jam jar.

Sigyn and Sylvie could see that they had interrupted something. There was an awkward silence until Loki decided to break it, "Oh, Sigyn, hey. Uh, Mobius was just telling me about his house. It sounds really great."

Sigyn, his face set like stone, replied in an icy voice, "Great."

Loki turned to Mobius and continued, "We're, uh, definitely interested."

Mobius nodded and replied, "Good. I'll be in touch."

He stared at Loki for a few seconds and then whispered as he looked toward the ground, "I promise."

Sylvie, her eyes flashing, intervened, holding out his coat. "Mobius. It's late."

Mobius reluctantly followed her, taking one last look at Loki before heading for his pickup.

The return drive passed in dead silence and he dropped Sylvie off in front of her house. At the moment of closing the door of the car she said to him bitterly, "You know, if you didn't want anything to do with me, Mobius, you should have just told me. I know I'm intrusive but you never say anything, because you never want to hurt people. But not saying anything can hurt too you know."

Mobius felt bad that he had really hurt Sylvie.

"I'm really sorry. I... I'm not very good at this. I really like you as a... friend, but I don't want to go any further. I... I am in love with someone else."

He was surprised by the admission he had just made to himself. For the first time.

Sylvie seemed to notice and her face softened a bit.

"It'll take me a little while, but don't stop coming to the store or talking to me because of it, okay. I like you as a friend too, not just a love interest. I don't want to lose our friendship. So I'll probably give you a hard time the next few days, but that's okay."

Mobius nodded, moved by Sylvie's kindness, "I... Thanks."

She didn't answer anything, closed the car door gently and went home.

Mobius drove in a daze back to the house on the hill and was surprised to see that the mailbox flag was up.

He opened it and grabbed the little note that was inside.

Oh, my God. It was you.

I remember you.

Why didn't you tell me who you were?

I'm waiting by the box, I know you're home around this time, so you can answer right away

Two years apart, the same conversation, rhythmed by the movement of the small flag.

M -You would have thought I was crazy.

L -But I liked you. That was our chance. You should have told me.

M -And your girlfriend?

L -What about your girlfriend?

M -She's not my girlfriend!

L -Well, she's not my boyfriend!

M -She was then! I mean, she is now.

L -Your 'now', not mine! And maybe the 'now' would be different if you had said something back then. Maybe now would have come sooner, or maybe now would be our now, not just my now, you know?

M - No! I don't know!

2021 - Loki's apartment

Loki reread their conversation, grumbled in frustration, and threw the letter across the room, exasperated. A missed opportunity. Croki spun around his feet and rubbed his legs, as if to comfort him.

2019 - Mobius House

Mobius, equally frustrated when he saw that Loki did not answer, threw away his pencil and stomped toward the house. Once inside, he slumped in his armchair, sighed and looked thoughtfully through the bay window as Croki came to lie down and put his head on his feet, sensing his master's trouble.

_________

Fortunately, Croki is there to support them... but will they finally meet? How about a date?

Chapter 1 - Chapter 2 - Chapter 3 - Chapter 4 - Chapter 5 - Chapter 6 - Chapter 7 - Chapter 8 (End)

#lokius fics #lokius #Developing Relationship #no powers au #Alternate Universe #Letters #penpal #loki series au #loki #mobius m. mobius #thor

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