Alabama Calling

A few more days of research and a meeting with Mobius finally managed to provide a breakthrough in your search for the Variant since they had left a very specific candy at one of the attack sites. You looked up the manufacturing time and place of it and cross-referenced it with major catastrophes in that part of Earth. In the end the most likely hiding place was a supermarket during a devastating Hurricane in 2050 Alabama since the Variant would require resources to sustain themselves on the run. You briefly wondered if they had simply been careless or if there was a chance they wanted to force an altercation with the TVA and you shuddered at the possibility.

Mobius convinced Judge Renslayer to sanction a mission to stakeout Roxxcart and potentially identify and capture the dangerous Loki Variant. You pleaded with Mobius to allow you to accompany them but he was uncertain since you possessed neither magic nor weapons and combat training. "I knew the Loki from the Sacred Timeline intimately well and I think I may have a chance to better understand this Variant," you insisted and eventually Mobius gave in and approved of you joining the mission.

You gathered with Hunter B-15 and a number of other agents and Mobius instructed her to keep a close eye on you in case of any danger. You figured that with the TVA agents and Loki at your side you should be relatively safe from the Variant, especially since you didn't carry any reset charges they would be interested in. Once everything was set up the entire group stepped through the Timedoor and you were instantly drenched by the rain that was hammering down from the darkened sky.

You quickly rushed into the deserted supermarket and you watched with a smile as Loki used a spell to dry himself. Hunter B-15 gave him a suspicious look and you suppressed a laugh at his indignant expression as he explained his magic. You stepped closer to him and rested a hand on his arm to get his attention. When he immediately grinned at you it took you a moment to gather your thoughts and you gazed up at him through strands of damp hair and what you hoped was a pleading tone "Could you dry me too?"

Loki nodded and with a wave of his hand you felt the familiar tingle of his magic wash over you. It always reminded you of being caressed by an invisible hand and you instinctively sighed and smiled at him. He returned it easily and you were convinced he was blushing but it was hard to be certain in the dim lighting surrounding you.

Mobius suggested splitting up and Hunter B-15 insisted on Loki - and by extension you - coming with her since it was her field operation. You could tell that Mobius considered arguing but in the end he just huffed and waved for Hunter B-15 to brief everyone on the situation. She explained that a number of civilians were hiding in Roxxcart from the hurricane and that this would provide the perfect opportunity for the Variant to hide in plain sight.

You started walking along the aisles with Hunter B-15 and Loki and you could feel anxiety creep up your spine. You had no idea what to expect and the fact that it was dark and gloomy didn't exactly lift your spirits. You walked as close to Loki as possible to the point that your arms kept touching and you hoped that he couldn't see your flustered smile. Hunter B-15 approached a stranger in one of the aisles and when she grabbed his arm to search him you witnessed a strand of something glowing and green transfer from the man to her.

He collapsed onto the floor and you gasped as you stared at his unmoving form. "Is he dead?" you murmured to nobody in particular and you felt fear settle in your gut. Hunter B-15 turned towards you with a peculiar expression on her face and you realised something was wrong when she said in a strange sounding voice "They usually wake up." You wondered if the earlier exchange between the civilian and Hunter B-15 had been magic conjured by the Variant and you were terrified at the idea of possessing a human being. Loki took a step to the side to put his body between you and whoever was controlling Hunter B-15 and you instantly felt safer.

Before you could start interrogating her she turned towards you and asked in a condescending tone "I know he's a Loki but who are you?" You flinched under the scrutinising stare that was so unlike the soft eyes with which Hunter B-15 usually regarded you and your response came out as a timid whisper "I'm nobody." You were met with an eye roll and a scoff and you hoped that the real Hunter B-15 was not in any danger through this use of magic. Loki crossed his arms in front of his chest and you could see frustration flash in his eyes when he demanded "Lokis aren't usually cowards so why don't you show yourself?"

The agent in front of you smirked in a way that made you increasingly uncomfortable and you recognised nothing of the woman you knew when she responded dryly "Have it your way." Another burst of green magic appeared in the air and a second later Hunter B-15 collapsed onto the floor just like the civilian had previously. You quickly checked her pulse and breathing to confirm she was still alive before focusing your attention back on the supermarket.

You looked around the empty aisles and when you spotted a hooded figure in the back of the store you and Loki started slowly walking towards it. You gasped as the person turned around and dropped her hood with a flourish and a cheeky grin. You were looking at a gorgeous blonde woman who seemed to be wearing a golden tiara with horns and leather armour that strongly reminded you of Loki's Asgardian wear. You had no doubt that this was the Variant you had been hunting and your heart rate accelerated exponentially.

Loki didn't seem to feel the same sense of awe as you and looked the woman straight in the eye and asked in an indignant tone "What exactly do you want?" She seemed uninterested in indulging his curiosity and simply let out a melodic laugh before pressing a button on a strange device next to her on the floor. Suddenly a row of Timedoors opened all across the store and you watched in horror as time resetting charges exploded in all of them at once. You could only imagine the havoc this would wreak on the Sacred Timeline and you cringed at the thought.

"You know if you're really a Loki, you could help me deal with the Time Keepers," Loki continued his attempt to reach an understanding with the Variant and you once again wondered about his motives. You watched with wide eyes as the woman chuckled lightly and activated a TemPad to open a Timedoor right behind her. Without dignifying Loki with a response she winked and stepped through the portal and you were left stunned and confused at what just happened.

Loki moved to follow her through the Timedoor and you instinctively reached for his sleeve to stop him. "What the hell are you doing?" you asked with a quivering voice and you could hear footsteps behind you, indicating that Mobius and the other agents were nearing your location. The Timedoor flickered as an indication of it closing soon and before you had the chance to even gasp Loki stepped through it and managed to take y ou with him.