Mobius' POV

-I told you it was a bad idea.-Ravonna started to lecture me.

I didn't have energy or motivation to continue that conversation, at the moment all I could think was what just happened moments ago.

-Where is Y/N?- I asked worried- She is injured, she needs to go to the nursery.

-Don't worry about the variant now Mobius. She is safe, if that's what you want to know. There are more important subjects to discuss about.

Everything just happened so fast at Lamantis. Y/N and I had accepted the fact that we'd die in that planet until the TVA arrived, pulling us apart in different portals. The minute men dragged me to Ravonna's office while I didn't know what happened to Y/N.

My friend Ravonna had a very serious face while looking through some papers, her office was cold and so was her tone.

-You almost died in Lamentis-1.

-But I didn't.

-Do you have any idea of how dangerous that was? That variant Mobius-

-Stop calling her that Ravonna!-I asked once again and she opened wide her eyes.

-You might be her friend but she is still a variant Mobius. You can't change that.

-But she deserves respect.

A sharp atmosphere fell was between us. Ravonna didn't like me saying those things and neither did I when she spoke that way about Y/N. If I had limits she needed to have too.

-What did you do?-She suddenly asked.

-Did what?

-To cause the Nexus Event.

-What Nexus Event you're talking about?

-A huge Nexus Event happened in Lamentis-1. It affected the Sacred Timeline like it never did before. We found you because of it.

-You're...accusing me of causing a Nexus Event? You can't be serious-

-The event happened exactly on your location Mobius. The only thing not supposed to happen in Lamantis were you and Y/N there. What have you done?

-Nothing.

-Why are you lying to me?

-I'm not.

-Yes you are.

-I'm tired of this Ravonna. I just got out of an Apocalypse, can't I rest?

-I know you're going to the nursery, not to your room.

-And why can't I?

She sighed and organized her documents in a pile, then put her pens in a crescent line on the desk like she always did. She leaned to me on the table:

-This variant is a bad influence for you Mobius.

I got up from my chair irritated.

-I'm just trying-

-No, listen Ravonna.-I interrupted her- I'm your friend. I really am. And I respect you as the professional you are. But what you're saying is ridiculous. I'm not a child. I know who is and who isn't a bad influence to me. And Y/N isn't one.

-She followed the Variant towards the portal.

-To help the TVA.

-That's what she tells you.

-And I believe in her.

-More than me?

A silence fell onto us. That conversation didn't seem fair. I didn't want to pick sides in a fight. I just wished she could understand Y/N like I did. But maybe nobody could.

I looked down at the carpet on the floor trying to keep my cool.

-Mobius-Ravonna spoke again- You are a TVA agent. She is a variant. No matter how the circumstances appear to be, she is still the flaw you swore to the Time-Keepers to destroy.

I ignored her and walked towards the door. I've had enough.

-I'm just saying because I care about you.-She said before I left- Don't let a temporary bliss blind you Mobius.

I left the room leaving her there and closing strongly the door behind me.

I walked through the hallways fastly towards the nursery. But when I arrived there, nobody but the nurse was there.

-Excuse me-I asked.- Where is Y/N?

-Who?-The woman with white and orange uniform asked.

-Y/N...-I sighed- The Mantis Variant.

-Oh right!-She just then realized- She went with some guards after checking up here. But I don't know where they went to. Sorry.

-Thank you anyway.

I walked with my head turned to the floor, the hands on my pockets. The events from Lamentis were still vivid on my mind, the fear, the fights, the emotions I felt, everything still resonating inside of me.

I stopped at my feet remembering what I did.

"I'd choose you."

I kissed her.

I looked at the people walking through the hallways, all of them so busy that they'd never realize the panic inside my mind.

I thought we were going to die. I really thought so I did what I felt like doing.

But we didn't.

How would I face her? How would I explain? I wouldn't be able to explain.

I closed my eyes and her image appeared on my mind. Her lips were so soft, her touch so holy. It felt so right, more right than anything I've ever done in all my life. And just thinking about it made my heart speed. She replied. She replied to my kiss.

Maybe she felt the same.

And just this tiny possibility made me smile. I seemed like an idiot smilling through the sea of busy agents walking around me.

I had feelings for her. I knew that. I realized that. And now I didn't know how to deal with that fear, that cold, those butterflies inside my stomach.

I was happy, free and confused at the same time, like she activated a button inside of me with emotions I never had before.

-I like her.-I chuckled talking to myself.- I...I really, really like her.

I had feelings for a variant.

A TVA agent with feelings for a variant.

I stared over the TVA windows and no day has never seemed so bright, so pretty as that one.

⏳

Y/N's POV

They took me to another room. One more isolated from the TVA. Put me on a chair and started to ask questions:

-What caused the Nexus Event?-A minute woman asked while holding a sparkling TVA baton on her hands.

-A Nexus Event happened?-I asked confused.

-Yes. And you were responsible for it.

-That's impossible, I-

-Answer Variant-She pointed the baton at me. The yellow light too close to my face.

How would I be able to cause a Nexus Event? I just admitted defeat, I just accepted that me and Mobius would die. Nothing else. What they were saying was pure nonsense.

-I don't know what you are talking about.

A guard gesticulated to other and one of them used a timepad to open a portal. But it wasn't lke the others, this one was a bloody red.

They grabbed my arm and pulled me out of the chair, dragging me to the portal.

-What is that?!-I asked.

-Consider it as a punishment from TVA for your crime against the Sacred Timeline. You'll be back soon.

And they pulled me inside the mysterious door.

When I opened again my eyes I started to see a different environment, but not just any environment, I knew that one. I could recognize it. I lived my whole life there, I was created in it.

The bright glowing walls with its lights made me loose my breath, the ground polished on the ground, the furniture chosen by his particular selfish taste. It was the same as always.

At the window the huge planet standed in a green carpet standing for kilometers with all the diversity it always had.

But what really killed me were his footsteps approaching. The loud sound of his shoes on the ground echoeing through the palace.

And they stopped in front of me. I didn't have courage to lift up my head. I knew who it was. I could never mistake him.

-Y/N.-Ego's voice vibrated through the room, I closed my eyes trying to pretend he wasn't there.-Look at me when I'm talking with you!

"Please no. No, just tell me this isn't what is happening. Let me go back, let me wake up from this nightmare."

An agressive hand grabbed my chin as he squated on the ground to face me. His terrible expression on point, the charateristics still there like he never exploded.

-Why aren't you answering me little bitch?-He had that mocking tone in his voice. I tried to hold my tears.- Oh don't be like that... What? Gonna cry? Just because of what I did to you yesterday?

"No...I don't want to remember it again. Just let me go. I beg to please let me go."

-You should be glad about it. You should've enjoyed it.-I wanted to die at that moment- I am your master. You need to obey ME. So shut your fucking tears or else.

He let my chin go violently and got up from the ground.

-Know your place.

And walked away.

My tears fell, I couldn't help. Was that real? Was all that I lived after the TVA a dream? I've never met Bee or Mobius?

Mobius. My heart ached.

-Y/N.-Ego's voice again.

I lifted my head and looked, he was coming exactly from where he came from before.

-What...?-I muttered low to myself.

-Y/N.-He looked at me- Why aren't you answering me little bitch?

He already said that. I wasn't crazy.

-You're crying?-He mocked again- Just because of what I did with you yesterday?

It was happening again.

His hand grabbed my chin and he leaned again on the ground facing me.

-You should be glad about it. You should've enjoyed it.- Please, not again- I am your master. You need to obey ME. So shut your fucking tears or else.

He let my chin go and got up.

-Know your place.-And walked away again.

Why that was happening? Why Ego did the same twice? Maybe to make me feel more useless? But it didn't make sense. I just wanted to go.

Footseps announced someone coming.

Ego again.

-This is impossible.-I got up at my feet.

-Y/N.-He called me.

-...yes?-I answered.

-There you are.-He was in front of me.-Why that face? Um?-He grabbed my chin- Gonna cry?

I couldn't stand looking at him. I felt disgusted and weak everytime he was next to me.

-Just because of what I did to you yesterday?

The same sentences. Like he didn't say that before, but he did.

-You should be glad about it. You should've enjoyed it.-I couldn't stand it anymore- I am your master. You need to obey ME. So shut your fucking tears or else.

He let my chin go and walked away.

-Know your place.

I fell again on my knees as he left the room.

A flashback came to my mind, once in a class Mobius taught me:

"And this is the loop punishment system." He explained showing me a book. " a certain event, chosen by us agents, in the variant's life is repeated multiple times, it can be anything, but mostly is something to make them understand what they're doing is wrong."

"And it keeps repeating? For how long?"

"As much as we define it to"

-Y/N.-Ego repeated and the tears fell through my face.- Why aren't you answering me little bitch?

The same process continued while I just cried, cried so hard that I thought my body would get dry by how much I did. That wasn't a punishment, that was torture.

His face, the same face I wanted destroyed again. The dirty hands wich hurt me so many times before, the feet that kicked me, the man who created and almost killed me.

-You should be glad about it. You should've enjoyed it.-I wanted to die at that moment- I am your master. You need to obey ME. So shut your fucking tears or else.

I'd never be glad. Nobody in my shoes would. I'd never enjoy it. I'd just fear that for the rest of my life.

I closed my eyes as he left and entered the room again.

-Y/N.

I should've died in Lamentis.

⏳

I don't know how much time passed but it seemed like an eternity. When they finally opened again the portal I wanted to scream, I ran towards it and left to never coming back again.

I was back at the TVA. The same room I was before.

-You can't tell anyone about what happened. Do you understand?-The guard asked serious to me.

I nodded fastly with my head. I was too scared and traumatized at the moment to say anything.

-You are free to go now.

They opened the door and that was it.

I just walked through the TVA's hallways.

My feet seemed to be heavier than an anchor, my knee in pain, while I felt totally vulnerable to everything around me.

It was a memory but it still hurt just like before. It made me feel small again. It made me feel like an object again. If the objective was to make me feel like trash then congratulations TVA, you did it.

I just wanted to go to my room and sleep, if I could sleep of course, I'd probably have nightmares about Ego for the next few weeks.

It all seemed so real. Like I was really there again, like the day he abused me was really yesterday. The scars were all opened again and they bleeded, they bleeded heavily.

-Y/N!-A voice called me but I couldn't turn around to face it.

Something grabbed my arm and I took it away fastly scared. I didn't want to be touched, I didn't want contact with anynone, I felt dirty.

And it hurt me even more when I realized who it was.

-...Y/N...?-Mobius asked me with a surprised and sad face, like a puppy left in the rain by his owner.

I know Mobius was a gentleman. I know he'd never do me wrong. I know he was special to me, maybe the most special person I've ever met.

But at that moment I wouldn't be able to stand next to him. I wouldn't be abke to stand next to any man. I had that crescent fear inside, the doubt of really trusting and the marks from the past haunted me.

I didn't give an explanation. I didn't say anything to him. And maybe I just made him feel worse.

I turned around and walked towards my room, my heart crashing as I gave each step away from him, as I could imagine him there, standing with no clue of what happened or why I felt like that.

⏳

Mobius' POV

Y/N didn't get out of her room for 1 week. I was worried. She didn't let anyone enter, not even B-15, and I didn't know if she was feeding herself right, if her injury was better, or if her mood was lighter. I didn't know anything and that just concerned me even more.

I couldn't think about work. My thoughts drifted away the whole day, even Miss Minutes called me out for not paying attention to her instructions. At missions, the other minute men saved the day because I even forgot about targets, all I wanted was to know how she felt.

And she seemed so scared. She was so blue the last time I saw her. Pale like a ghost, the eyes not shining like they used to, the joy empty. She seemed like the Y/N I met when captured for the first time at the TVA.

-No news from her?-I asked to B-15 one day at lunch.

B seemed away too. Sometimes you'd say something or ask anything and she wouldn't pay attention. I also didn't know the reason.

-B, do you know how Y/N is?-I asked again.

-Hm? Oh.-She finally noticed me there.- No, not really. I tried to enter her room a few times but she didn't let me.

-I'm worried about her.

-Me too. I wonder what happened to make her feel like that.-She looked at me- What happened in Lamentis?

What happened in Lamentis.

Could that be the answer? Could my confession to her be the reason she avoided me? Did she regret? Maybe she hated me. Maybe I destroyed the friendship we had and now she didn't want me to stay not even in the same room as her.

My heart ached with that thought. As much as she could hate what I did, I didn't. I could never forget that night in Lamentis, not even if I tried to. No, I reminisced that night everyday, every moment, catching myself at 3 a.m smiling and remembering the taste of her lips, the feeling of just us in that end of the world, the freedom in that cursed fate that made me feel so alive.

Maybe I was being selfish, but I truly hoped she appreciated it as much as I did. That she thought the same as I did. But maybe I was the only one still illuding myself. I was the only fool.

-I don't know.-I replied to her- I don't know anymore.

⏳

I decided to visit Y/N later that day, while all the agents were sleeping in their own rooms, and I was there, in front of her door, afraid to knock.

"What if she hates me now?" I thought "what if the kiss ruined our friendship?"

I felt guilty, extremely guilty for my attitude and afraid of what she would say to me. It was almost like the Schrödinger's cat theory, as long as we didn't talk I wouldn't know how she truly felt about it and our old status as friends would still remain, but on the other way, if I really talked with her, I'd have the chance to loose her forever.

I hesited for a second, took a deep breath and knocked.

No one opened the door.

-Y/N.-I talked.-It's me, Mobius.

-I want to be alone.-A weak voice replied inside.

Y/N's POV

Mobius was at my door but I didn't have courage to open it. I felt vulnerable next to anyone.

-If you don't want to talk that's okay.-He said.- Just please look at your door.

A piece of paper slided through the little space beneath the door, I turned on one of the lights so I could read it:

"Did you eat today? Please don't skip your meals"

I stared at that note for a moment and before I could do anything, another one came:

"B and I missed you at lunch today, everyday actually"

Mobius seemed to have more notes:

"I don't know if this will make you feel beter but..."

He slided another thing through the doir, it was a picture of the Flerken we had at the TVA, I called him Mr.Squidwards.

"I hope it's a good picture, I almost died trying to photograph him"

I chuckled observing the blurred picture, the eyes of the feline wide and furious, the mouth opened showing its' tentacles. I remember one day that I was trying to play with Mr.Squidwards, he did that and scratched my arm, Mobius almost had a heart attack that day. Those memories made me a little happier.

One last note.

"Please take care of yourself."

Take care of myself. Maybe he was right, maybe I wasn't treating myself as I should. Always trying to survive instead of really living. But it's hard to take care of yourself when you have so many scars, when you've been hurt so many times and the memories come back like that all of sudden. It's hard to trust when you've lived all of your life in fear.

I heard Mobius starting to walk away and something inside of my chest trembled:

-Don't go.-I said without opening the door.

I heard his footsteps coming back and stopping.

-...I can't open the door for you now...-I tried to say- But can you stay?

There was a pause in silence at that dark night.

-Of course.-He spoke and sat on the hallway, the sound of his back touching the door made me feel less alone.

I sat with my back against the door too, now only the wood structure separated us, but it was almost as I could feel him there, just behind of me, the eyes turned to oblivion, the hands buried in the pockets, the legs crossed, the lips on a straight line with compassion, and the cloudy hair smashed against the wooden surface of the door.

-I'm sorry.-He spoke breaking the silence.

-About what?-I asked.

-What happened in Lamentis. I'm sorry about...-He couldn't finish the sentence.

The kiss. He was mentioning the kiss we shared when we thought we'd die. Why apologize? Just the memory of it made me feel nervous. I dare to saynervously enjoyed it, and I enjoyed it way more than I think I should. That was my first kiss and now I knew why writers seemed so high about it, so crazy about that moment, about that feel of ecstasy, not just because of the touch, but the meaning of it. At least for me it meant something.

-...Do you regret it?-I questioned scared of his answer.-That's why you're apologizing?

Maybe I shouldn't have asked that question, maybe I was being too invasive, but I still wanted to know what he truly meant with that apology.

-I...-He tried to speak while I tried to prepared myself for his answer- No.

I caught myself happy by the word "no" for the first time.

-I-I thought you actually did, I mean, it was very sudden and-

-I didn't regret it either.-I spit out the words.

-...You...didn't?

-No.

We both stood in silence processing each other's words, a comfort came to me, it wasn't a mistake he regretted, maybe we thought the same.

-I thought you didn't want to see me anymore.-He sighed- I thought you didn't want to be my...friend, anymore.

-I'm not sad because of you.-I answered.- It's...not about you.

-Then what is it?

-Just bad memories...

I heard him moving at the other side of the door, I observed a part of his fingers beneath the door inside my room.

-You know you can tell me everything right?-He assured me.

I stood in silence for a while. Then, touched his fingers at the door, and for my surprise his touch didn't scare me, it comforted me.

-I just...remembered about Ego.-I said while letting my fingers above his-And everything came back.

-He's gone now Y/N.

-I know but...

-He can't hurt you now. No one can.

-You can't be so sure.

-I'll do everything I can to don't let it happen.

His words echoed in my ears.

-Did you mean it?-I asked

-What?

-In Lamentis. Did you mean what happened?

-Yes.-He replied fastly and I felt a grateful feeling- I still mean it.

-I've never felt this before.

-Neither have I.

-And what do we do now?

-Whatever you want to.-He replied- If you want me to stay outside I will. If you let me enter one day, I will. As long as you are happy, it's what I will do.

I felt like crying, I really did, I could imagine him saying that, outside, just waiting.

I opened the door and Mobius almost fell on the floor. I hugged him so tight that I thought I'd break his ribs. He embraced me, carressing my back slowly with his hand.

-Shh...-He spoke softly at my ear- It's okay...

I didn't fear staying with him like I thought I would. Mobius was a man but he was different from Ego, I had to understand that. Just because that happened that didn't mean Mobius would be like that too, that didn't mean he could hurt me like Ego did. I needed to trust him. And that's what I did.

-Thanks for staying.-I said still hugging him.

-There's no need to thank me.

-...Can you stay longer?

-As long as you need darling.

⏳

On the next day I decided to get out of my room. I couldn't let my past define who I was, I needed to move on. I had people by my side who belived in me, and that's all that mattered.

I dressed up and got out through the hallways trying to ignore every stare people throwed at me, every single expression of hate, I needed to be stronger.

I could see Mobius and Bee already on the hall, they saw me too and smiled waving for me to go after them, but she appeared:

-Y/N- Ravonna showed up in front of me blocking the view of my friends.- Can we talk at my office for a moment?-She glanced at them- Privately?

I looked at them for a moment and then at her.

-Sure.-I answered and followed her into the office.

The Judge Renslayer's office was extremely organized, almost like she had an obssession to keep everything in place, each book on the shelf, each glass on the coffee table, each decoration on the walls, everything in a perfect sincrony and position following a meticulous pattern.

She indicated for me to sit in the chair in front of her desk and I did, while she set behind her desk.

I observed the papers perfectly stuck with a paper clip just as tight as her hair tied in a bun. The cup on her desk was the only contrast between the beige and brown decoration, it was a bright, purple one, written "World's Best Friend Ever", I knew just by looking at it that it was a present from Mobius, and I felt slightly bad about it, I don't know why.

She noticed me staring at the mug and put her hands around it, maybe trying to warm them, then took a sip and looked at me:

-Do you know why I called you here?-She asked in a passive-agressive tone.

-Not really.-I replied wondering where se was trying to get with that conversation.

She placed the mug on her desk delicately, like it was her most precious possession. Or maybe trying to provoke me.

-It's about Lamantis-1.-She answered.-Specifically about what happened there.

-Your guards already asked me that.

-Right...-She made a pause while looking at her desk and her nails- I was informed that you didn't tell them anything about the Nexus Event.

-That's because I don't know.

Ravonna looked at me and I could feel the subtle anger in her brown eyes, I was playing a game at her level, the information seemed important for her, she needed me. She gave a bittersweet smile.

-How was your hometown visit Y/N?-She said and I felt like she stabbed my stomach.-Met some friends?

-That's not the best definition of it, but yes, I saw an acquaitance if that's what you're thinking. Should I thank you for the passage?

-No need.-She said and took a sip of her mug again.-Nexus Events are not something that you can forget so suddenly Y/N. Specially when it happens with you.

-How would you know that? Have you ever passed through one Judge Renslyer?-It looked like I annoyed her.

-I make trials, Y/N. I know every single Nexus Event that has ever passed through this corporation.

-Except the Lamentis' one.

Her hands stopped organizing whatever she was now, the eyes paralyzed at me, the mouth with the smile disappeared. Ravonna was angry, and I was quite enjoying seeing her finally getting out of her comfort zone.

-Very well...Maybe I underestimated you.

-Yes you did.

-But you need to know one thing Y/N.-Her dangerous eyes stared into mine- Mobius is an agent. You are a variant. Whatever is happening between you both...-She shaked her head- It's temporary.

-Did he say that? Or is that your assumption, Judge Renslayer?

-He doesn't need to say anything.-She adjusted the position of the mug in her desk- After all, I've known him his whole life, way before his vision got blurred by...new "friends".

I closed my fists for a second, I was trying hard to keep my patience.

-People change over time.-I replied.

-Not my Mobius.

Oh she wanted me to punch her, she really wanted a motive to prune me. I hold strongly the arms of the chair I was sitting on.

-Maybe we have different visions on Mobius.

-Maybe we do.

A moment of silence on that round. But Judge Renslayer didn't give up yet.

-If you won't talk about what happened in Lamentis-1 I'll find my own ways to discover it.-She spoke confident.

-I thought I was your plan B already.-I teased- I mean, if you're so close to Mobius, why didn't he tell you what happened?

I noticed her exhaling air heavily, I did it, I hit her on the right spot.

-I think it's time to finish this conversation.-She decided.

-I agree.

She indicated me the door and I got up, as I was walking towards it, she spoke at last:

-And variant-She talked and I stopped at my feet.- You should follow Ego's advice; "Know your place".

I got out of the office and slammed the door, hoping that all of her perfect portraits on the walls fell by the impact.

⏳

-What did Ravonna want to speak about?-Bee asked when we were sitting for lunch.

-Just about Lamentis.-I spoke like it was no big deal while separating some peas with my fork.

-Oh, you two didn't tell me about what happened.-She said as Mobius finally sat on the table with his tray of food and started eating.-Why the mytery? Did you two do something naughty and can't speak about?-She made a malicious smile.

Mobius choked on his food. I had to slap his back so he could get back alive, his face red not because of the air, but in a huge blush of embarrassment, Bee continued laughing.

-H-How can you say that B-15??-He acted like that was an absurd and I held my laugh.

-Why the overreaction? It was a joke!-She looked at us suspicious- What have you two done....?

-Nothing.-I answered filling my mouth with food.

-Y/N is lying. When she's nervous she starts eating nonstop. More than usual.

Bee knows me too well, rats.

-She just has apetite.-Mobius lied- Isn't it Y/N?-He looked at me with conspiracy eyes.

-Yeah.

-Y'all are lying.-Bee continued- But sure, let's pretend I'm convinced.

We continued the lunch for a while, everything seemed fine, peaceful, and Mobius was sweet, always giving more food from his plate to mine, but he already did that generally so it wasn't really a surprise.

-Uh... Y/N-Bee pointed to a spot on her face.

-What?

-Here, it's dirty-

-Allow me.-Mobius interrupted and gracefully turned my face to his.

Delicately with a napkin he cleaned the sauce on the corner of my mouth, (because I ate like a true beast), and smiled at me with those warming cute eyes of his, glancing quietly at my lips.

-Y'all kissed didn't you?-Bee spoke suddenly and we turned our heads fastly to her.-What?

-We-

-It's obvious.-She smiled-So when's the wedding?

-Bee!-I called her out while my cheeks burned and I avoided Mobius' eyes.

-What? Aren't you dating?

-We are just friends...-Mobius said.

-Oh shit, I made it awkward, sorry.-She said and drank her juice.-Chile, anyways....Did you see Casey yesterday? The boy messed up all the papers on the floor, his supervisor got pissed! Can't really blame him, the amount of papers he receive everyday would make everyone insane...

Bee continued with her speech while I couldn't stop my thoughts, I think Mobius was doing the same since we galnced fastly at each other at the same time, quickly avoiding it later.

Dating? I didn't even know what was happening with me, what I was truly feeling or what Mobius was feeling.

Whatever that was, it made me unquiet, a good process, a story I'd like to know the ending, and I hoped it ended well between us.

Until then, I was glad to just have him by my side as my friend.