Chapter Text
"Loki? Nowhere left to run."
Mobius entered the time theater cautiously, pruning device raised half-way, as if approaching a dangerous animal who could bite at any moment. And in a way, he supposed he was.
But his Loki sat, defeated, spine curled and head bowed, on the low ledge that lined the room. Stopping a few feet from him, Mobius lowered the pruning wand and let it power down. He wouldn't need it here. He only hoped, now, that B-15 or Ravonna wouldn't interrupt again. He had asked they allow him to handle his variant alone, insisting that he only escaped before because B-15 distracted him. But now, Mobius knew that Loki understood the full force of the TVA. He had no magic, no weapons, the tesseract didn't work here, and he had no other allies. Loki was reckless, and chaos incarnate, but he certainly wasn't stupid. He was done running, and Mobius had no doubts he could handle him from here.
Mobius gently, and slowly, moved to lower himself next to the younger man. Loki didn't turn to or look at him as he sat, but seemed to sink even lower. Mobius' gaze flickered to the still whirring film reader, and the end of the film that lay next to it, and he felt his heart pang for the man beside him. He remembered his own words from earlier, about Loki's fate in the sacred timeline. He imagined the god was experiencing a lot of inner turmoil right now, and those kind of thoughts weren't easy to deal with under normal circumstances, let alone on top of what Loki was going through now.
"I don't enjoy enjoy hurting people," he said so quietly that Mobius might have missed it if he hadn't sat so close. But he didn't, and sighed as he leaned over to bump shoulders with the god at his side. "Okay, explain that to me," he murmured, albeit a bit louder than Loki had. Mobius almost felt bad about what he had said earlier, but he knew this Loki had a long way to go, mentally and emotionally, before he was ready to start cooperating. And Mobius would do whatever he had to to keep him from being pruned. For whatever reason, he was already extremely protective over his variant.
"It's all part of the illusion. It's the cruel, elaborate trick conjured by the weak," he gestured to himself, a sneer on his lips, " to inspire fear," he finished roughly, a look of disgust crossing his face.
Despite the somber tone, Mobius smiled. "A desperate play for control. You do know yourself," he said with carefully constructed awe, and he smirked as Loki gazed at him shrewdly.
"A villain," he said, voice flat and devoid of true emotion.
"That's not how I see it," Mobius shook his head before continuing, "I believe you could be whoever, whatever you wanna be, even someone good. You're here because YOU did something different Loki, something unexpected. Who's to say you can't do that again? That you can't change, that you don't have to be the villain in someone else's story?" He asked the young god, his arm slowly drifting up and around the other's shoulders, giving Loki time and space to push him away. But he didn't, and accepted the side hug stiffly as he thought over Mobius's words. Mobius watched his face carefully as Loki seemed to flicker through several different emotions, finally settling on a sad, hopeless look.
"I want to change. I know what I did, what I will do. But I don't know how to change and become someone different. This is the only path I've ever walked, and I don't know what I would find down another," Loki spoke quietly, still avoiding Mobius's eyes. He looked... so uncertain, and scared, that Mobius couldn't help or control his next action.
He hugged him. Wrapped the god of mischief in his arms so tightly he almost dragged him onto his lap, and the stunned man held his arms out to his side awkwardly for a moment, before slumping into the older man, hiding his face in his shoulder and leaning heavily into him.
"That's not true Loki. You're walking a different path right now, and I think you could do a damn good job at it," Mobius spoke warmly, one of his hands petting Loki's hair as the other held him close. "I'm sorry that you don't think you can change. But I know that isn't true. I think some part of you knows that, too, or you wouldn't be here. But you have to listen to me, Loki," at these somber words Mobius paused, shifting to hold Loki from him a bit so he could meet his eyes. He frowned. "The TVA doesn't mess around with this stuff. They're giving me another chance with you, and you should consider yourself lucky. The Timekeepers, and Ravonna, aren't impressed with that escape stunt you pulled."
Loki frowned at the change in topic, trying subtly to shift away from Mobius as his lips twisted into a sneer. As he did, Mobius's own hand trailed from Loki's hair to circle his wrist gently. Loki flinched at the contact but didn't pull away. "And why should I care about what those space-lizards or that damned "judge" think of me?" He scowled, once again not meeting Mobius's gaze. "And you can hardly blame me. I was removed from my timeline for false crimes and threatened and attempted to be controlled by you and that vicious hunter! And I did not yet understand the scope of the TVA's power, which I now do, so you should really be congratulating me on my newfound insight." Loki smiled dazzlingly as he finished talking, looking quite smug and proud of himself.
Mobius didn't even attempt to hide how far he rolled his eyes.
"Yeah, well, that aside, there's no way to defend how you treated Casey or Hunter B-15. Casey was absolutely terrified after his little run-in with you, something to do with fish?" Loki couldn't help smirking at the memory. "And B-15 was just doing her job. I know she hasn't been the nicest to you, but she's one of our best hunters out there, and Ravonna didn't appreciate you stealing my time twister and using it on her like that. She asked me to handle you, because if it happens again, we won't get the chance to have this conversation." At these words, Mobius tightened his grip on Loki's wrist, frown now solidly in place beneath his mustache.
Loki, for his part, recognized danger when he saw it. And Mobius certainly looked dangerous, a dark look on his face as his hand suddenly tightened around Loki's. At the feeling of entrapment, Loki panicked, trying suddenly to tug his hand from his grip and stand up, and get away from, his handler. He didn't like the look on Mobius's face at all.
But Mobius, having long decided on his course of action, was ready for him. He used Loki's sudden upward momentum against him as he yanked, hard, on his wrist, and Loki stumbled. It was easy enough then for Mobius to grab him around the waist and haul him over his knee properly, knocking Loki's legs behind him as he was upturned suddenly with his arm twisted behind his back.
Loki reacted viciously, his rage palpable as he loudly released a violent string of threats and curses while he thrashed in Mobius's grip. But his captor just smiled tightly, adjusting Loki despite his flailing so he was pushed over one leg, his face almost hitting the floor if he were to rest limply.
But Loki did no such thing, kicking his long legs out and yelling profanities as he tugged on his arm, and Mobius shook his head at the desperate tantrum the young man was throwing. He threw his muscular leg over Loki's two, and locked it around his own ankle, effectively pulling Loki's legs down and turning the wild kicking into ineffectual twitches.
"Mobius! Stop this madness this instant!" Loki hissed, his breath coming out in hard gasps as he continued to twist over the older man's knee. The humiliation of the position was not lost on him, and a deep red quickly warmed Loki's ears and cheeks. "Let me go! This is ridiculous!"
"No can do, bud. Ravonna made me promise I would take care of this, and that you wouldn't even think of doing anything like that again," Mobius told him as he straightened out his grip on Loki and eyed his wiggling target, planning his next course of action. He would let Loki keep his clothes on for now, he decided, and that his hand should make plenty enough impact, if Loki's reaction thus far was anything to go by. Loki wasn't taking this well at all, so he hoped to go a little easy on him by forgoing any implements, at least at this moment.
"I won't! I won't! Mobius, I promise you, please, I won't try to escape again. I'm ready to turn over a new leaf and start new-AH!" Loki was cut off as Mobius's free hand, the one not gripping his wrist, swung down to crack against his prostrated backside half-way through Loki's tirade. Loki's whole body jerked in response, and he reacted immediately to the burning handprint left under his clothes. He resumed his desperate tugging on the wrist held at his back, and could not prevent the cry that fell from his lips when Mobius twisted it even higher and slapped his hand down again. The poor trickster was already extremely panicked over just two swats, and frantically fought his handler's hold on him.
"Loki, calm down. This is going to happen, and I suggest that if you want to keep these," Mobius paused to tug on the waistband of Loki's TVA-issued trousers, "you try to settle down. I know this isn't easy and I don't expect you to take it quietly, but I'm frankly a little tired of the dramatics already." Mobius's tone was dry, and Loki felt his blood run cold when Mobius threatened to- no. No. No, no, no, no, no. There was no way he would dare. Right?
"Are you kidding me?" He snarled, stilling for a moment, breath coming in quick gasps. "You-you manhandle me, humiliate me, you strike me, you hold me against my will and you dare to threaten me as if you are not beneath me? And I am being dramatic?!" He growled, trying once again to kick his legs out in protest. "How would you react to such treatment? Such disrespect?"
Mobius didn't answer him, just heaved a heavy sigh, resting his spanking hand on Loki's lower back.
"And here I thought you wanted to keep these up for a bit longer. But I can see you're not quite ready to take me seriously. That's okay, Loki. This can take as long as it needs to," Mobius remarked, slipping two fingers into the waistband of Loki's pants, his intent clear.
Loki reacted as if burned by the touch, and his frantic struggling suddenly kicked up another notch.
"No, NO! NO! Mobius, I-I-I, I didn't mean it! I'll stop, I'll calm down!" He shouted desperately, throwing his free hand, which had before been clinging to Mobius's ankle to stop himself from colliding with the floor, behind him to try and reclaim his trousers. But it was useless, and Mobius tugged the fabric to his knees with little effort.
Sick humiliation curled in Loki's gut at being undressed in such a fashion by someone who was basically a stranger. He froze, cold waves of embarrassment washing over him as Mobius tucked the clothing far out of the way, and rucked his shirt up his back to clear his target even further. The position itself and what Mobius had already started was bad enough, but the vulnerability, the helplessness he felt at being bared, and the childishness of it all was just too much. To his immense horror, he already felt his eyes burn with the beginnings of tears at the sheer humiliation.
For his part, when Mobius had Loki fully bared he looked with something close to regret at the two vivid handprints that stood against the pale skin on each cheek. He had had an idea of what he would do in response to Loki's escape at Ravonna's request; he knew Loki better than anyone, better than he knew himself. He knew this is what he needed, and that it would be the best response to his actions in order to prevent them from happening again. But actually following through with it? When all he wanted to do was wrap his distraught charge in his arms? That was a whole other thing. It wasn't as easy as he thought it would be, taking him to task like this. But remembering Ravonna, and her grave warning regarding the timekeepers, had Mobius drawing back to begin the spanking in earnest once more. He would make Loki see reason however he needed and prevent anything awful happening, even if it meant causing him a bit of discomfort.
All those thoughts were of course lost on Loki, as he took the lapse in action for a moment to take several deep, shuddering breaths, trying to shove the tears away. His whole body trembled from head to toe, and he thought this couldn't possibly get any worse... Until Mobius shifted, and Loki turned half way in time to see him looking awfully determined as he raised his hand high. He couldn't even cry out, just watch in horror as Mobius swung his arm down.
The sheer difference in how he felt the strike without clothing literally took Loki's breath away. It hurt, and the sting seemed to spread and pulse in dissatisfaction in mere seconds. Just to be quickly followed by another, equally as hard, and another soon after that. Mobius barely gave Loki a moment to draw in a breath between each strike, intent on spreading the splotchy red tint equally across his backside.
The tears Loki had fretfully tried to will away quickly returned, blurring his vision. He tried to distance himself from the punishment, contain any gasps or whimpers that cemented his humiliation and retreat into his mind until Mobius was done. This was a child's punishment, surely he could remain stoic and prove to Mobius how foolish of an idea it was! Biting down on his lip, Loki tried his new strategy, but Mobius was deadly efficient and apparently knew exactly where to strike to draw out those noises of pain Loki was trying so desperately to quell.
He gave up.
"M-M-Mobius! S-s-stop!" He tried to order imperiously, but it just came out in a wavering, tear-filled voice as he tugged ineffectually on his wrist once more. Loki's face somehow flushed even darker when he heard himself, and Mobius responded with a quiet chuckle. He continued to roast Loki's backside, the younger man's noises of pain and protest echoing around them as he weakly squirmed under the ever falling palm.
"No, Loki, we've got a ways to go if you still have that attitude. I know this is difficult, but you've got to start taking things seriously here!" Mobius paused at this, sounding exasperated. "I understand you're going through a lot, and I'm ready to help you with it however you need. But you have to start listening to me, bud. I have to know for an absolute fact that nothing like earlier will happen again. That you understand there are real consequences to your actions. I'm responsible for you now, no matter how much you dislike the idea." Mobius continued to spank as he talked, and Loki was growing increasingly distressed in result of his words and the mounting pain.
He was now beyond verbal response himself, all of his energy going towards not collapsing into sobs over this horrible man's knee. His free arm was wrapped tightly around Mobius's leg, hugging the appendage unconsciously. And still Mobius spanked him, even adjusting him at one point by raising his knee and aiming for the milky thighs under his cherry red bottom.
This was an incredibly awful change in the entire ordeal for Loki, and he had long given up on not crying out pathetically with each strike. It was somehow so much worse than the first half of the punishment, and Mobius did not hesitate to hit the back of his legs as vigorously as he did his backside, evening the color halfway to the back of his knees.
As Mobius ran out of white skin to turn pink- then deep red- and now was getting back to skin he had already warmed, Loki's resolve gave out. The tears he had kept from falling for so long suddenly surged, choking him with the intensity of his sobs. He ceased all movement and noises of protest, weakly drooping over Mobius's lap as he cried. Loki gasped hard, overwhelmed by the pain, humiliation, and burning embarrassment at his earlier actions that had led to where he was now.
If he had never stolen that time twister or left the stupid time theater in the first place this wouldn't have happened! All he accomplished was ending up in the exact same place, only so much more uncomfortable and embarrassed. And if had just kept his damned mouth shut the punishment itself would not have gone so badly, he knew with chilling certainty. He had done this to himself. And that humbling thought was enough to cause more desperate sobs to bubble up, tears blinding him as they fell. So upset was Loki that he didn't even notice Mobius had stopped hitting him and had released his arm, now rubbing circles in his back while letting the young man cry. He only broke through Loki's distress when he began to speak to him again, his voice holding a certain gentleness Loki had not yet heard from him.
"Hey, hey, it's okay, Loki. You're alright. It's over, we're all done. You did really well there, bud. Try to calm down, it's okay, you were really good for me, Loki."
His voice was so soft, and warm, Loki still could not respond. At hearing the older man call him good, Loki was suddenly overwhelmed once more. It was all too much. Mobius was angry, he had to be, right? Loki had done something wrong and had upset him, he wasn't good, he couldn't be telling the truth! But Mobius didn't sound angry, in fact, he hadn't really seemed angry at all during his punishment. Frustrated, yes. But he had remained calm and in charge with an even temper the entire time, no matter how much Loki had fought him.
As Loki's tears just seemed to skyrocket at his words Mobius frowned hard. Had he been too hard on him? He swept his eyes over Loki's bottom and thighs; it was all an angry, painful-looking red, but there was no bruising and he had been careful on his thighs to not cause too much damage. It should all be feeling much better in the next day or so. But Loki was incredibly distressed, not appearing to be calming down anytime soon.
Mobius stopped rubbing his back, contemplating his next action. Loki was lanky, so this might be a bit awkward, but, well, wasn't this whole situation pretty awkward? At that thought he leaned over Loki's back, wrapping his arms around his chest and hauling him backwards, at the same time adjusting himself so Loki could be pulled onto, instead of over, his lap. It took a bit of adjusting, but he was successful, holding the skinny man tightly around his middle with his legs spread, Loki's own legs splaying out behind Mobius as he was moved to straddle the older man's waist.
Loki weakly tried to squirm away, hands flat against Mobius's chest as more sobs wracked through his own. But when his still bare, and very sore, bottom brushed against the rough cotton of Mobius's pant leg, he cried out in pain and Mobius pulled him even more tightly against him. His hand once again found itself in Loki's hair, gently petting and scratching his scalp. Thankfully, the shirt Loki wore was long enough to pool at his waist and keep him as modest as he could be at this point. He wanted to care that he was naked from his bottom half down, save for his shoes and socks (embarrassingly), but all he could focus on was that Mobius should be angry, and that his ass hurt. It felt like he had sat on hot coals, and even though he was no longer being punished, the painful area still stung viciously, and Loki whined and squirmed in discomfort.
Loki finally hid his face in Mobius's shoulder, wiping his tear stained cheek on the fabric with a heaving sigh. It was evident Mobius was not going to give in and release him, apparently quite determined to cuddle him. The hands that had before been pushing back against the older man how found themselves fisted in the material of his shirt, clinging tightly as Loki's tears still wracked through his body. He didn't know what was wrong with him. On some level, Loki knew he wasn't that badly hurt, that he had been almost killed on battlefields and halfway maimed in glorious action countless times; but yet he could not stop crying as Mobius held him close and whispered assurances in his ear.
Finally, Loki spoke, but his words were muffled and lost in the crook of the other man's shoulder, where Loki still had his face buried. He was practically merged with Mobius, all of himself plastered thoroughly against him. As much as he had tried to fight the comfort before, his body now seemed desperate to soak it up.
"What was that, Loki? I missed it," Mobius murmured, the hand in his hair tugging gently on the strands to try and coax his head up a bit.
Loki huffed, raising his head and pushing himself backwards (but not away) in order to look Mobius in the face. He scowled deeply as he finally made eye contact with him, quickly averting his gaze. He was sure he looked a sight right now, and hated that he was to be seen in the throes of such weakness. But Mobius did not mock him, or even push any more, just smiled that soft, gentle smile when Loki refused to meet his eyes.
"Why aren't you angry with me?" Loki finally asked, voice uncharacteristically small and unsure. His brow was furrowed, his gaze focused over Mobius's shoulder, and a few stray tears still slipped down his cheeks, though the worst of his sobs had now subsided. He still refused to look at Mobius, and so he missed the peculiar expression that crossed his face after he asked the question that had been bothering him since the older man had said he was good.
Mobius felt his heart pang in sympathy for the distraught man in his arms. Loki had never been punished out of care, only anger, so of course he would be confused. In that moment, Mobius did feel anger flash through him, white-hot and vicious, but not towards Loki- Towards Odin, for causing such amounts of distress in Loki that he could hardly take being called good after a punishment instead of bad, or even accepting comfort after one. So he paused before responding, and suddenly squeezed his charge back to him, pushing a gasp from Loki at the ferocity of the embrace.
Mobius cuddled him close as he spoke next, hoping to reassure him not only with his words but with his body language, too. "I was upset at your actions earlier, but I know that what's going on here is incredibly difficult for you. I never expected it to be easy. Hell, I would be more upset if it was easy, because that's not my Loki. But I needed you to see the that there are consequences to your actions here, and that as your handler I need you to trust me to make certain decisions. And I need to know that you'll listen to me, and let me do what needs to be done, alright?" Mobius rubbed Loki's back a bit at the question, hoping he was listening to him, even though his face was pushed far into his shoulder, and he was strangely silent.
"But I will never punish you because I'm angry with you. I might punish you because you've pushed me too far, or if you've done something to endanger yourself or others, or something you knew I might not be happy about. I'm taking a big risk keeping you here like this Loki, a risk for the both of us. One step too far and the Time-Keepers can do things that I can't reverse." On that grim note, Mobius felt Loki cling to him even tighter. "But I was never angry with you. Just scared, and frustrated that you treated my co-workers how you did. But never angry. Especially not now. You were so good for me during your punishment once you started listening to me, and you're being really good now. I know that's not easy. I'm really proud of you, Loki, and I promise that no matter how you act or what you do, I won't let anger get the better of me." He finished softly, not completely sure if he really expected an answer from the other man.
He didn't get one. Instead, he felt Loki's shoulders begin to shake, and heard him try to muffle quiet gasps into Mobius's shirt. He was crying again, Mobius realized with a start. Loki's emotions were dangerously fragile after such a fraught punishment, and hearing all of that was apparently a bit overwhelming. Although Mobius wasn't sure what exactly had upset him again, or if it was just a cumulative response after he had already been pushed to tears once, he didn't ask. Just held him tight and let him cry without comment, stroking his hair and back gently.
He wasn't sure how long they sat there this time as he waited for Loki to calm down. It didn't matter. His lower back was starting to twinge, but knew that was nothing compared to the sting Loki was still feeling, both physically and emotionally. But eventually, his tears were spent, and the heaving sobs from a few minutes before slowly died into small hiccups and tired sighs.
Neither man continued to say anything. Loki was finally, finally, not so damned tense, so exhausted that his head lolled to the edge of Mobius's shoulder instead of hidden in the crook of his neck. He even just barely held onto the older man, arms limp around his neck and eyes fluttering closed. Tear stains streaked down his red cheeks, and every couple of breaths still struggled to push past his chest after his heaving sobs, but it didn't seem to bother him as his grip grew even more slack.
Although Mobius was hesitant to ruin the moment, so charmed by how sweet and relaxed Loki looked on the verge of sleep, he knew it wouldn't be much longer before someone came in here to see what was going on. And the last thing Loki needed was someone walking in on him, bare-assed and freshly spanked, fast asleep on the lap of his handler. So Mobius sighed, shifting forward a bit and rubbing Loki's back briskly until his eyes blinked open once more, a quiet whine slipping past his lips.
Smiling at the furrowed brow and blurry eyes that were just barely focused on him, Mobius decided it was time to take Loki to bed. He had had a long, exhausting day, and it was no small feat to be thrashed by the Hulk, witness the death of yourself and your family, and then be spanked by Mobius all in the same day. Loki wouldn't be happy about it, but he would feel much better behind a closed, locked door, and in some more comfortable clothes. Well, as comfortable as he could get for now, Mobius thought wryly.
"You ready to get up and get dressed..? I can take you to my place so you can get more comfortable and lay down... Hm? How does that sound, bud?" He asked encouragingly, smiling at the tired bundle in his arms. It was hard to believe this was the same bratty, arrogant man that had terrified Casey so badly earlier or put up such a fight with B-15 and himself. No, this side of Loki was much different, Mobius was delighted to find. He whined even louder, tightening his grip on the older man and wrapping himself more firmly around him, snuggling his face into his shoulder once more. He was not ready to move. Who knew Loki would be such a cuddle-bug, once he got past all that pride?
Holding back a chuckle, Mobius leaned forward, an arm wrapped around Loki's waist, to snag the clothing that had been forgotten on the ground beside him. He didn't think that Loki, even as pliant as he was, would take being dressed by him, so he nudged him in the side once more, a bit more insistent, and tried to gently pull his arms from around his neck.
"I know, I know," he murmured with a quiet laugh. "Come on, it won't be pleasant but the sooner you get these on you can go take them off again, hm? I bet I've got something better for you than these stiff TVA pants, too. And that way we don't have to worry about anyone walking in on us, right?" He suggested, nodding towards the door.
At the reminder that they were still in the middle of the TVA's offices, and it was only all too easy for someone else to walk in on this unfortunate display, Loki shifted. Getting to his feet was awkward, and painful, but Mobius helped him stand on his shaky legs, even politely averting his eyes as Loki slowly re-dressed himself. When he turned back, it was still not the man he had spoken with earlier that greeted him, but instead a sleepy, upset, and embarrassed little boy. Mobius had to bite down on his lip to keep from aww-ing at the red, tear-streaked face with big sad eyes floating in the middle, atop a body dressed in a untucked, wrinkled shirt and loose pants. His tousled hair stood up high above his head and he fisted his eyes clumsily with one hand, the other clutching the edge of his shirt. The tired little whine he released instead of saying anything was perfectly at home on his pouty lips and Mobius moved to his side at once, portal device in hand. He deftly clicked a button to alert Ravonna they were finished, and quickly opened a warm, yellow doorway a few feet from them.
Loki didn't even question him as Mobius gently led him forward with a hand at the small of his back, urging him through. He had half a mind to have him shower, but figured that might push him a bit further than he needed tonight. No, he would just get him dressed and let him rest. Tomorrow they would finish what they had started today, and firmly cement the terms of their relationship. It wouldn't do to have Loki worrying over his anger or not knowing what would earn him more punishment, so they would hash it out together as soon as Loki was able to be present enough for the conservation.
Mobius lamented to himself that he hadn't warned Loki earlier of his plan of action, but part of him knew that might have just made it more difficult. No matter, Loki knew what to expect now when Mobius would inform that he was to be spanked, and he knew that pushing, fighting, and brattiness got him nowhere. Tomorrow he would hear things that won't make him very happy Mobius suspected, and they would speak on other possible punishment methods, but for now he could sleep.
Stumbling through the doorway, Loki was awake enough to pause and take in the room they entered. It was... plain. The same beigey colors and simple, smart furniture decorated the room. Only small details gave away that somebody actually stayed here, like the orange TVA mug on the counter, or the white shirt tossed over the back of the brown couch. Papers littered the table and there was an extra pair of shoes by the physical doorway they had not used, but if Loki didn't know better, he never would have guessed this was Mobius's living quarters.
Mobius quickly disappeared around a corner, coming back after a few moments with a small bundle of fabric in his hands. One was a mid-sized blanket he tossed on the couch, and the other he kept in his hand as he approached Loki once again, a small, reassuring smile on his face. Gesturing to the couch, he led the limping boy over to it, sitting down and grabbing Loki by the hips as he did so. Before Loki even realized what was happening, he was being undressed again, trousers pooling at his ankles in only a few seconds. His face flushed and his jaw dropped to voice a protest, but then Mobius was holding out the pajama pants he had grabbed expectantly, looking at Loki like it was obvious what he should do next. Clamping his mouth shut, Loki's ears burned as he stepped into the proffered clothing, looking away as Mobius gently pulled them up his legs, going around the areas he had smacked earlier with great care. Loki felt very, very, young at the treatment.
Suddenly, a huge yawn split his face in half, and Mobius smiled before standing and resting a hand at the small of Loki's back. "Are you okay on the couch? I can get another bed brought in for you tomorrow, but I don't want to keep you up any later than I have to," he admitted, rubbing his back absentmindedly. Loki felt himself leaning into the contact, a tiny, tiny part of himself screaming that he shouldn't be showing such weakness. But he was so tired. He dipped his head, stepping forward to gently lower himself onto his belly on the long couch. He turned his nose into its arm, sighing heavily as he finally allowed himself to fully relax. Well, mostly. He was somehow still not as quite at ease as he was when Mobius was holding him, which was a thought he filed away for later inspection. He was definitely relaxed enough to sleep, though, and that's all that mattered.
Loki hardly noticed when Mobius lowered the blanket around his shoulders, gently tucking it around him. His eyelids were heavy and he gladly closed them, vaguely wondering if he had ever been so ready for sleep.
And, strangely enough, all the way until he did finally fall asleep, Mobius's hand did not leave its soothing place on his back.