#I'VE BEEN WAITING SINCE 2021 FOR HIM TO BE CONFIRMED ALIVE!!!!!

[maddymoreau]

[jumoonjae]

Right Through the Heart: Chapter 1

Pairings: Juyeon X Reader X Sunwoo

Genre: Action

Warnings: Violence

Word Count: 5408 Words

A/N: I've been working on this one for three months now, been stealing time between my work and home to do researches and stuffs. I was considering making this as a one shot at first, but since its too long and i'm still half way through it, i decided to break it into few parts. So here we go, my first 2021 fic. I hope you enjoy reading it.

Disclaimer: Image are not mine, credit to owner.

The sound of boisterous chattering and a series of screams and holler slowly awaking you from unconsciousness that soon after also awakening your every sense as you starting to feel the throbbing pain from the back of your head and the growing pain on your shoulder. With a painful grunt, you lift your head up to see your tied up hand with a squinted eyes as the old spotlight that was use to hang your body shine awfully bright on you. Your shoulder stretched upward painfully and your feet dangling a few feet from the ground, body swaying even with the slightest movement you made. You look around slowly to see the surrounding only to find yourself being hanged in the middle of a old, wrecked school gym, to your left there were a group of men, all armed playing cards, smoking and one of them notice your movement making you let out a sigh. You could see three of them approaching you from your peripheral view but didn’t bother to look back up because of the sore from your shoulder.

“Good morning sleepy head.” A voice rings clear and annoyingly close inside your ear and echoes around the empty gym silencing every soul inside the room. You force yourself to turn your head slowly towards him just to look at your opponent before planning anything. His assault riffle that was clutched loosely to his chest caught your attention first then his masked face, you could see his eyes scanning you and there’s two men that look quite like him standing behind him. You didn’t even bother to say anything to him but let your head hang low, chin touching your chest.

“I’m not the type of wasting my or your time. So i will ask and you will answer.” He commanded while his men starting to holler, whistling but you still didn’t respond to him, looking down as your focus was on the pain on your shoulder and the back of your head only. But then a sudden brutal impact hit your stomach making you let out a cry and it churns when your body suddenly falls to the ground falling knee first on the cold hard wooden floor, then the old spotlight came crashing down right in front of your eyes just a few inch from you and the broken pieces splatter around with some of it manage to hit you making you flinch slightly. Like it was a show, the men are all cheering and some are laughing at you. But from all the pain on your lower body, you could finally bring your sore shoulder down in relief by clutching the fresh sore on your stomach.

“Answer me!” He yelled. “don’t ever think that will go easy on a woman like you.” He took a few step towards to you before you feel a cold hard metal nudging the side of your head. You look up to him through your lashes and he nudge your head to make you back down again but you didn’t even move or look away making him wavered and you noticed.

“Tell me where they locked my people.” He nudge your head with every words that just triggered something bad inside of you and you had to suck a sharp breath just to keep it within you.

“We don’t keep criminal locked up. The prison is too crowded.” You said looking into their eyes one by one as a cunning smirk grows on your face. “We kill them.” 

“Don’t play with me, you law people always keep them locked waiting for the right time for any negotiation for money and bribery and shits. You corrupted organization.” he nudge your head again making you clenched your jaw hard.

“You’re not wrong.” You said with a sly smile. “But what you’re dealing with right now is not law. You’ve crossed the line that law had drawn and do you know what will happen when you crossed that line?” You taunt him by looking deep into his eyes without blinking.

“You’re considered dead.” And as if your last word is a cue, the main door explode and a series of fire gun erupted not far from where you were. you duck down covering your head using your tied hands before rolling to the side to take cover with anything from the flying bullets. You were deaf for a while and when your hearing came back together with a piercing white noise inside your head, you shut your eyes tight and screams until the noise dissipate.

“Y/N!” Sunwoo called and you look up to him who was running to you while the other taking down every single enemy inside the gym.

“You’re okay.” He kneeled beside you and pull you by the arm helping you up.

“You okay Y/N?” Changmin asked as soon as you got up while holding his gunpoint to one of the subject that was still alive, the one that been interrogating you earlier. Without his mask you recognize him from the picture during the briefing before the mission and you nod to Changmin as a confirmation that you got the right person. You then turn to see Eric and Haknyeon who was looking at you concerned, but you just raise your tied up hand and show them your both thumb making them to smile in relief.

“Sorry.” Sunwoo almost yelled knowing your hearing still affected. He cut the rope on your wrist before checking for any wound on your body.

“Except for you almost blew me up, im fine.” You said yelling to him, just because you couldn’t hear yourself clearly while dusting your cargo pants as your watch them questioned the three subject before you and Sunwoo walk out through the mess to the outside where you were greeted by the whole back up team.

“Hey sniper.” Chan greeted you and you give him a small wave, smiling at him who was carrying a small device that you recognize as a bomb, he stop right next to you eyeing you up and down looking for any injuries.

“I’m fine Chan. Thank you.” You tap his arm and he gave you his charming smile before jogs inside to plant the bomb.

“Does the bomb necessary earlier?” you asked regarding to the first bomb which only made Sunwoo to chuckle before scratching the back of his head while looking at you apologetically.

“we were outnumbered.” He said. “And those three are enough for information.” He paused looking back at you to make sure you’re really alright before continuing,

“We need to take this place down anyway.” He said stopping right at the entrance where his truck were parked. You look up to see the air force team still roams around the school to search for more threat before you heard three shots fired indicating that your mission were done.

“Clear.” Changmin’s voice buzzed from the com on Sunwoo’s shoulder.

“C4 ready. Everyone clear out.” He commanded signaling the chopper to get down.

“That’s your ride.” Sunwoo said and you look at him questioningly.

“Are you going to the date looking like that?” and it finally hit you like a truck.

“Holy shit. What time is it?”

“7.48PM. Better late than never.” He said giving you a pat on the back when the ladder from the chopper fall just right in front of you.

“Eric bought the dress himself. Its quite small but it’ll do.” He shrugged and you thanked him climbing up to the chopper. “Be nice Y/N.”

-

You tap your toe impatiently crossing your arm over your chest as the elevator were moving almost at a imperceptible speed. You look down to your watch wriggling your wrist to place your watch right on the blisters from the rope earlier and heaved a long sigh after realizing that you almost an hour late. You really should have just go down using the line from the helicopter instead of the elevator.

A buzz from inside of your clutch stopping you from tapping your feet and you fish out your phone from inside looking at the caller id before swiping the green icon up and cup it on your left ear.

“Hey, Y/N are you there yet?” Eric asked from another line making you scowl at his eagerness.

“They just dropped me off two minutes ago Eric and the elevator in this building is really slow.” You said annoyingly and when the moving box dinged, stopping, which you grunt to it before stepping to the corner back to make room whoever that come in later.

“Well at least you got great reception inside it.” He said trying to make you laugh but you didn’t and when the elevator door opens, a tall guy in a black suit enters. you spare him a quick glance before bowing slightly when he did.

“Y/N remember, order just salad and red wines.”

“Why does it matter what i eat. Its not that I’m going to make him pay for it.”

“Are you really going to eat like a pig on your first date?”

“Look, this is not a date I remind you. I just going to negotiate with him and make him agree to pretend to be my partner only for the wedding.”

“Just for the sake of me please. He’s my neighbor.”

“Your neighbor? Its too late Eric, I am forty minute late and its already a bad first impression.” You look up when the elevator dinged again and make your way out to the restaurant with your phone still on your ear.

“Any reservation?” the receptionist ask, but before you could answer him, you heard a voice talking from inside the restaurant. A tall man, quite good looking, ranting, looking like he was drunk.

“I will soon to be the heir of my father’s company.” He said with a cocky smirk plastered on his face, head leaned a little to the table next to him, invading a couples privacy, boasting, face filled with pride while the couple does not look pleased at all.

“I am a gentleman even my date is almost an hour late, i am still here waiting for her.” You let out a gagging face when he said the word before placing your phone back to your ears.

“Eric what was the guy name again?” you ask.

“Kim Younghoon.”

“I am Kim Younghoon.”

“No shit.” You were dazed for a while, the guy with the prince syndrome was your date and how in the world you’re going to convince him to pretend to be your partner. You stared at him still in daze as your phone fall to your neck trying to think of anything, maybe a plan b. But then his eyes meet yours making you flinch. As much as you take pride in everything and how good you are in handling men, this is not what you signed for, you can’t just flipped him off just to escape.

You took a few step back when he stand up, looking at you like he figured something out, like he caught you red handed causing your heart to pound with his boldness, his eye contact. Nothing else present inside of your mind other than to run away like a coward until you feel a hand grabbing your shoulder.

“Is that your date?” You heard a voice from behind you, soft, deep and alluring making you turn your body back to face him. It was the same man from the elevator. He was looking down at you then inside the restaurant where his orbs moves like he was watching at someone’s movement

“He’s coming. Play along.” He whispered snaking his hand around your waist pulling you closer as he’s showing his card, probably a membership some sort of card and the receptionist usher you both to one of the table near the window walking past Kim Younghoon who was about to ask something with his pointer finger out like he was about to state a matter of fact. But you both just brush past him.

“I owe you.” You said looking back to the guy who was still bragging about his status and starting to cause a commotion before few waiter had to usher him out.

“I feel bad though.” You heaved turning your body back facing the man who just saved you.

“You can still catch him.” He lean back still smiling and you wince to the thought of being around someone like that.

“He is in good hands now.” You nod convincing him and he let out a laugh.

“So.” He starts, leaning forward clasping his both hands on top of the table looking at you with the smile that seems to never fade even for a moment. “I heard you’re looking for partner to a wedding.” You raise your eyebrow tilting your head.

“You’ve been listening.” You said straighten your body to sit properly facing him.

“Couldn’t help it.” He chuckled and you side eyed him with a smile shaking your head looking anywhere else avoiding eye contact. “So who’s wedding is it?” He ask again

“Its my cousin.” You breathed out and lean back as you eyed a waitress came filling his glass, its hard not to notice how she was smitten by the guy that was sitting right in front of you, constantly stealing a glance here and then before walking to your side with a professional smile before filling yours. you nod to her as a gratitude while looking to the man himself who is now looking at you. You hold his stare for a little longer, letting yourself lost in his strong yet soft gaze that seems to shake everything within you.

“So tell me about your cousin.” He said without breaking the eye contact while leaning forward resting his both elbow on the table.

“Seems like he’s more interesting than i am.” You teased taking a sip of your wine pouting playfully right after.

“I’m afraid if i ask about you first i might scare you away.”

“Oh it takes a lot to scare me off-” you stop leaving your sentence hanging and tilt your head a little to the side, brow twitching with a playful smirk trying to read him whose expression never change even the slightest. You were trying to figure him out like any other men you’ve been sitting with you in the same scenario only the other was your mission to dig their secrets while this one right here perks your interest itself.

“So-” He dragged his words, eyes wavered looking for the right word or right question to ask making you scoff softly before letting out a soft smile, he was an easy one to read.

“You look like you had broke a couple of hearts, but I don’t think you even know how to flirt. Am i right?” you ask in between chuckle and he raise his both hand in defeat with his smile before settles back to staring at you.

“I just got out from the marine.” He started and your eyebrow twitch again filled with interest.

“are you completing your military service?”

“No, more like I’m a coast guard.” He said and your mouth formed an ‘o' while nodding to the information. No wonder he looked a little stiff, you thought to yourself.

“So getting back on the shores is quite a challenge. being around new people and like being in a whole new place. its like starting all over again.” He said with a troubled expression and it tug some strings from inside of you. But instead of comforting him, you try to light his mood a little.

“I see. So am I the first person to have dinner with you?”

“Yeah.” He smiled biting his lips which you mirrored right away gnawing your own lower lip. You were glad that he’s an easy one to distract and somehow my making him smile, you feel at ease.

“So what should i ask?” He ask you making you let your head fall back as a laugh erupted from you seeing how innocent he was.

“You can ask anything. Or maybe start exchanging our name.”

“Oh right. I’m Juyeon. Lee Juyeon.” He held out his hand to you over the table and you shake his hand telling him your name.

The night went off with three course meal and exchanging a bit information about yourself carefully not to spill your secrets while he telling you about his life in marine.

“Aren’t you lonely?” You ask him after wiping your lips and let the waitress take away the last plate away. “I mean living on a ship in the middle of the sea.”

“Sometimes.” He smile. “But loneliness became a friend to me when i couldn’t sleep at night. I was so used to it that getting back in city make me feel so lost and quite bothered by the sound.” He chuckled before pausing, looking down like he was thinking about something. “I feel like a stranger, a foreigner in my own home.” He said with a forced smile and in that moment you want nothing other than to protect him and stay as long as you could with him by his side knowing how hard to cope back into the civilization after being isolated for so long from the outside world. Even now, you still had a hard time seeing stranger or even engage a small talk. Then you realize how easy every words came out from your mouth when you were with him all night, which you decided to be his friend.

“You want me to show you around?” you offered and his face light up brighter than before making your stomach to churn at the sight.

“If you don’t mind.” He beamed brightly and you look at your watch which shows that you’ve been sitting with him for almost two hours.

“We can walk a little.” You said and he raise his hand to call the waitress. You took your purse which he beat you to it by handing the waitress his black card.

“Just let me thank you for being my first friend.” He said and you smile to him

“I’ll treat you for tteokbokki later on. I’m sure you haven’t had that for a while.”

“But we just ate.”

“Really? That’s enough for you?” You scoffed and he just chuckled shaking his head.

-

“Juyeon, have you done settling in?” Lt. General Lee asked as soon as Juyeon came in into his office.

“Almost, I got a help from a friend.” He answered as a small smile creep as soon as the image of you appeared inside his mind.

“Ah, I see you’ve made friend.” Lt. General Lee smile and gestured him to sit on the leather couch in the middle of his large office while he took the one right across from Juyeon.

“Don’t you think its too early for me to replace you?” Juyeon asked and the older man stop mid sitting before chuckling to Juyeon’s words.

“Straight to the point aren’t we.” Lt. General Lee lean back on the leather couch looking at his own son. He was actually expecting that exact answer from him, and he know he will be having a hard time to convince him,

“six year being on the sea and three year commanding your own ship is more than enough Juyeon.” he added and Juyeon shake his head to it.

“Commanding my own ship is a whole lot different from things in here dad. Just let me start from the bottom and work my own way up to earn your place rather than sitting there just because i am your son. I don’t like that and I don’t think people will respect me for that.” The older man only smile to his son’s words for knowing well how honest he is with everything. But the thoughts of the ugly side of the law made him feel nothing but worries for his son. He realize that he need to trust Juyeon capability to keep himself safe. only for now, until he could find a way to protect Juyeon. 

“I know you would say that. That is why I’m placing you with Colonel Kim. You can go report yourself to him now Captain.”

“I’ll see you around dad.”

-

“Hey you.” You coos as soon as the door to Juyeon’s apartment open revealing the man himself who greet you back with the brightest smile that turn his eyes into a crescent moon making you feel warmth just at the sight.

“Hey.” He greet back glancing back to his apartment then back to you and you could heard the sound of cutleries while a smell of home cook food manage to escape from inside of his apartment and seep into your nose.

“Bad time?” you asked before he shake his head.

“Not really.” He said with a smile slowly growing on his face with an expression like he had thought of something. “My parent came. You should join us for dinner.” He said by grabbing your arm which you dodge to it with an awkward laugh.

“I shouln’t interrupt your family time.” You smile sheepishly to him pushing a bag with potted plant inside of it to his chest but he manage you get a grip of your wrist with a playful smile.

“Who is it honey?” You heard a soft voice that belongs to a woman before she came into view and saw you over Juyeon’s shoulder that light up her face instantly as soon as she saw you anf Juyeon stepped aside to let the woman to see you which you greet her back with a deep bow.

“Who is this lovely lady Juyeon?”

“This is the one that been helping me settling in mom.” He place his hand on your back before softly push you into his apartment while you try to glue your feet to the ground trying not to move.

“Oh, you must be Y/N. Come in, we just about to have dinner.”

“No Mrs Lee its fine.” You decline politely trying to back off, but Juyeon’s hand still holding your back stopping you from moving. “I was just passing by. I wouldn’t want to be a nuisance.”

“Nonsense.” She walks towards you and softly pull your hand leaving you no choice but to comply. You look back to Juyeon with a frown but he just followed suit with a smile.

“His dad decided to cook tonight just for this special occasion that Juyeon had permanently transferred to the head quarters.” She beamed eagerly looking back and forth between you and the dinner table where you saw a tall man who was preparing something on the kitchen counter. His back facing yours

“We have a guest?” He ask without looking away from whatever he was doing while Juyeon were ushering you to the dinner table that you both had bickered over the darker shade or just white, but you won the fight and he end up having an edgy black wooden dinner table that fit well with the white with black and grey streak ceramic floor.

"I told you it fit well with the floor. You just need to add more lighting over it." You nag again making scoff rolling his eyes.

"Yeah whatever Y/N." He said making you giggle before his mom's voice breaking the small moment between both of you.

“Yes honey, its Y/N, the one Juyeon been telling us about.” She said and you watch as Juyeon making his way to his father to help leaving you a little restless sitting on the chair while the other were busy. You decided to stand up and help too but the sound of your chair screeched against the floor made his father to turn back and you stop when you lock gaze with the awfully familiar face. You notice that he was taken aback too by your presence until Juyeon turn his head to look back at your direction and you had to clear your throat pretending to look away and sit back down awkwardly before standing up again when his mother came with the food giving you a good excuse not to squirm nervously on your seat.

The dinner seems to weighted by the silence which the tense was only felt by you and Juyeon’s father who keep glancing at you here and there while Juyeon and his mom was being oblivious and keep talking about random thing which you couldn’t even process when you’re being held under the keen eyes of his father.

“So, what do you do for a living Y/N?” His mom suddenly ask making you stop chewing for a second before looking at her, then to both men.

“I uh, I’m a archaeologist.” The lies slip off from your tongue just like an air, and you notice how Mr Lee spare you a glance for a moment before getting back on his meal silently.

“Really?” Juyeon said appalled from the new information which cause his mom to look at him questioningly.

“You didn’t know?” She asked and he shake his head smiling sheepishly scratching the back of his neck for missing the most basic information about you even after spending a few days together.

“I don’t actually like to talk about my work. Its kind of boring.” You added which his mom nod to it before you too getting back to your meal and let both mother and son talk about various things mostly about their distant family and Mrs Lee always try to include you into the conversation just so you wont feel left out which you silently thankful for.

“Where’s you parents now Y/N? Do they live far?” You heart pounded one beat harder at the sudden question that you had to clear your throat to cover whatever expression that was about to show on your face. It was a simple question and it never matter to you since no one ever asked. But it sounds so different when someone finally did.

“I’m an orphan.” You said shifting your head to face Mrs Lee, but your eyes wander elsewhere because you didn’t want to see any of their expression. You didn’t want to see pity from them even how strong the sympathy radiates from across the table.

“I’m so sorry.”

“No its really fine. I still have my cousins though.”

“The one that going to get married next week right Y/N?” Juyeon added trying to light up the atmosphere again and you nod with a smile.

“Thank you so much for the dinner Mrs Lee. I had a great time.” You said after helping Mrs Lee with the dishes while Juyeon and his father already getting cozy on the couch with beers in hand having a small conversation.

“Are you leaving already honey?” His mom ask touching your shoulder gently and you smile while nodding to her. “Sorry about his father, he don’t really talk much during dinner.” She adds again and you just smile to her words.

“You can stay a little longer you know.” She offered.

“Thank you Mrs Lee but i should let you spend more time with him since he just got back.”

“Alright then, but let him walk you to you car at least.” She caressed your head with the most genuine smile that almost break your heart for lying to her almost about everything the whole night.

“Sorry about my parents.”

“Why? They’re great.” You said

“Really? My dad always scares my friends off.”

“I can see that,” you smiled looking straight to the elevator door which is almost your everyday view since you’ve been helping him moving in and arrange things inside his new apartment.

“I kind of feel bad thought.” He said as you both got into the elevator.

“I don’t know much about you. I guess i didn’t ask the right questions and keep missing the basic small information about you.”

“Why does it matter?”

“We’re friends aren’t we? Friend shares thing with each other.”

“Right.”

-

“I will take this as a coincidence now Y/N. Since I know you have nothing against me in particular.” Lt. General Lee voice sounds much deeper and more distant than any other day when he was briefing out your mission for your team. Even the way he stand back facing you while looking out through the glass window to the base where a few chopper and vehicle were parked and his soldier walking around doing their thing had turn the atmosphere heavier in the early morning.

“I promise he will not hear a word from me anymore sir.” Was the only thing you could offer him at the moment, the only thing to keep the truce between you and him.

“That is what first came into my mind as soon as I saw you last night Y/N.”

“I understand that sir.” You said without looking away from the back of his neck showing how determined you are in keeping your words. But he just let out a soft scoff.

“I had give it a long thought last night and thinking maybe i should try to look or think about it from a different perspective. Maybe you met him for a reason Y/N. Just like how I met you.His personal matter had nothing to do with us or his place at the NIS.” He turn back to take a look at you who standing straight, both hand tucked at your back just like any soldiers always does when they were face to face with higher ranks. But the way you look straight into his eyes was evident that you aren’t one of his soldier. Not one of his trainees. But after years of carrying his secret mission under the command of one of his respected Captain, you gained his trust. He took pride on taking you into his secret division when never once you fail or turn your back against your team. Just the thought of you with his son, making him feel uneasy. But by seeing how his son had thought of you as his friend and the way Juyeon mentioned you a lot during their conversation last night, Lieutenant Lee knew you had found yourself a place inside his son heart. So he came into a conclusion since he is sure that you are in both of his and his son’s side, you could be a way of help to keep his goals.

“I need you to protect him.” He said finally taking a seat before gesturing you to take a sit right opposite from him. “There is a reason why I made a request for him to be transferred here. I’ve been having this thoughts about retirement for a really long time.” He paused clasping his hand together, staring it for a little while before looking back at you. “The one that have been keeping me here is each everyone of you in this division. It took my entire career to establish this division, to keep it as it is now and too keep it away from falling to wrong hands. I believe you know what and who i meant by that.” You give him a curt nod to his explanation before he continue by leaning back, turning his chair to the side until now he face the picture each and everyone of the soldier from all three team of his division. Each one of every accomplishment and medals except for yours. You only appeared in the group photo.

“You’re a one special woman Y/N, even without words you manage to make everyone to like you. We rarely share a words or conversation together, but you know how much I admire your work ethic, you earned everyone in this division’s trust and respect. The more i said it out loud, i’ve gained more confident in entrusting my son on your hand. You are the first to heard this from me, which also mean that i put my full trust on you. You do know how the NIS has been long compromised with all those corrupted officer and few of the ministers. Which is the main reason why the president agreed when i came up with this division. But for years, we’ve been meddling with cases that that are tied to some of the VIP in the blue house which made us a threat to them. They have been doing everything to find out about this division and i believe the moment i step down from this chair, they will hunt all of you down. So I’ve been meaning to hand this division to my son.” He take a deep breath after the long explanation looking into your eyes with an evident worry inside his eyes.

“What’s the problem?”

“You see, Juyeon has been on the sea since he graduated from the military school and he know nothing about the bad side of the law. No matter how good he is in what he does, he is gullible to this corrupted law enforcement and it’ll be hard to explain to him which i don’t even know where to start.”

“If he found out about me,”

“Everything you have done in the past four years already enough for your redemption Y/N. You’ve always been one of us.”

“How should I keep him safe?”

“Know about his mission, just keep him alive. You should know better what to do. Consider this as a request from a father. The moment they know he’s my son, they will do anything to keep him away from the chair. I know this division had been a family to you. Consider that if you keep him safe, you’ll be able to keep this entire thing in tact. This division future now in your hand Y/N.”

“What about my team?”

“Keep this between us for a while. I will announce it to them, but not in the nearest time. So you should carry on with your mission as usual. But make sure to put him first before anything else.”

“I will do my best sir.” You said in more calmed tone before he gave you a nod and you stand to make your way out from his small office. Then his words stop you from turning the knob.

“He like you Y/N. In a way I know that more than a friend.” You turn back to look at him trying to keep your calm facade, trying to act that you're not affected by it at all. “Take that as an advantage to approach him. To gain his full trust.”

I edited the rank of Juyeon's dad, it was meant to be Lieutenant General, but for some reason i thought it'll be okay for me to just put Lieutenant rather than Lieutenant General because its too long and i thought the reader might get it. Silly me. Edited.

[dtrhwithalex]

TV | Loki (104)

104: THE NEXUS EVENT

D: KATE HERRON. W: ERIC MARTIN. Original Air Date: 30 June 2021.

Non-spoiler-free recap and review of the fourth episode of LOKI, which airs every Wednesday on Disney+.

RECAP

As Loki and Sylvie watch the world around them slowly but surely fall into complete destruction and collapse, the TVA is scrambling to locate the two and recapture them. Ravonna Renslayer especially is desperate to have the two variants located, being put under pressure by the Time Keepers. It is also revealed that is was Renslayer herself who was the one to pluck Sylvie from the time line and declare her a variant -- when Sylvie was merely a child, still on Asgard. It is also from Renslayer that Sylvie subsequently escapes and, as she reveals to Loki, has been on the run and in hiding ever since, growing up in apocalypses which were the only place her mere presence did not cause any nexus events.

Sharing a heartfelt moment as Sylvie recounts her life, she and Loki create enough chaos to spark a nexus event even within an ongoing apocalypse, allowing the TVA to locate and recapture them. Once captured, they are separated, with Renslayer forbidding anyone to interrogate Sylvie, while Mobius has Loki thrown in a time-loop -- where he is repeatedly threatened and beaten by LADY SIF (JAIMIE ALEXANDER) in a memory from Loki's earlier life on Asgard, where he as a joke cut off Sif's hair. After finally admitting that he played jokes out of loneliness and a desperate need for attention, Mobius retrieves Loki from the time-loop and takes him back to one of the TVA's interrogation rooms.

Loki tries to make Mobius understand that everything about the TVA is a lie -- as Sylvie has told him -- but Mobius does not trust him. He baits him into revealing what caused the nexus event on Lamentis-1 by telling him Sylvie has been disintegrated, and gets Loki to admit that he cares for her. Accusing him of such narcissism that he fell in love with himself, Mobius closes the case and has Loki returned to the time-loop.

Despite his distrust in Loki, Mobius questions Renslayer about what had happened to C-20 and her intentions behind not letting him talk to Sylvie, and eventually steals her TemPad to investigate the matter further. He learns that C-20 confirmed what Loki had tried to tell him: everyone at the TVA is a Variant, plucked from the timeline and brainwashed to serve the Time Keepers. Returning to Loki's time-loop he admits that Loki was right and wants to help him, but they are quickly found out by Renslayer, and she disintegrates Mobius.

Meanwhile, Hunter B-15, despite Renslayer's orders, went to see Sylvie and took her back to the apocalypse they had found her in. Questioning her about her powers, B-15 reveals that she, too, had been having memories of another life since Sylvie had controlled her. Sylvie shows her the memories again, effectively gaining B-15 as an ally.

Following the disintegration of Mobius, Renslayer takes Loki and Sylvie to see the Time Keepers who wish to witness their destruction. However, once in their chambers, Loki and Sylvie are freed from their constraints by B-15 and a fight between them and the TVA ensue. Gaining the advantage, Loki and Sylvie eventually find themselves free of any enemies, and Sylvie attacks one of the Time Keepers with her sword. The Time Keeper is beheaded and, as the head falls to their feet, Loki and Sylvie realise that these three beings are merely robotic avatars and not the real Time Keepers.

Without any way to destroy the Time Keepers and the TVA, Sylvie is lost. Loki, reminiscent of their moment on Lamentis-1 and Mobius' accusation of romantic feelings between the two, tries to communicate to Sylvie whatever it is he is feeling, but before he can make her understand, he is disintegrated by Renslayer who turns out to be alive, still.

The mid-credit scene reveals that Loki did, in fact, not die, but finds himself in another realm where he is greeted by various other incarnations of himself. Prominently among them: CLASSIC LOKI (RICHARD E. GRANT), KID LOKI (JACK VEAL), and BOASTFUL LOKI (DEOBIA OPAREI).

FAVOURITE MOMENTS

Loki is back in Mobius' presence and we are immediately back to bantering like an old married couple and I very much appreciated that. These two have such a lovely dynamic, I adore it. Never thought I would say that, but I really do. I love Owen Wilson in this role very much and he and Tom have such great chemistry.

I also really liked Hunter B-15 taking Sylvie back to the apocalypse they had found her in, and asks her about C-20 and the memories the both of them have lived while Sylvie controlled them. Her chocked back sob and then the "I looked happy" was just so nicely done. I was very happy to see that B-15 was immediately ready to team up with Sylvie and drop the TVA at a moment's notice.

The same goes for Mobius. I loved that, despite Loki's betrayal and the fact that he was so set in not wanting to trust him again, Mobius still couldn't shake the feeling that Loki's comment was more than just a quip and went to investigate. He is not just a mindless follower of orders and I love that very much about him.

FAVOURITE CHARACTER(S)

My main man Loki, always and forever. I adore this version of Loki so much. He is so much fun! I love that we get this actually, truly mischievous Loki, this chaotic mess. He isn't brooding and full of evil plans. No! He wants shenanigans and fun. I love it. And I love that we get to see more of his vulnerable side too.

But also, Mobius! My man! He's back!!! If this man doesn't get to ride a jet ski at least once I will be very upset. I will also be very upset if he is actually gone now. (Cannot believe I am saying this about an Owen Wilson character. This is new. Good on you, Owen, good on you.)

QUESTIONS, CURIOSITIES

Less a question and more a demand: if the mid-credit scene means Loki exists somewhere after being disintegrated, Mobius better be alive somewhere. I want that lad back, whole and in one piece. You hear me, Marvel? Otherwise you might have yourself another CoulsonLives on your hand, you just watch.

I've already seen a bunch of reactions to the whole Loki/Sylvie thing and most either go with happily shipping along, or being very against this concept out of some sort of incestuous concerns. And I feel like, am I the only one who watched that scene as neither romantic nor incestuous as such, but more as Loki being very confused?

Apart from Frigga, and possibly, to some degree and especially earlier in life, the brotherly love of Thor, I don't think Loki has ever felt love. And for the first time there is someone who not just understands him completely, but also accepts him exactly as he is. Especially following their conversation about love in 103, I think what was between Sylvie and Loki on Lamentis-1 that caused the nexus event, and makes Mobius accuse Loki of being in love with her, is not a romantic sense of love, but in a way a certain self-acceptance?

I'm sure Loki has some kinds of feelings but he doesn't know what they are or how to categorise them. And he is very confused about liking Sylvie and caring that she is alright. But I don't think he would have understood it as romantic love without Mobius' accusation of it. I don't think it's narcissism either. What I saw, was a glimmer of Loki realising that he can love himself, he can accept himself. If Sylvie, who is him, understands and accepts him, then so can he. But yeah, I'm curious to see where they're gonna go with this, certainly.

OVERALL IMPRESSION

Generally, this episode was absolutely amazing. Every week I keep finding myself becoming the shocked Pikachu meme while watching the episode, but this week especially. I can't wait to see what next week brings, and I hope very much that we find out Mobius is, in fact, still alive somewhere.

[still image taken from the episode's imdb page]