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FOOL'S ERRAND

"Everything you lose is a
step you take." —Taylor Swift
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"MORBIUS... we don't tell Athena anything about what we just discussed. Understood?" Ravonna Renslayer firmly informed the agent, emphasizing the last word clearly. The man softly nodded at the information he received, the less she knew the better. Nodding his head committedly, the woman silently dismissed him to leave her office. Glimpsing momentarily at the file on her desk before heading out to find Loki and Athena waiting for him.

Initially, the goddess was going to join them to capture Loki's variant but there were some last-minute changes. With the recent resurgence of two nexus beings, she was tasked with finding them. The Asgardian Prince sat on the bench while the Olympian Princess stood against a pillar directly across from him. Neither of them uttered a word yet his wandering stare wasn't left unnoticed. Since their last conversation, something was bothering her as if her subconscious was trying to remember anything.

Athena fidgeted with her bracelet calmly, gently biting her inner cheek as time moved painfully slow for her. Her eyes glanced everywhere but at Loki, her thoughts running as she hadn't been able to gain an inch of information since she arrived at the TVA. Purposely maintained her distance from him ever since the incident at the Renaissance Fair, however, her curiosity was starting to get the best of her. The God of Mischief must have known her based on his body language yet she had no recollection of him.

"We're on. We are doing some good work today." Morbius came out of the room, indicating the duo to follow him. Athena was the first to walk behind the agent while Loki was beside her, sensing his close proximity. She calmly ignored him as they eventually entered the changing room where other Hunters gathered nearby, preparing for the next mission. Athena was given a black business casual outfit to change into before the briefing, swiftly swapping into the new uniform.

"Athena, you'll be going on a different mission. Here... you can use these." Morbius announced firmly as he handed the woman her spear which she thought she would never see again. Graciously taking it with a tiny smile, twirling her weapon expertly out of habit before clicking it to the floor. Then it transfigured into a dagger and placed it on her shoulder holster, Loki glanced in surprise that she received her weapon while his was still confiscated.

"She isn't coming with us?" Loki interjected as his eyes gleamed with concern, he expected them to stick together. The God of Mischief devised a scheme that involved Athena yet it appears that it'll have to be later. However, it seemed like the TVA had other plans for the lovers, intentionally separating them from knowing too much.  

"Ravonna's orders, not mine." The agent stated firmly, indicating to the goddess where she should go for her next assignment. She walked past Morbius and Loki who gently gripped her right wrist, not uttering a word yet his facial expressions said everything for him. She managed to hold back a sharp breath and in that moment... his touch felt familiar.

"I can handle myself... it should be you who needs to be careful out there," Athena stated in a slightly teasing tone, her lips curving a small smile. The Asgardian cracked a tiny smirk at the comment, slowly letting go of her wrist but felt his lingering touch on her skin. "Good luck, Loki." 

"To you as well... Athena." Loki swallowed back the words he wanted to spill but he recognized that this wasn't the place or time for it. She briefly nodded her head to reassure him before heading down the hallway and soon found the other group of Hunters gathered around. Most only glanced at the goddess with neutral expression yet she didn't take any heed of their questioning stares. Solely focused on completing the mission she was tasked with.

Athena was apparently an expert in detecting magic so they needed her to find two nexus beings. The leader of the group was Hunter K-5E who directed them as he turned on a projection to explain their assignment, "Gather around for a briefing. Hollywood Hills is a luxury hotel that was nearly in its last stages of construction, which will unfortunately be demolished after the deadly earthquake. Remember, this is a class eleven apocalypse. The Variants shouldn't know we're coming and should be considered hostile. Every time there is an attack, they steal a TemPad."

"I'm sorry but did you say variants?" The Olympian goddess questioned the man, wondering if she heard that correctly. It's usually one variant that attempts to create havoc on the sacred timeline but now more? Silently pondering why they assigned her on this mission, raising suspicion that it was intentional.

"Two variants that escaped containment, it's our mission to prune them. So be prepared for anything." K-5E clarified before opening the timedoor to their destination that effortlessly transitioned to the streets of Los Angeles. The Hollywood Hills hotel was at the corner of the street, cautiously entering the tall building that consisted of twenty levels.

"We'll split up into two teams, keep the line open for further instructions," The leader announced as Athena joined the main group as they navigated through the levels. Mostly empty hallways, large conference rooms, or office furniture scattered around the further they went up. The higher they went, the stronger she could sense the energy source through her magic. Drawing out her dagger that transfigured to her spear from the shoulder holster, maintaining her stance for a potential attack.

By the seventeenth floor, there were traces of what the two variants left behind. The Minutemen still couldn't track them down and they were running out of time before the apocalypse arrived. Emerging out of the emergency entrance, the TVA Hunters spread out to scan the perimeter when they suddenly were trapped in an energy force field. The remaining soldiers activated their Time Sticks as they searched for the variants, Athena quickly sensed that they were lurking as they had fallen into a trap. 

Before she could warn them, two hooded figures came out and attacked the other group of hunters with their respective weapons. The goddess tried to intervene but the taller figure blocked her path, expertly hindering her advances as their weapons clashed. However, she noticed that the variant was holding back intentionally, swiftly tripping him over his feet as she pointed her spear near their face. Athena narrowed her eyes slightly, demanding the variant, "Who are you?"

In a split second, azure energy mist surrounded Athena thus binding her to the pillar with an energy lasso. The other hooded figure concentrated on keeping her steady while the taller one reached forward to take away her spear. The variants non-verbally communicated, the male-cloaked figure summoned his magic to steal the Minutemen's weapons before taking the TemPad. The girl made sure to keep their attackers at bay before they started running down the hall towards the stairway, making their escape. 

The goddess discreetly conjured a portal to escape from her binds, following behind them as she didn't want to lose sight of the variants. Athena assumed that the variants were male and female based on the staggering height difference. Just when the duo were going to split up, the woman blocked their exit with a portal that resembled a black hole. Expertly sneaking up behind the variants and pinning them to the ground, kicking her spear away from the male's grasp. The female-cloaked figure swiftly pulled down her hood to reveal herself, staring intently at Athena. 

"Mom?" Aurora called out to her in surprise, completely stunned to find her mother working with the TVA. The Goddess of Wisdom maintained her stance, nonetheless, her facial expression withered away to realization. The young boy also pulled down his cloak hood but she didn't recognize her son since he wasn't born yet.

"T-This can't be... you're not Aurora...." Athena muttered, still trying to process what she was witnessing. She knew the variants were magic users and this could be some elaborate trick. The girl made no advances towards her mother, only lifting her Uru necklace she had as a child. The boy did the same with his signet ring, a symbol of nobility and royalty of Olympus. She immediately recognized the Uru necklace since she was wearing hers, assuming it was before her nexus event.

Another timedoor appeared and out came about eight Minutemen hunters that surrounded the variants, both looking at their mother as if they'd been betrayed. They were handcuffed and restrained with chronokinetic collars before being taken to TVA Headquarters. Athena quickly followed behind them as she tried to intervene yet detained her while she saw her children taken away. Both of them call out to their mother for help and struggle to escape, "Let go of us! M-Mom! Help!"

Her children walked through the closing door as their voices echoed, two guards were posted by the entrance. The goddess asked what would happen to them but didn't get any response. Stealing one last glance at the door before she marched towards the direction of Ravonna's office, needing an answer for what just occurred. In her heart... she knew that it was her daughter, Aurora, and concluded that the boy must be her son. A fierce aura radiated from Athena as she approached the office but was held back by some guards.

"I must speak with Judge Renslayer this instant!" She demanded, her eyes narrowed that match her harsh expression. Apparently, Ravonna was attending to other matters that required her attention, the goddess clenched her fist silently. Suddenly, a loud siren blared through the P.A. system causing her to sigh sharply and leave to find information about where they were detaining her children. She made a sharp turn as she observed the propaganda TVA posters along the way, paying no heed to them.

Her footsteps echoed throughout the hallway, summoning her spear that she managed to retrieve after the mission. Athena was starting to doubt everything she learned about the TVA, pondering what their true intentions were. This was no accident that they purposely sent her to eliminate her own children, doing something so despicable. Clenching her left fist tightly, she knew that she was powerless against the formidable TVA. Passing by the armory room where she accidentally bumped into someone who attempted to strike her before realizing their mistake. 

"Thea!" Loki exclaimed, using her nickname with a mixture of shock, surprise, and relief. Luckily, the goddess managed to dodge the attack however, she was displeased at his lack of awareness. He put away his dagger before reaching forward and gently gripped her arms, scanning for any injuries.

"You could have killed me!" Athena declared, pulling herself away before him. The God of Mischief knew that she was being too stubborn for her own good but understood that now wasn't the time. That was too close... too close. If she didn't move in time, she wouldn't get the chance to see her children again.

"But I didn't! Look... that doesn't matter, you have to help me!" He persisted, taking her hand as they searched for his female variant. An announcement came through the P.A. system of a variant infiltrating headquarters, she had no choice but to help.

"Help you? Let me guess... you lost the variant, again." The Goddess of Wisdom humored dryly, but the Asgardian was not amused. His lips pressed together in a thin line while she couldn't help teasing him, a tiny smile gracing her face. "And now you lead them here. If I didn't know any better...  this Loki might be better than you."

"Now isn't the time...." Loki remarked, clenching his jaw and glancing at her with an annoyed expression. The couple stroll through the hallways, both raising their respective weapons and scanning their surroundings.

"I think it is, now wait a moment. I'll only help you if you help me—." Athena proposed her proposition, momentarily blocking his path as she glanced up at him. A considerable height difference between the two gods as they stood there, her amber eyes staring into his azure ones.

"Done," He nodded his head swiftly, catching her off guard with his response. He holds her right forearm before striding forward in the direction where he thinks the variant might be. Athena was essentially powerless, she could sense the faintest magic source coming from the east wing.

"But I haven't told you–." She explained but he effortlessly cut her off as they glanced at the unresponsive guards on the ground. The Olympian Princess took out her spear while the Asgardian Prince twirled his daggers with his hands, mutual understanding of the grave situation.

"Now really isn't the time to discuss this. We have other important matters." Loki responded which caused Athena to roll her eyes dramatically, bickering like an old married couple. 

"Do you even have a plan?" The goddess commented in a low voice, glancing at him momentarily while they stealthily walked along the hallway. Discarding her suit jacket since it was restrictive around her shoulders to reveal a cream blouse which distracted him for a few seconds. "My eyes are up here, darling."

"Right... sorry," The God of Mischief mumbled an apology, clearing his throat to disperse the awkwardness between them. Placing her spear in the shoulder holster before putting her long brunette hair up to avoid distracting her soon. Loki diverted his eyes as he told her, "Of course, I have a plan..."

"You let this happen, didn't you?" Athena stated, knowing that he was lying to her.

"Yes, I did." The Asgardian agreed with her before they strolled towards the door, seeing the female variant knocking the guards unconscious. Athena raised her golden spear while Loki did the same with his daggers, causing the variant to lift her sword. The variant appeared nothing like the God of Mischief although her attire was in his signature colors.

"Are you the Loki variant they've been looking for?" The Olympian Princess questioned calmly, circling around in a defensive stance. Discreetly pointing at Loki while the duo were now blocking the elevator that leads to the Time Keepers.

"Get out of my way, gorgeous." The female variant declared, narrowing her eyes slightly while Loki protectively stood in front of Athena.

"Look, we have a few questions." He tried to reason with his alternative self, not wanting anything to happen to his wife. The Goddess of Wisdom glanced between the two Loki's with a curious expression, still gripping her weapon if the situation calls for it.

"Have you got nothing else to do?" The blonde woman remarked, a scowl evident on her face. Athena noted that the woman had her weapon lowered while Loki continued to assert his dominance, unsure why he felt the need to do so.

"Rude... Are you sure you're a Loki?" The man sounded offended while Athena couldn't help but chuckle softly through her nose. The two Loki's glanced at her with unamused expressions, answering her question that she was his variant. The female Loki raised her sword to attack him before pushing him away in the opposite direction, Athena maintained her head high but placed her spear to the side.

"Ignore him, now there must be a reason you want to see the Time Keepers, surely." The Olympian mentioned as the variant slowly lowered her weapon, seeing that she wasn't being hostile against her. Athena was still blocking the golden elevator but didn't make any movements as she wanted to understand something. "Seeing you nearly succeeded in doing so."

"That's why I thought perhaps we could work together. The three of us," Loki explained his plan yet the brunette woman immediately shook her head in disagreement.

"Not interested," The Goddess of Wisdom responded flatly before the female variant lunged forward in an attempt to move her out of the way. Athena effortlessly deflected the light jab yet was kicked away while Loki managed to get her before falling to the ground.

"Wasn't asking, now either you come willingly... or you won't. Either way, that's how I get to the Time-Keepers." The Asgardian directed the last sentence to his variant, maintaining his eyes on the blonde woman. He gently lifted Athena back up on her feet as he advanced forward but was met with a sword which he blocked with his dagger.

"Is he always this sufferable?" The woman asked the Olympian Princess, her weapon clinked with him as they clashed with one another.

"It varies from moment to moment," Athena answered nonchalantly, shrugging her shoulders softly before she used her spear to block both their weapons. He looked at his lover before hearing footsteps coming from the doorway, Ravonna and some Minutemen with their Time Sticks.

"Come any closer and I'll kill them." The nameless woman affirmed, knocking Athena to the ground while holding Loki against his will with the sword by his neck. Seething silently as he saw Athena by his feet while Renslayer didn't care in the slightest.

"Go for it," Ravonna uttered, in that split second, the God of Mischief reached for the TemPad in his variant's cloak before opening a timedoor. The trio disappeared to an undisclosed location just before the TVA Hunters could prune them. She instantly left to form a search party, clearly frustrated by the situation as she demanded, "Find them! We can't allow them to escape!"

And this time... she wasn't going to allow another mistake.