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Chapter Text

Sylvies eyes were heavy when she opened them and it was like being ripped out of a deep sleep.

The first thing she noticed was her mouth, which felt dry as a desert.

Like she didn't drink anything for days.

Coincidentally there was a glas standing next to her. She looked at it for a moment, unsure what to do. But she was incredibly thirsty and so she drank as if her life depended on it and sighed in relief.

She looked around and her eyes widened when she saw a dark haired man lying on the ground across the room.

"Loki"

Sylvie slowly sat up and for a moment she went dizzy.

What the hell was happening here?

The enchantress stood and walked across the room to the god, who was still asleep.

"Loki, wake up."

She stroked his shoulder, gently shaking him. He woke with a start, looking around with confusion, then at her with a questioning look on his face.

"What? What's happening?! Where are we?"

Sylvie shook her head, shrugging her shoulders.

"I don't know. I just woke up a few minutes ago."

She stood again, helping the god of mischief, who was still drowsy, to his feet. Once he stood he waved and leaned on the wall behind him.

"What is this place? Why am I so dizzy?"

"I was too, it get's better. Just wait a minute," Sylvie assured him, because her own head was getting clearer now.

Loki nodded and leaned back against the wall, inhaling deeply.

Sylvie walked through the room, trying to figure out where they were, but she didn't remember this place at all. It was a big room with raw, cemented walls and no windows. Almost like a bunker or a panic room. There wasn't much furniture except for a simlpe chair, kind of a plank bed in one corner and a locker.

Everything about this place and situation felt alarming and fear was slowly rising up in her, the dizziness completely gone now.

"Hello," she shouted, searching for something, a hint, a sign.

Nothing happened.

Sylvie exchanged looks with Loki, who seemed clear minded again, too.

"Hello? What's the meaning of this?!"

Still nothing.

The enchantress pulled and pushed at the door but it was locked. It seemed like some kind of mechanism was sealing it. She sighed in frustration and held her hand in front of her focusing on the massive door. She centered herself and waited for the green wave flowing through her and the magic to release.

But nothing happened.

Loki stood behind her now and she looked at him puzzled, closed her eyes for a brief moment to concentrate and tried again, her whole body and mind centered on the one thing.

Still nothing.

Panic flooded her in an instant and she tried a third time and a fourth.

At this moment they heard a laugh filling the air. First she couldn't assign where it came from, but found a little device in the upper corner of the room, blinking now with a red light.

After a few moments the laugh faded out and someone spoke.

"That's really cute what you're trying here, Sylvie. But forget about that, save your energy. Did you really think we would let you keep your magic here?"

Sylvies eyes widened in shock, her mouth stood open.

"What..who are you? What did you?!...how?"

The man laughed again. It was a dark, yet amused laugh. All of this felt wrong, like stuck in a bad dream.

Inside she was boiling with rage, mixed with sheer terror now.

Her magic..

"You remember the water you drank when you woke up?"

Sylvie covered her mouth with her hand in realization and shock.

"But don't blame yourself. If you had refused the water, we would have given you the poison another way. You didn't doom yourself...although...yeah, maybe you did."

She didn't understand a thing. Loki also stood there, a confused and shocked look on his face. He raised a hand, palm up. They both watched as green lights came out of it.

Sylvie shook her head in denial and Loki looked at her, perplexed.

"Oh, his magic powers are untouched. No need to take them. The room you're in is shielded with its own magic."

The blonde woman stumbled backwards, her shocked eyes looking into nothing.

This couldn't be..it was a nightmare..

Wake up..

Just wake up..

This time it was Loki who found his voice again.

"Let us out, we're no use to you when we're dead."

"Oh, I think you misunderstand something here. I don't want to kill you. You're right, we need you. The two of you. Alive. But she's a risk at the moment, wild, driven by rage, unpredictable."

There was a pause.

"We need her a little..tamed."

Loki didn't understand a thing. "Why don't you just come here and talk with us face to face," he suggested.

The man laughed again, "No, I don't think so. At least, not at the moment. Not until she purrs like a little kitten."

Sylvie let out a scornful sigh, her head shaking absentminded the whole time.

"So you chose to speak with us this way, hiding like a coward?" Loki provoked, ignoring the hidden threat.

"Careful, Loki. Don't push my boundaries too far. Except you want me to do the job myself. And believe me, I will..and when I'm finished, she won't even be able to purr."

Loki froze completely, the brutal words sending ice cold shivers down his spine.

Those were no idle threats.

Sheer panic rushed through his veins now.

He looked over to Sylvie. She was leaning against the wall across the room now, paralysed and in shock. The god of mischief sighed deep, turned his head again, trying to form a solid thought and for a long moment there was silence.

No words..

Just the breathing of two people, two gods, two allies who had gained mutual trust despite all of their insecurities and disagreements.

You could cut through the tense atmosphere.

"I won't let you down."

His words echoed in her mind as she looked at the man standing across the room closely. His blank stare, his shoulders hanging down.

Sylvie watched every slight move, every blink of his eyes, every breath he took.

And then suddenly it was as if he regained consciousness again and he looked at the camera with the blinking red light.

"What do you want me to do?"

Sylvie looked at him in disbelief, forcefully shaking her head.

What was happening right now?

"Loki, what.."

The god of mischief raised a hand to silence her.

It was an offensive gesture and he knew it. He turned his head, looking at her with a pleading expression in his eyes.

She bit her tongue and stayed silent, watching him closely.

"I want you two to have a little fun."

You couldn't ignore the fact that this man was enjoying every word he said, his voice heavy with darkness.

"Or at least you, Loki."

Chapter Text

"WHAT?" Sylvie burst out, shouting at the camera. "What's wrong with you, you sick fucker?!"

"Do us a favour, Sylvie, and let Loki and me have a talk man to man?"

His tone was hard, leaving no doubt he wasn't fond of her talking back to him.

"I won't play this sick game!!"

Sylvie rushed forward towards the camera but Loki stopped her, blocking her with his arm. She fought him off and started to run again.

But she never got there.

Instead she was tumbling and suddenly a huge force made her fall backwards. The impact was small, physically it didn't hurt at all.

But it shattered everything inside her.

She looked at Loki in shock and disbelief, who had still raised the hand he had used for his magic.

"Please Sylvie, let him speak for a moment."

But he didn't look at her, didn't turn to look at her.

"You two are cute, for real. I'm almost sorry I will have to shake that up a little. You just proved the point I made, Sylvie. And now be quiet or I'll make you shut up."

There was a pause, before the man spoke again.

"So, let's do this step by step. I think a little spanking will do for a start. There's a locker in the corner where you'll find the equipment, Loki."

With that, Sylvie stood, ambiguous about what she should do. Her mind was racing..fight or flight. She decided to go forward, go to him, placing a hand on his arm. When she spoke, her voice was full of emotions, but most of all fear.

"Loki, stop thinking about this. Let us find a way out of here."

He didn't look at her, still processing the words that were spoken to him. The darkness in them, the threat, the fear of losing her, of someone hurting her..

"He will hurt you," he simply stated, his voice sounded like it came from far away.

Sylvie shook her head.

"Loki stop!! There must be a way out of here."

"I won't let him hurt you."

With these words he turned and their eyes met.

She flinched.

His eyes were a wild mixture of feelings but she saw a glimpse in them that made her stumble backwards, a glimpse that scared her.

"Sylvie"

Every muscle in her body tensed up at that, her body stiff but at the same time her hands began to tremble. She was careful to hide it. Loki hold his hands in front of him, a gesture to calm her down.

"Sylvie, let us talk about this."

He couldn't mean it.

He couldn't be serious.

Her mind started to go wild, her thoughts spinning, couldn't keep up with all the things she heard and felt..and feared.

Loki took a step into her direction, her attention now completely on every move of him.

"I swear, if you come any closer, Loki Laufeyson, that doesn't end well for you."

He stopped for a moment, froze in his movement.

"Sylvie, please, let's think this through."

She let out a scornful laugh, "There's nothing to think through, Loki. I won't do this."

The goddess couldn't believe what she just heard, what she saw.

"I won't let you down."

Sylvie ran to the door, hammering against it, shouting, "Let me out, you sick bastard. I won't be part of your sadistic game."

She heard Lokis steps behind her, her ears highly alert of every sound.

The lights on the camera turned on and she heard the voice of the man again, his tone a mixture of dark foreshadowing, amusement and wickedness.

"Alright, Sylvie. I'll take care of you if you want..my way."

"NOO!!" Loki shouted, the firmness in his voice and the sheer volume caused Sylvie to jump.

She stood at the door, paralysed, when she heard a sound she wouldn't forget her whole life..

..the clicking sound of a locker opening.

Sylvie turned to look at him, look at what he was doing. He was standing there, holding a crop in his hands, staring down at it before turning towards her.

"I won't let you down."

She stumbled backwards, couldn't believe her eyes, hoping this was all a bad dream and she just needed to wake up.

"Loki, don't come near me."

She held her hands up, defensive and when he started to walk towards her, concentrated and..

..nothing happened..

No magic, no green lights, no nothing.

"Sylvie, stop, listen to me."

She looked at the crop in his hands, a black bar with a wide and thick ending. Panic was all she felt now, rushing through her body, through every vein.

Suddenly she was stopped by the wall behind her and she screamed.

Loki walked slowly, his hands in front of him, trying to soothe her.

She tried again to use her magic but she could barely see a glimpse of green light on her palm, dancing around, unable to cause any harm. She watched it with refusal, praying for the flame to come back.

His hands on her forearms teared her out of her trance and she jumped at his touch.

"Sylvie"

The enchantress looked at him with eyes wide open. He seemed to be taller then usual.

"I won't do this, Loki."

Her voice was quiet, almost a whisper.

"It'll be okay."

His hands gripped her more firmly now, holding her in place, while soothing her with his words. She shook her head, tears started to well up in her eyes.

"No, you can't make me do.."

His gaze scared everything out of her, she couldn't define it. There was a doubtlessness she never seen there before and they seemed to darken.

Sylvie pushed her head forward against his, trying to free herself from his grip. She managed to free her arms and pulled her knee up against his private parts. He let out a cry and arched at that, just enough time for her to get away. She ran but was taken down in an instant, landing on the hard floor with magic.

"Sylvie, hold still, please. I don't want to hurt you."

She laughed wildly at that.

"Isn't that what you're going to do to me now?"

Loki towered over her to help her up, just to cage her in his arms, her back against him.

"I won't let him hurt you..and he will. That isn't going to happen."

Sylvie tried to free herself once again, her whole body working against him, but he just held her tight in his forced embrace.

"Shhh, Sylvie, it's me, it's just me and we will go through this together."

He shuffled her to the bed, laying her down on her belly, holding her hands in place with his own. It all happened so fast and both of them were breathing heavy. Sylvie struggled to fight him off, cried when her attempt remained ineffektive.

"No, Loki, please...please don't do this."

He didn't move and she sensed that his hands were shaking.

He was ambiguous.

"Loki, please don't hurt me. Please.."

He leaned to her, resting his forehead against the back of her head. She could turn this around, he was ambiguous, he was struggling..

"Take a deep breath when I tell you to."

No, what was happening here?!

Why was this happening?

"Loki, no!!! Please, don't do this to me.."

"Breath"

Terror ran trough her veins..it all went so fast and at the same time like someone had stopped time.

First she heard the sharp noise of the crop sliding through the air.

Second her own breath catching.

Then the smack.

And then the pain came crashing into her and she cried out.

Loki immediately laid his hands on the spot where the crop hit her, rubbing it gently. He was distracted for a moment, letting out a deep sigh, whispering..

"I'm sorry"

Sylvie didn't think twice and took advantage of the opportunity, freeing herself from his grip, turned around in a second and slapped his face.

"You asshole!! Get away from me!"

With that she kicked him and he stumbled backwards.

For a moment they stood there, both in shock of what just happened. Tears ran down Sylvies cheeks, her eyes full of betrayal. It was as if Loki just realized what he had done, now that he saw her face and he covered his mouth with his hand.

A familiar voice broke through the silence.

"Good start, kiddo. But I think we all agree, that it doesn't really count when she's covered in this..armour."

A pause, panic rose again in Sylvie.

"So, I think someone need to be undressed to make it count."

Their eyes met and Sylvie shook her head, her gaze changing from pure rage to begging.

"If you want this to be a bit easier for you, Loki, there are ropes at both sides of the bed."

The enchantress bolted, running towards the door again but Loki stopped her in an instant and she landed on the hard floor again.

"Oh for god's sake, Loki, stop this!! Let me go.."

She wanted her voice to sound tough, confident, but it was pleading instead.

Suddenly his arms were under hers and he pulled her up, back into his grip. That's when she bit his arm hard, causing him to cry out in pain but it was pointless. In an instant he had her back in his grip, shoving her towards the bed again.

No, don't let him get you there..there's no turning back then..the ropes..

Sylvie saw them hanging to each side of the bed and her eyes widened in shock. She struggled, fought, praying to get her magic back, to get away but Loki was stronger. He had her on her belly again, holding her down with his elbow.

No, don't let him do that to you. Fight him off..

He used his bodyweight to hold her in place, his legs forcefully against hers, caging her between him and the bed, his one shoulder holding her down, catching the rope and her arm on the left side, fumbling at it. He put so much force on her wrist, she cried out in pain.

The god of mischief whispered an apology against her ear and she could hear his heavy breathing. For a moment it felt almost comforting to feel his breath warm against her skin in all this madness.

But the moment passed and the terror came back again when she realized her left hand was now bound to the bed.

She looked paralysed at her bound hand, how he had wrapped it up..in a hurry but at the same time perfectly fit. It didn't cut into her flesh but was tight enough so that she had no possibility to free her hand.

It kind of fascinated her how careful he was not to cut into her flesh, protective, even in this forceful, cruel situation.

A strange calmness made her stop struggling, she couldn't describe it..it all happened so fast.

She looked to her other side where Loki was busy tying her other hand to the bed. He took some of the pressure of his body from her, knowing this was the last act of fixing her. She could see his face, the muscles of his jaw tense, his expression unreadable.

Sylvie watched him, wanted to make eye contact. When he realized it, their eyes met. A single tear from fell down on the mattress.

"Loki, please. I know you don't want to do this."

His eyes reacted to her words and she saw tears in them.

"I won't let him hurt you."

There was desperation in his voice and fear, but also firmness and some glimpse of something else she couldn't yet assign. It came from a dark place and seeing it made her shudder.

"I won't let you down"

"So it's just the lesser of two evils, Loki?"

Her voice sounded bitter now, soaked in the betrayal she felt. She wanted a reaction from him.

"Who are you to decide for the both of us?"

"Someone must", he just stated. He seemed far away.

"And who said that would be you?"

Look at me, tell me..

He shook his head, obviously to clear his mind and suddenly he was out of sight, taking his former position behind her. Sylvie tried to turn her head which was difficult out of her position.

You can't just lock me out Loki! This is not your decision to make!

He laid a hand on the back of her head to held her down and maybe to comfort her..it was gentle which made her even more furious.

Then his other hand started to undress her trousers and she felt panic rush through her. Sylvie wriggled, trying to get away from his hand, from his touch.

She felt so exposed.

..it was so embarassing..

The enchantress shook her head with force, every muscle of her tensed up and she felt the adrenaline rush through her veins.

"Stop, Loki! I swear I'll kill you!!"

He didn't respond to that, just stroked her neck gently.

"I won't let you down"

"Breath"

And the moment he said that they heard the voice of the man again.

"Better make it count, Loki, or I will."

Sylvie heard the man behind her sighing deep and taking a deep breath himself.

He's still ambiguous..

So I have to try..

"You can stop this, Loki!! Let us find a way out of here!"

But at that moment she heard the crop sliding through the air, this time even louder than before and it smacked down on her exposed flesh and she cried out..

Pain.

All she felt was shattering pain and tears overflowing her eyes.

She heard him apologizing over and over, his trembling hand caressing her neck, felt his head falling down, resting at the back of her head. Maybe even something wet on her neck..tears..

But it all felt like coming from far away now..clouded..

Burning pain overshadowing everything and at the same time she felt strangely numb.

Her ears were ringing and she didn't even fully understand the words of the man speaking now. Just a few fragments.

"..go on"

She would never forget the now familiar sound of the crop sliding through the air.

Sharp, merciless..

She grabbed the blanket as the pain hit her, burying them in the soft fabric..to hold onto something, to stop her from falling into the dark abyss manifesting around her.

That was when she felt Lokis shaking hands upon hers, intertwining their fingers.

She didn't resist..

There was no point in resisting..

All seemed to slowly fade around her.

The only thing she heard was her own screams as the pain rushed through her twice again, before the man behind her collapsed, falling to his knees. His upper body was holding onto her, as he buried his head between her shoulderblades.

They just laid there for what felt like eternity before she heard a familiar sound and..

..someone clapping..

"That was great. Good show. I think we should all take a break here."

Sylvie barely felt her hands getting untied, barely noticed the hand that was offered to help her up. She just ignored it..not even on purpose..it was an odd thing that just didn't fit into this act of madness so she slowly turned around and sat on the bed, her head falling to her chest.

Her whole body was burning and the pain on her butt was so intense that it made her sick.

But what shattered her was the feeling inside..

In the corner of her eyes she saw him going down on his knees, taking her hands in his own, speaking to her..

..but she couldn't hear the words..

It sounded dull, like someone put cotton in her ears.

The next thing she remembered was two people, dressed in black, wearing masks, lifting her up and dragging her through a door into another room.

She didn't fight back, she just let it happen. Let them shove her to the bed standing there. Let them lay her down.

Please, just let the world fade away..

"I won't let you down"

Chapter Text

Strange how betrayal feels after you start to trust someone. It was like the pitiful head- shaking of a parent, noticing..

"See, I told you so"

When the physical pain slowly decreased, the emotional pain took its place.

Sylvie pressed her hands to her mouth and screamed silently into herself, tears welling in her eyes.

She had felt so helpless like never before in her life. She had fought Loki several times now and it has always been either a draw or she had won.

The enchantress had fought herself through countless apocalypses, she knew how to win. She was a fighter, a survivor. And when physicality wasn't enough, she had her magic.

And that always worked.

But not this time.

There was no magic.

Yeah, there was..

He used it..

He used it to stop me, to control me..to force me..

The enchantress pressed her hands on her mouth so hard it hurt. Tears were flowing down her cheeks onto the mattress.

A memory of his eyes came to her mind. The moment he realized what he was going to do, knowing he would win the fight this time, seeing it in her eyes that she knew, too..

"I won't let you down."

She thought of the moment in the void where the two of them sat together under a blanket he had summoned for them.

"How do I know that in the final moments you won't betray me?"

But he did.

I told you so, Sylvie.

That was no parent speaking. That was herself. The voice in her head, telling her how stupid she had been. How stupid it was to trust this man she barely knew after everything she went through her entire life.

She had let her guard down.

"Do you think you can trust this man?"

Anger flooded her now, replacing the hurt.

He had betrayed her.

Like the moment back then when they had faced He who remains.

"Why aren't we seeing this the same way?"

"Because you can't trust..and I can't be trusted."

Sylvie nodded in bitterness and realization.

Truer words have never been spoken..

That was when she heard the sound of someone knocking on glass.

She sat up and looked from where the sound came and realized for the first time that she was in a room with a large glass wall on one side.

Two cells, connected to each other, the glass wall in between.

And on the other side..

Loki..

He stood there, one hand pressed against the glass, hurt and shame in his eyes.

For a long moment she just wanted to ignore it, turn her back on him, give him the silent treatment.

But she stood and slowly walked to the glass.

Standing right before him, she just looked into his eyes, putting all the hate and betrayal in hers.

Sylvie knew what he was saying, watched him form the words, even though she couldn't hear it through the thick glass.

I'm sorry..

She didn't respond. Didn't move. Just stared into his eyes, stare him down, getting a part of the dignity back he had taken away from her.

His eyes were hurt, pleading, wanting her to understand something.

Understand why he did it.

Understand his pain.

It's all about you, Loki..

Always about you..

What you consider right..

What you decide..

"Just let us think this through for a moment"

In that moment Sylvie heard a familiar cracking sound and looking at the source of it she moaned in frustration.

Of course this room..this cell..was also monitored.

"You want something get off your chest, Sylvie?"

She already hated this voice and the man behind it..

Show yourself asshole..

"Yes, I want to get off my chest, that I will kill you for that. I'm not usually a torturer but I think this time I make an exception."

She made fists with her hands, pressing them so tightly together the knuckles went white. Her voice was full of hate and disgust.

"No, I meant for Loki. It seemed like you want to tell him something."

Sylvie looked at the man in front of her again, all the emotions coming back to her in an instant, looking into his eyes again. Much more complex than the pure hate for the speaker..

Hurt..

Betrayal..

"I betrayed everyone who ever loved me and that's not who I am anymore."

The enchantress clenched her teeth together, her jaw tensed up.

He could hear everything, the monitoring going into both of their cells.

Good.

She shook her head.

"No, I have nothing to say to him."

Speaking slowly, she looked into his eyes, letting every word sink in, her voice concentrated disillusionment.

She saw the hurt and consternation in his eyes but also something else..

A persistence, a belief..

..a glimpse of justification..

She knew that glance and it made her furious.

"You think you did the right thing, don't you?"

Loki shook his head slowly.

"Please stop, Sylvie. That's what they want. They want us to get at each other's throats."

She laughed at that, crossing her arms in front of her chest.

"No, hang in there, that's interesting. Please tell me, Loki Laufeyson, does it give you great comfort to think you're doing the right thing? Saving everybody from their own stupid decisions?"

He looked at her, eyebrows knited together, confusion in his eyes.

Oh no, you're not doing this to me right now, Loki.

"Come on, say something smart. What about that silver tongue of yours? Cat got it?"

"I never wanted to hurt you."

There it was.

It may be true from his own twisted perspective.  He wanted to save her, to keep her alive. To keep her from harm.

At that moment she laughed into herself bitterly, never breaking eye contact with him.

"But you did"

Tears started to well in her eyes once more.

"You should have let him take me," her voice was full of bitterness and hurt.

"I couldn't do that," he stated.

"You couldn't do that," Sylvie repeated his words. "Instead you decided to do what you always did - forcing your will upon everyone, nevermind the consequences. Because for Loki..the..end..always..justifies..the..means"

She spit the last words in his face, let them sink in bit by bit like a dagger in the heart.

"..until it makes you bleed"

There was a pause for a long moment. She saw tears in his eyes and it was satisfying.

"It doesn't..."

But Sylvie cut him off, telling the man to break the connection.

And then there was silence again.

Words collapsing into nothing, leaving nothing there but inverted worlds, demolished promises and..

..shattered trust.

She laid in the bed, curled into a little ball, trying to get some sleep, some rest.

Anything to numb the pain inside and outside for a moment.

She drifted away several times, only to wake up in panic, heart beating like a drum.

At some point she looked to the glass wall that seperated their cells again, following a strange intuition. There was a dark figure standing in front of Loki. They were talking to each other.

Sylvie tried to read from the gods lips but failed. The other man was masked.

The god of mischief nodded after a while and a piercing fear went through her body.

Sylvie turned again, covering herself with the thin blanket, shivering.

She didn't know how much time passed by, could have been minutes or hours..she couldn't tell.

"Stand up"

She jumped at the command, which came from across the room.

Two dark, masked figures were standing there and she could see the weapons on their belts.

The enchantress looked at them, hesistating.

"I'm not going to say it again. Either you come willingly.."

Sylvie didn't move, just stared at them with squinted eyes, ready to fight.

"Make me"

They were there in an instant, one on each side of her, holding her under her arms, forcing her out of the bed.

She gripped what she could, kicked at them, headbutting one of them.

The bigger part of her knew she couldn't fight them off, couldn't win this fight, but she was Sylvie Laufeydottir and she wouldn't just yield, wouldn't just let them take her without protest, without her fighting back.

They were taking her in the same room like the day before.

And then she saw him.

Sitting in the chair next to the bed.

The bed..

It was not the same, it was different.

Bigger, built stronger.

Cold shivers ran down her spine.

She looked at Loki again, who was sitting in the chair, legs crossed, head slightly tilted downwards.

He lifted his head when he heard her and the serious expression in his eyes froze every drop of blood in her veins.

"Sylvie"

She freed herself from the guards, who made no effort to stop her. They were no longer needed, anyway. Not with the mighty sorcerer sitting there.

And suddenly it didn't feel like they were both forced to meet each other here in this room again.

It felt like a handing over.

"Sit down, Sylvie." 

Chapter Text

"Sit down, Sylvie."

She opened her mouth, looking at him in disbelief.

"No, I don't think I will"

She walked back and forth nervously, shaking her head with force.

Loki sighed in mild frustration, looking at her with a pleading expression. The same expression like the day before, only this time with more firmness, determination.

The same expression like when they met He how Remains and they started fighting.

"Come here, Sylvie. Don't make this harder than it already is."

The enchantress laughed wildly at his words, leaning forward a bit but keeping the distance.

"Have you lost your mind, Loki?! Not big on self reflection these days, huh?"

When exactly did the atmosphere change from mad game they both didn't want to participate in the first place..

..to slaughterhouse?!

There was silence for a moment before he raised his hand. Sylvie watched with terror as he twisted his wrist in an all to familiar way.

And suddenly a large, invisible power dragged her forward, forced her to move in the direction she wanted to avoid at any cost.

She shook her head, trying to fight against it. But it was a losing game. Before she even realized it, she was sitting in the chair, facing him, just a few inches away.

This wasn't the man she knew. She felt assaulted, abused..

And she understood nothing..

"What the hell do you think you're doing?!"

She leaned forward, tried to get to him, but again there was this huge force which pushed her backwards, pressed her back into the chair.

Sylvie cried out in frustration and anger, tried to free herself once more, tried to use her own magic..but it was a fruitless attempt.

"Is that where you want me, Loki? Unarmed, helpless, with my back against the wall?!" She asked, her voice a mixture of bitterness, rage and fear.

He shook his head, looking into her eyes, sincerely hurt.

"I don't want any of this."

His voice sounded rough now, frustrated and even a bit desperate.

Desperate for her understanding his situation.

But I don't understand it, Loki. What is this twisted game you're playing?

"Really? Because it feels to me like you do. Sitting there in your chair, waiting for me. What did they tell you, Loki?! The man who spoke to you back in your cell..what did he want from you?"

The god shook his head again and seemed suddenly deep in thought.

When he spoke, it was as if he was far away.

No, don't do this again! Don't lock me out..

"If we don't do what they want they will hurt you. Hurt you more than you could ever imagine."

Sylvie tried to lean forward and this time she wasn't stopped by force. Either he didn't want to or he was distracted for a moment, she couldn't tell. But it didn't matter.

The goddess seized the opportunity and quickly took his hands into her own, stroking them gently.

"You don't know that, Loki. They could be bluffing. It could all be an act to frighten us. We find a way out of here..together. You know how strong we are!"

She spoke in a soft voice, persuasive.

"They're not bluffing. And once they get their hands on you, I have no chance of getting you back. They made that clear. And I'm not going to lose you."

He tenderly sqeezed her hands before pulling them away, withdrawing himself from her.

It was the moment two daggers appeared in his hands out of thin air.

She had never been afraid of swords and daggers, she loved to fight with them..one of the best weapons.. lean, elegant, sharpe..

The perfect deadly weapon.

But that wasn't their purpose this time, she felt it.

Leaning back in terror and fear, chills ran down her spine, her whole body.

"What..what do you want with them..?"

He started to move them in his hands absent-minded, shifting them from side to side for no specific reason. She watched his hands with a nervous gaze.

"You frighten me, Loki."

When he stopped the movement, they heard the cracking sound of the speaker.

"Ready for round two you two lovebirds?"

But it was not a rhetoric question. In fact, it was not a question at all.

"As you already mentioned, Sylvie, we spoke to Loki before...exchanging ideas"

He paused after that, letting the last words work their way into Sylvies mind and they did..sinking in, growing there like a dark seed through her stomach, her bones, her muscles, her veins.

She already prepared mentally for his next words.

"And without you interrupting, it was a very fruitful conversation."

Sylvie looked at Loki, who had lowered his head a bit, one hand at his chin in kind of a thinking position. She couldn't look him in the eyes at that moment.

"I think you already saw the upgraded bed. And of course..the daggers."

She could almost hear his wicked smile. He was enjoying every second, every word.

For a moment she pictured herself, cutting this bastards throat with her own dagger..

"That's a great thing, isn't it? Considering the fact you both love them. Is it your favourite weapon, Sylvie? I'm not quite sure. But I know it's Lokis favourite."

"Love..is a dagger"

"They can be used with a great versatility, you know that..so much range..just like you, Sylvie. But I don't think you ever used them with the intention we're about to use them..more precisely Loki."

She looked down at her own hands..they were already trembling.

"So, here's the deal: Loki will tie you up on our fantastic bed. Oh, don't look so upset, Sylvie. It's easier for the both of you this way, you'll see the benefit.."

At that point Sylvie couldn't hold herself back..she was boiling with rage.

"WHO do you think you are, you shitass?! I swear I will tear you apart when I get out of here!!"

She was screaming, her whole body trembling.

A menacing laugh followed, and then, in an instant, silence.

"Next time she speaks to me in that way, I show her what tearing apart means, Loki," every words he spoke was drenched in darkness, "And I let you watch."

Sylvie looked at her male counterpart, her eyes widened in shock. Loki shook his head in despair and she saw regret in his eyes before he raised his hand once again.

And then suddenly her mouth was closed with force.

A muzzle..

He had conjured a muzzle..

"Do we trust each other?"

"We do and you can"

Out of reflex the enchantress touched her mouth, her hands shaking, tried to pull it off. It was a pointless attempt, because it was a magical gag, holding onto her mouth so tight it didn't move a bit.

Tears watered her eyes right away, running down her cheeks, over the muzzle, into her lap.

There it was again..the clapping.

"Fantastic idea, Loki. It looks like the one you got from the Avengers back in New York. Kind of a homage there. This is becoming a great show..maybe my favourite."

Sylvie looked down on her lap.

She never wanted to wake up from a nightmare so desperately.

Only that this wasn't a dream..

And she couldn't wake up..

"Where was I..yes, he ties you up and then he'll show you his skills, using the daggers to decorate your body a bit."

Sylvie looked into the gods eyes again. She didn't even know what she hoped to find there. Maybe a hint that this was all a con and he already had a plan to escape this in mind, just stalling for time, waiting for the right moment..

"So I think you two get started now."

Loki slowly stood, offering her a hand. She took it and he pulled her up and all of a sudden into a tight embrace, his arms around her waist, holding her gently with his own shaking hands behind her back.

"I'm here. I've got you."

He whispered in her ear tenderly, now stroking her hair and the back of her neck.

It took her by surprise and first she tried to fight him off but ultimatively wrapped her arms around his neck, too, placing her head on his chest, listening to his heart beating.

What the hell was happening here?

His gentle hands were caressing her, words soothing her, a sharp contrast to the horror that was happening. She tried to make sense of his behaviour, so that she could react to it..trying to say something, but it wasn't possible because of the muzzle.

After what felt like eternity, Sylvie felt him move. She moaned in frustration and fear, realising what that meant but he slowly pulled away.

There was a sad smile on his face, as he took her by the hand but the goddess froze in place, not moving.

She already knew what would follow, but didn't want to believe it until she felt the power again, dragging her to the bed.

Sylvie tried to fight it but he used his magic to slowly and gently lay her down on her back in the middle of the bed.

The bed was much more comfortable than the last one and in another situation, in a different context, this whole thing could be pleasant.

But not like this..

They looked into each others eyes and Sylvie pointed to the muzzle.

He sighed and she saw him studying her gaze, weighing up, "No more outbursts, can you promise me that?"

The enchantress rolled her eyes but nodded.

She felt like a child who had to be reproved for cheeky behaviour.

Then suddenly with a move of his hand the muzzle was gone and Sylvie took a deep breath in relief.

Kind of a relief, but not really, because Loki now sat beside her, stroking her hair absent - minded. She tried to get onto her arms, sit up a bit, but the god gently pushed her down again.

"Stop this," the goddess complained, trying to shake off his hands, casting her eyes at the daggers again and then back to him.

She grabbed his wrist, holding onto his arm, "This is the opposite of protecting me, Loki. You must see that."

But he ignored her, firmly taking her hands, shoving them above her head.

A second later she felt a strange sensation on her wrists, and everything inside her started screaming, her breath coming in quick pants now, realizing that she was trapped.

Bound to the headboard with magic.

"Stop this madness, Loki!!"

Sylvie tried to fight against her restaints, getting her arms down, but it was impossible to move them.

Of course it was, his magic was strong.

She admired it, like he admired her for her enchanting skills. They could learn from and inspire each other..but in this moment she cursed his power..

Because it was definite.

Desperately searching for his eyes once more, she realized with shock, that they were becoming a lot darker than before, pupils dilated..

It was like the day before, he was getting absent- minded.

Out of reach..

Almost as if he had taken himself in that specific corner of his mind where he could justify his actions with his own twisted sense of saving.

And she realized that at this point she had nothing to lose.

So Sylvie decided to go all in.

She didn't even know if she spoke the next words out of the betrayal she felt or to break through his walls by holding him accountable and appeal for the one thing that was holy to him..

"I regret the day I started trusting you, Loki Laufeyson."

The moment she spoke these words his gaze turned back to her. It was as if he regained consciousness for a moment and she thought she had never seen this amount of pain in his eyes..it gave her a glimpse of hope, that she had reached him..

But then she saw something braking inside him here and then.

The muscles in his jaw tensed up and his eyes turned..

..cold..ice cold.

And it froze every drop of blood in her veins.

It was the worst nightmare she could imagine..looking into the eyes of someone her mind could identify but not being able to recognize him anymore.

The man she had trusted..

With terror in her eyes she watched his wrist twisting once more and with one smooth gesture her top vanished, immediately sending goosebumps through her whole body, leaving behind no more than her bra.

She felt his gaze roaming over her upper body and her breasts, causing her to catch her breath, wanting nothing more than to cover herself up, shove him away into the eternal abyss of the deepest hell, curling up into a tiny ball, holding herself together.

She felt exposed, violated, naked..

And most of all she felt like prey.

The enchantress witnessed with wide eyes, as his hand wrapped around one of his daggers again, holding it in a firm grip.

She saw it moving crystal clear before her eyes..

And the moment he touched her body for the first time with the cold blade, panic and adrenaline flooded her whole system.

She flinched as the cutting edge touched the sensitive skin under her ribcage, holding her breath to prevent the cut..flinching even more as he placed a cold hand on her chest, holding her steady, holding her in place.

Scared eyes searching for his, trying to connect in any sort, trying to make him see what she felt..

Making him see the fear he caused..

"Stay still, this might hurt"

The irony of it made her laugh madly, every cell in her body was on alert..

Then he made the first cut.

Sylvie drew a sharp breath, tears shooting in her eyes in an instant, as she felt the sting, at first barely recognizable, then slowly increasing.

She looked at him after he was done, his eyes..he was focused, he knew what he was doing, of course..

..an expert with the blade.

For now he took away some of the pressure on her chest, which gave her the chance to take a deep breath, getting fresh air into her lungs..the adrenaline, the air, the sensation..

It made her feel dizzy..

Catching her off guard when she felt the dagger again, making the next cut, a few inches away from the first one.

"Loki, stop!! Please!!"

As she begged him with all her heart, she started to feel the burning sting clearly and a cry of pain escaped her lips, causing his hand to tremble, but never losing focus.

Never stopping..

Stoically getting the job done.

He placed the next few cuts on her stomach, the other side of her ribcage, her upper arms..

The first two didn't bleed, probably just left a red trace. With the third one she felt it..small drops of blood, slowly running down her sides and onto the mattress.

After the fourth or fifth cut, the tenth time she called his name in agony, and what felt like the hundredth tear streaming down her face, Sylvie slowly started to drift away into a strange condition, a weird state of mind..

She mused if there was a pattern in his doing, some picture he had in mind..

A picture of her, exposed, slit open, blood running down her body..

And she wondered if this somehow played into his hands..into some dark need, some twisted fantasy..

"Do you like me like this, Loki? Unable to move, unable to fight, completely at your mercy?"

He stopped for a second, dropping the blade, but didn't answer.

The following cracking sound made her jump, "Guys, thumbs up! This was a really good start, very inspiring. But let's spice things up a bit, shall we? Get her pants down, Loki."

A new wave of panic flushed through her.
And something else..

..was this possible?

"You sadistic fu.." Sylvie started, silenced in an instant by Lokis hand on her mouth, pressing her forcefully into the mattress.

That was her chance..

And she took it.

Sylvie bundled her strength and used all the range of motion she had and bit down on Lokis hand hard and fast.

And then everything happened at the same time.

A sharp howl of pain filled the air, as Loki took his hand from her mouth, distracted..

The restraints loosened up and at the same time a wave of seiðr pumped through her own body.

Finally..

..and she broke free.

Sylvie jumped out of bed, bringing distance between them, getting herself on safe ground, panting heavyly..

The goddess laughed loudly, breathing deep, feeling nothing but satisfaction and relief.

"Sylvie, don't.."

His eyes widened with shock as she held up her hands and catapulted him through the air in an outburst of a giant green wave.

The last thing she saw was him crashing into the wall..

..and then everything went black.

Chapter Text

Her mouth was dry, her eyes were cloudy, everything inside her burned.

The taste on her tongue made her sick.

Not only because of the ridiculous amount of bitterness, but because she remembered.

She leaned it as a child..

Bitter means bad.

And in that case, it meant something even worse.

"Good morning, Sylvie," a familiar voice stated. It was no human voice and the sound of it triggered every alarm bell in her head..

Slowly she began to see something, hazy first, just the outlines..and the color..

Never could she forget that disgusting shade of orange.

"You better would've taken my offer, when you still had the chance," the voice said and bit by bit Sylvie began to see..although she didn't want to.

I better would've taken the chance to kill you, when I had the chance..

But of course, it was ridiculous.

It wasn't possible to physically kill an artificial intelligence.

Not even with the sharpest dagger..

The goddess blinked a few times and the last bit of weariness disappeared..

And so the nightmare continued..

With a new facet of this horrific, sadistic game.

She lifted her head and the grinning face of Miss Minutes made her want to throw up here and then.

"Hello, sweatheart," she said in her usual sing-song.

Sylvie stared daggers at the villainous clock, hoping she could make her burst into flames or cause a system crash just by gazing at her long enough.

"Sweet dreams, Missy?" the clock asked in that special persuasive voice.

"They're getting better and better. Judging by the taste in my mouth you drugged me again, yes?" the enchantress asked.

"The weakening of the effect was a miscalculation. Your metaolic rate is higher than we expected. And your agitation even speeded the process further up."

She said it as if it was the most natural thing to say..it was all just a simple miscalculation.

"But don't worry, it's not permanent."

Sylvie nodded. Now that was great. Abused, humiliated, tortured..

But yeah, it's not permanent..so nothing to worry..

"You said 'we'..who do you work for?"

Miss Minutes smiled diabolically, "What's your guess, Missy?"

"Well, your former boss is dead..the TVA? Renslayer? The Babadook? Ronald McDonald?" Sylvie shrugged and winced as she moved. She was hurt..her shoulders and arms hurt from fighting against the restraints, her butt was sore from the day before..

Her ribcage and stomach hurt from the cuts..

Miss Minutes seemed amused by that.

"You're fucked up beyond all repair, you know that?" the enchantress said, her words drenched in disgust.

This was the moment a door behind her opened and she saw one of the masked figures coming through, and behind him..

..Loki.

The goddess flinched and her heartbeat increased in an instant.

"Reunion," the clock stated and that was enough to push Sylvie over the edge. She bolted, throwing herself at the hologram, fists punching through the air, causing a short destabilisation of the picture. A second later the vicious thing was there again, in all her glory.

"That was not nice," the AI stated with a reproving tone.

Sylvie scoffed, her hands balling into fists.

Loki sat a few feet away from her now and she felt his gaze on her.

"Sylvie.." he started, voice braking, pain in his tone.

The enchantress pressed her lips into a small line, hands opening and closing, breathrate increasing.

"Sylvie, look at me..please.."

She shook her head, closed her eyes. Maybe if she focused enough, this would all just disappear..

This moment was the first time she really wished herself back..back before Roxxcart, before crossing paths with the TVA, before crossing paths with the man sitting next to her..

Even if it meant being on the run again.

She could do it again. She could bring the apple- eating- fucker down again..without Lokis help.

In the corner of her eye she saw him move forward in his chair, leaning towards her.

"I warn you, Loki, come any closer..I swear I'll kill you," she said, not turning her head, looking straight forward.

"Sylvie, I'm sorry.."

There was desperation in his voice..so much pain and despair..

You're not in the position to feel like this, Loki.. You're not in the position to feel anything else than being disgusted by yourself..

"Well, I think you two should start to get along again. You'll about to spend some quality time together."

Miss Minutes smiled viciously and in that moment Sylvie burst out into laughter.

She laughed so hard she threw her head back and had to hold her stomach, because it all caused a sharp pain shooting through her body.

Feeling Lokis gaze upon her the whole time, she turned her head now, deciding that he wouldn't take that away from her.

None of them would take anything away from her. Not her dignity, not her soul, not her sanity, nothing..

She was powerful, she was proud, she was a fighter, she was a survivor.

She was Sylvie Laufeydottir, daughter of Laufey, raised by Odin and Frigga, curse and downfall of the TVA, breaker of the Sacred Timeline, liberator of the multiverse..

And they wouldn't break her.

Sylvie locked eyes with the man she had trusted and let the massive wave of emotion flood her..pain, rage, betrayal, anxiety, affection, care, hate..

"Sylvie.."

"What's next, Miss Minutes? What's the next stage in your sadistic game?" the enchantress asked loudly, ignoring Lokis address.

"Don't ask me, Missy. Ask him.."

And in an instant Sylvies heart sunk downwards, into some dark abyss..

It was one thing to get tortured, abused, most of all from the man she trusted..but what made it so much worse was the feeling and knowing that he was integrated in their agreement in some way. Best case he was just presented with a fait accompli, worst case he was included in their play.

At this point she didn't exclude anything..

She didn't know this man anymore.

If she had ever known him..

So she looked at him with a questioning gaze, unwilling to exchange any word with him.

"They think you should heal first, Sylvie..they're giving us a break"

She raised an eyebrow and looked at him in disbelief. There was not much confusion in his face, which cemented her earlier thoughts. They talk with him, letting him know things and now he had the role of informing her.

The enchantress turned to the AI again, "Okay, fine. Then I suppose I can go back to my cell?"

Miss Minutes grinned at her, "No, silly. You're not going back to this dark, uncomfortable cell. You can't heal in a place like this. Come with me, darling."

Sylvie stood and followed her to a door, grateful to get out of this situation, away from him.

The door opened and Sylvies eyes widened.

This couldn't be real..

She stood in a bedchamber on Asgard.

"What is this..?" the goddess asked confused, going further into the room.

"We thought you would like to have some familiar atmosphere around you. Your home, you know, before you left.."

"Before you kidnapped me and forced me to live a life on the run.." Sylvie corrected, walking around the chamber. There were the archways that she remembered, two small windows, big, massive stonewalls..

..and a huge bed in the middle, framed in fabric, long shawls flowing around it.

"How do you..is this magic? A time prison..?"

Loki had told her about it. Mobius had thrown him in a time prison after they catched them on Lamentis, an illusion of Asgard..

She walked to one of the archways leading into another room.

Only that it didn't.

You could see it, as if there was another room, but there wasn't. Just another wall..

It looked like magic.

Sylvie walked to the windows and the other arch..same here. She could touch it, see it, but there was nothing there. Like a cardboard wall in a theatre.

Realistic, impressive, comforting..until you knock it down.

"It's all fake.."

Miss Minutes was right before her eyes now, smiling, "Don't get too greedy, darling. You don't need en entire castle. There's enough room here."

In that moment Sylvie heard footsteps behind her and as she turned around, she saw Loki standing in the door frame.

"What does he want here?" the enchantress asked addressed to Miss Minutes.

"Did you already forget what I told you before, silly? You two, spending some quality time together."

Miss Minutes already waved goodbye, as Sylvie shook her head, "No!! I want to be alone..please, I don't want him here!"

"But it's the place you both grew up, your home. I'm sure you'll have a great time together. See y'all!"

And with that the clock vanished.

Sylvie reacted in an instant and ran to the door, but it already closed before her eyes. When she got there all she could do was placing her hands against the cold stone, head lowered, sighing in frustration.

She heard his voice from behind, "Sylvie.."

"Can. you. please. not. talk. to. me!" she hissed, not turning around.

For a few seconds nothing happened and then she felt a hand on her shoulder and she spun around..

..and slapped him so hard in the face, that he almost lost balance.

When he turned his head to her again, she clearly saw her handprint on his cheek, which gave her a small glimpse of satisfaction.

"Sylvie, can you listen to me, please?"

She rolled her eyes, sighing, "Say what you have to say, Loki. I'll decide myself if I want to listen.."

"The room has voice and camera recording."

"Of course it has. The fuckers don't want to miss something. I assume they get off on it."

He hold his hands up, causing her to flinch, which made him widen his eyes in return.

Great, now she ducked away just because of a simple gesture..

Yes, Laufeyson, this was your doing..

At this very moment she asked herself if he really was so blind and naive to be so clueless what damage he could do to his environment and the people relying on him.

She realized he didn't want to use magic, but send her a signal to..calm down? Stay silent? Don't bully the bullies?

"I'll speak my mind if I want to, Loki. If you don't like it, why don't you just silence me again with that muzzle?! Easier to handle me.."

He shook his head, hurt in his eyes, "Sylvie, please believe me..I didn't want to do this. I didn't want any of it.."

"Yeah? Guess I did just fantasize what I saw in your eyes, then..your dilated pupils, your gaze roaming over my body.."

He didn't answer, just closed his eyes, shaking his head slowly.

"Your ability to repress is outstanding, Loki. I presume you don't remember dissociating, too?" Her voice was challenging.

I want answers, Loki.

He looked at her with furrowed brows.

"You're kidding me..it's like you disconnect from me. I can't reach you anymore in that state, you're just..cold..ice cold.."

Thinking of it alone send shivers down her spine.

"Seriously, I don't know who you are anymore.." she said, voice changing from anger to hurt now. The enchantress felt a lump in her throat and slowly tears started to well up in her eyes.

"You hurt me..so.. much.." her voice was on the edge of breaking right now.

He looked at her, his own eyes watery, too, "I know..please, can we just sit down?"

Breathing heavily she noticed she was slowly getting dizzy..no sleep, no eating, a ton of stress hormones and pain started to take its toll..

Unsteady on her feet, but refusing to take his offered hand, she walked to the bed, sitting down on the edge, leaning back, supporting herself on her arms.

The god now stood before her, "May I sit?"

"Why suddenly so polite, Loki?" Sylvie asked snarky, "A few hours ago you sliced me open like some fine meat on a banquet.."

Breathing heavily she hold her left side as a sharp pain shot through her body.

"Is it..bad?" he asked, looking at her with concern in his voice.

Sylvie turned her head, "What does it look like? You didn't think about conjuring sterilized blades, did you?!"

"We have to take a look at it..if you let me.."

He stuck out his hand, but she knocked it off. The movement caused even more pain and she flinched.

"Sylvie, please. If it becomes infected.."

"Oh, you've got some nerve.." she hissed, but lay down, relieved to take some pressure away from her upper body.

After a moment consideration, she sighed, "Fine, look at it. See for yourself what lovely picture you painted.."

Loki moved closer, approaching her with so much caution and care it was almost unbearable.

The contrast of it all was so absurd..

He gently lifted her top, and she bit down on her lip. Half because of the pain, the other half because of his gentle touch.

She wanted to hit him so hard, slap him again and again, hurt him beyond all measure..but at the same time the touch of his now plainly warmer hands on her skin made her shiver, not just because of the sensitive skin but something else..

And she hated it with all her heart.

Why can't you just be a heartless brute, Loki?

Once he had wrapped her out of her top, baring her skin, he placed the fabric over her chest to cover her up a bit more.

Sylvie shook her head because of the irony..

A few hours ago he had vanished her top away with a smooth twist of his hand, holding her down, pressing her into the mattress with force and no mercy.

And now he covered her up to protect her privacy..?

She looked the god in the eyes with irritation and disbelief, "You're some strange bird, you know that, right?"

He put on a little smile, already inspecting her injuries with his eyes, "So I've been told.."

"May I..?" he asked, obviously asking for her consent to touch her skin.

The enchantress nodded slightly, preparing herself mentally for the pain and other sensations.

His featherly touch under her ribcage made her flinch, sending goosebumps down her spine. He slowly stroke along one of the cuts, causing her to jump, moving away from his hand out of reflex.

He knitted his brow, looking at her with what felt like guilt.

"Some of them are inflamed. We have to disinfect them, if we want to prevent further damage. Would you let me?"

Sylvie scoffed, "Why not. You caused them, seems only consistent that you'll heal them..even if none of it makes sense..what is their play, Loki? Is this some crazy Stockholm Syndrome shit?!"

The man above her shook his head and she remembered the camera and voice recording..

"Right, almost forgot..well then..go ahead, Picasso.."

With another hand twist Loki conjured a bottle of disinfectant, cotton balls and what seemed like some sort of salve.

He drenched one of the balls with the liquid, holding it above her skin.

"This might hurt," he said, looking at her.

Sylvie laughed, because he had said the exact same thing before setting the first cut.

"Déjà- vu," she answered dryly, closing her eyes, taking a deep breath.

He dabbed the first cut carefully and Sylvie pressed her eyes together, clinging to the mattress.

"Fuck..what is this thing?! Did you conjure this directly from hell?" she asked through clenched teeth.

"They're deeper than I thought, deeper than.." he paused, obviously thinking of the right word, "..intended"

The enchantress opened her eyes again, tears of pain flowing out.

"Carried away a bit by..passion?" she asked, watching his face carefully when she spoke the last word.

Loki stopped his doing for a second, sighing deep..then continued the disinfection with a stoic expression..an unreadable poker face..

"Scratched some dark corner there, Loki?" Sylvie asked, watching every movement in his face now.

"I told you I don't want them to hurt you..nobody should hurt you.."

"Except you?" she asked with curiosity and disbelief.

His jaw muscles tensed up, but he didn't answer.

"Did it ever occur to you that it might hurt even more if it's you who's doing it?"

He stopped again, "But like this I can be sure it doesn't get that bad.."

"And here, ladies and gentlemen, is the repressing again..didn't you say about two minutes ago that the cuts are deeper than you intended? You see I'm in pain here right now?"

He moved on to the other side, leaning over her now, towering over her body..which instantly scared her, made her feel helpless.

"Could you..sit on the other side, please?" she asked, voice shaky.

They locked eyes and the position of their bodies in combination with his intense stare send shivers up and down her spine.

For one brief moment she thought he would lean down, try to do something..

..but it was over as quick as it started and she breathed out in relief as he sat on the other side to take care of the cuts there.

"Even if some of them are deeper than intended, I know what I'm doing. Daggers are like extensions of my arms, I use them since I was a child.."

"Did you propose them?" Sylvie shot out, catching him off guard..she saw it in his eyes.

"Sylvie, I.."

"Did you propose them?" she asked again, voice solid as stone.

"Yes, I did"

The goddess shoved him away, sitting up, "You sick.." she started only to sink back into the mattress, bucking her back, grimacing.

"Listen Sylvie, I suggested them because I know how to use them. I know where the cuts do the least damage..where you can hide them.."

The goddess shook her head, "This is all so fucked up..they talk to you, Miss Minutes said it and I saw it before..what do they want from us? From me? Is this about breaking me?! Because if it is..good luck with that, motherfuckers!!"

She said the last words directly to them, holding up both of her middle fingers, but Loki pushed her hands away.

"Don't do this..please. The things he said, they were no idle threats. You breaking out wasn't intended and they wanted to take you away..like he said, tear you apart, letting me watch..I could convince them otherwise, but it was last-minute.."

The goddess furrowed her brows, "You convinced them otherwise?..How?" she asked suspiciously.

She already knew she was afraid of the answer..

Every second he didn't say anything the fear inside her grew, her heartbeat increasing.

"How did you convince them otherwise, Loki?! What did you offer them in return?"

She tilted her head, trying to make him look at her, hands holding onto his arms.

"It's not today. Today you'll heal.." he said, shaking his head, slipping away again.

No, not this time, Laufeyson..

"WHAT did YOU offer them in return?!" she shouted, shaking him desperately, taking his head in her hands, forcing him to look at her.

He reacted, slowly coming back, stroking her hair gently, looking into her eyes.

"I agreed to have sex with you."

Chapter Text

It had always been Thor who got the attention from the girls.

They admired his blonde hair, his muscles, his stupid, cocky smile.

Loki, on the other hand, had always been a misfit.

Most of the girls thought he was strange..with his androgynous form, his serious expression, his seiðr.

"It's usually a womans skill, Loki," his mother had said to him the first time he had asked her. He was hurt and confused, because they always looked at him as if he was some alien from another species, when he did a trick or conjured something.

"But it's a great gift, my son," she had said in her gentle voice, holding his face between her hands, "One day, you're able to do good things with your powers. And the right person will appreciate that, you'll see."

With those words she had kissed him on the forehead.

She had always been his anchor.

And every time she had done this, explaining the world to him without judgement..everytime, she had taken his head between her hands, kissing him..

..his little world was set straight again.

The first thing he remembered was the taste of blood in his mouth. It was prominent, it was ferrous, it was unusual.

He'd been beaten up a lot in his life, sometimes really bad..But not often there had been blood. Not with his physical constitution.

He gathered enough in his mouth and swallowed.

The second thing he realized, which was far worse..

She wasn't here.

And within a split second, all he felt was fear.

He didn't need to look around..he never needed long to scan a room or a situation. His senses and reflexes were similar to a cat, fast, precisely, targeted..

"Where is she?!" he asked into the void, but addressed to the camera.

At first nothing happened and he stood up, cracking his neck, getting everything into the right position again.

It had been a massive wave with which she had hit him. A green, glorious outburst of her seiðr, probably deadly if he would have been a creature that wasn't as strong as he was..but even for him, her magic was impressive.

As impressive as she was..

An extraordinary, remarkable woman, precious to him like nothing else.

And now she was gone.

"Where do you have her?!" the god shouted again, swallowed the last bit of blood away, walking towards the camera.

Then, the red light turned on.

"Easy, Loki. She's just taking a quick nap," the voice spoke.

Was it a different one this time?

Lokis hands balled into fists, unbelieving, "She's taking a nap?!"

There was a laugh..and yes, that was definitely another one speaking, "Don't worry. She was just a bit..tired. And of course, we had to make sure she get's..tamed again. It was just a small pinprick, no big deal..we leave the heavy guns for you..well, we wanted to.."

Lokis eyes widened, a big flash of adrenaline shooting through his veins within the fraction of a second, "What do you mean by that?!"

Another laugh, "Yeah, well..that was some nasty business. Her, kicking your ass, breaking free..a knocked out demigod, an unleashed enchantress..that wasn't what we had in mind."

No, this couldn't be.

This was not the way..he wouldn't allow it.

Loki was now at the door, looking up at the recording device, "Let me in, please. I want to talk to you."

There was silence for a long moment and he feared, that they had just cut him off.

But then he heard something beneath him, at his right foot.

A flap opened and something was passed through..a bottle.

"Drink this. This takes away your magic.. It's not the same dose she gets. You're able to use your seiðr again in about an hour."

Loki crouched down, taking the bottle, opening it.

It didn't smell suspicious, in fact it didn't smell like anything. If someone wasn't aware of what it was, it could easily be mistaken for water.

He took a deep breath and drank it, thinking about Sylvie the whole time.

He would speak to them..like he had back then in the cell. They had come to him, spoke with him, gave him permission to..decide.

With that thought in mind, the god sat on the ground, the emply bottle beside him.

And waited..

He had always been good at sneaking around, spying on his brothers stupid friends, playing little tricks to his father, annoying him just a bit. The first few years he got caught very often, but over time, he got better and better.

He hated Thors first girlfriend.

She was just a dumbass..a brunette, vain idiot..so actually, she was the kind of girl his brother usually fell for.

Seemed like he really loved her, and she loved him.

Well, she had..

About an hour ago, he heard his parents talk about an attack in her village. A rival clan, an old feud..and her hometown fell victim to pillaging, looting.

And she was one of the people who didn't survive.

When he was about to go to his chambers, he suddenly heard a muffled cry, realizing it was his brother and the crying came from his room.

So he went closer, leaning silently against the doorframe, watching the scene before his eyes.

And what he saw was unbelievable..there she was..his brothers seemingly dead girlfriend, breaking his heart, telling him that she didn't love him anymore and that she's leaving him. He shouldn't go after her, wanted him to leave her alone.

He'd never seen his brother in tears, but now he was crying.

The apparently dead woman was walking in his direction now, and Loki hid himself.

And when she walked past him, he saw the illusion.

He had always been the one with the alert mind, sometimes for better, sometimes for worse.

And he didn't have to look twice to realize it was their mother.

Their mother, transformed into Thors girlfriend.

With irritation and curiosity Loki looked after her.

After what felt like eternity, the door behind him opened.

"Come," the masked man said, and he stood.

Loki didn't really feel different, besides an awful bitter taste in his mouth. And he couldn't use his powers, he tried it several times now. It was a scary thing, and he could only begin to imagine how frightening it was for her, not being able to use her magic.

Not being able to defend herself..

He was guided through a long hallway, high cemented walls around him, no daylight, no landmarks, just cameras here and there.

Loki tried to find something, some clue what this place was, where they were. But he couldn't find any.

After walking past several massive doors, the man in front of him opened one of them, guiding him inside.

It was dark, he couldn't see much, and nobody was in here. The door closed quickly behind him, leaving him alone again in this dark, barren place.

And then, on one side, a light was turned on and he saw a wall in front of him, entirely covered with monitors. Monitors, obviously used to record the rooms. They were dark, switched off.

Until suddenly one of them was turned on..

He walked forward, his eyes straightaway fixated on that monitor..

..and on the blonde woman lying in there, on a plank bed.

Much like the one that had been given to them at the beginning, like the ones in their cells.

The blonde woman was obviously unconcious, lying on her side.

There was nothing to make her a little comfortable, no pillow, no blanket..and she was only covered in her bra and trousers.

Just as they had been separated.

He shook his head, holding his hand to the monitor..as if he could cover her up with that.

"Don't you see that she's freezing?!" he fumed, "Give her at least a blanket or something.. something to cover herself up.."

In that moment Loki saw someone entering the room, completely covered in black, the familiar mask on his face.

A wave of adrenaline rushed through his veins.

"What's happening?!" the god shouted, his hands clinging to the monitor.

He heard a cracking sound and saw the man in the room turning his head, nodding at him, and then he gave his attention back to the unconcious woman.

"She's really a beauty," he started, walking towards the sleeping goddess and Loki went wild in front of the camera, everything inside him on alert.

"Don't touch her!!" he warned, but the masked man ignored him and sat down on the bed beside her.

Loki could only watch in agony, as the other man removed a strand from her face to put it behind her ear, slowly stroking down her neck.

"Stop touching her!! I swear.." the god started but stopped himself, afraid to make it worse, maybe encouraging him further.

The masked man looked at the camera again, all the way stroking Sylvies neck, "She looks so innocent like this. I wonder if she's a screamer.."

Loki was boiling inside now, eyes wide with terror, "Fuck..what do you want from me??! I'll do anything!"

The man started to stroke down Sylvies arm and if he could use his powers right now, Loki would have burned this place down within the blink of an eye..

"Hmm, she's so soft..maybe I'll start by helping her out of that bra, see if her tits are soft or rather firm. So many years on the run..I think she has well trained muscles in all the right places..and maybe when she wakes, she has my cock in her beautiful mouth..getting it nicely wet and hard before I ram it into her.."

"STOP touching her!! Tell me what you want..but leave her alone!!" Loki shouted desperately, his whole body shaking with fear and rage.

The other stopped the touching and looked at Loki, "I said we'll take care of her, if you couldn't. And you failed.."

Loki shook his head, "Give me another chance, please. I'll do anything.."

"Very well then..we want you to fuck her."

Loki froze in place, swallowing hard, shaking his head absentminded.

"No..she won't..she would never..after I did this.."

"Her disapproval didn't stop you from spanking and 'decorating' her body with your dagger..seemed as if you quite enjoyed it a bit..maybe even more than you want to admit to yourself.."

Loki pressed his hand on his mouth, cold sweat running down his forehead, "No..I can't do this..I can't do that to her.."

The man turned back to the goddess, stroking her hair again and then slowly moving his hand down her collarbone towards her breasts, "Well, then..maybe it's easier for you to watch me ravish her.."

With that he slid down one of her bra straps..

..and Loki made a decision.

"NO! Stop!!..I'll do it."

"How did you do this?" he asked his mother, who was standing on the balcony.

Loki stood beside her, his questioning gaze on her.

He was irritated and curious at the same time. She had never done this before. She'd shown him how to do tricks, cast some spells, turned flowers into frogs.

But he'd never seen her shapeshift into another person.

Frigga turned her head, "You saw me? What did I tell you about sneaking up on others, Loki?"

His mother was supposed to sound reproachful, be mad at him, but she couldn't hide that she was impressed.

She always was when his powers were improved.

"You have to be careful. If your brother catches you one day, I'm afraid no one will be able to protect you, not even your trickery," she said, grinning, "I will show you how it works one day..when you're ready."

Loki looked at his mother with a disappointed gaze, but he knew he couldn't convince her. She was the kindest person he knew, but also persistent.

And sooner or later she would teach him.

He looked at her again, "And why did you do this? She's dead..it doesn't matter anymore. Either way, it breaks his heart."

Frigga looked into the distance, thoughtfully, "Sometimes we have to do things that hurt someone, to prevent worse things to happen. Your brother is a hothead, and he doesn't always act reasonable. He'll learn about this soon enough, but at the moment I fear he'll do something rash..I'm his mother and sometimes it's my job to save him from himself."

"Why?"

She took his face in her hands, setting his world straight with one simple gesture.

"Because I love him."

She looked peaceful..

After he had said the words, the masked man had stopped touching her and left the room.

The god looked at the monitor, at Sylvies sleeping form..her face was relaxed, her breath a regular, calm rhythm, her chest raising and lowering..

He tried to calm down his own breath as well, resting his forehead against the monitor, thinking about what he just settled..

What he just decided..for them.

For her..

Once again.

And he knew she wouldn't agree.

She would be afraid, she would be furious, she would fight.

But it wouldn't matter..

"Sometimes we have to do things that hurt someone, to prevent worse things to happen."

She was alone again, no one touching her, threatening her.

Soon she would wake up, disoriented, without her powers again.

He thought about the moment he met her for the first time, in the middle of the Roxxcart hurricane apocalypse, standing there, in her cape, hidden behind her hood, with the green seiðr at her hands.

And then eventually lifting her hood, revealing her horned crown and pure determination in her eyes.

"This isn't about you"

From the very first moment, he had been impressed of her.

His female counterpart, so similar in so many ways..and yet completely different.

A free spirit..

She was wildfire.

A beautiful menace, once fueled on, it could never be stopped.

He had seen the flames in her eyes in this very moment and from that day on he gladly burned in her heat.

Loki had always been ice.

He was passionate, he was targeted, he was also burning..but it was a different kind of flame.

Despite all the longing for power and the believe in his glorious purpose, deep down it had always been a disoriented grasp..

A flame in desperate need for acceptance, for orientation, for conviction..

An empty shell.

But the moment he had looked into Sylvies eyes for the very first time, he knew she was what he had been searching for his entire life.

A bonfire, a hellcat..

A true purpose.

And if there was one thing Loki Laufeyson was absolutely sure of..

He wouldn't lose her.

He would protect her at any cost.

Even if it meant to hurt her.

Because sometimes, that's just what had to be done..

I'm sorry, Sylvie..

Chapter Text

"I agreed to have Sex with you."

Every word sank into her, slowly, painfully slowly, streaming down like tough honey from a spoon..

Her mouth reacted faster than her brain and her body.

"You..agreed.." she started, her own voice seemed to come from far away now, "..you..can't..agree..alone"

A second later her brain started to work again, her mind coming back in an instant, looking at the man above her.

And she panicked.

Her body was the last to react and as adrenaline rushed through every cell, she moved, every muscle tensed up simultaneously and she pushed herself up..

..only to be pressed onto her back again.

She tried again, same result.

"Sylvie.."

No..no..no..no..no..no..

"Let me go, Loki!" she said, wriggling, trying to get her arms free but he held her in an iron grip.

And her body was tired..

"This doesn't need to be like this.." he said, calm as a freaking Buddha, persuasive.

"This doesn't need to be like anything..I'm not doing this!! I'm out, game over."

Sylvie looked out for the device from her lying position, but didn't see any.

"Do you hear me?! I'm out!! Take me, kill me, I don't care.."

This was the first time that the cracking sound gave her some sort of relief.

"Hi Sylvie, good to hear from you again. Thank you for your selfless offer, I really feel honored..But I'm afraid it's already settled."

A new wave of panic flooded her, her whole body was tense like a guitar string, shortly before breaking.

"What are you talking about?? You said you would take me, if I don't behave. So here I am, misbehaving.. you ill, sadistic, goddam fucker..take me out of here and do whatever you please. And pray that my magic doesn't come back too soon, because if it does, I'll rip you apart bit by bit and decorate YOUR body with MY dagger.."

The man laughed, "She's really great, Loki. I get what you see in her. Sylvie, save your energy. Loki said you would do that and he pleaded very nicely not to agree to you. So be a good girl and do as he says."

She shook her head and looked at the man beside her. This had to be a bad joke..

The enchantress tried to fight him off again, with all the remaining power she had.

It wasn't much at the moment.

And he just started to stroke her hair, letting her attempts of fight collapse into nothing, "I just want you to be okay, Sylvie.."

"But I'm not okay, Loki!! Nothing is okay! What you suggest..what you want to do..is rape!"

He looked her in the eyes with..irritation? Hurt? "You know me, we've already been close..you know I won't hurt you. When two people who have feelings for each other sleep together it's sex, not..rape.."

It was obvious, that he had trouble saying that word..

She couldn't believe her ears and she couldn't believe he believed his own words.

Tears welled up in her eyes again, "Do you ever listen to your own babbling, Loki?! When two people sleep with each other and only one consented to it..it's rape..no more, no less."

She didn't expect what he did next, but he let her go. Letting his arms sink, he was suddenly absent-minded. Not like he was when locking her out, but because it seemed like her words got him thinking..

Yes, it's a pretty nasty word, Loki. Face the facts..you really wanna be a rapist?

Once he let go of her, she pushed him away, standing up. The sharp pain was there in an instant and she held onto one of the bedposts, concentrating on breathing, feeling dizzy.

She looked around the room, "It's a really nice location you created here, a new high of sadism, congratulations..I'm sure your mothers are proud of you. You want me to heal a bit, to break me further apart?! I'm in fucking pain right now and the man-I-used-to-know said that some of his not-intended-to-be-this-deep-cuts are already inflamed. So would you do me a favor and give me some fucking painkillers, before I die of sepsis. Would be a disappointing cross-through to your plan to break me, I suppose."

She hold onto the bed, eyes closed, breathing in and out.

From far away she heard a sound which reminded her of the locker from the first day and she flinched.

But then she felt Lokis hand on her shoulder, opened her eyes and saw him holding a pair of pills and a bottle of water. She took it and swallowed it down, drinking the water in one go.

Relieved and exhausted at the same time, knowing that the pills would soon do their job and the pain would decrease, she leaned back against his chest.

The enchantress felt him move and a second later he had wrapped his arms around her, making her sigh deeply.

"You should lay down, Sylvie," he said gently, his mouth near her neck sending chills down her spine.

She was so fucking tired and her whole body was overly sensitive.

"Loki, could you, for once..stop telling me what to do..and let me decide by myself," she whispered. Even that caused her energy she didn't have at the moment.

But she just needed to get that off her chest..

He stood behind her, not replying, just holding her. She felt that he was careful not to cause her more pain.

She understood nothing..and at the moment she didn't want to.

All she wanted was the pain to stop.

The goddess pulled herself out of his embrace and laid down onto the bed on her side, closing her eyes. She began to shiver and a second later he had gently covered her up with the blanket.

Sylvie could feel him lay down beside her, felt his breath against her forehead, but he didn't touch her.

She pulled up the blanket a little more, snuggling into it, a mix of exhausion, cozyness and pain relief washing over her, slowly feeling sleep settle down in her body and mind..

"See, that's a real blanket..not a tablecloth.."

And then, finally her body and mind came to rest.

"Just cut her throat already!"

The man was standing above her, a knife in his hand, grinning.

"Come on, they're almost there. We need to go!" the other man said, stressed out.

In the distance they heard sirenes, people shouting, windows breaking.

The man above her crouched down, "What do you say, dear? You wanna come with us? We have a nice place..it's almost a castle. Suitable for a princess like you.."

He took a fist of her hair in his hand, smelling..then licking across her cheek, "Mh, you taste like strawberrys..I wonder if  you taste as good down there.."

With his hand he slid down her side, towards her crotch, humming, "But we'll test that soon, won't we, princess?"

The next moment there was a huge explosion, causing the man to lose balance and fall onto her.

And directly into her horns.

A second later his eyes were wide and blood was coming out of his mouth.

Sylvie pressed her horns deeper into the mans abdomen, twisting it, tearing it upwards, all the way looking deep into his now bloodshot eyes.

"Doesn't taste like strawberrys, does it? I'm terribly sorry.."

With that she pulled the horned crown out of him and stood, letting his now lifeless body fall to the ground.

The other one crawled down at a wall, looking at her with scared eyes. Her horns were dripping with blood.

"What are you..you freak?!" he squeaked.

"I'm the one woman you shouldn't have pissed off today. And now I'm your executioner.."

She squat down, at eye level with him, tilting her head, smiling.

He began to stutter, to plead, "Hey, look, I'm sorry..we didn't want, it was just a bad joke..we just wanted.."

Sylvies smile grew even wider, wiping the blood of her horns with her cape, putting it on her head again.

"You just wanted to have a little fun with a helpless girl in face of certain doom."

"Are you..the devil?" he asked, voice drenched in fear, eyes now fixated on her horns.

Sylvie pulled out her dagger, holding it at his throat, looking through his eyes and directly into his soul, "No, darling, I'm not the devil..but he's already waiting for you. He has a special place reserved for wankers and rapists.. Gi ve him my regards."

And with that she cut his throat, opened the time door and walked through.

"Sylvie"

..an earthquake..

Find something to hold onto..

Where's the Tempad?!

..everything was shaking..

"Sylvie, you're dreaming..open your eyes!!"

It was no earthquake..someone was shaking her.

"Sylvie, it's just me. You're safe!"

She opened her eyes. Home..? Had all this been a bad dream? No apocalypses, no TVA, no running, no hiding..

..was she really at home?

On Asgard..

But then she remembered.

And everything came crashing down on her..

"Sylvie, it's okay. It was a nightmare.."

Warm arms were wrapped around her and for one moment she felt safe, warm, secure..she felt his body, his chin at the back of her head.

But then she remembered that, too..

She wasn't sure which exactly was the bigger nightmare..

The goddess wriggled a bit in his arms, testing him and he loosened the embrace, giving her assurance that he would let her go.

"You wanna talk about it?" she heard him asking with curiosity and his voice and breath near her ear made her shiver.

She furrowed her brows, "Why should I tell you?"

"Because we never had the chance to speak much about your past."

"Thanks for the tactical advantage," Sylvie replied snarky, because of the irony of it..

He clearly was the one with the tactical advantage here.

"Quid pro quo," the enchantress stated with a challenging tone, "I answer one of your questions, when you answer one of mine.."

There was a long pause, before he answered, "Under one condition..everyone has a veto, usable on a self-chosen question."

"All right then. You start."

"You dreamt about someone. Who was it?"

"Two men I killed during a planet invasion," Sylvie answered, "Was I the first woman you spanked?"

She could almost hear him thinking, considering..

Come on, Loki. It's too soon for a veto..

"No, you weren't. What did those men do to you?"

The enchantress took a deep breath, thinking back to the dream..the nightmare, "They approached me during a pillage. There was a lot of chaos and I guess some people..some men..like to take advantage of rather..helpless girls."

She didn't miss how her well picked words worked their way into his mind.

There was a long pause until eventually she felt him lift his head behind her and she turned a bit, too. Blue eyes looked deep into her green ones, "I hope you know that one thing I...like...about you the most," he almost choked on the word 'like', "Is that you are everything but a helpless girl."

His voice was soft, gentle, maybe even honest.

"Even better. Makes the hell of a challenge.." Sylvie replied with bitter amusement.

"You think I.." he started but was interrupted immediately.

"Next question. Did you enjoy cutting me with your daggers?"

There was deep breathing on both sides and they both knew there was no easy way out of that question.

And she knew that Loki knew that using his veto on this question would be suspicious at its finest.

Loki sighed deep, "If you're asking if I'm a sadist..I don't think I am in particular. And I'm not into harming your body, either.."

"So it's the power?" Sylvie quickly asked, analyzing his face.

"That's another question," he said dryly, "My next question.."

"Oh no, you haven't even answered the last one properly," Sylvie stated.

"It's no easy question. Yes, it certainly has something to do with power..but not because you're a helpless girl or because it's the greater challenge since you aren't..but because you're vulnerable at this moment..almost everything gets irrelevant, insignificant, you get to the core of someone, turn the inside out..you must know that feeling..there's a reason we chose swords and daggers. It's like a dance..intimate in some way.."

Only that this here was neither a fight nor consensual..

"What did they tell you back then in the cell? Why did they include you in the first place?"

"Hey, it's my turn to ask.."

In that moment they heard the first crack and she felt his arm around her tighten immediately and Sylvie froze in place, the hairs on the back of her neck standing up.

He softly whispered in her ear, "Stay..please."

Her breathing was already increasing and she hold onto his arm. It was not the right moment, they were both on alert. She felt his warm breath on her neck and every new one was sending shivers down her spine.

She tried to stay as calm as possible.

They were like two cats now, standing across from each other, protecting their territory, waiting for the first one to move, watching every step.

Like back then in the citadel, that few seconds after her sentence about them being in a pickle and his plead for her to wait and her attack.

It was the calm before the storm..

In fact, she did the exact opposite and leaned against his chest, which resulted in him loosen up his grip.

She felt his heartbeat, the warmth of his body.

Sylvie closed her eyes, forcing her body to relax almost completely. Gently, he started to stroke her arm.

The trail of his fingers on her skin was immediately followed by goosebumps.

"Great to see you two getting along so well again," an amused voice stated, "But now it's about time to fulfill your part of the bargain, Loki."

Sylvie felt her hands starting to tremble, her heartbeat increasing..and his, too.

Loki placed his hand on one of hers, trying to still it.

In her dream scenario she would headbutt him now, kick her foot directly and precisely into his sensitive parts, watch him arch in pain with a wide grin for a few seconds..and then she would blast the door open (because in this scenario that was possible), walking through this whole..whatever this was..

..searching for the guy(s) who were behind this, kicking their balls, smaching their heads in, before stabbing each and every one of them, enjoying every moment, watching their bloodshot eyes widen in panic when realization of certain death was slowly sinking into their minds.

Then she would find a computer, hack the system, summoning this evil, artificial bastard of a clock, waving her goodbye and then shutting her down.

No, installing some pretty nasty bugs, that would destroy and annihilate the program. But very slowly..bit by bit.

She was tech-savvy, after all.

It wouldn't be for nothing.

Revenge was best served cold. And her revenge would be glorious.

Unfortunately, this wasn't her dream scenario..

So all she could do was lie there, forcing herself to relax against the chest of the man she had trusted..who, as it happens, bargained with a bunch of sadistic fuckers..

..with the result of raping her.

"Sylvie, to put your mind at ease: The other outcome would have been far worse. So, you can call yourself lucky."

The goddess balled her hands to fists, biting her tongue. She wouldn't do them the favor of reacting to these sick, twisted words.

Not this time.

And at the moment she had to maintain all her energy..

"And for you, Loki. You've got about an hour. The terms are clear. Now, have fun, you two."

And with these words and one last laugh, the device turned off again.

Leaving behind two demigods and nothing filling the air except for slowly increasing breathing sounds.

The tension in the room was so thick and heavy, it could have been cut like fresh, fruity key lime pie..

"Sylvie.."

She knew she had exactly one chance at this.

So she gathered all the power and energy she had left in her wounded body and threw her head back, crashing into his.

His sharp scream filled the air and she took the chance, pulling up her right foot directly into his private parts, fighting herself free out of his arms.

Seeing him squirm with pain was the first small satisfaction but she had no time enjoying it, so she stood up and ran. Ran along the walls, scanning everything with her hands.

"There has to be something..come on.." she mumbled to herself, her body flooded with one adrenaline flash after another.

Sylvie went to one of the archways, fumbled at it and she finally felt something on her hand..

Desperation became euphoria, as she felt her hand going through..

Except she didn't..

All she felt on her skin now was cold, massive stone.

So she went to the windows, searching for some clue, some exit, some way out of here.

And then all of a sudden a thought hit her like a punch in the gut..

Why didn't Loki stop her?!

She certainly hadn't knocked him unconcious.

And with this thought in mind, she turned, already in denial.

With the picture before her eyes, her heart leapt into her throat. The god sat on the bed, a small trail of blood under his nose, looking at her, not mad, not angry, nothing of that sort..

Just regretful.

He didn't try to stop her because there was no need for that. Sitting there, he had obviously just let her do it, try whatever she wanted to try, waiting patiently, because he already knew it was pointless.

Sylvie let herself sink to the ground, leaning her head against the wall, looking into the distance, tears welling in her eyes.

A few minutes nothing happened, then, through watery eyes, she saw him move.

He crouched down in front of her, "Sylvie, at the moment, there's no way out of this.."

He tried to take her hand but she pushed him away, "I just realized that. Thanks for the confirmation, captain obvious.."

A tear fell down directly to his hand, which now held her chin, turning her head with mild pressure so that she would look at him.

His eyes were soft, but relentless, "I don't want to force you, Sylvie."

She looked him in the eyes, searching for second thoughts, "Then don't..", her voice was just a whisper now, "Why did you settle this? Why couldn't I decide otherwise?"

Loki sighed long and deep, "After you knocked me out, they put you in a room and sedated you..I woke up and you weren't there anymore, so I panicked. I asked to speak with them, and they allowed me.."

Sylvie raised an eyebrow, "What? They let you out?! What did you see?"

He shook his head, "Not much. A large hallway, many doors..and a room full of monitors. On one of them.." he paused, obviously troubled, "..I saw you, lying on a bed..and I witnessed a man coming in, sitting beside you.."

She looked at him in shock, "What? What did he.."

Another quick headshake, "Not that.. he touched your hair, your neck, but he would have..he wanted to..he told me..things he wanted to do to you..I'll spare you the details.."

Sylvie saw his balled fists. The knuckles were already turning white, and there was rage in his eyes.

"..so I pleaded him to stop..that was possible under one condition: When I..sleep with you.."

It was obvious that this wasn't the word the other had used..

"That was no idle threat..I told them you would most likely disagree and said they shouldn't take the deal if you do.."

Sylvie shook her head, "But this wasn't your call, Loki..You saved me in this moment but it wasn't your call to decide for me if I would refuse. Now I'm not unconcious..I don't have my magic, but I'm strong. You're a mage, without my seiðr I can't stand a chance against you at the moment..but they aren't. They're maybe mere mortals..Have you thought about that?! That this could be a way out of this?"

In his eyes she saw disbelief. He shook his head, "I won't take that risk. It's not just one man, Sylvie..at least there are two of them, if not more.."

"Doesn't change the fact that it wasn't your decision to make!!" she said, her voice becoming louder, more furious now, pushing his hand on her chin away.

But he grabbed it again, firmer this time, forcing her head to stay in place.

In his blue eyes there was a firmness, that shocked her to the bone.

"It's settled."

Chapter Text

"It's settled."

The enchantress pressed herself into the wall, as if she could diffuse, melt into it..

Loki stood up, offering her a hand. She looked at it, observing every line..it was a strange construct, wasn't it? Five fingers, so many wrinkles and cells..an odd thing, like everything concerning the body..

"Sylvie.."

Had he called her for the first time now? No, it had to be the third or..

Everything seemed to be coming from far away..

Kind of muffled..

Like having cotton in her ears..

And suddenly she felt arms, one under her knees and one supporting her back. Arms that lifted her off the ground and into the air, easily, as if she was a doll..

She wasn't a doll, was she?

What was happening right now?

The moment her back made contact with the soft mattress, she broke through the surface again.

As she truly realized what was happening, she tried to crawl upwards, away..

But was immediately stopped by his body, caging her.

He put his hands on both sides of her head, holding her in place.

"Stop the fighting, Sylvie..please"

Tears welled up in her eyes, as he stroke her cheek and down her neck and shoulders, trying to relax her muscles. The soft kiss he placed on her forehead made her flinch.

"Don't make this harder than it already is."

She tried to push him away again, to lift her upper body, but he cut off every resisting movement, causing her to whine in frustration.

The god looked into her eyes, "I told you this doesn't have to be like this.."

"And I told you I don't want this to be at all!" Sylvie snapped, fending him off.

What happened next caught her completely off guard..

With one bold and quick move Loki took both of her wrists in one hand and shoved it over her head, causing her to wide her eyes in surprise. She tried to free them, but he held them in an iron grip.

"Do we trust each other?"

"We do..and you can"

There was that determination in his blue eyes again that scared her to the bone, "This is the last time I say this, Sylvie. I don't want to restrain you, I want that you're able to wrap your arms around me, to hold onto me. But if you won't stop the fighting, you leave me no other choice.."

His harsh warning resulted in her stopping the writhing for once and his gaze softened.

"I now this is hard but try to feel, Sylvie.."

She felt his breath against the sensitive spot behind her ear, as he held her hair away to place kisses down her neck.

"But this doesn't feel right, Loki.." the enchantress complained, her voice barely a whisper.

"Then you have to pretend," he stated, looking at her with an understanding gaze, "I've got you."

He stroked down her side with one hand, with the other he ran his fingers through her hair.

The sensation caused her to let out a small moan and it encouraged him to do it again, obviously thankful for her reaction.

"I'll make you feel good, I promise."

But she didn't want him to make her feel good, all of this felt so wrong..

Sylvie was attracted to this man, she was..it wasn't that she had never thought about having sex with him. Kissing him for the first time in the citadel had caused an outburst of emotion..

She had a deep affection for him, maybe even more than that..

But this was something else entirely.

This was abuse..

And she felt like prey..

When she realized he was tugging at her top, she panicked completely.

She bit down on his arm, crawled out from under his arms and rolled away from him.

In that moment they heard an all too familiar sound, "Time's running out, Casanova. Better get her laid in the next 30 minutes or we will. And believe me, it'll be a feast!"

A shattering cry filled the air, as Sylvie felt her hands being abruptly pulled together by an invisible force. Pushed onto her back again, her arms were shoved above her head, magic slings wrapping around her wrists.

"No, Loki..please.."

"I'm sorry, I have to.." the god whispered.

With one twist of his hand and an apologetic gaze, her top vanished into thin air.

"Loki.." Sylvie started, her voice drenched in a wild mixture of emotions that she wasn't even able to assign herself.

Her mind screamed for her to do something, anything..

"Shhh," he soothed her, kissing some tears away which ran down her cheek.

Adrenaline constantly rushed through her veins. It was like her mind realizing every few seconds anew what was happening.

It was a cruel, nightmarish loop..

"Loki, please, let me go.." she pleaded, "..this isn't right and you know that..I don't want this.."

Even if she was still covered with her bra, she felt completely naked, exposed.

In over a thousand years and countless apocalypses no man had ever managed to force her out of her armor. Many had tried..the fear and certainty of death often brought forth the most disgusting sides of humanity..

She had successfully fought off some really repulsive guys in the most ugly and dirty places..

And now she would fall victim to the one man she had slowly and against all senses and her very nature started to trust deeply.

In a beautifully draped and soft bed in an illusion of Asgard, her birthplace. That one place she had felt safe and sound before she was ripped away.

What fucked up irony of fate that was..

"How do I know that in the final moments you won't betray me?"

As she began to shiver, the god pulled the blanket over them. The scent of fresh laundry filled her nostrils and the soft fabric embraced their bodies.

That didn't stop the shivering..

Sylvie noticed his eyes roaming over her body. And over the cuts he had created with his dagger. She flinched, as his fingers came across them, partly covered in fresh wound crusts now.

"Shh, I'm not going to hurt you."

The irony of his words was shattering..

He traced them gently, looking absent-minded for a long moment.

"They'll heal..everything will heal," he said, obviously believing his own words.

No, it won't, Loki..

As he slid one hand between her body and the mattress, searching for the bra catch, Sylvie shook her head, pleading, "Please don't.."

Maybe it was odd, but she just didn't want him to take that away from her, too..

The need to maintain some sort of protection..

Her own decision..

One small piece of free will..

An illusion of control..

He seemed to consider but ultimatively nodded in agreement, slowly sliding his hand down her side, past her stomach, coming to a halt just above her center.

She tried to press her legs together and as he pushed them slowly apart with one of his knees and another kiss on her forehead, a flashback of their fight at the citadel came to her mind.

He had a certain way of gently orchestrating people in the exact place where he wanted them.

And she hated this manipulative side of him..

She could be manipulative, too. But the big difference between her and her male counterpart was that she had needed it, used it to survive.

For Loki the world had always been one big playground.

And the people in it his puppets..

Part of her wanted him to be brutal, to just force her into submission. Not with greasy words and maddening gentleness, but with roughness and his actual physical superiority in this situation.

Would make it a lot easier to hate him afterwards..

She knew his lack of violence wasn't just because he didn't want to hurt her..a part of it was. Maybe even the major part of it.

But part of him just couldn't stand the shame.

Sylvie cursed herself and the situation because she couldn't even make it any harder for him. Her body was weakened and she wasn't able to use her magic..

And the fact that he could lull himself into this safety made her sick..

As he forced her legs apart, a new wave of panic flooded her. She tried to lift her head, but a firm hand in her hair held her in place.

"Loki, please..I'm not ready. I don't want.."

But in that moment he had already moved his hand further down, finding the sensitive, warm place between her legs.

The intimate touch made Sylvie arch her back, moaning, completely overloaded, overwhelmed..

He tugged at her pants, slowly sliding them down over her hipbones.

She tried again to wriggle away from his touch, "Loki, for god's sake..look at me!!"

Her loud voice finally made him look into her eyes..truly look into her eyes..and she saw realization hitting him hard.

Becoming clearly aware of how scared she was..

"You're not with me..you're on some strange ego trip of your own!!..you're locking me out, babbling empty phrases into my ear..but I'm not some subject to overpower..you're about to rape me, Loki!!"

Taken aback by her words, he let go of her and for the first time since this started, she saw tears welling up in his eyes.

After a long pause he spoke, his voice a mixture of agony, fear and determination.

"Sylvie, I swear we're find out who's behind this and we're bringing them down. But now is not the right moment..you didn't see him, heard the things he said.."

"But you're overrunning me..I can't breathe.."

Loki stroked her cheek, removing a tear with his thumb and shook his head, "I can't lose you, Sylvie. You'll be safe..I'll make sure of it!"

"I won't let you down"

She knew he would overpower her either way, but to be restraint like this in this moment was worse than torture.

"Could you..remove them..please.." Sylvie looked into the blue eyes of her counterpart with a pleading gaze. She couldn't stand her own begging anymore but she had to get them off.

If nothing else, at least that..

He knitted his brows and sighed deep, "Can you promise me to stop the fighting?"

She wanted to scream at him who the hell he thought he was to ask a question like this.

But she just nodded..

And a second later the bonds were gone. One little piece of her body was free..

Sylvie sobbed as he pulled her trousers down, together with her panties.

He looked at her as if he waited for her consent, before sliding his hand down, stroking along her thighs, her hips, slowly moving in the direction of her heat.

In that moment she saw his already slightly dilated pupils.

So how's pretending working out for you, Loki?

One hand caressing her lower body, the other taking one of hers, intertwining their fingers.

"I'm going to make up for this, Sylvie..I promise.."

His voice was breaking, so maybe he finally realized this wasn't right.

But that didn't change anything..

As he gently touched her slit, Sylvie catched her breath and buried her head half in the pillow, half in his shoulder.

At this point she wasn't even sure why she was searching for comfort in his arms and she felt gulity for it..

She should try to fight him off again and again.

But the fear of being tied up again and her fruitless attempts to end this madness stopped her.

And the greatest tragedy in this was the fact that a part of her slowly began to accept her fate..

As Lokis fingers found her clit, the sudden sensation made her moan, sending shivers down her spine. He gently circled it, lowered his head, whispering in her ear,  "Do you want me to.."

It was obvious what he wanted to ask and there was no way she would want this, so she shook her head forcefully, burying her head deeper into his shoulder.

"Okay," he said, accepting this one little plea.

The next thing she felt was a strange coldness between her legs, which made her jump.

He grabbed her hips to hold her in place.

"I'm going to.."

"Just do what you think you have to do.." she cut him off with hurt and despair in her voice, letting her tears flow freely down her face, onto the pillow and onto his chest.

Sylvie stilled, holding her breath, as he slowly slid one finger inside her.

And in that very moment she ultimatively felt something inside her break.

Something that had been whole for over a thousand years.

He lubricated her, one hand between her legs, the other placed on her lower belly, holding her in place, as her body tried to escape the intrusion.

She was tense and everything inside her screamed to just make this stop..

"Try to relax.." he encouraged her gently but his voice sounded thick and deep.

Gently pumping in and out, his finger was soon joined by a second one.

She heard a quiet moan escaping his lips, even though she was sure he tried to hide it.

Her body reacted to his touch, too..of course it did..all she hoped was that he didn't mistake it for some sort of pleasure..

Because she felt sick to the bone.

She wanted to throw up then and there, turn her inside out, leaving nothing behind but an empty shell.

One that couldn't get hurt..

It took her great effort to concentrate on breathing and not fainting away.

And perhaps in this moment she wouldn't even mind if she did.

Faint away..

Or stop breathing..

Just for a second.

Make it all go away..

Never had she wanted to be a kid again..

Not until now.

Tucked into her own bed on Asgard.

Loved and cared for..

Innocent..

Safe..

A metal click pulled her brutally back to reality.

The buckle of his belt..

This simple sound, in another context neutral or maybe even arousing, instantly froze her whole body, her mind, the blood in her veins..

Sylvie whimpered, looking with a pleading expression into his eyes.

In nightmares you usually wake up before the monster gets you.

Could someone just wake her up already..

Removing the belt and slowly slipping out of his pants, her breath became uneasy, as he placed himself above her, and now she could clearly feel his hardness pressing into her thigh..

He supported himself on his arms, careful not to put his full weight on her. Moving a sweaty strand away from her face the god caressed her soft skin with his thumb.

"I promise I'll be gentle."

As he took himself in hand and positioned at her entrance a new wave of tears flooded her eyes and she knew that this was the point of no return..

He wouldn't let her go.

And beyond the agony, the shame and the apology, the fear of hurting and betraying her, she saw that little sign of lust in his blue eyes, that made her sick.

It was undeniable.

It was unbearable..

"Everything will be alright, Sylvie."

No, she had been wrong.

She could hate him just fine afterwards. His words made her sick to the core..

"No it won't and I know deep down you know it..Just get it over with, Loki."

They shared one last look and the one thing that gave her some sort of easement in this mad situation was that he was there.

He was there, looking into her eyes. She made sure he saw it all..saw the trust this shattered, the desperation, the whole extent of the destruction..

The betrayal..

The moment he entered her was the moment she submerged.

Hands holding her face..

Thrust

A sharp pain, breaking through tight muscles..

Thrust

Soothing words lulling her..

Thrust

Tears falling down on her face..

Thrust

Movements getting faster and harder..

Thrust

Her own cries echoing in her head..

Thrust

Heavy breathing..

Thrust

Hands digging into the mattress..

Thrust

A last hard bump..

Thrust

Her name on his lips..

Sylvie

An apology..

I'm sorry..I'm sorry..I'm sorry..

She was floating..

Or drowning..

Or maybe it was all the same..

Somewhere a door opened.

Another one closed.

Maybe forever.

Chapter Text

"Sylvie!!"

He sat before the bed, looking into her eyes, his hand on her shoulder.

She wasn't unconscious, her eyes were open, she blinked, slowly, regularly..

"Sylvie, can you hear me?"

She didn't move, not even a finger, just staring with blank eyes into nothing.

The moment it was done, he got off of her, quickly pulling his trousers back up. Sitting on the edge of the bed for a long moment, taking deep breaths. Waiting for his system to settle back to normal.

The hormones to abate..

When he t urned his head again the picture before his eyes shocked him to the core.

Sylvie, still lying on her back, one strap of her bra half slipped down her shoulder, her hair messy, her eyes swollen and watery.

Loki pressed his hand to his mouth, staring at her.

Paralysed, unbelieving..

Her shivering body brought him back to reality.

Twisting his hand, putting her clothes back on with magic, covering her up with the blanket. A moment later the hatch opened and a bottle was pushed through.

The poison that would take his powers away.

He held it in his hands and was just about to throw it against the wall, unwilling to obey, when he heard the familiar sound.

"You should think carefully before doing that, Loki. You might not like the echo.."

Clenching his teeth the god drank it reluctantly, l etting the empty bottle fall to the ground..

And now he was sitting here, on the floor beside her, trying to reach her, make her look at him..

But she was gone.

"Sometimes we have to do things that hurt someone, to prevent worse things to happen."

But if this was the right thing to do..

..why did it feel so wrong?

He took her hand in his, it was cold. She didn't protest, didn't move a finger, didn't try to withdraw it from him.

Didn't react at all.

As she blinked, a single tear fell down, past her cheek, coming to a halt on her bottom lip. The gods eyes followed it absent-minded, catching it with his thumb, gently stroking the soft skin of her lips.

So many tears..

"Sylvie, I'm sorry.."

His voice was quiet, breaking, but still thick and deep with emotion.

Hypocrite..

A moment later a door opened and two of the masked men came into the room, walking over to him and Sylvie. He held her hand even tighter and didn't move.

They wouldn't take her away from him..

"Step aside, Variant."

One of them tried to get him out of the way, while the other went directly to Sylvie, shaking her forcibly, "Time to get up, princess."

This was wrong..no one should touch her like this, especially not in the state she was in.

Powerless, wounded, vulnerable..

"Stop this, you're hurting her!!" Loki shouted, standing up, trying to shove the man away.

The other catched him, twisted his arms behind his back.

All he could do was watch with horror, while the masked man shook and pulled at her with increasing force, snapping his fingers in front of her face.

"She's dissociated"

"What do you mean by that?!" the god asked anxious, his gaze fixated on Sylvies eyes, that were continuously staring into nothing.

"That's a trauma reaction. Her mind disconnected from her body."

Lokis eyes widened in shock, while the other behind him chuckled and pat him on the back, "Means you did a great job."

That was enough to push the god over the edge.

Boiling with rage he pulled his arms free, turned and punched the man in the guts, causing him to stumble backwards. As he was about to swing at him a second time, something hard hit him across the chest and again in the back of his knees, which brought him brutally down to the ground.

Facing a stick which wasn't dissimilar to the pruning sticks of the TVA but without the glowing end, he was pushed against the wall.

"Another wrong move and your princess here will be our entertainment tonight. Let's see how many cocks she can handle."

Lokis hands were shaking, pure hate in his eyes, but he forced himself to stand down. The other had put one arm under the enchantress' knees and one at her back.

The same way he had taken her to the bed..

They shouldn't take her away..

He should be with her..

"Can't you leave her here?"

He chuckled, "No, we can't. Besides, I think you're the last person she wants to see when she..wakes..from her condition."

Loki shook his head, his voice was pleading now, "Please, she shouldn't be alone now.. I want to be there when she wakes."

Ignoring him, the man was already walking towards the door, Sylvies limp body in his arms, "You've done your part for today, Casanova."

And with that they were gone.

A few moments later he god watched as the illusion started to fall apart, ultimately realizing where they had been the whole time.

It was his cell.

They had transformed his cell into an illusion of Asgard. And now the archways, the windows, the bed, the colors..it all slowly faded away.

Sighing deep, he felt an odd sensation on his hands.

A small trail of blood.

As if in trance, he looked and turned them, observing the now dried fluid.

Following a strange intuition, the god fumbled at his pants, already anticipating the worst..but seeing it hit him like no punch in the face ever could.

He wished it was the punch though.

Instead he saw the source of it.

Blood in his pants.

And it wasn't his own..

That was the moment Loki collapsed on the ground.

Everything crashing down on him..

That was when the tears came..

He had done that one thing he had sworn to himself he would never do.

"All I know is that I don't wanna hurt you"

He watched as they brought her back to her cell, laying her down on the bed and in that moment all evidence that she was alive was the small rise and fall of her chest, barely recognizable.

He leaned against the glass wall that separated their cells, his eyes on her the whole time.

Scared that if he averted them for a second too long she would simply stop breathing or just disappear..

The need to be with her right now was overwhelming.

He wanted to lie down behind her, press her body against his chest, hold her while she cried her heart out, tell her that everything would be okay..that she'll be okay, that this all will come to an end eventually..

And he wanted her to be there to watch it.

Tell her that no one would ever hurt her.

He wouldn't allow it.

But he had..

"Loki, please..I'm not ready.."

The god buried his face in his hands.

Flashbacks of her trembling body beneath him flooded his mind. He could literally feel her body shaking like it was happening again right now. The things he didn't catch in that moments manifested themselves now crystal clear before his eyes.

Trembling hands trying to fight him off.

Fruitless attempts to close her legs.

Her pleading and begging..

And the worst..

The expression in her eyes.

The agony, the pain, the fear..

She was scared..

..of him

Screaming loudlessly into himself, clenching his fists.

Those beautiful green eyes, usually full of fire, pure confidence, a source of never breaking conviction..

Completely overshadowed with fear.

"But you're overrunning me..I can't breathe.."

And then all of a sudden Sylvie moved.

Obviously waking up from the state she was in, Loki watched as she sat up on the bed. He took a deep breath, encouraged himself, knocking at the glass, trying to get her attention.

She could hear him, he saw it.

Saw her wince and her breathing increase.

But she didn't turn her head.

Instead he witnessed her upper body move as if she had convulsions, her eyes widen and suddenly the enchantress jumped off the bed, quickly heading towards the toilet in one corner of the room..

Throwing up.

Again and again..

Sighing with utter frustration, the god pressed his forehead against the glass.

She shouldn't go through this alone..

Please let me be there for you, Sylvie..

He wanted the glass to break under the pressure of his hands..wanted to go to her, hold her hair, massage her tense shoulders..

When she was done, the goddess sat on the ground, huddled up against a wall, far away from him.

Wrapping herself up in her cape.

And from that moment on she was out of reach.

Loki threw his head back, groaning deep and went to the plain washing table that he had in his cell, turning the water tap on.

It was slightly brown, dirty, but it didn't matter. He held his hands under it, splashing the cold water in his face.

Trying to clear his mind.

As he unbuckled his belt, hearing the metal click..a memory of her flinching came to his mind. The pleading expression in her eyes as he had climbed on top of her.

The silent plea to stop.

And what he cursed the most was that little something in him, that small part, that tiny bit..

..that craved her.

Craved for her touch, her little moans as he had massaged her head..her petite body, that perfect shape, her red, trembling lips..

The warmth of her.

The small responses she had given him when he had fingered her..

How tight and warm she had felt around him.

Hitting the washing table with his fists, the god nearly crashed the whole thing.

Monster..

He held his head under the ice cold water.

As if it could wash away all the memories..

All the pain..

All the sins.

The cape was her safe haven now, wrapped around her, the fabric and her own scent giving her a comforting feeling.

His scent was still everywhere, on her skin, in her nose..

Spread out into her system.

They say that scent and affection for a person goes hand in hand.

His was a mixture of musk and leather, but with a fresh undertone and of course there was the wax he used for his hair. His unique body scent..

She really liked the way he smelled..

But now only thinking of it made her sick.

Sylvie knew he was watching her..of course he was. She didn't need to see it, she felt his gaze upon her.

She knew exactly what he wanted to tell her..it was like a broken record.

"I'm sorry..I'm sorry..I'm sorry.."

He shouldn't even have the right to say anything to her.

But he wouldn't shut up.

Because he couldn't..

She even believed him..she should have known..

"What was I thinking trusting you?"

Leopards never change their spots.

He had done what he always did..

What he did in the citadel.

No matter what, if the stakes were just high enough Loki Laufeyson would forget everything that he had promised.

One step forward..

Two steps back..

Then it was all about him deciding whatever he thought was the right thing to do.

And he knew damn well that it was the one thing that was precious to her after running her entire life..

Her own free will..

After a thousand years of hide and seek and ultimatively discovering that even this had been a giant scam of one madman playing them like pawns in his own sick chess game.

All she ever wanted was to be free.

Free to make her own decisions.

Free to make her own mistakes.

Even if it meant to walk into her demise. But she would walk into it standing tall, her sword in hand, going down like the fighter she was.

And he had undermined it.

Again..

In the worst way possible.

Satisfying his twisted idea of protecting her.

He understood nothing.

As her body began to tremble again, she wrapped herself even tighter into the cape, rocking back and forth. It was an odd thing to do, but it calmed her..helping to feel herself.

Because otherwise all she felt was him.

Their back and forth, talking and fighting, hurting and healing..it all had come to an ultimate climax..

A climax..

His heavy breathing..

His hands beside her, grabbing the bedding..

The pain when he almost lost control completely with the last hard thrusts..

Her name on his lips as he climaxed..

Her body was shaken up with another wave of nausea, goosebumps all over her skin..but she couldn't throw up anymore.

Not another time..everything was already sore.

Her throat was burning..

From crying, from throwing up, then crying again..

The enchantress had lived for over a thousand years now and she was almost sure she never cried this much in her entire life.

A blanket wrapped around her..

"Sylvie, can you hear me?"

Footsteps..

Masked faces..

Someone snapping in front of her face.

"She's dissociated"

Arms under hers, lifting her up..

"..you did a great job."

Loki lunging at one of them..beaten down to the ground.

Arms carrying her away..

"Back to your cell princess.."

And now she was sitting on the ground, snuggling herself in her cape and that's where she would stay..

Couldn't lie in a damn bed..

With all the false comfort, the false safety..

It was all false, fake..

"Do we trust each other?"

"We do and you can"

Well, thanks for nothing, Variant..

In that moment she heard the familiar cracking, some rumbling sounds..

..and then a voice..

"Hello?"

Sylvie lifted her head under the hood, all ears now.

That was no men speaking. It was a womans voice..And certainly not the one of this sadistic clock bitch.

"Is there..someone?"

It was just a whisper, she sounded scared, unsure..

"Who's there?" the goddess asked, her heart leapt into her throat, her hands shaking. A long moment nothing happened and Sylvies fear increased that the woman wasn't there anymore.

Maybe it was all just an imagination?

A trick of her mind..

And then she heard the voice again.

"I'm Emily..wh..who are you?"

As excited as she was, Sylvie couldn't hold back the smile that formed on her lips.

"I'm Sylvie. Where are you? Do you..do you know what this place is?"

She wasn't alone. They weren't the only ones here.

She wasn't alone..

"I..I'm in a cell. They are..they torture me. I'm..I don't know where I am..are you for real?"

Sylvie laughed with relief, "Yes! I'm here. I'm here in another cell.."

There had to be a malfunction of the system. A not intended connection between two cells.

Suddenly there was heavy breathing and the womans voice was drenched in fear when she spoke again, "They're coming..oh god..I can hear them..please help me.."

And then the goddess heard footsteps and a slapping sound,
a sharp cry, other, male voices..

Then it was over.

Silence.

Until there wasn't..

Until she heard footsteps.

Coming to a halt before her own cell.

Chapter Text

She always wanted to have a sister.

Or a dragon..

Or at least a cat..

But fate had it otherwise so she was blessed with a big brother.

A blonde, noisy, irritating, big brother.

Most of the time he was a big brotherly pain in the ass..

And when he was ill he was at his worst.

He could be such a baby, all whiney and annoying and everytime he was sick she gave him a wide berth, avoiding him like the plague..and the way he acted it was almost as if he got it for real.

In this moments the wish to secretly replace him with a sister..or a cat..was at its greatest.

She even fantasized about casting a spell on him once (or on her parents) so that they wouldn't notice..but her magic was still in the early stages of development at this time.

So it seemed she was stuck with him and had no other choice than to avoid his whiney being at any cost.

But this time was different..

So bad that they feared of losing him.

He was highly feverish, his skin sweaty and paler than the throne of her father was golden. Their parents had sent for all sorts of healers, no effort was spared.

For three days she had refused to leave his bed and his side now, barking at everyone who tried to take her away from him.

"You have to sleep, Loki. It doesn't do him any good when you die of sleep deficit..Your brother won't pass away when you rest for a few hours."

But everyone knew it wasn't true..the possibility of him passing away hung over the palace like the sword of Damocles.

And she had always been able to tell when someone was lying to her..

"But he needs me!" she insisted.

Their last option was a specialist of Midgard, who her parents had summoned against all the rules.

After all, he was a prince of Asgard, maybe even the heir to the throne..

The moment the doctor stepped into his room, Thor became anxious and grabbed her hand..

A door was opened, her heart pounding in her chest like hell..

"Can you stay with me, please?"

And so she held his hand.

Like she did for five whole days now.

Hands at either side of her, grabbing her under the arms, pulling her up violently.

Forcing her out of her cape..

Abandon her safe haven.

Sylvie had no idea how she mustered the energy, but she managed to wriggle herself out of their grip, kicking one of them in the guts, punching him in the face, while biting the others arm.

She paid the penalty for that a second later.

First she felt something touch her arm, and then it all happened very fast.

It felt like all her muscles were flexing and cramping up all at once, her body shaken up, like lightning shooting through her whole body, from hair tips to toes.

Within a few seconds her body collapsed to the ground.

Holding his sweaty hand in hers, looking into his glazed eyes.. she had just one wish..

Please heal him.

Let him live..

Her body pushed onto something hard.

Blurred vision..

A large hallway, flickering lights at a ceiling.

"Can you stay with me, Loki? I promise I won't steal your ship again!!"

The wooden viking ship Odin had built for her.

She loved this ship..unfortunately her brother loved it, too. Or he was just envious..maybe a bit of both.

He would do it again anyway, couldn't help himself..

But it didn't matter at the moment.

Dizziness..

Heavy eyes, hard to keep them open..

Sylvie looked at the ceiling, as they pushed her through the hallway.

She saw the wooden ship, swimming across the bare walls, the white-orange sails hoisted high.

Proud, majestatic..

Crystal clear before her eyes.

The last moment before her eyelids closed again, she saw the hand of her brother, searching for hers..

The doctor drawing up a syringe.

"With some luck, this will cure you," he said with an assuring smile and it was as if somebody had taken a load off her mind.

Thor grabbing her hand tightly.

This time the smile of her brother was the sweetest thing and made her happy beyond all measure.

"Just admit I'm the best sister..AND I'm the stronger one!"

In this moment her heart was as light as a feather..

Another room, harsh light..

A man in a white coat.

"You're the best sister, Lok.."

The doctor stopped his doing, looking up from Thor..

..and directly into her eyes.

"Slept well?"

"What.."

Leather..

The smell of leather..

Something sharp..

Her arm..

Trying to move it..wasn't possible.

Looking to her side, cold shivers ran down her spine.

She was fixated, an injection needle in her arm, a man standing there, observing her with a smile.

"Slept well, Miss Laufeydottir?"

Sylvie panically rattled at the restraints but nothing happened. She lifted her head with all the range of motion that was possible.

Her arms and legs were bound to the examination table, her clothes removed completely.

A white, thin cloth was covering her breasts and privates.

From smoke to smother..

"What..what is happening??"

The man shook his head when he saw her horrified gaze, a slightly amused smile on his face, "Don't worry, my dear, that's not my role. I'm here to look at your wounds and perform..other medical procedures."

The goddess had a lump in her throat, "Where am I..What is this place?!"

She observed the room or what she could see from her awkward angle. It was obvious that this was some sort of laboratory.

White walls, an oppressive sterile atmosphere, a lot of medical equipment..

Her attention was drawn back to the man, who was now attaching a tube to the injection needle and connecting it to an infusion bag on a stand beside her.

Sylvie drew a sharp breath as she saw a yellow fluid slowly flowing through the tube in the direction of her exposed arm and veins.

Trying to fight against the intrusion, she managed to move her hand a bit, switching it, which resulted in the fluid flowing slower and eventually stopped.

The man just smiled mildly and tightened up the restraint, turning her wrist again, stroking her forearm gently.

"It's okay, sweetheart, that's no poison, just some vitamins."

Sylvie could just watch helplessly as the liquid slowly found its way into her vein.

A hand cupped her chin and turned her head from side to side slowly, stroking her hair away, inspecting her like some breeding animal at an exhibition.

"Your body is impressive..even stronger than I thought."

Sylvie studied his face, trying to make sense of this, make sense of him..

He was a bald man, maybe 50 or 60 years old, dressed in a white doctor's coat and behind the glasses his eyes were rather soft. She searched for signs of cruelty, coldness..but more likely she saw curiosity there.

Curiosity with a small hint of something darker.

"Who are you?"

He tapped at the infusion again, making sure that it would flow unhindered.

"I'm Doctor Arden, neurologist and neurosurgeon, specialized in scientific research, more precisely..variant research."

Sylvies eyes widened at the words 'variant research'.

"What.."

A longish metal thing was pulled out of his pocket and Sylvie flinched out of reflex, breathing out in relief as he turned it on, realizing it was just a light.

He held another thing in his hand, a small box. He pushed the button on it, holding it to his mouth.

"Body and mind on high alert..probably owed to recent experiences."

He looked into her eyes one by one, making small sounds of approval, "The information I can give you is limited but what I can say is that we're utterly grateful for the choice you made."

"What do you mean? What choice?!"

The doctor lit up into her ears, "Your decision to free the timeline and unleash the multiverse. Can you open up please?"

He pointed to her mouth, but Sylvie hesistated, which resulted in him stroking her cheek, "I'm not here to cause you pain, darling, I promise."

"Shh, I'm not going to hurt you."

"Yeah, I hear that a lot these days"

She got a small nod but it was obvious he wouldn't let it go so she gave in, opened her mouth and watched him examining it, "It's a little sore. Nothing bad. Alright, let's take a look at the cuts.."

The enchantress flinched as he slowly removed the cloth which covered her breasts.

Leaving her upper body completely exposed.

A small breeze as the fabric was removed left goosebumps behind and probably semi-stiff nipples.

She blushed with embarassment..

The need to cover herself up was overwhelming and him slipping into two examination gloves didn't make it any better.

"Hm.." he mumbled, sitting on a chair, stroking along the cuts similar to the way Loki did, "Some of them are quite deep. I think we better give you some antibiotics..to prevent further damage."

He spoke into the box again, "A few bruises on the upper body, intensity approximately the same as on the wrists.."

Sylvie turned her head to look at one of her hands, but they were covered with the restraints.

She hadn't even noticed the bruises on her wrists..

"..ten cuts in total, some superficial, four of them quite deep, one in particular, already inflammed."

Hearing about this..the actions that were accompanied with so many tears and pain and fear..

..now spoken into a tiny box with monoton rationality was the most absurd thing.

"I'll give her an initial dose of 10mg Penicillin."

Putting away the box, he went to a sideboard, rummaging around and found a small bottle, filling it into the infusion bag. Sylvie looked at him, studying his movements, his facial expressions.

"This might burn a bit. But it'll help with the inflammation."

His smile was mild, warm, his eyes deep, profound..she couldn't really read them, but there was a certain softness in them.

His hand on hers, as if to soothe, to reassure her.

As if he wanted to help..

He did, didn't he?

Only one way to find out.

She had to try..

"You seem like a decent guy.." Sylvie started, her voice quiet, her eyes on him, persuasive, watching every motion in his face closely, "..is there..can you help me get out of here?"

He slowed down his movements and eventually stopped his doing, smiling into himself..before he locked eyes with her.

And this time the gaze and smile she got shocked her to the core.

"Oh no, sweetheart, I think you misinterpret something. There's no way 'out of here'. You're one of our greatest subjects. Demigod, enchantress, one part of a potent variant-couple."

Drowning..

She was drowning..

No ground holding her.

Tears welled up in her eyes.

"You think you're even capable of trusting anyone at all?"

It was all just a manipulation.

An illusion..

Shattered before her eyes.

Again..

He returned to disinfect the cuts, adding some balm on them.

Sylvie sighed deep, turning up the bitterness in her voice again, "What do you mean by 'variant-couple'?! What's your mission in this?"

She wanted to scream so loud that it would shake up the whole multiverse..

"I told you my 'mission' is variant research. I'm afraid I can't tell you more, I'm not authorized to answer these questions."

Sylvie scoffed and arched her back as he came across the deepest of the cuts.

"Seemed he got carried away a bit here.." the doctor said and all of a sudden the memory hit her like lightning..

The dagger in his hand..

A hand holding her down, cold steel making contact with her skin for the first time..

"Stay still, this might hurt"

The doctors hand touching her skin brought her back to the present, relieved as he covered her upper body back up with the fabric..

..only to panic again, as he slowly lifted the part of the cloth that covered her intimate area in exchange.

"No!!" Sylvie yelled, her head shaking.

Another lightning..

A maelstrom pulling her in..

"I'm going to make up for this, Sylvie..I promise.."

His knee pressing her legs apart.

One hand touching her slit, one hand holding her down, a finger slipping inside..

"Do you want me to.."

"No, stop!! Please!!.."

Coming back, looking into knowing eyes.

Nothing had happened.

The doctor was sitting beside her, one hand on her arm.

"Having flashbacks? Yes, they can be pretty nasty. Sometimes even nastier than the real thing."

Her heart pounding like mad, cold sweat on her skin..

Sylvies head moved from side to side, denying, crying.

"You are monsters.."

She saw him knitting his brow, "As far as I'm concerned, I'm a scientist"

The klick of the box again.

"Has vivid flashbacks of recent..interactions.."

Letting her head come to a halt, Sylvie shot him a look with as much disgust as she could manage.

"Yeah, and I'm Santa Clause," she snapped back.

A small, almost honest laugh, "The goddess of pointy remarks.. Glad you got your fire back, I really prefer you like this."

"If that's right, why do you guys do everything to stamp it out?!"

"My dear, we're not going to stamp anything out. We just want to...redirect it," he stroked along her hips, which made her shiver, "Did he hold you down here?"

She felt another memory arise but could successfully push it away this time, "Didn't you watch the great show together with some popcorn and a good glass of wine? Tickets been sold out?"

"I don't watch the subjects like this, Miss Laufeydottir. It's not my job."

"The subjects?! God, I hope you're aware you'll all meet and greet again in hell.."

"This may seem cruel to you from your perspective, but it's all in the service of science."

"Yeah, sure..tell it to the marines.."

When he touched one of her hips firmly, she cried out in pain.

"Yeah, these are some pretty heavy bruises. Strength of a god.."

Sylvie lifted her head and flinched at the picture. Both her hips were colored in a blue-violet shade. And there was something else..

Blood at her thigh.

In an instant her upper body was shaken up with contractions and she began to gag.

The doctor reacted fast, grabbing a bucket nearby, loosened up one of her restaints so that she could turn to her side.

There wasn't much to throw up at all, just bitter bile..

"When we're finished here, you'll get some proper food. It's about time you eat something," he said, stroking the back of her neck.

Carrots and sticks..

Sure, why not..

In this moment a bloodcurdling cry filled the air, directly followed by a slammed door.

A second later their own door burst open and Sylvie jumped as a woman appeared in the doorframe, dressed only in her underwear, long brown hair falling wildly down her shoulders.

She had bruises all over her body and blood was streaming down from one side of her face.

Shaking arms streched out in front of her and in them..

..a gun.

"Open the doors!!"

Recognizing her voice, Sylvie knew in an instant that it was her.

Looking at the woman the goddess felt an aching pain in her heart.

What have they done to you..

The doctor held up his arms in surrender, "Drop the weapon, Emily. Drop the weapon and we talk.."

He spoke with a soothing, understanding voice, but he already looked behind her, and it was obvious that he was stalling for time.

"Open the doors and let us out you shitheads!!"

Despite her condition she stood there in the doorframe like solid stone.

A woman, ready to do anything.

Go to the bitter end..

Her sanity, her soul, her sheer life hanging in the balance.

Sylvie tried to give her a signal, making her see the men behind her.

But the moment she locked eyes with her, Emilys whole body was shaken up, spasming, collapsing to the ground.

Shocked..like they did with her before..

The enchantress watched with wide eyes, as three of the masked men showed up, one of them holding a taser in his hand.

"Apologies, doctor. The situation got out of hand."

"There should be no repeat of this," the doctor reproached, letting his arms sink, looking at the masked figures and then at the woman lying on the ground.

The last twitches ebbing away, she almost looked peaceful, laying on her side, her head on one of her arms like she fell asleep on her desk.

Her long hair draped around her.

"Get her back and when they're finished, bring her to me."

Sylvies hair standing on end at his tone.

If there was something colder than ice, that would be it.

They lifted her off the ground and one of them pulled her into his arms and carried her away.

"What an unpleasant disturbance," the doctor said, shaking his head, "Where were we? Ah, yes, the blood..nothing serious, just some mucosal bleeding. I guess it's been awhile since you had the last sexual intercourse?"

The box, the click, the monoton voice..

"Heavy bruises on the hips, assumably from holding her down, an insignificant mucosal bleeding caused by the sexual act.."

The casual way he asked her and talked it into his box made Sylvie want to spit in his face then and there.

And made her question humanity itself.

Sylvie looked at him closely, her eyes squinted, "As far as I remember, the last sexual intercourse was consensual."

He watered a cloth, holding it at her tigh, making her flinch in response, "Well, you're right basically, but I wouldn't cast all the blame on him. Trust me, the alternative would have been far worse."

"That's not the point.." Sylvie shot back.

"I don't think Mister Laufeyson caused you this amount of pain on purpose and he's hardly the only one who would've made this decision in consideration of the pressure that was put on him."

"You don't know him.." the enchantress scoffed bitterly, "..and you don't know me."

There was that strange mild, almost understanding expression in his eyes again, "A thousand years on the run, forced to play hide and seek, left you deeply traumatised and highly sensitive for the slightest abuse of your maturity and your freedom. But you forget one thing, Miss Laufeydottir.."

He cleaned her thigh with an outrageous calmness, smiling down at her, "..your stubborn refuse to vary from your naive perception of free will paved the road for a lot of suffering. And maybe, if other people would have had a say in this, a not negligible part of them would have freely chosen safety over the chaos of a multiverse.."

She just looked at him in disbelief as he washed the blood out of the cloth, covering her up again.

"But like I said, we're thankful for your decision..You presented us with a bouquet of possibilities. Without you," he emphasized, "none of this would be possible."

The sickness that came with this statement was different and this time she couldn't throw up.

There was just this bitter taste in her mouth..

"And now, let's get you ready and some food into you. I hope you like lasagne."

Chapter Text

She forced herself to take a few bites, concentrating on every single one to keep it down. It wasn't half as bad as she imagined it to be, but it felt off to eat something nourishing after all these days and her stomach wasn't used to it anymore.

But nonetheless is was good to eat something.

The closest thing to peace she got these days..

They hadn't taken her to her cell, it was another room, no glass walls, no plank beds.

Just three tables and a bunch of chairs.

Sylvie sat in one of them, one leg pulled up, knee under her chin, forcing the fork to her mouth, one small bite after another. On the other side of the table there was another plate and although trying to ignore it, she didn't have to guess twice whom it was meant for.

She flinched as she heard the door open behind her and even more, as she recognized the paze, the way the feet hit the ground..

His unique way of walking.

Huddling into herself even more, she remained seated, fighting against the impulse to stand up, against the urge to run away.

She was no hunted deer and she wouldn't act like one.

Didn't change the fact that it was exactly what everything inside her screamed to do..

"Sylvie..thank god you're okay!!"

Her name on his lips catapulted her back and the might of it forced her to hold onto the table to ground herself, as the fully fleshed out memory hit her.

"I'm going to make up for this, Sylvie..I promise.."

"Everything will be alright, Sylvie."

From the corner of her eye she saw him move in her direction, but stopped his attempt with a hand gesture.

"Don't you dare touching me!"

When the flashback was over, she took a deep breath, returning to the already half cold meal before her.

Even though the appetite she might have had vanished into thin air..

He just stood there, a few feet away from the table, unmoving.

It made her even more nervous.

"Come on, have a seat..I suppose you do it either way, regardless of what I say.."

She didn't look up, but heard that he sat down across from her.

There was silence for a long moment, before he broke it.

"How are you?"

His overly tender voice and the question itself felt completely absurd and out of place, even if he sounded insecure and deeply worried.

"What do you think?" Sylvie asked through clenched teeth, not looking up from her lasagne.

"Listen, Sylvie.."

She shook her head with force, her hand and the fork in it trembling.

"No, no, no!! I'm not going to listen to another 'Listen, Sylvie' pep talk."

A deep sigh, another moment of silence, the handle of the fork already leaving marks in the flesh of her hand.

Maybe it wasn't the best idea to give her a weapon..

"Sylvie, I'm sorry.."

She hissed at that, shaking her head.

"You keep repeating that.."

"It's true. I never wanted to hurt you," he said and the fact that it sounded so raw and honest made her want to scream, "I never wanted to.."

"..rape me," she finished his sentence and looked him in the eyes.

For the first time since it happened..

Spelling it out loud was as difficult as it was to maintain eye contact, but no one looked away.

"I didn't want you to get hurt.."

"Oh for god's sake, change the record, Loki. It's broken.."

It was.

But not only the record..

Looking into his eyes was a strange experience. She had feared it, presumed it might cause the most vivid flashback, but it didn't.

It felt unreal, somehow like when you recognize somebody but are unable to associate this person to something.

"Sylvie, please, I just want to talk. You know the last thing I want is to cause you pain.."

She laughed at that, "Seriously Loki?! You think I buy this after what you did to me?"

The enchantress lifted her shirt at the arms a little, exposing her wrists and the dark marks around them.

"I suppose that's bad luck then, right? Because the Loki I knew said he would never hurt me."

She spat the words at him, her eyes full of pain and anger.

So much about eating something in peace..

Her breathing was heavy, her body shaking.

"Explain to me why the man I trusted did this to me?! Do you wanna see the other marks he never intended to do, because he assured that he will keep me save. That everything's gonna be alright.."

The god sighed deep, but his jaw was set firmly, "I did what I had to do. You really expect me to watch you getting violated by a bunch of strangers, probably even watch them kill you?!"

His voice had become louder, angry..

In one quick move Sylvie stabbed the fork beside her meal into the table, her eyes squinted, her heart racing.

"Did it ever occur to your brilliant mind, that all of this might be a big scam?! They obviously want something from us and if they intended to gang rape me they would've done it already. They use us for something and you keep playing to their conditions. Didn't need much to get the trickster tricked.."

He hissed, seemingly offended, his expression the same that he had at the citadel when she had asked him if all of this had been a con.

"No, you're right..I suppose it doesn't need much..just threaten the woman I lo..I care about!!"

Sylvie drew a sharp breath, not sure if she could trust her ears.

Both of them had leaned forward during their heated debate, their faces only inches away from each other now.

The only thing that broke the silence was their heavy breathing.

Until..

"Hey y'all!"

This was situational comedy at its best.

And she just had to laugh.

Because tears were sold out..

Miss Minutes seemed to be irritated for a moment at Sylvies reaction, but quickly found her usual lovely-at-the-surface but sadistic-to-the-core expression again.

"Great to see you in such a great mood, Missy."

"Wish I could say the same about you," Sylvie said, "No, wait..wish I could give you a body just so that I can beat that fake, self-satisfied grin off your face."

The clock chuckled and tsked her, "You didn't eat up, darling.."

"Lost my appetite..together with my faith in humanity," Sylvie stated, shooting a glance at Loki and then back to the maniac clock.

"So much bitterness..but I really think you should eat up, because there's something you need to see and you might want to have something in your stomach before you do."

The moment the clock finished her last sentence, the wall in front of them began to glimmer in a strange light and a second later it slowly started to crumble down, bit by bit revealing another room beside them.

The goddess pressed her hand to her mouth in shock, as she saw the other woman, Emily, lying on an examination table, similar to the one she had been forced onto.

Only that she was completely naked and not only her arms and legs were fixated, but her neck and head, too.

A moment later Dr. Arden entered the room, his appearance instantly sending goosebumps down Sylvies spine.

"Who's that?" Loki asked, watching the scene before him with wide eyes.

"You know him, don't you, Missy?" the orange menace questioned, addressed to Sylvie.

"He examined me before," the goddess answered.

"Did he hurt you?"

Lokis question fell on deaf ears because his concern about her wellbeing was so ridiculously ironic and also she wasn't able to avert her eyes from the other woman and the horrified expression in her face.

A second later the intercom in the corner of the room cracked.

First they could only see them, but now they could hear them, too.

"Hello Emily"

As far as she could see, the womans eyes were swollen, dark circles around them.

"What do you want from me? Why don't you just kill me.."

Her voice was a mixture of hate, pain and disgust, but basically there was a plea..

A plea to end it.

To end her..

Sylvie thought about the moment the door was slammed open and the brunette woman stood in the doorframe, bruised and messy, desperate and determined.

But now the expression on her face was different.

Reduced to her rudimentary self..

Willing to die..

The doctor stood beside her now, his hand caressing her hair, "We don't want to kill you, Emily. But you did something very stupid. Your attack on one of our guards nearly got the poor man killed. We can't have this kind of insubordination here. I think you'll understand."

On one side of the cell where Emily and the doctor were, another illusion slowly crumbled down like theirs before, revealing another glass wall.

And on the other side of it stood a woman, who just realized the illusion drop, now going to the wall, knocking against it.

"They're variants of each other," Miss Minutes explained, as if it was the most natural thing to say.

Loki looked at the clock with knitted brows and probably a ton of questions in his mind, but Sylvie just nodded slowly.

"He told me.." the enchantress whispered absent-minded, "..variant research"

"What does that mean?!" the god asked but got no answer.

"I'll help you understand," they heard the doctor say, before he pulled out a gag, putting it in Emilys mouth, fixating it behind her head, while she tried to fight him off.

But it was a fruitless attempt with her whole body bound to the table.

The next thing he held in his hands looked like big headphones, but with white pads on each side.

He didn't put it on her ears.

But at her temples.

The moment Sylvie realized what it was she stumbled backwards.

During ecountering different people through so many ages she remembered one talking about psychotherapy, or at least what they used to believe in for many years..

But clearly and basically it was a torture device.

Judging by Lokis facial expression, he knew it, too.

"Stop this.." Sylvie whispered, her eyes locked on the fixated woman, and then again much louder, "Stop this!!"

Her words echoed on the walls of their cell, but no one outside this room reacted to it.

"They can't hear or see you, silly. This show's exclusively for you," Miss Minutes stated and the goddess saw the most delightful expression in the clocks face.

The headpiece had a cabel attached and now she saw the instrument to which it was connected.

"Don't worry dear, we'll get you tamed," the doctor said, again stroking her head, moving a strand of hair away.

"We need her a little..tamed."

The memory of their first contact with them and the menacing foreshadowing imposed on her, sending shivers down her spine.

She shot a hasty glance at Loki and it was as if he remembered the same thing, because their eyes locked for a brief moment, before Sylvie concentrated on the scene before them again.

They couldn't hear her, but the enchantress heard everything from the other two rooms, including the woman behind the other wall..

..who was now desperately knocking on the glass, going back and forth, screaming her lungs out.

Emilys wide eyes were full of tears, as Dr. Arden started the device.

"This might help you recollect yourself."

One fraction of a second later they heard the most devastating sound and Sylvie jumped as Emilys entire body arched up in an instant.

Hands and feet shaking uncontrollably.

Every muscle cramping at the same time.

Falling back to the table like a bag of flour..

The moment it happened the woman on the glass screamed so deafening loud, that the sound transmission cracked for a few seconds.

Sylvie witnessed the whole scene with her hand pressed to her mouth.

It was the purest horror.

A second later she felt Lokis shocked gaze upon her..

If things were different between them she would seek the comfort of the man beside her now.

In another reality..

But something was evident.

They're showing this to us for a reason.

The doctor shined a light into her eyes, nodded, then turned his attention back to the instrument, pushing the button again.

Another, even bigger shockwave went through Emilys body and the other woman collapsed on the ground in the process, her body sinking slowly, her hands pressed to the glass.

He removed some drool that had poured out of the corner of his victims mouth, "I think two more and we call it a day."

Sylvie looked at the other womans eyes. They were glassy, not fixating anything anymore, just staring into the void..

Two more waves, some heart-wrenching screams and much more drooling later, he finally turned it off. At some point the enchantress had to sit on the ground herself, feeling dizzy.

Her feet not able to carry her anymore..

Lokis face got paler and paler during the scene. It was almost comparable to the wallcolor now.

The doctor first removed the headpiece and then the gag, revealing a lot more saliva and deep teeth marks on the material.

He had to help her closing her mouth.

She was alive.

But there was no life in her.

Her stare was blank, her body limp, her mind probably somewhere over the rainbow.

Hopefully in a better place than her body was..

He removed the restraints without any movements, without any rebellion.

The woman on the other side leaned at the wall, entirely exhausted, tears streaming down her face, her knuckles red and swollen from knocking against the glass.

"Now wasn't that a lovely show!"

The happy sing-song made Sylvie flinch.

She had totally forgotten about the sadistic AI.

The enchantress' stomach turned, the few chunks of lasagne felt like a bunch of stones inside her belly.

As the doctor started to push the bed with Emilys limp body on it, the appearance of the wall changed again, getting back to its former look.

A second later they heard the familiar cracking sound and Sylvie buried her head in her hands.

"Hello again, my favourite variants," the male voice started, "Did you enjoy the show?"

Sylvie balled her hands to fists, growling into them.

"You probably ask yourself why we're showing you this. Well, for several reasons. At first, as you already mentioned, Sylvie, you met the doctor himself. He told you about our variant research program.."

"..specialized in scientific research, more precisely..variant research."

The man continued his explanation, "..and like I told you in our very first meeting..or hearing..we have to thank you for that."

"You didn't doom yourself...although...yeah, maybe you did."

She felt sick..

And everything turned upside down..

"You opened up the multiverse, which gives us the opportunity to explore all of its beauty."

"You presented us with a bouquet of possibilities.."

He laughed viciously and as she looked up, she saw the shock and disbelief in Lokis face.

"But that's not everything..the vast multiverse gives us the chance to explore its many branches and all its variants. Turned out that there's a lot of power in a variants connection with their counterparts..power that can be used for many great things. And do you know how we found out about this power? It's really glorious..and kind of poetic, really.."

Sylvie locked eyes with Loki, processing, the words slowly sinking in.

"I think you can already guess it. You remember your Nexus event on Lamentis?"

This was not happening right now..

It just couldn't be happening..

"Yes, exactly, your unique and reality-bending fondness of each other made all of this possible. What's even more fascinating..turns out the even greater force is the combination of a variants connection together with the power of love.."

God and goddess of mischief looked at each other at his last words and no one spoke a word for a long moment, until they heard a chuckle from the other side.

"Oh, did I spell something out for you there? Well, it's kind of obvious, isn't it? But maybe buried under too many layers of bad experiences, mistrust and an inability to express it..so it may not be so obvious to you..think of it this way, we basically lend you a hand there. You should thank us, Sylvie. Without us you probably never would've gotten physical.."

That was her keyword..

Getting back on her feet in an instant, the goddess sprinted to a small bucket that stood in the other end of the room, her body shaken with convulsions.

"Yeah, the dagger-and-rape thing didn't solve the trust problem, I get that. What's all the better - we don't need your approval for the effect, Sylvie! Actually quite the contrary..fear is a very strong and matchable force. We just need one of you to cooperate.."

"Who are you to decide for the both of us?"

"..and fortunately Loki has a very strong survival instinct."

"Someone must"

She looked into the bucket, wishing she could throw out her heart and mind, too..

"On Lamentis you barely touched the arms of each other and the branch grew beyond everything we had experienced before. Can you even imagine what power there is in a sexual act? I guess you can't. And we still have to gather a lot more energy.."

Sylvie squinted her eyes, feeling his gaze on her again.

And around and around and around we go..

"So are you ready for another round?"

Sylvies hair stood on end..

There was a pause for several moments.

"What if we refuse?"

Lokis question took her completely by surprise and she looked up to meet his eyes. For the first time since the very beginning she felt seen..

Valued..

Literally on eye level with him and a wave of relief washed over her.

He nodded, assuring her even more of his support, them standing against it.

Both of them on the same side.

Like the moment they had walked into the citadel together, shoulder to shoulder..

Committed to one plan..

Together in this.

"You saw what happened to Emily, Loki. Sadly they refused to participate in our important matter. What's your guess, how many electroshocks before Sylvies body gives up? I think it takes more than the four you just witnessed..but we'll see."

Until the stakes get to high..

The god threw his head back in frustration and despair, running his fingers through his hair..

When he lowered it again, Sylvie looked him in the eyes, shaking her head..

..and saw the exact moment the expression in them slightly changed.

"What do you want me to do?"

And everything turned to shit..

"Easy, we're taking a step back. Hard to top the last..session. Or maybe it's just a different kind. You ever experienced what lack of oxygen feels like, Sylvie?"

With the last question her blood ran cold..

And for one brief moment she wished she had stabbed herself with the fork.

Chapter Text

Zetharus 10, year 3225

With her eyes closed, she let the rays of sunshine warm her face, and it also warmed her heart.

The last place she visited was a hideous one, a planet where a superior race had enslaved the inferior species, taken over the whole planet.

In a last attempt of rebellion the restrained ones had teamed up to overthrow their rulers, which ended in a mass destruction.

Here, on Zetharus, she could recharge.

After the human race had destroyed their earth completely, they had split up, and are now widely scattered over the universe. Some of them had come to Zetharus 10, settled down and lived there in harmony and mostly peaceful together.

Living together never came without conflict, but the people here seem to have learned something from the mistakes of their past.

Most part of the planet was covered with water and the further evolved humans had learned to live with the given conditions.

The enchantress sat on a high mountain, behind her a big Zen monastery. The human survivors had managed to conserve some of the greater religious concepts.

One of them was Buddhism.

Most of the Zethari were buddhists.

Sylvie loved the concept of peace and freedom and that there wasn't just one god one could believe in.

Everyone was free to believe what they wanted.

No one was superior, no one dominated over the other.

She came here regularly, to get some peace of mind, balance out all the cruelty she saw and had seen through the years, meet kind and caring people..

It was one of her favourite places.

"Namasté, Sylvie"

The Bhikkhuni approached her from behind, and as the enchantress turned around, the presence and loving aura of the other woman lightened up everything inside her.

Sylvie pressed her hands together at her heart to greet her, her friend did the same.

"It's a beautiful day," the bald woman said, looking at the low sun and the glimmering water.

The enchantress followed her gaze, but as she processed the words, sadness slowly began to overshadow the joy.

Today was the day an asteroid would penetrate the sensitive surface of the planet, causing an enormous tidal wave, extinguishing one third of the population of Zetharus 10.

It wasn't just beings that destroyed lifes and planets, mother nature could be cruel, too.

Sometimes even more..

But the difference was that nature would never judge. There was no driving force with lust for power, no sadism, no taking advantage of weaker creatures.

Nature had, and always would be the mightiest force in the universe.

Ghanī, the other woman, placed a hand on the blonde womans shoulder, "I can feel your troubled mind, Sylvie. What's bothering you on this blessed day?"

They locked eyes and Sylvie stood up, suddenly feeling uncomfortable and impolite not to be at eye level with her friend.

As she stood, the simple but elegant kimono flowed down her legs, coming to a halt just above her feet. Pressing her hands together again in front of her chest, lowering her head a bit, they bowed before each other.

Sylvie thought for a moment, but then decided to ask the question that bothered her.

"If you knew something that no one else knows, no one else is supposed to know..what would you do?"

Ghanī smiled warmly, "Then you are truly blessed, for you have the gift of the third eye.."

She placed her thumb on Sylvies slighty lowered forehead, between her eyebrows, gently stroking over the skin there.

"..the gift of knowledge. It's a blessing and it's a burden."

Sylvie opened her eyes and looked at her friend, "But wouldn't you want to tell? Shouldn't you tell them? Maybe if you did, you could save lives.."

The bald womans eyes were warm and gentle, "There's a reason you know something that no one else does. Do you know why we..in contrast to many other concepts and religions..don't want to tell the people what to believe in?"

Sylvie smiled back now, "Yes, because you want them to choose freely. In their own way, at their own pace, to their own terms.."

"We can only make offerings..because no good thing evolves out of pressure. We learned that the hard way..And we don't believe in a savior. We have to be our own light that guides us."

The enchantress nodded, "You don't need to be saved.."

"It's your burden to know, my burden lies somewhere else. And this life is only a door..once we close our eyes, we open them again in the next life. And if it is the universes will, we meet again, Sylvie Laufeydottir, enchantress, blessed one.."

With that words she bowed again before the blonde woman, blinked at her and in this moment Sylvie realized that her friend knew what would happen.

She had made her decision.

And Sylvie had to respect that.

Because it was the one thing that couldn't be taken from her.

Her own free will.

As she watched the woman walk away, head held high, knowing that she wouldn't survive this day, she felt a huge wave of respect and gratitude flood her.

She was a demigoddess, an enchantress and because of her 'third eye', which was basically the Tempad of the TVA and hundred years of experience, she had the power to change her friends fate.

But it wasn't her call to make.

She could only make offerings..

Because it's the one thing that was precious.

The freedom of choice..

"You ever experienced what lack of oxygen feels like, Sylvie?"

She had.

Once..

And it had been the most painful, devastating, horrific experience in her life.

"It's not that bad, really," the man on the other side assured, "I give you a quick overview, a little excursion if you will. Once your oxygen gets low, carbon dioxide takes over, flooding your body. This isn't a good sigh usually, but it can feel quite enjoyable..for some the combination of carbon dioxide with the released stress hormones like adrenaline can cause a great exhilaration.."

Sylvie heard all of this through the cotton feeling she experienced before.

Her mind did everything it could to shield her and she was fascinated how it worked and grateful that it was still working at all.

As she lifted her head, she saw Loki walking back and forth, hands in his hair, then again balling them to fists, at some point slamming it against the wall, leaning his head against it.

She even heard him cry.

"Loki.."

Her voice made him look up and she saw the tears in his eyes.

"I don't want to do this, Sylvie.."

She sighed and at the same time there was that sound again.

"Is this your official answer, Loki? If it is, step aside and we're taking her. Maybe a little recollecting helps her, too."

They looked at each other and she felt the ambivalence in him.

But it wasn't enough..

Or it was enough.

Enough threat to panic again..

He slammed his hands at the wall so loud it made her flinch, "No, it's not my official answer. I'm doing it!"

"Very well," the man said, "It's your lucky day, so you can choose, either you do it by choking or placing your large hands over this beautiful nose and mouth of hers..both possibilities are intimate in their own way..or you can conjure some items to help you. Do it at your liking, get creative. What would be your favourite way to do it, Sylvie?"

Sylvie sat on the ground, her hands still clinched to the bucket.

"I'd love to answer every one of these questions once I get out of here, with MY hand at your throat and my dagger in your chest..where's Emily? Where did you take her?!"

The man laughed, a sound that would haunt her in her dreams, together with the other, apple-eating madmans laughter, "Maybe we let you visit her, if you behave nicely. See for yourself what happens to bad girls. Do you want to continue talking back to me? Then I suggest we do it in private..just a minute, I'll be right there.."

They heard the creaking sound of a chair which was moved.

Sylvie shook her head and whispered to Loki, "They're just bluffing..they need us together for their plan.."

The laughter increased, "You're right, Sylvie. But there's no reason why you and me can't have a little fun in-between."

"Stay away!!" Loki shouted, slowly moving in the enchantress' direction, but she moved as well, away from him, "Sylvie.."

As she saw him slowly approaching her, it was as if her blood froze and boiled at the same time, hot flashes rising up, into every fingertip, every nerve..she didn't want to act like prey, but now her body reactions took over.

Her eyes bore into his and she tried hard to fight against the dizziness that slowly creeped its way into her.

As the god stood before her, touching her arm, slightly, carefully, another fully fleshed-out memory hit her.

"Stop the fighting, Sylvie..please"

Trying to get out of his iron grip..

His body looming over hers..

"Don't make this harder than it already is."

Something must have happened, maybe her flashback looked as devastating as it felt, because when it was over and she opened her eyes again, she saw him shaking his head in denial.

"No..no, I'm not doing this anymore.." he let go of her in a quick move, like a child who had touched a hot stove, "Take me instead of her! Take me, torture me, do whatever you want with me..I refuse to do this!!"

A little smile and a relieved sigh came from Sylvie and in this moment she felt gratitude for him. Regardless of what horror already happened, what pain and fear he had put her through, but in this very moment he had made a decision..

And it was on her behalf.

For over a minute there was silence and Sylvie felt a glimmer of confidence and hope filling the air.

And then something happened..

The whole scenery, every wall around them sparkled and then faded away.

Before them a city appeared..big buildings around them, a lively street, a lot of turmoil..it was like watching a movie on a very big screen.

As unknown and strange it was for Sylvie..

..Loki seemed to know the picture in front of them.

He seemed to know it well..

And he looked as though he'd seen a ghost.

Or some other monster..

"Loki.." the goddess began, tilting her head to get his attention, but the god was fixated on the picture before them.

They heard screams and sirens and people were running in panic.

A second later the man spoke again, "Did you two ever talk about what had led to his capture from the TVA in the first place?" he asked with the sickening amusement in his voice, "Did he ever tell you what his plan was right before they catched him?"

Sylvie looked at her horrified counterpart, shaking her head, "Not that I can remember.."

"Very well, let's enlighten you there a bit. Grab your snacks, ladies and gentleman, because this is going to be very entertaining."

At the same moment a large figure was stepping outside of a building, walking along a red carpet.

The moment he appeared on the screen and she saw the leathery armor and the massive golden horns on his head it was obvious that it was him.

It was a scene from his past.

"Kneel before me," he demanded and hammered a spear with a blue tip on the ground.

A shudder ran through her body at the spoken words. It was the same man, but at the same time it wasn't..

"You dedicated your purpose to kill the one who was responsible for your miserable life and to free the multiverse.." the man continued with pure bliss in his voice, "Have you ever asked yourself what Lokis thoughts on freedom were?"

Past Loki was walking through a trembling crowd now.

"It's the unspoken truth of humanity that you crave subjugation. The bright lure of freedom diminishes your life's joy in a mad scramble for power, for identity.."

Sylvie looked back and forth between the man and the picture of him..

It didn't match. Not at all..

"In the end, you'll always kneel."

His words made her sick and she thought about He who Remains and his speech.

"I keep you safe"

Lokis behavior in that city, the citadel..it all made sense in a sickening, twisted way.

And she hoped it wouldn't..

Slowly the picture in front of them faded and changed, and suddenly the whole cell became very dark.

They stood in the midst of a landscape full of rocks, surrounded by asteroids.

And everything was drenched in a blue light.

Sylvie couldn't assign it..

..but Loki could.

Looking into his eyes, she saw sheer terror in them, his body tensed up, his hands shaking.

"Loki.." the goddess started, and then to the camera, "What's this?!"

"Loki knows, am I right?"

The enchantress tried to get his attention, taking a step into his direction and then a second later something else happened.

A hatch on the ground opened and a strange pillar was slowly transported through it, coming to a halt in eye height.

On the pillar there was the upper part of the thing they saw before..a structure made of silver and gold, the head of a spear, pointy and sharp and in its frame there was..

..a stone.

A glimmering blue stone..

When Lokis face had been pale before, it was now white as chalk, his mouth agape, his eyes nonstop fixating the blue stone..

"Loki, what is this?" Sylvie asked quietly, taking another step in his direction.

Usually she was the one trying to bring as much distance between them as possible..now was the very first time he took a step back, avoiding eye contact, holding his hand in front of him in defense, "Stay away from me Sylvie!"

It didn't make the confusion any better, "I don't understand..what is this thing? What does all that mean?!"

She hated the chuckling of this man. It was even worse than his laughter.

"Maybe we should clear things up a bit and since Loki doesn't seem in the mood..or state of mind..let me enlighten you. You heard about the Infinity stones, Sylvie?"

She heard Lokis sharp intake of breath and tried to scrape up everything that she knew about those stones inside her head, but it wasn't much.

Only that they were very powerful and that six of them have/would..help a madman snap away half of existence.

So she said exactly that..with the accent on 'madman'

"Yes, very good. You're right, they are, in almost every universe, very powerful..you already saw Loki in his attempt to take over earth and you recognized it's the same spear.."

"You sick bastards..take it away immediately!!"

Hearing those words out of Lokis mouth, the fear in his voice, the panic in his eyes..

It was new.

And it definitely wasn't good.

"My, my, Loki. No need to lose control..or, well, maybe you should."

"Loki, talk to me.." the goddess said in a calm voice, slowly moving into his direction.

"I mean it, Sylvie, don't come near me!!" the god rumbled.

He shook his head, his tone dry and a certain darkness was in it as he spoke to them again, "You have no idea what you're doing..you have no clue of the forces you play with.."

The man ignored Loki and spoke to Sylvie instead, which was a really unusual thing, "To give you the full prologue..the scepter in front of you contains one of the most powerful - if not THE most powerful Infinity stone, the mind stone. It can be used to control the mind of others but it can influence the mind of the owner or the people around it, too. Look at it like a booster..it reinforces the needs and feelings..even and foremost the darker ones.."

"Scratched some dark corner there?"

Looking at Loki and processing the words spoken, Sylvie felt panic arise. She had seen him in pain and agony before, but this was a whole new level.

He was afraid of that thing.

More afraid than she'd ever seen him before.

And then it started to glow..

"What do you say, kids, ready to have some fun?"

Chapter Text

It was like everything else, skill comes with practice.

With every year and every new experience she got better and better at predicting how an apocalypse would turn out.

It was essential for her survival.

No point in running from the TVA when she got crushed by a planet or abducted by an evil alien race in the process.

She was fast, she was precise, she was gone for good before they reached the eye of the storm.

But this time she miscalculated..

She couldn't take her eyes off the glimmering stone.

That beautiful blue shade, enlightening the whole room. If they would ask her later, she would say it looked stunning, precious, like a gem on a ring..

Not at all suspicious.

But she would slap her naive self in the face to be so stupid..but who could have known.

Who could have known..

She couldn't react half as fast as she should have, but it wouldn't have made a difference anyway.

Nothing would have made a difference in this situation.

She felt her feet losing contact to the ground, just a few centimeter.

Like flying..

Like swimming..

The wave hit her so hard and fast it rushed her off the feet, the ground quickly moving away from her.

"Sylvie!!!"

She heard the screams, the screams of her name, but it got muffled again and again, her head just the split of a second over the surface, before the water grabbed her again, dragging her down.

Trying to bury her deep inside the dark depths of the ocean.

And she already saw the darkness..

Heard it calling her name..

The goddess had survived a hundred apocalypses.

This one could be her last.

She did the most logical thing, clinging her hands to his own, trying to open his fingers just a tiny bit, getting her own finger between his, trying to get some space.

"Lo..ki.."

Muffled sounds coming out of her throat, her trachea compressed by long fingers, slowly lifting her off the ground.

"Once your oxygen gets low, carbon dioxide takes over, flooding your body.."

It was ridiculous how well she remembered the words that she hardly recorded at the moment the man had spoken them.

But now they were spinning in her head over and over like a merry-go-round..

A merry-go-round from hell.

If a therapist would ever ask her..the moment she lifted her head, shifting her attention away from their hands, hers on his, fighting for space, fighting for air..

The moment she looked at him..

..was the moment the trauma happened.

His eyes were the brightest blue she'd ever seen them. It's a normal thing..the color of eyes slighty changes in different lights. This wasn't one of those moments.

This wasn't normal.

His eyes weren't darkened or overshadowed..

It was the bluest blue she'd ever seen.

But they weren't his own.

There was no little spark of lust, no glimpse of desire he had wanted to hide from her right before he had entered her.

No scratched dark corner in his mind during the cutting session.

It was hunger.

His breathing was rapid, his jaw was tense, and the sheer power with which he held her above the ground with one single hand shocked her to the core.

"Lo..ki..stop..pl..ease.."

He lifted her up to eye level, just a few inches away from his own face, so near she could feel his hot breath on her skin.

With one hand she let go of his at her neck, risked the little progress she made getting some space there, to touch his cheek.

Trying to get him out of this state.

Her hand was trembling as she made contact with his skin, and his wince made her jump, too. His sharp intake of air released a hissing sound.

Like a snake..

His gaze shot up to her and as their eyes locked, it was as if he'd all of a sudden woken up from his own worst nightmare.

"Sylvie.."

Something happened in that moment and his grip on her neck loosened in an instant, letting her go, her body collapsing on the ground.

The impact on the hard floor made her gasp, her hand quickly moving to her painful throat, holding it, protecting it.

Couching convulsively..

"My god, Sylvie.." Loki kneeled down in front of her, his hand cupping her chin. She tried to push it away but she realized very quick, that this wasn't going to happen.

He wouldn't let her go.

Looking into his eyes, she saw why. They still weren't his own.

A little softer, but not like she remembered them.

"Sylvie, it feels..I feel.."

The enchantress nodded, "I know..it's this stone. It does something with your mind.." Her voice was rough and quiet, and everything burned, but it didn't matter. She had to convince him, reach him at any cost, "You have to fight against it.."

As she spoke the last words she noticed the spear again in the corner of her eyes.

Why hadn't she noticed it a second ago?

And then she realized..

It had started to glow again.

Even more than before.

And with it came a strange spark into Lokis eyes. He tilted his head, looking at her with..curiosity? Mesmerization?

Like a child would look at an exotic animal.

"Loki.."

As his hand slowly moved down from her chin, Sylvie tried to push it away again, bending her head down to her chest but was brutally brought back up as one of his hands grabbed a fistful of her hair, forcing her to stay in place as his hand wrapped around her neck again.

The pain set off a sharp cry and tears which flooded her eyes now.

"Fight..it..plea..se"

Her words were cut off, his hand squeezing harder, pressing her back to the wall with brutal force.

Why can't you just be a heartless brute, Loki?

She would never have imagined it possible that she could regret this unspoken wish.

Be careful what you wish for..

It might become your worst nightmare.

"Sylvie.." His bright blue eyes were on her the whole time, now moving down to her lips and back again, "Why..why did you kick me through the time door?"

The question caught her so completely off guard and painfully slowly she started to understand them..

Realizing what he had in mind, her blood froze to ice in her veins..praying she could just dematerialize and melt through the wall..

His head tilted, his eyes fixated on her, he slowly moved closer.

She had to avoid this at any cost.

Not now..

Not like this..

Don't you dare, Loki..

Her frantically shaking head was stopped immediately by an iron grip, bringing new tears into her eyes.

"You shouldn't have done that.." his one hand well placed around her neck, his free one stroked over her hair, her cheek, her lips, each touch making her shudder, "You should know.." parted them with his thumb, "..I always get what I want."

Before she even had time to process his last words, the dark foreshadowing, she felt his lips pressing against hers.

Letting out a moan, silencing Sylvies pleas and her muffled sounds to stop, he soon managed to part her lips and teeth with his mouth, slipping his tongue into her, forcing her head to stay in a position were he had good access.

It was nothing like the kiss they shared at the citadel.

He had been gentle, careful, almost afraid to touch her..afraid to scare her away with one wrong move.

"I've been were you are, I felt what you feel.."

His feathery touch on her shoulders..

"All I know is I don't wanna hurt you.."

Sylvie had been the one who had initiated it. She had pressed her lips against his.

And it had been beautiful, touching, caring.

Loving..

This kiss now wasn't gentle, not passionate either..it wasn't even hungry..

It was brutal.

Her tears ran freely down her face, as he invaded her mouth with his tongue, and in sheer terror she felt his body slowly moving closer, not yet touching hers but memories over memories flooded her mind.

Flashbacks of him above her, pinning her down, caging her beneath him.

"I promise I'll be gentle."

Until they weren't just flashbacks anymore.

She flinched as her body made contact with the hard, cold ground. He didn't even have the decency to conjure something soft to lay her down on it.

He either wasn't aware of it or he just didn't care.

Sylvie couldn't tell which would be worse..

Approaching her, moving his body over hers like a lion over his meal after starving for days.

Like a predator..

Her breaths came in uneven, "Please Loki..you don't want this.."

His grin was nothing at all in comparison to his usual playful, mischievious smirk.

It was full of teeth and terror.

The grin of a maniac.

"Oh, quite the contrary..to be honest, it's exactly what I want!"

His rumbling voice send shivers up and down her spine and as he slowly increased the squeezing, a strange ringing in her ears slowly started, her sight getting limited, "Lo..ki..ease..c..an..t.brea..the"

Stars started to dance before her eyes, as her sight got smaller and smaller.

Dancing stars, ringing ears..

And then out of nowwhere a strange calmness flooded over her and every muscle seemed to relax, her limbs sinking to the ground.

The most absurd kind of peace.

As more and more water sloshed over her, she panicked. Her head already under water, her body carried away, no possibility to focus or hold onto something.

And slowly but steadily air became a problem.

She felt her throat slightly cramp, her lips trembling, her lungs screaming in despair to fill them.

But she couldn't..

And with each passing second it got worse and worse.

Her body washed away from the water surface more and more.

And at some point she let go..

With his hand loosening up the grip, the dancing stars slowly disappeared, her sight getting clearer again, the ringing gone.

She couldn't even tell if she had been unconcious for a moment, but he had decreased the pressure on her throat to a minimum and so she was finally able to take a deep breath, her lungs demanding the oxygen, welcoming the breath of life like an old friend, long gone, desperately awaited.

But he had a new target.

Stroking over her shoulder and down her side, making small humming sounds, "You can't imagine how good it felt to be inside you.."

Hearing him say those words, her body instantly froze in place.

Unwilling to believe what she just heard.

"I don't want any of this."

A hand moved purposeful down her waist, past her hip, leaving a trace of goosebumps behind, "So tight..so warm..it was glorious.."

Thick, warm tears fell down her cheek and onto his hand, but no relief came with the crying. His words burned themselves into her system, words that..like the click of his belt buckle..could be arousing in another context, but in this moment and the way he spoke them..

It was hideous.

"But this time I don't plan on making it short..in fact, I'm going to take my time to enjoy all of your beautiful, precious body.."

Sylvie felt a huge wave of nausea hitting her like a slap in the face.

Hearing his words was exactly that.

And the mere fact he spoke like that rang every alarm bell that wasn't already ringing.

"Loki, please..that's not you..the stone is controlling you! Look behind you..try to remember.."

He did.

He turned around, distracted for one moment..

Her reflexes were well trained, they had to be and once again she was glad they were.

Death or survival..

But so were his.

And the moment she moved, trying to get up, he pressed her down again, his hands on her shoulder and hip, one knee between her legs.

"Nice try," he chuckled, his tone drenched in darkness. She felt his knee moving up and into her privates intentionally, the sudden and hard contact making her yelp in pain. Pressing her hand to her mouth to muffle her cry but he took it away, holding it at her wrist over her head, "Oh, don't hold back. I'm going to make you scream very soon.."

"Stop this!" Sylvie shouted in the direction of the camera, "Stop controlling him with this thing!!"

The cracking sound was followed by the chuckle of hell, "Oh no, you got that wrong, Sylvie. Previously, the choking..that was us controlling him. This..this is just a reinforcement of his desires..like I told you - the mind stone can enhance what is already there. So, lean back and enjoy!"

"Sylvie, please believe me..I didn't want to do this. I didn't want any of it.."

Liar..

"Yeah? Guess I did just fantasize what I saw in your eyes, then..your dilated pupils, your gaze roaming over my body.."

Traitor..

In a flash of adrenaline, Sylvie tried to crawl upwards, hoping to get his knee out between her legs, but he was faster.

Of course he was..

"I thought we were past that..stop the fighting or I'll have to hurt you."

"You're hurting me right now, Loki!!" the enchantress cried out in pain and desperation, "Trust me, you'll regret this..you'll blame yourself forever for this!"

But all she got was a roll of his eyes, "No more..I'm tired of listening to your whining, woman."

And with that and a twist of his wrist he had her mouth closed again with a muzzle.

Sylvie cried out in shock, the sound of it completely taken away by the gag.

"Much better," he said with a wicked grin, one hand holding hers above her head, one moving over her body, now down her collarbone in the direction of her breasts.

As he found her nipple, hidden under her armor, Sylvie sucked in a sharp breath. Her eyes widened in shock, as he moaned pleased, circling it with his thumb, as it was slowly getting stiff under his touch, "Mhh, there you are..so sensitive..my sweet Sylvie..but I think I need both of my hands."

With that he let go of hers and as she was just about to take them down, a huge force dragged them back up, holding her restrained with magic.

Shaking her head, the goddess cried into her gag, burning tears running down on it.

Loki took her head in both of his hands, sickening gentle, "All this fighting..and for what? You're mine..you were mine from the moment I laid eyes on you in the Roxxcart store.."

His bright blue eyes an ocean of burning desire, "..and now I'm going to claim you."

Chapter Text

The table in front of him was black.

A black, round table with a reflective surface, an orange futuristic device standing on it.

The floor under him was paved in another shade of orange and the whole room was shady, no decorations, no pictures, nothing comforting.

Nothing the eyes and mind could turn to to have some sort of ease, rest..

The whole atmosphere was claustrophobic. Even if there was enough space in this room..it was off putting, oppressive.

A killing someone kind of a room..

There were two chairs at the table. He was sitting in one of them, another man sat across from him, wearing a brown suit, a mustache above his lip. His appearance made him look old, but it was hard to guess his age.

He was motionless, frozen in time, a beverage can in his hand, looking blankly at the monitor in front of him.

Now the grey wall before him came to life and he turned his attention to the screen.

There were two people walking, a man and a woman, the man wore a suit, similar to the one the other across from him was wearing, she was dressed in a leathery armor with a cape, a crown of horns on her head.

The whole atmosphere around them was drenched in some shade of violet.

She obviously was in a hurry, he tried to catch up.

"What exactly makes a Loki a Loki?"

The man on the screen didn't need to think twice. He was evidently very confident.

"Independence..Authority..Style"

The scene was cut and now they were in a different setting, sitting in a beautiful landscape, a green blanket
wrapped around them.

It was obvious, that it was a romantic movie.

The kind were the two protagonists overcome all differences and get together in the end.

Defeat all their enemys..

Love each other against all odds.

Her gaze was thoughtful, a bit anxious, too. She was a really beautiful woman, her eyes emerald green, curled blonde hair..she was tiny, but fierce.

"How do I know that in the final moments you won't betray me?"

What a question..

Seemingly there was a reason she asked it. Either the man had the bad reputation of betraying people, or he had even done it to her before.

He hoped that the second one wasn't the case, though.

How could someone double-cross this beautiful, gorgeous woman?

"Listen Sylvie, I betrayed everyone who ever loved me. I betrayed my brother, my father, my home. I know what I did..and I know why I did it. And that's not who I am anymore, okay?"

The black-haired man made a pause, looking into her green eyes with honesty and sincerity, "I won't let you down"

In that moment he heard a room-filling sound.

Looking away from the movie in front of him, seeing the grey-haired man across had come to life, laughing uncontrollably now.

He even had to hold his stomach because of the laughter.

"What's so funny?" the younger asked, not getting the point.

No joke had been told.

Or didn't he just not get it?

The man with the mustache pulled himself together with all his power, "Oh come on, it's really funny.. This is indeed good comedy!"

He still didn't get it.

Obviously the blue eyed man under the blanket was being completely sincere. You could tell it from the expression in his eyes.

And honesty was a rare talent these days. Most of the time people were used as a means to an end.

This obviously wasn't the case here.

According to her eyes the blonde woman seemed to be unsure, too.

Why don't you believe him, Sylvie?

But after asking again and a little chat about him ruling a timeline and his joke about it, she smiled, her eyes glimmering in the most beautiful way.

She believed him.

She trusted him.
.
.
.
And then it was as if a veil got lifted..

"I knew it!!"

Loki sat on the ground, Mobius standing a few steps apart, pointing down at him and then at the monitor, "Look at what you've done, god-king.."

The god turned his head and what he saw there shocked him to the core.

Sylvie, lying on a bed, drapes falling softly around it and her. She was almost naked, one bra strap down her shoulder, her hair was messy.

Her swollen red eyes looking with a blank stare into nothing..

Loki stood up, desperate, breathless, "Sylvie!! What's this?! What happened to her??"

But he stumbled over his own feet in the process and fell to the ground.

She wasn't moving..

Why wasn't she moving?

"You happened, Loki."

The god shook his head in denial, and then the picture changed.

He saw himself, Sylvie caged beneath him, struggling for mere survival, her arms held together by magic, her eyes full of agony and fear..

"Loki, stop this..this isn't right and you know it.."

It was unbearable to watch.

It was gross..

The pain in her eyes and voice pierced trough his skin and tore his heart in pierces.

"Where do you have her?! You're lying..it's not true.."

Mobius pointed down at him again, his words poking him like needles a pincushion, "It is true!"

"You're born to cause pain and suffering.." the analysts voice was full of disgust..but not even close to the disgust the god felt about himself in this very moment.

He saw tears streaming down Sylvies face.

"What was I thinking trusting you..?" echoed through the air, again and again, the words bouncing from wall to wall and back to him.

There was no anger, no disappointment, no mistrust..

Pure disillusionment..

"She should've known better.." Mobius said with pity and pain in his own voice, looking at the monitor, shaking his head, "After all she's been through.."

And then his gaze bore into Loki again, "There's a fork in every road, yet the wrong path always taken.."

He heard Sylvies sharp scream beneath him, her body moving with each thrust of him..his rapid breathing filling the air.

"..and you, Loki..you've perfected taking the wrong path."

And then all of a sudden she arched her back, blood flowing out of her mouth, her eyes wide in shock.

"NOOO, what's going on?!"

When he looked down, he saw the handle of his own dagger, the blade sunken into her flesh completely.

"You were right, what were you thinking trusting me.."

And then all that was heard was his own deafening screams..

"SYLVIE!!!!"

"What's this?!"

"Loki knows, am I right?"

Never had he thought he would see that thing again.

He didn't want to see it again.

No, that wasn't true..

He had wanted it.

He wanted to get it back after they took it from him, after they had defeated him..the Avengers, in Stark Tower, New York. When they had travelled back through time and the Tesseract landed at his feet, he wanted to wriggle himself out and he was sure he'd be able to get back on track, get back on top.

And he even wanted it after he was captured by the TVA.

Wanted to seize what he thought should be rightfully his.

And then everything changed..

Everything changed as Mobius stepped it and showed him how his life would play out, everything that happened and would happen. The death of his mother, the death of Odin, his reconciling with Thor.

His own demise at the hands of Thanos..

And everything he thought he wanted to achive..it all became pointless.

"It's the cruel elaborate trick, conjured by the weak to inspire fear."

"A desperate play for control."

And with this insight a whole new chapter had begun and his life had changed within the blink of an eye.

And then someone else had stepped into his life.

Wrapped in a green cape, a horned crown on her head, standing in the Roxxcart store in the midst of an apocalyptic hurricane.

Provoking its own hurricane within himself.

She had come to redefine his purpose.

Redefine his existence..

And now something came together that wasn't supposed to co-occur.

His biggest hope and his worst fear.

And she didn't have the slightest idea of what that meant.

"I mean it, Sylvie, don't come near me!!"

The god knew that he could lose control completely. Lose control over the situation, his behavior..

Lose control over the things he would do if that thing was able to grab him again.

For all that had happened since they got here, for every horror, everything they'd been forced to do, he had always been in control in some way.

Protecting Sylvie with him, even if she couldn't see it like that in that moment and even if he had hurt her, but he had been in control.

But now he could lose it.

Completely..

And it scared him to death.

He moved away from her as far as it was possible, hoping she'd get the danger, that she would understand.

But how could she understand..

"..but it can influence the mind of the owner or the people around it, too. Look at it like a booster..it reinforces the needs and feelings.."

He hadn't been aware of that, didn't fully conceive it in all its entirety when it was handed to him in the first place.

But the explanation was too short-sighted.

It wasn't just a booster of needs and feelings.

The stone searched for the most darkest, best hidden places of the mind, carved them out with ruthless efficiency, extracted every single dark seed it could find, nurtured it, letting it grow in your head.

Planted in the deepest subconciousness, sprouting its tendrils into awareness.

Once spread wildly, it was an uncontrollable force, not tamable..

It could turn every little spark of incomprehension into a violent dispute.

Every hint of envy into pure hate.

And every glimpse of desire..

..into hunger.

Surpressing the light, replacing it with darkness..

"..even and foremost the darker ones.."

And before he was even able to search for all the things it could deepen, all the things it could find in the darkest corners of his mind..

..the spear started to glow.

The last thing he could think about was if Sylvie would ever forgive him for whatever was going to happen.

And if he could ever forgive himself..

Then he fell..

"I can't sleep around untrustworthy people."

Sylvie had leaned forward in her seat, over the table, looking him right in the eyes, an angry fire burning in her own.

She wanted to make her view known, her position clear.

Drawing boundaries..

But it had been a bluff.

One that probably not even she was aware of.

We tell ourselves stories we know, stories we believe in. They reassure us, help us to estimate situations, estimate people.

Help us cope..

It was a story she probably told herself and others for many years.

Don't trust anybody.

Life is safer that way..

It had ensured her survival for over a thousand years, had served its purpose and proven true countless times.

But it didn't count this time.

Because she trusted him.

Most likely against all common sense, against everything she believed in and every story she told herself..

But she trusted him.

And so, on their road to Shuroo, during the most crazy train ride of his entire life, Sylvie Laufeydottir fell asleep.

Taking a break from drinking and entertaining the people on the train, he slowly walked over to her to sit down for a moment.

He knew how to sneak almost soundlessly up on people and so he did exactly that and sat down across from her.

Leaning back in his seat, taking a deep breath, looking at the peaceful sleeping woman in front of him.

And thought about their conversation earlier..

"But nothing ever.."

"..real"

For a moment it seemed as if she was about to wake, that her highly evolved senses had recognized him, expecting a danger.

But she just twitched a bit, made small mumbling sounds and continued sleeping.

Loki couldn't help himself, he had to watch her.

He was riveted by this woman. Her appearance, the determination with which she pursued her goal, her fighting skills..

And he couldn't take his eyes off her face, how she wrinkled her little nose from time to time, her slightly opened lips ..

Wondered how soft they would feel on his own..

How her petite body would look like, lying in a soft bed, her beautiful blonde hair spread out on the pillow..

The sweet little moans he could get out of her..

The moment he catched himself thinking about it, he shook his head to clear his mind, standing up again.

Leaving the sleeping goddess alone so she could get some rest.

Banned these most likely alcohol induced thoughts to a place far away, into a dark corner of his mind.

Deeply buried, well guarded.

He didn't wake up..

Because he hadn't been asleep.

He had been there, but someone else was guiding his movements, his actions, taken the wheel, condemning him to a mere passenger in his own doing.

Banished to sit and watch.

It felt too distant to fully understand, fully feel, fully get what was happening.

Comparable to watching a dramatic, horrific movie.

Until it wasn't.

He would never forget the expression he saw in her eyes the moment he took the wheel again.

She fought for sheer life.

A life he held in his hands.

Literally..

The moment he noticed what he was doing, that he was choking the life out of her, he let go.

Getting control over his own hands, his body again.

What was happening right now?

Hearing her cry out in pain as her body collapsed on the ground, he fell down to his knees.

"My god, Sylvie.."

The god cupped her chin, wanting her to look at him. She tried to fight him off, but he wouldn't let her. She had to understand, to see.

She had to pay attention..

He couldn't describe the feeling, couldn't assign it, but something was different.

Something felt off..

"Sylvie, it feels..I feel.."

And then something attracted his attention.

The marks his hand had left on her neck, the already reddening impression.

He looked at it with fascination, wanted to touch the swollen flesh, trace the line with his fingers..

The most visible evidence, a mark of his own body on hers.

And he couldn't help but think about how vulnerable, how beautiful she looked in this very moment.

How breakable..

"..because you're vulnerable at this moment..almost everything gets irrelevant, insignificant, you get to the core of someone.."

How her lips trembled at her next words.

And how much he wanted to press his own against hers, to stop the trembling.

Or to increase it..

"I know..it's this stone. It does something with your mind.."

It did.

But was it something bad..

..or was it a revelation?

"You have to fight against it.."

Fight against it..

Should he?

Or should he rather persuade her..convince her about something he knew she wanted, too..

..but just denied herself?

The god watched her for a moment and at some point her eyes widened, as she saw something behind him.

In the same moment it was as if a massive wave of clarity shot through his entire body.

Clarity of what he wanted.

And he would take it..

Chapter Text

"You're mine..you were mine from the moment I laid eyes on you in the Roxxcart store.."

His eyes bore into hers, a burning flame.

There was no light in his gaze, no mercy..

"..and now I'm going to claim you."

The moment he finished his sentence was the moment the muzzle disappeared into thin air.

"We can't have this now.."

Part of her was relieved, part of her regretted this a second later..

"..I'm going to need that sweet mouth of yours."

When he started to stay true to his promise by crushing their lips together again, it kicked off a rollercoaster of emotions and flashbacks.

Their first kiss in the citadel..

"Don't ask me how I know.."

His body leaning over hers..

"All I know is that I don't wanna hurt you.."
His scent all over her, invading her nostrils, flooding her system..

"Everything will be alright, Sylvie."

Her lips parted by his thumb..

"I always get what I want."

Sylvie pressed her own lips together to a thin line, not at all willing to give into this but a strong grip in her hair made her cry out in pain, opening her mouth in the process..

Granting him access..

And so his tongue invaded her mouth again.

Not at all bothering that he was the only one enjoying this, forcing her own tongue to move in his lead. She felt his nose pressing against her own, his hands grabbing her hair, never giving her the chance to move her head away.

It was as if he wanted to devour her.

When she felt teeth biting down on her lip, her outcry made him chuckle, "Quite sensitive there?" She sucked on the bruised lip and wasn't surprised to taste blood.

The god looked at her, grinning, his eyes an ocean of dark desire, a small trail of her own blood on his lips, "God, this is going to be a feast.."

"And believe me, it'll be a feast!"

It was their words..

Hearing him speak like that was something that shouldn't ever happen and her whole world turned upside down.

"For a goddess, you're bruising quite easily.."

She usually didn't..but her body was weakened and his seemed boostered by the stone.

"..strength of a god.."

Sylvie cried out in agony, "Or you're just being awfully brutal..I know you, Loki..and that's not you!!"

There was that look of curiosity again in his eyes.

It wasn't the first time he observed her with a gaze of fascination, admiration.

But this time it was something else entirely..now all she saw in his eyes was darkness.

Darkness and mania..

Sylvie tried to find something in them, something she knew, something familiar.

Something she could hold onto..

"Sorry to disappoint you there, Syl. But that's who I am..that's who I was from the beginning. You don't know me, how could you..but you will.."

The foreshadowing in his words creeped its way into every corner, every cell. Sylvie had no idea what this stone was and what it could do except for the things the evil asshole on the other side of that speaker had told her.

"It can be used to control the mind of others but it can influence the mind of the owner or the people around it, too.."

But every spell, any relic, all magic was limited.

So maybe the influence of the stone could be broken.

She had to try..

She had to try and reach him again.

"Loki..can't..can't you use your seiðr to destroy this scepter..or stop the influence of the stone?"

Sylvie wasn't sure why, but her words sounded naive in her own ears. And from some dark corner of her mind a thought imposed itself on her.

Maybe the door this opened was a door Loki wouldn't even want to close..

"I don't think Mister Laufeyson caused you this amount of pain on purpose.."

"You don't know him.."

Maybe that applied to her, too..

For a brief moment he casted a glance at the scepter. When he turned his head again, he placed a gentle hand on her cheek.

"I don't think I could.."

Slowly his fingers moved downwards, starting to trace the already wounded and overly sensitive flesh on her neck, like he was in a trance.

"..but maybe even if it would be possible, I don't know if I wanted to. I really like this."

Afraid he would choke her again, her heart started to beat so fast against her chest, she was pretty sure it was hearable.

"You'll regret this.."

Her whispered assumption didn't fall on deaf ears, because he looked up from his obsession with her throat, the blue shade of his eyes out of this world, "Speaking of regret..Tell me why you did it.."

His penetrating stare changing from cold and merciless into an expression of hurt within the blink of an eye, "Why did you kiss me and then threw me away?"

She didn't expect this sudden change of mood and his question made her stumble over her own words, "I..I didn't plan it..it just happened.."

It was the truth..a part of the truth..she didn't plan it, but it didn't just happen, though.

It served a purpose.

But even that wasn't the whole truth..

"..your unique and reality-bending fondness of each other made all of this possible."

A quick movement and his fingers were digging into the sensitive flesh again, making her gag.

She felt her own pulse throb against his long fingers.

"I give you a good advice, Sylvie..never lie to a liar."

His erratic mood swings made her dizzy.

He was unpredictable..

One hand at her throat, the other went to her lips, stroking over them gently, his soft humming giving her goosebumps, "You have no idea how long I wanted to kiss those sweet lips..How often I thought about claiming them with my own..and with other things.."

Sylvie squinted her eyes, shaking her head in denial.

As if she could shake away his words, too..

"They'll heal..everything will heal."

Out of nowhere Loki seized her shoulders, grabbing her so forcefully her head hit the wall behind her with a bump.

"Look at me!!" his demanding voice made her jump and when she didn't obey immediately, he grabbed a fistful of her hair, forcing her to look at him, "You kissed me because you needed a distraction, but there's more to it..I know it and you know it, too!"

Suddenly his voice became soft again, his fingers around her neck loosened as if nothing ever happened, stroking the injured skin gently, "I'm going to prove it to you.."

Looking at him she realized she slowly began to see double.

She couldn't tell if it was from the air deprivation, the hit on the back of her head or this situation as a whole..

In desperation Sylvie leaned her forehead against his chest, sobbing.

She couldn't fully grasp why she did this. Maybe she was seeking comfort, perhaps some sort of gentle connection could bring him out of this state.

"You can still stop this, Loki!", she whispered against his chest, "..you've been there..and you left all of this behind. You told me yourself.."

"I've been were you are..I felt what you feel.."

"..and that's not who I am anymore."

"You're sweet, Sylvie..and so naive.."

And with this one gesture, this simple twist of his hand, the hard floor was replaced by a soft mattress..

..and her hands were bound to the bedposts above her.

Oh god don't let this happen again..

It was the cruelest déjà vu..

"That's better," the god confirmed, looking at her with satisfaction and want. Gentle fingers caressed her arms, before she felt him dig his nails into the soft flesh of her upper arms, "Quite sensitive there.." He did it again, making her wriggle in her restraints, "They're strong..no chance to get out of it unless I want you to."

"If you're asking if I'm a sadist..I don't think I am in particular.."

With horror she realized he was already getting hard, as he sat down on her.

"Loki, please.."

In a quick move his hand went to her chin, seizing it so hard she thought he would break her jaw, "What did I tell you about whining?! Stop this once and for all..I don't want to gag you again..I prefer your mouth..accessible."

"..and I'm not into harming your body, either.."

She felt his fingernails dig even deeper into her flesh, making her cry out in pain, an opportunity he used to shove two of his fingers into her mouth.

It took her completely by surprise and she almost bit down on them out of reflex and indignation.

His warning words held her back, "Bite and you'll regret it.."

And before she could protest, he moved them, slowly sliding them into her mouth, while he made her look at him all along, "Don't tell me you haven't thought about this..me, inside you..sweet lovemaking.."

He watched her closely as he shoved them even deeper and at some point Sylvie started to gag.

"So it's the power?"

Through tears she saw the delight this brought forth in his eyes.

Hell couldn't be worse..

When he pulled his fingers out of her mouth it was Sylvies time to laugh with bitterness, "This is neither sweet nor lovemaking, Loki..you're delusional!"

Nails digging even deeper, scratching all the way down from her hands to her armpits, making sure they were leaving marks.

Piercing cries filled the air.

"That didn't answer my question.." he moved one hand to her bound wrists, stroking over them, intertwining their fingers for a moment, "..but I will get an answer. If not out of your mouth, I get it from your body."

Grabbing her hair, the god pulled her head to one side, holding her there, while she felt his mouth and tongue move alongside her neck, his hot breath on her skin making her shiver.

The roots of her hair already hurting, he bit down on her earlobe, whispering in her ear, "Stay still.."

His hand found her breast, circling her still covered nipple with his thumb, until it became stiff under his touch, "See, I told you. You want this.."

For a moment Sylvie thought about who the hell would argue like that and his statement made her feel sick and angry beyond measure.

She should've expected what he'd do next but seeing him twist his hand now send a new rush of adrenaline and panic through her body.

Like the last time, he made her top vanish into thin air, but this time altogether with her bra.

"Nooo!!"

Loki wiped away some tears that flooded her eyes, "Yeah, I'm sorry, it's a little rash..but with your arms..occupied..it has to be this way," through her watery eyes she saw his pupils dilate while roaming over her naked chest, his mouth opening up a little, "God, Sylvie..you're stunning.."

Stroking gently down her neck and collarbone, above her breasts, his fingers were followed by his mouth, tracing kisses all the way down to her breasts.

Hot tears were flowing down Sylvies face.

"What was I thinking trusting you?"

In this moment of wicked gentleness a thought kept drilling into her mind, spinning there like a merry-go-round.

This could have been them.

In another situation, another context..

It would have been the most natural progression of their bonding.

Kissing each other..

Sleeping together..

Without fear..

Consensual..

"Your body reacts to me," Loki stated and with the gentleness of a feather he touched one of her exposed nipples, and electricity fired through her whole body, causing the god to moan in response.

"There you are.." his voice thick with desire, playing softly with her nipple, "..so responsive."

She cried out, as he sucked one of them into his mouth, playing with the tip of his tongue, rolling it between his lips, caressing the other one with his fingers.

Slowly, taking his time..

"I'm going to take my time to enjoy all of your beautiful, precious body.."

But then without warning he pushed his hips forward, making her suck in a sharp breath, as she felt how hard he was, "Feel what you do to me, Sylvie.." another thrust with his hips, "You have no idea how much I crave to be inside you again.."

Sylvie shook her head, trying to move her body away from his fingers and lips, for what she payed with a forceful bite on her nipple and hands pressing her down into the mattress.

"Stop this, Loki!! I beg you.."

Hearing her own words, her own begging made her sick but she had to pull out all the stops.

His lips slowly formed into the sick, maniac grin again, "Oh, don't worry, I'll have you beg.."

Shifting his weight, she felt his hand moving down her waist and hip. Her try to press her legs together was stopped by his knee and a tsk from him. A second later she felt his hand between her legs, humming pleased, "Your body answers very nicely.. I guess you're already dripping.."

In this moment Sylvie wished she could press her hands to her ears or go deaf immediately. Her brain was torn between assigning his words to the man she used to know or pretending he was some kind of stranger.

She wasn't sure which one would be healthier.

But this wasn't about healthy or not anymore.

This was about survival..

Another twist of his hand and she was completely naked, exposed.

Her eyes were brimming with tears but there wasn't much time to process anything..she already felt his fingers stroking over her sensitive slit.

Another wave of electricity fired through her.

She cursed her own body for betraying her, giving him these responses, encouraging him further..

Proving him right in some twisted way.

It wasn't necessary to see his fingers, it was obvious that she was wet. But he showed her anyway, holding his fingers in front of her like a trophy.

They were glimmering..

Sylvie squinted her eyes again, hoping that when she opened them it was all over.

"Open your eyes"

Without her reacting the god grabbed her hair again, pressing her head down, his request becoming a command, "I said open your eyes!"

She followed his order and watched with a horrified expression as he put his fingers into his mouth, licking and sucking her wetness from them.

"You taste so good, so sweet.."

"Mh, you taste like strawberrys.."

Sylvie gasped as he slid first one and then a second finger into her.

She was tense and despite her wetness it hurt.

"Shh, I'm not going to hurt you."

When she felt his thumb on her clit, she protested, "Please don't, Loki.."

But it was obvious he wouldn't leave it at that.

Not this time..

Not in this state..

And she was right, because all she got was a smile and a soft kiss on the forehead, "You expect me to be this selfish? No, not this time..today I'll have you scream my name.."

His statement provided her with enough adrenaline and power and for a moment she managed to kick him off, quickly pressing her legs together.

When his hand grabbed her chin this time, the sharp pain and cracking sound proved that something had broken, "You stretch my patience, Sylvie..you really want it the hard way?!"

The thought that flashed through her mind in this moment shocked her deeply.

Maybe if the hard way could end this..

..it'll be all over.

But she wasn't there yet.

Not waiting, no need for her to answer, the next twist of his hand resulted in her legs being pulled apart forcefully by magic.

As if he needed it..

This was just a demonstration of power.

Making it even easier for him.

"You sick asshole!!" she screamed in his face, and then in despair to the camera in the corner, "Take that stone away!! You need us to sexually interact?! I'll do it!..Just take that thing away..please.."

For a moment she thought they weren't there, because nothing happened.

But of course they were..

"She begs beautifully, doesn't she, Loki? But he already told you his opinion..just try to enjoy it, Sylvie. We do for sure!"

Lokis fingers went down between her legs again, his thumb now circling her clit, his mouth at her ear, "No need to fight.. I told you, you're mine.."

But she didn't want it.

Didn't want him to pleasure her in this sick, twisted way..

The last thing she wanted was to give these sadistic bastards this satisfaction.

Give him a validation for his actions..

"I don't want to, Loki..I don't.."

But her objection got cut off by his hand on her mouth, silencing her while his fingers pumped into her, first gently, then harder..his thumb working that little bunch of nerves all the time, varying the pressure and pace.

Between her silent crying and her mind on the edge of losing it, she felt slowly but steadily heat rising up in her body.

One time when she felt her hips moving into the direction of his fingers out of reflex, she saw his wide grin, and he pushed his fingers even deeper into her.

"You feel so good, so tight.."

It wasn't long until the heat became a flame, waves of forced pleasure slowly building up in her body.

Loki hummed, his hot breath on her ear adding to the sensation, "So wet for me, Sylvie..you're already close.."

Trying to avoid it at any cost, to think about something else.

But he was all over the place..

Everywhere..

"I'll make you come so hard on my fingers..and then I'm going to fuck you.."

Sylvie shook her head, new tears streaming out of her eyes, flowing down her cheek and ear, getting licked away by the god, "Don't fight it..don't hold back..let go.."

Her breathing increased..

Muscles tensed up..

One last time trying to fight it.

But it was a losing game..

His thumb increased the pace once again and with him licking and biting at her ear and one last stroke over her sensitive, swollen clit she was pushed over the edge..

The moment she climaxed the god let go of her mouth, thrusting his fingers so deep into her she arched her back.

"Loki!! Oh god.."

She spasmed around his fingers, legs shaking..

She heard his chuckle as if it came from far away, her ears were ringing, her lower body shaking uncontrollably.

Then everything happened at the same time.

Lips crashing against hers..

A tongue invading her mouth..

Lokis body on top of her..

His weight holding her down..

The restraints on her ankles gone..

"All I know is I don't wanna hurt you.."

Her own voice in her head sounded surreal, far away..

A last attempt to reach him.

"Loki, stop..not like this, please.."

The ringing increased..

Everything faded away..

Submerging again..

Suddenly a sharp pain on her cheek brought her brutally back to reality.

She looked at him in shock, not at all grasping what just happened.

"Maybe love is hate.."

After slapping her, his hand started to caress the burning skin gently, "No drifting away this time.." his hardness pressing at her entrance, "I want you to be there when I fuck you. I want you to remember.."

In the corner of her eyes she saw the scepter glimmering.

The blue shade enlightened the whole room.

It looked stunning, precious.

Like the gem on a ring..

And with one hard thrust and a deep moan of pleasure he entered her.

"..who you belong to."