Wow, the responses are amazing! So many Sylkie fans, I'm so happy! When I first look for their ships, most were Mobius/Loki fics so I was a little skeptical when I made this fic, but your responses, faves, and bookmarks told me otherwise! Thank you all!

Here's an early gift from me to you Please keep the reviews/comments coming. This fic is also available at Ao3.

The first time he saw her frustrated because of him was back in Lamentus-1. She screamed her heart out and calmed down.

But this type of frustration is much bigger.

On the first day, she was like a caged animal, pacing back and forth her mystic cell restlessly.

Unlike his dungeon back in Asgard, hers is better. Her cell is similar to his time loop prison, a nice sofa with one small pillow in a gazebo, in a small night garden. Except all entrances are blocked with mystical walls that only she can't get through, every time she passes through one, she'll end up in the other. It's their version of inescapable prison. She's in an unescapable little garden.

Loki hoped that she'd be comfortable in that space. He had begged Dr. Strange for it, to not treat her like the other prisoners, to give her a space that is less prison-like. At first, everyone was confused about his request, especially Thor. This is the first time that Loki Laufeyson had begged and cared. He did feel a little humiliated for begging like a puppy, especially after Thor teased him about their relationship, but his priority is Sylvie's well-being.

He watched her carefully in Kamar-Taj's library from the mist he conjured that he learned from Dr. Strange and Wanda. He has been learning more magic than he thought he was capable of, and he wished he could share that with Sylvie.

But he knows what she's feeling now and that it'd be best to leave her be. He tried to speak to her on the second day, conjuring an illusion of himself the way his mother did, but it was no use.

The way she reacted to him was the same way he reacted to Frigga. How much patience that woman has towards him is beyond measure.

He vowed to visit her often just as his mother did, but Sylvie doesn't look like she wants to see him any time soon. The first time he visited her, she was already ready to strangle him. So he only dropped by to give her a book to read and left without saying much.

Today, she looks calmer, but he can still feel that rage in her eyes. Was this what his mother saw the day he was in prison, he wondered. But will she want his company now?

"You might want to go see her," A voice called to him that made him disconnect his powers to see Sylvie, the mist fading to nothing.

Loki turned back to see Wanda Maximoff looking at him, her red armor radiating magic as she uses her powers to place some books back in their cases. He shifted on his seat, acting like nothing's happened, "Wanda."

"Loki," she greeted back with a smile whilst flicking her fingers to replace some books and grabbing another one, "You've been busy."

He turned back to the book he borrowed, "I've been learning a little about your kind's magic. Thought it might help me a little more for my tricks," diverting the real subject. He and Wanda were not too close, not as close as he was with Mobius, but close to the surface of friends he supposes.

"Maybe you want to check the Mirror Dimension sections," Wanda suggested, "Even though it's about certain realms, it has connections with the Mystical magics."

"I'm aware," he said calmly.

Wanda turned to him with amusement on her face, "You've read it?"

"Mmmhmm," Loki said, "Quite fascinating to see our physical forms from afar and time just slowing down, don't you think? Though the mirror part is a little boring."

The Scarlet Witch crossed her arms, looking impressed, "You're telling me you've done it already?"

Loki smiled mischievously at her, "Beginner's luck."

"Wow, I never knew you had that kind of magic in you," Wanda whistled, "I had to defeat some dark witch and read several times to understand the concept of my own powers."

"After seeing Strange fought in a Mirror Dimension, I can't help but be curious about this part of power," he said before turning the page, "So that I can have a place to run to in case Thor bugs me again."

Wanda couldn't help but laugh, "You are learning to get into the Mirror Dimension so that you can run away from your brother?"

"Especially when he's drunk," he murmured irritatingly, "And you don't want to see him that way."

She laughed and sat across him as a book floated to her hand, "You both seem very close."

"Maybe," he said, "We had a few fights but…." He shrugged, "In the end, it worked out, that's all I can gather."

Wanda nodded, "I used to be a twin," she confessed, making Loki switches his attention from the book to her, "He died a long time ago to save my friend."

"I'm sorry," Loki genuinely said, he had heard about how she lost all her family. Including the one, she loved most.

"It's alright, it's a long time ago. I made peace with it," she smiled, "Tommy reminds me of him a lot, so that keeps me going."

"Ahh, yes, where are your two little brats?" he looked around mischievously, since the first day they were introduced to the sorcerers, they had been nothing but a bundle of fire. A little annoying, welcoming.

She scoffed at the name he called her twins, "They are training with the other guardians," she said, "Thought a few exercises might help blow some steam off."

"They may be great of help in case intruders come," he commented.

"Oh, they are the best," Wanda said proudly, "They have great corporations when it comes to that."

"That's good," he smiled and returned to read about other mystical arts.

They stayed quiet for a while before Wanda had the courage to ask, "How is she?"

Loki's eye looked up to her, "I beg your pardon?"

"Sylvie," she said calmly, "You were watching her."

He pursed his lips, a little embarrassed that he was caught red-handed, "Ahh, just checking if she's comfortable. But yes, she seems okay."

"I see, that's good," Wanda softly said, he thinks that she's hiding something from what he said but she didn't add. She opened her book, "She must've had a rough past."

"She did," Loki answered, "On the run on her own, trust issues, fighting her whole life…."

"That's awful," Wanda said with sympathy in her tone, "She had to learn magic on her own?"

"I guess that's what made her strong," he answered, "Doing everything to survive."

"Least she didn't hex an entire town as I did," she murmured, which made Loki furrow his brows, Wanda chuckled, "I lost Vision after the war with Thanos," she started, "I knew I couldn't get him back, and out of my sadness and wish to have him back, I ended up making a false reality."

"Remind me to not be at your bad side," Loki said, which earned a laugh from her, "but jokes aside, you really did create a whole new world?"

"In a way, yes," she said, "I was blinded by my own sadness, and I was lying to myself. I created another part of Vision and the twins."

"So….the twins are from that reality you created?" He really thought that they were her children, he hadn't heard the part where she hexed something.

"Yea," she said, "but for some reason, I got them back. And I want to thank Sylvie for that."

This made him blink, "Thank Sylvie?"

"Yea, I know it sounds selfish of me to want to have this madness happen, but," she pursed her lips, "If Sylvie didn't create this multiverse stuff, I would never have my children back. And to know that we have a timeline where we can finally live together…. It's more than a gift to me."

Loki felt a little disbelief but grateful that he wasn't the only one who was on his side. All this time, pretty much all the Midgard people wanted to kill her, and he had to fight and debate fiercely to stop them from doing just that.

He smiled at her, "You should tell her that, it'll make her feel better."

She shook her head, "I don't think it's appropriate for me to meet her when you haven't seen her yet."

Loki's head fell, unable to say anything. Wanda also played her part in his plan to imprison Sylvie, restraining her with her magic. She's right, he should be the one to explain everything, not Wanda.

"She's restless," he finally confessed, never in his life did he ever feel clueless but now he is, "By now, I think she just wants to burn this place to the ground," he can still feel her rage even from seeing her in that mist, "I wanted to talk to her, but every time I see her, she doesn't look like she's ready to see me. She'd just shun me away."

"She knows that you're protecting her," Wanda pointed out.

"She doesn't see it that way," Loki answered, he knows this, for he was once in her shoes, "She felt betrayed, and I just spiked her trust issues. Hooray, me," he scoffed sarcastically, before leaning his back on the chair, "I…. I don't know what to do. This is truly new to me." He had never bothered to win someone's trust back, and yet here he is now. Trying to figure out how to do just that.

Wanda shifted her hands where she placed them on her book pages, shifting uncomfortably, "She's still mad, is she?"

"Sadly, yes," Loki said, "I suppose that's on me." Just like back in Lamentus-1 when she nearly accepted her fate to die, "And that book I gave her that James Barnes told me that it'll keep her company, she didn't seem to finish one chapter of it."

"Yea, but women have huge issues when it comes to feelings, especially to someone she loves," she said genuinely, making him lift his brow, "What I'm trying to say is…..you've been wanting to talk to her, but maybe you should let her talk to you. Hear her out."

"I don't think she has anything to say to me."

"I think she has a lot to say if you approach it on her level, that way, she might open up a bit to know that you both are equal," Wanda objects, "What do you think she will say to you if she wants to talk to you?"

You're a clown. You killed us. You only want the throne, I shouldn't have trusted you. Loki guessed in his head, it still stung to hear when she told him that she didn't trust him, and he doesn't think he likes to hear it again, "I have my guesses, and I've heard them in the past that I don't think she'd want to repeat it."

"Yea, but really, women just want to be heard. We'd tell you to leave us alone when in reality, we kinda do need company," she smiled, "To sort of letting it all out, especially since she is on her own."

"I thought screaming would be enough," Loki said.

"Oh no, it's more than that, silly," Wanda laughed, he grumbled when he called her that, how dare she calls a god silly. But she didn't seem to care, "What I mean is, she wants you to hear what she has to say."

"I think I have an idea on what she wants to say about me," Loki shrugged.

"Yea, but we prefer to say it again," Wanda said.

He sighed, "Since when are you, my counselor?"

She giggled, "Let's just say, friendly advice," there it is, the word friend again, "After all, I know what it's like to care for someone deeply as you have. I envy you that that person is close to you now."

Loki was about to reply but held his tongue. Right, she lost Vision, "I'm sorry."

She shook her head, "Made peace with that too, don't worry."

"Right, so, Ms. Love Expert," Loki japed, hoping to light the conversation, "You told me that I should see her now…."

"That's if you are not scared to see her."

"I am not," Loki shot at her.

"Well, what's holding you back?"

"I'm giving her time away from me."

"Or you are worried how she'll react to you," she retorted back, he wanted to protest but she's not letting him, "Go visit her, Loki. She may look disappointed now but seeing you might make her feel better, she'll even be happy that you came to see her. I'll tell Dr. Strange that you are going to visit her regularly so that the others are not suspicious of you."

The God of Mischief scoffed, "I don't need their permission to visit her."

"Loki," Wanda protest, "You too are still under suspicion after what you did to New York. The least you can do is show them that you are on our side."

"I thought I have already."

"God, you two," she rolled her eyes, "Just…. Be nice to the rest. Alright? You're not the only one having trust issues here. They know how you feel for her, and I'm sure they'll think that you are going to break her out any minute."

"My, and here I thought I won their trust," Loki groaned.

"Almost," Wanda smiled, "You just need to give them a little push, just as you would for Sylvie."

Loki sighed, closing the book he read. All this trusting game is so frustrating, Thor had no problem with him and so did Mobius, so why won't the rest? "Why are you doing this?"

"S'cuse me?"

"Why are you telling me all this? Don't deny it that you too are having your doubts on me."

"Oh, don't get me wrong, I was," she snickered, making him frown, "But after hearing from Thor about you, and how your other friend, Mobius, seem to trust you so willingly, I doubt that you'll go against us," She answered casually, "I can tell that you are on our side when we first met, even without using my powers."

"Should I be worried that you are checking on my feelings?" When they first met, he could feel her presence in his head, but it was subtle and not threatening, so he didn't say anything.

"In the beginning, I had to. Sorry," she confessed, looking a little guilty but not sorry, "Just did a little mind-reading to see your true intention."

"Don't do that again, Wanda," he warned.

"In my defense, we had to know whose side are you on," she defended herself.

"Right, but that doesn't explain why you are telling me all this."

"Loki," she leaned forward on the table, "I couldn't count the many times I lost Vision," she confessed, her red eyes turned sad, she looked the other way, "I don't know where he is now, but I know he's out there, and we'll find him," then she turned back to Loki, "But if I were given another chance to be with him again, I want to spend every minute of my time with him. Him, and the boys."

Loki looked at her with content, understanding where she's getting at. She had lost so many people she cared for, she would no doubt do everything in her power to be with them again. That explains why she was always protective towards the boys, not because of motherly instinct, but the idea of losing them again must've terrified her so badly.

And the idea of losing Sylvie to him terrifies him too, "I see," he murmured.

"Life is fragile, Loki. Not even the strongest Avenger can change that fact," She added, "Go visit her."

The first time she was placed in the cell, all she ever wanted to do is burn it to the ground. She had admitted that she was wrong, and she had fought on their side. How come she had to be in this god-forsaken cell?

It's not as bad as the one in TVA, but she felt caged. Everywhere she turns, it's just the same place. A small little garden that she can't go through without getting teleported to the same place again.

Sylvie sat exasperatedly on the stairs of the gazebo, staring at the lush green.

She felt trapped, in the need to do something. To bring her frustration down, but she can't help but remember the day when she reunited with Loki, only to sell her to these Midgardians. She had told them that she has a hint on where Kang could be at but was restrained back by these other sorcerers.

Loki didn't even fight back, only watched her being restrained. She should've known that he'll betray her for his freedom. The first time he visited her, she hated to see his sorry face. She hated to look weak, so she told him to piss off and leave her. And he did. Good, he was the one who lied to her.

But this mess is also your fault, a part of her whispered to her mind, the creeping guilt came back to her.

If only she wasn't so blinded by her anger, none of this war wouldn't have happened.

If only you listened to Loki.

"Did the book I sent not interest you?"

She knew very well whose voice that belongs to, for she had been with him to the ends of the world.

Sylvie stood up and walked out of the gazebo, "Which part of leaving me alone did you not understand Loki?"

"I thought The Hobbit was a pretty interesting tale," Loki said without sounding any alarm, "I did enjoy the part where the little creature disappeared with that ring."

The Goddess of Mischief began to feel a little irritated, she turned around to see him opening the book he had given to her, "Loki, please shut up."

Loki looked at her respectfully, he set the book down and held his hand up, "My apologies," he backed a little to sit on the sofa, "Thought of seeing how you are doing."

"As you can see, I'm fine, no thanks to you," she spat, "Now please, piss off. Before I throw something at you." She lied on this, her cell had canceled her spells. Any magic she did isn't working.

"Sylvie," Loki gently called her, which made her even more irritated, "Please, I think we need to talk."

"I have nothing to say to you," she spat.

"Fine, you don't have to say anything to me, but at least, hear me out?"

"I just told you to shut up."

"Fine," he held his hand up, and sat back on the sofa, just staring at her. At her command, he actually did shut up.

But now, his look of pity to her is starting to annoy her. She stepped the stairs into the gazabo, "Stop looking at me like that."

"Would you like me to turn around?"

"Don't you have other things to do than to be here?"

"Done that," he said, "It's my spare time, and I chose it to be here with you. I want to talk to you."

Sylvie frowned, he's stubborn like her, and it doesn't look like he's going to leave without getting what he's here for, "If I let you talk, will you leave me alone?"

He nodded, "I promise."

Promise, no one had ever said that to her but him. And he had kept his word. All the time that they had been together, he had always kept her safe. She knew she can trust him, but is still highly skeptical after he hid the truth from her that got her into this mess. She's still not sure anymore what he wants.

I just want you to be okay, his words rang to her.

But I'm not.

Sylvie finally sat down next to him, but did not meet his gaze, she chose to look at the lake view in front of her that she couldn't go past through thanks to the mystic walls, "Shoot."

Loki sat back up, he opened his mouth, "Did you really not like the book?" Loki asked.

She rolled her eyes, getting close to anger that he'd ask this instead, "Loki, I swear, if this is what you came for…."

"Okay, okay, I'm sorry," he chuckled, before clearing his throat, "I just…..I've done everything I can to make you feel comfortable." Sylvie didn't say anything on this, choosing to stay silent, and when it's clear for him to speak, he continues, "I didn't want this to happen to you, Sylvie. You know that if there's another way, I'd do it. And it was clear that you didn't want to come here, and you knew that the people of Midgard are hunting you. I knew that you were going to run away the moment you meet one of my…..friends here. That's why I had to keep this information from you."

Sylvie still chose to stay silent and listen to him, but she still didn't want to meet his eyes.

"When Wanda found you, and she told us what you did, and I had to tell everyone about you," he continued, "They were already figuring out who you were, and it was obvious that they wanted you dead. I couldn't let them do it, not to you."

"Then why didn't you tell me any of this when we met again?" still not wanting to look at him, afraid that she'll turn emotional, for tears are close to well up her eyes.

"You'd run away again," Loki said, "I know you, Sylvie. I've felt what you felt, and you won't stand a chance against the Avengers like I did, and you'd run if…."

"I'M NOT YOU!" she suddenly shouted, finally turning to face him with glaring daggers, feeling so sick of hearing that she's another variant of him, "You don't know what it felt like when you turned your back on me. I trusted you."

She expected him to shout back, protest, say something snarky again. But instead, he pursed his lips and continued to still look at her with sympathy, "Yes, you are not me. You are stronger than me, you've survived more ends of the world than me on your own, and I'm sorry for lying to you."

"I don't need you to pity me, Loki. And sorry won't cut it," she growled, feeling a small sting in her eyes.

"We've been separated twice, Sylvie. And you caused the multiverse branches," he soothingly said, not trying to point any fingers on whose fault was it, "I was anxious to know your location, to find where you are," Sylvie was about to say that she can take care of herself, trying to brush it off, but Loki wasn't letting her, "I know, you can look after yourself. But that won't stop me from worrying about you, and nothing would stop me from caring about you," she finally meets his gaze her steam slowly fading, "The Avengers wanted you dead, and they too won't stop at nothing until they finally see to that. So, I spoke with them. I did everything I can to keep you safe, to keep you alive, not to harm you the way they did to the other prisoners. They didn't trust me at first because of my reputation, and it was frustrating for me to convince them because they still wouldn't trust me. If it weren't for Mobius, Thor, and Wanda, we wouldn't be able to come to this agreement. This was the only best bet we had. I wish there was another way than to lie to you, I'm sorry."

Sylvie did not expect this answer from him. He had fought his way to keep her alive, humiliating himself in the process perhaps. She had never seen him going through so much length to do this, and if it were, sometimes he'd brag about it. But this, she can feel so much difference. When she realized that he was conspiring behind her back, it hurt her the most. She was so willingly ready to believe him, that he'll take her somewhere far from the Avengers, and yet…

"You were always perceptive about everyone but yourself, kinda how we got here," Loki chuckled, making her cringe a little to the fact that she caused the multiverse war, "But thanks to you, we got it more under control now. We can still fix this."

She looked away to hide her shame, "I'm sorry," she whispered.

Loki sat a little closer to her, she felt his warmth, his fingers slide delicately to her hands that's resting on her lap, "I know, and I understand that you spent your whole life hunting the man who took your life away from you. I don't blame you," he said softly. She still didn't feel convinced about this, so he continued, "Wanda wanted to thank you."

She turned to him in confusion. Why would she thank her?

"With the multiverse happening, it gave her the possibility to finally be with her children from a different reality," he said, "It's best not to question it, but the point is, she was grateful to finally be able to reunite with her twins."

Sylvie looked down at their tangled hands, feeling content that not everyone is blaming her. She smiled a little at the thought that she's not alone, her heart swelling at the idea that someone cared for her.

"Well, that's all I have to say to you," he stood up, standing in front of her, "Thank you for listening. As promised, I'll leave you be."

"Loki," she softly called out before he can teleport himself. He looked at her, "Thank you….for telling me all this. For….helping me."

The God of Mischief smiled at her with content, he knelt to her eye level, taking her hands in his warm ones and squeeze them, "My pleasure." And at that, he gave her a soft peck on her hand before he slowly faded.

Leaving her alone again.

Sylvie stared at the spot where Loki was once there, already beginning to miss his presence. She looked at her hands, remembering the smooth feeling of his lips there. Perhaps she has the heart to forgive him a little, and herself.

She plopped down on her sofa and looked up the ceiling, feeling a little better. Without thinking, she took the book sitting on the small table beside the sofa and opened it.

Loki watched her as she began to read, by the looks of it, it doesn't look like she's as mad as she first came here.

It's funny how this resembled the conversation he had with his mother in the replay Mobius gave him in his timeline. And ironically, she reacted better than him. Mother would have loved her.

But now, knowing that she's okay is a relief to him. And now, since he and she have finally cleared the misunderstanding, perhaps it's a silent agreement that she allows him to visit her. He can finally re-establish their friendship.

One step at a time, Loki, he told himself before he himself plopped back on his bed.

I tried to do it the MCU way where after one movie ends, how they tie up is by doing a few jumps after what happened before.

I put Wanda in the picture as she's the one currently we know that is very familiar with the feeling of loss and subtle betrayal (Ultron and Stark during Civil War).

I hope the conversation between Loki and Sylvie made sense. I tried to put it from different POVs and explore their feelings on their situations. What do you guys think?

Let me know what you think! Keep the comments coming, and you'll get more chapters :D Stay safe everyone!

Claire