Author's Note: I must again issue a warning that this contains ADULT THEMES OF RAPE! Do not read if you are squeamish, do not like slash, or cannot stand the thought or vision of non-consensual sex. Do not flame me for your own inability to read the summaries and warnings that I liberally supply.

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There was light somewhere; Toby was dimly aware of that. A blink of his sleep-hazed eyes and he noticed it was coming from the window, where dawn would soon be breaking in the glory of a typically sunny Labryinthian summer day. But for now...

The boy jerked backwards as the arm scooped him forward, trying to wriggle out from under the covers that hampered his movements. The second arm joined in and to Toby's ultimate shock, the dark figure settled quite comfortably on top of him. "Get off," seemed about all he could manage. So he said it as forcefully as he could.

The being laughed, leaned sweetly over him and adjusted himself on top so that his hands were trapped to his sides by two well-placed knees. Toby struggled, but his captor was bigger and apparently much stronger than he was. There was an air of mystery and for the life of him Toby could not discern the features of the face he was looking directly at! All he was aware of was the dark of the hair and the burning blackness of the being's eyes.

He held still in shock as cold fingers slowly slid over his jaw, before gently patting his lower lip. For one wild moment, he contemplated biting it, but the being shook his head and took it away. "Well, dear heart," a voice whispered, a cold finger flicking down his neck and dancing maddeningly just inside the neck of his shirt, "And what shall I do with you?"

Toby spat viciously and snapped, "You could let me go, psycho! Before I call for help and you get caught."

The figure in black chuckled, a rich throaty sound that tickled at his captive's ears like a needle. "I think not," he answered smugly, "After all, the Goblin King's chief whore is not such a precious commodity. I can simply say you like to play games. I am here on official business."

Chief whore? Who did this guy think he was? Official business- Toby filed that away in his head for future reference and then pounced on the next lifeline. Most of the people he had met feared the Goblin King- "Jareth will skin you alive if you touch me. Let me go now and I won't say a thing to him. Don't let me go- I'll scream the place down." Unless it was Jareth himself? Toby couldn't tell.

"Such a bad child! And what makes you think I'll permit that?"

Toby opened his mouth to shout or swear but a thick piece of leather was already being forced between his teeth. He tried to spit it out but he couldn't. This wasn't just an awkward situation anymore, but an honestly terrifying assault. He struggled in earnest now, wriggling out from under his captor and trying to get to the door. Strong fingers held like iron as he was pinned down, his arms tugged up and clamped above his head. Toby's stomach lurched as metal bound cold around his wrists, locking him to the sheets. He was captured; never so vulnerable as when he lay bound and gagged beneath he weight of the other man.

The man looked down, pleased with himself. His victim was in position, defenceless, the boyish body sprawled in inelegant beauty across the sheets, the golden hair tangled and mussed on the pillows. But those eyes! Oh, he could gaze at the angry terror in those blue eyes all day. Though, now he thought of it... anger wasn't one of his favourites. Pure terror was preferable. Pain was better!

He bent down, his lips brushing the curve of Toby's ear: "Where were we? Ah yes! You were threatening me with the wrath of your bond mate. Well, perhaps he will be furious. Perhaps he will rage and storm throughout the Kingdom for this. And do you know why? Because you let this happen! You invited it, parading around the way you do. Does His Majesty know? I think not; he's been too busy to really see the way you behave. The way you talk. You can rest assured that this is all... your... fault."

Not Jareth, then. Toby might have laughed in relief and in disbelief if he wasn't so petrified. He shook his head violently, fiercely denying any of it.

"Oh, but he would think so; you know the way he thinks. And then you- such beauty, such physical poetry in motion... and rumour has it that you won't let him share your bed." The dark chuckle sounded again, this time echoing in his other ear. "What will he think but that his innocent prize entices others to take what His Majesty is denied? Think, dear heart; your word is not worth much to him as it is."

Toby stiffened as hands ripped at his shirt, tearing it off his chest and shoulders right down to his trousers. The stupidest thought of what Kyfrem would say about his torn clothes entered his mind. He didn't resist, though. For one thing because there was little he could do besides wriggle and that seemed to be what his attacker wanted. And in any case, it had to be just a trick. People didn't go around saying and doing such things. Not to Jareth's 'property' at least. Maybe it was just another type of dream? Toby consoled himself with that thought. If it was unreal, it didn't need to affect him.

Hands slid cold over warm skin, rejoicing in the delicacy. But his toy was too still, surely? He wanted a plea; he wanted a murmur; he wanted something that told him the child knew exactly what was happening to him. The man licked over a collarbone. That earned him no response. He kissed down the gentle dip in the centre of Toby's chest. No response again. He finally smirked before fastening his mouth over a nipple and sucking. The body under him jerked and a soft sound of protest reached his ears.

He looked up and caught dawning recognition in those wide blue eyes. Toby began to breathe heavily as the blank face he stared at began to smile.

The games were over. Hands pushed Toby's pants down and off, out of the way as the boy stared down at dark hair in horror, his mind melting into incredulous denial as his knees were pushed to his chest. For surely no one could really do something like that to him? Not after he said no?

He felt his attacker press down on top of him and tried to shift the weight away. But the man wouldn't move! It was certainly a man, with his strong limbs and that… Toby's brain froze when fingers drifted down the backs of his thighs. He gave a muffled sound of protest as those fingers touched places no one had the right to in Toby's opinion. Something else began to press at his mind, giving him a vague ache as he clenched mind and body against this invasion. The sudden eruption of pain as a hot, hard something slammed callously into him made his concentration break. His eyes widened to the size of dinner plates and the muscles in his arms tightened against the bond. Muffled cries of pain ripped out from Toby's slender throat, tears spilling from the corners of his closed eyes.

It hurt! God, but it hurt!

His rapist grinned at the sight and thrust deeper, harder, rolling his hips so the abused flesh was tormented just a touch more.

Dark eyes blazed and burned. The man was pleased! Toby whimpered and pressed back against the pillows, wrists trying futilely to break the bind on them. He was aware of fingers pressing alternately into his ribs and hips, could feel the rending of his muscles as they tried to accommodate the agonizing intruder. His brain burned and the pressure in his skull was so intense that he couldn't even hear his own screams any more. And finally, just when he thought that nothing could get worse, he choked as he felt himself flooded with the unwanted outcome of such an act, ribs creaking as the full weight of a large man pressed down on his slight body.

His rapist disappeared just as suddenly as he had appeared, and Toby was left alone. He was left bound and gagged on the bed, semen still hot inside him and tears wet on his cheeks. His head pounded and he could taste bile on the back of his throat. He twisted his head in fright as the door opened.

Jareth stopped in the doorway; his surprised eyes caught more by the sumptuous arrangement of his bond mate's golden body on the white sheets than by the look on Toby's face. It was only when the still-curled legs crashed back to the mattress in embarrassment that he roused himself to action.

"Toby! What happened?" he demanded, locking the door behind him and striding over to pull the leather strip from the boy's mouth.

Blue eyes were glazed and terrified as they stared up at him, the small body shaking in earnest. "No... no, please... don't touch me."

Hips squirmed away on the bed. And then Jareth saw them- a few drops of blood on the sheets where Toby had been lying. His quick mind instantly put two and two together. He got off the bed, backing away a step with his hands out and open. "I won't hurt you," Jareth promised gently, "I won't touch you unless you allow me. But we need to get those cuffs off. You're hurt. You need to see a doctor for..."

"NO!" The shout rang desperately through the air. "No, I- I don't need anything; I don't need anyone. I just- go away! I'm fine. I'm fine. Nothing happened... no, nothing happened. I swear it. Please believe me, Jareth. Please? I tried! I promise I tried, but he was so strong, so... Oh God, he hurt me. He hurt me!"

Bewildered panic dissolved into tears of rage and shame and child-like wails filled the chamber. Toby curled up, hands still locked to the bedhead but trying futilely to protect himself. Jareth was seriously worried now. Moving as slowly as he dared, he leaned across to Toby's bound hands and got the cuffs unlocked with a simple flick of magic. Toby gulped in fear and moved away, rubbing his wrists to ease the bruises.

Jareth didn't move away. Instead, he held out his hand to the shivering child, murmuring soothing words as best he could.

Toby was beginning to refocus, to come out of the emotional daze he'd curled himself into. "J- Jareth?"

The Goblin King smiled somewhat in relief. "Yes. What happened? I know you were hurt, Toby, but I can help you if you let me."

"You can't help me." Was that fear in Toby's voice? Jareth hadn't thought he'd ever hear such a fiery creature sound so defenceless. "No one can help me."

Jareth kept his hand extended. "Let me try," he insisted.

Toby hid behind the tangled thick of his hair and shook his head, eyes downcast as he tried to curl in on himself again, to forget the pain inside and out. "You'll hate me," he whispered, "And you can't change the past. You can reorder time but you can't change the past. You'll hate me."

"I won't," Jareth pleaded, "Please! Let me help."

Again the tousled head shook its refusal. A bigger shiver ran down Toby's spine as his torn clothing let the cold air touch his shock-cold skin. He wouldn't look up and far from accepting Jareth's offer of help he was shying away from it.

The half-goblin finally dropped his hand, his eyes fixed on Toby's averted face. The mortal couldn't even look at him. Hot anger surged up to his tongue. Not only had someone just dared to touch what was essentially his, but Toby was just a boy! A child who hadn't ever known a man! Surely that was obvious to anyone? But the sheet was staining red with the blood seeping down between his legs.

Innocence... Toby was pure innocence and someone had deliberately corrupted it.

Jareth shrugged out of his cape and handed it to the injured boy, waiting only to see him wrap himself up in it before making for the door.

Toby looked up, lost in the folds of the extravagant black garment, feeling less naked and finding his heart filled with a darkness he couldn't truly understand. It was lodged in his throat so tight, and felt so familiar; like he was waking up to find he was filled with a sadness that could harm someone. Had he always been like this? He heard the click of boots moving to the door. The darkness threatened to draw closer. His throat tightened even more.

'I own you, dear heart. I'm always with you. But I'll come to you with the darkness...'

"Jareth, no!"

The Goblin King turned, nodding silently when Toby stared beseechingly at him. The tears had dried, leaving salt tracks on the smooth cheeks. This time when he held out his hand, a small golden one slipped into it.

Toby bit his lip in shame as his legs refused to let him move without the spearing pain flaring through his body. He tried, and his legs buckled from under him.

Jareth sighed inwardly and tamped down on his anger at such a sight. Anger would only serve to frighten Toby in his condition. Besides, it wasn't the pain so much as the shock; Toby was still in a daze and still too stunned to command his limbs with any great skill. Moving slowly and watching Toby watch his hands, he slid his arms around the child and picked him up. Luckily he had carried Toby before, so there was no struggle on the quick apparition to his own suite of rooms.

Toby naturally got suspicious the minute he opened his eyes to green and silver furnishings. "Why am I here?" he asked, looking around in trepidation. Fear again. "Where is this?."

The Goblin King laid his burden down on the bed and bade him stay still. "This is my room, where no one will disturb us unless I call. I need something to heal your injuries, my elf. I didn't think you'd want to stay there alone. And even if you did, I'm not leaving you by yourself."

Toby gulped and nodded. He would have gone mad if he'd been trapped in that awful place. Here, Jareth was with him. He was his bond mate; no one would dare come here now to hurt him, would they? His mind recalled every last painful moment and he gave a soft cry, retreating into that far corner of his mind again, locking his consciousness down from the sordid pain.

"Toby? Toby! No, you don't; come back here," Jareth commanded, tapping the non-bruised cheek gently, "Toby!" Blue eyes opened and fastened desperately on his. "I'm here, my elf. I'm here. No one will touch you now."

The boy blinked and the red haze of madness slipped away. "Promise me?" he begged, grabbing Jareth's arm with convulsive fingers. "No one at all?"

"I promise," Jareth agreed. It was an easy enough oath to take; whoever had dared lay a finger on his bond mate would find themselves on the wrong end of a very large pointed stake. But first things first- "Toby, I'm going to undress you. I need to check your injuries."

"NO!"

Jareth hastily stepped back as Toby made to jump backwards. He held out the little carved wooden box in his right hand. "You can trust me, Toby."

"How do I know?" His throat was raw and burning, his mind hating him for feeling this weak. Toby was not accustomed to feeling weak. He may look small and delicate but he had always been able to handle himself before. He'd fought off anyone or anything that had tried to harm him before. And now blazing dark eyes were branded into his very soul.

"I would never hurt you," a raw silk voice said soothingly, caressing his ears with gentleness, "Just trust me and let me help you. I can make the pain stop. And once a doctor has examined you..."

"NO!" The third time and Toby cringed back in apology, as if expecting a blow. "I- I don't want one. I don't... I mean, I just can't. Not now."

Jareth nodded. To hear that Toby trusted him so completely was no compensation for the fact that Toby had been hurt so badly that he couldn't trust anyone else! If anger was molten lava then the Goblin King was a volcano about to erupt. And somewhere outside the Labyrinth gates, Hoggle stared in alarm as stone crumbled into gravel with the force of angered magic rippling freely through the land. The goblins trembled and made for the open spaces, knowing their King's anger could well bring their houses down on top of them.

Compressing his lips, Jareth reached slowly for the cloak. Smooth, careful movement was the key. He didn't take his eyes from Toby's face, watching for any trait of denial or panic. Toby hesitated a minute and then let it go. His breath hitched as the mismatched eyes flared with fury at a renewed sight of his condition.

'You let this happen... you invited it... your fault...'

Unclean, his mind screamed at him, unclean.

Jareth noted the panic but eased the shirt off Toby's torso before the human could say another word. There were bruises and a deepish scratch on his ribs, but otherwise it wasn't so bad. He dipped his fingers into the ointment in his hand and smeared some onto the golden skin. He had thought about the first time he would ever see Toby naked; he just hadn't ever imagined it would be like this!

Toby closed his eyes and clenched his fists. The less sane portion of his mind told him emphatically that Jareth couldn't do such a thing. But the rays of sunlight in his head were so pale. But Toby trusted them implicitly. His only other option was the shadow that lurked somewhere just out of range, waiting to tell him horrible things. He kept telling himself not to worry, that Jareth was a friend and had promised not to hurt him. He recited that mantra over and over in his head, feeling it running like a broken record, like a hoop, like a circle... 'the wheels on the bus go round and round' and all that, though he didn't want to think about songs he'd learned when he'd been a baby... Jareth was a friend and had promised not to hurt... Jareth was...

It got better when Jareth moved to his shoulders and his wrists, both bruised and suffering from the position of the cuffs. The half-goblin noticed white teeth were gnawing on the lower lip hard enough to make a tiny cut. A pink tongue flicked out instinctively to lick the blood away and the lips trembled, presumably because the contact with his saliva burned slightly. But then the teeth emerged again, worrying and biting and desperately pulling on the split lip until a steady trickle of blood began to run down the pointed chin. Jareth realized that Toby was inviting the pain in, rejoicing in it.

"Stop that," he snapped. Toby's eyes flew open in abject terror. The Goblin King gently placed a finger under his chin and shook his head. "Pain won't solve anything," he warned quietly, "Don't ever try and hurt yourself." Toby swallowed and nodded, closing his eyes in defeat as Jareth got up and walked to a door next to his bed.

Jareth came back with a bowl of tepid water, daubing blood away with a soft cloth and easing the healing cream over the torn lip. It trembled again beneath his finger and he vowed to kill whoever had done such a thing. The upper body done, the Goblin King was now left with a problem. "Toby, I need to see to the rest of you."

Toby did not realize that he had begun murmuring the words out loud- "Jareth's a friend... he promised... he won't hurt you... Jareth's a friend..." But Jareth did, and he pushed Toby carefully onto his back. The boy stiffened and the words faltered. He was open and vulnerable again! A vision of dark eyes with unspeakable evil in their depths came to him and he whimpered, thinking he was going mad.

Jareth held his breath, willing the boy to snap out of his shock and think rationally. He needed to examine the boy because someone had to! The injuries needed to be treated and if Toby's injuries were beyond Jareth's basic abilities, Arienne would have to be called no matter what Toby said. But considering such a terrifying loss of control, he wanted to allow Toby the space to choose. Either way it was imperative that he be allowed to examine Toby. Then the words began again; telling the half-goblin it was all right to proceed as Toby didn't have the energy to fight any more.

Toby turned over onto his stomach. He buried his face into the pillow and filled his lungs with the smell of pine and smoke that Jareth seemed to have. Pine and smoke comforted him, rested him as the air whispered over abused flesh.

"He's a friend..."- cool hands on his skin; a finger slipped between skin and brushed against the place where he hurt the most.

Jareth saw the thin shoulders begin to shake and grit his teeth. There was too much blood for his liking, though that was expected when such sensitive muscle was injured. The smell of sex that clung beneath the coppery tang was trying his limits to the utmost and in his own desperate anger he ripped up a few houses in the Goblin City by their foundations and send them raining down on the forest trees.

The cloth stained rust, the water turned murky and he still wasn't done. Wetting his fingers, he eased one into Toby's body, hearing a loud sob greet his actions.

It was no use. Jareth couldn't proceed because it risked too much and such an examination would only hurt more than do any good. Toby had certainly been torn. The only immediate piece of good news was that the Goblin King decided that it wasn't bad enough to need Arienne's immediate attention.

"It's almost done. Ssh! Almost finished." Toby clung to the husky voice like a lifeline even though the half-goblin could have been reciting his seven times tables for all he understood.

Finally it was over and hands were pulling him up and guiding him around into a warm embrace, a leg easing around the backs of his knees as he crawled into Jareth's lap.

The Goblin King held his bond mate to him- naked, wounded and broken- and couldn't wrap his mind around what had just happened. All he'd done was go to Toby's room to check on him. Something had begun bothering him as he'd worked in the night, something that told him Toby was upset or in trouble. He'd thought it was only fancy, the bond not being able to transmit emotions. But with the advent of dawn the feeling had only grown worse until it had finally occurred that the fright such as he was feeling was strong, strong enough to rush through even the most tenuous of connections as fiercely as it had. He had heard sounds from behind the door, sounds that gripped his heart in a stone hand that squeezed unmercifully. And what he had seen was enough to explain it all.

He stroked the tangled blond hair as a small nose buried itself into the crook of his neck.

"Ssh, my elf. It'll be all right. I promise you; it will be all right."

Toby's last thought before he went to sleep was that he wasn't worthy of such compassion. It was his fault- all of it. He hadn't fought hard enough. Jareth had said Toby was bonded to him. Therefore Toby had just betrayed the person he was supposed to help and support! He was contaminated and filled with evil and likely he'd infect Jareth too and what was he supposed to do when he hurt so much and nothing felt safe any more?