A/N:

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..

(Trigger warning: Noncon Bondage and knifeplay..and a lot of Angst, too. Please read only if you're not troubled with these topics!)

"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 screamed, 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 who meant so much to her..

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.

Kelly of the midnight dawn ~ You're not the only one. I'm mad at him, too. I think the fear of losing her and doing something wrong is paralyzing him..or maybe there are other reasons for his behavior..maybe something he doesn't want to admit to himself..presumably it's a mix..

Thanks for the advise about the "write something fluffy" part..I feel like I should really do this right now. After writing this chapter yesterday I think I could use a "darkness" break :)

As always, thanks for you comment and the kind words!