Dangerous Games ~ Loki

Chapter 5

"Well, Pet." He flashes me a pained smile, "it seems you have more of a backbone than I bargained for."

I take another sip of wine but say nothing to entertain him.

"I think it will be all the more entertaining to break it."

I grin a little at him, "To be honest with you, I don't expect you to let me live long after you're recovered. My job now is to make your life as difficult as I can before you do."

He chuckles, genuine amusement sneaking back into his tone, "and how do you plan to do that?"

I refill his glass, "Plans are overrated. Especially when you have nothing to lose."

"And what if I were to free you? What if I vowed not to harm you while you're here? What then?" He prods.

"Why would I trust you? God of mischief, right? You've already locked me in a closet and treated me like scum. There's no reason to treat me well now."

"Perhaps not, or perhaps I'd been taking the wrong approach. Obviously, your ordeal has done nothing but make you more defiant."

I grin at that, "You want to try and kill me with kindness?"

"More or less." He returns the expression, "It will be entertaining to say the least."

It's my turn to sit back in my seat. I stare across the table at him and toss a piece of chicken into my mouth, "More wine?"

He nods and gestures to the glass, which I fill to the brim.

"Not that it will do much for you," I acknowledge, "you probably have some insanely high, Asgardian alcohol tolerance."

"Fair assumption. Mostly correct as well. I'm impressed."

"Mostly?"

"Mostly."

I eye him, wondering which part I got wrong, before getting back to the point, "Honestly, I think I'd prefer being killed with kindness than with torture regardless."

"I'm sure. But it's more than that. I'm going to allow myself to be open with you. I will allow you to help me, to care for me, to nurse me back to health. I will let you see into my very soul. You will be wary and cautious for a time, yes, but you will let your guard down eventually. You will laugh with me and relax in my presence, and when you finally, truly believe I have changed, when you genuinely believe I have grown fond of you, I will crush you. Body and soul." He speaks slowly, darkly, a glass of wine at his fingertips and a smirk on his face.

I raise an eyebrow and lean forward to meet his eye. Sure, his words are freaking me out. Sure, that is a terrifying game he's decided to play, but I'm not gonna let him know it phased me. I have to play along. I have no choice. "Why tell me? Wouldn't it be easier to keep me oblivious?"

"Of course it would, but I enjoy the challenge." He says after a sip of wine and a few deep breaths. I notice the color beginning to drain from his face again. His words are becoming slightly slurred and I know he has moments left before his exhaustion catches up with him, "and it doesn't matter if you know. You will fall regardless."

I stop the glass from toppling over when his limp hand knocks it from its place on the table. I drag him from the table and over to the couch before he is completely out. It almost seems as though he tries to say something else before his eyes shut, but I can't make out what it is.

If it's important, I'm sure he'll tell me when he wakes up again.

I am not naive enough to think I can beat him at his own game. I know this is exactly the sort of thing he thrives on. However, I don't think I completely believe his reasoning for letting me in on his plan. I think he's trying to get me to respond exactly the way he wants me to.

My first instinct is to distance. To reverse the roles and treat him terribly, just like I told him I would while he is injured. He would have me lash out in defense, even though he will be doing nothing to harm me on the surface. He can't make me trust him if I don't let him in. I am not like him. I'm a decent human being - one he is intent on breaking.

So that's it. Break down my humanity. Make me rely on instinct. Predator and prey. Maybe he wants to turn me into an animal and reinforce my status as his pet.

He wants me to forget who I am.

Absolutely not.

Even if I'm wrong, and he was just telling me because he believes it really doesn't matter whether I know his whole plan or not, even if he's right and I do care for him in the end. Even if he does win.

I know who I am. He doesn't get to change that.

Besides, I already have an upper hand. Kindness isn't kindness unless it's genuine. He just wants to hurt me. His kindness is only there to hide malice. I will be as kind as I possibly can. I refuse to lose myself to him. I'd rather die.

Which...I probably will.