Touch

Based on SyFy's Alice. Oysters are used as emotion generators. Hatter discovered that the hard way. Now that he realizes what's happening, what will he do?

Hatter didn't just like her touch, he needed her touch.

He'd always made a point not to drink any of his own teas. He didn't approve of the Oyster draining. It was sick, like drinking off somebody's being. Hatter shuddered at the thought. It was sickening.

Then she'd come. He'd been annoyed by her at first. Her 'holier than art thou' attitude irritated him. She thought this was all a children's story? He'd shown her. The mad part of his mind chuckled. Alice probably had tons of nightmares about her time in Wonderland.

Then she'd touched him for the first time. It was like a direct link to her soul. He could feel all her fear, confusion and mistrust as clearly as if it were his own. It was amazing. It was tremendous. It was… addicting.

After that, he'd been able to avoid her touch for a while.

Then, she'd hugged him. Her feeling of trust nearly made him fall to the ground. Sadly, he pulled back.

"Uh, Maybe we should save this for another time?"

Hurt and confusion hit him before they tore apart. Regret coursed through him, then surprise. That was the first emotion he'd felt in who knows how long. What was happening? Was Alice doing this? From then on, he'd made a point not to touch her. Sometimes he'd forget. He really tried to keep away, but it was difficult.

Then she'd left. Anger, hurt and fear filled him at once. She was actually gone. He suddenly felt as if there was a gaping hole in his heart. He hadn't noticed it before Alice. If anything, it had been a niggling feeling that could be ignored, but now he knew what he was missing.

He was missing Alice.

Then he jumped through the looking glass. He knew if he ever came back, he'd be in big trouble. He saw her lying on the ground. He was terrified.

"Over here! Somebody help!" He bent down and scooped her up in his arms. He nearly dropped her as he realized something. He couldn't feel anything from her. That terrified him more than anything he'd anything.

He'd stayed at the hospital till her mom came. She seemed like a nice lady, and you could definitely tell that she was Alice's mother. He told her that he was very worried about 'the girl'. It nearly killed him pretending he didn't know Alice.

Her mom had suggested he come see her when Alice got better. Even the Hatter could tell she was politely telling him to bug off.

So he'd left. There wasn't much left to do. He'd found work at a tea shop, of all places. He'd told Alice's mother that he was a construction worker, but he would never lower herself to that level. He would always be a tea maker, through and through.

Then Alice woke up. He combed his hair on the day he was supposed to meet Alice. He was nervous. Must be a side effect of being in this strange world. He knocked on the door. Nerves were making him shift from foot to foot. Alice's mother opened the door and ushered him inside. She called for Alice.

Alice walked down the hall, looking at her feet. She looked lost and the sadness was rolling off her in waves. She glanced up. Hatter's breath hitched in his throat as her eyes lit up.

"Hatter!" She rushed forward towards him. She wrapped her arms around him tightly and he could feel her love. He just wished he could return the favor. The sadness and longing that she held was replaced with pure joy and happiness.

It was a dizzying experience. He gripped her tightly, eyes closed. "Finally."
She pulled back to one look at him and he tightened his hold on her in fear of losing her. She couldn't believe he was here. He hardly believed it himself.

Then they kissed.

Yes, the Mad Hatter most definitely needed her touch.