A/N: You could certainly say this was a sponataneous fic to write. Thought of, written, edited, and titled all under two hours. And VDT Trailer is out! WOOT. Aaand I've still got that poll on my page, if you aren't annoyed by me mentioning it all the time.

Title was inspired by The Hopeless Good, a poem by Gerard Haughey that really has very little to do with this, but I like a lot.

The Careless Ways

It was a quick thing, barely noticeable. It was mere chance that had Lucy glance up in time to see the girl stumble as an elder boy walked past. For a moment, she wondered if it were an accident, but the girl looked close to tears and the boy was smirking and quite suddenly Lucy was filled with a righteous anger she had not felt for months.

"Excuse me," she said coldly, and with enough force that the boy instantly turned her way. "I think you ought to apologize."

The boy was still grinning. "It was an accident."

She could hardly believe he did not even deny it. "I don't think so," she retorted. "That girl doesn't look as though this was the first time."

He glanced back at the girl, who immediately ducked her head. "So, what'cha gonna do?" he asked with a sneer.

She clenched her fists and opened her mouth to respond, but before a word could come out there was a hand clenching her arm. "Come on, Lucy," said a firm voice in her ear, and before she could resist, the hand led her away from the boy and out of the shop.

Lucy pulled her arm away as soon as the door jingled shut and whirled to glare at her older brother. "Edmund!" she hissed. "What were you doing?"

"What were you doing?" he responded calmly.

"That boy was bullying that little girl. I couldn't just let it be."

His expression barely changed, although she had known him long enough to detect the look of sorrow that came into his eyes. "And talking to the boy was going to help? Especially when he is so clearly older than you?"

"It doesn't matter!" she replied hotly. "I'm a queen!"

"Not here, you aren't," Edmund said softly, and reached gently to take her hand. "Come on, Lucy. Aunt Alberta will be wondering where we've gone."

"I'll bet she doesn't care," Lucy responded glumly, but she went away with Edmund all the same.