Title: Scorned
Characters/Pairing: Hatter x Duchess
Rating: T
Summary: You are exactly what I need.
Disclaimer: I do not own these characters.
Hatter is sitting in the basement of his ransacked teashop; finally admitting to himself that it is over. There is a heaviness weighing itself over his heart as he thinks of everything that is coming to a close. His hand traces the small layer of dust over his desk, "No more teashop, or resistance, or," he smirks, "income." He finds his finger forming a picture onto the dust; a flower.
"No more Alice, either," a female voice floats into the room, and the click-clacking of heels catches the Hatter's ear. He turns around, twisting his head, to see the Duchess. She is dressed modestly, a long, red dress adorned with hearts, and Hatter finds himself thinking she must be the new queen. Her voice exhales a dreamy breath, "Sorry for barging in, I just . . ."
Hatter catches not onto the social cue given to him, instead he stares blankly at the blond beauty in front of him. His eyebrows furrow and he searches his mind for something to say or do. He bites his bottom lip in nervous habit, "We're a bit, in the same boat?"
"Same boat?"
She questions his phrase, but the simplicity of her words put no pressure on Hatter to form a response quicker than he would like. So, he pauses. Trying to find a delicacy to his words that he often forgets, "Well, we're both scorned lovers."
The Duchess lets out a breath of air that has a sting of laughter to it, "Oh, Hatter, you are so dull," she crosses her fingers together, as one would do before prayer, "Can't you see that she loves you? It is only I that is scorned."
Something from Hatter's childhood kicks in; an instinct to protect women. He steps forward, an arm quickly wrapping around her shoulders, "That was a bit insensitive on my part."
"No, it's just the truth," she looks up at the Hatter, admiring his boyish features before heaving a sigh, "I really need to go before I do something I will regret."
"Regret?"
She shakes her head again, her curls falling in all direction around her face, providing a frame for the beautiful portrait that is herself. The Duchess steps away from his arm, giving herself space from him, "I am here and you are here. We are both alone. We are both adults," she places both hands on his face, holding it like a delicate child, "You know exactly what sort of things we can regret."
Hatter takes a step back, attempting shock, but knowing all too well that the Duchess is exactly what he needs, "Regret . . . is a harsh word," he looks at the ground before staring back at her, "I really can't see Alice right now."
"I know."
Silence devours the room before the Duchess takes control, "Do you have any Lust Tea?"