Hello! As you all know, An Old Role is over, however I got a few requests for stories within the same fanverse (is that a word? No? Can we make it a word? Pleeeease?). In this one-shot and many more to come, Alice is the Jabberwocky (because dragons). And if you haven't read Old Role, you don't have to! The beautiful thing about this one-shot and the many to come is that there absolutely does not have to be any context! :D Please leave a review in the little box! :3
-Static
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The woman glided over the frost covered ground, each step effortlessly careful and silent. It was evening, and as she stepped lightly through the winter-bared trees into the frozen meadow, she gazed up at the clouds, painted in hues of purple and blue and orange. Then she watched as the dying light refracted through the icicles present everywhere, creating vivid colors no matter which direction she looked.
Her land was not given enough credit. Though it was somewhat desolate, it was still quite beautiful.
She was lost in these thoughts as she leaned against a familiar tree, tall and skeletal, and waited, lifting her long skirts just enough so that the hem was not dirtied by the ground.
This was where they always met. It was far from either party's city of residence, and it was remote enough that their chances of getting caught were minuscule. They wouldn't get in trouble - no Role-Holder was brave or stupid enough to attempt to prosecute people like them - but it added an air of excitement. The illusion of doing something they shouldn't, well, many see the appeal. The woman witnessed secret meetings in progress all the time, and the one thing she noted in each instance was how happy those couples looked.
And indeed, she too was happy. However, that happiness was quickly turning to annoyance. As much as her companion had little direction, he'd never been late to one of these assignations.
Where was he?
As she got more comfortable in her spot, allowing the bark to rest in the divot between her wings, she huffed. She was not a patient woman, and he knew that. Either he was doing this on purpose, or...
She didn't want to think about the "or". In fact, it made her feel just a bit ridiculous. This man was not a person to trifle with, and though he was rather infamous for his particular brand of psychopathy, that didn't stop people from making attempts on his life. Granted, they always ended up being mercilessly slaughtered, but it wasn't entirely unheard of for him to get an injury or two from these encounters. She had this everlasting fear, irrational though it was, that one day one of his assailants would get lucky.
The people of this world could be reincarnated, but they would not be restored to their previous state.
She did not like the idea of never seeing him again.
The woman pulled her long sleeves over her knuckles and crossed her arms, dark thoughts showing up along with the boredom. He would call her silly for her worries, but she couldn't help it. Just like she couldn't help how much she adored him. If his stupidity left him dead, she would be alone. She would never, ever replace him.
Then footsteps sounded from the trees.
Soon enough, a figure huddled in a long jacket showed up. Unlike her, he was cold, as he was holding his collar close to his face, and when he looked up, his nose and ears were a bit red. The woman gave him a girlish smile and danced over to him.
"Where have you been?" She chided, "You know how much I dislike having to wait for you." And her company merely laughed, wrapping her up in his embrace as she tackled him in her joy. She might not be able to feel physical warmth unless it was an extreme temperature, but the heat that would run down her spine when his hands found her back more than made up for that.
"My love, you must learn to be a little more patient." He murmured, pulling the silver crown off her head and kissing her hair, tracing circles into the bared skin of her back. His lady had never cared for cutting holes in her clothes to allow for her wings and tail - she had always complained how dreadfully uncomfortable that was - so she had dresses designed that left the entirety of her back completely exposed. He could understand her preferences certainly, but he still felt it was a bit immodest, though he would never say so to her face. Sure, her attire included long sleeves and skirts, but it was all too often he'd catch other men sneaking covert glances at her. The rage and jealously that would well up...
She'd had to talk him out of dismembering each and every male who looked at her.
"That would be easier," she broke him out of his reverie, "If our time together didn't get shorter and shorter with each meeting." Then she pulled back to look him in the eye. "Why were you late?"
It would be a lie if she said that she didn't get a little insecure sometimes. Her man was a beautiful one. Tall, strong, and lean, and with an even complexion and eyes the prettiest of colors...well it was far too often that she found other women gazing at him. This in itself would not upset her so much - she really couldn't blame them - if it wasn't for the fact that many were so much prettier than her. Better figures, longer hair, softer skin, nicer scents, human. She was beginning to comprehend his impulses to murder every man who glanced at her a little too long. She refrained her best, but...
She still had to make her assistant promise not to tell about the dead brothel girl. He would never let her hear the end of it.
"I'm sorry, but I was busy finding a present for you." He answered, and then his arms dropped from around her waist, and he took something from his outer coat pocket. It was wrapped in a piece of thin white cloth, and once pulled away revealed a rose.
"You needed that much extra time to bring me a flower from the Queen's gardens?" She questioned, her insecurities starting to rise once more. Could he have truly found someone else?!
"Love, you wound me," he answered, wrapping his two hands around hers as they grasped the little plant. "I would not bequeath a gift so easily obtained. Smell it." And so she did. Wait a second, this was from...
"You didn't..." She trailed off, her aquamarine eyes widening. Her companion merely smirked and nodded.
"For you, a rose stolen from the Mad Hatter's private gardens, with thorns as sharp as your mind," his fingers traced her temple, "Petals as soft as your skin," his hand then cupped her face, "And as red as the blood of your enemies." He finished, whispering into her hair. She giggled in a mixture of delight and appallment.
"That was almost romantic." She smiled, and he sighed,
"I knew that last line would kill it." He mumbled, his eyes flickering to the ground but for a moment.
"But for you, that was quite sweet." She stated, lightly pecking him on the lips. He grinned into the kiss,
"I like to think so," he murmured,
"Are you hurt?" she questioned,
"Do you smell blood?" And she sniffed. First his neck, and then the front of his shirt.
"Yes, I do actually." She stated, "You have an injury on your chest," She poked at it and he winced, "And it appears a bullet grazed your shoulder." He sighed,
"So I've been found out." It was not a question,
"Who did it?" And to this he did not answer. Once she growled his name, in a clearly warning manner, he glared back.
"The Hatter had been conversing with his sister when I visited." And he turned away as she gasped in horror.
"Oh God," She whispered, "Vivi will have you killed." but the man shook his head,
"She didn't know I was there, and then Blood didn't actually see me." He smiled at her in what she supposed was meant to be a reassuring manner. "He saw the 'guy in the bloody cloak' as your friend in the Amusement Park so eloquently put it. The Hatter has a secret of mine, and now I have a secret of his. Perfect conditions for a truce." The woman narrowed her eyes at him.
"Of all the people," and for a moment she had to walk away from him, she was so upset, "The Mad Hatter is the only person aside from me who can match up to you in a fight." She stated, and soon felt arms wrap around her waist, the man stepping mindfully around her tail and wings.
"Like he could ever kill me." And she craned her neck back to look at him.
"He could get lucky."
"Luck is for those who believe in it." He murmured, "But on another note," he continued, his gaze falling back to the flower that had caused so much commotion in less than one time period, "Do I not get some sort of reward for my risks today?" He asked lowly, his arms tightening around the girl's waist, voice dripping with charm and other seductive qualities. To this she grinned, and with a whirl of deliberately harmless white flame, promptly teleported several yards behind him.
"Now why would I do that?" She answered playfully, holding the flower up, the bloom covering the lower half of her face. He turned,
"Alice..." He warned,
"Ace..." She responded, mimicking his serious tone. His eyes narrowed, though she could tell he wasn't angry. He was getting excited. He stepped once towards her, and she teleported again, the fire engulfing her, and she was even further away, this time to the side.
"You never struck me to be one for coquetry."
"You never struck me as one to attempt romance." and she smiled, "What if I told you this had to be a chaste visit?" He grinned mischievously,
"It takes me approximately ten seconds to set up the tent." She tilted her head at him and placed a hand on her hip, glaring.
"We are not doing that in the tent." She growled, and he laughed, approaching once more. This time she let him, and she could feel her own thrill growing. Finally he took her free hand in both of his, and brought her knuckles to his lips.
"You and your silk sheets," He murmured, "You're so spoiled." And then he buried his face in the crook of her neck, where he lightly kissed her skin.
Maybe she could be persuaded to give in a little.
"Perhaps..." she trailed as he continued gracing the visible skin with kisses, "I have a little time." And she felt him smirk into her shoulder.
"A little extra time is never bad." And she giggled, wrapping her arms around his neck.
"I think it's time for a change of scenery." She stated, and then the flames engulfed both people.
The clearing was once again left empty.
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As Ace and Alice finally parted, they leaned back into the Dragon's bed, panting.
"As usual," Alice got out between breaths, "That was lovely." And she turned to face her lover, who gazed back at her with equal amounts of admiration and affection. He grinned, and took her hand, pulling her close once more.
"Do you know what else is lovely?" He questioned, and when he got no answer, he kissed her hair. "I have even more time."
To that, she rolled her eyes.
As much as she loved him, he would always be a perverted knight.
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So...What did you think? First time writing implied...look at that I can't even say the word. xD Please leave reviews! This is probably my favorite piece I've written thus far. :D
-Static