Crooked man's death?
In the last episode:
"He's... What?"
And so we continue...
Chapter 3
"Dead?"
Beast questioned as you looked up at him questionably. Bigby looked down at you and placed a hand on the back of your head, he gently pushed your head back onto his chest while running his fingers through your hair.
"So you see, the culprit has been punished. There's no need for this-"
"That doesn't change anything. We'll deal with it later, but right now you're the one I'm concerned with."
"You called the shots. Georgie made that perfectly clear."
"In which case you still have a lot to answer for. And I'd-"
"I was told I would be allowed to speak."
Crooked man cut in.
"We have to read the rest of the charges-"
"What other charges?"
"If you'd wait a moment."
"I am well aware of my rights, Miss White. Unless you plan to abandon the charter entirely."
"Fine. Go right ahead."
"Wait. That's not how this works. After the rest of your crimes are read through, then you have an opportunity to defend yourself, but only then."
"If you insist."
Snow walked back over to where she was previously while reading off his charges.
"You are charged with the murder of Faith and Lily... which Georgie carried out on your order. Inciting violence against various members of the Fabletown community... including the attempt murder of Sheriff Bigby Wolf."
"Twice."
Bigby growled and glared up at Crooked Man, making you nuzzle your head into his chest.
"A misunderstanding."
"Aiding and providing monetary support for the force prostitution at the Pudding N Pie. Additionally you are charged with multiple counts of fraud, extortion, racketeering,
and the illegal possession and sale of magical artifacts."
"And for being a condescending prick."
Bigby added in, making Snow glare at him.
"Now, is there anything you would like to say?"
"First of all, I had nothing to do with Faith and Lily, so you can strike that one from your little record book. Second-"
"Bullshit! Like hell you didn't."
"Stop the charade, we know you're involved."
Bluebeard add.
"Come on! It's obvious!"
"And there's all the other crap he's done."
"I know your responsible. You've been behind all of this from the beginning. So cut the shit."
"We all know who you are! We know what you've done!"
"Just give it up already."
Snow steps up.
"The crooked Man has committed crimes against this government, and most importantly its citizens. Theses charges, if proven, are enough to justify death, upon which your body will be committed to the Witching Well."
"Were it fucking belongs."
You shivered at the thought of the Witching Well, making Bigby rub your back and kiss the top of your head.
"But we promised you a chance to defend yourself! And I won't rob you of that right. This is about justice. If we're ever going to pull ourselves together and make something of this town, we have to start doing things correctly. No more snap judgments. No more secrets. We are going to treat everyone fairly. Even when they don't deserve it."
Bigby let you go for a couple of seconds to get the cuffs off of Crooked Man's wrist's. He rubbed his sore wrist's as Bigby walked back over to you and wrapped his arm around your waist.
"This is ridiculous."
"You have the floor."
"Thank you, Miss White. You've all met Georgie. I don't have to tell you what kind of... person he was. he was a total scoundrel, lacking in any sort of mortal fiber. I hired him as a favor to his family, you see, a promise kept to a dying mother..."
"Are you going to get to your point of what?"
"Georgie was working for me yes, but he was not acting on my behalf when he killed those women. It was his business... and for whatever reason I'm sure only he could understand, he murdered two of his most faithful employees. I had nothing to do with it."
"This is bullshit!"
"Tell the fucking truth!"
"Georgie has always been a bit of a powder keg. It was only a matter of time before something like this happened."
"Georgie seemed pretty convinced he didn't have a say in the matter."
"He clearly misunderstood my intention."
Crooked Man looked down at you with sad soft eyes, making you frown and Bigby growl as he covered your eyes with his hand that was previously on your waist.
"Really?"
"I would never authorize such an act."
"Any of you actually believe this bullshit?"
"Holly, please."
"Tell them, Bigby... when you finally showed up at my door last night, wasn't I more than helpful? I answered your questions. I was willing to cooperate."
"What's he talking about?"
"Helpful isn't the word I would use."
"My comrades are another matter, and I'm sorry for the predicament they put you in."
Crooked man said while glancing down at you. You frowned and shoved your face into Bigby's shirt, not wanting to see him like this. It killed your heart, knowing that the man who spent years taking care of you after you ran off was going to be put to death.
"They get a bit carried away sometimes, it's true, loyal to the end."
Crooked man was about to put a hand on your shoulder, until Bigby shoved you behind him then crossed his arms over his chest.
"They do it because they want to protect me, as I protected them. You understand wanting to protect what you care about, don't you? You'd do anything. You might even give up an innocent man... just to save someone."
"I really hope you're going somewhere with this."
"I see... you want to cut right down to the point. I can appreciate that. Let me explain this to you... My employees are just that. Hired help. I see some of them are among you."
Crooked man said while looking at Beauty and Beast. You wanted to run over and do something, but Bigby sensed you wanted to jump so he placed an arm out stopping you.
"They are not my slaves. They are all free to make their own decisions, as Georgie was..."
"You're not serious! I know what you do to people, I've seen it first hand! What you did to Faith! The way you manipulated her! Do you really any of those girls were free? DO you really think Faith wanted to-"
"I'm sorry Lawrence. I'm sorry that your wife came to me for help and I'm sorry that I decided against my best judgment to give her a distasteful job."
"Right, and you kept them in debt so they couldn't leave."
"Yeah. That's what you did to us. How you kept us in line..."
"You forget, it was not me who put you in that position. You all act like I'm some kind of tyrant. What your government abandoned you and left you all helpless, sniveling on street corners, I was there to look out for you."
"Yes, but..."
"Wasn't I?"
~Skip a few lines and gets to Auntie Greenleaf!~
"And what about Auntie Greenleaf? Her story isn't that common. She left everything she had back on the Homelands... everything that mattered, anyway. With nowhere else to turn, she came to me for help. And what did I do for you?"
"You got my tree back."
"I got her tree back. And in return, we used her magic to help poor Fables get glamours. Because I helped her she was able to make a living... provide for herself. And what did they do?"
"For the longest time... not much. But... they asked me to come work for them."
"Really? The new Deputy Mayor wants you on the thirteenth floor?"
"No... The wolf offered me the job... She wanted my tree destroyed. If she had her way I'd be hung out to dry on a clothesline by now."
You gasped and wiggled out of Bigby's grasp, walking back into Grendel, who wrapped a protective arm around your waist. Bigby and Snow looked at you with sorry eyes, but you shook your head and crossed your arms and looked at the floor, not wanting to look at them.
"What?"
"You were going to burn her tree?"
You scoffed and shook your head.
"How selfish."
You said while looking at your shoes, as Holly braided your hair.
"Snow, why would you want that?"
"Is that true?"
"I know what you're doing... and it's not gonna work. You can't manipulate is or these people. We're not here to talk about this-"
"Oh, we're not?"
"Bigby just means tha-"
"This is important and I'm glad it's being talked about!"
"You know why I asked him to destroy your tree. You were working with Crane and the Crooked Man."
"It wasn't her fault."
Beast said while holding Beauty close to him. Auntie Greenleaf walked up close to Snow.
"You can lie to yourself but you can't lie to me. You hated crane... And you hated him for wanting to fuck you and you bring too soft to notice what he'd do to get it. It had nothing to do with the Crooked man."
Snow walked off, her back facing everyone.
"We've made some mistakes. I've made some mistakes. But believe me... I truly want what's best for this town."
Bigby walked over to Snow's side, make her smile and you scowl at the both of them. Oh how you would give anything right now to be in the arms of the Crooked man's.
"And that may not always be clear... right away. But I want you all to know that I care deeply about all of you. And so does the Sheriff."
"Yeah, right."
Grendel scoffed while pulling you closer to his side.
"I can't promise you perfection. No one can. Bit I can promise to always have your best interests at heart."
"Like you did with her?"
Asked Beast.
"Things haven't been great for a while...but we'll do better at protecting you from people like him."
"The Crooked man's been exploiting you. Exploiting your hope for a better life. You would go to him for help... and he would take that weakness and add it to his strength. And if things didn't fall exactly his way... someone would die."
"He took Faith and Lily from us. And while we can never get them back, we can certainly punish who's responsible."
Bigby finished. Beast walked over to join Snow's and Bigby's side.
"They're right."
"You're still all afraid of him... even now. But you needn't be. His contamination of this town is over... and those girls will have their justice."
Everyone joined over by Snow and Bigby, including Auntie Greenleaf. All except you and Crooked man. Snow looked over at you, everyone looked at you with soft eyes. You looked between them. You looked at Crooked man, the guy who took you under his wing when you were out in the cold street. He took care of you, fed you, clothed you, made you his daughter. You looked over at everyone else, they were your only friends before shit went down the drain. Your eyes connected to Bigby's, his eyes we begging for you to walk over to them so he could hold you. You sighed and stayed at your spot, looking at the floor so nobody could see your eyes. Crooked man clapped his hands.
"Very good, very good. The sentiment is surely appreciated, Miss White... but it doesn't disguise that fact that these accessions are completely unfounded. The Sheriff simply doesn't have a particle of evidence linking me to the murders."
"Georgie was working for you! Bigby got the confession that-"
"A "confession" that nobody heard! Now, I'm no barrister, but I think such a statement would carry more weight if Bigby weren't the only one to whom Georgie spoke. Especially given Bigby's... history."
"What are you talking about?"
"Snow?"
"So... are we done?"
"And what about your history? All you've done to this fucking town..."
"What do you mean there's no evidence?"
Beast asked.
"Maybe... maybe he's... I mean, this doesn't feel right, how we're doing this."
You got up from the floor and walked over, catching everyone's attention. Bigby was about to hug you, until you dodged him and walked over right into Crooked man's arms. Everyone gasped.
"Of course it's right. This man tormented all of you... for profit! Georgie's killed-"
"Let me just make sure I understand you...You're trying to say that I am responsible for what Georgie did, because he was working for me at the time. Yes?"
Crooked man cut in, while running his fingers through your hair. Bigby looked down at you with soft eyes, but you didn't look up at him.
"Yes."
"Of course."
"Where are you going with this?"
"If I am to blame for Georgie's mistakes, shouldn't Miss White be held accountable for Bigby's action's as well?"
"Like what?"
"How about the way he treated poor Tweedle Dee when he was in your custody? He was beaten to mashed apples while under your watch."
"Under 'my watch'?"
"Maybe he's right."
"Did you think we'd all just let that go?"
"You can't be serious?"
"That was different."
"Snow had nothing to do with it. We all thought she was dead!"
"Besides...Crane was still Deputy Mayor what that happened. Right before you decided to kidnap him."
"It was for his own protection. Oh, your right dear. Crane was in charge. Sometimes it hard to tell the difference."
Snow walked up to you and Crooked man with her hands on her hips.
"That's enough."
"So, you won't answer to your employees behavior... but I must perish for mine?"
"This is completely different. We all-"
"I did not order those two girls dead. It simply never happened. Georgie killed Faith and Lily. End of story. They want to scapegoat me for their own tangled ends, but they refuse to answer for their own crimes."
"This isn't right..."
"Oh please."
"This isn't the point!"
"Everyone, calm down! This isn't the reason we're here."
"This is how it's always been."
"This is what I am talking about."
Crooked man said softly, while holding you close to him. He looked down at you and smiled, you smiled back as he let go of you to walk around.
"We lash our ropes to this diseased world... and ever since, which one of us has been there for you? Who filled your lives with the promise and more? Who was there while they idly played in their towers... judging you, treating you as a mindless children too stupid to command your own destiny. Without me... Who will pay your rent when you are on the verge of eviction? Who will dare challenge their brutality when it leaks to our dear citizens?"
He looked Bigby in the eye with a glare.
"Who will protect you... from the Big Bad Wolf?"
Bigby glared at him, showing his teeth.
"Who be the-"
"Bigby! Miss White!"
(( Ooooo this is where shit's going to go down!))
You looked up to see Nerissa walking in.
"Excuse me, dear."
"I... I wanted to make sure I had a chance to say something."
"Why don't you take a moment to catch your breath, little one?"
"What's she doing here?"
Bluebeard said while crossing his arms.
"I'd like to...I-I need to say something."
"We're kind of in the middle of something."
Bluebeard said while a soft voice.
"She has something to say and we're gonna listen. Go right ahead."
Bigby said while crossing his arms.
"You probably don't remember me... I don't know why I was... afraid to come here."
"My dear, I don't know what it I-"
"Just shut up!"
You jumped some.
"You enslaved us for years. let us hear stories about what you'd do... told us we would lose everything is we stepped just one toe out of line. And we couldn't say a word about it because of these damn ribbons."
"Wait..."
"But you know what, now it's my turn to talk."
"How are you-?"
"I found Vivian's body. Did you kill her? Did he?"
"Sheriff, this is highly irregular..."
"Be quiet."
"We need to establish some order, here!"
"Vivian wanted you freed from the ribbons... She took her own life."
"I'm sorry, um... I don't think I know your..."
"Nerissa! my name is Nerissa!"
"It's okay, my dear, it's going to be just-"
"he ordered them dead, this fucker. Faith and Lily-"
"That's a lie!"
"I was in the Goddamn room when he did it! Faith and Lily are dead because of you! The only two people who ever gave a damn about me...And now I can finally say...You're an asshole... And I hope you rot at the bottom of the Witching Well for what you did."
"We know what happened."
Bigby said, standing next to you.
"He made Georgie do it, it was always him, Georgie would've never done anything without his say-so, ever."
"Your going to take the word of a-"
"At least five other girls will back me up on this. We all heard you say it!"
Crooked man looked pissed.
"Did you now..."
Bigby stepped forward.
"Looks like we found our evidence."
"She saw it first hand..."
Bluebeard stepped up.
"He's guilty!"
"Good enough for me."
"Me too."
"So that's it, right?"
"Throw him down the Witching Well!"
"No! That's to fucking easy for a crook like that!"
Bigby cuffed Crooked man's wrist's together again.
"What do you mean?"
"He's gotta pay for what he did!"
"Listen to yourselves!"
Auntie Greenleaf yelled.
"You're all rats fleeing from one sinking ship to the next. SO quick to latch onto whatever will keep your miserable lives afloat. This is how you want to repay all I've done for you?"
"What? You take two people's lives and now you want mercy?"
"You know we can't let you go free from this."
Snow said.
"Wait."
Auntie Greenleaf said, Bigby glared up at Crooked man.
"What did you expect to happen here? You're getting what you deserve."
"Well done then."
"Now, for your sentence-"
"We don't have to become murderers."
"what are you talking about?"
"He's guilty! I know that, but we don't have to kill anybody. We can imprison him. Lock him up forever... somewhere he can never hurt anyone again."
"How can we be sure that he won't escape?"
"I can help! We can use magic. I assure you-"
"That's not good enough!"
"Everyone listen up! Clearly we are having trouble agreeing on a suitable punishment. So I think we-"
"This is going nowhere!"
"Someone needs to make a decision!"
While everyone was yelling at each other, you walked in front of Crooked man, almost like you were defending him.
"Who?"
"I hope you aren't suggesting yourself?"
"Why not?"
"What about a vote?"
"What do you think this is?"
"Everyone calm down!"
Bigby stepped up.
"Look, I'm making the call."
"Why should you-"
"He is the only official representative here."
Bluebeard said while crossing his arms.
"Right. Bigby should decide."
Nerissa agreed.
"That makes sense to me."
Agreed the butcher.
"I guess it does."
Holly somewhat agreed to.
"Fine."
"Are you sure? This isn't how it's-"
"It's what the people want, Miss White."
"Okay. Mr. Wolf. It's your call."
"Snow, I-"
"Just do, what you think is right."
"Yes, Sheriff... DO what you think is right."
"Teach him a fucking lesson!"
"No..."
"He has to die!"
"We can lock him away!"
As everyone was yelling at Bigby what to do, Crooked man leaned down to your ear and whispered.
"Forgive me, my daughter."
Before you could ask him what did he mean, Crooked man threw the chain that was attached to his cuffs around your neck and began walking back towards the Witching Well.
"Not this way!"
Everyone gasped as Crooked man dragged you away. You struggled to break the chains as he kept getting close to the well. You finally managed to break the chain and caught his jacket before he went down the well.
"I hope you all... remember this moment...Think of me...when you try to sleep. Finish it darling."
"Please, we can still-"
"End it already!"
It was all up to you now, your eyes began to fill with water. Crooked man saw your eyes and gently smiled.
"Go ahead sweetheart, do what the crowd want you too."
"I... I can't..."
You dragged him away from the well and fell to your knees as sobs spilled out of your mouth. Bigby rushed down to you and hugged you close to your body.
"Shhh... Shh it's okay I'm here."
Bigby ran his fingers through your hair while rubbing your back. Bigby looked down at the shocked Crooked man, then he looked back at Auntie Greenleaf.
"You said you had a way to keep him from hurting people."
"Wait, you can't-"
"After what he's done, your going to put him in prison?"
"This isn't the way, Sheriff."
"You're doing the right thing."
Greenleaf walked up to Bigby, looking down at the both of you with gentle eyes.
"Yes. There's a way."
Bigby got up, pulling you up with him and looked down at the sad Crooked man.
"Alright. Do it."
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