Bigby was still staring at the picture of Ichabod and the fake Snow while Beauty and I waited outside the room. Bigby was pissed off going by the tenseness of his shoulders. Beauty glanced at me and I gave her a concerned look. We were both just waiting for him to burst.
It was all we could do without getting him even more worked up.
"That fucking creep." Bigby said as he turned around and walked out the room, passed Beauty and me. "Spineless little fuckin' rat!" Bigby growled. We followed him and just by Bigby's outburst, Beauty did the same.
"Crane! Ugh! God, you think you know a person. Bigby, you have to tell her." Beauty said.
"I know!" Bigby snapped. I just kept silent, not really knowing how to feel about this. Of course I feel disgusted by this little motherfucker but the way Bigby acts when Snow is in danger or threatened…it just made me feel like I didn't belong here.
Which I don't…at all. But I had some strange pull towards here. I felt like I had to stay here. Stay near Bigby.
Talk about being fucked up in the mind.
Loving a supernatural? Sam, Dean and I have proved many times already that shit like that doesn't work out. We couldn't even get a strong and stable relationship with a human.
"What's going on?" I heard Beast say as we went down the stairs. "What did you find up there?" Bigby stormed through the room to get to the payphone hanging in the lobby. "You know, other than the…"
"Crane's the killer." Bigby snapped as he looked over his shoulder at Beast.
"What? Ichabod Crane? How do you know?" Beast asked. He was just as surprised as we are. I noticed that the phone couldn't work. Cable was cut through. Bigby took the phone away from his ear and looked at it.
"Shit!" Bigby growled.
"Crane's been-"
"Argh!" Bigby threw the phone down in his frustration.
"Whoa! Bigby, calm down." Beauty said. Bigby began pacing in front of us. His hands were placed on his hips and he had his teeth bared. "Everything's going to be fine, okay, it's gonna be fine." Beauty said, trying to calm the angry man.
"Will someone please explain this to me?" Beast yelled.
"Crane has been stalking Snow White." Beauty said.
"That perverted little fucker might be after Snow. I need to find her right now." Bigby said.
"Bigby, calm down." Hs tense shoulders relaxed for a second before tensing back up.
"Don't tell me what to do." He growled at me, trying to scare me off.
"Just calm the fuck down! We'll take my car and go find her!" I yelled at him. He looked a little surprised but kept his glare on me. "Where did she say she would go?" I ask, a little gentler now.
"She took Holly to the Business Office…to prepare for the funeral." Bigby said as he walked past us.
"Lily's funeral?"
"Yeah."
"How do you-" Beauty looked at Beast as he interrupted her.
"I was just at the Trip Trap, and I heard Gren telling some folks about a funeral at the Buckingham Bridge-"
"The Trip Trap? Are you drinking-"
"Can you stop!" I snapped at the couple.
"When?" Bigby asked.
"Right now. They were on their way out." Beast said. Bigby and I started moving away towards the door.
"Mr. Wolf, Miss Lexy." I turned to look at a man. He was lean and bald, had a black moustache and his teeth were yellow.
"Sorry, but we don't have time right now." I said and turned to leave.
"I think you will make time." I Turned back around and looked at the man. He blinked and his dark blue eyes turned a demon black.
"Oh my god." Beauty gasped.
"Shit." I whispered under my breath. "Stay behind me." I said. I took my angel blade and glared at the demon. "Alright, you bitch. What do you want?"
"You, dead at my feet." The demon said.
"We'll see about that." I smirked and pulled out my Angel Blade. He ran at me and I dodged while slicing his right side. The demon screamed and turned around to glare at me. I made a motion with my hand for him to come forward. He charged again and this time I threw my angel blade. The Blade hit him right in the centre of his chest. The demon made a choking sound before dropping to the ground.
"You, dead at my feet." I said while staring at the body that the demon had possessed. I walked up to the dead man and took my Angel Blade out. "See you in Hell." I put the Angel blade back in my boot before looking up at the Fables. They stared at me with wide eyes.
"W-what was that?!" Beauty shouted. I opened my mouth to explain but was interrupted by Bigby.
"No time to explain." Bigby said and headed to the door. I shrugged and followed him out.
"Bigby! Lexy!" Beauty yelled after us but we ignored her. We started walking to my car, while I stole glances at him. He seemed mad but in some way also handsome.
"Wait!" Beauty said. We stopped walking and I turned to her. Bigby stood still before also turning to her.
"What?" He snapped.
"Snow's…Snow's been through a lot. There are things she doesn't talk about. Just…please be careful…when you tell her. And you should tell her, but…"
"I know." Bigby growled again but directed his eye to the ground, not wanting to meet Beauty's stare.
"No, you don't know." Beauty snapped. "You know how you felt when you saw that picture? Well, it's going to be much worse for her. Just remember that." He looked at her before walking away without an answer.
"I'll watch him, don't worry." I said to her before catching up with Bigby. When we reached my car he opened the passenger door and closed it harshly. I grumbled at how he treated my car but now wasn't the right time to talk about my car. I wanted to say something to him but resisted the urge to do so. I wanted him to calm down, to smile, even a small grin would do. Just…everything but this angry murderous look on his face.
"If you want to talk about it…anything. You can tell me. I'll listen." I said keeping my eyes on the road. After a few moments of silence Bigby spoke up.
"Just don't go running off on your own." I glanced at him but he had his face turned away from me.
"Sure, pup. It's not like I have anything better to do than follow the mother hen." I said trying to at least give him a small smile. A ghost of a smile lightened his face, making me smile in satisfaction. I looked back at the road, my face neutral but inside me I was going crazy. One time he seemed so concerned and taken by Snow and then suddenly he would be so…gentleman like and caring towards me. It gave me mixed signals all around. I know he asked me for dinner but that could just be a partner or friendship thing.
I really need to stop thinking about him.
"We're here." He said as he sat upright. Again with the mixed signals. I parked my car and we both stepped out. "Follow me." Bigby said. I followed him towards the funeral. When we walked through the fence we were faced with candles placed on cinderblock and other places. We walked through the pathway that was decorated with candles. We stopped however when we saw Snow at the front talking while other people were seated in front of her. Suddenly she looked up at us angrily and shook her head before going back to talking.
"We should scout around for a bit." I said. Bigby nodded, letting Snow talk and going to investigate the area. I glanced over my shoulder at a guy sitting away from everyone. My eyes widened and I nudged Bigby. He looked at me and I pointed at the guy. We walked over to him.
"So you're alive." I said with a small smile.
"Yeah." He answered me.
"Your highness…" Bigby said with a smirk as I did a plié.
"Sherif, Miss…"
"Lexy." I said to Lawrence.
"I'm sorry, I, uh…I didn't see you there." He said to us.
"Did you know the deceased? Lily?" Bigby asked.
"Oh, um, no. Not really. I just came because it…I don't know. It just felt like a thing I should do, I guess." I smiled at him sadly. I guess he was just searching closure. Doesn't matter how.
"I was angry, at first…when I heard that Lily was getting a funeral. That Holly was getting…'closure.' I wanted that, too. And I wanted it for Faith. But, then I remembered…Faith lived a story Lily never did. She had her adventure, she got to live in the light of 'forever after' with me…for a while. So let Lily have the better finish. It all evens out in the end." Lawrence said.
"That's very nice of you, Lawrence." I said, giving him a smile. He gave me a little smile before turning back to being sad. I looked him over. He was skinny like before but his skin had more colour. His eyes were still puffy and red. Probably tired and from crying.
"None of this was your fault, Lawrence." Bigby said.
"It wasn't my fault, but…I didn't stop it. Take care of things. Okay?" Lawrence said as he looked between us.
" We'll find the killer. Don't you worry about it." I said. He nodded and looked back down.
"Bigby, Lexy, is everything okay?" Snow said. Her usual attire was replaced by a red blouse, a black blazer and black skirt. Holly turned to look at us angrily. She stood up and faced us.
"No, not you." She glared at Bigby as she walked up to us.
"Holly-"
"He wasn't fucking invited." She glanced at me but turned her glare back at Bigby.
"Holly wait." Snow said, trying to calm Holly down.
"He has no right to be here. Not after what he did. You…" She looked at me. "You could stay if he didn't follow you everywhere you go." She snapped.
"He doesn't follow me everywhere I go. I'm just helping him out." I mumbled. I didn't want to make a fight but I was not letting her picture him as my lapdog. "What did he do anyway?" I asked confused.
"Holly, I'm sorry, but I had to come." Bigby said.
"You throw my sister down the Witching Well…and you have the nerve to show your face here? After you lie…after you promise me?" Holly said
"Bigby?" I said as I looked up at him in shock. He frowned down at me before looking at Holly.
"Holly, wait, that was Crane, just Crane. He'd…disposed of Lily's body before Bigby or Lexy could do anything about it." Snow said. Holly looked away from her back at Bigby. "I'm telling you the truth." Snow almost yelled at Holly.
"Don't cover for him." Holly snapped at Snow.
"But this genuinely wasn't his fault." Snow said.
"You can't tell me Bigby gives a shit about this." Holly responded while looking at Bigby with a fierce glare. I looked at the girl that came up from behind Holly and Snow. She had short blonde hair and a purple dress on. A purple belt loosely hanging around her waist. She also had a purple ribbon around her neck.
"Holly, it's gonna be okay." The purple dressed woman said.
"I'm sorry, Holly. I didn't know he put her down the Witching Well." Bigby said, regret showing on his face and in his voice.
"Please, Holly." She looked at me. "He might be an asshole at times but he really didn't do that. The guy actually cares." I said. She looked at me for a while until Snow started speaking.
"Bigby cares, Holly. He's trying to help." She said to Holly before glaring at us. "And I'm sure they have a very good reason for being here." She almost snapped. I narrowed my eyes as she glared at me, daring her to provoke me into hitting her.
Oh, how I would love doing that.
"But this one isn't on him or Lexy." Snow said in a soft voice as she turned back to Holly who looked at us with wide eyes. She turned her eyes towards the ground when she met my eyes.
"Why are you here, anyway?" Gren said as he stood up from where he was seated. "And don't say it's cause you care about this."
"Everything okay?" Snow asked in concern.
"I think I know who murdered your sister." Bigby said. Holly looked at him with surprise.
"Who?" She asked.
"Maybe we should talk about this somewhere else?"
"What?!" Holly and I said. I can't believe Snow actually wants to keep this from Holly.
"No! I deserve to know! We all deserve to know!" Holly said as Lawrence walked up to us.
"I know, I know, but-"
"White! Shut the fuck up!" I snapped. She looked at me in shock. "They deserve to know! Wouldn't you want to know if you were in their place?!" Snow stayed silent. "Right, so if you would be so fucking nice, shut your cake hole." I said. Bigby had an eyebrow lifted as he looked at me from the corners of his eyes.
"If anyone should be told, it's me, it's us. Right now. So talk." Holly said and nodded at me. I nodded back and looked up at Bigby.
"Yeah. Who was it?" Gren asked us.
"We think it was Ichabod Crane." Bigby said. They were shocked to say the least.
"What?!" Snow said.
"Crane?"
"Crane." Holly said in a low voice while looking at the ground angrily.
"Okay, everyone, just stop. Bigby and I-" I coughed. "and Lexy…" I grinned mentally at her irritation. "...are going to have a little chat while everyone else gets back to the funeral." Snow said as she stood in front of us. Holly didn't agree with Snow at all.
"What? He says that fucking Crane murdered Lily and you expect me to-"
"Please. I promise I will tell you what the Hell is going on just as soon as I know there's something to tell, but…just let us do our jobs, first." Snow said. I rolled my eyes at her but didn't say anything. Holly only crossed her arms and glared at Snow. "Look, Holly, I know how this must-"
"No. You don't 'know' how this 'must feel.' You have no idea." Holly snapped at Snow. "Don't fuck anything up. Don't bother anybody." Holly walked closer to Bigby. "And when the first sign of trouble comes – and it will come, because you're a goddamn walking trap for it – I want you the fuck out of here. You hear me?"
"Of course. You won't even know I'm here." Bigby said.
"Let's just continue, okay?" the purple dressed girl said.
"This is such total fucking bullshit." I looked at Holly in regret. The poor woman…
"Holly…If you want a listening ear…I'm up for the job." I said and gave her a smile. She gave me a little smile but that soon faded into a sad grimace.
"Let's go, Holly." Another girl said. She had some kind of flower in her hair.
"It's your turn to talk." The purple dressed girl said as they turned back to the funeral. Bigby and Snow walked away while I just glanced at Gren and Lawrence.
"Don't worry…Bigby knows what he's doing." I said and gave them both a sad smile. Gren didn't return it but did move back to his seat. Lawrence gave me a small smile and nodded a little. I could see he was a great guy. If the times were any different I would want to be friends with him. I turned to walk away and when I was out of earshot I bit my lip and looked up.
"I hope he knows what he's doing." I said silently.
"This is someone I've worked with for decades. This is a guy…he gets the frickin' shakes when he has to order food."
"Don't judge a book by its cover." I said as I stood with Bigby and Snow.
"I mean, what are you telling me? It's all an act? Just what have you found?" I glared at her as she ignored me.
"Lily was Crane's prostitute. We followed a lead to this shit hole motel. The Open Arms. Crane had a room there, and he's been taking prostitutes…or, at the very least Lily…and making her look like you while he was…you know." Bigby said uncomfortably. I don't think that was the best idea to tell her but oh well.
"This…is…" Snow turned away from us in shock.
"I don't even know what to say right now…I really don't. I'm just trying everything I can right now…to not picture it. To not picture him." She said.
"We should go." Bigby said.
"You're sure this is what happened? This is what he's been doing? Because, please, Bigby…don't confuse things." Snow said as she turned back to look at us. "Deposing Crane would be the next step. And if we get this wrong…it would mean more than our jobs. We'd get kicked out of Fabletown for messing all of this up so badly."
"Crane has been taking photos, Snow. Lots of photos." Bigby said.
"Photos that show him…?" Snow trailed off.
"He's been…recording his 'visits' with Lily." Bigby told her. Snow looked down in disgust and shock.
"Look, let's go back to the Business Office. I doubt Crane's there at this hour, but…we need to talk and this isn't the place." Snow said.
"Snow?" We turned to look at the girl with a flower in her hair.
"Nerissa. What is it?"
"I'm sorry, but Holly's asking for you." Nerissa said.
"Are they starting the burn." Snow asked.
"Yes. Everyone who spoke should really be present for this part…She's kind of distraught. You're not leaving yet, are you?" Nerissa said. Snow looked up at Bigby with a blank look.
"Two minutes? I don't mean to be, um…"
"No, I understand." Nerissa told Snow.
"It's just that something's coming up." Snow said.
"No, I get it. Take your time." Yes please, take your time. I don't like her. She's just too…formal and by the book. It wasn't really my style. Snow walked away after telling us that she wouldn't take long. Nerissa however didn't follow Snow.
"How'd it go? At the motel? Did you find anything." Nerissa asked Bigby, sparing me a glance.
"I, uh, we did. It helped a lot. Thanks." Bigby said. Of course he wasn't going to tell he what we found. He gave her a half smile but Nerissa looked away from him.
"Nerissa!" The woman dressed in purple shouted.
"Yeah, um…coming!" Nerissa said and walked away from us. We watched her walk away until I silently gasped. I felt something poking my back.
"Constable." Bigby turned his head to look over his shoulder. I looked too and saw Tweedledee and Tweedledum. Both were holding a shotgun and had them pointed at Bigby and mine's backs. I was about to turn together with Bigby but the two poked our backs with their shotguns.
"Wait, wait, wait, easy now, girls. You know how this goes. The first thing in a visit? You say 'How do ya do?'" One of the twins said.
"How do you do?" the other twin said.
"That way, it's proper." Jeez, which is Dee and which is Dum?!
"Fuck you." I hissed at them.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk, you should keep your girl under control. If you don't, we will."
"Don't even think about touching her." Bigby lowly growled.
"Oh, someone has a thing for the hunter." The one holding his shotgun on me said. My eyes widened and me and Bigby exchanged a glance.
"It's okay, Bigby. I can take them." I said silently.
"Now is really not the time for whatever you jag-offs are planning to do." Bigby said.
"Well isn't that the thing of it? Plans." Said who I believe to be Tweedledee.
"Except it isn't our plans you should be concernin' yourself with." Dum said, holding his shotgun at Bigby's back.
"I'm still hurtin', you know, from our 'talk' in the cell. And I'll be honest, I'd love nothin' more than to carve a sweet poem right into your face for the sufferin' you've caused me…or I could take this nice girl with us." Dee said. I felt his chubby large hand on the side of my neck.
"Hands off jackass." I said while Bigby growled. Dee took his hand away but kept his shotgun pointed at my back.
"But I am a professional, and we're here for a job. We'll snip to the chase, for all's sakes. A little bird told us that you two are fittin' to go after Crane. And you see, we have an interest in that particular boy." Dee said.
"So you two leave Crane alone, and we'll leave you alone." Dum said.
"Just take a little vacation, is all." Dee said.
"Don't even have to go anywhere." Dum said.
"Just sit in your office and whistle to Heaven for a few short days." Dee said and then gave me a little push in the back with his shotgun. "Maybe have some fun with girlie over here." I glanced to the side with an irritated look. I was wondering if they were just like in the movies. Some stupid assholes who constantly argued about something.
"Perverts. I wonder who is the smartest of you two." I grunted.
"That's not important girlie." Dee said. Well, shit. I hoped they would start arguing and I could make a move to take Dee's shotgun. But Dum could easily point his to me.
"You're trying to pull this shit at a funeral? We can deal with this later." Bigby said silently.
"No, not later." Dee said.
"Later's too late." Dum finished.
"Shit." I said when Holly looked our way. She turned angry when she looked behind us at Dum and Dee.
"So what's it gonna be? We have a deal? You leave Crane alone and we leave you to yours?" Dee said. I stiffened when Holly walked up to us.
"Brother…" Dum said.
"Speak your minds. Fastly now." Dee snapped.
"Just don't hurt anyone, Dee." Bigby said.
"That don't sound like a yes to me." Dum said.
"Always wanting to do things the fun way…" Dee hissed in my ear. I pulled up my nose in disgust. He stood way too close for my liking. "Ladies! Gentlemen! Invertebrates! Please! Rest easy, this is not-" Dee pulled his gun away from my back when he started talking. He was however interrupted by Gren.
"What the Hell is going on?" Gren said.
"What's happening?" Snow said, making me roll her eyes. Well, they're holding shotguns at us. If you're smart you know what's happening.
"Very sorry to impose, but we only had a deal to work out with Bigby and his girl." Dee said.
"Stop calling me his girl." I grumbled under my breath. I did feel a little satisficed by Snow's pissed off look towards me.
"And we're unhappy to report that things did not go as smoothly as planned." Dee continued, ignoring my comment.
"Bigby, what is he talking about?" Snow asked in a threatening tone.
"Never you mind that, it ain't any of your-"
"What deal?!" Gren interrupted Dum angrily.
"Settle down, settle down now." Dee said.
"Yeah, everyone just stay where you are, nice and natural. Like we're just out havin' a Spring picnic." Dum said.
"Stop this shit. Right. Now." Bigby said as he walked away from them. When I wanted to move towards him, Dum pointed his shotgun to my back. My eyes widened a little in panic but soon calmed down and rolled my eyes in annoyance.
"I wouldn't do that." Dee said as Bigby went to charge at them. "He hasn't exactly been a good sport about this."
"Not makin' our lives any easier. Or for the pretty lady. Ain't it sweetheart?" They pushed me a little.
"Bite me!" I snapped. Suddenly Holly growled and she turned into her troll form. While Dum and Dee were distracted I went to stand next to Bigby.
"What did I tell you? What did I say?" she said.
"Holly…" This time I walked to her together with Bigby. Suddenly the white monster that had his arm ripped off by Bigby came up as well. I guess he was Gren.
"You think you mother fuckers can come here uninvited? You think you can just fuckin' interrupt Lily's funeral?!" Gren said.
"Calm down, darling. It was just a simple business transaction." Dee said. They weren't pointing their shotguns at us anymore but at Holly and Gren.
"You fuckin' freaks are not getting away with this!" Holly said.
"Holly! Don't move!" Snow shouted in panic.
"Yeah, listen to your lady, love." Dee said to Holly.
"Things don't have to turn sloppy now." Shit, are they trying to piss her off?
"Holly, let me handle this." Bigby said.
Yes, let's spare all the fuss. It's just a dead whore." Well shit's going down now.
"I'm going to kill you!" Gren yelled. Holly roared and charged at Dee but got shot. She fell down and behind Bigby, Dum was charging at Gren. However Gren slapped the shotgun out of his hands causing Dum to fall on his back. With this advantage Gren jumped on top of Dum.
"I got it, Dum!" My head turned to Dee and I immediately took action. I took his gun and used my strength to push him backwards. When Dee's back hit something metal I used his gun that we were both holding to slam in his face. His grip loosened and I took his gun and threw it to the side. I was about to grip Dee by his colour but he punched me in the stomach. I grunted and stepped back. Bigby however immediately took my place. I turned and charged at Dum I took his gun too but he managed to shoot at me. I hissed and stepped back, letting go of the gun and gripping my arm. I heard another shot and a grunt.
"Bigby!" I said in shock as he laid on the ground. I ran to him and helped him sit up. I barely gave any attention to Snow who ran past us to Holly. Bigby and I looked at Holly who didn't move at all.
"Shit, your bleeding." I looked down at Bigby before glancing at my arm. It hurt but I've gone through worse.
"I don't have a bullet in my shoulder so stop worrying about me." I said to him.
"I heal faster." I huffed at his reaction.
"Stop arguing with me." A few hours later we were all sitting at the Business Office. I was trying my best not to stare at Bigby. Well, could you blame me if I did? I mean, those abs! I looked down at Abbie who pawed my leg. She gave me a 'Really?' kind of look. I frowned and shrugged at her. I sighed as I stood up and stretched my back. I was only wearing a black top and dark skinny jeans. I was still holding a cloth to my wound.
"I did as well as I could to take out the buckshot, but there's still some shards left embedded in your shoulder. They'll eventually worm their way out on their own, but…until they do, you're gonna be sore." The doctor said. However, Bigby didn't seem the least bit interested. He was concentrated on Bufkin who was trying to put the mirror back together. His concentration was taken away when Snow started speaking.
"Bigby, Dr. Swineheart was appointed Fabletown physician for a reason." Snow said.
"It's okay, there's only one thing you have to take away from all this: take it easy." The doctor said. Bigby stood up straight. He grunted and popped his shoulder. His eyes landed on me.
"Are you okay?" He asked me.
"I'm fine Bigby." I smiled at him and he nodded letting out a breath. Those damned mixed signals.
"Is she?" Bigby asked the doctor.
"She is, Bigby. It's just a flesh wound." Swineheart said with a smile. "Don't go looking for any more fights. Keep strain off your heart. And try to get some rest."
"How's everyone else? They all make it?" Bigby asked. Bigby obviously cared more than he let on.
"They're fine." Swineheart said. "I had everyone that got wounded sent home. Holly refused to let me see where she lived, so I left her and Grendel back at her bar with a dose of juniper and spring water." With this explanation Bigby still looked concerned. "They're titans, Bigby. They'll be fine. Just remember what I said. The stitches won't hold up if you continue to act…like you normally do." I shook my head at this. Why did they all want him to be someone he clearly isn't?! "Everything in moderation. And, uh, eat more chicken. Your blood pressure's through the proverbial roof."
"I'll try to." Bigby said with a smile. I couldn't help but smile as well.
"Alright then. Very good." The doctor said. The phone went off and Snow took it. "Miss Singer, make sure he heals up well." I spluttered a little at this.
"Why me?"
"Cause he surprisingly seems to listen to you." The doctor said. I glanced up at Bigby who was looking down at me with his big brown puppy eyes. I couldn't help but let my eyes drift down to his chest. I cleared my throat and looked away from him.
"Yea, sure, whatever." I said as I grumbled at the blush on my face..
"The town is starting to find out." Snow said as she put down the phone.
"Well, I'll leave you three to it, then. Miss White. Miss Singer. Bigby." Doctor Swineheart nodded at us and walked out of the business office. Snow walked up to us and I saw her glance at Bigby's bare chest. I bit my lip so I wouldn't make a sassy comment.
"So…to recap…" Snow said, trying to break the awkward silence. Bigby went to put on his shirt while he talked.
"Crane watched us through the Magic Mirror uncover his room at the Open Arms. Then he smashed it so we couldn't use it ourselves to go after him. And we know this because Bufkin was drinking in the rafters. That about cover it?" I smirked at his tone.
"Once he puts all the pieces back together…It'll be easy to catch Crane. So…I guess that's the plan. Currently." As Snow said this, Bigby walked up to us, adjusting his tie that hung loosely around his collar. "But I don't know…"
"We don't have time to wait for the mirror. Crane could be getting on a train right now." This sat Snow off as she glared at him.
"Well, I don't want to just go running off into the night without some direction." Snow said.
"Then don't go." I snapped. She looked at me with an angry glare but I wasn't affected by it. "What? His plan is reasonable. We should 'go running off into the night' as you say it."
"You don't have anything to say here, Lexy." She said. I nodded at her and looked away before smirking at her.
"Sure, but who has the most experience in this shit? You or Bigby and me?" She didn't answer after that. Bigby was just awkwardly standing at the side, watching us.
"I just…what the Hell is going on?" Snow said. "Just… don't know what the Tweedles get out of this. I-I don't know if Crane sent them, I don't know if…" She stopped for a second when Bigby glanced at her from his place, leaning against the table. "I mean, this is gonna sound crazy, but… Do you really think Crane did it? Everything points to him, I get it, but…Do you really think he killed those women? Because it's just...It's incomprehensible to me."
"From what we saw at the Open Arms it can't be anyone else but Crane." I said.
"What isn't adding up for me is Faith. Why would he kill her? It doesn't seem connected." Bigby said.
"Yeah, it doesn't make sense. He's…he was a conniver, a…a coward, a liar. And I'll always hate him for that. And I'll hate him for how he…held me in his thoughts. But murdering prostitutes…" Snow said. We heard Bufkin yelp, causing Snow to look at him. "Everything okay over there?"
"Yes, Miss White! Just cut myself on a piece of the glass. Nothing to worry about!" Bufkin called back
"Thanks for tonight, by the way." Snow said. That could have gone really terribly…I mean, even worse than it did. I'm glad you were there." She obviously only meant Bigby.
"You're welcome." I said with a sarcastic tone. Bigby put his large hand on my shoulder to calm me down. And it worked. He gave me a reassuring smile before turning back to Snow.
"I just feel bad for Holly, really." Bigby said.
"Yeah." Snow said while looking at the ground. "Time heals everything, eventually. At least, I hope so…for her sake. Can I, uh, ask you two a question? It's kind of personal." Snow asked as she stepped closer to Bigby but gave me a questioning glance. I didn't know why I should listen to her but I had nothing to do anyway. I was surprised when Abbie put her snout on Bigby's hand. He smiled and petted her head for a second before turning back to Snow. Now it was me who gave her the 'Really?' look. Abbie just tilted her head to the side. "And I don't want to offend you. But after tonight…it's on my mind."
"Why? What's on your mind?" Bigby asked.
"It's just…when stuff hits the fan…like-like it did tonight…It feels like before we came to the city. It feels kind of like home. And I've heard it said…that maybe…in some tiny little, bottled up way, deep inside…you kind of enjoy it…when things go wrong. Because it just gives you an excuse to…just, you know…"
"Fuck no, I don't enjoy it! Are you kidding me?" Bigby yelled angrily. I was barely controlling my temper. "It's horrible what happened tonight, I wish it didn't happen!" Snow glanced at me and I narrowed my eyes at her. Abbie who was standing between Bigby and I was growling.
"Do I look like Dr. Phil to you? When shit hits the fan your supposed to be fucked up about it! Not enjoy it!" I snapped.
"I shouldn't have said anything. Forget that I did." Bigby's angry look softened a little while I just kept glaring.
"Uh, hey guys? We have a problem…" Bufkin said. We walked over to him. "I can't finish the mirror. It's missing a piece."
"What do you mean…missing a piece?" Snow asked with a snap in her voice.
"Crane must have taken a shard with him." Bigby growled.
"I can't believe this." Snow sighed in frustration.
"I saw Crane pick something up after he smashed it. I'm sorry…I didn't realize what it was until now." Bufkin said.
"The mirror can't work unless it's whole." Snow said.
"Well, that's not entirely true." Bufkin said with a smile.
"Or what, Bufkin? What? We sit around wait until it mends itself? We have no idea how long that will take. We're just gonna have to do this the hard way." Snow said.
"Calm down already, will ye. He's just trying to help." I snapped at her.
"Waiting is an option…" Bufkin said.
"Alright, how long will it take for the mirror to reform?" Bigby asked calmly.
"It could take days-"
"Or months. Or years." Snow snapped. "He had to have left something that tells us where he's going. He's a neat freak but he was never that smart."
"Smart enough to take a piece of the mirror." Bufkin said. I snorted and smiled at Bufkin. Snow glared at us over her shoulder. "We could still solve this ourselves… I know that it-"
"Nevermind that, come help me look." Snow said.
"Bitch." I mumbled.
"What did you say?" Snow snapped at me.
"I said 'bitch'." I gave her a sweet smile.
"Why you-"
"Alright, stop it." Bigby glared at me but I glared straight back.
"You're just going to let her treat you as her personal mutt?" I asked.
"She doesn't-" Bigby sighed and rubbed his forehead. "Just, please, stop arguing." When Snow was out of earshot I looked up at him with an angry look.
"I'm starting to think that you actually like being her lapdog." I whispered to him.
"I'm not her lapdog, Lexy. She's my boss, I need to listen to her or I'll lose my job." Bigby said. I looked away from him with my arms crossed. "Hey," His hand took my chin and lifted it so I looked in his brown eyes. "You gonna help me?" He asked with a smile. I hesitated before nodding.
"It's not fair you know." Bigby gave me a questioning look. "Using the puppy dog look." I glared at him as he laughed at me.
Let's start with Bufkin." Bigby said. I nodded in agreement and we went to the green ape with wings who was still standing in front of the mirror.
"Hi, Mr Bigby, Miss Singer…I can still help you catch Crane, you know…" Bufkin said.
"Oh yeah?" Bigby said.
"Yes! I saw him jump on the telephone before he left. He called up somebody. He said he needed to see 'his witch', or that he would need to get to 'the witch for that'…whoever that is." Bufkin said.
"Witches? Really?" I sighed annoyed and looked away.
"His witch?" Bigby said.
"Yes, it sounded like the one he got his 'Snow' glamours from." Bufkin said and Bigby hummed.
"Did you see anything else?" I ask Bufkin.
"No, not, uh, not especially." Bufkin said.
"Look…the whole mirror thing. It's not your fault, alright?" Bigby said. I glanced at him and smiled a little. He cares more than he lets on.
"You mean it?" Bufkin said as he looked up at us.
"Yeah." Bigby said, his gruff voice soft and caring. Bufkin smiled up at him while Bigby just gave him a soft look.
"I'll just…see if I can do anything about this." Bufkin said.
"You do that." Bigby said.
"Talk to you later, Bufkin." I said before turning to Bigby. "What now?" Bigby gave me a glance before walking up to Snow.
"Bufkin says that he overheard Crane call somebody before he left. It sounds like he's going to see witch, or… 'his witch.' His glamour witch." I zoned out of the conversation and looked at Abby. She looked up at me with worried eyes. I sighed and bent through my knees to hug her. Castiel's word kept ringing in my head.
"What do you think you're doing, Lexy." He asked.
"Uh, I don't understand. Why are you so-"
"Those people. There are bigger things to do than this. Like helping with finding Raphael." Castiel interrupted me. I looked at him in surprise.
The more I think about it, the more I start to agree with Castiel. My job is to protect the humans and kill everything that tries to hurt them. Helping the supernatural creatures isn't one of the jobs of a hunter.
I glanced up at them talking.
I should be hunting them…
"Lex." I snapped out my thoughts when Bigby's concerned brown eyes looked in my green ones. "You okay?" Bigby asked. I nodded and stood up. I walked up to him and looked down at the letters on the desk. Bigby took the first letter send by Weyland Smith. When he was done reading we read the other. One from Boy Blue and from Mr. Toad. I chuckled as I read the last sentence on the letter.
'GET YOUR SHIT TOGETHER!'
"Did Crane ever do any work?" Bigby asked.
"Only when Cole was around." Snow answered. Bigby tried the drawer but it was locked…so he forced it open after a nod from Snow. He smiled up at her proudly and she smiled back. I suddenly felt useless really. What was I doing here anyway? I felt like…like…
A lapdog.
I looked to the side only to have my eyes land on a key. I reach out for it and took it out of the inbox.
"What is it?" Snow asked.
"It's a key to one of the rooms at the Open Arms." I said. Snow looked at Bigby with her arms crossed and a frown.
"You still haven't told me what was in there…I want to know. I need to know." Snow said.
"You really don't-"
"A lot of blood and flowers." Bigby interrupted me. I bit my tongue to prevent myself of snapping at them. Jeez, I need to stop feeling like this.
Whatever this is.
"I keep thinking back… I keep…replaying moments in my head, interactions with him, when he'd catch me in the elevator, or…bump into me outside. There's only so much you can repress, you know?" Snow said. Both were completely ignoring me.
"Snow…you couldn't have known." Bigby said.
"No. I could've." Snow said. I wanted to ask her how she could know but let it slide. "C'mon, let's keep looking." Bigby looked at her for a second longer before taking the book out of the drawer. He put it on the table and looked through it until he stopped at a page that seemed to be ripped out.
"There's a page here that was torn out." Bigby said.
"No shit Sherlock." I muttered under my breath. I saw him give me a surprised glance but shrugged it off.
"Bufkin? Do you know what was here?" Snow asked. Bufkin flew over my head and landed on the inbox next to me.
"It's a ring, at least. Every magical item not retained in the armory is assigned to someone in Fabletown. It must be this witch he's going to see…" Bufkin said.
"Yeah, I only recently heard about this meeting. Why didn't you mention this before?" Snow snapped.
"No one asked me." Bufkin said. I snorted while Bigby glared at him.
"Bufkin!" Snow said obviously frustrated.
"And I'm hangover, I'm sorry." Bufkin said, making me laugh.
"You know what? You're awesome." I said with a grin.
"Lexy! Don't encourage him!" Snow snapped.
"You're not my boss. I don't take orders from anyone." I snapped right back.
"He set the meeting at 2 AM. Tonight." Bufkin said. I jumped a little when the sound of a door echoed through the room.
"What's going on? Is the mirror fixed yet?" A bald man with a beard, glasses and golden earrings walked up to us. Bluebeard. That guy that was punching Dee over and over again.
"Bluebeard, this isn't the time." Snow said as we met him halfway in the room.
"Is the mirror fixed or isn't it? You called me to-"
"I called just to see if you knew where Crane could be, and that was it, okay? And I'm sorry I said anything more than that." Snow snapped.
"Well, you did, and I know. The cat's out of the bag. So…can we find the dull pervert or not?" Bluebeard said.
"Wow, he's actually worse than you." I said with an amused smile. Bluebeard looked at me and glared before looking at Snow and Bigby.
"What is a Mundy doing here." He hissed. I rolled my eyes and stood up straight.
"Alright buddy, calm your tits. I know everything. I'm Lexy Singer-"
"Singer? Bobby Singer's daughter?" Bluebeard interrupted. I smiled at him.
"You know Bobby?"
"Yeah." I nodded and gave him a bright smile. "He was called the town dunk." My smile faded and I took a step back.
"Yeah, that sounds like him." I said.
"No. The mirror can't be fixed. It's missing a piece." Bigby said.
"This is none of Bluebeard's business, Bigby." Snow snapped at Bigby. I looked down at Abby who also looked at me with the same look as I was giving. I swear this dog has to be a fable or something. Maybe a shapeshifter?
"None of my business? Crane's the murderer, he escaped, it seems he's foiled your every attempt at locating him, and now it's none of my business?" Bluebeard said offended.
"We don't know if he's the murderer." Snow said, a glare still plastered on her face. She's going to have wrinkles if she keeps frowning like that.
"Oh, please, of course he is." Bluebeard said as if it was a matter of fact.
"Look, this just isn't the time. He took a piece of the mirror, so we can't use it." Snow said.
"The only thing we know is that Crane's going to see a witch at two o'clock." Bufkin said. Well, we didn't know that yet. Snow, Bigby and I glared at Bufkin.
"AM or PM." Bluebeard asked. Bufkin looked at Snow before guiltily looking down.
"AM." He said.
"Listen, Bluebeard, you're not a part of this." Snow said as Bigby and I kept looking at Bufkin for a little longer.
"I don't think you're in any position to turn away help." Bluebeard answered. He's right. We need all the help we can get. But this guy seemed to be giving off trouble more than help.
"Why do you even care about this?" Bigby asked.
"Ah, finally a good question." I said while smiling.
"Why? I'm invested in this enterprise we call Fabletown." Bluebeard said, making Snow huff. "Literally invested, since it's mostly my money that keeps the whole thing running."
"Ah, so you're the snobby rich dude." I said. Bluebeard glared at me making me hold up my hands defensively.
"And tonight I hear that Crane has been killing Fables? And there's no system in place to catch him?" Bigby and I glared at him as he looked at us when he said this.
"Look, we know that Crane is going to see a witch, and it's to acquire a magic ring." Snow said as she walked back to the book.
"What's the ring?" Bluebeard asked.
"We don't know what it does or who it's assigned to since Crane tore its page out of the book." Snow snapped.
"This farce was your ridiculous idea for a plan. I mean, who put you in charge in the first place?" Bluebeard said.
"Fixing the mirror was the most logical thing!" Snow raised her voice.
"You're a secretary, he's the Sherrif and none of you were chosen to run this office." Bluebeard said.
"And I'm being forgotten." I said while pouting.
"You're just a mundane." Bluebeard snapped.
"Watch it, Baldy!" I hissed and went to slap him but Bigby stopped me with putting a hand on my waist.
"Who elected you to make these decisions?" Baldy said.
"Nobody, but that doesn'-" Snow began but Baldy interrupted her.
"Who elected her to spend my money?" Bluebeard said as he looked at Bigby who just glared.
"Well, I've been doing that unofficially for years now." Snow said.
"'Unofficially' is not 'officially.'" Bluebeard said. I rolled my eyes and looked at Bigby.
"Are you gonna do something about this or do I need to break them apart?" I said to him.
"Snow can obviously handle this so let's drop it." Bigby said.
"Well then… excuse me for having the commonwealth in mind." Baldy said. Snow turned her back to us and walked a little away from us. She sighed and turned back to us.
"Alright, let's just look on the bright side. We know Crane is going to see the witch that's been supplying him black market glamours." Snow said.
"Thanks to me." Bufkin said with pride.
"…And that he'll be there at two. So that gives us…" Snow looked at her watch. "…A few short hours to find out who it is and where they live and get them all at once."
"And a few shorter hours the more you babble about it." Baldy said.
"Than what are we waiting for?" I said.
"2:00 AM. Piece of cake." Bigby said as he smiled at Snow and me. I smiled back and gave him a playful punch on his shoulder. I turned to look at Snow who was glaring at us.
"Since Lily used the glamours, she'd have known who the witch was…and I don't think Holly's burned her things yet. It would probably have the address or a phone number or something…" Snow said.
"And Bigby and his assistant-"
"I prefer partner over assistant." I said. I looked up at Bigby who looked at me. "Not the time?" He shook his head making me shrug.
"They are free to go there of they like, but I think the question you should be asking is just what do the two Tweedles know about this?" Baldy said.
"It doesn't matter what they know. After tonight, they'd never go to their office." Snow snapped.
"They're not smart enough to try and go anywhere else-" Baldy said but Snow interrupted him. Jesus, the sexual tension between those two. They need to get their sticks of their asses.
"The Trip Trap is the better option to track the witch down. That has to be our focus." Snow said.
"Can we decide that." I glared at Baldy and Snow.
"Even if they're not there…the Tweedles' office might have something on Crane or the witch." Bigby said.
"And we could split up and do both at the same time." I said.
"I don't really care what you three do, I'm going to his apartment." Baldy said and walked away from us.
"What? You can't just go up there." Snow said as she started to follow him.
"And why the Hell not?" Baldy stopped walking and turned to Snow.
"We already looked for the key, remember? I don't know where it is." Snow said.
"Then I'll pick the blasted lock!" Bluebeard yelled before sighing. "I've wasted enough time waiting for the mirror to find him. I won't waste anymore."
"You just can't go up there alone, alright?" Snow said as she crossed her arms over her chest. Bigby walked up next to her, letting go of my waist. He had held my waist all that time?
I'm fucked.
"I've no interest in nicking his draped, my dear, if that's what concerns you." Baldy said.
"What concerns me is you traipsing through possible evidence." Snow snapped.
"Oh, now it's evidence. Before you had no interest and now it's a crime scene!" Baldy said. I sighed and rubbed my forehead. I could just feel the head ache coming up.
"Bluebeard, just stay out of it, alright? You'll just mess things up further." Bigby barked. Not barking like a dog. Which would actually be amusing if he did so.
"They can't get any more 'messed up.'" Baldy said.
"We have to find the witch, Bluebeard, since that's where he's going." Snow said.
"Or the snivelling weasel chickened out, never went anywhere, and is upstairs right now in his pitiful penthouse crafting a fort out of couch cushions! Look, this is how a smart person would do it, so this is how we're going to do it…wherever you go, I'll go to the other." Bluebeard said to Bigby.
"I don't like you going anywhere unsupervised." Snow said to Bluebeard before whispering something to Bigby. "Where ya gonna go Bigby?" Snow said after she was done whispering. Bigby walked away from them and next to me. We stared at each other for a moment before I gave him a smirk.
"Where first, pup?"
