Thank you guys for the wonderful and amazing reviews. You guys really make me want to update, albeit slowly. Bear with me please? I just played the final chapter of The Wolf Among Us and holy fuck it was amazing. I suggest you play it if you haven't, sweet mother. It was EPIC.
Some of you guys answered the same question about whether this is Bigby/Snow or Bigby/OC. I am not planning on pairing Bigby with Snow, but am not quite sure whether to pair Bigby with Ann, because I haven't looked into it yet. What would you guys want to read?
I was too lazy to ran a grammar check, so for the grammar-nazi's among you; HAVE FUN! :D
Chapter 07: King of the hill
A freaking circus.
That is how Ann felt after Ms. Snow White had told her the short version what it was about Fables and shit, making her mind spin. There was way more happening underneath the mundane life than she would have ever guessed.
Fairy-tale figures that ought to be fantasy walking on the same side-walk as you did, perhaps even bumping shoulders with them, it was too much for Ann to grasp at the moment and really needed to sink in.
And that goddamn headache wasn't making things easier.
Taking a final large gulp from her coffee she placed the cup on the counter before pushing herself away, snatching her black coat from the couch and putting it on sluggishly. Whirling thoughts kept her awake previous night, and the anxiety of meeting the 'big boss' didn't help either. Snow hadn't warned her, but she could see the apprehension in her eyes when she had told her that her boss –a guy named Crane- needed to see and speak to her personally.
That made Ann have the feeling that miss Snow White hadn't been acting on her boss behalf last night, but on her own accord to get her story first. Did that mean that Crane was such a short-sighted ass?
She hoped not.
A series of knocks on her doors awoke her from her meddling thoughts. Rubbing her eyes she walked to the door with a blue plaid scarf in her other hand. "Who is it?" she yawned. Already knowing the question's answer, but she wouldn't be surprised a second time in less than 24 hours.
"It's me."
That was all she needed and twisted the door knob, opening her front door -and house-hold- for the Sheriff of Fabletown. Yes, that would look wickedly on a business card.
The hazel eyes of Bigby Wolf took in the dark circles and creases on her forehead. The woman looked exhausted. "You ready?" He asked, stepping back when she grabbed her purse and walked outside after throwing the scarf around her neck.
"I am going to meet the boss of my boss, and everyone else's boss. The fucking king of the hill. How on earth can I be ready for that?" Ann huffed and locked her door. "How did you arrange this with Bluebeard anyway?" She hoisted her purse over her shoulder and stepped outside through the chipped green lobby door with the sheriff on her side.
"He'll just have to deal with it. Don't worry about it," Bigby said in a matter-of-fact tone and shoved a cigarette in his mouth and lit it. He noticed how you watched him and held out his hand. It were Huff'n Puff cigarettes.
"I.. don't smoke. It kills you know?" A weak smile pulled at her lips and held on her purse a little tighter.
"Suit yourself. Come, it's best to get it over with."
Bigby started walking his stride long and strong. Ann wasn't a shorty herself, almost matching him in height, but even she had to put some effort into keeping up with him. Her emerald eyes gave his grey blouse a glance when a cold breeze made her shiver. It was slightly stretched around his upper torso with its sleeves rolled up to his elbows, showing the bare skin of his forearms. She could only imagine how exerting being the Sheriff of Fabletown could be and guessed that a good physique was necessary.
'Oh my god Ann, stop ogling.'
"Do you have furnace hidden underneath that shirt if yours?" She said and rounded the corner with him. There wasn't a lot of traffic at this hour on a Friday, but still a few cars and people passed them by. Rarely a cyclist.
"Nope."
'Not that much of a talker then..'Ann thought and took a deep breath, trying to ignore the awkwardness –that was probably 100% from her part- and focused on how fresh the air felt against her skin. It whisked away some of her exhaustion making it a little more bearable, and took away her worries of falling asleep the moment she closed her eyes or whenever she sat down.
Ann casted her gaze upwards and looked past the humongous buildings that towered above them straight to the sky. Slowly but surely she could see the stars dissipate one by one as the slowly rising sun in the east brightened the air into a soft indigo and coloured the clouds in a pastel pink laced with gold.
How she longed back to the green fields of England that very moment. But alas, that wasn't and never will be the case ever again.
Tearing her eyes from the sky she had not noticed they were already standing in front of the gates of the Woodland Building. Bigby, who was a few steps ahead, looked at her with a fresh cigarette dangling in the corner of his mouth. His hazel eyes taking her in. Embarrassment made Ann's cheek flush whilst she hurried and re-joined him at his side.
"Sorry.. I didn't have much sleep last night," Ann briskly explained. She need not to know how much of a fool he thought she was and hoped with her defensive attitude -that was unjustified and she was well aware of it- that he refrained to look at her this way, despite his relaxed demeanour.
"I wasn't going to ask, relax." Was all that Bigby said and followed Ann inside watching how that sloppy bun on the back of her head bounced happily with each step.
The guard at the counter was still vast asleep when the two crossed the lobby and entered the elevator. Ann was glad that Bigby decided to throw away his cigarette just before he got in.
"I may be a chain smoker, but I am not keen on setting us or the elevator on fire. Don't worry," he chuckled and leaned against the back wall.
She gulped and nodded in a silent thanks while she stayed put at the front and watched with dread how the doors hissed to a close. She held her footing when the elevator shook and slowly came in motion. Thanking her atheist god that she didn't make more of a fool of herself than she already was.
"Which floor is it?"
Bigby noticed how small her voice sounded, but decided not to comment on it. "Top," he answered. He saw the moment that he uttered the three-lettered word her shoulders became rigid and her stance was a mixture of being overcome with fear and being insure and uncomfortable.
"I see," Ann muttered, fixating her green eyes on that little dirt speck on the elevator doors. She heard movement behind her and flinched when Bigby's shoulder momentarily brushed against hers.
"You are afraid of elevators."
It wasn't a question, but a statement of a fact. A truthful one at that. Noting that it would be foolish to disagree under the sheriff's watchful gaze Ann couldn't do anything but nod.
"Not just that. Every kind of confined space makes me.. uncomfortable," she said trying to sound braver than she felt. That façade was quickly broken though when the elevator dropped a bit and came with some shacking to a halt, causing her to suck in a sharp breath and tense up considerably.
Bigby did nothing but watch; taking in in how her whole demeanour changed when the elevator doors slid open and she stepped outside exhaling deeply. He said nothing and motioned for her to follow him, not voicing his thoughts of why she was so afraid of confined spaces.
Despite the early hours the Woodland Building still teemed with life. People passed them, scurrying around and the moment they took a turn into a long hallway a whole line of people were waiting at the door of the Business Office. Bigby took no heed of them and the only thing Ann could do is clutch her purse and follow him with a down glanced gaze hoping not to attract too much attention.
'Are they fake like Toad.. or other Fairy-tale people?' Ann silently wondered when they passed each individual. Feeling brave she shot a side-way glance and her eyes met those of a gruesome guy who seemed agitated.
"What're you? Blind?" He called out and stepped out of the line with shoulders squared. "What, you don't see there's line?" Bigby stopped and turned around. Ann side-stepped and made way with her back against the wall, wishing she was invisible. The angry vibes this man emanated were unpleasant.
"I've been standing here from fucking 5:30 and you get to walk just in?" The man hissed. His eyes glared from Bigby to her. "And who the fuck is that? Must be nice, being with the fucking Sheriff. Do whatever you like-"
"I work here," Bigby said, cutting the guy off mid-sentence. His tone was like ice and his hazel eyes were glaring. "And so does she from now on"
"And what great work you do, Sheriffs," the man drawled sarcastically in the hope to taunt Mr. Wolf. Alas, he huffed and a crooked smile crossed his lips as Bigby mocked the man.
"Hmn, that didn't seem very genuine. Come on," he turned to Ann. "Snow and Crane are waiting."
Feeling dread curling up in her stomach Ann nodded and took a deep breath. She followed Bigby into the Business Office feeling like a newbie on her way to a job interview, and closed the door behind her. Then paused for a moment to take it all in.
The Business Office wasn't just an office, it was humongous. The ceiling was so tall that she couldn't even see it because it was shrouded in darkness. The various lamps placed here and there randomly didn't have enough power to illuminate it.
All around her various of objects were strewn across the Office in an –hopefully- organized mess. Centuries-old furniture were stacked together in one corner together with wardrobes that held a certain vibe that Ann wouldn't even dare snooping around in them. Where these some of the artefacts they could recover from their homeland? In the corner of her eyes she spotted an odd-looking mirror and a genie lamp. Despite the splendours the Office reeked a little of old dust filled books. Really, really old dust filled books.
Ann followed Bigby across the Office, her black sneakers tapping silently on the dark tiled floor as they passed an enormous statue of a person she didn't recognize towards a pair of people who were silently discussing with each other.
"- And now you are telling there is a killer on the loose? You two tittering behind my back-"
Snow folded her hands together and stammered. In front of her stood the scrawniest man Ann had witnessed. He was tall, almost a head taller than her, but had a thin torso with scrawny long limbs attached to it. His hands were like white spiders with long fingers and bad-kept nails. His balding head almost seemed too big for his body and together with a large nose and beady little eyes he made Ann remind him of a rat. Probably with a personality to match judging by his sneering voice.
"—Because you are the one bringing this to me, Miss Snow. The one who so simply stumbled upon this catastrophe on our very doorstep! The last thing I need with Mayor Cole away is a hysteria. Do you understand me?" The ratty man hissed and leaned to Miss Snow, his beady eyes flaming with fury.
"Yes! Of course I do but-" Snow stammered. Her voice was getting louder and a frown pulled down her eyebrows in irritation.
"Don't interrupt me Miss Snow!"
"You asked me a question!"
Ann couldn't stand looking at this. This man already made her mouth turn sour and he haven't even spoken to her, but this whole situation reeked of injustice and a gut feeling made Ann to act. She strode past Bigby, not hearing how he called her name and the touch of his fingers that tried to grasp the fabric of her coat, and wrung herself between Miss White and the vile man who she supposed was Crane.
"She brought you the news of the murder as soon as she could, Mr. Crane. Allow me to introduce myself," Ann interrupted with her strong and unwavering British accent and thrust out a hand, grabbing his and shook it before he could respond. She could feel some triumph when she saw Crane look at her flabbergasted.
"What are you doing?" Snow furiously whispered behind her, but Ann choose not to react on that. She knew that she was treading on thin ice right now. They could still decide whether to kill her or erase her memories because she was mundane, but she hoped with some sweet-honeyed words and overwhelming this Mr. Crane that he wouldn't think of it, or that her thoughts were a bit too imaginative.
"My name is Annemarie Smith and I am here to help with the investigation of the murder that had just occurred a few hours ago," she began. It was a bluff, but judging by the determined look Bigby gave her from her left it was a truthful one. "Miss Snow and sir Bigby Wolf are doing their best to keep this from spiralling out of control and called in for my expertise."
"Which is?" Crane hissed venomously, almost causing her act of bravery to crack. But Ann straightened her back and folded her hands behind them, squaring her shoulders in the act. She ignored his foul breath fanning her face and the sweat pearling on his wrinkled forehead.
"I am a writer, now one of books but previously working for the London Times and writing columns of missing people and murders. I know how to straighten out facts from little pieces of information and I am creative, clean and without judgement. The perfect associate," she summed up, hoping she made a strong case.
Ichabod Crane looked at this new individual in front of him. Taking in the messy fire-red hair, bright green eyes, but also the dark circles underneath them. She had fair skin with freckles on her cheeks and slightly upturned nose. Crane knew she was not a Fable, but how could she walk around and talk to him.
Staying silent, Crane walked around his desk and sat down in the soft leather chair. He neatly folded his hands on his desk and glared at his executive Miss Snow White and his Sheriff; Bigby Wolf. His voice quaked with anger; "How on earth is a Mundy standing here in the middle of my office and introducing herself to me? "
"Hey!" The girl who named herself Annemarie Smith, snapped with anger laced in her voice. Crane admired how they flashed like green fire with it. "I may be mundane, but I am not stu-"
A large heavy hand on her left shoulder silenced made Ann hold her tongue. She threw Bigby a question filled side-way glance and a quirk of her eyebrow, but he did nothing except sparing her a glance. He was in charge right now.
"I ran a check and Miss Smith is here on her own account with no relatives nor friend. She also told me and Miss White that she had encountered Faith multiple times and even engaged conversation. She proved to be reliable and a good keeper of secrets, plus with the murderer on the loose what is better as a spy than a complete stranger? I vouch for her integrity," Bigby said with his hand still on Ann's shoulder who just looked at him.
They had only met twice and he already vouched for her? He must have a pretty high standard of her, but why did she have the feeling that there was still a tail attached to it and wasn't going to like it?
"I vouch for her too. I have spoken to her on numerous occasions and she is already familiar with our customs because she was previously working as Bluebeard's secretary." Snow took a step forward and crossed her arms over her chest.
'So that is what Bigby meant; don't worry about it. Wait, did they just take away my job? My ONLY source of income?!'
Ichabod Crane glared at the trio standing in front of his desk and sighed, standing up "Fine, but if things go wrong it is on your head Miss Snow, Mister Wolf." And with those words he left.
Ann felt a feeling of relief washing over her and exhaled the breath that she had unconsciously be holding. Bigby who dropped some hold and damn heavy books on Crane's desk and some items from his pockets, amidst them a bright pink ribbon.
"Alright," Ann muttered and threw away her purse on the chair that was already adorned with her coat and scarf. She let the very tip her fingers run over the old leather bound books, feeling its rough texture. Her emerald eyes snapped to dark blue. "Where do we begin?"
