Chapter 6
Colin looked around at the others as the stared at the lone runt struggling before them. It was a pitiful sight really, now watching the tragic beginnings of the monster name 'The Big Bad wolf'. Colin sneered at their shock. He sat up from the laying position he had been in for most of this experience, "Now you see what I meant about being a runt, right?"
Beauty was the first to voice her complaints, "How could they abandon him like that?!"
"It's too cruel." Beast added
Colin sighed, "Well yeah, to you it would be. But for an animal in the wild, a runt is a hassle. Most runts die. Hell most mothers reject them."
"Reject them?"
"Yeah, I'm pretty sure when a canine rejects their pups, they either abandon them or just straight up kill them. It's rough. Bigby was lucky for a runt."
"That's considered lucky?" Beast gasped.
Gren finally spoke up and growled, "Oh just shut it already! This ain't some soap opera! This is Bigby's life. Unlike you rich fucks, some of us here had to actually struggle."
Beauty and Beast glared, but it was Snow who argued, "Just because we were once royalty doesn't mean that we haven't- "
Holly interrupts, "It's not the same for you! You three had crutches to lean on! Money, connections, power, beauty, we didn't all have those luxuries to rely on when shit hit the fan! When fables like us struggle, we already have nothing to begin with! "
Gren nods in agreement, "Shut your damned mouths for once, we don't want to hear your stupid opinions. Now is the fuckin' time for you to listen. Last time you didn't listen when we really needed it, don't fuck up again. "Gren crossed his arms, he didn't yell or growl this time, this time he commanded them and the formerly royal fables now remembered why this fable had been feared.
Woody and Colin, the neutral party in this argument, watched and clearly sided with Gren and Holly on this matter, but they didn't really think they had any room to voice their thought, especially not with how Gren ended it. But now that it was over, they were going to get things back on track but instead they heard distant foot steps approaching. Colin whimpered, "That doesn't sound good…"
They all looked towards the source, and they found the large silhouette of a dark wolf with bright and sharp yellow eyes glaring at them. It was obvious who it was, "Bigby?" Snow called out to him.
Bigby growled and sat a few feet away from the group, "Have you enjoyed invading my mind? I'm sure this has been a very telling experience for us all." He growled as the words left him through gritted fangs. The other fables flinched, realizing that now it was Bigby's wrath they should now fear. After all, the wolf spoke the truth, they really were invading Bigby's personal space, they had good intentions, but that didn't change that this was a grievous violation towards of Bigby's trust.
Nonetheless, Snow tried to reason with him, "Bigby, we're sorry but we're trying to help you! We didn't actually choose this particular method but- "
Bigby snarls, "But you still went along with it! You saw an opportunity to pry and you took it. That much is clear to me! How much did you see?!" He roared at them now as he stood back up and towered over them. Once again, the others were reminded of why fables like Bigby and Gren were so feared.
Snow stood her ground though, "What does that matter?! We've seen enough to know that you're struggling Bigby! You can't deny it anymore!"
"Why do you even care?! You haven't before! Damned woman…you can't just barge into someone else's problems! Especially when they don't concern you!"
Snow practically choked as she gasped in shock and frustration, "How could you say that?! How is this not concerned with me?"
Bigby sneered, "You chose to take yourself out of the picture. Even if you did reciprocate any of my feelings for you… you chose to turn your back on me…" Bigby sat back down, now solemn, "I know…for a long time you didn't know about how I felt, but after your memories were erased, I knew that I didn't deserve you… You deserved a good man, and back then I was still the furthest thing from that…So I decided to avoid you until I believed I was worthy of you…"
Snow stared, Bigby had never been this open about himself before, at least not about something like this. She blinked before questioning him further, "So what, now you think you are? "She was now referencing his more recent actions the past few decades, after all he recently started making his feelings so clear that the whole damned town knew about it.
"No. I never will. Once I realized that I couldn't restrain it anymore. And at first, I actually had some hope that I'd manage to make us work. After all, I caught your attention once before, surely, I could do it again. But much time has passed since then, and with time, everything changes."
Snow frowned, "So now you've given up?"
Bigby sighed with an air of exhaustion, "Maybe."
They sat there staring at each other awkwardly. The others watched the tension between the two and whispered amongst each other, "They're so fucking oblivious to it! Do they not realize what's happening here?" Woody whispered.
Beauty whined, "Now's the perfect time to clear everything up if they'd both stop being so stubborn!"
Holly growled, "One's too damned stubborn to actually commit and open up while the other is too stubborn to even admit that she does feel the same!"
Beast bit his lip, "I mean…I can understand where Bigby is coming from…He wants her but he's too afraid of her rejecting him…He probably thinks its better to remain ignorant of how she really feels then to entertain the possibility that he'll be officially rejected…" Beauty rubbed Beast's bicep, she noted that she'd need to have a soft talk with beast about his self-esteem later.
"But she wouldn't reject him now! Not after everything she's seen now!" Beauty added.
Colin sighs, "Then we'll have to play the role of wing-man for them!"
"How do we do that?" Woody and the rest look at Colin.
"I don't know! Get them talking about romantic shit I guess? They're too busy arguin', if they'd relax maybe they could actually make some progress?"
They all nodded and looked at each other. Gren stepped up, "Let me try something." Gren broke away from the group and approached Bigby and Snow, He shoved his hands in his pockets and sneered at them, "Would you two stop arguin' already? Just get it over with already Snow. Tell the damned mutt that you ain't interested! Stop teasin' the poor mutt if you ain't gonna actually give him a treat!" Gren didn't mean what he was saying, in fact he actually felt a little guilty when he saw the giant wolf that he knew to be Bigby go from being foreboding to absolutely pathetic as he snapped to look at Snow with hurt in his eyes. The others behind his were practically hissing at him but he didn't care to hear any of that. Instead he focused on Snow who was gawking at him, "I…" She couldn't seem to actually force the word out her mouth for a minute before she finally looked at Bigby with a face of steel, "Fine… Bigby, I know how you feel but I can't reciprocate. I never will." Her voiced wavered just slightly as the others all gasped in shock. Gren actually winced, his plan had totally back fired on him. Then they turned to watch Bigby.
Bigby stared at snow quietly, he didn't stop his tail from tucking itself under his leg or his ears from drooping a top his head. If one could manage to get close enough to actually press their ear against his furry chest, they'd definitely hear the sound of Bigby's heart shattering. But, quickly Bigby steeled himself and snarled with a tinge of hurt in his throat, "As I said...this doesn't concern you…" he slowly stood up on all fours, "I think it's time you all leave!" He inhaled deeply, so deeply that his entire body tensed with the power he was building up in his lungs. Colin instantly recognized this and cowered behind Woody. Before anyone could protest Bigby released all of the built up air and 'puffed' them away, and as they flew away they suddenly felt like they were being forced out, like they were thrown back against a door so hard that it broke and sent them even further away until they had completely left this plane that was Bigby's memories.
Then as suddenly as they had been forced out, they all gasped and awoke in Auntie Greenleaf's apartment. They didn't get any time to actually wake up before Bigby sprang awake and proceeded to barrel his way out of the room, against the protests of Holly and Beauty. Holly and Collin were the ones to go after him this time.
Holly practically had to jog to keep up, "Bigby…! Wait!"
Colin trotted next to them, "Bigby where are you going?"
"Away from here!" Bigby growled. He stopped as he slammed the button to the elevator, "I can't stay here!"
"And where are you going to go?" Colin tried to be the voice of reason.
Bigby growled as he continued to slam the button, "Anywhere!"
Holly gently grabbed his arm, which he promptly wretched out of her grasp, but she continued with what she wanted to say, "Bigby…Your hurting…we get that… and what Snow did really doesn't fucking help…" Holly thought for a moment before continuing even further, "You know she didn't mean that…She's just being stubborn…We can go back and talk to her… we can still work something out!"
Bigby looked at her before sighing, "I appreciate that…trying to get my hopes up again…but it doesn't matter…Snow has made it clear…She's not mine. She never will be. I was a fool to believe that this was anything but a damned curse!" The doors to the elevator finally opened and Bigby stormed in and began waiting again. He didn't attempt to stop them when Holly and Collin followed him in.
Holly stared at Bigby, the guy was a mess, practically in a panic to just get out of here. She sighed, "Fine… we can leave, I won't stop you… but instead of running of to some forest or something…just come down to my bar for a bit? Get a few drinks... let things cool down? Then we can rethink this with cool heads?"
Bigby starts searching his pockets for his cigarettes, Holly found it weird how he suddenly dropped the habit, but now he was hopelessly desperate for a single cigarette. She pats his shoulder, "I'll even throw in a free pack of Huff n' Puffs if you come to the Trip Trap…"
Bigby sighs, "Fine…lead the way…" the elevator doors opened. Holly and Collin proceeded to lead Bigby to the bar. Collin stayed silent as they were surrounded by Mundies. However, Bigby couldn't, "Holly…"
"Yeah?"
"Why are you helping me? I would think you'd hate me with how often I trash your bar…"
She scoffs, "Woody and Gren trash it without you too. There's no point in bein' mad anymore. "
"So…?"
Holly smiles, "Well I look out for my own. And you're one of us. You're a stray. Remember?"
Bigby couldn't bring himself to smile back but he was still a bit touched by the sentiment.
"-And, you helped avenge my sister. It's only natural that I want to help you in turn."
Bigby nods, he understood now. They continued their walk, in silence. They arrived at the bar with no problems. Holly pulled out her keys and unlocked the door before letting Bigby in, "Help yourself to a pack." Holly smiled as she went around the counter. Bigby made a B-line for the Huff n' Puffs. He grabbed a pack and started smoking before sitting on one of the stools. Holly slide over a glass of scotch for him. Bigby looked over she looks away from him, "It's been a long day. That one's on the house."
"Good… I couldn't pay you even if I wanted. I'm broke right now…"
Holly laughed, "Aren't we all?"
Bigby growls, "It shouldn't be that way."
"Well you can't really do anything about it. So don't dwell on it too much."
Bigby growls again, but drops the topic. Holly leans on the bar in front of the wolf and watches him, "So…what did you mean back there... about curses?"
Bigby took a long drag from his cig, "I meant that I'm fuckin' cursed. That's what this has to be."
"You mean, your thing for Snow?" Holly almost laughed, but knew better than that.
"Yes. I always suspected it, but now I'm sure."
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
"It means that this entire fucking time, this was just history repeating itself. I was a damned fool to think that anything but this would happen!" Bigby snapped, "Monsters like us don't get happy endings. "
Holly frowns, "Yeah. Maybe that's true. But, I don't think your cursed. I don't get why you think that."
Bigby sneered, "It's because I can't fucking escape it. Even now she's tormenting me!" Bigby rubbed at his nose with frustration and holly was able to piece the picture together now, "You can smell her? Even from here?"
Bigby growls, "Yes. It doesn't matter where I am. I'm always able to pick it out from everything else. Smoking muffles the wretched scent of this damned city, but never hers. Nothing can compete. "
"Then why are you smoking? Wouldn't it make it easier to smell it if everything else is muffled?"
"Yeah…But I'm hoping that if I just smoke more then eventually it'll be enough to mask her scent…just for a fucking second…I just want her out of my fucking head for a second… that's all…"
Holly sighs, "well, good luck with that…"
Bigby downs the glass of scotch with a feverish ferocity before looked at her for another. The rest of the night would consist of the trio comfortably drinking together. Collin would've spoken up, but he knew now wasn't the time to provoke Bigby. Of course, other bar patrons didn't know this. So, when Jack, the boy who went up the beanstalk for some good ole' thievery, came in as loudly as he normally did. Collin got very anxious. The moment the idiot had barged in was the moment that Bigby clenched his cup in annoyance, poor guy just wanted to mope in silence, why was that so fucking hard in this town?
Jack strode over to Bigby, "Look who it is! Our dearest sheriff, How are ya today buddy?" The guy actually sounds a little concerned. Bigby sighed, of course there were rumors about him and his current predicament. Bigby couldn't really fault the guy for being concerned, So he forced himself to welcome his annoying presence. Bigby took a swig from his drink before looking at Jack, "I'm fine Jack…" he didn't mean to slur as much as he did, how many drinks had he devoured? Probably a couple bottles worth if he was this drunk.
Jack winced, "You don't look or sound fine man… You sure there ain't anyway I can help? "
Bigby growled, now he was annoyed again, why was everyone so concerned for him now all of a sudden? They never cared before! He figured that they had to be looking out for themselves, there was no other explanation that made sense to him right now. But, he decided to go along with it for a bit longer, "It'd be nice if you'd shut up for a bit."
Jack laugh at that, "Sorry! That ain't happening. "
Bigby sneered, "It was worth a shot…"
"Ooh! On the topic of shot, lets have some, on me!"
"On you?"
"Yup! I just got paid!" Jack proudly slammed down a few bills on the counter, "Here Holly, "Bring up some shots!"
With that Bigby and Jack got to chugging as many shots as they could, and even as drunk as he was Bigby was holding up better than Jack, who was stumbling with the pools stick, trying to goad Bigby into a game. Bigby wouldn't budge of course.
"Come on Bigs! This is where men prove themselves! Or are you still a pup~" Jack laughed so hard he nearly tripped on his own feet.
Holly groaned, "Can we stop with the dog jokes, they're getting old."
Bigby stared at the two as Jack turned his attention to getting Holly to entertain himself. Bigby was vaguely keeping up with them, but at the mention of the word 'pups' his drunk mind quickly spiraled into a tangent. Instead of getting Jack to shut up, now he was fantasizing about the family he'd never have with Snow. He imagined having a liter of pups, he didn't really mind the idea of having a small liter of only 3 or 4, but he preferred the idea of having 6 or 7. Bigby adored the idea of having a Big family with which he could lavish and spoil with all his love. And if there were a runt, he'd spoil them the most, he wanted to believe that wasn't favoritism, but he couldn't help it. He himself had been a runt, so he wanted to make sure if he ever had one, they wouldn't struggle like he did.
He was pulled out of his fantasies when holly called out to him, "Bigby!"
He looks at her grimly, "I'm tired. Anywhere I can sleep?"
Holly nods, "Back room good enough for you?" Bigby gets up and quietly makes his way to the backroom.
Jack winces, "Did I say something?"
Holly ushers him out as she decided to close up for now. With Collin already passed out on the floor she went to join Bigby in the back room. She found the wolf in human form, slumped back against the wall by the door, sleeping. She relaxes and goes to sleep on the plank of would that made up a bed.
Authors Note: Sorry this one took so long. Stuff has been going down with school and the fires, but I'm alright and I was able to pump this out!
Also I wanna say, don't worry, this ain't a snow bashing fic. There's going to be a happy ending here. Then I mentioned in the description that I'm taking some elements from the comic for this fic. That really only means I'm picking out the details that I liked and know about and using them as I see fit. Like, in the comics Bigby really does have six older brothers that are the ones who gave him his title of "bid bad wolf' or that Bigby really did go to Salem to study under crane of all people. And, I also like that Bigby and snow have a really rocky relationship at first, but I don't like how intense that is, so I'm toning it down a bit. Like Snow doesn't outright hate Bigby here, but is more trying to be realistic about their relationship and she's also bottling up her own feelings because her unwillingness to open up to new relationships after what she went through in past relationships. She's trying to do what she thinks would be best for both of them, but she doesn't realize how deep Bigby is buried in his feelings for her. And when people try to explain that to her it goes right over her head, as it does in this chapter.
