"I don't think they know about the attack," Boris said as he opened the door, leading us into the bedroom I was staying in in Clover Tower, "but they do know about ya stayin' at my place, so be careful." He then grinned, causing me to look up at him in confusion. "Also, no running away, and if that rat asks..." He leaned down and whispered, causing my face to flare red in anger, "I was just marking territory."
Without even thinking about it I raised my fist up and socked him in the jaw, yelling, "LIKE HELL YOU WERE, BORIS!"
"MRROW!" Boris cried out, and I raised my eyebrows at the cat-like sound. He rubbed his bruising jaw with tears in his eye, "What was that for!? It's just a small prank, Alexis!"
"Sexually harassing me to piss off Pierce isn't what I consider a prank!" I growled, storming into my room with a slight limp. One more time period change and I should be fine. "I appreciate you helping me, but stop molesting me!"
"I wasn't molesting you!" Boris protested, before his ears twitched and he looked up, watching the door to the bedroom slam open. To my surprise it was Pierce, who looked like he had just woken up out of bed-not wearing his hat or his jacket, but his yellow-and-red collar shirt and black pants. "Oh, hey Pierce." His tail twitched and he eyed the mouse like prey. However, Boris appeared to be restraining himself as stress lines formed on his face. He made himself grin as he said, "I was just droppin' Alexis off from my place, hope ya don't mind." I froze when Boris leaned down and pressed his lips against my cheek, before he stood up and waved to Pierce. Boris quickly ran out of the door before Pierce could give chase, the mouse's eyes having darkened considerably.
"Wha...WHAT THE HECK!?" I'm going to strangle that stupid cat alive! I ran over to the door he escaped out of and banged on it, alarmed when it wouldn't open and lead me to him. "JERK! YOU CHEATED! GET BACK HERE SO I CAN BEAT YOU UP!" I cried out in alarm and stumbled back, watching at the door vanished.
"Alexis, where were you?" I turned my head to look at Pierce, confused at the sudden change in voice. It was deeper again. His eyes held the soulless look from before, appearing possessive. He tilted his head at me, and repeated his question, taking a few steps towards me. "Why are you covered in his scent?"
"I'm not covered in his scent!" I got all the saliva off, didn't I? Dude, is there some still on me? Ewww! Totally sounding like Peter at this point, but EW! "A-Anyway, I'm back, so hi. I'm just...going to take a nap now, so-" I pointed at my bed, trying to indirectly to tell him to get out of my room, when suddenly my feet were lifted off the ground. I screamed and grabbed onto Pierce, who was carrying me over to said bed. His hair was hiding his eyes. "P-Put-Put me-Put me down!" My voice squeaked, and I let out a gasp and a grunt when I was dropped on the bed, Pierce quickly climbing on top of me with his hands and legs on either side of me. My heart started to race. "H-Hey, what are you d-doing!?" My breath hitched in my throat and I squeezed my eyes shut when one of his hands slid against my neck, grabbing the ribbon that tied the choker together in the back and pulling on it, releasing the choker and causing it to fall and rest against my chest. His warm fingers ran down my neck, sending a shock through my spine.
"Your bruises..." He murmured, moving his hand and placing it beside my head. He looked down at me, looking seemingly angry. That was an expression I've never really saw on his face before. "What happened to them? You reek of cat."
Looking at Pierce's eyes somehow scared and excited me at the same time, and unable to look at him any longer I turned my head and diverted my gaze. "He...W-Well, he got rid of them." I went completely still, holding my breath, when he brushed his lips against my neck. His ears twitched at the pounding of my heart. "P-Pierce? Ah-! Nnngg..." He bit down on a spot of my neck and sucked on it, drawing out an embarrassing moan. He bit a little harder and I flinched, squirming a little in his hold. "S-Stop it!" I protested, feeling my face burn hotly.
"I don't like it," He told me, running his tongue over the bitemark he made. "I don't like you wearing his scent..." He continued to kiss my neck, biting down every now and then to leave another mark. "You're mine..." I squeezed my eyes shut and closed my mouth, trying to prevent any more horrible sounds from leaving. The weight of the bed shifted again and Pierce's hand ran down my side, causing me to gasp and arch my back before I squirmed and tried to climb out under him. Unfortunately Pierce saw through my plan a placed his hand over and back on my shoulder, whispering with glazed eyes, "I like those sounds. Don't hide them." He was out of control again. I never did ask Nightmare about him.
My face flared red at his words and I cried out weakly in protest as he started to attack my neck again. My mouth was starting to go dry, and my whole body was practically burning up at this point. I-I don't...I swallowed and covered my face with one of my hands, feeling how hot and red it was as he nipped at my collarbone. I hated how low the neckline was on this dress-there was just a small bit of cleavage showing and it bothered me.
He caressed my cheek with his hand, running his thumb across my cheek, as he removed his lips from my neck to stare at me for a moment. He tilted his head. "You're so cute...I won't let that scary cat have you. I won't let those bad men get you. Okay?" I tensed when he removed my hands away from my eyes and pressed his lips against mine, somehow making it possessive but gentle at the same time.
Wh-Why does-Why does Pierce keep-Why does Pierce keep doing this? He-I don't know...He-He doesn't like me like that...right?
R-Right. It-It's just him being possessive of his "lost item". Pierce likes to hoard things, he's a mouse, so that comes with the territory, right?
"O-Okay, but-but can you-" My eyes closed on their own accord when he leaned back down and moved his lips against mine, his tongue brushing against my bottom lip. WAAAAAH! WHAT AM I DOING!? I-I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M SUPPOSED TO DO, DAMN IT! I pulled my head back and started to tell Pierce off, but he quickly captured my mouth and slipped his tongue into it, making another noise escape my throat. Oh god, this is humiliating... "Nnng-P-Pierce-Hah..." Why-Why was it so hard to breathe all of a sudden?
My hand pushed against his chest weakly, despite my body being full of adrenaline. This wasn't...right...was it? He doesn't...l-like me like that...
The kiss continued for a few more moments before he pulled away and wrapped his arms around me, turning onto his side and pulling me into his chest. His ears twitched and his tail moved and rested on my waist on my side. "I'm not going to let them hurt you. You're not leaving my side...I'm going to keep you with me..." I felt him kiss the side of my head and my face flared. I was still rather breathless. I was too exhausted to even yell at him. "You belong to me."
"I...I don't," I tried to say, practically panting, my face completely flushed, "I-I'm not anyone's..." Before I could finish my sentence, he moved and pressed his lips against mine softly. "Get off..."
"No."
"Pierce-"
"No." My nose scrunched up and I scowled, face still red, as I reached a hand up to pull on his ear. Tears welled up in his eyes almost instantly and he released me, holding his aching ear tightly. "Ow, ow, ow! Why would you do that!? I thought you loved me-Chuu!"
"I-I don't love you!" I growled, face flaring. "And I did that because you were harassing me again!"
"I-I already told you I would never do that to you! Wh-Why do y-you k-keep saying such th-things!?" Tears slipped down his red cheeks, his green eyes looking hurt and pained. "I would never hurt you!"
God damn it, why does he keep forgetting these things!? I don't know if I should be angry or happy. "You say that yet you left marks on my neck! See, look! They're even bruising now!" I sat up and lifted my chin up, pointing at the red marks forming all over my neck, and the one on my collarbone. "You did that!"
"Ehhh?" He looked alarmed as he sat up straight, his eyes wide like he was a deer caught in the headlights. "I-I did?"
"Yes!" I was exasperated at this point, and had the intense urge to slap him upside the head. "Why do you think I'm yelling at you?"
"B-Because you're upset?" He squeaked, looking like he was trying to hold back tears. He looked like a kicked puppy-er, mouse that didn't know what he did wrong. D-Damn it, now I feel bad... S-Stop making me mad and guilty right after, damn it! How am I supposed to act if you keep messing with me like this!? "I-I'm so sorry! Please don't hate me!"
"I already told you I don't hate you!"
"B-But you-"
"Stop arguing with me already!" Pierce closed his mouth with a trembling bottom lip, looking hurt and confused. ACK! STOP THAT! Don't you dare make me hug you... Though I do kinda want to right now. NO~! I take that back! I don't want to hug him! "I'll punch you in the face if you keep saying that I hate you!" His eyes widened.
"S-So you...you don't..."
I scowled and crossed my arms, reaching up to tied the choker back around my neck, "No. Now, if you don't mind, I'm changing clothes and going to talk to Nightmare." Pierce continued to stare at me from his spot on my bed, causing me to yell, "GET OUT OF MY ROOM!" Pierce let out a squeak and shot out of the bed, running out of the room. I scowled and made a face, before quickly changing out of my dress and into a brown sweater and black pants that stopped at above my knees. I put on a pair of boots that Alice had gotten me. Now...where to find Nightmare...and how the hell to hide the marks on my neck?
Wait, how full is my vial? The thought randomly crossed my mind, and I reached out onto my bed where the vial had fallen out of my pocket. It looked at least half-full at this point. A smile tugged at my lips, but I wasn't prepared for the painful ache in my chest. I wanted to go back, but did I...also want to stay in Wonderland? No...No. No, no, no, no, no. I-I have to go back. I-I have my dad and my brother, and-and Jack, Sarah, and Erin!
Sarah kept asking how long it was going to take for me to get home, and Derek...he wanted me to stay in Wonderland if I was happy.
Was I happy? I had no idea. I liked it here-when people weren't pointing guns at my head and trying to kill me-and-and Pierce was here...Nightmare and Gray were here, and so were Vivaldi and Peter and Boris... I had friends here. I didn't want to go and...
But I had friends back in my world, too. I had left them. It was only right to return to them...right?
But what about Pierce? NO! Damn it, I know I said I liked him, but-but I can make myself not like him, right? I-I can unlike him as-as that? He-He doesn't like me like that after all, so if I make myself unlike him, it'll be okay!
...Wait, my marks! I quickly rushed into the bathroom and peered into the mirror, pressing my fingers against the bruising flesh, wincing lightly as I applied some pressure to see how bad it was. I had at least five different marks... Jerk. It's not fair. I have no romance experience at all, and then Pierce just goes up and does-does THIS! How am I supposed to cover this up; bandaids?
I then noticed something. "Hey, my hair's longer now!" I grinned, grabbing the ends of my hair and turning to my side, looking at the mirror and reaching my hand up my back and touching the ends of my hair. Boris somehow managed to completely heal my arm, not only taking the scar away but all the pain as well. My hair stopped at my shoulderblades. No more hair-clips for me, I guess. Even my bangs were longer. So much crazy stuff was happening in Wonderland, I barely paid any notice. It would cover some of the marks, but not all of them... Is there any make-up or anything in the cabinets?
I looked frantically for stuff to cover the marks, and was growing panicked when I couldn't find anything. All there was were bandages. My eyebrow started to twitch in irritation, realizing just how annoying this was going to get. Why...didn't..we...have...any...MAKE-UP!? I COULD HAVE USED THAT FOR MY BRUISES! DAMN IT NIGHTMARE! WHY ARE YOU SUCH A GUY!?
"Oh, right..." I deadpanned, glaring at my reflection in a mirror as if it were Nightmare himself. "You are one. Che. Ridiculous."
...Maybe I could be ninja with the bandages? Nah, that's just wasting them. I let out a sigh, fighting back my childish urge as I left to find the Incubus and question him about Pierce's strangeness.
...
Nightmare jumped when I slammed the door open to his room, causing him to make his papers fly everywhere as he fell out of his chair and landed with a painful thud. He scrambled up onto his knees and exclaimed, "Alexis!? You and Pierce are finally done?"
I looked alarmed as my face flared with red, "Wh-What do you mean "Finally done"? What-What the heck did you think we were doing!?" I felt a little light-headed, but wasn't too sure why.
Nightmare blinked and hacked up some blood, a hand over his mouth as he pointed at my face with his other hand. I was confused and little my right hand up to his, and felt something warm brush my finger underneath my nose. I blinked, retreating my hand and looking at the red liquid. My eyes widened.
H-Holy shit-NO! I REFUSE! I refuse to be a pervert! I'm not that stupid anime character who gets nosebleeds every time they think something dirty! Which-Which I wasn't-I swear. I know for a fact I'm not. I-I mean, I don't have an very innocent mind due to fanfiction and Game of Thrones, but I-I'm not a pervert! I don't get nosebleeds!
He snickered at my thoughts and I scowled at him, plugging my nose and hanging my head back as I looked up at the ceiling. "I'm not. Just-Just answer my stupid question, Nightmare! What's..." Suddenly, I felt really embarrassed to be asking this. I...kinda didn't want to ask this, but I also wanted to know what was wrong. I swallowed, looking at a wall, "Why...Uh, What's wrong with-What's wrong with Pierce?" Why can't he remember anything he does?
"Carry me to the couch and I'll tell you," He said, holding his arms up as he sat there on the ground. I slumped my shoulders, staring at him with wide eyes in disbelief. "What?" He asked defensively and coughed, sounding like he was in pain. I flinched and quickly ran over, muttering as I tried to lift the heavy adult onto my back,
"I-I'm not doing this for you...Lazy idiot." Nightmare laughed at me and coughed lightly, turning his head as he flinched. I tried to to tumble onto the floor underneath his weight. He was actually much lighter than the average male adult-possibly because of his sickly stature. I tried to carry Derek once, and wasn't even able to take a step before I fell and hurt my foot, crushed against the floor painfully as he laid on top of me. "Agh-You're heavy!"
"You're so mean~! Just carry me to the couch."
"Why do-I have to-carry you!?" I gasped out, half-way to the couches as I waddled over there, losing strength quickly. Damn it... Almost...there... "Gah!" As I dropped Nightmare, I fell back onto the couch on top of him, both of us grunting. I didn't bother to get back up, exhausted. Plus, human pillows are extremely comfy. I have Derek and Pierce as proof of that, and Nightmare made a rather comfy pillow too.
"Hey! I'm not a pillow!"
"You are now," I replied, crossing my arms stubbornly, "Now tell me why Pierce keeps forgetting things!"
Nightmare pouted and sighed, before wrapping his arms around me. It was a similar gesture my brother used whenever I sat on his lap, so it didn't bother me. "He's going instinctual, Alexis. People with animal-attributes, like him, Boris, Elliot, or even Peter, can go instinctual. It always takes a strong emotion to trigger that instinct and make them black-out, do things they normally wouldn't do. Pierce...as you're aware, he thinks highly of you. You're his friend, Alexis, and he cares for you deeply because of that."
"...Is that why he attacks me?" Nightmare gained stress lines as he turned his head away from my gaze, looking like he wanted to cough up blood again.
"Er, yeah... He doesn't like you wearing other peoples' scents because that's marking you as someone else's, and he's a...very possessive mouse." He appeared to be remembering something unpleasant.
I knew he was possessive, or at least his dark side was, but to actually have it told to my face... Right, I'm just Pierce's friend. All that there is. "Oh...Okay. Wait; so he only likes me with his scent?" How weird was that? Kinda weird. Really weird. Extremely weird. Well, he's a mouse, so not...really? Ugh, I don't know anymore. I'm just...Wait, hold on, what am I doing? DAMN IT! MY PLAN TO STAY AWAY FROM PEOPLE IS FAILING ME- I froze, realizing Nightmare could still read my thoughts, and pushed his arms off of me as I quickly walked over to the door, ignoring the small pain in my foot.
"Wait, what? Alexis, what's wrong? Why do you want to stay away from everyone?"
"I have my reasons!" If I stay away-NO! NOT THINKING!
Nightmare actually stood up, saying, "Don't make me put you to sleep, Alexis-"
"I DON'T CARE! I'M NOT LISTENING! LA-LA-LA-LA-LA~!" I sang as obnoxiously loud as I could, ignoring the exhaustion that started to hit me. Wall, wall, where's a...wall?
WALL!
BANG BANG BANG BANG BA-
"Stop hurting yourself!" Nightmare cried out alarmed, grabbing my forehead and pulling me away from the wall. "Just go to sleep..."
No! I can't! I-I might-Someone might try and grab me-and Nightmare'll get... He'll be...
"I don't...wanna..." I mumbled, darkness dancing in my vision.
"I'll be what, Alexis?" Nightmare questioned, his voice almost fading. I could barely focus on it. "Someone will grab you and I'll be...?"
"I...You'll be...killed..." I muttered, eyes slowly slipping closed despite my attempts to keep them opening. I felt myself fall and slump against Nightmare as he caught, a frown on his face before he faded to black. "Good nigh'..."
Before I slipped into unconsciousness, I felt a hand brush against my head and heard him murmur, "I'll be fine, Alexis. Just get some sleep. You won't have any nightmares this time."