✞❤ϻɑɖ Ħɑƫƫɛʀ Ȼɦʀᴑɳɨƈɫɛʂ❤✞
-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-
When you woke up, it was to a severely parched throat, and a pounding headache. So, what was the first thing you did? Groan loudly, proceeded by an inaudible string of profanities. Despite the first bad seconds, you were delighted to actually hear sound coming from your voice box, rough though it was. So, when you blinked open your eyes, you were in a pretty good mood.
That was jolted away by a widely-grinning face hovering dangerously close to your own.
"Wha-!" you yelped, starting suddenly.
Your current benefactor (Could you even call him that at this point...?) sat back in his chair... The one he pulled up to the side of the bed... To watch you while you slept? Okay, even for someone a few puppies short of a pet shop, that was creepy. Hands-down.
When you gave him a deadpan stare, he suddenly turned his head away, shy. A gloved knuckle was bitten, and- What, was he blushing? Oh no. Did he do something to you in your sleep? If he did-
"I- I never realized how cute the little Queen was, when she isn't crying!" He burst out, swaying a little in his seat. Your eyebrow twitched.
...
Seriously?
You released a slow breath, as to not try and throttle the strange man.
"I... Never got to thank you for saving me," You grated out, then continued much more smoothly, facial expression relaxing in sincerity. "I'm in your debt, Mister...?"
He spun, on the chair, flinging one leg over the back so he was straddling it. He gave a pleasant smile over his shoulder.
"They call me the Mad Hatter, little Queen. That's the only name I've gone by." He replied airily. You blinked once more, startled. It seemed that he... Went from bashful to fully-composed in less than a second. Was that what it was like to be mad?...
You firmly built up your guard; The reactions, the words he spoke, the emotions he showed, the actions he made... They couldn't be trusted. You didn't know if he was keeping you for some nefarious purpose, or if the creepy-kindness he showed was just a facade.
All of it... Couldn't be trusted.
'Can't be trusted.'
The words rang through your head like an echo, a sharp, stinging tug at both your mind and your heartstrings.
Perhaps, that had something to do with...?
"Now that you mentioned names, I haven't heard the little Queen's yet."
The low-sounding prodding- Jeeze, he really sucks at being nice, doesn't he?- was an attempt at a gentle tone, to bring you out of your reverie. You stared blankly, opened your mouth, and then shut it.
"...No way." You bemoaned, putting a hand over your eyes. "I'm... My name is... What the hell? Why can't I remember?" Shaking your head sharply, you sucked in a breath, and kept up an uncaring face. "Doesn't matter much, huh? You'd still call me pet names, anyway."
The answering smile was so wide, his eyes shut with the force of it.
"What a cold little Queen I have."