Hey everyone! Sorry it's been a while since I've updated. I'll try to write more especially since it's summer now! I hope everyone is have a good time so far! Thank you to everyone who had reviewed, faved, alerted and read this story!
Remember to review and tell me if you have an idea!
Special thanks to Rue Mo for the idea for this drabble! I hope you like it and it turned out the way you wanted it to!
04. Steps
Hatter tugged the collar of his nice white shirt lightly, feeling as if he were suffocating from it. Or maybe he was just suffocating from some of the looks and tones from Alice's relatives. Sure, in Wonderland everyone was a bit wary of him, but they were all suspicious of each other there and he was after all 'playing both sides' as Dodo had put it. But once he arrived here people would treat him differently, at least that was he had thought and hoped for. Unfortunately things hadn't gone the way he, or anyone else for that matter, had expected it to.
I blame Alice, Hatter thought to himself. Although he was not at all serious, he just didn't feel like taking the entire blame for once. It was her fault for making me act this way, he thought.
And, in a way, he was right. Alice had changed everything in his life and world, both literally and figuratively. She had made him want to be a better person and change his ways. She had saved Wonderland, but didn't gain riches or the queen position. She had saved strangers, all while losing people close to her. She was the reason he wanted to change his conniving ways. She was the reason for the actions and little steps he had taken since he had met her. But, most important of all, she was the reason for his current happiness.
Well, maybe not at this exact moment though, since he was currently in a formal party filled with well-dressed strangers, classical music, and no girlfriend in sight. Hatter sighed for what felt like the millionth time, and he almost wished that his top hat would suck him up, and send him somewhere else. Anywhere else, really.
The 'reason' for him sticking around was trying to doge dancing couples as she made her way back to her boyfriend. Once Alice reached him, she plopped down next to him, feeling as uncomfortable as he did. Large family parties had always brought up memories of her and her father dancing together when she was young.
Hatter raised an eyebrow, noticing how odd her behavior was. Though, he wasn't sure if Alice could see it while his hair was so disheveled under his top hat.
"Do you know that you come across as a depressing girl?" Hatter asked her while he began to straighten up, "I mean I understood this mood in Wonderland, but you seem like such a… what is it called again? Party popper?" he joked.
Alice giggled a bit before saying "Its party pooper, Hatter."
He stared at her, almost in a disbelieving way before he shrugged. "And you called Wonderland weird? What about your weird oyster sayings?"
Alice gave a little snort, before she mocking rolled her eyes, "I'm so sorry that humans can't match up to building that are impossibly high, emotional tea, Jabberwocks, and a bunch of crazy gun carrying people that the charming world of Wonderland possesses."
Hatter's eyes narrowed as he used the same sarcastic and joking tone Alice had used, "When you put it that way, you make it sound as if it was such a horrible place!"
They both began to softly laugh after that. Alice leaned closer to Hatter, placing her head on his shoulder as they watched the other party guests dance to the slow song. They stayed like that for a while until Hatter gently pulled her off of him so that he could stand up. He stood up in front of her, extended one of his hands and wore a daring expression.
He wouldn't….
"Want to dance, love?"
Oh, but He would.
Alice bit her lip, not knowing if she should. It wasn't that she didn't want to dance with Hatter it was just she may not have been the best dance partner.
Hatter watched her hesitate and dramatically sighed as he stood up. "Well, if you don't want to dance I suppose we could participate in… other physical activities," he paused to add a suggestive wink, "but, I really don't think that it would be appropriate during a party, don't you think?"
He then watched as his plan worked. Alice, flustered and growing redder by the second, stood up to probably yell at him for saying such things in public. Unfortunately for her, Hatter pulled her away from the table and towards the awaiting dance floor.
He merely smiled as Alice glared intently at him. Her anger didn't last long though, mostly because she was use to his crazy antics by now. She merely playfully stuck her tongue at him before enjoying the dance fully.
That lasted for about 10 seconds, when suddenly Hatter gave a tiny yelp of pain. Although she should have been concerned and feeling guilty, Alice just had to laugh at his estranged face. It was an accident anyway, and it could have been easily avoided if he hadn't dragged her out to dance.
After she finished with her fit of giggles, she smiled apologetically toward Hatter, who in turn gave her a suspicious look.
"It was an accident." She said innocently.
He stared at her seriously before saying, "You're lucky you're beautiful."
"Even though you're not in a blue dress." He added as an afterthought as he looked at her vivid crimson dress.
Alice's smile grew wider as she pulled Hatter closer, still swaying to the music. Their moods had defiantly improved. It seemed that whenever they were together everything was just… right. Whether they were fighting a bunch of suits or even just sitting down for a cup of tea, as long as they did it together everything in the end would turn out okay.
Even though the song ended the couple remained on the floor, simply swaying until the next song began. They barely noticed the other people around them, only focusing on each other.
"You're not so bad yourself Hatter, although you should keep the hat." Alice said as she used one of her hands to trace the bridge oh his hat, making it tilted.
"Thanks for that, love. I always knew that it was the hat that captured a lady's heart." Hatter said as he re-adjusted his hat with one of his hands.
"Believe it or not Hatter, I fell for you not your myriad of hats." Alice said softly, looking into his eyes.
Hatter grinned the seemed to brighten up his entire face broke out. He gently grabbed her face before leaning down and capturing her lips in a tender kiss.
One they broke apart Hatter whispered in her ear, "Are you sure you don't want to leave here, love? My previous offer still stands."
Alice laughed softly, which Hatter only noticed because he had held her so close.
"One step at a time, Hatter. One step at a time."He shrugged, but still held her close as they danced.
"Only if you take those steps with me." He said cheekily, but still had a slight serious tone.
"Every step together."
