Chapter Two: Denials and Revelations
Gisbourne awoke early the next morning and discovered that his bedding needed to be laundered-again. Gisbourne blamed the dreams on the house. Everything in the house had once belonged to Locksley; everything in the house had been touched by Locksley. No wonder he was having odd dreams about the man. That house was driving him insane.
Gisbourne was once again at the castle. He was staring out the window again and not listening to the Sheriff. The Sheriff snapped his fingers repeatedly to get his attention.
"Oh, what were you saying?" asked Gisbourne, once his mind had been brought back to the Sheriff's quarters.
"Let's see what it is that has you so profoundly captivated, Gisbourne, hmm?" said the Sheriff, sidling over to the window.
At first, he only saw Lady Marian talking to someone mostly obscured by a tree. A few seconds later, and the figure turned to leave. It was then that the Sheriff discovered his identity. He turned to face Gisbourne.
"That explains everything," he commented.
"What?" asked Gisbourne.
"No wonder you're so distracted, Gisbourne, when Hood is prancing around under my very window," said the Sheriff.
Gisbourne shook his head once.
"Not Locksley," he said with a snort, "I wasn't staring at him! It was Marian I was looking towards."
The Sheriff didn't believe him.
"Right, so, as I was saying earlier, tax time is quickly approaching, and I need you to ensure that the outlaw you were not gawking at two minutes ago, does not interfere," said the Sheriff.
"Of course," replied Gisbourne.
"What do you intend to do?" asked the Sheriff.
"I haven't decided, yet," said Gisbourne.
"Hmm," said the Sheriff, "maybe you could have a little...tumble...in the woods with Locksley?"
"I said I wasn't staring at Locksley," repeated Gisbourne, sullenly.
"You know you want to tup him," said the Sheriff, calmly, "you think about it everyday. That's why you never listen to me anymore. Don't deny it."
Gisbourne was on his way home that day, when he saw something that made him think he was dreaming. Locksley had been caught in one of his own traps! Gisbourne drew closer and dismounted his horse.
"Caught in one of your own traps, Locksley?" asked Gisbourne, with a smirk.
"No, I just decided this was a good day to hang from a tree by my ankles," said Locksley, grumpily.
Gisbourne snickered.
"That was brilliant," he said, sarcastically.
"Wasn't it?" replied Locksley, pretending to think Gisbourne had been complimenting him.
"Where's your men?" Gisbourne asked.
"On their way here," said Locksley, unconcerned.
This reminded Gisbourne of his dream from the night before. No! Don't start thinking about that now! Gisbourne silently pleaded to himself. Locksley's face was turning red from hanging upside down. He started to gently rock back and forth slightly whenever a breeze blew past. Gisbourne circled the other man, slowly. When he was directly behind Locksley, Gisbourne smacked his rear with a gloved hand. He hadn't been able to resist. That's all. No more, he told himself, coming back around to face Locksley. There was a slight frown on Locksley's face.
"What was that for?" he asked, in confusion.
"What was what for?" asked Gisbourne.
"You just smacked me," replied Locksley, "there must have been a reason for it."
Gisbourne stared at Locksley's mouth as he talked. He wanted to kiss those lips very very badly.
Robin stopped talking and noticed that Gisbourne was standing in front of him with a dazed look on his face, as though his mind was several leagues away.
"What are you thinking about, Gisbourne?" Robin asked. As though he'd really tell me.
"About how easy it would be to kill you here and now," said Gisbourne, taking out a dagger, "with you hanging from that tree, and being abandoned by your outlaw friends."
"They'll come," Robin said confidentally.
That dagger worried him a little, but he disliked that demented gleam in Gisbourne's dark eyes more.
Gisbourne drew closer to Locksley and hold the dagger against his throat. He didn't cut him immediately. He bent down and covered Locksley's lips with his own. Locksley's eyes grew wide in surprise. Gisbourne soon ended the kiss and straightened back up. Locksley's gang had just arrived at that point. Gisbourne sheathed his dagger, jumped back onto his horse and rode like the wind back to Locksley Manor.
Much cut Robin loose.
"How'd you get up like that?" he asked.
"I forgot the trap was there," said Robin.
Allan laughed.
"Should we go after him?" D'jaq asked, pointing in the direction Gisbourne had left in.
"Let him go," said Robin, quietly.
He briefly touched his lips with his hand, remembering the kiss the others had just missed seeing. He was still in shock over it and confused.
Why had he done it? What reason was there?
Robin never thought that Gisbourne had kissed him because he was having lustful feelings for him. It just didn't seem possible. But why, then?
"Master, are you alright?" asked Much, in concern.
"Yes, Much, I'm fine," replied Robin.
