"I am bored," a voice says.
"As am I. What to do, what to do," a similar voice responds, as if in a distorted echo. "Perhaps we should find... him."
"What a marvelous prospect. We shall do just that."
---------
God, that was so stupid, she thinks as she storms down a sidestreet, sucking in air like it's going out of style and releasing it in angry puffs. She's too agitated to think clearly, so she's excused herself to get some air and she thinks he's probably somewhere nearby, because he never could let her leave, old protective habits from Wonderland never fading. No matter how long they've both been on earth. In fact if she focuses hard enough she can hear soft footsteps a way behind her and, no matter how angry she is, it does make her feel a little more secure-- especially that despite how annoyed he might be with her-- or hurt-- he still cares enough to follow.
She's about to turn around and locate him when she hears a strange thud somewhere nearby and freezes, her eyes widening. "Hatter?" Her fingers clench a little when nothing happens and mostly forgotten paranoia from her time in Wonderland flares to life, every little sound magnifying. "Hatter?" she whispers once more, not wanting to be found in case it's someone dangerous. There's a loud, scraping sound and she turns in a circle as the sound echoes, seemingly coming from nowhere and everywhere all at once, her worry skyrocketing.
Finally her fear eases a little and she runs forward, trying to pinpoint where the sounds might've come from. The street and alleys surrounding it are empty. She looks around in confusion and shakes her head.
It's only then that she realizes the footsteps have disappeared too.
------------
"You were such a fighter," a voice says quietly as glass clinks together, an annoying melody to the man tied up to the chair.
"No matter what we used on you, you wouldn't break. How do you think you'd handle this?" the second pipes up as the clinking noise finally stops.
Hatter glares up, his dark eyes gleaming in the dull sunlight filtering through the tree tops as Drs. Dee and Dum prance around him, vials of that horrible tea in their hands held at the ready. What exactly they're planning, he's not looking forward to finding out.
How exactly they got the tea now that the casino's destroyed, he doesn't even know. When he left for Alice's world, he hadn't exactly looked back, which he's now paying for as he doesn't know what's going on.
Hatter fights to keep the anxiety from his face but, oh yes, it's there as he eyes the vials. He's well versed in tea, knows how each one tastes, how different emotions can interact with others, what overdoses can do to a person. He swallows, closing his eyes against memories of Wonderlanders being carted out of his tea shop due to bad reactions.
One of the two Tweedles-- how Alice came to calling them that, he's not sure, but it seems to fit somehow-- approach him, a sadistic look on his face. "Open wide, open wide," he chants but Hatter resists, looking away.
"He seems to be making this difficult," the second says with a sneer before joining his brother. "What say you, shall we truly enjoy this?"
"I say yes," Dee says with a demented smirk. Hatter's eyes widen as they pull out a large syringe, which he's only had the honor of seeing once when Alice insisted he get a tetanus shot after a nail embedded itself in his shoe. However, the one he saw on earth was about tenth the size of this thing. He swallows.
---------------
Alice ignores the dread in her gut as she returns to their apartment and unlocks it, unsurprised to find it's empty. She tries to forget how alone she felt in the alleyway before she gave up and returned here. Forces herself to not dwell on the look on Hatter's face as she spat at him that she needed some air before storming from the apartment. Focuses on the apartment, searching each and every room for him.
A cup of tea is on the kitchen counter, long cold from when it was abandoned during their discussion, his leather jacket-- one of the few things he brought with him from Wonderland, unable to part with it and his well-worn hat-- hanging from the coat rack behind her. She swallows, trying not to think about him out there this chilly evening without it, following her and... and...
"Oh God, I need help," she finally admits out loud, scrubbing at her itchy cheeks. She's surprised to find tears staining her skin.
---------
He used to be good at avoiding trouble, he thinks. He worked both sides against the other, selling the Queen's tea while feeding the refugees, and doing so he survived for ages-- which was only ever that, it wasn't living, he knows this now.
Then he met Alice and trouble dogged him but the adventure was worth it, the stress of his years-long tightrope dance suddenly off of his shoulders as she inspired him to make a choice and stick with it. He never thought he'd see it happen but the queen was overthrown, peace took over Wonderland with Jack being made king-- or so he thought-- and Hatter was free to do what he wanted, which was strange after being caught between the two sides for so long, pushed by Dodo and the Queen evenly. After years of being ordered about, it was bizarre to be in a world where no one wanted anything from him-- his tea shop was decimated, the refugees were free and all he could think about was Alice. So of course, he went to her.
Then this happened. This... this... his head is spinning and he's feeling pretty dizzy, his thoughts impossible to focus. He glances down impassively as one of the so-called doctors ooh and ahh as the needle pierces his skin, drains more of the emotion tea into his blood stream. They're acting like it's the best floor show they've had in awhile as a giddy sensation passes through his already muddled thought processes, making him feel even sicker. Two doctors turn into six before his very eyes and he flinches, causing the binds to dig even deeper into his skin. He doesn't react.
Alice... what...
--------
The trip back to the looking glass is a little horrifying but she's not sure what else to do, where else to go. Hatter's missing, she can feel it deep inside that something's wrong and there's a chance it has something to do with Wonderland.
Hatter's told her that Jack's decided to leave the portal between the two worlds open for a short period of time each day-- which makes the time it opens varied because of the time difference being so fluid between the two worlds... of course, Wonderland would never make sense. She's nearly there when she notices something odd-- there's activity in the building that's been abandoned for months-- something the queen had set up, to hold the looking glass safely so she could get as many oysters as she wanted.
Alice takes a deep breath and watches from around the corner as familiarly dressed men march from the building and she groans. "Oh no." It's basically proof of her fear-- something's going on in Wonderland. Suits are marching single file from the building and she thinks this could easily be a suicidal move but her worry about Hatter is keeping her from caring as she walks out in front of them, cutting them off. "Excuse me!"
The first two gaze at her coldly before one raises his hand in a silent command to the men behind him to stop. Alice holds her breath as he gazes upon her a bit longer. "You are Alice Hamilton."
"Ye-yes," she says uncomfortably, hand instinctively going to the arm where the glow used to reside, even though it's been gone for months now. "Is there something going on with Wonderland? My boyfriend-- Hatter-- he's missing and I'm worried..." The fact that she doesn't even stumble over calling Hatter such barely registers with her.
"There are reports that former henchmen of the queen's have gotten through the Looking Glass," the second suit says as if he's discussing what he's going to have for supper. The lack of interest in his tone or gaze grates at Alice but she can't do much about it. "We are researching these claims. You say a former Wonderlander has been taken?"
"Yes," she says fretfully, her chest aching at the carelessness to his tone despite the words that could very well bring her world crashing down. If she thought the guilt and desperation was bad when Jack had been taken before her eyes, it was nothing compared to this... Speaking of whom... "M-may I talk to your King about this? Jack Heart?"
The first suit jerks his head at the man next to him before turning to her. "I will accompany you through the looking glass." As she gapes at him, the others begin marching again, determined to finish their search. "Go."
She swallows and turns to look at the glass almost hesitantly before remembering Hatter and the lengths he'd go for her before plunging into the fluid depths. The trip is no less intense and she hits hard on the cement, dazed a moment before a red-endorned hand drops into her view. She swallows and grips it, allowing herself to be pulled up. She looks up and almost droops in relief. "Jack!" Duchess is behind him, a grimace on her lips as Alice releases Jack's hand and shakes her head, having no time or patience for exes or their drama. "I need your help. Hatter's missing, I think."
Jack hmms a moment before staring intensely at her, something about his gaze unnerving her, not for the first time. "I should have contacted you both before now-- my mother's most vicious followers were never found after the Casino's destruction. Doctors Dee and Dum... one of the scientists says he believes they were who made it into the other world."
Alice's jaw drops as she remembers clearly the damage they've done to Hatter already and she's clutching at Jack's sleeve as if glued to the fabric. "They took Hatter?! No! We have to find him, Jack!"
Jack nods. "And we will, Alice. We will. I already have a group of suits in the other world, searching. Now that we know who they've probably taken, we'll have a better chance of finding them. Hatter is strong and resourceful, Alice. Don't think the worst just yet."
She nods distractedly, trying to think. "Do you think they have him on earth or did they bring him back here?" she wonders helplessly, her fists clenching at her sides as she thinks about what she'd like to do to the freaky looking men. It'd make Hatter's sledgehammer look like nothing...
"Either is possible," the king says, a glimmer of regret in his eyes as she tugs at her lips with a finger, a nervous habit of hers. "You see, even though there's only one looking glass on this side, the scientists can make people appear from the other side anywhere they want-- which is why when you followed us in, we all appeared near to the White Rabbit headquarters, instead of here. You understand?"
She nods uncomfortably, dwelling on this. "And on earth?"
"It's not quite as simple over there. Any mirror can be used for the same reason, but we have to be careful where we end up so only those we want to can see us. Thus we usually only use the looking glass in the abandoned warehouse."
It makes sense, she supposes. Would really hinder a mysterious mission if they suddenly found themselves in someone's bedroom. Not that that would stop the Tweedles, to be honest... She feels sick at the thought.
"This scientist--" she says, remembering something. "Is he the one who set the mirror up for the Tweedles?"
"Unfortunately," Jack nods. "He doesn't remember much, however. They appear to have had... some teas on them. They used Forgetfulness on him."
Alice stares almost uncomprehendingly. "Wait, how did they get the teas? I thought they were all destroyed."
"Many places around Wonderland had tea, Alice. It was an arduous task to destroy it all. It's possible before they went into hiding, they may have found it from a place we hadn't been yet."
She groans. "This just keeps getting worse and worse."
----------
Hatter's vision is really swimming now, not even capable of focusing on anything... all he sees is colors and shapes blurring before him as he vaguely registers the dull pain of the needle entering his arm a time or two more. So much tea, he thinks disjointedly. Drowning... not good... I... He loses his tenuous grip on reality, fading away into the darkness.
The last thing he hears is faint, maniacal laughter.
----------
The search begins immediately and Alice reluctantly stays at the Looking Glass chamber for awhile, uncomfortably aware of the watchful eyes of Suits on her. Jack doesn't want her to slow the suits down, which rankles at her because, if not for her, he wouldn't be King right now.
"Alice!" a familiar voice greets her suddenly and she jerks, turning to find Charlie standing behind her with a pleased smile.
"Charlie!" she gasps, dashing to his side and hugging him. "It's so good to see you."
He lifts her hand to his face, kissing her palm regally. "I have heard of what happened to the harbringer..." His eyes examine her face thoughtfully. "How are you, dear Alice?"
She swallows and shakes her head. "I'll be better when we find him."
"Of course," he murmurs. "Perhaps the world beyond will be able to aid..." She watches in near-amusement as he drops stiffly to his knees, words rushing from his lips rapidly, half of which she can't even catch as he calls upon... whatever.
Some things never change, she thinks fondly, but doesn't say anything. Despite Hatter's reluctance at believing in the old man's abilities, it had somehow helped a time or two-- like getting her out of the truth room-- so she was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.
She's about to look away from the still babbling man when his eyes snap open and he sucks in a deep breath of air like he's just seen something horrible. "Oh," he keens.
Her anxiety rises, Charlie never looking or sounding like that in all the time she's known him. "What?!"
He seems to snap back to awareness at her exclamation and he lurches to his feet, trying to look normal and failing drastically. "Oh, the other side has no answer for me," he says, the fake chipper tones grating at her patience. "So unusual that it would fail me now, it's usually so--"
"Charlie."
"Yes, milady?"
"What did you see?" The sudden crestfallen look on his face causes her to take a step back. "No, Charlie. No."
"I am so sorry, Alice. Harbringer is..."
"I said no!" she interrupts shakily. Charlie looks down unhappily as Alice's refusals echo in the hall.
----------
Hatter's body twitches as the teas circulate through his system. Dee and Dum cackle as they circle him, refilling the needle as they go.
"Alice," he whispers, running his finger down her face as she dozes, nose pressed into his throat. "I'll never leave you."
Another needle jab, more, more liquid, burning its way into his system, making things even more muddled.
Her body stiffens and his hand stills as she sits up, looking unhappy, almost angry.
His body seizes in the chair, more pain following as the binds dig into his skin all the more, drawing blood from already raw wrists and ankles.
"Don't say that, not after everything," she says, glowering at the couch they were sprawled peacefully on just minutes before. "No one can promise that."
Breathing is hard, his senses muddling almost as fast as his mind. His hearing is fading, his vision is gone and he can barely feel the needles as they prick into him, the amount of teas entering him immediately passing his notice.
"But, Alice," he says, wounded by her attitude towards his honest statement. "I--"
His fingers twitch once, twice, and three times as he comes down from the seizure, focus drifting like snow on a mountain.
"I need some air," she snaps, leaving just like that. He thinks it's a joke at first but when two minutes have passed and she's not returned, he follows, pain in his chest growing with each passing second.
The last thing he feels is pain exploding through his body before unconsciousness finally claims him completely.
---------
Alice refuses to look at Charlie as she reflects on the last time she saw Hatter, how she had let her fears and insecurities take her over again and oh God, what if she was right? What if he couldn't promise that, but... but, if she hadn't left, he wouldn't have been in range for Dee and Dum to take so easily... She curls her hands into a fist and slams it against her thighs, tears tracking down her face. All my fault, all my fault, she breathes.
"Don't hurt yourself," Charlie implores her, appearing from behind and clutching her fist with a gentle but strong grip. "Harbringer wouldn't have wanted this for you."
"His name's Hatter," she chokes out, remembering the disbelieving annoyance in his voice when Charlie first called him Vassal.
"Very well," Charlie says, his eyes shining with sadness. "Hatter wouldn't have wanted this for you, either."
"I need to find him," she chokes, officially done doing what Jack wants of her. "Will you help me look?"
"Certainly," the White Knight's former page agrees readily, standing at attention as if he's been waiting for further action since the queen fell.
She swallows and hugs him tightly once more. "I'm sorry I snapped," she breathes, wishing she could tell it to the man who really deserves to hear it right now. He squeezes her back for a moment before she pulls away and forces a smile. "Ready?"
"Always, Lady Alice!" he nods sturdily.
---------
"Tsk, tsk, he has lost consciousness," Dee says, leaning over to look and using a thick finger to prod his eyelid open. "What shall we do, now, brother?"
Dum thinks for a moment before suggesting, "Shall we go back to usual torture, see if he regains consciousness?"
"I do not see the humor in that, if he mayn't scream..."
"True enough. However, he might scream despite his unconsciousness. You never know."
Dee nods, thinking. "You have a point." His face eases into a creepy smile and he pulls out a rod. "My old friend..."
Both doctors cackle viciously.
--------
Alice and Charlie sneak out of the chamber, an eye out for anyone looking willing to stop them. "Is Genevieve still around?" she whispers.
"But of course!" he hisses back, before whistling. The old, faithful horse is by their side within minutes, whinnying at Alice.
She smiles and pats the horse before looking at Charlie. "Where's your second horse at?"
"Regretfully I had to choose one or the other," he says slowly. "She liked to be free, the royal stables needn't have been a good place for her. Thus the correct choice was dear Genevieve here." He smiles.
Alice nods. "So, we'll ride together."
"Very well, Lady Alice!" he says. "Shall I help you on first?"
She pauses, remembering riding behind Hatter what felt like years ago now, her eyes gleaming with pain and desperation to find him. "No, I'm ok." She waits until he mounts, then gains her footing and holds onto him until she's settled safely behind him. The ride makes her miss Hatter all the more-- Charlie's armor working against her as she clings to him and she misses the feel of leather and soft silk-- but she pushes it out of her mind, reminding herself why-- who for-- she's here as they make their way to the beach and into the forest that she never thought she'd see again.
"Charlie?" she asks after awhile, realizing that the knight has headed this way as if he knows exactly where they need to go.
"Yes?" he asks quietly, and she regrets breaking his focus, especially if he's getting his ideas from the "other side".
"Why are we heading this way?" she asks finally, not completely certain she wants to know the answer. She's still worried about what he's foreseen.
"I am being led here," he admits. "Har-- Hatter is amongst leaves and trees, forest creatures... We must not tarry."
"He's-- he's bad, isn't he?" she chokes out, unable to say anything else about his condition.
Charlie doesn't answer but grips one of her hands with his, squeezing gently. She swallows as tears drip down her face at this silent admission.
---------
Hatter is spinning in a swirling circle of pain and darkness, unable to focus on anything. He hears fragments of voices, feels familiar pain shocking up his rib cage and he wonders if he ever really did kill Mad March, if escape from the torture room was a bad dream... if his life with Alice after freeing the resistance was all a delusion caused by repeated beatings and the tea forced on him.
His memory is so spotty, he's uncertain. It doesn't really seem to matter anymore anyway... He sighs and closes his eyes, clenching his fist. Something keeps him from giving up completely, even though he can't really remember what. I have to prove her wrong... He frowns at this unbidden thought, unable to tell who or what caused it.
------------
Dee cackles as Dum nearly stabs Hatter through with the prod, the man's whole tea-inebriated body flailing against the straps holding him tightly to the chair with each electric charge sent through his body. He doesn't scream but froth is coming from his mouth and it's nearly an acceptable compromise.
"Who knew, who knew, screaming isn't needed," Dum chants as he skips around Hatter, gleefully pressing the prod into any part of him he chooses to.
They're so busy with their fun they don't hear the clomp of horse hooves until it's too late-- those same hooves send them scattering as Genevieve nickers and drops to all fours, just inches from Hatter, Alice thanking God that Charlie has such good control over the loyal steed. Her thoughts return to her boyfriend and his capturers as she disembarks from the horse, quickly going after Dee and Dum.
"It's the oyster!" one says mockingly, sneering at her. "Back to save your love, are we?" She wonders if their ability to read minds are not just a truthroom thing but she can't consider this, desperate to check on Hatter.
"I wonder if the girl still has such a crippling fear of heights," the other says, peering inquisitively at her.
"What say you we take her to the edge of the business central and see what happens?" his brother responds, sneer growing.
Tired of their insistent babblings, Alice drops into a stance, hands held out defensively.
"What is this, brother? Does the oyster think she can fight us?" Both doctors cackle maddeningly. "She thinks we would degrade ourselves by such an oyster way of handling things!"
Before she can say or do anything, the brothers disappear in a poof. "DAMMIT!" she gasps, angry at herself for letting them get away so easily.
"Lady!" Charlie calls out from behind her, his voice shaking with desperation.
Her heart stutters as she remembers why she's really here. "HATTER!" she cries, turning and running to the chair he was tied to. Charlie's freed him since, thankfully, but the former tea shop owner isn't responsive, flopping forward against Charlie as the older man shakes him, trying to revive him. Tears well in her eyes as she takes in his clammy skin, the needle pricks up and down both of his twitching arms... Afraid of what she'd find, she reluctantly pulls up his bright shirt and almost gags upon finding fresh burns scattered upon his rib cage, mixed in with bruises and cuts.
If I ever find Dee and Dum, I swear... I'll kill them, she thinks darkly, running a hand gently over Hatter's face, horrified by the heat she finds there. Oh God. I'm so sorry.
----------
"They overdosed him on tea," Jack explains to her what his scientists and doctors have found, peering down at her with a worried glint in his eyes.
She nods, struggling to hold herself together. "When will he wake up?"
He falters and runs his hands through his impeccable blonde hair, messing it up. It's so unlike Jack to be like this that she knows she's going to hate what he's about to say. "He... may never wake up again, Alice. I'm sorry."
She shakes her head. "No. No, no no! He... he will, he will. Why wouldn't he? Don't tell me that, Jack. Don't you dare tell me that!"
Jack looks truly regretful as he explains quietly. "Oyster emotions effect us so strongly, Alice. During the time I spent on your world, I researched some of the drugs over there-- the side effects overdoses can cause, things of that nature. It really isn't that different from here... My doctors have explained to me that Hatter is catatonic," he says quietly. "If he awakens... he will more than likely never be the same again."
Alice ignores the tears forming in her eyes-- will she ever stop crying again?-- and gasps as she slaps him, surprising herself as much as he. "Don't you ever say that again," she says shakily. "He'll wake up, and he'll be himself, and things will be fine. Don't ever talk to me about Hatter again. You don't know him." She's shaking as she heads to Hatter's side, taking his cold hand in hers and kissing his knuckles.
His eyes are open and he's gazing off distantly into nothing. He doesn't respond to her touch and a fresh wave of tears runs down her cheeks.
-------
Days pass, the burns slowly heal as much as they ever will, leaving small scars along his stomach and back, the worse being one she hadn't noticed initially at the nape of his neck, barely hidden by the collar of Wonderland's version of a hospital gown. His fever fades but the twitches remain, reminding her of all he's been through. "Are you in pain?" she murmurs to him, clinging to his hand as a nurse carefully changes his bandages. She hadn't left his side for more than a few moments since that one conversation with Jack.
"Lady Alice?" Charlie asks softly, startling her.
She's not even heard him enter but she can't bring herself to care about her lack of observation skills. Her eyes are gritty, her skin feels grimy and she feels stretched too thin as she examines Hatter, takes in his every breath, prays that eventually he'll catch her eye or something- anything. "Yeah, Charlie?" she murmurs after a moment.
"King Jack thinks you should get some sleep," he says hesitantly, not wanting to anger the worn out girl.
Alice shakes her head. "I'm fine, Charlie. I'll sleep later."
"This is not healthy, Lady," the knight is starting to say, when she cuts in.
"This is not healthy," she breathes, waving a hand at Hatter's pale, gaunt form. He's never been so quiet or still, it scares her more than anything else. She listens as Charlie leaves reluctantly but knows that the man is right-- Hatter needs her and it would do him no good if she has a breakdown or faints from lack of food or sleep.
She sighs and carefully crawls onto the bed he's been laid out on, pressing her face into his throat, tentative. She doesn't want to hurt him further or pull the cords connected to his body but she needs to be near, just in case something changes. "I'm here," she murmurs as tears drip down her face, remembering the last time she was in this position with Hatter. It feels like years ago, not the mere days it has been. "I'm so sorry, I shouldn't have said those things to you. This is all my fault."
He doesn't move or respond and, though she's not surprised, it cracks her already broken heart all the more. Everything in her is telling her to leave but she remains, lulled by the sound of his breathing, the beat of his heart underneath her palm splayed out across his skin. "Stay with me," she whispers, kissing the stubbly skin her lips are touching delicately. "Please..."
She dozes off reluctantly, pulled under by the soft rocking of his every breath.
-----
What feels like only minutes later, she wakes up slowly, hand curling around Hatter's sleeve. She feels like crap and wonders what kind of drink Hatter found for them to try out last night, but when she shifts against him and yawns, her hand stumbles across an IV line and she stops immediately, memories flooding back to her in wave after wave of horror. "Oh God," she breathes, sitting up carefully and staring at him. "No..." Her hand rests on his cheek and she stifles a sob. "I forgot. How did I forget?"
"Lady Alice?"
She jerks and looks over, relaxing as she discovers it's only Charlie watching them with a sad twinkle in his eyes. "Charlie," she greets him, suddenly feeling ashamed. "Um, I'm sorry--"
"No apologies, milady," he says, knowing immediately what she's apologizing for. She smiles fondly at him, uncertain what she'd do without the kind old man. "It is a difficult time. If you wish to eat, I've brought something for you." She now smells a familiar scent on the air and blinks-- "Fresh borogrove," he confirms with a grin as she smiles for the first time in what feels like forever. He's very accommodating, bringing a plate of the meat to her so she doesn't need to move from Hatter's side but can also eat.
She feels even more horrible for how she treated him yesterday and catches his arm, stopping him before he can move away. "Thank you, Charlie, for everything."
He seems to understands and nods, "Anytime, Lady Alice." He leaves quietly and she rests against Hatter as she picks at the food.
"We have some good friends," she comments inanely to him, brushing her fingers against his cheek. A few hours pass quietly as she talks about anything and everything, not daring to run out of words. She's not sure if he can hear her but she remembers stories from earth of people who could hear their loved ones even in comas. Even if catatonia isn't exactly the same as a coma, it's enough for her to keep trying.
A little later, a couple nurses enter and move Hatter, sit him in a chair brought in just for this purpose. They explain to Alice that Hatter needs moved every now and again, for exercise and to keep him from getting bedsores. She nods distantly, trying to wrap her mind around the fact that his life could resemble-- this-- forever more and a fresh batch of bitter tears run down her cheek as she leans over him, her head telling her run, run, he wouldn't want you to see him like this, and what good does it do if you stay? He can't hear you anyway.
Her heart, however, is stronger. You've already ran from him enough, Alice, it chides her, outtalking her brain just enough. Don't hurt him further by leaving when he really needs you. She listens to her heart and cups his face, gently pressing kisses along his jawline. "I'm tired of Wonderland taking things from me," she says softly, her breath drifting across his skin and blowing his hair around, as she gazes deeply into his unresponsive eyes. "It can't have you too."
She finds that even though it's not yet night time, it's becoming more and more of a chore to keep her eyes open so she settles on the floor next to his chair and rests her face on his lap, curling her fingers around his. "I'll be right here," she murmurs sleepily, her eyes drifting closed.
----------
She's only out what feels like a minute when she opens her eyes and finds herself in a disgustingly familiar room-- red and white decorating every square inch of it. She surges up, looking around. This isn't right, she thinks desperately, turning in a circle. "This place was destroyed," she mutters. "I watched it crumble..."
She stares around at the queen's throne room, nausea swirling in her gut. "Why am I back here? Where..." She shakes her head, utterly confused. "Hatter, I was just with Hatter!" Everything comes crashing back to her-- how he had been drugged, abused again by Dee and Dum. Her face crumbles. "Oh God. I... I left him again? I didn't mean to!" she mumbles, already frayed emotions leaving her desperate and uncertain what to do next. "I need out of here."
Before she can take a step towards the large doors across the hall from her, she hears a strange sound behind her and turns slowly. A familar ball-like device sits and she glares at it, remembering how it felt to be held inside as her father refused her and the queen sentenced her to banishment, Jack to death, and she thought she had lost everything, since she figured Hatter had been already put to death. Something draws her towards the torturous thing and she peers inside, jaw dropping.
Hatter's inside, staring out at her, his brown eyes expressive and somewhere between relieved and fearful as they lock with hers.
She shakes her head, "This has to be a trick, or a dream, or something," she mutters, resting her hand on the side of the compartment. To her surprise, he rests his hand on top of where hers is and shakes his head. "It-- it's not?"
He mouths something and she groans, resting her head against the barricade blocking them from each other. "Oh my God. Are you ok?" He looks frustrated as he shrugs and she takes in how tired and bruised he looks. "God," she sighs. "How do I get you out of here? Your fist--"
He raises it and she pales, taking in the swollen, bloody skin around his knuckles. "Ok, that's a no go," she mutters. "Dammit, what can I do..." Unsure what else to do, she brushes her fingers across the surface of the ball, looking for an opening or hidden switch, something-- anything. The queen had liked her little secret openings-- the box the stone of Wonderland residing in proof of that-- but there was nothing obvious that Alice could see... Knowing my luck, it's programmed to only listen to her, she thinks despondently, returning to where she can see Hatter. It's not neccessarily the time or the place but it bubbles from her, as she stares in at him and he looks back at her, trust and love for her overwhelming the frustation in his gaze. "I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have left like that, I told you I trust you completely... I just forget sometimes, everything you've done for me, as stupid as it sounds. Please, would you ever forgive me?"
He gapes at her in surprise, as if what she had done, what had put him in this situation, had been forgotten already. His lips soften into a smile as they stare at each other, nodding to show that her apology's been accepted.
She smiles back tearily, her fingers pressing against the curve of the circular device and his rest above where her hand's at but before she can say or do anything else, the thing begins to shift between them, shattering like little pieces of glass that just couldn't be held up any longer. Her jaw drops as he's slowly freed, his eyes widening in just as much surprise. "Oh, my God." He steps out of the ball and she gapes at him, reaching out to touch him. Before she can even graze his arm with her fingertips, everything fades away slowly.
----------
She wakes up just as slowly, not daring to move. Her face is still pressed into his lap, her fingers curled around his. This is reality. That was nothing more than a taunting dream. Her heart breaks anew as another wave of tears stream down her cheeks, her whole body shaking with the agony that this falseness has caused her. She doesn't register the tickling feel of a hand rubbing between her shoulder blades down her back. She doesn't even hear the voice at first. She does feel the soft kisses along her cheek though, the soft breaths blowing against her skin.
Everything comes into focus, reality superimposes itself before returning to normal-- she listens in confusion as a familiar voice whispers her name, a touch ghosts up her back, and lips press against her cheek, her temple, the side of her nose. "Alice."
She jerks upright, gazing into the beautifully conscious eyes that are gazing down at her with no limit of worry in their depths. "Hatter?" she whispers, as if afraid her voice could shatter him-- return him to his unresponsive self.
"I believe so," he says with a gentle smile, grunting as she hugs him tightly, almost tipping the chair backwards with the force of it. "I'm here," he whispers into her hair, tangling his still trembling fingers in the long locks. "It's ok."
"I'm sorry," she murmurs again, crying again-- tears of happiness this time, finally.
He nods, then shakes his head, "I heard you in the dream, or whatever that was-- you don't need to apologize--"
"Yes, yes I do," she says, pulling away once more and leaving them both feeling cold. "I shouldn't have left like I did, I shouldn't--"
He cuts her off with a finger to her lips, smiling tenderly at her. "It's ok, luv. We'll work on it, huh? We have plenty of time."
She wipes at her eyes plaintively, ghosts her fingers across his still bandaged chest as she stares up at him. "You promise?"
His eyes darken and he nods. "I promise."