9. Hatters Gonna Hate
When morning dawned over the circus, Alice Liddell didn't want to wake up. The sun squeezed what it could around the rainclouds through her window, but she clutched tighter to her pillow, snuggling her head against it. She felt comfortable; an unusual warmth pushing against her. She felt a pressure, but didn't mind it. Were her blankets always this heavy? Were her pillows always this hard? Suddenly, something didn't feel right here.
Slowly opening her eyes, the foreigner stared in confusion at the object she was hugging. Was that an arm? Yes, that was an arm! When had an arm replaced her pillow? ! Better yet, whose arm was it? !
Turning over- somewhat frightened to do so- the brunette stared blankly up at a peacefully sleeping ginger and suddenly realized the predicament she was in.
Here, Miss Alice Liddell, was caught between the arms of Joker- an arm wound under her head while he slept on her pillows, and another wrapped around her waist, holding her close.
When did this happen?
She tried to move, but his hold was still, despite his unconscious state. She wanted to escape his grip- pull out of it and run. Where to, she wasn't sure, but she could feel her cheeks heating up at the mere idea of this man in her room, let alone her bed, and holding her nonetheless! This was Joker, wasn't it? Looking up at him, she wasn't so sure.
So she stared. It was Black, she was sure of it. Memories of last night began to flood her mind, sleep deprivation from before having gotten to her. That's right… she pulled that drunk stunt. She would have palmed herself if her arms weren't captured around the man's arm. How stupid of her! What a purely idiot act- he almost shot her!
But he stopped when he saw you. a small voice in the back of her head whispered, sending a chill down the foreigner's back. That was true- he did hesitate He didn't shoot. But, why? Was this still the same Joker that tried to get up her skirt and sent nearly every threat possible her way?
Perhaps he stopped because I'm a foreigner. Alice felt a bit saddened by her contemplating thought, and the little voice quickly disagreed. Alright, so that wasn't it. But why…?
Do you remember the point of your stunt? the voice asked, and Alice froze; her hands subconsciously clutching onto the warden's arm tighter. She felt the hair on her neck stand up, her face pale. Indeed, she did remember.
It was a test to find out his true feelings toward her.
Okay, okay, Alice. Let's get a hold of ourselves. she mentally told herself, closing her eyes; trying to organize her scattered brain. He never outright said, "I like you". You can't get ahead of yourself! Just narrow down the facts. She smiled weakly. Yeah… the facts.
Let's see… He tried to kill me, but he stopped. He stopped me when I was going to fall, but he undressed me! Her face flushed a cherry red at the reminder. T-Then he… he… She shook her head at the thought, shutting her teal pools tightly. He began to…to… She couldn't bring herself to remember what happened afterwards, feeling too embarrassed. He couldn't possibly care for her if he'd use her like that! She was fooling herself to every consider that he possibly could. I'm an idiot.
"But wait a minute…" she whispered to herself, looking up at his face again. Carefully, she brushed the crimson locks from his pale skin, giving her a better view of his closed eye.
That look… Her heart panged at the reminder. When he'd held her down, prepared to take her, he stopped. That look on his face… It was as if he was in pain. She'd never seen such a peculiar look on the man's face. It didn't make sense to her; wouldn't he want to use her while she's vulnerable? His eye… those mixed expressions of desire and regret… Could it be he actually felt guilty?
And he should! she told herself confidently. He scared me to death! She frowned, pressing her lips in a firm line. It wasn't technically a lie- she was terrified. She had no idea what he'd do to her! But…
But part of her wanted to continue.
WHAT AM I THINKING? ! she inwardly screamed, shaking her head violently back and forth. THAT'S STUPID! YOU CAN'T POSSIBLY WANT THAT!
But I did kiss him… another part of her reminded herself. Alice took a staggered breath.
Once again whipping her head back and forth, her mind was a jumble. "WHY DID I KISS HIM? ! NOW HE KNOWS! I'M SO OBVIOUS, IT'S PATHETIC!"
"Ugh… Jesus. Shouting this f*cking early? Whose pathetic?" Alice gaped, her skin paling into a Casper shade as she slowly lifted her head to meet the groggy, tired eye of Joker. Her heart stammered uneasily in her chest, causing her to gasp. Had she said all that out loud? !
"N-NOTHING! DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT! PLEASE GET OUT OF MY ROOM, I'D LIKE TO GET CHANGED!" Alice squeaked, gently trying to shove him away. Black watched her, half confused and half suspicious as she attempted to put space between the two- glad that he was awake and forced less pressure on her.
"Tch." the warden scratched the back of his head- allowing her to roll away from his touch. He sat up groggily, rubbing his eye and yawning. "I'm surprised you're so damn energetic this morning. You should have a hangover by now." He peeked over her shoulder towards the trashcan. "Did you puke?"
"I told you I wasn't drunk." Alice mumbled, frowning up at him; her eyebrows pinned together. Speaking louder, she reminded him, "Last night. I kissed you."
"Hmph. So you remember that much." Joker reached his arms up, stretching; his muscles stiff. "That doesn't prove you weren't drunk, though."
"WHAAAT? !" The foreigner's face fell in rage and disbelief, her hands balling into determined fists at her sides. "I told you if I remembered I kissed you, then I wasn't drunk!"
"Even drunks remember some parts of the night. It doesn't prove anything." Black replied swiftly, annoyed with her argument.
"But… But that's not-!" Alice stopped herself, turning away. Embarrassment crawled throughout her body, her cheeks lighting up in a blush. How could she prove to him she wasn't drunk? There had to be some wa-
That's right! She could hear the hallelujahs playing in her head as the outsider glided off of the bed- much to Joker's uncertainty- and tossed her sprawled clothes aside, heaving up the heavy wine bottle. Her proof!
"See? I didn't drink any of it! It's all still in the bottle!" she exclaimed happily, diving back on the bed; placing it in his lap. Joker stared at her blankly for a moment before turning to the wine bottle, spinning it over in his hands.
"So you're telling me you snuck into our stash, and took out more wine while I was asleep?" Black demanded, glaring at her now.
"Yes! Wait, what? No!" the brunette cried, shaking her head from side to side in denial. No! That wasn't supposed to be his reaction! That didn't happen! "That's the bottle I took from last night- I didn't drink any of it!"
"How long have you been stealing alcohol out of our stash?" Black demanded, holding the bottle away from her. Her jaw dropped.
Say what now?
"I didn't steal any alcohol!" she cried desperately, her eyes wide and hopeless as she stared up at him. "I swear, I didn't steal any! White let me take it! He said I could have it!"
"So he knew you were a drunk?" Joker questioned suspiciously. Alice opened her mouth to speak, but found herself at a loss forwards. Instead, she plopped back onto the bed, moaning. That's not-! That wasn't-! Ugh. What was the use in arguing with him, really?
Huffing, the maiden sat up, growling, "Yes, Black, because I just love to drink my poor behind off in alcohol on the weekend and suffer from hangovers in the morning. Just for kicks, you know." Her voice dripped heavy in sarcasm, her tone cold.
"I knew it!" Black accused, rather loudly.
"I WAS BEING SARCASTIC!" Alice cried, though by the mere look from her crush, she knew she would go ignored.
It's not fair. It's just not fair. Her inner self complained as the redhead arose from the bed, watching her, as if expecting something. That plan was supposed to work! I knew I shouldn't have tried it. I'm such a moron.
"What are you doing just standing there?" Black demanded, breaking her thoughts. Alice looked up at him, her confidence lost and replaced with confusion.
"What do you mean?" she asked unsurely, tilting her head to the side.
"Hello! Feminine body here!" the warden shouted, gesturing wildly towards himself. "You have a f*cking key to find, don't you? ! Go fix this mess!"
"Oh… Oh! Right!" Alice exclaimed, hopping quickly out of bed. She could feel his eye staring into her back with disapproval as she rushed to gather her clothes for the day, struggling with the simple blue bundle.
"Don't forget it's raining. You'll need an umbrella or a raincoat." Black reminded her, and the girl froze, palming herself.
"Gah! I forgot about that." she complained. "I don't want to use an umbrella out with all that lightning…" She frowned at the dreary scene outside. "A raincoat would be best. But where am I supposed to get one? !"
The warden smirked. "I have one."
"…Black is a dead man."
Rubber boots sloshed through the messy mud puddles as the foreigner and her ringmaster companion trudged through the storm, heading off to their first destination- Hatter Territory. If the key was perhaps stolen, it didn't put it past Alice for a certain pissed off mafia leader or his playful lackeys to be the culprits.
However, she would have much preferred not arriving there in such attire.
This rain coat was no normal rain coat- she had decided that as soon as she got a good look in the mirror before being thrusted out the door and on her way. Rather than a cute, normal yellow she'd been expecting, this sleek, waterproof clothing was a living nightmare.
The entire jacket was cream like skin, giving the effect of a very fake female body on the front and back in a skimpy polka dot bikni. The hat showed off an obviously printed on beach hat, while the boots stuck to the attire; cream until fake flip flops had been colored on. Overall, the entire outfit was outrageously tacky and pitiful.
"Doesn't Black have any normal raincoats like yours?" Alice whined, envious of the jester's simple red raincoat. Joker chuckled.
"Oh, he does. He just wanted a little revenge for his limited state." White explained. Alice glared bitterly ahead, her nose wrinkled in irritation. Revenge, huh? Was it really that, or did he just love making a fool of her? This certainly wouldn't be the first time she felt ridiculous in his chosen attire.
"Yeah, well I don't appreciate it." the brunette deadpanned, watching as raindrops ran sleekly down her jacket and dripped into the puddles underneath her feet.
White smirked, but said no more as the mafia mansion came into view; its glamorous, oversized windows streaked in pitiful rain of the storm, the once beautiful green grass from a fairytale now over watered and muddy. She could spot the twins in the yard, running around joyously in the rain, attempting to wet each other. Their long, raven hair flew in the wind, and Alice couldn't help but smile at the sight. Was it just her, or had the boys grown so much cuter now that they'd changed genders?
As if to prove her harmless thought wrong, one of them splashed her way during her entrance, sending mud flying her way.
Oh. It was just her.
"Hey, you got mud on onee-sama!" Dee complained, pointing towards Alice's direction.
Dum looked up, his red eyes wide and harmless. "Onee-sama! Do you want to play in the mud?"
"E-Eh, no thank you." She viewed the duo over, raising an eyebrow. Their skin was rather pale, and their lips blue. "Have you two been out here all day?"
"Yeah! We've never seen it rain like this before!" Dee proclaimed excitedly, widening his arms to gesture towards the sky.
"Yeah, it's fun!" Dum exclaimed, diving into another mud puddle. Alice sighed.
"You gir- er, boys should get inside. You'll catch colds." the brunette scolded gently, patting their drenched hair.
"But it's fun!" the twins whined in unison, giving her large, puppy dog eyes. Alice frowned, her lower lip quivering.
No, don't give in! Just because they're girls doesn't make it anymore alright! she scolded herself, but she could feel her heartstrings pull at their desperate expressions.
"Oh… Five more minutes!" she gave in, feeling weak.
"Thank you, onee-sama!" She didn't have time to prepare herself for their sudden hug. In a blink she'd realized the feminine boys had glued themselves to her sides, hugging her tightly.
"Preparing for motherhood, Alice?"
The foreigner winced as she recognized White's voice behind her; a hand patting her head. She gave him a deadpan look; her eyebrows pinning together.
"Ehh? What's Joker doing here?" the young boys asked defensively, frowning up at their proclaimed older sister. Alice sighed, smiling awkwardly at the two.
"Remember the meeting I had?" she asked. They nodded. "Well, I'm kind of here because of that. Have you two seen the key at all?"
"A key?" the twins asked each other, contemplating.
"Nope." Dee was the first to reply, tapping his chin thoughtfully.
"We found a grenade, but not a key." Dum chimed in. Alice's eye twitched, but she kept up her smile, nodding.
"Thank you." she said, patting their hands. "I'll see you two later."
Before she even turned around the boys were back at their games, flinging water and mud each other's way. Alice sighed. She couldn't imagine children like those. Sure, they were cute and she loved to be with them, but what handfuls!
"You look like you're concentrating on something." White noted as they stepped into the luxurious mansion, a roll of thunder sounding behind them followed by children's laughter. Alice blinked, snapping out of her fantasy.
"Hmm? Oh! It's nothing." she explained, quickly shaking her head. "I was just… considering things."
"Considering things?" the jester questioned curiously, tilting his head as he followed the maiden towards the kitchen. The smell of carrots could be smelt throughout the entire manor, so Alice had a pretty good idea where her rabbit friend was.
"Kids." she replied, frowning at the ground as she walked.
"Don't you like them?" White asked, a little confused. "You seem to get along so well with children."
"No, no, it's not that!" Alice quickly threw in, waving her hands in front of her in denial. "I love kids, I do! It's just… I was wondering. If I had kids, what would they be like? When I see Dee and Dum… I wonder, is all."
"Ah~. Could it be the young miss is looking forward to settling down and becoming pregnant already?" the redhead suggested, smirking down at her. Alice flushed.
"No, no! Not yet! I… I want to wait." she explained, laughing nervously. "Until I'm married, definitely. And until I fall in…" Alice paused, her lips pressing into a firm line. Black flashed in her mind, and she quickly shook her head, erasing the image. Clearing her throat, she hastily continued, "Ahem. Anyways, no. I want to wait."
"Hmn." Was White's simple answer, but the foreigner didn't bother to question it, for a familiar voice- a voice she'd much rather avoid until the last minute- called behind her.
"Hmph. So the town slut shows up, and with the clown nonetheless. Who knew you were into the circus so much?"
The words were spoken from a female, but when Alice turned around, she knew who it was. Those long, raven tresses, such cruel cobalt eyes. And that smirk, disguised with lipstick in an unnatural shade of red, taunting her.
Blood Dupre.
Dramaz ^^ Well, it's kinda late right now, so not much to say here, other than I was tired and forgot to credit TweedleLaney for major help on the last chapter x'DD ILU HON, SORRY FOR THE LATE CREDIT DX
I have these mental images of the role holders in female form that I really love. I should draw them one day. X'DDD