Will's lips danced along Alice's neck delicately. He always felt he had to be so delicate with her, so gentle. So careful. He never knew why he felt that way. After all, Alice was a girl who could more than handle herself.
But his mind often returned to where he'd found her. The asylum. She was so weak then. So torn and fragile. Barely herself. Maybe knowing that under the confident exterior lay a more sensitive creature? Whatever it was, it made him aware of his fingertips on her skin.
"Alice?" He whispered.
"Yes?"
"I love you."
"I know." She smirked as she watched his eyes go round.
He was funny. She loved that about him.
"I love you too, Will. Relax." She kissed his cheek.
Cyrus had been saved. Their mission was complete, and tomorrow they were leaving Wonderland. It wasn't easy. Alice telling Cyrus that although she cared for him, and was so happy he was alive and now safe...she no longer loved him.
To his credit he took it well. Or so they thought.
That night as they slept Cyrus approached their camp. He'd been following them for two days. At first, he just wanted to make sure Alice was going to be okay with this...Knave. However, as he watched them together he couldn't help the thoughts that overtook his mind.
What if this man had some kind of spell over Alice? Some evil trick. He was, after all, in the employ of the Queen. So, he quietly drew his sword and slid it across the throat of the Knave. Not to kill him, no. Just to wake and disarm him.
Will felt the coldness against his Adam's apple. His eyes instantly awake and searching for Alice. She was there, sleeping only a few inches from him. His next thought was to his own sword, which although was in between he and Alice was useless.
"Up, Knave."
Will rolled his eyes. "Cyrus! What kind of joke is this?"
"It is no joke. Stand." Cyrus danced the blade across Will's skin leaving a thin trail of blood.
Will seethed. "Look mate-"
"I'm not your mate!"
Will stood and faced the genie. "So, are you going to kill me? Jealous, is that it?"
"You're one to talk of jealousy."
Will shrugged, "I'll give ya that one. I was jealous. But that's not why Alice chose me."
"She didn't choose you!" Cyrus yelled.
Alice woke now, and screamed at her former lover. "Cyrus! Stop! This isn't you."
"Isn't me? This isn't YOU! He has you under one of the queen's spells. This is all a deception, Alice." He pointed the sword to Will's chest now. "But he's going to end it now, or I'll end him. It's his choice."
Now it was Alice's turn to draw her sword. "I wont let you hurt him."
Cyrus looked shocked. "Are you planning on using the techniques I taught you with that?"
Alice glanced at her sword.
"She's not under a spell, Cyrus. She's just Alice." Will said. His tone was slightly pleading. He didn't want Alice to fight.
"Can you really not see its just ALICE!"
"Shut up!" Cyrus whirled on Will. He punched him hard in the face causing will to stumble back and see stars.
"Will!"
Alice's voice cleared his head. He looked at Cyrus and spit the blood from his mouth.
"You really don't believe she'd choose me."
"Never!"
"I'm offended. I mean, what's so wrong with me? I'm a handsome bloke. I'm funny. Daring even at times." Will shrugged.
"You've tricked her somehow."
Will took this opportunity to land a punch of his own.
"It's no trick, mate. Alice has had my heart in the palm of her hands. Quite bloody literally. And I love her. That'll never change no matter how many times you hit me."
Alice pointed her sword at Cyrus' back. "That's enough. Go."
"I can't. I can't until I hear you say it."
"I love Will."
A moment later only Alice and Will stood in their camp.
"Well, that was bloody unexpected." Will quipped.
"I'm so sorry."
Her eyes fell on the cut on his throat. Instantly her fingers were there assessing.
"Kiss it all better?" He whispered.
Alice sighed as she placed her lips against Will's. She couldn't wait to start their new life...far away from Wonderland.
