Description: Will Scarlett's world turns upside down with the arrival of Robin Hood, an unwanted leader who disrupts the band's established order. Their bitter rivalry escalates with an arrow piercing through Will's hand. Two weeks later, an unyielding storm forces Robin and Will to seek shelter in a cave together. Robin seizes the opportunity and confronts Will about the deep hate he nurtures towards him. The events of the night and the arrival of a new outlaw change the remainder of the movie.

Note: Hi to whoever still checks whether there's anything new in this fandom! This is my first attempt to write a fanfic for Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, but it's been over ten years since I first became a fan of the movie and of the fanfiction that came with it. For a long time, I stopped writing fanfics, I wanted to focus on creating my own stories. But the urge to write with these characters never left me despite how many years passed by, so now that I have a plot bunny in mind, I was like f it, I will give it a go. I hope you give it a go too.

PART 1: ROBIN

Chapter 1: The Storm

Sherwood Forest lay shrouded in the wild embrace of a merciless storm. Trees were resisting the wind's wrath on pure stubbornness. Raindrops were slicing through the thick canopy like daggers. Thunder growled from all sides. Just a normal autumn storm for any Englishman. Nothing Robin hadn't experienced before. Only, whenever a storm like this would start back when he used to live in England, he returned home to the Locksley Manor or sought shelter under the nearest roof. Something hard to do in the heart of Sherwood Forrest.

Robin moved with a sense of purpose through the tall trees, his eyes vigilant to the dangers above his head. Any tree could fall victim to the wind. He shouldn't be in a forest during a storm, he knew this. His safest bet would be to find a clearing and wait for the storm to pass. But there was none close by. The camp was the nearest shelter. His dry tent. He had never missed it as he did not. Breathing heavily, Robin wiped a trail of sweat off his temple, navigating his way by following the trees he knew. Almost there.

Earlier today he ventured away from camp to clear his mind, seeking solace. He wanted to be alone, to think, to reflect on what he was doing. Whether or not it was right of him to lead the Merrymen into rebellion.

But now, as the rain was soaking him to the bone, he realised he had ventured too far.

The river's roar grew louder in his ears.

Almost there.

Robin removed a branch to clear the view of the river.

His breath caught in his lungs.

The river, swollen with rain, roared like a living creature before his feet, forcing him to take a step back. It was three times its usual size, and as violent as he had never seen it before. The water's surface was churning with debris. The banks were overflowing. Robin glared at his dissolving hope of returning home. There was no way he could cross it in its current state.

Taking his face in his hands, he began to massage his freezing forehead. What should he do now? A sigh escaped his bluish lips. He let his eyes take in the water once again as if to confirm with himself that crossing it was out of the question.

And it was.

With his periphery, a movement caught his eye.

Robin squinted through the downpour.

Another solitary figure was standing in the distance on the same side of the river as him. Who was this? Blinking in an attempt to see better, Robin's facial muscles slowly relaxed in realization.

It was Will Scarlett. With his fiery hair matted to his head and rain-soaked clothes clinging to his form, he must have also fallen victim to the stormy scene.

It looked like Robin was not the only one who had failed to return to the camp in time.

Robin then noticed that Will's boots were halfway into the overflowing banks of the river. Deliberating a call that was nothing short of reckless. He was gathering the courage to cross the river. The water sprayed his boots with a dangerous force as if to warn him against doing something so stupid. This didn't stop Will from taking another step in.

Robin's instinct was to call out and stop him. Yet, the memory of their strained relationship held him back. He and Will did not like each other. It was no secret for anyone in the camp.

If he said anything, he might just be sending Will for a swim because he knew chances were his warning would be taken the wrong way and send the angry man to his death. So Robin remained hidden, his gaze locked on Will, waiting for him to gain some sense and get out of the water. All the while Robin remained hidden, soaking under the rain.

Rainwater trickled down his brow, mixing with the sweat of his efforts to come back as fast as he could.

Then what he expected happened. Taking a few short steps back out of the water, Will abandoned the idea of crossing the river.

Robin scratched the rain-slicked stubble on his jaw. Took him long enough. It was foolish to think he could manage to cross it in the first place.

As if to prove Robin wrong, Will reached up to a branch and with a bit of effort ascended to a tree. The tree's branches were going over the river, stretching precariously over the surging water.

Robin tensed and muttered to himself, "This is ridiculous..."

What he was trying was madness—sheer and utter madness. Will's hand bore the wound of an arrow Robin had pierced through it just two weeks prior. Could he really rely on his grip? Especially in such weather where he could easily slip?

Robin's eyes wandered over the water. If he lost his footing, he would be at the mercy of the raging river and it would swallow him alive.

Unable to stand idle any longer, Robin began to move toward Will before he could go over the water. It was impressive that he managed to climb the tree with an injured hand. No matter whether they liked each other or not, Robin would not just stand and watch a man cause his own death.

Robin's footsteps were silent against the backdrop of the storm's clamour. He opened his mouth, about to call out to the young man who hadn't yet even taken notice of him, when a root reached up from the sodden ground and entangled his boot, sending him stumbling forward onto the soaking ground.

Robin cursed loudly, "Blasted roots!"

His voice startled Will and he slipped off the tree, falling to the ground.

He landed on the wet earth with a painful thud.

Robin grimaced.

Will's figure remained still on the ground.

If it were possible, the rain only grew in force and Robin had to shield his eyes in order to see before him.

Still no movement. He hesitated for a moment, then cautiously approached. "Will, are you all right?"

No reaction.

Robin felt the need to check whether he was okay, but at the same time, he half-expected a dagger to come hurtling his way. Violent mistrust had always marked their interactions.

As he stopped close to his side, the youth before his feet let out a weak whimper and opened his eyes. Pain etched across his features. He clutched his head with another soft whimper. Great. Guilt gnawed at Robin. He had hit his head. He kneeled by his side, checking for blood. A sigh of relief escaped when he found none.

Besides, hitting his head was still a better outcome than falling to his death in the raging river.

Rising to his feet, he offered his hand and Will, still disoriented, took it.

"Easy there," Robin muttered as he helped him to his feet. Will held onto him, his eyes unfocused. Chances were he still didn't quite realise who was helping him.

As soon as Will's foot touched the ground, he hissed and shifted his weight on his other foot, "Bloody hell…"

Great, Robin decided. So not only did he hit his head but also managed to hurt his foot.

Still better than ending up dead in the river.

Robin's perceptive eyes caught sight of a narrow cave opening nearby. Thunder cracked overhead, and bolts of lightning illuminated their surroundings. This would do.

He guided Will toward it, their progress slow and cautious. It was cold. Let alone dangerous to remain next to the trees. Thunders stroke on trees. Not on caves. But somewhere along the way, Will snatched his arm free from Robin's grasp.

"Let go of me," Will demanded, his wet clothes clinging to him like a shroud. The clear look in Will's eyes told him that he had fully regained his senses.

Robin, equally soaked and shivering, returned the incredulous look. "I am helping you." He gestured to the cave, a gesture laden with meaning. "This is our only chance at shelter until the storm passes."

Will shuddered, teeth chattering, and pain etched across his features. He didn't want to go anywhere with Robin, that much was obvious.

"You're the reason I fell!" Will said through chattering teeth. "You startled me!"

A thunder struck the other side of the river. Too close to them for Robin's taste.

"I'm glad you didn't hit your head too hard." At Will's dumbfounded expression, Robin answered, "I was beginning to get worried by your willingness to take my help." He showed towards the cave. "Let's go there until the storm passes. I don't see any better option. Do you?" Will shuddered, wet, cold and hurting. Didn't say anything. He didn't want to admit to Robin being right. Or he needed a moment to process that what Robin was saying was indeed their only option.

Robin, unwilling to shiver like a dog any longer, continued alone toward the cave's dark maw.

As soon as his head was clear of the nonstop rainfall, he removed his wet mantle and put away his soaking boots. He closed his eyes in pleasure at the nice change. As if someone just wrapped him in a warm blanket. Robin eased on the ground with a sigh. There was no blanket he could wrap around his tunic sadly. But stone walls protected him from the icy wind, and even though he still shivered, he wouldn't change this bliss with the cold hail for anything.

From the cave's entrance, he watched as Will remained rooted to the spot, soaked to the bone. His stubbornness was admirable but misplaced. He couldn't stay out there, not for much longer at least. The thick clouds above his head were not showing any sign of leaving.

As if reading his mind, with a heavy sigh, Will reluctantly began the agonizing journey toward the shelter of the cave. He avoided putting pressure on his injured leg, wincing with each step.

Robin made room for Will inside the cave.

On entrance, Will's breaths came in ragged gasps, his drenched clothes clinging to his body like a second skin. He cast a wary glance toward Robin, his face etched with a mix of distrust and distress.

Thunderstruck nearby, illuminating the darkness within with a brief, eerie glow.

Robin tore his gaze from the young man and rubbed his freezing face. At least they had found some sort of protection from the relentless drizzle.

Will shuddered, water dripping from his soaked clothes. He huddled against the cave's rocky walls, his expression a mixture of cold and defiance, and muttered through chattering teeth, "I hate storms. I hate caves. And I especially hate being stuck with you."

A wry chuckle escaped Robin's lips, despite the tension in the air.

"Well, Will, I can't say I'm thrilled about the company either. But for now, we're in the same situation. So can we agree on peace for the day?" He raised an asking eyebrow.

Will crossed his arms and turned the other way.

Robin sighed softly.

Silence was better than a no. In fact, given how much Will Scarlett loved to vocalise his opposition to anything that left Robin's mouth, he'd take his silence for a truce.