Cash in my bad luck (Hatter/Jack)

[alice]

Alice Hamilton was minding her own business. It was like her head was everywhere. Jack had found her sitting in a church and she was happy to see him but it wasn’t the same. Alice couldn’t explain it either. There was something more there and she just wanted to figure out if she still loves him or not. She doesn’t feel the same way, she does care for him but it’s not the way she did before. She had told him that and she didn’t know how he took it. He didn’t say anything to her which wasn’t a good thing but it wasn’t a bad thing. If he really loved her he would want her to be happy right?

Alice was still with Jack when she had walked away. They decided to stick together since they were both from the “same” and had a better chance of actually finding other people if they worked together. Alice just decided that she needed a break from him for a while, she needed a break from all of it, and she needed a break from him.

Alice was just wandering, not really paying any attention to where she was going. Alice had stopped when she had seen two people with their backs to her. They were both wearing suits and she didn’t know if they were who she thought they were or if they were just random people here brought from their own world. Alice stared, watching them and they turned around. Yup, they were from her world, well Wonderland. Alice quickly turned around and started walking, pretending not to see them, hoping that they hadn’t seen her at all.

Well, that plan had failed. They had noticed her and started to run after Alice. Alice started running herself, not really wanting to start a fight with them right now hoping that she could get away from them. She continued to run and noticed that she had run right into a forest. She continued to run and she had noticed that the scenery had changed. The forest was now dead.

She stopped and looked around. She could still hear the voices from the suits behind her but she was constantly looking around, trying to figure out where to go. The place was just rotted, everything around her was dead. The place was gloomy, something that she didn’t like at all. She felt uncomfortable here and she felt depressed, upset.

The suits had come into view and she started running again, but ran into someone, or something that felt like someone. She had fallen over after that one. Alice had placed her right hand on her forehead and noticed she was still wearing the Stone of Wonderland. That was a good thing. “God…” Alice muttered to herself, as she tried to get back onto her feet. At least Alice didn’t lose the thing that the suits were after.

[hatter]

The forest looked endless and the sky was a little too dark for mid-day. The scent of earth was in the air, fresh and chilling. It was about to rain. The announcement was made even clearer by the loud thunder. Dark clouds were thick and heavy, about to pour down in moments. The electricity in the air was obvious.

While the brunette ran in between tall trees which seemed like left from a long lasting autumn, two chasers stubbornly followed after her. Wherever she turned or headed, they would come after. There was nowhere to hide. Sooner or later, Alice was going to get tired and then they would be able to get their hands on her.

Maybe it was the lack of oxygen and more of tiredness how Alice ran reckless, not looking at where she was heading to. Nothing mattered, when she ended up crashing into someone. It threw her off balance and she stumbled backward to fall on her back.

"Alice." The brunette could hear a voice of a familiar man. And if she lifted her head up, she would see him. Hatter. Not in perfect shape at the moment, though. His cloths looked a bit too crumpled than before, a few splotches of blood were on his fancy button down shirt. It was obviously his blood. Remains of fresh blood was still down his nose and he had a split lip. Hatter really looked a bit worn down, but other than that he was good. "Are you okay?" He asked with a certain hint of worry in his tone. As much as he wanted to kneel and check Alice, priorities came first.

It didn't take him much to debate on if he wanted to run forward or not. It was reflexive how he faced two guys and closed the gap in between them, so Alice would be in a safe distance. He pretty much threw himself at one, using his full body weight to knock the other down. They both collapsed together, with Hatter landing on his opponent. It was a hard fall, but his punches were harder, as he threw them until his second opponent grabbed at his arms to pull him back. Prying Hatter from the other, he tried to stretch the rebel to be an open target for his partner. But Hatter was stubborn and he wasn't going to stand there, doing nothing.

Rearing his legs back, he kicked at the one who was already up on his feet and about to punch Hatter. This wasn't a fast ending battle since Hatter was stubborn and also not a superhero. Though, his well aimed punches always made it hurt.

It took more of a struggle to finally beat his two opponents down for good, leaving them unconscious on the ground. When everything ended, he was breathing harshly from his mouth and leaning down to put his hands on his knees. It was an interesting fact how his hat managed to remain on his head the whole time, not even falling once.

At least, Alice was safe now.

[alice]

Alice had heard a familiar voice of someone she had been looking for and worried about for the longest time. Alice looked up to see Hatter, who looked like he was in bad shape. She saw that he looked like he had just been in a horrible fight and she figured that he may have been at the hands of Dr. Dee and Dr. Dum or something along those lines. She was happy that he had survived. Alice smiled when he had asked if she was ok. Alice nodded and she stood up and faced him, nearly forgetting about the Suits that were chasing her.

Alice turned to see the Suits coming up on them. She was about to go and attack but Hatter had done that already. He had tacked one and both of them had fallen over. Hatter was grabbed by the other suit and pulled back. Alice just stood there as Hatter kicked as the one was about to punch him and had beaten both of the suits. Alice smiled to Hatter who stood there, his hat still on his head.

“Hatter!” Was all Alice could say at this moment and she ran over to him, almost jumping on the man, hugging him.

She didn’t want to let go. She had a very different meeting with Jack the other day and she finally realized that too much has changed, including her heart. Jack wasn’t the one she cared about anymore and Hatter being here, her holding him again made her realize that it was Hatter she really wanted to be with and now with Jack Heart.

Alice finally let go and looked at his bruised and cut face. “are you alright? What happened to you?” Alice asked Hatter curiously. He looked like a wreck to her, his clothes were untidy and there were small spots of blood on them.

[hatter]

This had been tiring and challenging. While Hatter didn't mind fighting in needed times, it was hardly his specialty to do this. Hatter was more of a man who preferred to talk his way out of things. But that really wouldn't apply at this point. Not after everyone was in danger and he was tortured until they decided he was no use. He was going to get killed by a knife, but like hell he would just allow that.

Trying to catch his breath, the man with the hat glanced at Alice to check on her. He had to admit he was worried, but at least she was safe for now. It wouldn't last for long, if they kept on staying here in the open. He also admitted his life started to get more action since the brunette entered his life. It wasn't a good kind of action, but there was no room for him to complain. Hatter really enjoyed spending time with Alice, while he had not said that aloud before.

He could just do that, if they had a moment of peace.

When Alice rushed at him and hugged Hatter, he was more of enjoying the moment instead of being surprised. It was a reflex how he returned the gesture, wrapping his arms around the brunette and holding her close. he even closed his eyes and wore an expression like he had been expecting this since a long time. A long long time. It was a desired feeling to have her so close to him, showing affection in a simple way.

Looking down at her beautiful face, Hatter offered a warm smile and gazed into Alice's eyes.

"I'm alright." He replied, not wanting to go into details about his distasteful experience before his escape. He was tied to a chair and beaten brutally. But hey, he was still alive and he wanted to kick harder than before now.

"It's a relief to see you again." He said. Afterall, there were moments when he thought he could not and it was hurting. But here they were, reunited again and even having a rather intense moment... That was until Alice pulled back, of course. Disappointed at the loss of her touch, he closed the gap in between them and held her upper arms. He didn't really care, if his face looked beaten now or how his cloths were crumpled, stained by his own blood.

"I was worried about you." And his face was suddenly close to hers, he was leaning down a little to whisper these words to Alice.

[alice]

Alice Hamilton looked at Hatter and she smiled. He had told her that he was alright and she was glad. He didn’t look alright at all, he looked all beaten up and she knew that he had been tortured, well she didn’t know that for sure but she could guess. They were all in tight spots. Alice was glad that she had escaped and he didn’t know that she was coming back for him. That was the reason for it, well that and the fact that she had seen some kids being taken by the queen to be drained.

“are you sure that you are alright. You don’t look like it.” The young brunette said to him with a slight shrug.

He had then told her that it was a relief to see her again. She smiled. He had put his arms on her upper arms and she didn’t care that he had done so. She secretly liked him. “I’m happy I found you. I have been looking for you since I have been here.” Alice said truthfully, wondering what he would say to her about that. She figured that he would probably make fun of her for saying that.

He then went on and said that he was worried about her, leaning down and whispering them to her. “you were worried about me? I was worried about you!” The young brunette woman had replied to him with a smile. She thought a moment and decided to just hug him again. She really didn’t want to let go of him at all.

[hatter]

They were actually losing time here, standing out in the opening and being an obvious target, if more of these guys were searching for them. They always did, afterall, never getting short on numbers. But the suggestion of leaving never came from the Hatter. He was actually fine like this, ready to take the risk. It was a little stupid, he was aware. But he couldn't just help that.

Holding Alice in his arms so close was a feeling he quite enjoyed. It was a difficult thing to explain. But he felt comfortable and excited in the same time. He couldn't take his eyes away from the brunette.

"I'm fine." He repeated and offered a small warm smile, not wanting to make Alice further concerned with the details of how he was tortured. He was free now and that was all it mattered. None of these bruises would last forever. It wasn't something he couldn't deal with. And it wasn't the first time he got injured. Nothing was dangerous. "I promise."

Then he closed his eyes a little and bowed his head, trying to gather some words in his head. But he wasn't really doing a good job so far. "I need to tell you something." He murmured in between then, then shaking his head once. When he opened his eyes again to look into Alice's beautiful face, he still didn't have the right words. But maybe words were not what he needed. So he didn't choose to use them.

Instead he leaned down and closer to press his lips against Alice.

[alice]

Alice just stood there staring at him. She was happy, happier than he could ever know and she wondered if he was just as happy and not putting on an act for Alice. She was just overwhelmed at this point and didn’t know how she should act, if she should be her usual stubborn self and not act as happy as she truly is or if she should show it. Alice still stood there in his arms and she felt like everything was better, okay again.

Hatter had assured Alice that he is fine and she smiled back at him. She was still very worried about him even though he said that. He had then said that he promised. Alice nodded and smiled. “okay, if you say so.” Alice still continued to smile at him.

Alice looked at him curiously as he closed his eyes and bowed his head. He looked like he was trying to say something to her and then finally said that he needed to tell her something. Alice looked at him curiously. She watched him shake his head and he had opened his eyes once more. It looked like he was trying to figure out the words to actually speak. Alice then watched him as he had leaned down and then unexpectedly pressed his lips against hers. Alice felt everything melt away and she then wrapped her arms around his neck and started to kiss him back. This is what she truly wanted, she wanted to be with him.