Sleeping Beauty [WMMAP Fanfiction]

Chapter Five: Unmelting Ice

Alice had a royal guard uniform. Its measurements were off. Too off.

"This is befitting a muscular man," Alice declared, wearing the outfit that was too big on her and hiding her whole body. The sleeves stretched too far, and the pants dragged on the ground.

"If you want it to fit better, we need to know your measurements. Obviously, a girl would take them-"

"Take another step with any sort of tape or rope and I'll rip your head off."

Ah, a usual response from miss Alice. Felix shouldn't be affected by it; he's dealt with her everyday for a month now.

Felix smiled. But then his head dropped, dark lines falling down to his neck.

"Even I get hurt by your words, Alice..."

Alice just huffed and placed a hidden hand on her hip, looking away.

"Is Ally done?" Athanasia called, running in from the door she just opened. She blinked at the two before her. Did they fight?

Lily poked her head in, and gasped at Alice's appearance, despite none of her skin below her chin being shown. Her issue was more that Alice was wearing clothes that looked more that they belonged to Felix, and certain implications held behind that. "Miss Alice! What are you wearing?"

"Clothes with wrong numbers." Alice watched as Lily ushered out Felix and Athanasia, pushing on their backs to leave the room. Always the proper lady, she was.

Lily sighed once she closed the door behind them.

Alice's eye twitched as she pulled out a small, distinct roll of measuring tape.

"Let me see, Miss Alice."

. . .

"So you're okay with Miss York?"

"Lily is acceptable," Alice reasoned, changed to her normal clothes. Her arms were crossed, after Lily successfully got her measurements with not much fuss; minus her being very jumpy and straining to keep still. It was very uncomfortable and close.

Athanasia was stuffing her face with cookies while listening to the two talk. She was glad the two were actually having a proper conversation, though Alice could quickly go back to trying to gouge his eyes out with his next slip of the tongue. Meanwhile, Lily was fixing Alice's uniform on the side.

"You could've said that." Felix sighed. "Then the clothes would be a proper fit."

"I don't like being measured, even if it's Lily," she grumbled.

"Athy's never seen Alice wear something other clothes," Athanasia commented innocently, turning around and sitting up to grab Alice's little braid on the side of her head. "Athy wanna play dress up with Ally."

Alice, whose gaze was on the little girl, didn't hesitate. "Thank you for your consideration, young miss. However, as I am not the best choice, please use Robane instead."

Felix looked at her, his gray eyes reflecting obvious shock at being offered up as Alice's substitute.

"I'm sure he would make a dashing young lady."

Felix never thought he would be afraid of a five-year old child.

But with Athanasia's eyes glittering, he knew he wouldn't be able to refuse. And so, he remembered once more, that there was always a first for everything.

. . .

Alice was quite glad that Athanasia used a memorial stone, because it meant they would always have the image of Felix in a dress and scribbled makeup to look back on.