Unrequited LOVE

•AFTER STORY: Cheshire Cat•

Note: This is an Alice And Wonderland AU. The reader is Alice and Nightmare is the Cheshire Cat. Hope you enjoy!

***

The forest is silent, unusually so for one such as this. No birds chirped, no animals ran about, and the very trees seem to be holding their figurative breath. You trudge down the small, foot-beaten path, wings drawn close. The baby-blue-and-white dress you're wearing swishes at your stocking-clad legs.

Something was off. It had to be.

I should have listened to the warnings-

Crack!

You whirl around at the noise, body tense and adrenaline sparking. "W-Who's there?!"

But there's nothing there, just silent trees and soft grass. You sigh in exasperation, berating yourself for being so damn jumpy. Damn it, (Y/n). Get yourself together...

All you need to do is get out of this forest and defeat the Queen of Hearts... totally not scary.

You continue walking, following the path into a narrow gorge. Time seems to bleed together, as if manipulating this very forest. The scenery stays the same, even though you're moving.

Suddenly, you hear a voice, deep and smooth. "Well, well, well, look what we have here?"

When you turn around, there's a literal cat floating behind you. It's fur is midnight black with teal stripes, reminding you a satanic tabby. "Who the hell are y-"

"Language!" The cat chides, cutting you off. "Kids these days are so rude, really."

Indignation replaces fear. "'Kids'? Do I really look like a kid to you??"

The cat laughs, voice bouncing off the dusty slopes of the gorge. "Not really, but that dress would make one think otherwise."

Incensed, you tug at the hem of the dress. "Oh yeah? Come down here and I'll show you just how much of a kid I am."

He laughs again, teal eyes flashing. "Careful, little one. Don't play with fire unless you want to get burned."

Ugh, why is everyone so cryptic??

This forest is driving you crazy, twisting your mind in ways unimaginable. "Ha, of course."

But... fighting with this cat isn't worth it. You turn and resume walking down the path. The cat makes a sort of chuffing noise, though you refuse to look back.

Poof!

The feline appears before you in a poof of midnight smoke, grinning widely. "Aw, leaving so soon?"

You twitched harshly. "Stars- what the heck?!"

A chuckle. "Don't go. I get sooo lonely here."

"Too bad," you say curtly, thoroughly done with this nonsense. All you want to do is get out of this insane, stale forest. "Because I've got a date with the Queen Of Hearts."

Much to your surprise, his face changes, scrunching up with what can only be described as an expression of distaste. "What could you possibly want with her?"

"I barely know," you admit with a sigh. "Wonderland is... something."

There's a strange glint in the cat's eye. "I suppose."

"Who even are you?" You almost regret asking, considering the wicked grin that spreads over his plush face.

"Call me Nightmare," ah, of course he'd have a name like that. "I'm the... guardian of this forest."