Apples & Foxes

Jacks and Evangeline ~wrong~

A/N: hello! this one will be set after LaLa's masquerade party and isn't anything extremely major, it's just something I wish would happen in the books at some point.

Jacks and Evangeline hadn't spoken since the night she burst in on him and one of the sisters about to kiss- the night Jacks touched Evangeline like he actually wanted her. If she was being honest with herself, it bothered her; the Prince of Hearts had a way of doing that- making her jealous or worried, among other things. She is still in her comfy bed late in the morning, not wanting to get up, and plays with the edge of one of the blankets strewn across the mattress. There's a knock at the door and Evangeline finds herself opening it quickly, regretting the fact she's wanting Jacks to be stood at her door. Instead, it's the other Fate she knows, embracing her in a quick hug then pulling away- the fact she knows any at all would be concerning to most, but at this point she's lost care for it.

"Why in such a rush? Think I was someone else?" LaLa stands smirking, like she already knows the answer to those questions.

"No. I was just- umm," Evangeline can't think of a believable excuse so instead just brushed it off and tries to look casual when she asks with a smile, "What's the occasion?"

"Can't one see her friend?" But then with a small laugh LaLa continues, "But actually I wanted to ask you to join me and Robin for diner? You're one of the only ones who doesn't just talk politics and tea."

"Oh, of course, LaLa. I would love to." She agrees, of course, but Evangeline can't be less in the mood for a diner with friends.

"Great!" LaLa hugs her again, clearly happy. "Oh and Jacks will be there." She says almost too quickly to hear, but then she's gone, and Evangeline curses the Fates.

***

It's just over an hour until Evangeline is to have lunch with LaLa and her betrothed, Robin- and Jacks. She looks through the large cupboard of dresses LaLa somehow managed to put together, trying to pick one that was flattering, but seemingly normal for a diner.

Soon enough, she finds one that is truly beautiful. The dress she now wears in front of the mirror is made of a shimmering pink material, one which reminds her of the inside of a shell and compliments the easy curls of her hair easily, the sleeves are long and fall off her shoulders; the bodice laces up at the front and is so light pink it could be considered white, with some sort of pearling tracing around the heart shaped edge and then continues to create swirling patterns of flowers down her sides. The skirt half of the dress flares out at the dip of her waste, and reaches the floor, a slit reaching to mid thigh for movement; Evangeline twirls around like she does when there's no one there to see her, and smiles at how the fabric catches the glowing sun coming through the window. Evangeline brushes red dye on her lips and cheeks, then rushes off to her diner, running a few minutes late.

When she gets to the place they're meant to have diner -the hall- she finds that the three she's meeting have already sat down and are making small talk. Evangeline walks down the ridiculously long table, until she reaches the end; LaLa and Robin are sat together on one side, meaning-

You're sat with me, Little Fox. She glowers at Jacks but sits down next to him anyway.

"Sorry I am late-" Evangeline starts, looking apologetically at her friend.

"Oh, don't be silly. You're only a few minutes late- we've not even gotten wine out yet." LaLa's joking tone calms Evangeline down more, although it does nothing to distract from how her whole body is betraying her by wanting to be closer to the apple-eating Fate next to her.

"Ah, speaking of which-" Robin waves over a rather pretty maid, who hands him some fine pink wine.

After around thirty minutes of one-sided small talk, and one or two glasses of wine, which Evangeline hasn't even touched, food is placed on the table. There's an excessive amount for a simple diner for four; with pork and chicken stuffed with herbs, steaming roasted veg, and an abundance of fruit, the cooks really outdid themselves.

"Oh, Evangeline, do try the wine, it's awfully nice." LaLa tells her, seeing she's not even taken a sip.

Evangeline smiles and picks up her glass, she'll admit, she's curious as to what it tastes like. Just as she's brought the glass to her lips, about to drink, a cool hand slips between the slit in her dress, long fingers squeezing her thigh just above her knee. She nearly chokes on her drink, pulling the glass away from her lips and coughing as the liquid slips down her throat.

"Fates! Are you okay?" Robin asks her, LaLa next to him, looking concerned for her friend.

"Um, yeah- must have just gone down the wrong pipe." Evangeline's voice is slightly strangled, but other than that her excuse is believable.

Easy, Little Fox. Careful not to choke. Jacks voice appears in her head again, a low chuckle of a laugh echoing in her mind.

Evangeline ignores him, busy trying not to concentrate on his hand, now stroking further up her leg. She's flushed, but blames it on the wine she's now sipping intently, trying to act as normal as possible. Jacks' cold fingers brush the inner part of her thigh, and Evangeline crosses her legs over one another, silently telling him to leave her alone. She knows that she should definitely just push his hand away, or verbally tell him to stop, because he would, but for some reason she doesn't do any of that. His hand has stopped a few inches away from the junction of her thighs, and she feels the pad of his thumb rubbing gentle circles against her warm skin- heat is curling around her lower stomach and it takes everything in her not to look like how she feels.

"Evangeline are you sure you're okay? You look flushed." LaLa's eyebrows are meeting in a 'v' shape with concern, clearly not understanding how Evangeline is feeling right now.

"You know what? I think I'm going to get to bed early. Maybe I'm just coming down with some sort of bug." She stands as LaLa nods at her, smiling.

Jacks' hand falls away from her leg and she lets out a breath, starting to walk back out the hall.

It's wrong to lie, Little Fox. She almost stops walking, a faulter in her step.

As it is wrong to do that at a diner with friends.

Would you rather I wait until it's nighttime? A shiver passes over Evangeline's shoulders, and she curses the Prince Of Hearts under her breath, grateful that he will have to stay with Robin and LaLa for at least a few more hours.

A/N: 1171 words. Sorry the lengths are so varied, sometimes I have a really good idea for what I'm writing then other times it's a bit of a slump. Hope you liked this one! (I actually got the idea from an experience I had with my gf haha)