A SILENT HOWL [Bigby/F!Reader]

[04]

Bigby adjusted his tie as he stepped into the bar leisurely. He turns the corner, dropping the cigarette in between his fingertips and snuffs it out with the sole of his shoe. His stare is pointed at Holly, who stood before Grendel.

[F/n] emerges beside him. She sniffs something in the air theatrically. Her poise stops when her eyes landed on Grendel, snapping her fingers then pointing in his direction with her dominant hand as if she concluded something.

"No wonder why I caught the whiff of disappointment, shit, and unbridled anger issues: you're here Gren!"

The male hardly shifts from his seat to glance at the pair, swishing the alcohol in his cup silently and without a care for the remark.

Holly grimaced, crossing her arms guardedly.

"What do you both want."

"We were in the neighborhood, thought I'd pop in and say hello."

Holly doesn't seem remotely convinced. Her arms cross tighter and her nails poke into the skin on her arm. "Well fucking hello. Now you can get the fuck out of here."

The fox rolls her eyes at the lack of directness. "This isn't a fucking family get together." [F/n] grumbles through her teeth low enough for him alone to hear, elbowing the sheriff gently in disapproval as she'd move around him.

"The Woodsman, we're fixing to talk to him, you see." The fox explains, tracking closer to Holly. Her index and middle walked on the bar table, the tapping of her nails loud before she'd withdrew her hand.

Her blue eyes widen at the comment, shifting towards the sheriff for confirmation.

Bigby lurches forward. "Look, I'm not even gonna ask where he is now, okay? I just wanna know the last time he was here. That's all." He'd pull out one of the barstools further away from Grendel, taking a seat comfortably.

Holly shook her head. "He hasn't been here for a few weeks." Her lips form a line. The tone in her voice wavered and the guarded look on her face drops entirely for a second as she sought Grendel for direction. He'd only shrug quietly not even sparing her a glance.

"No... maybe. I don't know. But yeah, he hasn't been here in a while if he's been here at all... which... I— I don't know." She herself didn't even seem sure of the answer.

[F/n] pulled out one of the middle barstools and sat down, beside Grendel, attentively watching Holly with a smile on her features. Holly glances between the two several times before narrowing at the fox, who'd wink at her knowingly.

Holly scoffs, annoyed at the notion, glaring.

"I'd just like some help, then we'll be out of here."

"Well, I'd be willing to help you out of here. Would that help?"

Bigby doesn't respond, noting there was probably nothing he could say or do at this point that would get her to be anything but useful. So, his eyes wander, looking around for any signs he might've missed. Though they didn't need to go far.

"Who's is that?" He motioned at the extra drink at the counter.

"Someone who left."

"Someone like the guy I'm looking for?" Bigby quickly quips.

"No." Holly's eyes glance away for a moment before returning. "I'm telling you, I haven't seen him for a couple of days."

The wolf looks unimpressed. "He a regular?" He'd then nod at the polaroid of the Woodsman pinned to the wooden board behind Holly. She doesn't even turn to acknowledge the image, shaking her head looking aimlessly in the room away from him.