No Regrets - OUAT - Panfic

don't threaten me with a good time

"Don't threaten me
with a good time"
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Darkness.

A throbbing ache.

Hushed voices.

Merida jerked awake, groaning as the sudden movement jarred her head and sent another dull spasm of pain through her head. Her mouth felt like cotton, and she judged that she'd been there, wherever there was, for at least the night.

"Well look who's awake. Nice of you to join us, Red." Merida squinted her eyes and blinked against the harsh light that was suddenly piercing into her eyes as Pan ripped off the blindfold that had been blocking her vision. They were in a warehouse, and Merida's sense of direction was completely lost. A few shattered windows lined the grimy walls across from her, which was where the light source was coming from. Merida must've been out longer than a night as the blinding sunlight was far past noon. She panicked for a moment. How'd they find out where I was? Did they find Emma and Henry? What- Her thoughts were cut short as she suddenly spotted a sickeningly familiar figure standing next to Pan, an arm slipped around his waist and her head laying on his shoulder. Everything made sense. Merida felt bile rising in her throat. "You. I tried to help you." Her words were hollow and empty as she locked eyes with the traitorous Wendy.

The other girl smirked slightly, her eyes glittering in menace as she looked at Merida. "I couldn't refuse Peter's offer." She looked up at him for a moment with an admiring expression before continuing. "Don't worry, your friends are safe. I just said that I'd go look for you and I slipped out. We didn't need them, only you." Pan had realized that neither Emma nor Regina would betray the whereabouts of Merida's father, not if he didn't want to be found. Pan had gone straight to the metaphorical heart of the matter. Merida felt a wave of relief with knowing that Emma and her family were safe. That relief was quickly replaced with a flood of anger.

"And I suppose you think you're all sorts of a saint." Merida was fairly bristling at everything that had came out of Wendy's mouth. Everything had been an act, and she had fallen for it. "So what now Peter Pan?" Merida hissed, her eyes narrowing into slits as she glared at him from under the wisps of red hair that covered part of her face. "Just going to keep me here forever, for god knows why?"

"You don't know why you're here?" He scoffed, shaking his head slightly. "Of course you do. I told you, your father has something that belongs to me. I want it back. And getting you was the only way that I could lure your father in. Unless, of course, you could just tell me where to find him," Pan said, cocking his head slightly at Merida.

"Like hell I'm going to do that,"Merida shot back. "We'll be sitting here for a long time if you ever think that I'm going to tell the likes of you."

"Have it your way." Pan shrugged nonchalantly. "I have all the time in the world. I can guarantee that a few nights without my protection in this part of the city will make you change your mind."

Merida gave a short bark of laughter. "Oh that's cute. You're trying to threaten me now." The truth was, Merida didn't even know where Fergus was. He'd left her with Emma and Regina and disappeared, saying he was working on something. But Merida wasn't going to tell Pan that. Until someone figured out where Pan was holding her, she was on her own. "Does your daddy know where you are?" Merida suddenly asked in a taunting voice, her teeth flashing a smile at Pan. "I'm sure he'd love to know that his precious son is out and about at all hours of the night." She paused for a moment, pretending to mockingly think. "Wait.....oh that's right. He doesn't care."

A look of hatred fell on Pan's face as he took a step towards the girl bound to a rickety chair. Merida's head snapped to the side, a red mark quickly appearing on her cheek where Pan had struck her. Her eyes met with his, hard blue chips of ice meeting with his darkening jade ones. Her head was reeling from the impact, and she finally dropped her gaze. Her actions weren't by any means giving up or submitting - she knew that her chances of getting out in one piece were getting slimmer the more she resisted. Even so, the muscles in her jaw tensed at his next arrogant words.

"That's what I thought." Pan looked at her with triumph, his eyes glittering with malice. "You're weak Merida. You always have been. And that's exactly why once Fergus hears that the rival gang has his precious daughter, that he's going to come for you. And then Gold will see that-" He stopped himself before saying anything else, making Merida raise her eyes to meet his, a challenging spark igniting in her blue eyes. Pan cast a glare at her before continuing to speak. "You could save us the trouble of trying to get word to him by just telling us where he is."

Merida stayed stubbornly quiet, her mouth set in a firm line as she refused to make eye contact with him, staring straight ahead.

"Fine. Don't say I didn't warn you, Red." Pan turned on his heel, catching Wendy around the waist as they started leaving the warehouse, the stark paleness of Wendy's skin looking unnatural in the filth that covered the building from the inside out. She whispered something into Pan's ear as they left, making a smile cross his face. Merida curled her lip in disgust at them, holding herself in a proud fashion as they finally disappeared, leaving her completely and utterly alone.

Night fell fast in the city, faster than Merida had expected. Her eyes scanned the warehouse, even though they could hardly discern anything in the gloom. She knew better than to expect anyone. Emma and Regina didn't know where she was, and she couldn't count on her father being able to reach her. He wasn't stupid, and he would know that this was a trap.

The rough bristled rope cut into her wrists, making her slowly start to lose feeling as she wiggled her fingers, trying to loosen the loops the slightest bit, and giving small hisses of frustration. Finally she felt one of the knots slip the tiniest bit. Her eyes narrowed in concentration as she tried to wiggle out of the ropes binding her arms behind her. Suddenly she heard a noise that made her muscles tense as her eyes darted to the side, trying to find the source of the noise.

There was a small thump and then a dragging noise, slowly and steadily coming towards Merida.

Her blood ran cold as she frantically tugged at the ropes, biting back a sob of frustration as they refused to loosen any more. She glanced up, straining her eyes just as a streetlight flickered on outside the warehouse and cast the faintest amount of light into the building.

A pair of eyes reflected in the dark as something moved towards her.