Hatter's Revenge (rewriting - read at own risk)

Ch. 21: Kings Over Aces

It was the third day spent waiting for Killian to get everything laid out properly and Mad was restless. In light of his new decision, Mad just wanted to get it over with.

He wasn't the only one feeling this way though. The delay drove Killian absolutely nuts and he, in turn, drove Alice crazy which could be entertaining depending on how Mad was feeling at any given hour.

The two had been spending increasing amounts of time together and Mad half expected an engagement announcement at any time. Though, Mad had noticed this from a gradual distance as he slowly drew away from the others.

Curiously, the only one he couldn't seem to shake was Adira. The girl had developed a peculiar fascination with Mad and a subsequent attachment. Twice in the last week Mad had woken up to find Adira curled up next to him, sleeping soundly in the crook of his arm.

Not that Mad minded. He was oddly enchanted with this girl, often finding her entertaining and whip smart. Since she was a Jack, she had a natural mind for strategy and Mad found it hilarious to talk tactics with her, if only because she was rather brilliant for being only ten.

Mostly though, Mad spent his waking time wandering either the camp or the nearby desert, thinking.

He generally thought of Tamsus. Mad tried to think through every possible encounter between the two of them and then tried to think of a scenario that ended with Mad being the one to walk away.

What it really boiled down to was luck.

Mad hated that, but he knew that life and death were separated by the thinnest possible line of chance.

His own mortality didn't disturb him. It never had. If anything, Mad was surprised he'd managed to make it this far.

Mad sometimes, though it was rare, thought of the people he'd lost and every now and then would think of those he'd gained. Cheshire. Alice. Killian.

Mad was willing to die for them if that's what it took.

That's how it had always been though. Mad had always been willing to throw himself on the sword for a worthy cause.

That willingness had been the driving force behind Mad lying about his age at the recruitment office and why he had always volunteered for dangerous missions. Mad didn't think it was anything as grand as heroism. It was just how it was. If something needed doing, then he would be the one to see it done.

Now Mad was there again and that reckless, wild thing inside of him was telling Mad that this was right. That his path had always been leading to this and it was his fate.

Mad smiled, the expression self-mocking. Fate. Was there even such a thing?

 With that thought he wandered back to their tent and was a little surprised to find Killian waiting for him, his face drawn and angry.

Mad sighed and asked, "Who is it now? Diamonds or Clubs?"

"Were you going to tell us, or just slip away at a convenient moment?" Killian hissed and Mad paused, taken aback and momentarily bewildered.

His confusion was abated when Dinah stepped out from behind Killian, ears lowered flat against her silky hair and her cheeks slightly flushed.

Mad snorted making Dinah's white ears twitch and she growled, "You said I couldn't tell Alice."

Mad couldn't help but laugh. "Clever cat. Nice little loophole you found there. But it doesn't change anything if that was what you were hoping to accomplish."

"You don't have to go after him by yourself Mad," Killian started, but there was something in his voice that said he already knew that was wrong.

Mad shook his head. "No. I do. I've let Tamsus get away with doing the wrong thing for too long. It's time I saw this thing to the end."