Mad Archer - One Shots

Deliver the Message - Part 3

Silence stretched an uncomfortable screen over the atmosphere while they were both busy with their respective tasks. After having filled the tea pot with hot water from the cattle Robin took off her gloves and cape and sat down in one of the chairs. She thought about lightening the mood.

Her mind settled on something Alice said earlier before they kinda agreed on a Candy sort-of-date. At times she forgot that this Alice was the famous Alice from Alice in Wonderland, a book she had read a few times during school. Lighthearted she asked with a crooked smirk, "So did you really play croquet with a flamingo?"

Alice scoffed and sat down. "There wasn't so much playing as the flamingo refused to hit the hedgehog. Luckily I could escape the situation and flee before hurting any of the animals. Well, or getting beheaded for that matter."

With furrowed eyebrows Robin tried to recall what had happened in the book. Each time they talked about Alice's adventures Robin remembered how everything in the book seemed to have been caused by coincidence while in Alice's version most things had been her doing. "Didn't the game turn into a chaos when the Cheshire Cat appeared?"

Tilting her head to the side Alice responded, "No, in reality I've refused to play and kicked an eight of spades into some diamonds causing a lot of them to fall over. I slipped out of the gardens during the havoc," she paused before adding sarcastically, "The cat is a whole different story."

Robin tried her hardest to picture Alice kicking a card with head, arms and legs and as big as herself which did not look like a copy of the Disney movie but failed. Not for the first time since hearing Alice's stories her imagination did not seem to match the weirdness that was Wonderland. Almost in disbelief she shook her head at the miracles the other girl had experienced. "The things you must have seen," she uttered lowly.

Alice chuckled before she rose to her feet and began to serve the tea, "Not everything was pretty to see."

It was only then that Robin noticed a third cup on the table. Leaning forward she scrutinized the cup, checking for any deviation to the others.

She couldn't stifle a laugh when she saw the cup standing in front of the chair with the soft toy. It resembled a rabbit and looked kinda old.

One of the things so uniquely Alice was how she did things most people considered mad in an adorable and heartwarming fashion. Like now. Serving tea to a soft toy.

When Alice caught on her amusement she humored her, "As you can see, not only do I talk to a hat but have a cuddly toy as a friend, too." The irony in her voice was emphasized by her accent.

Robin snickered once more before she finally calmed down and leaned back in her chair. When she looked at Alice again, she saw her sitting next to her again but instead of the smile, Robin expected, she wore a deep frown. Alarmed Robin leaned forward, "Are you okay?"

"I am sorry. It's an old habit. It's just that even if it is just pretend company, it feels like I am less alone. Although I am not alone now, so it is silly," Alice rubbed one hand over her arm and fiddled with the material of her skirt with her other.

Without any reluctance Robin placed her hand on the one above Alice's thigh, seeking to give the blue eyed girl comfort. Winding her fingers around it, she squeezed it tightly once, making Alice look at her before she said, "Hey. No need to feel sorry. I get it. Silent company is better than no company at all." Robin then nodded towards the stuffed animal with one of her playful smirks forming on her face. "And he looks like he has been through a lot together with you."

Fortunately, this lead to the desired effect as Alice smiled at her, even if it was a sad smile. "He did. Mr. Rabbit is one of the few things I brought with me when I've escaped the tower. Papa gave him to me when I was little. I have him as long as I can remember and he accompanied me on many journeys."