When Worlds Collide | Mad Hatter OUAT x Reader |

Chapter 7 ✂ The Auction

When the morning rose and the sun was high above the mountain peak, you fluttered your eyes open, slightly stirring from the weariness in your bones. You raised your head through the sea of covers that you wrapped around yourself during the night. The house was quiet, lonesome and serene, just as it always had been. But that slapped some sense into you. Something was missing.

You tossed your cover to a side and kicked your legs over the edge of your bed. Your eyes slowly and miserably glanced around the room till your eyes fell upon a note on the table. Your eyebrows knitted themselves into a frown as you read.

Dear (Y/N), it was an honest pleasure for you to allow us over the night. Thank you very much for being a good hostess to us. We were about to wake you up before we left the house but you slept quite peacefully. We'll be returning home now and don't worry. We promise not to get caught. Thank you once again. Sincerely Jefferson.

You felt a surge of emptiness within you as you realized they were gone. The daughter you'd always wanted and the man of your dreams, all gone within a flash. You didn't even ask where they lived or whether you could see them ever again. Just... gone.

Ever since that horrid day you couldn't help but feel that missing piece stabbing you through your flesh all the time. Before you meet Grace and Jefferson, you were oblivious to the feeling of being lonesome. Now it was so obvious that you couldn't get your mind out of those gutters.
One day your father, Rumplestitskin, asked for you to fetch some herbal remedy for Baelfire's fever. It wasn't often you agreed to head out to the town. People always glared at you foully till you felt their eyes burn you. You didn't particularly like being around people who knew who your father is. However, today was different. You wanted to breathe the fresh air without a care and you wanted to be yourself today. Your mind was flooded with nonsense and you wanted to drain it all out with a blind walk into the town.

With your shoulders and head covered in a black scarf, you headed into the woods with your little pouch hanging from your belt. Your father told you to use it on people who dare disregard the loyalty of the Dark One but you knew you'd never use it. You'd never use his name to win anything. You're Miss. Independent. You always wanted things your way but you never forced it out of people.

With your chin held high you strolled down the crowd of people. Not many noticed it was Rumplestitskin's daughter they'd bump into but they did nothing more than whisper amongst themselves. As you were scanning around the markets when your eyes fell upon a red box that held the herbal remedies you needed.

"Hello." You sternly said trying to act as emotionless as possible.

"Hello there! How can I help you?" The shop owner asked in a cheery tone.

"Can I have that please?" You pointed discreetly to the box.

"Oh yes!" The man handed you the box. "That will be twenty gold plea-y-you're the Dark One's d-daughter, aren't you?"

You heaved a sigh. "Yes, that's me." You glanced blankly at the man as you put the coins in his hand and snatching the box at the same time.
"N-No! Please, take the money. H-He'll kill me if he knew, just t-take it." The man whimpered as he gave the money back.

You hated this feeling. You knew he was right. If Rumplestitskin knew that someone took money from you, he'd haunt them till they kill themselves. It was a cruel life and you hated that reaction. You loved seeing the smile on people's faces when you gave them things, but with your so-called father preying behind, it was nearly impossible.

You sighed and took the money from the man, weakly nodding as you staggered away from his shop. As you were making out of the town, you found an unusual crowd making ear-splitting noises. Since this was your father's town, you knew everyone around here but this was odd. This was not expected. You made your way through the mob and searched for something off. Oh and was it entirely off!

"FOR THIS ONE RIGHT HERE! PRICES START AT TWO HUNDRED GOLDS!" The brawny man bellowed into the crowd. People raised their hands and hollered back prices for the children that were aligned on the stage. That revolting man was selling children like livestock and people were buying them anyways. From the way the children wrestled the man's grasp it didn't seem like they wanted to be there. You didn't feel sympathy though. You decided to carry on with your business as you made your way out of the crowd when you heard a familiar voice.

"S-STOP IT! PLEASE STOP!" The child shrieked attempting to yank her arm from the man. Your eyes widened and your heart sunk.

Grace...

You dropped your herbal remedies on the ground and wrathfully shoved through the crowd to the front of the stage. "LET GO OF HER!" You shouted at the man.

"(Y/N)!" Grace cried.

"I will once someone buys her. Now...where was I? Ah right! TWO HUNDRED SEVENTY GOLDS!" The man resumed pricing.

"THAT'S MY DAUGHTER!" You hollered in perfect synchronization with someone else. Your jaw dropped open once you knew who heard that.

You gradually turned your head to and saw Jefferson with astonishment flushing over his features. He wasn't the only one who was surprised you said that... He made bizarre calculations in his eyes before he turned his attention to the stage. The man on the other hand, looked at you and Jefferson funny before continuing his bargains. Anger brewed within Jefferson before he made the decision to get up on the stage.
"I told you- she's my daughter!" Jefferson repeated as he tore the man's arm from Grace and seized the collar of his shirt.

"Not anymore. Ever since she stepped foot in my territory- she's mine." The man sneered. Jefferson knit his brows into a frown as he looked back at Grace.

"Did you do that?" He asked sternly.

"I-I couldn't find you Papa, I-I'm sorry! I thought you left me..." Grace whimpered making Jefferson look merciful. Just when Jefferson turned to apologize, the man blew his fist into Jefferson's face. "PAPA!" Grace screamed.

You reacted rapidly and leaped onto the stage just as the man seized Grace's arm once again. "SHUT YOUR TRAP!" The man shouted covering the little girl's mouth and shoving the rest of the enslaved kids down the stairs. As the crowd made a ruckus, you made a battle cry as you tackled the man to the ground. The children screamed above their lungs and ran in different directions like they were crazy.

"GRACE! Get out of here with Jefferson!" You demanded.

"But (Y/N)! How about you-"

"JUST DO IT!" You retorted holding the man down in a head lock. The mob of people helped the children escape just before the built man threw you to over and you hit the ground quite hard. You raised your head from the ground and gawked at the man who rose to his own feet. The stern and furious look on his face slowly faded into shock. Gasps echoed through the markets. You felt your head and realized your scarf had fallen off.

They saw who you are.

They saw the monster you are.

"I-It's you..." The man mouthed falling to his knees in pledge for mercy. With your eyebrows knitted you walked towards him. "I-I am so sorry. Please, please forgive me."

"You're a horrible person." You muttered shoving past the man.

You found Jefferson and Grace waiting for you by the edge of the woods with the red box you got for Baelfire. You smiled feebly and said, "Thank you."

"No, thank you... You saved me." Grace beamed as she hugged you.

"It was nothing really. Now tell me, how on earth did you get caught up with that stinkin man?" You asked kneeling down to her height.

"Papa and I were playing hide and seek and I walked into that man's woods. He tied me up with the rest of the children and brought me here." Grace explained.

"Oh you poor thing." You mumbled pulling strands of hair out of her face.

"We better get going Grace. It's getting dark." Jefferson hurriedly said pulling at Grace's arm.

"Oh Papa, can we please take (Y/N) for dinner, just this once?" Grace fluttered her eyelashes to her father.

"Uh..." Jefferson hesitated raising his gaze to meet yours. You shrugged your shoulders feeling lightly offended. "Alright, alright. I hope you're okay with mushroom soup. And if you're not fancy with my cooking, pretend like you do." Jefferson winked.

"Sounds divine." You laughed lightly to yourself and followed behind the family of two.