TWAU: Before the Crime

Chapter 7: Meeting The Tweedles

We all know Bigby has the worst patience in the world, right? Especially when it comes to the Tweedle Brothers; Dee always hiding behind Dum, other times it's the other way around, but either way, Bigby is going to hit one of them... which is exactly his intentions now.

"Bluebeard, I'm not sure I can do this without... without tearing one of their heads off!" Bigby growled, and it was obvious how agitated he was, because every now and then, Bluebeard saw his eyes go a gold-ish yellow. Bluebeard looked at him, then at the door, and back at Bigby,

"I know... I'll go in first, and then you go in, and rough them up a little," he said with a little, cunning laugh. Bluebeard then walked up closer to the door, and Bigby pressed his ear against it, a little lower down from Bluebeard's arm, listening intently as Bluebeard knocked. On the other side, Bigby could hear a little muffled conversation, but it was loud enough for Bigby to hear,

"Oi! Dum! Look 'ere! It's the bleedin' Sheriff!" Obviously Dee.

"Shit! What's he 'ere for?" Dum.

"Dunno, he don't know we're in 'ere, I 'ope," Bigby nodded to Bluebeard. Cracking his knuckles, he adjusted himself, and put on the biggest smile he could. He kicked the door down.

There they stood, the two Tweedle Brothers, shocked and annoyed by the fact they've intruded into their office. Both desks were a mess. Clutter everywhere, old food which started to go mouldy, and quite frankly gas the room out. Bluebeard made a face, but Bigby just looked at him,

"How d'ya think I feel?" He tapped his nose, and Bluebeard realized what he meant.

"So, uh... What brings you two nice men to our uh... paradise?" Dee gulped and Dum stepped up to Bigby, looking him directly in the eye; he had to give him credit, because no matter how much fear radiated from him, he still held his ground. Bigby's eyes flashed, and then Dum did step back. There was nowhere for them to go- Bigby blocked the door and Bluebeard was stood beside him,

"Why did you have to see Crane yesterday?" Bluebeard began, glancing from one brother to the other. The brothers remained calm, and simply shrugged,

"Just some business we 'ad to do wi' 'im. What's it to you?"

"Dum, don't test the Sheriff's patience. He could turn at any moment, you know that!" Dee reasoned.

"I'd listen to your brother, Dum. He seems to have reason, and you don't," Bigby bent down to Dum's eye level, and prodded his face as close as he could get, "do you?" He whispered.

"No, but, I do have a silver knife in my pocket." Bigby let out a little, muffled whimper, and backed up to Bluebeard's side. So. That's where Crane got the knife from... Bigby thought; one clue down- they're involved.

"What did he say to you Sheriff?" Bluebeard whispered from the corner of his mouth, and Bigby leant in to answer,

"Dum has a silver knife in his pocket,"

"So that's where Crane got his from?"

"That's all I can assume." Bluebeard pursed his lips in thought, his eyes trained on the brothers, who stood there symmetrically, with their hands in their pockets. Dee looked at Dum, and stepped forward a pace,

"Look, Sheriff, Bluebeard, I'd tell ya, I would!" Bigby could smell a lie radiating from him like heat from the sun in Hawaii.

"Dee," Bigby put his fingers to his forehead and started to massage it rather roughly, "don't, don't bullshit me." Bigby's eyes flashed for a moment, and he chuckled to himself. Bluebeard looked at him curiously, quickly glancing back to Dum, who was beginning to back up.