Fic: Robin/Marian; Just to break my fall; G
title: just to break my fall.*
author: yourmanuscript.
fandom: robin hood.
rating: g.
word count: 1305 words.
characters/pairing: robin/marian.
summary: just a familiar laugh to press against her bruises and she was a changed marian.
author's notes: pre-series and sort of like marian's point of view to another fic i wrote before. end italics are after robin leaves for the holy land.
Written for: butteroffly for the saythewordsthen ficathon, who asked for ANGST! and a not-happily-ever-after. It also fits in with the dying prompt from my 10_prompts table.
(The first time she sees him, she wants to hurl daggers at him)
Marian is only ten years of age when she is first bedridden with illness. Her father tries all in his power to tend to her every need, but the duties of Sheriff will keep him from her for long hours, and sometimes (when she is not wishing for him to be by her side) she silently prays for the well-wishers to just leave her be. Her sleep is constantly disturbed by the sound of another nobleman’s carriage, a townsfolk’s (well-meaning) but loud proclamations of distress. Sometimes, an unruly child will open her door and pry around while she feigns sleep until they leave. And that is precisely how she came to be acquainted with the boy called Robin from Locksley. The creaking of her door had warned her of an intruder, so she had quickly closed her eyes and wished to be left alone. It was a good two minutes of silence before she was greeted with the young boy’s hullo? to which she had responded with a click of her tongue. She had opened her eyes, which were now filled with tears from both the prickling heat of her eyelids and sheer annoyance (a boy! In her room!), and was faced with a curious expression from the boy who stood in front of her. Thankfully, she had not been able to fully express the thoughts in her mind (or reach any of the hairpins on her dresser) before her father had rushed in and saved him from her. The boy called Robin smiled that silly, crooked smile of his before stating his intention of visiting with his mother again, tomorrow.
(She still keeps the flowers he brought over on his second visit, and while the smell is long gone, the sight is enough to make her content)
+++
(The first time she holds his hand, she follows it soon after with a slap)
In a short time, her life had changed - horse-riding early in the morning, stealing apples from their unknowing neighbours, exploring undiscovered territory - the two of them were really, truly friends now. More often that not, they were accompanied by Robin’s manservant, but on the rare occasion, Much would remain behind (he’ll not be caught getting up to mischief!). And it was on one of these occasions, when Robin had surprised Marian with a childhood hideout, that Marian had tripped on an upturned root and fallen into the river - but not before reaching out for Robin first. She had briefly felt the warmth of his hand in hers before the cold water washed away any feelings of warmth. She feels his arm tugging her upwards and when she surfaces, he is laughing and she is fuming. She slaps him, because it seems like the right thing to do, but the bewildered expression on his face soon gets her laughing until he, too, cannot stop laughing and together they pull themselves out of the water and head home, hand in hand.
(Sometimes she can still feel his hand in hers, like a phantom-limb)
+++
(The first time she kisses him, she realises exactly how hard she has fallen)
She had always been the girl to roll her eyes when the men would openly woo their ladies; everything from the displays of affection to the giggling would irritate her, so when Much pointed out that Robin and Marian were following suit, she simply laughed it off with an oh, Much! but she began to watch her actions around the boy who had changed everything. They were older now and perhaps it really was not proper of them to share the same horse, or hold hands to fight the cold; maybe they should stop finding reasons or making excuses to be near one another. And Much was still clueless about the almost-kiss! She avoids Robin for a full seven days, prolonging it with the thought of one more day; if he comes back, I’ll know he feels the same - the same foolish game she would condemn under any other circumstance. But every day there he was, waiting outside for a word (anything at all) worrying himself silly about her until he finds the haystack below her window that had not been there the day before. Standing on it, he is tall enough to reach the bar above him and pull himself up to her window. He calls her name and there she is, smiling like nothing had happened, and he is sure he is grinning like a fool as she circles her arms around his neck and kisses him on the cheek before he turns his face oh-so-slightly and her eyes fly open and his widen as her lips meet his.
(She can never, nor would she ever forget that taste)
+++
(The first time she makes a promise, she breaks it)
She had caught the cold off Robin who had caught it off Much and her nose was blocked to the point where her breathing was wheezy and she could not smell a thing. Everyday, Robin would bring her a small gift - from soups and ailments to flowers and perfumes - none of which she could smell, but she would pretend anyway, because Robin felt it his fault for her condition. The flowers smell lovely! she would say with her blocked nose and that the perfume is the best she had ever smelt! She had promised him to wear it every day, just because she loved how happy it made him. Slowly but surely, she recovered and was pleased to find that she could breathe freely again and was quick to honestly smell the flowers and perfume. The flowers smelt lovely, but dear God, the perfume was putrid. She was most certain that Robin must have picked it out himself, possibly with the help of Much, and while the thought warms her heart, she gradually stops using it for an oblivious Robin (he’s just too happy to see her better).
(Sometimes, when she is alone, she will still put it on just to feel him there)
+++
(The first time she dies, she can only kill him as well)
She lasts an entire year without shedding any tears over the foolish young boy who tore her heart in two. She was certain that it was her indifference keeping her eyes dry; not even crying when her father pulled her aside and spoke the unbearable truth - that she had to acquaint herself to the likely reality of him never returning. A simple nod and back to work she had gone. Six months on and the sound of his name no longer causes her heart to skip a beat and she is sure that any feelings on her side are completely gone. It is only a good twelvemonth later, while she is on horseback, that a laugh from behind her triggers something buried in her memory. Suddenly her heart starts beating uncontrollably and she almost falls off her horse, but that is no problem because she is running, and she is panting and, oh, if it would just be him! It had sounded so much like… so much like… Much! But the boy simply looks at her, bewildered, and bows his head. As she falls to the ground, she buries her face in her hands and lets the salty droplets fall. People stare at her as she run home, hands covering her face, but nobody knows of the box below her bed filled with memories of their time together. Nobody will see her tear up each and every letter; every gift he had given her. Nobody will see her shatter into a million pieces along with the gifts.
(Just a familiar laugh to press against her bruises and she was a changed Marian)
+ Fin. ♥
+ I love feedback.
+ Feel free to join or watch the community.