Top Hat, Chapter 5: Simply Mad
Chapter 4: Secondhand is here
please read/review! p.s. sorry... it's angsty. won't last long though!
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No matter how hard he tried, Hatter couldn’t sleep. He was worried about Alice. After a week in her world, he was still entirely dependant on her. He wanted to be able to pay for things and take care of her, not the other way around and he could’ve done that in Wonderland. Not that he wanted to go back, Wonderland was in turmoil after the fall of the Queen and Jack Heart would be even more of a meddlesome dirt bag if Hatter took Alice back. Still: he had a purpose here and he wouldn’t give up on it, even if that meant finding a way back to Wonderland in order to get some proper ID.
“Hatter?” Alice called softly.
“Out here, love,” He replied, sticking his head back in the window of her bedroom. He was standing on the fire escape thinking.
“Is everything alright?” She asked sleepily, sitting up. Hatter smiled and climbed back in, shutting the window gently behind him.
“Everything’s fine,” He sat on the edge of the bed next to her.
“I turned over and you weren’t there, I thought maybe you left.”
“Why would I leave you, sweetheart?” He asked with a chuckle. Alice was exhausted and it showed her vulnerabilities much clearer. She was afraid he was going to disappear.
“I don’t know…” Alice lightly traced his jaw with her fingertips.
“I need to shave,” Hatter mused. “It’s been a few days.”
“I like you scruffy,” she giggled.
“Really? You’re the first woman who’s ever liked it.”
“How many have there been besides me?” Alice asked sternly, amusement flashing in her eyes. Hatter kicked himself internally and scrambled for an acceptable answer. He’d had plenty of girlfriends but ones worth mentioning?
“Three. There was Marie Parsons, when I was in primary school. She was a pill… pretty, but a pill. Liked to throw sand at me on the playground,” He rolled his eyes dramatically and Alice laughed. “Then… Hannah Gregory, my last year of secondary. Blonde, blue eyed… dangerous. I’m pretty sure she’s got a room with a view in the Hospital of Dreams, she was kind of a tea head.”
“Hatter and Hannah…” Alice said with a grimace.
“Oh yeah. You can imagine the nicknames we got.”
“Who was the last girl?”
“Diana Liston. Gorgeous, long red hair, Resistance fighter.”
“What happened to her?” Alice asked, unsure if she really wanted to know.
“She died,” He said softly. “A few years after we broke up during the second inquisition. We remained friends and she was one of my runners until the White Rabbit was appointed.”
“How long ago was that?” Alice asked, playing with his hand gently.
“Uh… five years ago I think?”
“And there’s been nobody else?”
“Not until you,” Hatter smiled, kissing her forehead.
“Really? Nobody even interested?”
“Well, sure, but I wasn’t really interested in them.”
“Why not?”
“You sure have a lot of questions,” He laughed and Alice blushed.
“Why weren’t you interested in them?” Alice asked again bashfully.
“I just wasn’t interested,” He said and she gave him a look. “What, you want a definitive answer?” Alice nodded, biting her lip.
“Ok… I think I was waiting for you, Alice Hamilton. I wasn’t interested in girls before you because they weren’t you.” He smiled when she blushed again.
“Well if that’s not the cheesiest thing I’ve ever heard - “
“Yeah, but you bought it didn’t you?” Hatter chuckled, tickling her sides.
“No fair!” She squeaked, fighting to get away from him.
“If I stop tickling you will you stop asking so many irrelevant questions?”
“Ok!” Alice exclaimed and he relented, rolling over her to his side of the bed. “I’ve been thinking about telling my mom about us tomorrow.”
“About the apartment?”
“Mmmhmm.” Alice had found a small one-bedroom apartment that was pretty reasonably priced in the same neighborhood as The Prague. Cam was willing to hire Hatter without paperwork if they ended up making the move, a surprise Alice was saving for a housewarming present. Even if he didn’t end up working for Cam, Alice could handle the rent herself from her savings until he found a job.
“Maybe she’ll tell you she wants to move to that place.” Hatter had gone from calling it ‘Carolina’ to ‘Carol-town’ to ‘that place’. If Alice didn’t have to move there, the name didn’t matter.
“Yeah, and maybe Charlie is really a robot.”
“Or maybe Carol is really a robot,” Hatter suggested, receiving a playful slap on the wrist from Alice.
“I miss Charlie,” She admitted.
“I miss Jack,” Hatter sighed, chuckling when Alice sat up and straddled him.
“Oh you think you’re really funny, don’t you?” Alice smiled deviously.
“Basically,” He grinned, putting his hands on her hips. Alice leaned down and kissed him deeply.
“I’m really happy that you’re here.” She sighed happily, snuggling up against his chest. “You make me so happy.”
Hatter rubbed her back until she was asleep. He loved her so much. Though she had yet to really put into words how she felt about him, it was reassuring when she told him he made her happy. He knew he was doing something right, at least.
* * *
Carol’s face was absolutely blank. There was no indication of what she was thinking whatsoever as she stood, took Hatter and Alice’s teacups to the kitchen, and ran water in them.
“She’s mad,” Alice whispered to him with a sigh.
“Really?”
“Yeah. Scared me to death as a kid because I never knew if she was going to explode or just give me the silent treatment.” Alice ran her fingers through her hair and sat back against the couch with a sigh.
“Maybe she really is a robot,” Hatter said jokingly and Alice gave him a look. “What?”
“Not helping… she’s hardly going to condone me moving in with you, especially if she hears you.”
“Sorry,” He rolled his eyes over the fact that Carol was so controlling, but Alice caught him and huffed.
“Let’s talk outside,” She stood up and went to the front door, opening it and gesturing for him to go out ahead of her. Hatter got up and followed silently, stepping out into the hallway. Once the door was closed behind them, Alice crossed her arms and gave him a look. “What is your problem with my mother?”
“No problem, I just think she’s way too controlling,” He said simply, shoving his hands in his pockets.
“She’s just looking out for me, Hatter.”
“And trying to control you. You told me yourself that she is a control freak.”
“Yeah, she is, but it’s for my own good! She’s been that way my whole life!”
“Then you of all people should know how annoying it is!”
“Oh, so my mother is annoying?” Alice put her hands on her hips and Hatter scratched his head.
“That’s not what I meant, I just meant that someone else trying to control your life is annoying…”
“Hatter. My mother is very important to me and I need some kind of approval from her!”
“Why, Alice? Why does it matter what she thinks?” Hatter was trying not to be angry.
“Because she’s the only parent I have left! I don’t want to let her down.”
“You won’t let her down, Alice. Sooner or later she has to let you go, she can’t expect you to live at home the rest of your life!”
“She just wants to make me happy, and she thinks moving will make me happy.”
“Right, she THINKS that, but she’s never actually asked you what makes you happy!” Hatter took off his hat and rubbed his face, frustrated.
“And how do you know what makes me happy?” Alice asked and Hatter felt like she’d slapped him. Last night she had told him the HE made her happy.
“I’m going to let you think about what you just asked me,” Hatter said quietly, turning for the stairs. He waited for Alice to stop him but she said nothing so he descended the steps. Alice just stared at his retreating back, stunned.
Alice thought through everything she had just said, trying to think of what she could’ve said to piss him off. Then it hit her. She felt like a huge jerk.
“Hatter!” Alice called, running down the steps after him. When she reached the small lobby, he was nowhere to be found. He wasn’t outside the doors either. Where could he have gone? The YMCA perhaps, though he’d retrieved his things a few days prior… there were a million places he could be, it was a huge city after all but he didn’t know it very well and it was night-time. Alice suddenly became very worried that he would get himself mugged or worse and felt light-headed, grabbing the brick for balance. He clearly wasn’t coming back right away… she wouldn’t blame him if he never came back.
Alice climbed the stairs again slowly, feeling very sick. She may have single-handedly ruined her relationship with Hatter. This always happened to her, she always found a way to mess things up with guys. Only, Hatter wasn’t just any other guy, he was a lot to lose.
“Where’s David?” Carol asked softly as Alice came in the front door.
“I don’t know,” Alice replied, not making eye contact. If anyone deserved to be the brunt of her anger, it was her mother, and all she needed was to blow up at two people she cared about in the same night.
“Did you have a fight?”
“…Yeah. I’m so stupid…” Alice breathed, feeling hot tears well up in her eyes.
“Oh honey, you’re not stupid,” Carol cooed, trying to put her arm around Alice, but she dodged it.
“Don’t. Not helping.” A headache was building in Alice’s temple.
“Well maybe it’s for the best that we’re moving - “
“WE’RE not moving, Mom,” Alice wheeled on Carol, wits entirely at an end. “You are moving. I am staying in New York.”
“But there’s no point if David doesn’t come back - “
“Whether or not he comes back, I am going to stay in New York. My friends are here, my life is here, and I don’t want to leave. I’m 21 in two months, and I’m an adult. You can’t force me to move to YOUR perfect house.” Alice booked it towards the kitchen for a glass of water and Carol followed. “Oh and telling him that we’re moving before you told me is real adult, Mom.”
“I was wondering how you knew,” Carol said quietly.
“Did you really think he wouldn’t ask me about it? I mean, we’re serious about each other Mom… at least I thought we were…” Alice trailed off, pressing her lips together and begging her tears not to fall.
“How serious can you be if he is going to leave you like that?”
“MOTHER. PEOPLE FIGHT. IT’S WHAT THEY DO. I… I’m in love with him. I lost my temper and said something I didn’t mean and he left me to think about it. It is what it is.” Alice headed for her room, praying to God that Carol would back off before her tears finally broke through.
“Alice, I’m just asking you to think about it before you make a hasty decision. Men are not disposable - “
“Enough.” Alice seethed, back still turned. “Goodnight, Carol.” She never called her mother Carol unless she was done with the conversation, a cue Carol took quickly.
“Goodnight.”
Alice slammed her door hard. If Hatter didn’t come back… she couldn’t think about it. The waterworks began and she slumped down at the end of her bed, head between her knees.
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Chapter 6: Something of Note is here
A/N: Two posts in one day... you lucky reader, whoever you are!
please read/review! p.s. sorry... it's angsty. won't last long though!
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No matter how hard he tried, Hatter couldn’t sleep. He was worried about Alice. After a week in her world, he was still entirely dependant on her. He wanted to be able to pay for things and take care of her, not the other way around and he could’ve done that in Wonderland. Not that he wanted to go back, Wonderland was in turmoil after the fall of the Queen and Jack Heart would be even more of a meddlesome dirt bag if Hatter took Alice back. Still: he had a purpose here and he wouldn’t give up on it, even if that meant finding a way back to Wonderland in order to get some proper ID.
“Hatter?” Alice called softly.
“Out here, love,” He replied, sticking his head back in the window of her bedroom. He was standing on the fire escape thinking.
“Is everything alright?” She asked sleepily, sitting up. Hatter smiled and climbed back in, shutting the window gently behind him.
“Everything’s fine,” He sat on the edge of the bed next to her.
“I turned over and you weren’t there, I thought maybe you left.”
“Why would I leave you, sweetheart?” He asked with a chuckle. Alice was exhausted and it showed her vulnerabilities much clearer. She was afraid he was going to disappear.
“I don’t know…” Alice lightly traced his jaw with her fingertips.
“I need to shave,” Hatter mused. “It’s been a few days.”
“I like you scruffy,” she giggled.
“Really? You’re the first woman who’s ever liked it.”
“How many have there been besides me?” Alice asked sternly, amusement flashing in her eyes. Hatter kicked himself internally and scrambled for an acceptable answer. He’d had plenty of girlfriends but ones worth mentioning?
“Three. There was Marie Parsons, when I was in primary school. She was a pill… pretty, but a pill. Liked to throw sand at me on the playground,” He rolled his eyes dramatically and Alice laughed. “Then… Hannah Gregory, my last year of secondary. Blonde, blue eyed… dangerous. I’m pretty sure she’s got a room with a view in the Hospital of Dreams, she was kind of a tea head.”
“Hatter and Hannah…” Alice said with a grimace.
“Oh yeah. You can imagine the nicknames we got.”
“Who was the last girl?”
“Diana Liston. Gorgeous, long red hair, Resistance fighter.”
“What happened to her?” Alice asked, unsure if she really wanted to know.
“She died,” He said softly. “A few years after we broke up during the second inquisition. We remained friends and she was one of my runners until the White Rabbit was appointed.”
“How long ago was that?” Alice asked, playing with his hand gently.
“Uh… five years ago I think?”
“And there’s been nobody else?”
“Not until you,” Hatter smiled, kissing her forehead.
“Really? Nobody even interested?”
“Well, sure, but I wasn’t really interested in them.”
“Why not?”
“You sure have a lot of questions,” He laughed and Alice blushed.
“Why weren’t you interested in them?” Alice asked again bashfully.
“I just wasn’t interested,” He said and she gave him a look. “What, you want a definitive answer?” Alice nodded, biting her lip.
“Ok… I think I was waiting for you, Alice Hamilton. I wasn’t interested in girls before you because they weren’t you.” He smiled when she blushed again.
“Well if that’s not the cheesiest thing I’ve ever heard - “
“Yeah, but you bought it didn’t you?” Hatter chuckled, tickling her sides.
“No fair!” She squeaked, fighting to get away from him.
“If I stop tickling you will you stop asking so many irrelevant questions?”
“Ok!” Alice exclaimed and he relented, rolling over her to his side of the bed. “I’ve been thinking about telling my mom about us tomorrow.”
“About the apartment?”
“Mmmhmm.” Alice had found a small one-bedroom apartment that was pretty reasonably priced in the same neighborhood as The Prague. Cam was willing to hire Hatter without paperwork if they ended up making the move, a surprise Alice was saving for a housewarming present. Even if he didn’t end up working for Cam, Alice could handle the rent herself from her savings until he found a job.
“Maybe she’ll tell you she wants to move to that place.” Hatter had gone from calling it ‘Carolina’ to ‘Carol-town’ to ‘that place’. If Alice didn’t have to move there, the name didn’t matter.
“Yeah, and maybe Charlie is really a robot.”
“Or maybe Carol is really a robot,” Hatter suggested, receiving a playful slap on the wrist from Alice.
“I miss Charlie,” She admitted.
“I miss Jack,” Hatter sighed, chuckling when Alice sat up and straddled him.
“Oh you think you’re really funny, don’t you?” Alice smiled deviously.
“Basically,” He grinned, putting his hands on her hips. Alice leaned down and kissed him deeply.
“I’m really happy that you’re here.” She sighed happily, snuggling up against his chest. “You make me so happy.”
Hatter rubbed her back until she was asleep. He loved her so much. Though she had yet to really put into words how she felt about him, it was reassuring when she told him he made her happy. He knew he was doing something right, at least.
* * *
Carol’s face was absolutely blank. There was no indication of what she was thinking whatsoever as she stood, took Hatter and Alice’s teacups to the kitchen, and ran water in them.
“She’s mad,” Alice whispered to him with a sigh.
“Really?”
“Yeah. Scared me to death as a kid because I never knew if she was going to explode or just give me the silent treatment.” Alice ran her fingers through her hair and sat back against the couch with a sigh.
“Maybe she really is a robot,” Hatter said jokingly and Alice gave him a look. “What?”
“Not helping… she’s hardly going to condone me moving in with you, especially if she hears you.”
“Sorry,” He rolled his eyes over the fact that Carol was so controlling, but Alice caught him and huffed.
“Let’s talk outside,” She stood up and went to the front door, opening it and gesturing for him to go out ahead of her. Hatter got up and followed silently, stepping out into the hallway. Once the door was closed behind them, Alice crossed her arms and gave him a look. “What is your problem with my mother?”
“No problem, I just think she’s way too controlling,” He said simply, shoving his hands in his pockets.
“She’s just looking out for me, Hatter.”
“And trying to control you. You told me yourself that she is a control freak.”
“Yeah, she is, but it’s for my own good! She’s been that way my whole life!”
“Then you of all people should know how annoying it is!”
“Oh, so my mother is annoying?” Alice put her hands on her hips and Hatter scratched his head.
“That’s not what I meant, I just meant that someone else trying to control your life is annoying…”
“Hatter. My mother is very important to me and I need some kind of approval from her!”
“Why, Alice? Why does it matter what she thinks?” Hatter was trying not to be angry.
“Because she’s the only parent I have left! I don’t want to let her down.”
“You won’t let her down, Alice. Sooner or later she has to let you go, she can’t expect you to live at home the rest of your life!”
“She just wants to make me happy, and she thinks moving will make me happy.”
“Right, she THINKS that, but she’s never actually asked you what makes you happy!” Hatter took off his hat and rubbed his face, frustrated.
“And how do you know what makes me happy?” Alice asked and Hatter felt like she’d slapped him. Last night she had told him the HE made her happy.
“I’m going to let you think about what you just asked me,” Hatter said quietly, turning for the stairs. He waited for Alice to stop him but she said nothing so he descended the steps. Alice just stared at his retreating back, stunned.
Alice thought through everything she had just said, trying to think of what she could’ve said to piss him off. Then it hit her. She felt like a huge jerk.
“Hatter!” Alice called, running down the steps after him. When she reached the small lobby, he was nowhere to be found. He wasn’t outside the doors either. Where could he have gone? The YMCA perhaps, though he’d retrieved his things a few days prior… there were a million places he could be, it was a huge city after all but he didn’t know it very well and it was night-time. Alice suddenly became very worried that he would get himself mugged or worse and felt light-headed, grabbing the brick for balance. He clearly wasn’t coming back right away… she wouldn’t blame him if he never came back.
Alice climbed the stairs again slowly, feeling very sick. She may have single-handedly ruined her relationship with Hatter. This always happened to her, she always found a way to mess things up with guys. Only, Hatter wasn’t just any other guy, he was a lot to lose.
“Where’s David?” Carol asked softly as Alice came in the front door.
“I don’t know,” Alice replied, not making eye contact. If anyone deserved to be the brunt of her anger, it was her mother, and all she needed was to blow up at two people she cared about in the same night.
“Did you have a fight?”
“…Yeah. I’m so stupid…” Alice breathed, feeling hot tears well up in her eyes.
“Oh honey, you’re not stupid,” Carol cooed, trying to put her arm around Alice, but she dodged it.
“Don’t. Not helping.” A headache was building in Alice’s temple.
“Well maybe it’s for the best that we’re moving - “
“WE’RE not moving, Mom,” Alice wheeled on Carol, wits entirely at an end. “You are moving. I am staying in New York.”
“But there’s no point if David doesn’t come back - “
“Whether or not he comes back, I am going to stay in New York. My friends are here, my life is here, and I don’t want to leave. I’m 21 in two months, and I’m an adult. You can’t force me to move to YOUR perfect house.” Alice booked it towards the kitchen for a glass of water and Carol followed. “Oh and telling him that we’re moving before you told me is real adult, Mom.”
“I was wondering how you knew,” Carol said quietly.
“Did you really think he wouldn’t ask me about it? I mean, we’re serious about each other Mom… at least I thought we were…” Alice trailed off, pressing her lips together and begging her tears not to fall.
“How serious can you be if he is going to leave you like that?”
“MOTHER. PEOPLE FIGHT. IT’S WHAT THEY DO. I… I’m in love with him. I lost my temper and said something I didn’t mean and he left me to think about it. It is what it is.” Alice headed for her room, praying to God that Carol would back off before her tears finally broke through.
“Alice, I’m just asking you to think about it before you make a hasty decision. Men are not disposable - “
“Enough.” Alice seethed, back still turned. “Goodnight, Carol.” She never called her mother Carol unless she was done with the conversation, a cue Carol took quickly.
“Goodnight.”
Alice slammed her door hard. If Hatter didn’t come back… she couldn’t think about it. The waterworks began and she slumped down at the end of her bed, head between her knees.
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Chapter 6: Something of Note is here
A/N: Two posts in one day... you lucky reader, whoever you are!