Author's Note:
WARNING: FLUFF. FLUFF ATTACK. RED KNAVE FLUFF AHEAD. I'm trying to include my headcanons of Red Knave before Wonderland. Sorry if this is a problem.

Ahhh, and apologies for my absence! I couldn't think of anything new for this prompt until randomly this morning! I was pretty much halfway asleep so I hope this is marginally as good as it sounded in my head at four in the morning. ;)

Mordanyes, Do you like Star Wars because Yodalicious.

06. Fragile

Sherwood Forest was not particularly a home for Will Scarlet. However, with the choice of thievery as a career, he had very little options of where to live - especially if it meant any of his customers finding out where he went to rest every evening. Therefore when he had first arrived in Sherwood, he had made homage in an abandoned cottage southwards of the bustling town. At first many of its components had been broken down. The roof leaked from tremendous patches, there were holes in the walls of the one bedroom décor, and the floor gave off a fragrance of mice urine. It was hideous on the outside, but after a few months of giving it some attention, Will had managed to save the walls from collapsing. Sometimes the roof still gave way when it rained, but otherwise, it was home; it had everything that he needed, particularly when he made an outstandingly generous steal of goods.

Yawning when he arrived back at the bricked flat one evening, Will stepped through the rickety wooden door. He swung the polyester bag of goods over his shoulder mindfully, stepping across the foyer and into the familiar darkness. Blinking as he dropped the container of his day's work at his feet, he clumsily sauntered forward; carefully lighting a few candles with matches to illuminate the small living space. One oil lamp he had in particular had been a fresh steal; it kept the entire room lit up for long periods of time.

His boots crunched against the wooden ground as he washed his face at the sink. Just as he reached for a towel to dry it, he heard something. Heart dropping into the middle of his gut, Will turned around slowly. He strained his ears, not moving a muscle. The same sound of footsteps crushed against the earth outside. Slowly, he reached for the dagger at his belt and stepped quietly back towards the door. It wouldn't be the first time someone had followed him after a day of pilfering, but he certainly didn't like confrontations and avoided them as much as he would a hairy spider.

The door handle shook and shuddered, indicating that someone was about to enter. Will grimaced, holding his breath for whoever would be there.

The grip on the helve of his dagger only faltered when it was Anastasia who entered. His mind lulled to instant relief, closing his eyes as he arms fell lank back down to his sides. She was certainly a sight for sore eyes – especially in the adorable light blue gown she was wearing.

"Ana, what're you doin'…? You nearly gave me a heart attack…" He exhaled deeply, rubbing his forehead with his knuckles. Ana came right up to him, grinning crookedly from ear to ear after shutting the door closed behind her.

"I finally told her. I told her about you."

Will's mouth opened to debunk her decision to come and see him at such late hours, but the words finally processed. He closed his mouth, tilting his head at her. The smile she wore faltered at his reaction. Ana took a sharp step away from him, as though she had been anticipating that he would scoop her up in his arms at the unexpected news. And it wasn't to say that Will wasn't thrilled; but at the sight of darkened swelling against the muscles of her frail throat and neck, he was hesitant and dismayed.

"What's wrong? I thought you would be happy…" Ana mused aloud uncertainly, folding her arms. Her blue eyes stared up at his searchingly. Finally, he cleared his throat and met her gaze.

"Ana, what happened?" Will murmured, licking his lips, but unable to stop staring at the forming contusions just beneath her chin.

"She told me to leave." She answered simply, without a note of fear in her voice. "It's… Alright that I stay here, isn't it Will?"

Shaking himself back into sensibility, Will nodded eagerly at her. Perhaps in his weariness of worry, the information he had been brought hadn't seeped into him fully yet. But at the final realization that Ana would be staying there with him every day, Will eventually beamed. There would be no more sneaking around together. No more concluded secrecy from her family… They could even go to town together, if they wished. And Ana would be there to greet him, every day, every morning.

In the course of his mind, Will reached to grab her wrist and pull her into him. She exhaled into his chest, closing her eyes as his arms came around her. He nuzzled his mouth against the top of her head, breathing in the smell of her hair.

"Course, you can stay 'ere as long as you'd like, love…" Will said, allowing them to bask in the moment before facing more pressing issues. "What'd she do to you?"

"What d'you mean?" Ana pulled away from him, confused. The hand resting against his back clutched the fabric of his shirt.

"Your neck, love… " Will retracted from her to tilt her chin with his hand as tenderly as he was capable. Now that he had a better look at it, he was less worried, despite the fact that there were clear fingermarks that had wrenched against the base of her collar. Anastasia flinched some, but nonetheless turned her head to assure that she was fine.

Halfway between a cool laugh and a breath of air, she responded coldly. "Oh. Mum tried to take my necklace from me as I was running away. When I told her no, we grappled a bit…"

"Did she hurt ya?" His thumb rested against her chin; fingers skimming across each sides of her jaw. He lowered the slant of her head to meet her stare. Ana shook her head slowly.

"No, I'm fine."

Sighing deeply with alleviation, Will smiled at her yet again. And with gentle fingers and intended warmth, his lips caressed and kissed the few bruises that were left against her fragile skin.