Knightrook & 3
3—“Please don’t leave.”
For some reason, I couldn’t help making this angsty and holiday-themed…
Two years, one month, and six days. Killian sighed as he glanced up at the tower, feeling every second of those days poisoned away from Alice, his heart twinging even at the thought of the climb. The thought of the distance he’d have to keep hurt worse, searing through him like a red-hot poker.
It’ll corrupt your heart every time Alice draws near.
Killian closed his eyes, forcing down the bitter rage that boiled in his stomach. Tonight wasn’t a time for that. Every moment away from Alice, he could stew in his hatred of that witch and his own self-loathing, but not now. Instead, he steeled himself and began to climb, his muscles aching far more easily than they used to.
As he climbed, he imagined the townspeople nearby preparing for their own night, readying themselves for the holiday that was to come. He’d missed spending the winter solstice with Alice, decorating the tower and singing songs into cups of hot chocolate while they waited for Papa Noel to visit her in the night. He’d leave gifts for her on the windowsill before sneaking half a cookie, always leaving the other half for Alice to nibble on in the morning, a rare breakfast treat.
He may not be able to play the role of Papa as much anymore, but he’d be damned if he wasn’t still going to play Papa Noel.
As he inched inside, he saw her small form asleep in his hammock. That was often where he’d find her these days. Another pang surged through his heart and he had to take a deep breath to push it away.
His gaze landed on the plate right beside him, sure enough filled with one large cookie. A small laugh escaped him, and he broke it in half, a flood of memories crashing into him as he took a small bite before rummaging in his pockets for any little gifts he’d managed to bring.
Part of Killian wished so much for her to be awake. He’d give anything to speak to her, just to hear her voice. The father part in him was grateful she wasn’t. The poison in his heart burned them both, and he could see the pain in her expression each time she saw her father deteriorating further and further.
He wasn’t some feeble, spent pirate, but damnit if he wasn’t turning into one. Served him right, he supposed. Still, he deserved this, but Alice didn’t. Never Alice.
With another bracing breath, he left the last of his gifts on the windowsill: a spyglass so perhaps, even when the poison kept him from climbing altogether, maybe it would allow them a few more visits before he couldn’t get near the tower at all.
He made a wish to the heavens for his girl, hoping someone somewhere was listening, and shuffled back to the edge of the window.
“Please don’t leave.” Her voice was small, croaky with sleep, and damn near shattered every part of him.
“Al—”
“Just… stay until I fall back asleep?”
He sighed, the poison burning in his heart but he pushed it aside. “Of course, Starfish.”
“Happy solstice, Papa.”
“Happy solstice, Alice.”
