Chapter Text
You must be bashed around the bush… Once or twice.
Before you get to taste the finer life…
My mother taught me “Gotta just survive, put on a smile and find a vice.”
Don’t hate the boy, just hate the crime.
Last he remembered was his mother's words before it all went blank. His mind was hazy, near empty, as he opened his eyes and was met with an unfamiliar forest. "How did he get here?", something he began asking himself. There were so many bright, unrecognizable colors. Bright greens, reds, and purples filled his vision the wider his eyes opened. Flowers with petals full of colors he didn’t know existed surrounded him as he lay in a bed full of them. As he slowly collected himself, he sat up from the otherworldly flower bed and truly looked around. Something caught his eye immediately. He spotted a talking White Rabbit wearing a waistcoat and checking a pocket watch, rambling about being late to something he didn’t catch. But something deep in his chest made him get up and follow the rabbit.
“Hello..? Mr. Rabbit?” He called out, catching the Rabbit's attention, but before the Rabbit could even think of a reply, he stumbled down a rabbit hole.
“ZANKA!” The Rabbit calls out, which is the last thing Zanka hears before he’s thrown into a hall of locked doors.
…
“Zanka?” A voice called out, its tone full of whimsy as a rough, calloused finger poked at Zanka’s face. He opened his eyes, his mind groggy as he was met with the Mad Hatter. “Oh my dear, you fell asleep during our tea party!” The Hatter said as he jumped up, clapping his hands together. The sound was loud enough to jolt Zanka awake fully, his eyes springing open. “How rude… but I can excuse it this time since you’ve been a good guest so far!” Hatter gave Zanka a wide, uncanny grin.
“Sorry Hatter, won’ happen again,” Zanka replied, sitting up straight and glancing around the table. He’d been living with the Mad Hatter ever since the Red Queen put a bounty on his head.
“Didn’t I tell you… Jabber is just fine, my dear! We’re far past formalities, darling.” Jabber said with a tap to Zanka’s nose before gripping his jaw gently. “What were you dreaming about, hm?”
Zanka looked away for a moment, his eyes lingering on the tea cup in front of him before looking back at Hatter. “When I first came to Wonderland,” Zanka mumbled quietly. Jabber stared at him with an observational glare, like he was determining if the boy was lying. Then, his smile widened. “Is it not odd that… I don’t remember my life before Wonderland?”
Jabber’s smile faded.
“Why would you want to remember, Wonderland is far better than your old life.” He said blankly, his tone sounded almost annoyed. His grip on Zanka's chin tightened just slightly. “Don’t you worry your pretty little head about your old life… You have us now, you have me now.” Jabber growled, his voice full of contempt.
Zanka winced, his eyes flicking away as he muttered an apology. And within an instant, Hatter’s attitude lifted, his smile returning, a slight glimmer of approval glinted in his eyes. “Good boy! Now, shall we continue our tea party, my darling?”