#yeah sonya cares very much about her job but I will beat the shit out of anyone who says she doesn't care about her family

[yxnswife]

I want to write about cassie and sonya so bad my girls deserve everything ever

[babeyvenus]

The Wolf Among Us

Bigby x OC

Summary: Sonya Blaze, A.K.A. Hell Rider, is a half fable, half mundy girl who comes to Fabletown to learn more about her side of the folktales. She works alongside Sheriff Bigby Wolf as his newest partner and together they strive to find out who's behind the unexpected murders in Fabletown.

TW: Mentions of death, gore/blood, alcohol, smoking, drugs, sex implications, suicide, guns and ofc language.

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Chapter 20: Break in

The Woodlands

Sonya made it back to the Woodlands and parked in her usual spot in the back alley before walking back around to the entrance. “Hey, Grimble.”, she greets, not worrying about the man’s response as he sleeps.

She walks over to the elevator, waiting for the old box to come down. ‘ Maybe being on leave isn’t too bad …’, she thought as she looked at the bag in her hand with the big bold word of BEST BUY . She grinned as she stepped in the elevator and pressed the button to her floor.

When she reaches her floor, she walks down her hall and notices her door in a weird position. Almost like it was open…

She stopped once she got a bit closer to see that it was indeed open. She snapped her fingers to herself, “Nope.” She turned around and headed toward Bigby’s apartment.

She knocked on his door, looking around the empty hallway. She could her clops coming to the door and the door opened to reveal Colin. “Hey, toots. What’s going on?”

She looks around and looks at the pig. “Hey, Colin. Is Bigby here?” He shakes his head. “He’s probably at his office, if not then he’s out beating up other fables.” She doesn’t respond, keeping her eyes on the empty hallway. “What's up?", he asked.

"Someone was in my apartment while I was gone...", she says. Colin steps aside and lets her in. "You could call his office to see if he's there.", he says, closing the door and managing to lock it.

She scrambled to the phone and dialed his office number. 'Please, pick up. Please, pick up. Please, pick-'

"Hello?", his gruff, mumbled voice answers. She assumed he was smoking again as she lets out a shaky breath of relief. She slid down to the floor by the phone.

"Hello?", he calls again. She clears her throat a bit. "Hey. Uh, are you busy?"

He's silent for a moment before answering, "You're back already? I'm not busy right now– what's wrong?"

"Can you come here? I had to go to your apartment. We need to talk,” she says. She could hear him bustling around, most likely getting ready to come over. "Yeah, I'm on my way."

She nods, even though he couldn't see it and hangs up, waiting for his arrival.

Moments later, she could hear him unlocking the door and he walked in. He looks around to see her give him a smile but it didn't meet her eyes. "Did you have someone in your apartment?"

She stood up. "That's what I called you for. I didn't even get to go inside yet." He led her to her apartment, seeing the old door opened for everyone who walked down the hall to see. He growled, keeping her behind him as he walked up to the apartment.

He peeked from around the corner, his nose twitching as he took in the smells. He took note of her scent, the wood of the old door, a small candle on the lamp table she had and a very distinct scent. It was familiar but he couldn't put his finger on it. Nor did he like it.

He frowned as he walked in, taking silent steps. Sonya looked around before stepping in. "Who do you think was in here…?", she whispered enough for him to hear.

He gave her an unsure face, and looked around the dark apartment. She didn't have much so why would anyone break into her place?

Sonya looked in her kitchen, seeing the window in the kitchen open. She closed it and locked it, sighing. Bigby closed the other window. He looked into her empty bedroom and bathroom, frowning at the sight of no one.

He walked up to her. "From now on, you go through the front entrance. No shortcuts, nothing. Not until we figure out what's going on. Are we clear?"

She nodded. He crossed his arms, giving her his signature glare. "I mean it, Sonya.", he says as if he were lecturing a child. She looked up at him with a frown. "I got it.", she says.

Unsatisfied, he leaves it alone and brings her go the Business Office. He frowns at the sight of Bluebeard discussing with Snow and locking eyes with him. "And the dog himself appears.", he says.

Sonya walked up to Bufkin, giving him a smile. "How are you today?", he asks. She rubs behind her neck. "Pretty off today, Bufkin. What about you?" He gives her a worried, soft smile. "I'm as well as can be."

Snow walks up to Sonya, making her frown. "I thought you were supposed to be on leave.", she says, placing her hands on her hips. Sonya crossed her arms. "I am. I'm going through something right now and I definitely don't need you to start anything with me."

"Sonya, I could care less. We don't need you right now. There's nothing happening. There's no case, the Crooked Man is gone. You two handled that very well .", she sneers.

Sonya rubs at her temples, feeling an oncoming headache. Bufkin took that as his cue to leave. "I don't need this right now.", Sonya sighs.

"Whether or not you want me here, I still have a job . Which means it's my only way to even pay for my apartment. Unless you feel like paying the rent yourself, I'd suggest you turn your business elsewhere.", Sonya says, walking toward the mirror as Bigby and Bluebeard nitpick.

"Hey, Mirror.", she calls. The green face appears. "Hello, Miss Sonya."

She rubbed her arm. "You wouldn't happen to know who showed up at my apartment a few minutes ago...would you?"

"Alas, Miss Sonya. For I cannot tell the past.", the mirror replied. She looked down dejectedly. "Sorry about that. I won't need anything else. Thank you." The mirror nods with a smile before showing her reflection.

She sighed. "Dammit. Who would’ve wanted to go to my apartment? I don't have anything like Beauty and Beast..."

Snow looks up from her desk. "Do you need anything else or are you headed out?"

Sonya's jaw clenched. "I don't think I need any of your help. I haven't needed your help since I got here." Snow glares. "If you don't need any then you can go. We sure don't need yours."

Sonya scoffed. "What the fuck is your problem, Snow?" Snow crosses her arms. "That's Ms. White to you. My problem is that you're trouble."

Sonya's eyebrows rise. "I'm trouble?"

"You're often reckless and you add fuel to Bigby's fire. Which he already doesn't need. You don't give him restraint, you egg him on and just watch from the sidelines.", Snow says.

"We went over this already. Bigby is not a pet. He doesn't need to be kept on a leash 24 fucking hours of the day.", Sonya argues. "And did we or did we not get stuff done? Was anyone killed on our behalf?"

"No, but that's not the point.", Snow says. Sonya places her palms on her temples for a moment. "How is that not the point? There was no bloodshed and even if there was, it sure as hell wasn't coming from the opposing side. They were out for blood and over the stupidest shit. The Crooked Man tried to kill us multiple times, for fuck's sake!"

Sonya walks up to the desk, placing her hands on it. "We got the job done. We may have hit a few bumps on the road but in the end, we got justice. So this,"

Sonya gestures to Snow's glare. "Know-it-all, high and mighty, snobby, by the books shit you got going on isn't gonna cut it with me. And it sure as hell ain't gonna cut it with our next problems. Especially if our next problems commit another murder that we have to solve once again."

Sonya stands up straight, crossing her arms. "You've got no reason to act the way you're doing right now. If anything, you're acting like a child . You're "trying" to be mature and "professional", but it's not working. You were better before you thought it was okay to put me on leave over some bullshit.", she says, making Snow's hardened expression falter.

"So if you're writing a book and you must know, I'm here because someone thought it was a good fucking idea to B&E in my place while I was " on leave ".", she says, making Snow’s eyes widen.

She pauses, noticing the silence coming from the room. She turns to Bigby and Bluebeard, meeting their confused eyes.

Bluebeard smiles and adjusts his clothes. "Well, I think it's about time I leave. I take you all have something wondrous to talk about.", he says, walking to the door.

"Hold on, Bluebeard.", Bigby calls. Bluebeard pauses. "You didn't see anyone suspicious enter the Woodlands, did you?"

Bluebeard looks at him over his broad shoulder. "No, not am I worried about that because it's not my job. That should be your job as well as Grimble. Ask him.", he says before leaving.

Bigby shakes his head as he looks at the two women. “Yeah, someone broke in today. I’ll ask Grimble and I’ll see what to do afterwards. I don’t know what’s going on with you two and this hostility thing you guys got going on but it needs to be handled. As for you,” He points at Sonya.

“You need to be on your guard. C’mon.” he says, walking toward the office door. Sonya sighs before following and exiting before him.

They walk to the elevator; Sonya storms in irritation and nearly leaves Bigby in her dust. Once they enter the elevator, Bigby glances at Sonya. She leaned on a wall of the elevator, her eyes closed as her chest rose and fell heavily, as if she were trying to calm down.

He frowned softly, disliking the sight behind him. He didn't like being around someone when they were riled up. It didn't help his own anger and irritation but seeing her so worked up, it made him feel….helpless.

"So...", he speaks up, looking away. Her eyes opened. "You wanna explain what that was about?", he asks.

She frowned, rolling her eyes. "Girl talk." He snorts. "You guys fight. That's girl talk?"

Sonya bit back a sigh. "Just a little powwow. Frankly, I think it's something she's been needing to hear for a while.", she says. Bigby shakes his head. "She means well. She's a disciplinarian but she's doing her best."

Sonya glances at him, her lips pressed in a slight pout. 'Doesn't matter what anyone says… Snow's still an angel in his eyes…'

She frowned in frustration before the elevator doors opened to the lobby. They walk up to Grimble, frowning at the man's snores.

Bigby knocks on the front desk. "Hey. Grimble." Sonya frowned at him in disbelief. "No, "hey, sorry to wake you up"?", she asks, making Bigby shrug.

The sleeping man looks up, rubbing his eyes. "He'd be lying if he apologized. What's the matter?"

"Have you seen anyone suspicious walk through here?", Sonya asks. Grimble frowns and shakes his head. "No, not that I don't think."

"It's even weirder because even if he is asleep, he knows anyone and everyone that comes through here.", Bigby tells her.

"I literally have nothing that's valuable. Unless they're looking for my phone, that might be another story.", she says. She frowns sadly. "If it's not one thing, it's another…"

Bigby frowns, placing a hand on her back. "Let's go take a breather."

She looked up at him. "But I just went out." He shrugged. "So?"

She sighs. "Fine.", she says, walking out of the Woodlands with him.

However, across the street, far into a dark alley, someone watches the sheriff and deputy leave the building.

[itsreigns]

Fucked Up

Roman fucked up his friendship with (Y/N). Well, he fucked up everything. Will he realize what he’s missing in time? Will he able to undo his mistakes?

(A/N): So this wasn’t a request, just something I came up with with @heeldeano after seeing this gif.

Tags:

@xfirespritex | @hardcorewwetrash | @shadow-of-wonder | @oreillyskyle | @crazyprettychick | @heelsamizayn | @helluvawriter | @tryingtofindaplaceinthisworld | @heygargano | if you want to get (un)tagged let me know

Two months. Two long months after that disastrous day.

Roman was your best friend. Yes, was. Not anymore. For months and months, you debated on whether you wanted to act on your feelings or not. Eventually, you decided that he was worth the shot, that you owned it to yourself, or else you’d be forever followed by those “what if” thoughts, completely haunted by not trying.

You tried to give him some hints. You tried to tease him, in hopes he’d wake up and realize he loved you. You tried to ask him out… on an actual date, but he never gave in. He always played dumb, dismissing your advances. So, you just gave up.

The last drop happened two months ago. You and Roman were talking, mostly flirting as you usually did, and suddenly… he leans in slightly. Your brain froze. Your heart thudding madly in your chest.

Only to have him pulling back abruptly.  

“What the fuck am I doing?” He said, running his hand down his face as he let out a somewhat sarcastic chuckle. You were about to say something, but he cut you off, leaving without another word.

No explanation. No apology. Nothing. You were hurt. Shattered.

Yet you were still surprised when he never reached out to you after that. You always thought, well… you wished, that he would… after all you were best friends. But he never did. Apparently you didn’t mean that much to him. So much for his friendship too…

So you didn’t reach out either. You had your pride and dignity, and you definitely weren’t in the wrong in this.

Since that day, you’ve been dragging yourself around, feeling like shit, and pretty much avoiding everything Roman-related. But today, Becky wasn’t having it.

“No, no, no, (Y/N)! No more moping around for Samoan major douchebag. Enough!” She snaps, pulling you up from your bed, making you stand. “Tonight we are going out and have fun, so you better get your ass on that shower and get slaying quickly!”

You sigh deeply, realizing that she was right. Screw him. You deserve more than to be dragging yourself over someone who doesn’t care about you. He doesn’t value so someone else will.

Hopping in the shower, you give yourself some mental prep talk. Then, you pick up a black lace body, pairing it with some tight high-waist jeans and high heels. You put some light make-up, having some trouble deciding what to do with the hair.

“Wow. You def be slaying, girl.” Becky catcalls once she comes back into the room.

“Thanks Becks.” You smile softly. “Hey, what do I do with the hair?”

“Eh… I don’t know? Maybe straighten it out?”

And that’s exactly what you did. When you’re finished, you take a full glance of yourself in the mirror. Becky appears behind you smiling.

“Yeah, yeah, you were right. I feel much better already.” You grin, as she hugs you from behind.

“You’re welcome.” She winks. “Now let’s go!”

Apparently, you’re headed to some club downtown. Some other superstars are also going, so it’s going to be a good, relaxing time. You’re just wishing Roman isn’t there.

But that thought is quickly worthless, because as soon as you get inside, you see him sitting in a corner with Dean, Seth and Braun.

His gaze finds yours faster than it should. You swallow hard, moving your gaze to the floor. Thankfully, Sonya and Naomi reach you, pulling you in for a hug, then complimenting your outfit. You know they’re being nice and trying to cheer you up and hype you, but you’re still very thankful for them.

A couple of drinks in, you’re laughing and feeling a bit more loose. You’re still feeling some type of tension in the air, even though he hasn’t moved from his spot. But you shrug it off.

Suddenly, Finn sits down next to you, smiling brightly as he always does. He has a beautiful smile, you think, as you smile back at him.

He tucks your hair behind your ear and leans in close. The club was super loud so he had to speak directly into it, but deep down, you knew he was flirting too.

You feel his hot breath against your ear, “You look beautiful tonight.”

You smile shyly, blushing a bit. “Thank you. You look good too.”

The flirting went on back and forth for a while, many laughs and slight touches. Until he invited you to dance. He just got up and extended his hand to you. You glanced at his hand, a smile creeping up on your face, as you accepted and linked your hands.

You just didn’t noticed Roman watching the whole thing in the back.

----

Roman’s P.O.V.

“Bro, you’re staring and it’s getting awkward.” Seth states, himself staring at me, trying to read me.

“I’m not.” I grumble.

“Yes, you are.” Dean and Seth shoot back at the same time, making me scoff.

“I am not. I’m just… looking around.” I stutter, making myself get even more pissed off.

“Yeah, around.” Seth mocks, waving his hand in the air. “Look, it’s bothering you, I get it. What I don’t get is what you’re doing still sitting in that chair, torturing yourself, when you clearly love her.”

Seth’s words hit me like a ton of bricks, but I take a deep breath, shrugging it off.

“It’s all good. I’m cool.” I lie through my teeth, flexing my jaw.

“You’re not cool. You’re trying to keep your cool and you’re doing an awful job, let me tell you.” Seth shoots, with Dean nodding in support as he takes another sip of his drink.

I take another glance at her, before hanging my head low, resting my elbows on the table as I massage my temples.  

“You’re fucking stubborn, man.” Dean adds.

If only I could bring myself to talk to her during these two months… but I’m too goddamn proud and stubborn to do so.

I have to admit… knowing I could have her, knowing I could be with her… And now seeing her moving on, seeing his hands where mine should’ve been… it’s killing me.

---------

Normal P.O.V.

Finally tired of dancing, Finn goes sit down as you head to the counter for some drinks. Suddenly, you feel a tall presence behind you.

Turning around, you get face to face with Roman, who’s staring at you, his eyes holding sadness and anger. Your eyes locked with his, but he just stands there, mouth shut.

You start to feel anger boiling up inside of you, so you just decide to ignore him, turning your back at him.

He sighs deeply, hanging his head low, but you don’t see or hear it. He just comes up behind you and puts his arms around your waist, pulling you close.

You feel his breath ghosting over your neck, moving up until it stops on your ear. Then, he just whispers, “You’re playing with fire, baby girl. I hope you know what you’re doing…” and then, he’s just gone as fast as he came.

It fucking pissed you off. Who the hell does he think he is? Getting you all worked up, teasing you, playing with your emotions? You’re seeing red.

You take a look around only to find him back in his seat. Then, you have an idea. Screw the drinks! You walk past your table, grabbing Finn’s hand as you pass. A confused look crossed his face, soon replaced with a smile.

You pull him close, hooking your arms around his shoulders, his hands quickly finding your lower back. You start dancing suggestively against Finn, and he quickly followed along.

“Samoan giving ya a bad time, uh?” He smiles against your ear, and it finally hits you. What the fuck are you doing? Using Finn? This is not you. Finn must have realized what you’re thinking. He smiles brightly before he says, “Hey, it’s fine. I know you like him. Plus, I’m having a really good time. Extra plus, this is fun. I just hope he doesn’t beat my ass.”

You can’t help but giggle, hiding your face in his neck as you keep dancing. After a while, you notice Roman fuming in his seat, a not so amusing look on his face. He can suck it up, you think.

After a couple of songs, you and Finn parted and headed to your seats. You inform him that you have to go to the bathroom, and he just nods in understanding.

As you neared the bathroom door, someone grabs you by your arm, pulling you outside. Surprise, surprise. It’s Roman.

“What do you want?” You spat angrily.

“Try it again, baby girl. I dare you to tease me again. You’ll see what happens.” He snaps back, his voice filled with venom.

“What will you do? Because it seems to me that you’re all talk.” You tease him, getting your arm off his grasp with one motion. “Ah, not even all talk. Considering you haven’t spoken to me in months!” You fire. “And also, I’m not interested. Thank you very much.”

“So you’re interested in him now?” He questions, his tone now softer, and his demeanor completely changed.

“You didn’t even bother to talk to me after that day. So why do you care?” You spit venomously.

“I never stopped caring!” He admits, exasperated.

“You didn’t? You sure do have a funny way of showing it.” You mumble sarcastically, crossing your arms over your chest.

He sighs deeply, moving his gaze to his feet. “Look… I fucked up. I know I did. And I know I failed you.” He admits, his gaze now on yours. “But when I realized what I’d done, it was too late. There was no going back. The damage was done and I didn’t know how to reach you, or what I’d say to you.”

He takes one-step closer to you, reaching out for your hands, and all the anger you had in you was gone by now, so you complied. “But now, standing here in front of you… I just want to say two things. Number 1: I’m sorry…”

“And number 2?”

“I love you.”

Your heart is about to burst after those words left his lips. The intensity of his gaze burning into your own.

“You do?” You ask shyly, wanting some reassurance.

“I really do.” He smiles gently, pulling you close and resting one hand on your lower back, the other one moves to cup your face, his thumb gently caressing your cheek, as you rest on hands on his chest. “I know I should’ve said it sooner, but it’s rather late than never, right?” He lets out a small chuckle, then his face grows more serious. “I love you, (Y/N). You’re my girl. You always have been.”

You’re sure your smile is reaching your cheeks, and that your cheeks are painted red, but honestly you couldn’t care less. You’re the happiest you’ve ever been.

“I love you too, Roman.” He smiles so brightly, you swear he could light up the entire town. You wrap your arms around his shoulders, and move your gaze to his chest, suddenly feeling shy. “I want to kiss you.”

“Baby, you can kiss me any time.”

He leans down, his hand still cupping your face, and presses his lips to yours. They feel even better than what you had imagined. It’s all better than what you imagined.

You pull back for air and you smile at each other before connecting your lips again. The kiss grows more heated quickly. It gets sloppier, tongues playing smooth yet hotly, you nipping on his lower lip teasingly, him nipping on yours in revenge, your hand tugging on his hair.

Suddenly he pulls back for air, resting his forehead against yours.

“So… before you were saying that if I teased you some more, I’d see what would happen.” You bite your lip, teasingly, as you run your fingers in his chest.

“Yeah, so…?”

“So, I want to know what would happen.”

“I guess I just have to show you then.”

 Part 2? Give me some feedback please?

[kob131]

RWDE Story Comparison 1: Dudeblade Part 1

https://rwdestuffs.tumblr.com/post/181687313437/done-dirty-word-choice

I’d give you the middle finger Dudeblade but I cut it so I’ll just settle for verbally tearing you apart.

You assholes wanna talk to other writers? FIne, better make sure you don’t share the same blind spots.

Truer words have never been spoken.

Not entirely sure how to break this down.

Basically, the choice in words is important. In a non-comedic series like this one, fans, theorists, and critics are going to comb over pretty much every detail.

Except that in a different post, when someone (suspicious you never mention WHO considering this is before Monty’s death) you bitch at the writers for a joke. An even then, people combed over Red Vs.Blue when it is largely comedic so that doesn’t work here.

Why am I doing this? Cuz Dudeblade is gonna try to use comedy as a defense since I’m gonna be using his precious fanfic.

Easy example: The word choice on how Qrow describes his semblance (fun fact: I have this particular screenshot labeled “Qrow being a melodramatic piece of shit” on my laptop).

Now, with the phrase “It’s always there, whether I like it or not.” Heavily implies that it’s on 24/7. That he has no control over it whatsoever. However…

This clarification from the Reddit AMA then says that Qrow’s semblance isn’t at all how he worded it. Now, this could be because even Qrow doesn’t know his semblance that well, but given that these are the writers whose response to being given an out by a fan who theorized that the reason Zwei survived all that stuff in Volume 2 was because Tai unlocked his aura was “There’s this thing called ‘Anime.’” I doubt that they’ll use that reason.

Funny thing:

"Indeed." Ganon added, "Do you want an update on that curse that I cast?"

Lex hummed and nodded in response. "Well, it took hold of the one that the emotionally weakest. They should be turning into a being of near-insufferableness soon."

"I'm pretty sure that 'insuferableness' isn't a word." Lex mentioned.

"It does not matter." Ganon replied, "Soon, we shall be able to use one of their own against them."

"Why the one with the most glaring emotional weaknesses, though? Wouldn't a much more stable victim be more useful to our cause?"

"The curse works in mysterious ways, Luthor. We must first force them on our side. Then, we break the heroes from the inside." Ganon replied.

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11815703/104/Aftermath-The-DB-Chronicles

Why was the change so drastic? - Because time travel That's why.

https://www.deviantart.com/dudebladex/journal/Mewtwopoint-of-Future-Past-Alt-Timeline-battles-694649032

You’ve pulled that shit yourself.

So if it’s NOT okay when Miles does it, why did YOU do it?

Here’s another example:

Jaune knowing about Yang’s mom. Given Yang’s dialogue with Blake back in Volume 2, we can gather that it’s a very important secret to her. Given her reaction to Qrow knowing where Raven was but never telling her, we also know that for a fact. Given that Yang said that Ruby was a bit too young when she went on her “I want to find my mom” search to remember, we can gather that it’s likely that even Ruby doesn’t know. But, even if she did know, what reason does she have to tell RNJR?

Was she all “Hey guys! Let’s all share secrets with each other as a trust exercise! I’ll go first! Yang’s been searching for her biological mom for over ten years!”???

See, if it had been Ruby who had said Jaune’s line, we could gather that, yeah. Yang probably told her what happened. But we don’t get that. Instead, we get Jaune asking about it. Which either implies a betrayal of trust either on Qrow’s part, or on Ruby’s part. Either way, one of those two shared information that was very personal and important to Yang, and it was… brushed over.

IBurnBlonde: What, are you planning on dating me or something? IBurnBlonde: T? IBurnBlonde: Tifa? IBurnBlonde: Seriously. It's been ten minutes. What happened? IBurnBlonde: Forget it. I'm signing off. * * * [LockYourHeart has made a Private Chat With Buster Blader] LockYourHeart: Cloud! I need your help! Buster Blader: What is it? Did Yang confess her love to you? LockYourHeart: No, but she almost figured out that I have plans to date her! Buster Blader: smh… You didn't go on your tirade about how nobody deserves her, did you? LockYourHeart: … Buster Blader: You dug yourself in this, Tifa. I'm not digging you out. LockYourHeart: You are absolutely no help. Buster Blader: If you want help, as Link. Speaking of, I think he's in the main chat. LockYourHeart: Really? We might get to see how he chats with people? Buster Blader: Yep. Buster Blader: Tifa? Buster Blader: You did this to Yang, didn't you?

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11815703/103/Aftermath-The-DB-Chronicles

Why do I bring this up? This is a betrayal of Yang’s trust in Tifa except Tifa is doing it for far more selfish and creepy reasons.

Again, apparently it’s okay when DUdeblade does it.

And as for a third example, we have this:

If the narrative or writers wanted to paint Tai as a “Father who is trying to work through his loss to take care of his kids” then these lines of dialogue don’t help in the slightest. “

"What?" Jaune asked, "Are you seriously going to tell us that we need to go out there? - I already lost enough people in my life, thank you very much."

"Then you aren't cut out for the real world, kid." Frank said, "I lost my wife and children, and I still go out to keep the city clean of criminal scum every day. But you?" He gestured to the swordsman, "You only lost someone you barely paid attention to. That was your only personal loss. Everyone else here lost more than you, more than once, and we still go out there to fight." Jaune was at a loss for words. "So make your decision. Live and hide, or fight and die.

" "Your girlfriend chose the second option. But considering that you couldn't be bothered to even try to save one of your other friends after bemoaning losing everything earlier, I guess it's no surprise that you can't be bothered to try when it's the whole world at stake." Deadpool sneered.

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11815703/134/Aftermath-The-DB-Chronicles

"Klicks? What are those?" Jaune asked, "Can't we use a distance people actually know? Like Kilometers?"

"How did you get into a prestigious combat school without knowing this basic combat stuff again?" Chun-Li jeered.

"I uh…" Jaune stuttered. "He cheated." Tucker clarified, "He wasn't sent there to be used as a test dummy, he actually cheated."

"So, why doesn't he know the basics?" Chief asked in an annoyed tone. "I heard from Blake that he slept in class and spent most of his study time reading comics." Cheetara mentioned,

"That probably has something to do with it." Jaune sighed, "Can we just… drop it? Please?"

"This is going to escalate later." Mega Man realized, "I don't know how, but it will."

"Seriously, were you reading a comic book while we were doing the debriefing on the way here?"

"No!" "He actually wasn't." Tucker defended, "He was busy crying over a picture of his girlfriend that he has on his phone."

"There are other people who lost more than you." Master Chief pointed out, "Also, two Klicks to Joker and Skull's battleground."

"Guts definitely lost more than you." Doomguy pointed out, "How someone on the internet thought that you had the worse life than him is beyond me, but whatever."

"Guts has not had a 'worse life' than mine!" Jaune whined. "How so?" Chief asked, putting his binoculars away.

"His girlfriend's still alive." Jaune said, as if it proved his point.

Everyone else was silent. Even one Predator facepalmed at the statement.

"Starting to see why Guts said that nobody would miss you." Tucker sighed, "You make pain be all about yourself, and don't let anyone else mourn.”

"Please." Mega Man sighed, "Please tell me that you're making a joke that's in poor taste and that you don't actually believe that."

"Uh, it… kinda is…" Jaune trailed off.

"Oh my God." Tucker snarled, "You actually think that?"

"Well, I don't know his life!" Jaune defended.

"His girlfriend was violated!" Sonya screamed, "I swear, if you actually think that dying is a worse fate than that, then I'm throwing you out there to get killed!"

"See, this is why nobody likes you." Doomguy pointed out, "You don't care about anybody but yourself, and put more people in danger than you actually save."

"The only thing worse than baggage is baggage that whines and complains all the time." Master Chief replied, "Get your priorities straight kid. People might let failures slide if you actually try, but if you just look away from a friend about to be killed without trying to save them, then you aren't any better than the killer."

"How so?" Jaune asked, "All I hear is 'Jaune, you suck at this!' or 'Arc, you suck at that!' but I never hear any ideas of how to improve!"

"Did you ask?" Mega Man asked, deflecting some plasma blasts with his Mirror Buster. "Well uh, no… But-"

"No buts." The Blue Bomber replied, "It's not our job to 'open the door' for you and offer advice. You have to be willing to accept it, and acknowledge that you have things to improve on!"

"Yeah, I mean, I was willing to listen to Wash when he was offering some tips on how to be a better leader back on Chorus. But you just grunt and walk away." Tucker pointed out, taking his sword out of another Hydra soldier.

"You aren't complaining that it's hard to improve," Orchid growled, "You're complaining that it's not 'magically happening' automatically."

"Beat has the area covered. We can move on to the next sector." Mega Man reported.

"You can either stay here, or keep going." Tucker said to Jaune, who was visibly shaken up, "But we're not going to be playing babysitter. I get enough of that with Caboose. Except Caboose can actually fight."

Our HEROES ladies and gentlemen, showing even LESS empathy than Dudeblade’s delusions he calls Taiyang Xiao Long. For those of you who don’t know, Dudeblade hates Taiyang because he called Yag’s depression ‘moping.’ And yet here is his HEROES, the guys we’re suppose to be ROOTING FOR, mocking Jaune for the exact same thing, using arguments Dudeblade as decried as immoral and sociopath.

Once again, not okay for RWBY but a FAR FAR FAR worse version is okay for Dudeblade.

Overall, these lines and details don’t have a lot of thought put into them. They’re used to further develop characters, but the writers don’t realize the implications of who is saying it, what they are saying, and why the choice of words matter.

I could bring up in each instance how Dudeblade is fucking up, whether it be that Qrow doesn’t understand his Semblance, that Yang could have old JNPR like Blake told them about her race or the numerous arguments about Taiyang but you’ve heard it all before. Instead let me prove to you that RWDE has no fucking idea what it is doing, By showcasing that for every single bitch they deal out: they commit the same if not WORSE sin.

The issue from them isn’t the action: it’s just the person who did it they hate.

[broodingsoul]

84 Random Things About This Week’s So You Think You Can Dance (S14E8)

1.  Time to reveal the Top 10!

2.  Every season, it’s a struggle to get through the Vegas—excuse me, “Academy”—episodes and then suddenly, we’re competing.

3.  Group Performance - All-Stars “Knocking on Heaven’s Door” This was just really beautiful, and perfectly showed why these dancers are All-Stars.  Only 4 of them are contemporary dancers, but they all dance it so beautifully.  The choreography is lovely; I think my favorite movements are the little wrist-flicks that occasionally happen to “knock-knock-knocking.”  Also, literally every time I see Robert dance I get really teary-eyed because, y’know, he almost died.  And then he was told he might never dance again.  Just overall, absolutely beautiful.

4.  And I guarantee you it was a Travis Wall number.

5.  Well fuck me in the ass, it was Mandy Moore.

6.  I don’t know if you know this, but she was the choreographer for the Academy Award nominated movie La La Land.

7.  I don’t know if you heard of that movie.

8.  It’s called La La Land.

9.  Also, just so you know, Mandy Moore choreographed it.  The show doesn’t like to brag about it much.

10.  So You Think You Can Dance choreographer Mandy Moore did the choreography for La La Land.

11.  Twitch and Allison are literally the most adorable thing to exist, and you can’t convince me otherwise.

12.  The only thing I care about when it comes to who’s in the Top 10 is whether or not Dassy made it, because she is My Everything (by Ariana Grande).

13.  Cat just said “Rama Lama” and I got chills.  No group number will ever beat that dance.

14.  WADE ROBSON HAD A KID?!

15.  Wade Robson is straight?

16.  Oh fuck, I completely forgot about Vanessa Hudgens.

17.  Oh Mary.  Oh Mary, what are these bubble sleeves?  It looks like a 6-year old designed their ideal wedding dress.

18.  Come on, Fik-Shun, don’t let me down.  Pick Dassy.  Choose Dassy.

19.  YAS BITCH DASSY YAS!

20.  Daisy & All-Star Fik-Shun “Shake Your Pants” - Hip-hop, choreographed by Poppin Pete Watching Dassy dance just makes me smile so much.  She just looks like she’s having so much fun and it draws my eye to her.  Fid-Shun is probably one of the most talented and likable dancers on this series and I can’t even watch him right now, because Dassy’s energy completely steals the show.  I don’t really care for this routine, but it doesn’t matter, because they look like they’re having fun, so it makes me feel like I”m having fun.

21.  Vanessa Hudgens just had a full judging moment that didn’t make me want to roll my eyes.  Good job, V!

22.  I really hope Allison chose Logan. There was something about his audition for the All-Stars that made me just keep gasping.

23.  Well I’m 2 for 2 for picks.  Let’s see if I can keep this up.  Which means I just shot myself in the foot.

24.  Logan & All-Star Audrey (of whom I have NO knowledge whatsoever because I didn’t watch Season 9) “Protocol” - Contemporary, choreographed by Tyce Diorio I know Allison was concerned about Logan only being 18, but he honestly dances beyond his years.  He has a maturity about him in this routine where he’s just…in charge.  Sometimes his hands get a little weak, like the moves don’t quite reach all the way through his arms.  And I honestly didn’t watch Audrey at all, sorry ‘bout it girl.  BUT I think this is one of my favorite routines Tyce has ever done—really sexy, really dangerous—and I wish so much I could’ve seen Allison dance it with Logan.

25.  I have no idea who Audrey is, but major props to her for learning this routine literally HOURS before the performance.

26.  And Zachary got picked up to play Mr. Mestophales in Cats, which just shows that some things are meant to be, and some are not, and he should be very proud of himself.

27.  I want Jenna to have chosen Kiki because I think he’s sexy as fuck, and also because I feel like Concrete kind of gave up and that’s a big red flag.

28.  YES!  KIKI!  Three for three.

29.  Kiki and All-Star Jenna “There’s Nothing Holdin’ Me Back” - Cha-Cha, choreographed by Dmitry Chaplin First of all:  Kiki is sexy as fuuuuuuuuuuuc, holy shit.  Second of all, a Shawn Mendes song for a cha-cha?  At least it’s not that friendzone bullshit “Treat You Better.”  ANYWAY.  Kiki is an extremely good dancer when it comes to technique, but this cha-cha mostly lacks a lot of sex appeal from him (apparently I find him sexy because he’s a hot dork and not because of his dancing).  There’s only one moment where i really believe him as Jenna’s partner, and it’s when she kicks back into a développé and he has a moment of sexual chemistry with her.  Otherwise, it feels like he’s just there as a prop.  And it sucks because goddammit, Jenna is sexy as shit right now (secretly I really love her shh don’t tell) and I just keep looking at her because she’s stealing the show, simply by connecting to the style and tone of the dance.  His partner work is great, but I just need a little more OOMPH from him to really care about him as a competitor.

30.  But as long as Kiki keeps his shirt open like that, I’m good.

31.  “I’d like to dance a paso doble with him, I tell ya” is still my all-time favorite Mary Murphy moment.

32.  “It was very tough on Kiki because I found it very difficult to take my eyes off you…I just worry that the audience is not going to see a lot of your incredible world class style.”  There we go.  Nigel nailed it for me.  Kiki is a sexy dancer, but Jenna is just in this stratosphere where Kiki is going to have to WORK just to enter it.

33.  I care less about whom Cyrus chose as a partner than I do about Cyrus, which is to say very little.

34.  OH!  I do care about whom Cyrus chose, because I really want Kaylee to be on this show.  I loved her audition in a way that I loved Melanie Moore’s audition in Season 8.

35.  THANK YOU, Cyrus.  You finally did something right.  Also, 4/4.

36.  Kaylee & All-Star Cyrus “Clown” - Contemporary, choreographed by Tessandra Chavez Stunning choreography that somehow incorporates contemporary, hip-hop, and ballroom.  I don’t always love Kaylee’s face, in a way that I can’t explain.  I think her face over-acts, maybe?  But she dances the routine BEAUTIFULLY.  Her body tells the story that her face is trying too hard to tell.

37.  I’m not in the slightest bit surprised to find that Vanessa Hudgens has been in a fight where she threw shoes at someone, or at least, that she wished she had thrown shoes at someone and is just pretending she did.

38.  Honestly, if Gaby didn’t choose Lex, she’d be a moron.  I’ve had him pegged for Top 10 from his first audition.

39.  Fuck, I’ve had him pegged as Top 4 since his first audition.

40.  Good choice, Gabs.  5/5

41.  Lex & All-Star Gaby “More” - Tap, choreographed by Anthony Morigerato Lex seems really relaxed, and in a performance pocket that you only find by letting go and just being in it and feeling the groove.  This isn’t my favorite tap routine on this show, but I love it for how classically performative it is, like, the very essence of 30s/40s dancing.  It’s making me really happy because both Gaby and Lex are having fun with it.  I still think Lex has the power to make it to Top Four, especially after seeing him let go with a routine like this.

42.  “There was a really sweet, bashful, charming thing about you!”  Hudgens kind of just pointed it out:  I think Lex probably always felt like he had to be this super serious adult and no one ever let him be a kid, until Sonya and Gaby finally gave him permission.

43.  “There’s only one form of transportation on this show and it’s the HOT TAMALE TRAIN WOO-WOOOOOO!”  There was a time when I absolutely hated the Hot Tamale Train, but now I love how it’s, like, quintessential SYTYCD material.

44.  It’s like that one aunt you always thought was super over-the-top, but then you grew up and realized that she just likes to have fun and not take things too seriously.

45.  COMFORT.  MARK WAS THE FIRST AUDITIONED THIS SEASON AND HIS AUDITION HEALED ME.  PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD PICK HIM.

46.  COMFORT YOU’VE ALWAYS BEEN ONE OF MY FAVORITES AND YOU MADE THE RIGHT CHOICE THANK YOU SO MUCH.

47.  ALSO 6/6 I AM DOING SO GOOD.

48.  Mark & All-Star Comfort “REDMERCEDES” - Hip-Hop, choreographed by Luther Brown Y’all.  I don’t know what’s wrong with me, but this routine ended and I just BURST into tears.  There is something about this man that just makes my life so GOOD when I watch him dance.  It just makes everything feel better.  OKAY:  Mark has swag.  That seems like a weird thing to say, but he came out with swag and humor, and he kept up with Comfort in a style where she could easily overpower him (*cough*Kiki*cough*), but he Kept. Up.  This is definitely a routine I’d go back to watch again and again, because it was so entertaining, in both choreography and execution.

49.  “Do you know who Rufio is?”  “Yeah, bangarang, baby!”  Mark, I already want to marry you, you didn’t have to do that.

50.  “You just lit. It. Up. out there on the floor.”  File under: Things I Never Thought I’d Hear Mary Say

51.  Now that we’ve seen Mark be a complete and total ham (and apparently needing to be censored), it’ll be interesting to see if he can ever pull some sort of restraint.

52.  Remember how I love Marko?  Fuck, I love Marko.  “Turn to Stone” is still my all-time favorite routine this show has ever produced.

53.  I honestly don’t remember either of Marko’s team members, but let’s say he chooses Koine.

54.  Oh look, he chose Koine!  7/7.

55.  Koine & All-Star Marko “Memories” - Contemporary, choreographed by Stacey Tookey (so you know she was like, “This routine is about love, and a connection between two people who have very strong feelings, and just an overall sense of humanity” I mean the song is called fucking MEMORIES for God’s sake, I fucking hate Stacey Tookey but I won’t hold it against Koine and Marko) Koine’s extension is unbelievable.  Her lines are so crisp and clean and so well completed that it’s like she becomes a dull three feet longer than she is.  There’s a great moment where the combination of choreography, music, and lighting design gave me tingles, when the lights flashed like stars and suddenly everything was golden.  And just as I was about to pan Stacey fucking Tookey for this polaroid moment at the end, I Got the routine, and cry-gasped.  Fuck you, Tookey, you win this time.

56.  Goddammit, Marko is so beautiful?  Like?  I can’t?

57.  I’m going to have to go back and watch this one.  It really was magical, Stacey.

58.  And the word “magical” is not one I like to use to describe performances.

59.  But like?  Marko’s face?  It’s just?  So Beautiful?

60.  Other people I don’t remember:  Paul’s team.

61.  I 100% even forgot that Paul was one of the all-stars.

62.  He grew up into a fine-ass man, tho.  Like, damn.

63.  Let’s say he goes with Sydney, because why not?

64.  OH HE CHOSE SYDNEY!  8/8

65.  Sydney & All-Star Paul “All Stars” - Ballroom, choreographed by Val Chmerkovisky This honestly feels so much like a “Dancing With The Stars” routine.  I hate it.  I hate it so much.  I don’t care about Sydney at all, and this is the worst ballroom routine I’ve ever seen Paul do.  Like, Sydney has great legs?  And she seems to be doing everything well enough?  But Paul is super-showy, and I don’t see a connection between the two of them at all.  I blame the choreography, which I absolutely hate, like, wtf Val.

66.  Oh, right, Val is a DWTS choreographer.  ‘Nuff said.

67.  “What beautiful ankles you have” is a compliment you’d only hear on a show like this, and I love it.

68.  Sydney really does have great ankles though.

69.  MY BOYFRIEND ROBERT ROLDAN IS ABOUT TO DANCE A TRAVIS WALL ROUTINE NOBODY LOOK AT ME.

70.  I don’t remember Jonathan or Taylor, but to be honest, I don’t remember a lot of this season’s auditions.

71.  I kind of hope Robert chooses Jonathan just so I can see two guys dance together this, but I’m gonna say he chose Taylor.

72.  Oh look, I’m 9/9.

73.  I just realized Cat Deeley’s outfit looks like the dress version of Britney Spears red leather jumpsuit from the “Oops” video.

74.  Taylor & All-Star Robert “Change is Everything” - Contemporary, choreographed by Travis Wall Stunning body control from both of them.  Beautiful shapes.  This choreography is ridiculous.  Really elegant but animalistic at the same time.  This routine is A Story that 100 people could interpret 100 different ways, and Robert and Taylor are Telling It.  It ends with this great forward drop from Taylor and Robert stiff-arm catching her, and I just went, “Oh!”  Absolutely amazing.  I’m speechless.

75.  Also, Travis, here’s your next Emmy nomination. I’m going to watch this 700 times to catch all 700 stories, especially considering the lyrical play on words “This moment, change is everything” “This moment changes everything.”

76.  And you guys, Robert was supposed to have NEVER DANCED AGAIN I AM A MESS.

77.  Nigel hasn’t remembered any of the dancers I haven’t remembered, and that makes me feel very, very worried.

78.  Okay, Jasmine.  Let’s round it out with 100%.

79.  I don’t remember her team either, fuck.

80.  I’m gonna say Robert.

81.  Holy shit, I just went 10/10 choosing the Top 10.  ALSO HE LOOKS SO HAPPY TO BE IN THE TOP TEN GOOD CHOICE JASMINE.

82. Robert & All-Star Jasmine “Perm” - Hip-hop, choreographed by Chris Scott Robert is a total showman.  He might not have the technique or be the best dancer, but he goes out and lays it all out there, and just has a shit ton of fun.  He knows how to work choreography and the crowd to make it a good time for all.  Halfway thru, the choreography gets kinda “meh” for me, which happens with a lot of Chris Scott routines for me (he’s the Ryan Murphy of dance), but it’s saved by Jasmine and Robert having the attitude to sell it.

83.  The fact that Jasmine was one of Beyonce’s dancers makes me so fucking happy and inappropriately proud.

84.  Group Performance - All Performers “This Time” - Jazz, choreographed by Wade & Amanda Robson, and Tony Testa I feel like the routine built up to a moment that didn’t happen at the end, and it was no Rama Lama, but who cares.  It was a fucking mind-bend to watch.

My Top Three 1.  Taylor & All-Star Robert - “Change Is Everything” 2.  Mark & All-Star Comfort - “REDMERCEDES” 3.  Koine & All-Star Marko - “Memories”

My Bottom Three 3.  Kaylee & All-Star Cyrus - “Clown”:  When I thought back on the routines, I didn’t remember this one. 2.  Kiki & All-Star Jenna - “There’s Nothing Holding Me Back”:  Jenna sold it, but Kiki is the competitor and he didn’t shine 1.  Sydney & All-Star Paul - “All Star”:  I hated everything about this performance

[babeyvenus]

The Wolf Among Us

Bigby x OC

Summary: Sonya Blaze, A.K.A. Hell Rider, is a half fable, half mundy girl who comes to Fabletown to learn more about her side of the folktales. She works alongside Sheriff Bigby Wolf's as his newest partner and together they strive to find out who's behind the unexpected murders in Fabletown.

TW: Mentions of death, gore/blood, alcohol, smoking drugs, sex implications, suicide, guns and ofc language.

°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

Chapter 10: A Trashy Funeral

“That fucking creep…!”, Bigby growls, stomping out of the room. “Spineless little fuckin’ rat!”

“Crane? Ugh! God, you’d think you know a person.”, Beauty said as she followed Bigby down the hall.

“Bigby, you have to tell her.”, she said. “I know!”, Bigby yells at her as he strides down the stairs and enters the lobby.

“What’s going on?”, Beast asked, worriedly. “What did you find up there?”

Bigby storms up to a payphone, dialing the Business Office number, “Crane’s the killer.”, Bigby huffs, angrily. “What? Ichabod Crane? How do you know?”, Beast asked. Bigby didn’t answer him and growled at the non functional phone. “Shit!”

“Crane’s been–”, Beauty was interrupted when Bigby yanked the phone off the wall, even more furious now. “Whoa! Bigby, calm down.”, Beauty ordered. “Everything’s going to be fine, okay? It’s gonna be fine."

"Will someone please explain this to me?”, Beast asked, looking between Bigby and Beauty. “That perverted little fucker might be after Sonya. I need to find her right now!”, Bigby explained, pacing in anger.

"Okay, i-it’s going to be okay.”, Beauty said in a calm tone. “Where did you see her last? Did she say where she was going?”

“She went to join Snow and Holly at the Business Office. To prepare for the funeral.” Bigby explained. “Lily’s funeral?”, Beast asked, his eyes widening. “Yeah.”, Bigby says, looking at him.. Beauty looked at the taller man in confusion. “How do you know–”

“I was just at the Trip Trap, and I heard Gren telling some folks about a funeral at the Buckingham Bridge–” She cut him off. “The Trip Trap? Are you drinking?”

“When?”, Bigby asked Beast.

“Right now. They were on their way out.”, Beast answered, making Bigby rush out of the Hotel. “Bigby!”, Beauty shouts after him, chasing him onto the streets. “Wait!”, Beauty shouts. Bigby stops, huffing to himself before turning to Beauty. “What?!”

“Sonya seems like such a sweet girl. I don’t know her all that well but so far, you seem to know her a bit better. This might change things for her,” Beauty said.

“What are you trying to say?” Bigby asked her, his face scrunching in frustration. “You know how you felt when you saw that picture? Well, it’s going to be much worse for her. Trust me. No girl wants to see, let alone, know that someone they thought they knew would do that to them.”, Beauty said. Bigby sighs before rushing to the funeral.

The Buckingham Bridge

Bigby walks over to the small funeral after getting out of the cab he came in. His ears perk up at the sound of Sonya’s voice singing for the funeral. “You're my backbone. You're my cornerstone. You're my crutch when my legs stop moving. You're my headstart. You're my rugged heart. You're the pulse that I've always needed,” Bigby walks up to see her strumming a guitar and singing with a black button up shirt and pants, in front of a fire.

Holly, Gren, Nerissa and Vivian were watching her from the benches. Snow was standing next to her, smiling sadly and she was in a black skirt and a red dress shirt with a black suit jacket.

“Like a drum, baby, don't stop beating. Like a drum, baby, don't stop beating. Like a drum, my heart never stops beating.”, she sung, catching Bigby’s eyes and smiled a bit before continuing. He walked by a table, reading notes and looking at certain objects.

Bigby picks up a card that had a scenic picture of a bridge over a river and opens it to read it.

“I’ll miss worrying about you. I’ll miss our fights I’ll miss you.”

-Holly

Bigby sets the card down and picks up another one that was blue with a fancy design around the edges.

“Now you will never die from indifference or lead a tedious life. Goodbye, sweetheart. Thanks for everything.”

-Vivian

He sets that card down, as he hears Snow starting to speak, and picks up the last one, this one had a picture of a mountain.

“You were a big bright shining star in this shithole of a town, and I miss you already.”

-Gren

He finishes reading, setting everything down and frowned. He looked at Sonya as she sang her last lyric and looked at him. "Bigby, is everything okay?”, Snow asked him. Everyone turned around to see Bigby standing behind them. “No, not you.”, Holly growled as she stormed to him. “Holly, it’s–”

“He wasn’t fucking invited.”, Holly told Snow. “Holly wait.”, Snow said as she placed a hand on her shoulder. “He has no right to be here. Not after what he did.”, Holly said. “Holly, I’m sorry, but I had to come.”, Bigby frowned sadly.

“You throw my sister down the Witching Well….and you have the nerve to show your face here? After you lie….after you promise me?”, Holly asked, outraged. “Holly, wait, that was Crane, just Crane. He’d….disposed of Lily’s body before Bigby could do anything about it.”, Sonya said as she walked up to Holly. Holly glares at her. “When we left your bar, we never went back to the Business Office!”, she exclaimed.

“Don’t cover for him.”, Holly growls at her. “But this genuinely wasn’t his fault.”, Snow reassures. “You two can’t tell me Bigby gives a shit about this.”, Holly said, looking at Snow in shock.

“I’m sorry, Holly. I didn’t know he put her down the Witching Well.”, Bigby said, shaking his head with a sad look. Holly’s eyes widen for a moment then looks down at her feet.

“Bigby cares, Holly. He’s trying to help.” Sonya said. “We all do.”

"I’m sure he has a very good reason for being here.“ Snow said as she glared at Bigby then looked back over at Holly. "But this one isn’t on him.”

“Why are you here, anyway? And don’t say it’s cause you care about this.”, Gren said as he turned to face Bigby. “Everything okay?”, Sonya asked Bigby. He looked at her sadly and looked away, shaking his head. He turned to Holly.

“I think I know who murdered your sister.”, Bigby told Holly, making her eyes widen. “Who?”, she asked, shocked. “Maybe we should talk about this somewhere else?”, Snow said, hinting she wanted to keep it private.

“What? No! I deserve to know!”, Holly yelled at her in disbelief. “That’s true.”, Sonya said. “I know, I know, but….This isn’t the way to go about this.”, Snow said, shaking her head. “I don’t give a fuck about the way. I don’t care about procedure. If anyone should be told, it’s me, it’s us. Right now.”, Holly ordered.

“I think it was Ichabod Crane.”, Bigby said, shocking everyone. “Crane?” Sonya asked. “Crane.”, Holly growled to herself. “Okay, okay, look, Sonya, Bigby and I are going to have a little chat while everyone else gets back to the funeral.”, Snow said.

“What?! He says that fucking Crane murdered Lily and you expect me to–”

“We promise we will tell you what the hell is going on just as soon as we know there’s something to tell, but just let us do our jobs, first. Please.”, Sonya said.

Holly glares at her and folds her arms across her chest. “Look, Holly, I know how this—” Sonya starts to explain but Holly cuts her off. “No. You don’t know how this feels. You have no idea.”, she growls at her.

Sonya frowns, looking away. “Believe it or not, Holly, I do. Its the reason why I’m here in the first place.”, she says. Holly’s face softens.

She turns to Bigby, “Don’t fuck anything up. Don’t bother anybody. And when the first sign of trouble comes, and it will come, because you’re a fucking walking trap for it, I want you the fuck out of here. You hear me?"

"Of course. You won’t even know I’m here.”, Bigby nodded. Sonya pulls Bigby away from the crowd, he kept his head down as she led him away.

“Crane?”, Sonya asked him. “Yeah.”, Bigby said, not meeting her eyes. She looked at him, shaking her head. “I mean, he was a prick but him??” Bigby finally looks at her. “Sonya, you’re a target.” She held up her hand to stop him. “If this is your way of telling me to lay low or to leave Fabletown, you got another thing coming.”

His shoulders slumped as he let out a sigh, “Its just a suggestion.” Sonya shook her head, “Its a stupid ass suggestion.”

Snow walked up to them. “Okay, Crane?? Are you sure?” Bigby nodded. “This is someone I’ve worked with for decades.” Snow said in disbelief. “This is a guy- he gets the frickin’ shakes when he has to order food. I mean, what are you telling us? It’s all an act? Just what have you found?”

“Lily was Crane’s prostitute. I followed a lead to this shit hole motel. The Open Arms.”, he says, looking at Snow. “Crane had a room there, and he’s been taking prostitutes….or, at the very least Lily…and making her look like you while he was… you know.”, Bigby said to Sonya.

Sonya swallowed, shaking her head, “I looked this guy in his eye, and trusted him to do his job.” She spaced out, scoffing softly, “I don’t even know what to say right now….I really don’t. I’m just trying everything I can right now….to not picture it. To not picture him.” She covered her mouth as she turned away, looking up at the sky, holding back oncoming tears. “I’m sorry, Sonya.” Bigby apologized softly.

“You’re sure this is what happened? This is what he’s been doing?”, Snow asked Bigby. Sonya turned to face Bigby with glassy eyes. “Please, Bigby. Tell me he didn’t. Please tell me this is a trick.” His heart panged in sadness, seeing her holding back any frustration or sadness herself.

Bigby digs in his pocket, hesitantly pulls out the photo and hands it to her. She took it and instantly her heart dropped. The more she stared at the picture, she felt bile bubbling in her throat. “I’m so sorry.”, Bigby said, looking down.

Her eyes fluttered as she covered her mouth, finally letting her tears fall. She handed the picture to Snow, making her gasp. She looked up at Bigby and asked. “You took a cab here, right?”

“Yeah.”, he nodded. Sonya walks away for a bit, letting out a heavy breath. “Snow?” Nerissa speaks up. Sonya quickly wipes her tears away before turning to the mermaid. Snow said, “Nerissa. What is it?”

“I’m sorry, but Holly’s asking for you and Sonya.”, Nerissa said. “Are they starting the burn?”, Snow asked her. “Yes.”, she nodded. “Everyone who spoke should really be present for this part…she’s kinda distraught. You guys are not leaving yet, are you?”, Nerissa asked.

Snow looks at her then at Sonya. “Can you tell her I’m not feeling okay? And that I’m sorry.”, Sonya said, placing her hands in her pockets. "I'm just gonna hang back for a little while." Nerissa nods at her and Snow walks over to Holly while Nerissa stays.

Sonya looks at the floor as Nerissa looks at Bigby, “How’d it go? At the motel? Did you find anything?”

“Yeah….Lily was killed there. It was an awful mess.”, Bigby frowned deeply. “Oh…”, Nerissa said, sadly. “Nerissa!”, Vivian called. Nerissa turned to her. “Coming!”

Sonya let out another shaky sigh, making Bigby look over at her. “You okay?”, he asked, sadly. She chuckled, wiping at her eyes. “I’ll be fine.”

Bigby frowns and hesitantly wraps his arm around her, making her bite her lip, as she felt more tears coming. “This is so stupid...", she muttered, wiping her tears on her shoulder, sniffling and leaned into his hold.

“We’re gonna get this done. I promise.”, he says. She nodded. Suddenly, the atmosphere thickened as they felt something metal pressed against their backs. “Constables.”, a familiar voice said.

“Fuck me…”, Sonya shook her head, looking up at the sky as she recognizes the voices.

Bigby turns to see the Tweedles and stops as a barrel was pushed into his back. “Wait, wait, wait, easy now, girls.”, Dee whispered, smirked. “You know how this goes. The first thing in a visit? You say, “How do ya do?”.”

“How do ya do?”, Dum repeated.

“Now is really not the time for whatever you jag-offs are planning to do.”, Bigby growls lowly, keeping Sonya pressed into his side. “Well isn’t that the thing of it? Plans.”, Dee says. “Except it isn’t our plans you should be concernin’ yourself with.”, Dum grumbles.

“I’m still hurtin’, you know, from our talk in the cell. We’ll snip to the chase, for all’s sake. A little bird told us that you’re fittin’ to go after Crane.”, Dee mentioned to Bigby as he pokes at their backs, making Sonya let out another breath.

Bigby notices this, practically hearing her heart pound into her chest and gets angrier. “And you see, we have an interest in that particular boy.”

“So you leave Crane alone, and we’ll leave you and your girl alone.”, Dum warns, cheerfully.

“Just take a little vacation, is all.”, Dee suggested.

“Don’t even have to go anywhere.”, said Dum.

“Just sit in your office and whistle to Heaven for a few short days. Or spend some time with your girl here.”, Dee said as he pokes his barrel at Sonya’s back again, making her take deep breaths.

“You have three seconds to fuck off before this goes to a place you don’t want it to.”, Bigby threatened.

“Oh, I don’t have my stop-watch on me.”, Dee says, shrugging. “So what’s it gonna be? We have a deal? You leave Crane alone and we leave you to yours?”, he tried to bargain.

Holly looks over and sees what was going on and she starts marching towards them. “Fastly, now,” Dee rushes.

“You think this act you got going scares me? ‘Cause it doesn’t.”, Bigby whispered harshly to the brothers. “That don’t sound like a yes to me.”, Dum said. “Always wanting to do things the fun way….”, Dee mutters, then he and Dum remove their guns away from Sonya and Bigby’s back.

Bigby drops his arms, stepping away and pulled her behind him, backing away. Dee shouts at the crowd. “Ladies! Gentlemen! Invertebrates! Please! Rest easy, this is not–”

“What the hell is going on?”, Gren asked, growled.

“What’s happening?”, Snow asked.

“Very sorry to impose, but we only had a deal to work out with Bigby. And we’re unhappy to report that things did not go as smoothly as planned.”, Dee announced.

“Bigby, what is he talking about?”, Snow asked. “Never you mind that, it ain’t any of your–” Dum was cut off by Bigby. “They want us to leave Crane alone.”, Bigby admitted. “Crane?”, Snow asked, confused.

“Awww, now you shouldn’t’ve done that, old boy, really.”, Dee said, angrily.

“That wasn’t right, tellin’ everyone our dealings.”, agreed Dum.

Both Bigby and Sonya jumped at the sound of a roar. Holly had transformed into a troll. “What did I tell you? What did I say?”, she yelled, angrily, to Bigby.

“Holly…”, Sonya walks from behind Bigby, holding her hands out in warning. Gren transformed into his monster form and snarls at the Tweedles. “You think you mother fuckers can come here uninvited? You think you can just fuckin’ interrupt Lily’s funeral?!”

“Calm down, darling. It was just a simple business transaction.”, Dee warned while Bigby joined Sonya to defend against the Tweedles. “You fuckin’ freaks are not getting away with this!”, Holly roars, angrily.

“Holly! Don’t move!”, Snow ordered.

“Holly, just let us handle this.”, Bigby said.

“Yes, let’s spare all the fuss. It’s just a dead whore.”, Dee sneered with a smirk.

“I’m gonna kill you!”, Gren snarls as Holly roars.

Holly charges at Dee but he shoots her in the chest, making her fall. “Holly!”, Sonya yells in worry and saw Gren smack Dum.

“I got it, Dum.”, Dee said, ready to defend his brother. Bigby charges at him, grabs his gun and shoves him against large pipes.

Bigby pulls the gun out of Dee’s hand and punches him, knocking him out. Dum shoots Gren, making Sonya rush at him with a chain. He notices this and shoots at her, the buckshot grazing her shoulder. She grits her teeth and wraps her chain around him, yanking him towards her and punches him, making him stumble back a bit.

He groans, growls at her and throws her against a pillar. The sound of Sonya’s shout of pain makes Bigby turn his way toward her.

He rushes to get Dum but gets shot in the shoulder instead. “Big..by…”, Sonya murmured, watching everything unfurl through blurry eyesight.

Snow ran over to her and helped her up. “They got away…”, Snow says. Sonya nods and looks over at Holly. Snow goes to check on Holly, placing her hands on her shoulders.

Sonya sees Bigby sit up and looks over at her. She gave him a grimace and got up to check up on Gren, feeling a faint pulse. She sighed and looked at Snow who gave her a worried look.

Business Office

Back at the Business Office, Bufkin was picking up the broken pieces of the shattered mirror off of the floor, putting the pieces back together. Snow,in her normal uniform, was standing by, watching him.

Sonya sits on Crane's desk, stitching her wound up. Bigby, now shirtless, was getting patched up by Dr. Swineheart. He glanced at Sonya from over his shoulder, wincing every time he saw her poke the needle through her skin.

“She’ll be fine, Sheriff.”, Swineheart says, finishing up. “I did as well as I could to take out the buckshots, but there’s still some shards embedded in your shoulder. They’ll eventually worm their way out on their own but….until they do, you’re gonna be sore.”

Snow turned to Bigby, "Bigby, Doctor Swineheart was appointed Fabletown physician for a reason.“

Swineheart shook his head. "It’s okay, there’s only one thing to take away from all this: take it easy.”, Swineheart said as he looked at Bigby then looked at Sonya. “Both of you. I don't want you to become a frequent patient like him.” Sonya sighed, “Yes sir.”

Bigby leans up off of the desk and stands up straight, stretching his arms. “Don’t go looking for any more fights. Keep strain off your heart, Bigby.”, Swineheart ordered.

“How’s everyone else? They all make it?”, Bigby asked, worriedly.

“They’re fine. I had everyone that got wounded sent home. Holly refused to let me see where she lived, so I left her and Grendel back at her bar with a dose of juniper and spring water.” Swineheart informed, but Bigby still had a worried look on his face. “They’re Titans, Bigby. They’ll be fine.”, Swineheart reassured him. “Just remember what I said. The stitches won’t hold up if you continue to act….like you normally do.”

Swineheart walked over to Sonya, looking over her sutures as she finished. “Remember what I said. And keep your ice pack on you for a few minutes.” Sonya gives him a smile. “I’ll try not to melt it.”

Swineheart shakes his head with a small smile and picks up his medical bag, preparing to leave. “Everything in moderation. And, uh, eat more chicken, Bigby.”, he recommended. “I’ll try to.”, Bigby gives him a smile.

Swineheart nods. “Very good then.” The phone rings next to Sonya, and Snow picks up. “Business Office.”, Snow answered. “I know, I’ll have to call you back.” She hangs up and turns to her partners. “The town is starting to find out….”

“Well, I’ll leave you three to it, then. Miss White. Miss Blaze. Bigby.”, Swineheart said and he walked out of the office.

Sonya sighed, hiding behind the desk and switched shirts. She stands up, smoothing her red shirt out and glances at Bigby who was still shirtless. He looks over at her, putting a hand on his hip. “How’re you feeling?’

“Like I got trampled. I’ll live. What about you? You took a whole buckshot to the shoulder.”, she said, looking at his patched shoulder. He smiles at her worried tone. “I’m fine.”

She looked him up and down, scratching her head as she looked down in embarrassment from staring for too long. Snow walked up behind her, “So…”

“So, to recap…”, Sonya said, returning to her place on Crane’s desk. “Crane watched me through the Magic Mirror uncovering his room at the Open Arms Hotel.”, Bigby says, getting dressed. “Then he smashed it so we couldn’t use it ourselves to go after him. And we know this because Bufkin was drinking in the rafters. That about cover it?”, Bigby asked as he sticks his head out, fixing up his tie.

Snow speaks up, “Once Bufkin puts all the pieces back together….it’ll be easy to catch Crane. So….I guess that’s the plan.”

Bigby walks out from behind the blinds, finished. “So that’s the plan? Just wait for the mirror?”

“It’s all we have right now.”, Snow sighed. “What the hell is going on? Just— I don’t know what the Tweedles get out of this. I don’t know if Crane sent them, I don’t know if- I mean, this is gonna sound crazy, but….do you really think Crane did it?”

“I’m just as confused as you are to be honest. I don’t know…” Bigby says, rubbing at his temples. “It just doesn’t make sense.”

“He was a conniver, a-a coward, a liar. And I’ll always hate him for that. And I’ll hate him for how he….held me in his thoughts.”, Sonya growls, looking at her hands. She looks up at them. "But murdering prostitutes…“

They all turned to the sound of Bufkin’s yelp in pain. "Everything okay over there?”, Snow asked. “Yes, Miss White. Just cut myself on a piece of the glass! Nothing to worry about.”, Bufkin reassures. Bigby sighs. “I just feel bad for Holly, really.”, Bigby said, frowning.

Sonya frowns sadly. “Time heals everything, eventually. At least, I hope so….for her sake.”

“Can I, uh, ask you a question? It’s kinda personal…”, Snow said, walking up to Bigby. “What’s on your mind?”, he asked, getting worried.

“It’s just….when stuff hits the fan, like it did tonight, it feels like before we came to the city. It feels kind of like home.”, she says, turning away. “And I’ve heard it said….that maybe….in some tiny bottled up way, deep inside….you enjoy it….when things go wrong. Because it gives you an excuse to….just, you know…stop pretending.”, Snow said.

Sonya looked up at her, scoffing. “You’re shitting me, right?”

“Fuck no, I don’t enjoy it! Are you kidding me?! It’s horrible what happened tonight. I wish it didn’t happen!”, Bigby responded, appalled and angrily. He felt taken aback by what she said.

“Why would you even ask that?”, Sonya asked her in disbelief. Snow looks over at her sadly then looks away. “I shouldn’t have said anything. Forget that I did.”

Sonya narrows her eyes at Snow. ‘She really talks too much…’

[babeyvenus]

The Wolf Among Us

Bigby x OC

Summary: Sonya Blaze, A.K.A. Hell Rider, is a half fable, half mundy girl who comes to Fabletown to learn more about her side of the folktales. She works alongside Sheriff Bigby Wolf's as his newest partner and together they strive to find out who's behind the unexpected murders in Fabletown.

TW: Mentions of death, gore/blood, alcohol, drugs, sex implications, suicide, guns and ofc language.

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Chapter 3: Rough Night

After the ruckus with the Woodsman, we went back to the Woodlands. “You have a key to your place?”, he asks. I nod, “Yeah”. He looked at me in disbelief. “How’d you manage to get that door open? I couldn’t get in without almost breaking the handle.” I chuckle. “Well, it took a few tries until I lifted the door a little and gave it a little kick. A little.”, I emphasized.

He rubbed behind his neck. “I guess you’re a little gentler than I am.” I smile. “You’ll get there.” We walked up to the entrance of the Woodlands, him holding the door open for me as I walked in. We both paused to hear rustling leaves behind a tree. Bigby crossed his arms. “Don’t make me come over there.”

A woman comes from behind a tree timidly. Bigby lowered his arms. “Beauty.” This is Beauty? From Beauty and The Beast? She’s a lot different than Disney’s version….

“Hello Bigby. And…?”, she greeted, before seeing me. I wave, giving her smile. “Sonya.” She smiles at me. “Its a little late to be out here.”, Bigby says. She stepped off of the grass. “I know it looks a little odd, but I’ve got an explanation for this.” Bigby sighs. “Okay.” She steps away timidly. “Just don’t tell Beast you saw me. Its not what you think it is, I’m just working.”

This late…? “Sure…”, Bigby says. Beauty nodded and slipped out of the entrance. Bigby sighs heavily and walks to the building. I followed behind, taking note of the sleeping doorman. “Very hardworking, Grimble.”, I mutter. Of course he wouldn’t have heard me. We walked to the elevators, ready to get upstairs until another person stopped us.

“Bigby, have you seen my wife? Have you seen Beauty?”, the man asks. That’s Beast!? What’s going on between them….? Bigby shook his head. “We haven’t seen her.” Beast huffs. “Dammit! There’s something going on…”

Bigby quickly pushes the close doors button, making the doors shut and lift the elevator. “I gotta Swineheart to do a check up on you.”, he says. I look at him in confusion. “Why? I’m fine.”

He pokes my side, making me wince and hold my side. “Sure…”, he mutters, crossing his arms again. The elevator opens and he walks out. “Let’s go.” He leads me to my apartment and waits for me. I unlock the door and show him how to open it. I pause. Why am I showing him? I glance at him and he looks at me. “What?”

I shake my head, letting out a soft sigh. “Nothing. Just don’t make fun of my place. I don’t have much. Yet.” I open the door and turn on the lights, the brightness making my eyes squint. He looked around and closed the door. “Huh. Looks no different than my place. Aside from the fact it looks cleaner and smells cleaner.”

I looked at him. “You really do have the smallest apartment, don’t you?” He looked at me with an eyebrow raised. “What, you thought it was a joke?”, he asks, walking over to my couch and sits down.

“I mean...I just think its kinda unfair to give you the smallest apartment since,” I gestured to him. “Y’know…” He leaned up a bit, placing his arms on his knees with an amused expression. “No, I don’t know. Since I’m now intrigued by your concern, what do you mean?”

I narrowed my eyes at him for a bit. “Now, I don’t wanna tell. Aren’t you supposed to be calling this Swineheart guy?” He perked up at that. “I forgot.” He looked around. “You don’t have a phone here?” I walked over to my lamp table and pulled my phone from my bag. “I kinda figured I wouldn’t need it while we were out since you guys don’t use cellphones nor know how they work. Just give me his number.”

Bigby told me his Swineheart’s number and I handed him my phone. He took it and held it to his ear, giving Swineheart my address. Moments later, we heard a knock on my door. Bigby went to answer it and greeted a grey haired man. “This is Dr. Swineheart. He’s Fabletown’s physician.”

I got up to greet him and he gave me a tired smile. “Its nice to meet you. Now, what’s the problem?”I rubbed my side. “We kinda fought the Woodsman and I’m sore.” Bigby rolled his eyes, sitting on my couch. “He broke her ribs. I heard it.”

I frowned at his snitching. Swineheart hummed. “Can I take a look?” I hesitantly lifted my shirt to show him the damage. It was a dark bruise showing, not too big but big enough to catch anyone’s eye. He sighed. “They’re definitely broken.”, Swineheart says, making Bigby huff in satisfaction. I turned to glare at him, but he was facing a window with his chin propped in his palm.

I faced Swineheart, shaking my head as he let out an amused snort. “I can give you a medicinal patch to get rid of the bruise and heal your ribs from the inside since you’re half mundy.” I look at him with curious eyes. “You know?” He nods. “I suspected as much considering there shouldn’t be any mundies here but you survived an attack that would’ve killed you and you have no idea who I am, so it wasn’t all that hard to piece together.”

He reaches into his bag and hands me a patch. I took off the plastic wrap and gently stuck it to my side. “Alright. Now, in a few minutes, you should feel a little tingling and it should be working to heal you.”, Swineheart says. I nodded. “Thanks Doc.” He smiles, gives us both a nod before leaving.

I sigh and turn to Bigby. “What about you? Didn’t you need a check up?” He looks at me. “I called him for you, not me.”, he says and gets up. He places a hand on my shoulder. “Just make sure to get some rest. I’ll check on you later.” With that, he leaves. I take his advice and sway over to my couch. Laying down, I snuggle into the cushions and close my eyes.

Bigby’s POV

After leaving Sonya’s place, I went to mine, ready to just sleep in my chair. Hopefully Colin isn’t in it. I walked in the door and went to the kitchen to clean my face before taking my phone off of the ringer. I need some peace…

I opened a window to get fresh air in the place before walking over to my chair. To my disappointment, I saw the pig in my chair, knocked out. I nudged him awake. He yawns, “Oh, hey, Bigby.” I stared at him with a frown. “I’m in your chair, aren’t I?”, he asks. “Its the only one here.”, I tell him. He waddles out of the chair and sits across from me. I sit in with a huff and pull out my cigarettes, tapping the bottom and popping one in my mouth.

“Got a smoke?”, I hear Colin ask before looking at him. I sighed through my nose and lit the cigarette. Before I got up, I took a drag before blowing it out and handing it to him. I sat back in my seat, sighing out my drag. “Thanks, Bigby. A couple more thousand of these and you’’l be out of debt.”

I rubbed my eyes. “This has to stop. You cannot be sneaking off the Farm like this.”, I say. He didn’t like that. “The fresh air and sunshine pitch they sell you is complete bullshit. I didn’t escape the Homelands just to end up in some prison, okay? Don’t send me back there, Bigby. You don’t know what its like over there.”, Colin says, as I get up to get some bourbon. “That’s a little dramatic, don’t you think?”, I ask, pouring the drink in the cup.

“That for me?”, he asked once I brought the cup to my lips. “Nope.”, I say, walking out of the kitchen. “I’m just saying, the house didn’t blow itself down. Do with that what you will.Now I’m not saying it’s reason enough for me to have definitely been offered a drink, but…uh….it would have helped ease some of the pain you once caused me, yes. It also would have shown everyone how different you are now.”, he says and I take a sip. “I take it all back. This is why everyone hates you.”, he says. I pause and turn to him. “So, everyone hates me?” He smirked. “No, I’m just shittting you.”

I roll my eyes and go back to my chair. “No, hate’s the wrong word. Its more of fear. They fear you more than anything. You did eat a lot of people back in your day.” I shake my head. “I thought we were all supposed to have a fresh start here. I can’t change the past.”

“Well, you can’t change people’s memories either.”, Colin says, as we sit down. I frown at him. “Look, I’m not saying its fair, but its real. People are scared of you. Look at your knuckles.” I looked down to see my knuckles reddened and bruised. “Who’d you get into a fight with? A fable, right? There’s no way you’re punching Mundies.”

“I was actually doing my job, believe it or not.”, I say. Colin frowns in disbelief. “Your job is to beat the shit out of fables?” When they get out of line, yes.

I stayed quiet. “Fuck you.”, Colin muttered. I sighed harshly. “You think my job is easy? You try keeping a bunch of fables from killing each other. How do you think this all works?” Colin rolled his eyes. “I dunno. How?”

I relaxed in my seat. “By being big and being bad.” Colin cringed. “By being biggg and being baddd. Don’t say that shit. Its embarrassing.” I blink at him and take a sip again, trying to tune him out.

“That’s the attitude that gets you in trouble. I’m sure you were shitty to everyone you came across tonight.” said Colin.

“Not everyone.” I mutter with my lips on the cup. This intrigued Colin. “Name one.” I hum. “I’ve got a new partner, she doesn’t seem to hate me. And this other girl we met tonight… I don’t actually know her name.”

“Awesome. Great example.” said Colin, sarcastically. I prop my chin in my hand, now irritated. “Life is easier with friends, Bigby, and we live a long fuckin’ time. This whole lone wolf thing isn’t working, I mean, I’ve seen the way you look at Snow, okay? You’re not fooling me.”

I looked down at my lap. Its true that I do care about Snow but...I think she cares more about her job than anything. I sigh softly. “Colin, seriously, can I just get some time to rest?”

“Well, maybe if my throat wasn’t so parched I wouldn’t have to keep talking.”, Colin replies. I gave him an incredulous look. “That doesn’t make sense-”

“Just give me the drink, please?”, Colin exasperatedly begged. I rubbed my face, “Colin, enough already. I haven’t slept in two days. I went out a second story window and I just wanna get two seconds of shut eye before-”

He gave me the saddest look he could muster up. I looked at my drink then back at him. “Look, if I give you this, will you please let me sleep?” He rolled his eyes. “Yeah, yeah, alright. Probably.”

I sighed, getting up and handed him the cup. He smiles. “Thanks Bigby.” I say nothing and get back in my seat, laying my head back and closed my eyes.

Sonya’s POV

I woke up abruptly to the sound of loud knocking. I wiped my face and walked up to my door to cuss whoever is here this late. I opened the door, glaring at-

“Snow? What the hell?”, I groaned, rubbing my eyes. “I’m sorry, but you have to come with me.”, she says, looking fidgety. “Alright.”, she takes off and I put my shoes on. I leave my place, closing my door and seeing her and Bigby walk towards me.

He looks at me in confusion. “You slept okay?” I grumble. “I slept dandy.” He shakes his head. “I can tell. Your hair tells it all.”, he says, leaving me to pull out my phone and look at my hair. My cheeks burn as I fix it and catch up to them.

We exited the Woodlands, our eyes catching onto a security guard jacket splayed out on the ground. I frowned at Snow. “Please don’t tell me you brought us out here to show us a small dead animal that you could’ve gotten Grimble to bury. I don’t wanna see that.”

She looked at me with a frown. “Of course not. Its worse.” I crossed my arms. “How bad is it?” Bigby went over to the jacket and pulled up. His eyes widened and glanced at me. “What?”, I asked, walking over to him as he pulled the jacket back to reveal a decapitated head.

My heart dropped to my stomach as I saw the girl from earlier. We just saved her. We just talked to her…. “W-What the hell…?”, I whispered in shock. I gagged a bit, looking at her dead expression. I dropped down next to Bigby as he looked away. “I assume you two know her.”, Snow says.

“Barely caught her name.”, Bigby says. “She’s a working girl.” Snow looked at him in confusion. “I’m a working girl. I don’t,” I look at her with a frown. She looked back at me, realization coming to her face. “Oh…”

I couldn’t help but stare into the girl’s dead eyes. I couldn’t get anything. Last moments...nothing. I let out a shaky breath and covered my face. “We saved her today. The Woodsman was beating on her.”

“Who found her…?”, I asked. Snow responded, “I did.” I brought my hands down and looked at the girl again. “She was just like this. I didn’t touch her. I grabbed Grimble’s jacket to cover her with, then… I came to get you two right away.” Snow explained.

“No one else came?” I asked. She shook her head. “Bigby, Sonya, did one of us…do this?”

“There hasn’t been a murder in Fabletown in a long time…” Bigby says, looking at her. I sighed. “Then we shouldn’t cause a panic yet. We can’t let anyone know. Not yet…”, I say.

I heard Bigby grunt softly as he got up. I look up to see him holding a ribbon. “This was hers.”, he says, frowning and analyzing it. I looked back at her and gently closed her eyes. “We should look for clues.”, I say, walking away. I walked over to the left side of the gate, not seeing anything. Maybe whoever came here came over and dropped her head off.

They’d look crazy to come to the front and drop it off. I pinched the bridge of my nose, trying to get her face out of my head. I looked over to see Bigby crouching by Snow. I raised an eyebrow, walking over to them. “What’re you doing?”

He looks up at me and shows me a piece of blue fabric. I looked at Snow since she was the only one with blue fabric. She shrugged and I shook my head.

“We should move her. No one else needs to see this.”, I say, walking over to the head and covered her up before picking her up and holding her with care. “You don’t have to do that.”, Bigby says, looking at me with concern.

“Its okay. We need to figure out what happened. I just-”, I shake my head. “I should’ve known something was wrong. Wherever she worked seemed to be treating her horribly. I should’ve asked more questions.”

He walked over to me. “You cannot blame yourself for this. You saw how she barely answered our questions from the beginning.”

He’s right but...how could it even get this bad…? “I’ve gotta tell Crane about this.”, Snow says. “How do you think he’s gonna take this…?”, I asked her. “He may be upset. Since he is Deputy Mayor, this has to be announced to him.”, she says. Bigby grumbled. “I guess it’d be a pain if we kept it from him.”

“Hopefully he won't be too upset.”, I say. Bigby shakes his head. “Don’t hold your breath.”

He turns to me, “Let me take this to Swineheart. You go on in with Snow.” I reluctantly gave him the head and he takes it, giving me a soft smile and nods his head toward Snow. I left him alone with the head, and followed Snow.

As Snow and I walked inside the Woodlands, she smiles at me. “You seem to be getting along with him just fine.” I look at her in confusion. “Was he supposed to be a hard person to get along with?”

She pushed a strand of hair behind her ear. “He can be a little difficult. And not everyone here gets along with him well because of his past.” I frowned. “I thought the whole point of being here was for everyone to have a fresh start and live among society. Why are they still bugging him?”

She shrugs. “I don’t exactly have an answer for that just yet.” I shake my head and walk to the elevator. “I’ll be back down after I freshen up. I feel gross.”, I say before the elevator doors close and take me to my apartment.

After washing up, I put on my red sleeveless turtleneck and black pants before putting my shoes on and leaving. As I get down to the lobby, I see Bigby talking to someone and I walk up. He notices me and holds the door open. “You’ve gotta be shitting me. I stand here for almost a whole hour and she gets to go in!?”, a black haired man with one blind eye growls.

Bigby looks at him annoyed. “We work here.”, he says, putting his hand on my shoulder and starts to lead me inside. I walk inside, letting him deal with the guy and hear Crane fussing at Snow. “Lord…”, I mutter, rolling my eyes. I knew he wasn’t a good boss.

“And now you’re telling me there’s a killer on the loose while you all titter behind my back!?”, Crane yells. “We didn’t know it was gonna happen! Why’re you fussing!?”, I exclaim.

“Because you two are the ones bringing this to me! The ones who so simply “stumbled” upon this catastrophe on our very doorstep! The last thing I need with Mayor Cole away is a hysteria, do you two understand me!?”, he yells in our face. “Of course, but-”, Snow starts.

“Do not interrupt me, Ms. Snow!”

“The f- you asked us a question!”, I yell in disbelief with his behavior. “Don’t change the subject! You two are to blame for this unpleasantness, Miss Sonya!”, he shouted. I pinched the bridge of my nose.

“We brought you this news as soon as we could!” Snow replies tiredly. “You are trusted to keep things running smoothly here! This is a disaster!” Crane rambles. “Who else is to blame, if not either of you?”

“It isn’t anyone’s fault.” Bigby declares. “Instead of trying to assign blame, maybe we figure out how to catch the fucker who did this.”

“Oh, is that how you see things? Sheriff, you, Ms. Snow and Miss Sonya are the ones in charge of protecting Fabletown. Your failure to do so has cost someone their life and the safety of our community.”, Crane says, walking over to his desk and sits in his chair. How’d someone like him even get a position as Deputy?

I rub my temples. “Tell me you’ve been doing something! Are there any leads? Suspects? Anything? Anything at all? Any shred of evidence you three know what the hell you’re doing?” Crane asked.

Bigby walked up to us and crossed his arms. “Her pimp is a suggestion.” I shrugged. “So is the Woodsman.”

“Her…was she a…?"

"She needed money and we didn’t have enough to give her…”, I say. “Well isn’t that just wonderful. Not only was a Fable killed, but it was a Fable hooker to boot!” Crane said, sarcastically.

“You three need to get a handle on this quickly, and quietly. The last thing we need is all of Fabletown knowing there’s a killer amongst us.” Crane shut his eyes for a bit, then opened them to look at Snow.

“Snow!”

“Yes…sir?” Snow asked. “Call Vivian right this moment and let her know I’m coming in early for my...massage.” Crane demands. I looked at Bigby with slight disgust and confusion. He shakes his head.

“I will.” She complies.

Crane looks around his desk. “Where is the bottle of wine you were to purchase?” Snow looks at him in confusion. “Oh, bother! Forget it! Can’t do anything right.” Crane mutters, walking past me.

I glared at Crane as he walked to the door of the office. “Do your job, Sheriff and Deputy….Or we’ll find someone who can.” He said. Bigby growls lowly, turns around and says. “You know what…”

I give him a pinch. “Stop.”

Crane turns to face us. Snow walks up and gives him a smile. “We’ll get right on it, sir.” Crane turns back and walks out of the office. Bigby sighs with a grumble.

[babeyvenus]

The Wolf Among Us

Bigby x OC

Summary: Sonya Blaze, A.K.A. Hell Rider, is a half fable, half mundy girl who comes to Fabletown to learn more about her side of the folktales. She works alongside Sheriff Bigby Wolf's as his newest partner and together they strive to find out who's behind the unexpected murders in Fabletown.

TW: Mentions of death, gore/blood, alcohol, smoking, drugs, sex implications, suicide, guns and ofc language.

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Chapter 13: These Lips...

Bigby’s eyes opened to the sound of loud thunder shaking his apartment as he looked around. His eyes widened at the sight of large amounts of blood leading up to his chair. He looks up in shock to see Bloody Mary’s smirk as she held the Woodsman’s axe. She lifted it to swing at him. “See you around.”

Bigby wakes up in a small jolt, wincing in pain to see blood covered Snow, an unconscious Sonya, and Colin who avoids Bigby’s blood and paces around the room. He looks down to see Dr. Swineheart focused intently and trying to get pieces of a silver bullet lodged into his skin from earlier.

“Hollow-point bullets are a nasty business. The silver slug deformed and shredded on impact.” Swineheart informed Snow.

“He’ll be okay, though?”, Snow asked. “Hmm?” Swineheart said, too concentrated on Bigby. “He’ll be okay?”, Snow asked. "His internal organs are positively riddled. If I don’t extract every single scrap of silver, he’s liable to suffer some long term toxicosis.“, Swineheart says.

Bigby groaned as he looked around again. Swineheart noticed his awakened form. "Easy there. Try not to move.”

Bigby mumbled and gargled on blood until he turned his head and spit out blood on the floor. “Oh, Bigby…”, Snow gasped, covering her mouth. Bigby looks down at his left arm, which still has his bone sticking out of his skin.

“We can’t keep meeting like this, old boy….”, Swineheart says, looking up at him. “I figure I’d be done with you before you were conscious. But there’s little I can do for the pain.”

“My arm…”, Bigby mumbled, weakly.

“Yes, very ugly. But not life-threatening. I can’t say the same for these bullets peppered throughout your vital organs.”, Swineheart pulls out a few pieces of silver and places them in a glass cup.

Bigby groans in pain, slightly moving his hand. “Please, Bigby, don’t move it!” Snow pleaded and looked at Swineheart. “Doctor…”

"Look, I’m a bit engaged in saving his life at the moment, but if the fractured extremity concerns him that much, he can set it himself.“, Swineheart said. Bigby looks down at his arm and uses his right hand to grab his left hand and pull it, he groans, letting it go for a moment as his left arm flops to the side of the chair.

Snow gasps, as Bigby tries again and sets the bone back in his arm. His eyes turn yellow as he yells out in pain and slumps forward. His yell makes Sonya stir awake, groaning at the bright luminescent lights.

"Hm. Not bad. That’ll do, I suppose.”, she hears Swineheart say. “He’s lucky to be alive. And he won’t be next time if he keeps going like this. He didn’t listen to me before.” Then Swineheart turned his head to Snow. “Maybe he’ll listen to you.”

“He hasn’t exactly been doing that lately.” Snow said. "Well, he should.“ Swineheart said, firmly. "There are limits to even what I can do.”

“This…is the….job….” Bigby said, weakly. “Quiet. Just relax.” Swineheart reassured as he pulled out more silver shrapnel.

Colin notices Sonya and walks over to her. “You awake, toots?” Sonya looks at the talking pig, realizing that he had to have been from the Three Little Pigs.

She lifted her head up to look at Snow. The woman wasn’t paying attention. Sonya rolled her eyes and looked at Bigby. “You’re alive. Good.”, she says, giving him a smile in relief.

Bigby looked over at her, slightly relieved. “You’re more worried about me… you should take a look at yourself.”, he says, giving her a pained smile.

“You both look like broken dolls.”, Colin says, making Bigby frown. Sonya looked down at her broken arm. “Oh...right.”, she mumbled. She lifted her good arm to wipe her mouth, disgusted at the metallic flavor.

Snow finally turns to her. “What even happened out there?” Sonya frowned. “We got into a little predicament and almost died. What do you think?”

Snow didn’t like her answer. Swineheart finished up with Bigby and walked over to Sonya. “I thought you said you wouldn’t become a frequent patient, Miss Blaze.”, he said, lightly. “I know. I’ll try my best not to be like Bigby.”, she joked, nasally as he fixed her nose, placing a cold bandage on top. “I’m right over here.”, Bigby grumbled.

Swineheart stitched her side, much to her discomfort and had to pull out the bullet lodged into her thigh. Now the hardest part was getting her to be still so he could set her arm. It wasn’t nearly as broken as Bigby’s but it still hurt like hell.

“Miss Blaze, if you won’t let me help, it’ll get worse and the worst case scenario will be that you’ll have to amputate it.”, Swineheart informed, making Sonya even more wary. Bigby got up and walked to his kitchen and came back out with a wooden spatula.

She looked up at him with a pained smile. “You cook?” Bigby rolled his eyes at her joke. “Just bite the damn thing.”

She sighed and took it, placing the spatula in her mouth and bit hard. “Alright. Get ready.”, Swineheart prepared, making Sonya bite harder and scream in pain as he snapped her arm back into place before wrapping it up.

Sonya slumped back, letting go of the spatula and closed her eyes. “That...sucked.”, she says, weakly and slightly hoarse. Swineheart packed his things. “I dunno about that. I’d say you did better than Bigby.”, Colin says, teasingly.

“Cause I once watched a vet sew up a turtle together in ten minutes flat.” Colin sneered at Swineheart.

The doctor turned to Bigby. “Eat as many metal shillings as you see fit, but just take one more silver round near your heart again….and the only place I’ll be visiting you is the morgue.” Swineheart said, making everyone look at him in shock. “He’ll be fine for light duty….IF he can figure out what that means.”

“He knows what it means. It’s just been….an unusual couple of days.”, Sonya said. “I know, but please, don’t give him an excuse.”, Swineheart said. “His body will eventually give out. Take care of him. Please.” Sonya nodded. “We got him.”

“He’ll need rest, I assume.”, Snow said.

“Sleep, mostly. Just keep watch.”, Swineheart nodded. “And make sure he doesn’t get into further altercations."

"I’m right here, guys.”, Bigby repeats, his words falling on deaf ears.

“Anyway….Guard against as they say. Miss White. Deputy. Sheriff.”, Swineheart says as he nods, then he turns to Colin in annoyance. “Colin.”

“Swiney.” Colin replies back at him as Swineheart leaves the apartment.

Bigby goes to his kitchen, opens the fridge and pulls out a bottle of whiskey, and starts to drink from it. Sonya gets up and walks over to the kitchen, leaning in the doorway. “So….how do you, um, feel?”

“It’s Bigby, toots….he’ll be okay. Hell, I’ve seen him take worse.”, Colin said as Bigby shook his head at Colin’s statement and looks at her, stretching his shoulders and arms. Sonya grimaced at the sound of cracks coming from him.

“About as good as could be expected. I think.”, he replies. “So….not well, then.” Colin said, making Bigby roll his eyes. “You just almost died….I’m glad you’re not dead.”, Sonya said.

Bigby smiles as Sonya walks up to him. He leans against the counters and rubs his wrapped arm with his right hand. “After they left...You, uh,” She swallows. “You stopped breathing, you know….when you passed out….or died….I guess. I think I passed out after Nerissa came to me.”

She raised her right hand, and hesitantly placed it gently on his bandaged arm, her eyes targeted his wrapped hand.

He looked at her, trying to catch her eyes. She couldn't look him in the eyes. “When you got shot...you scared the shit out of me. I don’t think I was prepared to see you drop like that.” She chuckled shakily.

“I panicked… I usually stay under control but she went for that axe and I- ….I couldn’t-” She lowered her head, feeling tears collect in her eyes. “I couldn’t let her kill you…”

Bigby frowned, his heart pulling at the sound of her soft, wavering voice. He lifted her head, his hand cupping her chin. “It's gonna take a lot more than that to get rid of me.”, he said, giving her a confident smile. “I wouldn’t let you live in this harsh world without me.”, he quoted.

Her eyes widened a bit as she smiled, recognizing her statement two days ago. “You ass…”, she chuckled, wiping at her eyes.

“Yeah, you were really fucked up, man. You looked like when they take an action figure and bend his limbs the wrong way…” Colin said, making the two jump and turn to look at him.

Bigby rolls his eyes to the sky. “Colin….”, Sonya says, exasperated. “Colin, shut the hell up.”, Bigby said, leaving the kitchen.

Sonya shook her head, exiting the kitchen. Snow stood off to the side, motioning to the door. “Can we talk?” Sonya frowned and nodded, walking out of the apartment. “We’ll be back!”, she announced to the other two and closed the door behind her.

Sonya walks away from the door, far enough where Bigby didn’t have to hear and waited for Snow to stand in front of her. “What happened?”, Snow asked.

“Some woman named Bloody Mary and the Tweedles cornered us. Demanding that we give up Crane and, of course, Bigby wasn’t having it. The twins shot him and transformed into this Lycan and then beat the Tweedles and she shot him. He couldn’t even move and I panicked because she was gonna kill him with the Woodsman’s axe. I don’t even know how she got it in the first place.”, Sonya explained.

“I fought her for a while but she put me down and was about to kill Bigby but I couldn’t let that happen...so I gave up Crane.”, she says, looking down. Snow was speechless but angry. “How- How could you let them even have Crane?”

Sonya looked up in disbelief. “Are you seriously about to give me shit for trying to save the Sheriff?? He was shot with a silver bullet. What the fuck was I supposed to do?”, she whisper-yelled. “If you were strong enough to fight, you could’ve done something better.”, Snow argues.

“First of all, it was raining, second, we were kinda in a cramped area so I couldn’t go all out even if I wanted to. That was my first time having to fight knowing that there was something to lose. I couldn’t concentrate on that. I panicked.”, Sonya fussed.

Snow shook her head. “If that’s what it takes for you to give up so easily, you shouldn’t be working with him.” Sonya’s eyes widened. “Are you serious…?”

“When this case is over, you’ll be on leave until we need you.”, Snow declared. “Uh, you’re not my boss. Bigby is. He gets to decide that.”

Snow shook her head. “With Crane gone, I’m Deputy Mayor, which means I get to decide what you do and where you’ll go.” And with that, she walks back to Bigby’s apartment with a steaming Sonya behind her.

As they walked inside, Sonya changed her expression to a blank one. Bigby looked up. “You guys settle whatever you needed?”, he asked. Sonya gave him a smile, sitting back in the chair she was in. “Yup. Girl talk’s over.”

Colin turned to Bigby. “You still look like crap.” Sonya gaped at Colin. “Colin, really?”

“I’m just sayin’, I was worried about him, is all. The guy hasn’t had a night’s rest in days…”, Colin said as Bigby walks towards the dressed to get dressed in new clothes. “We’ll all get some rest when this whole thing is done.”, Snow said.

“What whole thing? What’s even happenin' out there?”, Colin asked. “I mean, do you guys even have a plan or somethin’? And who should I be asking? Should I be worried about the Crooked Man taking over? Or is Crane still a thing?”

“The Crooked Man, Bloody Mary, the Tweedles…..this is bigger than what I thought it was.”, Bigby said, facing the other three. “Its even worse if he showed up instead of hanging back in his lair.”, Sonya said.

“The Crooked Man stepped out of the shadows for a reason….for him to attack you two so blatantly like that….he either feels invincible or desperate.”, Snow said.

“Well, if those are my two options….I don’t think I’d pick desperate.”, Colin said.

“What do you mean?”, Sonya asked.

“You traded Crane. To save Bigby. I’m just sayin’….that’s not exactly somethin’ you do when you’re playin’ with house money…”, Colin replied.

“Crane traded Lily’s life for sex and called it a little thing to lose just because he lost “so much more”. If it came down to a second chance,” She grit her teeth, glaring at every one of them. “I’d do it again.”

"About that...Thanks for all that.”, Bigby said, smiling. “Thanks? You’re not pissed that Crane’s flown the cope? Or that the Crooked Man thinks he’s got you guys under his thumb?”, Colin asked Bigby in disbelief.

“What else could she have done? If she didn’t hand him over, my ass would be down the Witching Well and Crane still would have been taken.”, Bigby said.

“Okay, okay, I’ll take your word for it.” Colin said, in surrender.

“All I care about right now is….just what does the Crooked Man want out of this?”, Snow asked. “I thought he was just a….loan shark. But clearly, he’s operating in other circles. It can’t just be about Crane, right? Getting him out of town? Is this all about the murders?"

"Crane was a puppet, and the Crooked Man worked the strings. This is all about control of Fabletown.”, Bigby said to her. “But then what do prostitutes have to do with it? Lily….and Faith?” Snow asked.

“I don’t know how it all works out yet, but I know it does….somehow.”, Bigby shrugged.

“The Crooked Man…declared war against us last night. I now see this war has been going on for years. We haven’t noticed it, because our way of doing things is broken. We need to do things the right way.”, Snow said.

“What does that mean? The right way?”, Colin asked.

“What do you think I mean?” Snow asked him, now irritated with him.

“I don’t know, but it suspiciously sounds like your way. Bigby and Sonya are the only ones on the front lines. You can’t give them a leash. Especially Bigby. We need him more than ever.”, Colin said.

“A little restraint and thought behind things will never hurt anyone, Colin.”, Snow said.

“Okay, but what is this right way?”, Sonya asked.

“We haven’t been doing a good job. You, Bigby and I. So, starting now….we do everything cut and dried, by the book, straight as an arrow.” Snow said, making Sonya roll her eyes and look out the nearby window. “Pure as driven snow…”, Colin mutters.

“I’m not saying I’m the arbiter of–”

“Sure you’re not.”, Colin huffs.

“This town has enough monsters.”, Snow says, making Sonya’s attention snap toward her. “Are you serious-”

Snow turned to Bigby. “What happened last night….what you turned into, Bigby….it can’t happen again.”, Snow said. “We need monsters to fight monsters.”, Colin remarks.

“Colin, if I really believed that we needed him to lose his flippin’ mind at a moment’s notice….then that would mean I’d lost all faith in our ability to help this town.” Snow said then she turned back to Bigby and said. “Just let that side of you be done, okay?”

“What the hell is wrong with you two?? He’s not a fuckin’ monster!!”, Sonya yelled, getting up. “What the hell would you’ve done if you got shot with buckshots!? Die, right!? Bigby had every right to retaliate the way he did."

She shoved a finger at Snow. "You told us to bring Crane back and that’s what we were trying to do. It's not like anyone from the opposing side got killed. We were the ones that almost died and the thing you point out is whether or not Bigby’s a monster!? You have got to be out of your mind!”

“There are degrees-”, Snow argues. “Degrees?? I only ever do what’s necessary.”, Bigby said. “Really?”, Snow asked in disbelief. She turned to Colin and Sonya. “Do you believe him?”

Sonya and Colin looked at each other before looking at her. “Uh, yeah.”

“Look, you two. I care about how this is done just as much as I care about it getting done.”, Snow said.

“So for that you wanna give them a handicap? Like the bad guys will worry if shit gets sloppy. Everybody wants Bigby to smile and shave and take a shower now and then. Hell, I’m practically the President of the "Bigby, Don’t Be Such A Dick Club", but this is the wrong fucking time to put shackles on him.”, Colin said.

“Thank you.”, Sonya says. “Yeah…thanks, Colin.”, Bigby said, smiling at the pig. Colin gives him a nod before he turns back to Snow. “He and Sonya will get the job done. Just let them do it.”, he said.

“I’m going to– I’m going to let you do it, okay? It’s just that…now that I’m Deputy Mayor, I need your respect from both of you.”, Snow said, turning to Sonya and Bigby. Sonya rolls her eyes, propping her chin in her hand. Snow looks down at Colin and points at him. “And this situation….has to end.”

“What situation?”, Colin asked in irritation.

“All unglamoured Fables, starting today, have to go and stay at The Farm.”, Snow declared. “Oh, give me a fuckin’ break!”, Colin shouts. He turns to Bigby. “Are you gonna let her talk to me like that?”

“No one’s gonna notice a pig walking around. Well-”, Sonya started and shook her head.

“And what if a mundy does see me, huh? I’m a pig, not a mouse with a hat and a cane! They know what a pig is! It’s not the end of the world!”, Colin shouted, angry with Snow.

"Well...they are crazy about animal control...but as long as you're in Fabletown, it shouldn't be a problem.", Sonya says.

“Look, everyone just calm down, alright?”, Bigby said. “I’m perfectly calm.”, Snow said, brushing herself off.

Suddenly, Bigby’s phone rings. “I’m not! Tell me right now, what’s it gonna be, Bigby?”, Colin asked him. Snow goes to answer the phone. "Wolf’s residence.“, Snow said, snarky. "Rude.”, Sonya muttered, making Colin smile.

“Oh, Bufkin, what is it?” Snow asked, catching everyone’s attention. She’s quiet for a moment before she nods again. “Okay, I’ll let him know. Thanks.” She hangs up the phone and turns to face them. “Guess who’s waiting in your office right now?”, she said to Bigby. He shrugs at her.

“Nerissa.”, Snow says. “Nerissa? That broad from the Pudding n’ Pie?”, Colin asked. “Yes. Apparently she told Bufkin that she has something she needs to talk to you about…but she’ll only tell you.”, Snow said. “What do you think that could be?”

“Awww, Bigby’s got an admirer. You always do well with the, uh, disenfranchised. Something about your prickly demeanor attracts them like a moth to a flame.”, Colin said, nodding his head over at Sonya. Bigby rolls his eyes, shaking his head.

“She knows something…she’s helped me a little with the case, maybe she has something else.”, Bigby says.

“We gotta go talk to her then.”, Sonya said, getting up. “I should get back to the Business Office, I’ve left Bufkin alone for too long taking calls.”, Snow said, walking towards the door.

She then turns around to face Sonya. “You might want to look a little more presentable than you look right now.", she says, making Sonya glare at her.

“Ditto.”, Sonya says in irritation. Snow looks between her, Bigby, and Colin. “Consider this discussion tabled, but not over. Let me know when you’re done with Nerissa.”

“Aye, aye, Captain.”, Colin rolls his eyes. Snow leaves, leaving the other three annoyed. Sonya growled, her blood boiling as her hair lights up for a moment before she calms down. “I’m gonna go get cleaned up.”

Bigby nods. “Come by my office later then.”

“Yeah, I actually like Nerissa so she’ll be a sight to see.”, Sonya smiles, before waving at the two and heads out.

Bigby smiles and sighs softly. “Hey, you’re not really gonna send me to The Farm, are ya?”, Colin asked him. “I mean…Snow seemed real serious about it. But I can still hang out here…Right?”

“Look, uh, maybe a few will get sent up, but you’re my friend, Colin. I wouldn’t do that to you.”, Bigby said. Colin smiled at him. “Thanks, Bigby.”, Colin said.

Bigby walks out of his apartment and towards his office. Before he could, he held it with his arm and paused to relax a bit. He takes a deep breath before turning to his door and opens it to see Nerissa standing inside of his office.

“Hi, Sheriff.”, Nerissa said, smiling. “Hi, Nerissa.”, Bigby greeted, walking in his office and shuts the door. “Have a seat.” He walks over to his desk and sits in his chair, sighing softly. Nerissa sits in a chair across from him, watching Bigby rub his face in exhaustion.

“I, um….are you okay?”, Nerissa asked nervously. “You didn’t look good last night. I wasn’t sure you’d be….you know, around…if I came by.”

“Let’s just say I’ve been better.”, He says, then coughs. He picks up a pack of his cigarettes and pulls one out with his mouth afterwards and offers his pack to Nerissa. “Huff n’ Puffs?”, she asked, amused. “Not many people smoke those.”

She pulls out her own pack of cigarettes and puts one in her mouth. Bigby lights his cigarette and offers his lighter to light hers. Once he did, she sat back down and took a drag out of her cigarette. “Thanks.” A soft knock raps on the office door, making Nerissa clutch her purse in fear.

“That’s probably Sonya. I forgot to let you know she was coming.”, he says, seeing her visibly relax. He took it as an okay and opened the door to see Sonya rubbing her shoulder. She was dressed in a black, long sleeve turtleneck shirt with red jeans and combat boots.

She smiled at him, sleepily rubbing her eye, “Hey. I’m not late, am I?” He shook his head and let her in. She smiles at Nerissa. “Hey, how’re you feeling?” Nerissa gives her a soft smile. “I’m okay.”

Sonya nods and sits on Bigby’s desk, ignoring his annoyed glare. “So what was that back there with Crane? He wanted you to tell us something. You know it’s not too late to talk.”, Bigby sitting back in his seat. “There’s not a lot I can talk about.”, Nerissa replied.

“So that spell Crane was trying to break….it’s not just while you’re at work, huh?”, Sonya asks, crossing her arms as Nerissa takes a long drag of the cigarette and taps the ashes into the ashtray.

“What I mean is…I don’t want to waste your time. But I don’t want either of you wasting your own time, either.” Nerissa said.

“Back at the dressing room, at the Pudding n’ Pie, I told you what I was looking for. And you found a way to tell me. You sent me to The Open Arms. Maybe that will work again?”, Bigby asked her.

Nerissa looks down then back at both of them. “You can try. I just….go ahead. It…might work.”

“You’re here because the Crooked Man sent Crane to the bottom of our list of worries. And you have something you want to say about that, right?”, Bigby asked.

Nerissa closes her eyes, sighing. “These lips are sealed.” She opened her eyes. “If I could answer you just like that…I wouldn’t have had to make that appointment with you.”

“I guess that makes sense...”, Sonya said, frowning. “Sometimes….we have to find our way through life on our own. Grasping and fumbling in the dark. I…I used to have friends. To help me find my way. But now…they’re gone. And I don’t know what to do.”, Nerissa said, her voice wavering as she smokes her cigarette again.

“Are you trying to say something about Faith and Lily?”, Bigby asked her. “What I’m saying is friends matter. And I…I don’t have any left. So I hope you’re looking after yours.”, Nerissa corrects him as she looks directly at Sonya and Bigby.

“Who are you talking about?”, Bigby asked but she didn't say anything. “Are our friends in danger?”, Sonya asked.

She looks down in sadness. “I’m sorry. I thought I could do this.” She shakes her head. “I need you to know….I want to help, but….but…”

“But your lips are sealed.”, Sonya says, looking down. Nerissa smokes once more. “I’m…sorry if I’m wasting your time. I thought I knew how to say it….”

“Ribbons…”, Bigby said, catching Sonya’s attention. She looked over at Nerissa’s. “Faith wore one, too.”

“Do you like it?”, Nerissa asked as she points at it. “How can I? It’s a tool to keep you stuck in that life. Subservient…”, Bigby says, frowning sadly.

“The ribbons…. That’s why you can’t tell us anything…it’s the ribbon, isn’t it?”, Sonya asks, frowning at it. Bigby puts his cigarette out and walks over to Nerissa.

He raised his hand, making Sonya’s eyes widen at his actions. “You mind if I just…”

Sonya slaps his hand, making him retract it. “The hell was that for!?”, he growled, shaking his hand. Sonya glared at him before glancing at Nerissa’s terrified look and looked back at him.

She pulled his ear, whispering in it. “If you even think about touching it, you’ll lose a hand.” He pulled away, his mouth gaping at her.

She shook her head and looked back at Nerissa. “You don’t have to answer me but I think I understand now. Based off of what we’ve seen...if you take it off…”, Sonya slid finger across her neck.

Nerissa looked down in sadness, giving Sonya a confirmation. Sonya glared at Bigby as he avoided her eyes.

"We’ll fix this.”, he says. Nerissa looks up and smiles at them. They gave her a smile in return and turned their attention to the door, hearing a knock. Nerissa turns, clutching her purse in fear. “If anyone finds out I came here…”

“That’s probably Snow.”, Bigby said, making Sonya roll her eyes. He goes to the door. “Listen…Sheriff…Deputy.” Nerissa said, making them turn to face her. “Can you two keep this conversation between us? I could be in a lot of trouble. I shouldn’t even be talking to you guys.”, she said. “We won’t tell anyone, don’t worry.”, Bigby says. “Thank you.” Nerissa said, smiling.

“Sorry, I just need to talk to the Sheriff and Deputy for a moment. Please excuse us.”, Snow said as Nerissa nods. Sonya sighed, rolling her eyes and getting off the desk.

Sonya and Bigby turn to Snow. “I might have a new lead for you, but I don’t know how solid it is. Beauty and Beast called the office just now. They said they wanted to talk to you about something. I wonder if they’ve heard about Crane….”, Snow informs.

“Thank you for listening, Sheriff and Deputy. You two should go on to your next business. I don’t think you’ll be wasting your time.”, Nerissa suddenly says and rushes out. “Uh, wait, you don’t have to go…” Snow said, but Nerissa ignored her, walking away.

“Welp,” Sonya says, popping the p. “There goes that.”

“That was….abrupt.”, Snow said, confused. “It’s…one way to send a message.”, Bigby mutters as he goes over to his desk. Sonya leaned on the wall. “What did she tell you?” Snow asked you and Bigby. “I didn’t mean to rush her out.”

“We handled it.”, Sonya says, “We came to an understanding.” Snow frowned at her. Bigby rubs his temples with one hand. “We got it, Snow. I think she knows we’re on the right path.”

“Okay, then. Good work.” Snow said, pulling at her shirt. Bigby picks up his pack of cigarettes out of his desk, pulls another one cigarette out and lights it.

“So, about Beauty and Beast. Do you think there’s something to it? Is this the right place to look? What could they know about the Crooked Man?”, Snow asked. “That’s what Nerissa was doing. Telling us to go there. I think she made it as clear as she could have.”, Bigby said and Snow nods.

The three of them walk out of his office as Snow speaks up. “You know, Beauty came to me a while back….she was looking for…financial assistance. I told her there was nothing I could do, and…and she said that meant she’d have to go somewhere else.”

The three walk over to the elevator. “Guys, you don’t think she meant that she was going to go to the Crooked Man, do you?”, Snow asked nervously. “Its a possibility.”, Sonya says.

“Well, at the Tweedles, I did find a file with her name on it, along with a list of how much money she owes him.”, Bigby informed.

Snow’s eyes widened. “We need to solve this before something else happens. Who knows what….” The elevator doors open, letting Bigby and Sonya enter as Snow stays out. “I have….other matters to attend to.”

The doors closed leaving Bigby and Sonya in silence. For a moment, Sonya closes her eyes as she leaned on the elevator walls.

"Tired?", Bigby asked, making her open her eyes. "A little...", she says, as the doors open. They walk out, heading to the apartment.

"Y'know...when I passed out, I think that was the most peaceful sleep I've gotten in a while.", she chuckles. Bigby makes a small grunt. "You do know you can take a break right?"

Sonya frowned and pointed at him in warning. "Don't start." He held his hands up in mock surrender.