Robin Hood

Eugene wanted to be offended, at first. But he couldn’t really be mad when the other man made sense. Eugene himself had had a few lucrative opportunities in his life at the expense individuals with a wide variety of faces. So even his own first-hand experience proved that anyone can be a sucker, regardless of their appearance.

He was grateful when the man dropped the question about the ‘situation’ in question before Eugene was forced to elaborate…until he started walking.

“Um – well. Ha. Thing is, I actually have to go that way. Now it’s just gonna be awkward for both of us. So, thanks.”

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        “Oh, do you?” Robin stopped in his tracks, turning back to the man when he spoke. “It’s only awkward if you make it awkward, buddy. Just don’t make it awkward.” It seemed simple to him. It would only be weird after the goodbye if the other man continued to speak to him and not let it be a goodbye. 

He seemed kind, Snow noticed. It was lucky of her to run into someone who appeared so kind and willing to help. She should be counting her lucky stars. “I have a job at the local inn, Benbow I think it’s called? Would you happen to know the way? Or be able to point me in the right direction at least.” She chuckled. 

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         “I do know the way.” He nodded with a smile. Robin knew his way through the entire town, having explored every corner at some point. “I can escort you if you would like me to or I can point you in the right direction. What do you prefer?” He asked, not wanting to make her uncomfortable. 

Her eyes widened and she almost gave herself whiplash from the way her head spun towards him. “What? Really?” she asked concerned. “What about all the stuff in my trunk!” she quickly ran over her heels tapping on the ground as she threw open the trunk. “I can’t let this stuff blow up they’re antiques!” 

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        “Yes, really.” He confirmed with a short nod. “I can get it out if you’d like, but I wouldn’t stand anywhere near it in case it does go up in flames.” Before the words had left his lips, she was at the trunk. Robin followed after her, worried that something may happen. Reaching into the truck, he took out as much he could carry in his arms and walked it away from the vehicle to what he deemed was far enough away.  

Marian gave a little gasp as she felt herself stumble, only to be steadied by a pair of strong hands at her waist. “O-oh, I–” She felt herself flush as she watched one corner of the man’s lips quirk up into a smile, feeling an answering flutter in her chest, making her picture a songbird stretching its wings. She smiled back at him. “I’m fine, thank you,” she said, her cheeks still rather warm. “Fortunately you caught me. Otherwise I might have taken a spill.” She offered him another smile. “I’m Marian.”

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       “Good.” The smile reached his eyes as he looked over the woman’s face. There was a strange familiarity about it, as if he had known her his whole life, like they had been close for years. That wasn’t possible though. This was their first time meeting. “Well, we couldn’t have that.” Robin replied honestly, not wanting to have seen her hit the floor. “It’s a pleasure to meet you Marian. I’m Robin.” It was then that he realized that his grip still held her in place. Letting his grip loosen, he let her go, taking a step back to give her space. 

     “Oh…well that’s really nice, actually” Wendy nodded, satisfied with his explanation enough to let her guard down. “I am out here alone, actually…I have a bit of a habit of wandering sometimes when I’m in a world entirely of my own..” she flushed. “It’s not always this dangerous, however. I don’t always get lost” she explained, looking up at the stranger. “You wouldn’t happen to know which way would take me back to the centre of town, would you?”

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       “Thank you.” He replied with a polite smile aimed at the younger woman. “It sounds like we’re one in the same.” Robin felt a kinship with the stranger. Robin found that oftentimes when he was out alone in the woods, he would begin to wander and fall into a world of his own until some outside source pulled him out. “It’s not that dangerous. Especially now. I do, actually. I was heading that way. Do you care to join me?” 

Merida had a tough choice to make. She did need help, and in any usual scenario, it would be her fighting her pride. But right now, it was her deciding whether the risk of trusting this stranger was worth it. She took a moment before saying “I could use some help until he gets back,” she acquiesced, crossing her arms, the keys still in her position just in case. “Do you know anything about cars?” she asked. He was most likely more knowledgable about them than she was, but she didn’t want to assume; judging a book by it’s cover and all that.

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       A wide smile pulled at the edge of his lips, reaching his eyes. He was happy to help someone in need, even if it was just until real help came for them. “I’m happy to help until he gets back then.” Shrugging, he made a few more steps towards the red head and her car. “I know enough. I’m not an expert, but let me see if I can find out what’s ailing your car.” Making his way towards the front of the vehicle, he peered into the open hood. “Was it making any strange noises or was anything abnormal happening?” 

“I’m trying to get home. I sort of snuck out and my mother will be home any second and I thought this would get me home quicker but I think I may have gotten more lost and I’m going to be in so much trouble if she finds out I snuck out.” the blonde spoke quickly, practically telling the guy her life story. “BASICALLY, do you know how to get to Tower Drive?”

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       Robin nodded at the lost blonde. He knew his way around pretty much every part of the town, including Tower Drive. “I do, actually.” A soft laugh left his lips. “Do you want an escort? I don’t know where you live, but would you recognize your home if we got you close?” Suddenly, getting this young woman home had become his priority. Anything else he was going to do that night could wait. 

“Buddy, does this look like a face that says ‘helpless’ to you?” Eugene retorted, dramatically gesturing under his chin for good measure.

“Okay, look, I know where I am. I was just…in a situation. And sort of…ended up here.” He was being intentionally vague. He wasn’t about to explain that he thought he’d somehow seen someone he knew from a few towns ago who he wasn’t anxious to meet again. Only to find out he’d been incorrect and ran for nothing. “I can find my way back just fine, though. So…Thanks. I guess. But I’m good.” Still not entirely sure if he could trust the other man (then again, did he truly trust anyone?), Eugene decide the best thing would be to try to back out without escalating if that was still an option.

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        “I don’t think you want me to answer that.” Robin replied, a smirk ghosting across his lips before disappearing. “Anyone can be helpless, no matter their face.” And that was the truth of it. He had come across plenty of people that didn’t look traditionally helpless that had needed his help. Judging a book by its cover wasn’t something that he liked to do because of that. “A situation that landed you here?” That was awfully vague. “Alright, well if you change your mind, I’m heading in that direction.” Robin looked to the right, gesturing back towards town before heading that way. 

Rapunzel was running late. She’d gotten too comfortable sneaking out while her mother was away. Now her mother would be returning soon and she had gotten lost. She thought it was a short cut to their home. “Oh hello sir.” she frowned looking around. She was always told to not be alone with strangers. But on the empty street, it seemed she didn’t have a choice. “i suppose I am. I got turned around trying to get home.”

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      “Hello,” he greeted the blonde politely. “Do you need help?” Rob offered, wanting to help the stranger the best that he could. Walking her home would make his conscious feel better after finding the girl alone and lost.

     “Hm?” Wendy’s head shot up at the sound of another voice, her arms wrapping around herself to protect her from the light wind as she turned to face the stranger. He made no attempt to move closer, something that Wendy appreciated considering that more often than not less than pleasant characters emerged from the woods as he had. Not that she wanted to immediately presume that he was a bad person. It was merely a precaution. One that Jane would have praised her for considering how often she insisted that Wendy was far too trusting. “Are you?” she asked, unsure how to explain that she had wandered until she was lost, or even if she should explain that to him. “Out here alone?”

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     “I am.” Robin wasn’t afraid to admit that he was alone, especially if it would help put the young woman at ease. He didn’t want to scare her, only wanting to be helpful for the damsel whether she was in distress or not. It was the gentleman in him. “I take evening walks in the woods. You can see the most wildlife around now.” It was just early enough that all the day animals were still around, but just late enough that all the night ones were starting to come out.”

Marian let out a little squeal of surprise and took a step backward, wincing slightly as the cold spray landed against her cheek. She glanced around in utter confusion before she realized that children playing with water guns nearby had accidentally sprayed her. They were looking at her as if waiting for her to yell at them, so she smiled brightly at them, before curling her fingers into claws and adopting a low, playful growl of a voice. “Oooh, I’m going to get you!” she called out, starting to run around with them, making them squeal with laughter. She darted after a little girl and inadvertently slammed into a grown man instead, looking up at him, laughter still lingering in her expression. “Oh, goodness, I’m sorry,” she said. “I was entirely lost in the game, I wasn’t paying attention.”​

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       Robin’s eyes followed the small child as she darted around his legs. That was the reason he didn’t see the other body before it crashed into his. Taking hold of the other person’s waist, he steadied them both.  Letting out a short laugh, he shook his head. “No, it was my fault.” He told her, realizing his hands still gripped the stranger’s waist. One side of his lips kicked up in a playful smirk, allowing a dimple hidden under his beard to form. “Are you okay?”

Ariel didn’t know the first thing about cars, this was a rental they assured her would get her from A to B and it was currently smoking. The hood of the car was up and her hands were on her lips annoyed when a voice had made her jump. Spinning on her heel she saw a man watching her. “Oh uh, just some car trouble. CAA should be on their way soon.” she quickly added. Perhaps she should have gone along with someone after all to pick up her trinkets for the store.

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      “Just some?” he teased. eyes following the smoke as it bellowed up from the hood of the car. “You might want to step back in case that bursts into flames.” Smoke coming from something that it wasn’t supposed to was a bad sign. Not wanting to leave her there alone in case something happened, he glanced at the vehicle. “I can stay with you until they come if you want.” 

Merida had a lot of pride, enough to drive a piece of shit car that broke down every other day. But, she bought it with money she 100% earned, not by any hand outs from her parents, so she was proud of the heap of junk. Still, that didn’t mean they liked it when the old thing broke down. First, the customers at the Lucky Cat were ridiculous and now her car was broken on her way home. Fucking fantastic.

When she heard a male voice and that question coming out of that body, she stiffened, maneuvering her keys so she could use them as a weapon if he tried anything. “No, my boyfriend went to get some help. He should be back any second now,” she said, definitely lying but what else was she supposed to do? She could kick someone’s ass, but she wasn’t sure she could take on the man in front of her on her own.

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          Robin watched the stranger carefully, noticing the way their body stiffened as he let his presence be known. “Do you need help?” He asked, letting the offer hand in the air between them, not wanting to push her. If her boyfriend was gone trying to get help, that might have been enough for the redhead. He would leave, letting her continue her wait in peace. All she had to do was let him know. 

Snow never considered herself UNLUCKY persay, rather she… lacked fortune. Her mother was gone from a young age and her father- well, life grew complicated in a way that couldn’t be wished away. She made do, she got herself in order, but looking on the bright side of things didn’t make the tough days any less tough. She still struggled, though she tried to do it with a smile. “I am,” She responded to the stranger soon enough, never one to be able to ignore another. “I’m actually a bit lost.” Snow admitted with some sheepishness. “By a chance, would you know your way around here?” Her phone was out of juice (another strike of bad luck, but she’d be fine. She would be!). 

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        “That won’t do.” Robin clicked his tongue, shaking his head as he approached the woman. “I do,” he nodded when she asked if he happened to know his way around. Robin spent most of his time among the trees on the side of town they were currently standing in. “Where are you trying to get to?” He asked, needing to know which direction to head in. 

Eugene crossed his arms, arching one eyebrow. He’d been on his own long enough to know – even if you are alone, you never say it. Especially not to random strangers. You’re always meeting someone. There’s always someone expecting you, so you’ll be missed if you don’t meet them on time. And the people who asked if you were by yourself? Usually not someone you want to trust. 

“Yeah, that’s not a suspicious thing to ask,” he retorted. Instincts taking over, his eyes started scanning the trees for anyone else who may be joining his new friend. He didn’t see anyone hiding. So, it was likely he wasn’t being ambushed, at least. Still. 

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      “Was it?” Rob asked, surprised by the man’s reaction to the question. Only someone doing something suspicious would think of the question as such. It was fully innocent. Robin wasn’t trying to rob the man, or rather borrow anything from him. He was just trying to make sure that the man was alright. “So you’re alone then. Do you need help getting back to town? There’s not much out here.” Beyond the woods there wasn’t much else.

        An absent whistle emitted from Robin’s lips as he emerged out of the woods. Spotting someone stopped on the road, his lips parted to speak as he stopped at the tree line. “You okay?” He questioned, cautious to approach the stranger. He may have been the thief, but that didn’t negate the other person as being a possible threat. Plus, he only stole from the rich to help those less fortunate. It was an act of service, nothing more. This person looked like they were already having a bad enough day. Turning his head down the road, he didn’t see anyone else. “Are you out here alone?”