TINKER

“Sweetheart, you’re not my type,” Thatcher answered easily, his attention on the bar instead of the people around him. He didn’t often come here, but it was closer than going to the Black Sheep or all the way to the Lagoon if he wasn’t working. He still felt out of place but tonight he couldn’t worry about it. He just wanted a drink.

“Would you be offended if I said that’s a relief?” Normally the blonde would have answered with some sort of snarky remark like ‘I’m everyone’s type’, but tonight she just wasn’t feeling up to it. Tink glanced over. She recognized him as the ‘Merman’ from the Lagoon. Her competition in a way, though she’d never really harbored any bad feelings for the Mermaids despite their alignment with the Rogers. And now of course she had no right to claim superiority when she was a traitor to her own. “To be quite honest, I wasn’t in the mood for company, and I figured it was the best way to keep away the sad ones looking for someone to pout to.”

“S’not like any one else is gonna occupy the bed.” Maggie muttered, her bitterness evident in her tone. Technically, this was the room she shared with Nibs but the chances of seeing and actually holding a conversation with her boyfriend lately was as likely as the body count of Neverland to stop growing. He wanted his space – or was it she who wanted hers? “So, whatever. Do what you want.”

Annabelle grimaced. “I don’t know exactly what’s going on between you two lately, but I am going to fix it or else I’ll have Nibs fixed, if you know what I mean.” Tink liked Nathan, she always had, but she also could see that something was drowning Maggie. It was drugs or alcohol so it had to be the lifestyle they lived, and she knew Maggie wasn’t meant for it anymore, if she ever really was at all. After everything that happened she felt that Nibs might never be able to give Maggie what she needed. A way out of Neverland, and ultimately that’s what Annabelle wanted for her closest friend, even if it meant losing her. Of course in the end, Tink knew very well she’d lose Maggie, and likely anyone she bothered to care about thanks to her disloyalties lately. 

“That’s a rough life you’ve got there,” Ginny teased, nudging Annabelle with her shoulder, a small smile on her lips. She gave the bartender a grateful nod as he set the two drinks down in front of them. “You know, I don’t think you have,” Ginny laughed, taking a sip of her drink. “But I think you should proclaim it more often.”

“The roughest,” Tink laughed softly before taking a sip of her drink. “I just might if you promise not to go shouting it to the others. It’ll break their fragile hearts. And I am just not prepared to clean up that mess tonight.”

“Then take a nap or a siesta.” retorted Dylan, lifting her drink to her lips and taking a sip. This was why she avoided the Green Fairy in the past if she wasn’t with the boys; The Fairies were as bitchy as they were beautiful. 

“Can’t.” Tink mumbled before taking another sip. “One last appointment before my shift is over, and I’ve never been the kind that could take a simple fifteen minute nap. Once I’m asleep, I’m gone for the next 8 hours.”  

“I’m not really in the mood for fun, Tink.” Maggie admitted. She had no plans of getting out of bed, at least not today. It was comfy and it was safe and it was the only thing that presently made sense to her. “It’s not safe to be out late. The boys told us so, you know that.”

Annabelle wasn’t deterred even the slightest. She just had to change tactics. “Fine, if you aren’t coming out, I’m coming in.” The blonde gave Maggie a pointed look. “And you know me I have to sprawl out in bed and I am definitely feeling a bit snuggly right now so I hope you’re prepared.” She was fully prepared to spend the day in Maggie’s bed if that’s what it took to get her friend to talk to her. 

Pressing her lips together, Pippa waved a hand at the bartender, beckoning him to them. “Might as well, since it might make your day a bit better. Rough shift?”

“I think rough would have been preferable.” Tink glanced at Pippa, a smirk forming. “Just really annoying clients with weird requests and bad attitudes.”

“What crawled up your arse and died?” She asked, raising a brow at the Fairy before she signalled for the bartender to fetch the pair of them some drinks. 

“Just a bad day, Dylan. Ever heard of those?” Tink rolled her eyes before taking a sip of the drink the bartender sat in front of her. “Thanks.” The blonde nodded at the drinks while glancing at the Dylan.

“Someone piss in your Cheerios this morning, babes?” Ginny teased as she sat down next to Annabelle, an amused smile on her lips. “Get her another round,” she added, turning towards the bartender and nodding towards the empty glass sitting in front of Tink.

Annabelle rolled her eyes before turning slightly toward the other fairy with a small smile. “No someone drank the last of the milk, and thus I had to eat dry Cheerios.” The blonde joked. “Bless you,” she said when Ginny ordered another round. “Have I ever told you you’re my favorite?”

Emma raised her eyebrows, and then nodded. “Right, well, I could buy you a drink if you want?”

Annabelle glanced over at the other girl, a tiny smile upturning the corners of her mouth. “You don’t have to sweet Emma. I was just saying that to ward off anyone looking to annoy me.”

“Whoa, settle down, Tinker.” Nibs held up his hands in surrender before settling into his seat. “Not here for a drink or anything else, just a favor. One old friend to another.”

Annabelle glanced over at Nibs. “Does this favor happen to involve Maggie?”

Maggie internally groaned once she was exposed to sunlight, flinching as she curled into herself. She knew Tink, like everyone else meant well, but she couldn’t seem to find the appreciation of being pushed. And to think, three years ago, she would have been dancing on the bar tops right alongside with Tink. Things changed. 

Tink’s expression fell slightly, but she kept up the smile aimed at Maggie. She was determined to help whether it was wanted or not. She couldn’t stand watching Maggie seep deeper into the darkness that refused to let her go.

She remained bundled up in bed for the second – or was this the third day? – in the row. Maggie knew she should wake up, perform functioning human being tasks, and go out in the real world. But she was so exhausted and weighed down by this dark depression that had been weighing her down for the past couple of years. Hell, the redhead considered it a feat if she opened her eyes each morning; everyone else worrying about her should too.

Annabelle pursed her lips as she overlooked the bed her friend was lying in. As the days went on she only grew more worried about her. Sighing, Tink walked forward a bit and ripped the covers off the bed. It was time for a little tough love. “Get up slag. We’re going out tonight, and we need new dresses and shoes.” 

Annabelle wasn’t sure what had drawn her near the Grotto. She’d just been taking a walk and wound up passing it right as she saw a girl freeze before going inside. Something about her seemed off. For a moment she silently watched the girl before speaking up in a level tone, “Hey are you okay?”

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