Unwonderland

“Alexi—Sebastian, what happened to you?!” Fronia was completely distraught, her hands waved rapidly back and forth over Sebastian’s shoulder. He smiled shyly, and with his good arm, he rubbed the back of his head.

“We were attacked…this morning,” Sebastian said softly. Abel watched Sebastian with empathy; he knew Sebastian was uncomfortable doing the talking. Abel sighed, he came here to protect everyone he loved, not sit by and watch them get hurt. Annoyance surged through his veins, “the White Queen said you could help me fight in my condition.”

“I can, but it’s not a good way to start,” Fronia sighed out the sentence; she crossed her arms and bent her head downwards in a thinking position. Sebastian’s eyebrows knit together in confusion. He was looking at Fronia, Abel could just see Sebastian’s question, as if it were swimming in the air above his head.

“What do you mean?” Abel spoke for him. Abel supposed that old habits die hard, he must still be in the ‘do not speak unless spoken to,’ mode. If he had a question, he wasn’t permitted to ask it in the Red Kingdom. Sebastian looked over at him thankfully, relieved. Friona’s eyes turned to Abel and she began to explain.

“You must learn to fight properly before you can tweak it to accommodate your condition,” she spoke softly, “Sebastian doesn’t precisely know how to fight properly yet. So if I teach him to fight in his condition, he may always resort back to that,” Fronia was thinking, hard. Abel felt sorry for her; it was his fault that he wasn’t there to take the hit. He knew how to fight; he would’ve been able to fight in that condition. If Fronia didn’t come up with a solution to his problem, then Sebastian would have to be left here while Alexias and him would risk their lives for their—Sebastian’s and Abel’s new—home.

“All I want to do, is fight for a home that I actually love,” Sebastian’s voice was soft and full of emotion. Fronia scrutinized Sebastian, her eyes softened. Then suddenly, she snapped her fingers.

“I have just the man to train you in your condition,” her voice rose in excitement, and she ran from the room. Abel and Alexias shared a look, Alexias was the first to shrug.

“Want to spar? Sebastian, maybe you can pick up some pointers?” Alexias offered, taking baby steps in the direction of the sparring corner. Sebastian smiled excitedly, straightening his spine. Abel watched silently as the scene unfolded before him.

“That would be fantastic!” Sebastian nearly hollered. Alexias shared a smile with him and lead both Abel and Sebastian to the sparring corner.

***

“Alexias, Abel, Sebastian! Front and center!” Fronia called forth their attention, and hurriedly they run to Fronia. There was a man with her. About Fronia’s age, Abel was the first to introduce himself.

“Hello, my name is Abel De Luca,” Abel smiled at the burly looking man. He smiled back, his normal blue eyes not as hard as Abel had thought at first. His eyes didn’t match his stature. His chin had minimum stubble, but his body was bulky with muscle.

“Hello, I’m Jago Ozias,” his voice was super deep. That kind of voice that makes the ladies swoon…now Abel was not a lady, so he won’t be swooning anytime soon. Alexias, quickly, he might add, introduced herself.

“My name is Alexias Kingsleigh,” her face was in a giant grin. Jago smiled back down at her with a nod, and then switched his blue eyes onto Sebastian.

“And you must be the one I’m training today,” he spoke his smile still present. Slowly Sebastian nodded his head. Jago’s smile widened and he bent his head in a nod.

“Hello, what might your name be?” his eyes were soft as he talked to Sebastian, he must have sensed how Sebastian was.

“S-Sebastian M-Maddox,” he stammered, casting his eyes to the floor.

“Well, Sebastian Maddox, I will be teaching you how to utilize your condition and applying it to fighting. It won’t sway your judgment too much when you’re learning how to fight properly,” Jago reassured smoothly. Sebastian nodded as if he knew what Jago was talking about, but Abel knew him, Sebastian hadn’t a clue what he was talking about.

“Thank y-you, sir,” Sebastian had a hard time meeting Jago’s eyes.

“No need to call me sir,” Jago said and waved Sebastian away from Fronia, Abel and Alexias. Fronia clapped her hands together, calling Abel’s attention before Alexias’. Fronia was smiling at the both of them.

“Fronia,” Alexias said with intensity, “who is that man?”

“That is Jago Ozias. He’s an expert in teaching newbies like Sebastian to fight hurt, but also not swaying their minds to learn it. Know what I mean?” Fronia seemed confused on how to explain it. Abel got it.

“I understand,” Abel spoke up, raising his hand slightly. Fronia smiled her thanks to him, and began the lesson for today.

Xxx

“So Sebastian, what did you learn today?” Abel inquired as they followed Alexias from the training room. Sebastian looked at him like he was dazed. He answered way slower than he would have normally did.

“…nothing,” he blinked, his eyes wide and serious. Abel gave him the ‘what are you talking about?’ kind of look; Sebastian continued hastily, “I’m serious. I don’t remember what he taught me.”

“Hm,” Abel said he understood what Fronia was talking about, and he did, but he didn’t understand how Jago would go about it. Maybe they could test it out sometime.

“Abel, want to go to the river?” Alexias addressed only Abel. He didn’t have a problem with it, but what would Sebastian do?

“I wouldn’t mind,” Abel shook his head, turning his attention back to Sebastian, “you wouldn’t mind staying here, would you?”

“No, I wouldn’t mind,” he shook his head at Abel and made his way for the kitchen. Sebastian did like cleaning and cooking even if he didn’t like being an attendant.

“Shall we bring the Bandersnatch?” Alexias skipped ahead of Abel. Abel smiled at her excitement, and shrugged.

“If you want to,” Abel sighed, following her closely. She nodded and skipped toward the main stairway. He supposed she was going to get the Bandersnatch.

***

Alexias lead the way to the river, for Abel was still learning his way around. Silently the Bandersnatch followed.

“Whoa,” Abel breathed. He hadn’t been here since he crossed over the borderline. Alexias went and sat down at the edge of the river, she waved Abel over, for the Bandersnatch was on her other side. He sank to the bank, and before he said a word, he touched the water. He had always wanted to touch the water in the White River. Then he felt he needed to do something, he looked to Alexias, right into her green eyes.

“Alexias, I feel I must do something,” Abel said softly. Alexias blinked at him.

“Then do it,” her voice was soft and confident. She didn’t expect on what he felt he needed to do. Abel, slowly, began to lean toward Alexias. He tilted his head to the side, his face drawing ever closer to hers. Alexias didn’t move. Their lips were not even an inch apart, he could feel her breath on the tip of his lips, He smiled slightly and closed the gap.