Chapter Text
“So, you’re like a modern day Robin Hood?”
Scamp plucked the arrow off the tree bark, careful not to snap it. The young man across from him, clad in green, immediately let out a low whistle.
“Robin Hood? Eccentric chap they write all them books about?” he inquired. “Nah. I’m just—well, I try to help those less fortunate when I can. Y’know?”
Danielle squinted at him from her spot on a boulder. “But you said you take things. From other people. And forget to give them back.”
“Ah, see, those people don’t be needing that stuff anyway, my young friend,” Robin grinned at Danielle. “I only borrow from folks who have too much. More than they know what to do with, and certainly more than they deserve.”
“You’re literally describing Robin Hood,” Scamp protested, examining the arrow now. “You rob rich people.”
“Rob? Tsk, what a naughty word!” Robin shook his head. “I don’t rob. I just sort of borrow a bit.”
“And then forget to return.”
“That’s— aw, bloody hell. Maybe I am Robin Hood.”
“Hah!” Scamp said smugly. “Also, how many of these arrows you got? Are they easy to make?”
“If you know what you’re doing. Got about a hundred of those stored at the moment, methinks,” Robin said confidently. His gaze turned to Danielle, who was stirring the big pot over the campfire. She took a whiff and grinned.
“Like what you smell, kiddo?”
“Yeah! Is this soup, Mr Hood?”
“Mr Hood! Fancy that!” Robin chortled. “Call me Robin. And that there is our secret stew recipe, a Sherwood Forest original!”
“What’s so secret about it?” Danielle asked. Scamp peered into the cauldron too, still gripping the arrow.
“The secret is that there ain’t no recipe,” Robin said airily. “We just throw in whatever we catch. Can’t be too picky ‘round these parts.”
“That’s what my dad says sometimes,” Danielle nodded. “Shouldn’t be too picky!”
“She’s still very picky,” Scamp offered, sounding unimpressed. Danielle shot him a look, then resumed her stirring. Robin got up from the patch of grass he’d been lounging on and swiftly went up a tree, landing on a thick branch. Scamp and Danielle gasped.
“Wow! How’d you do that?”
“What, climb a tree?” Robin laughed. “You kids never climbed one?”
“Not like that,” Scamp said. “You went up so smoothly.”
“Like you were flying, Mr Hood! I mean, Robin.”
“Aw, slow down on the Mr Hood. Makes me feel archaic.” Robin lay down on the branch, one leg over the other. His yellow hat slid down a little, covering his eyes. Scamp was poking around the tree trunk.
“How old are you, anyway?” he inquired, squinting. “Like, 20 something?”
“Twenty three good years on this planet, I believe,” Robin grinned, not looking at him. “And you, my curious friend?”
“He turned 16,” Danielle said immediately. “He thinks he’s all grown up.”
“Oh! I remember that age. ‘Twas fun, innit?”
“It’s okay,” Scamp shrugged. “I can drive, but my parents barely let me go anywhere.”
“He wants to go to the big shopping mall. With Angel,” Danielle continued helpfully. “And my mama said no, and my dad was like, well, only if there’s an adult in the front seat maybe, and then Scamp said but that would ruin their date—”
“Shut up, Danny.”
Danielle shot him another pointed look, and trotted back to her stew. She enjoyed stirring. Robin whistled once more.
“Driving, eh? I prefer swinging places. Or climbing! Good exercise.”
“Me and Scamp like to climb,” said Danielle, blowing on a spoonful of food. “Can I taste this, Robin?”
“Go for it, kiddo.”
Danielle slurped the stew greedily while Scamp circled the big tree. He looked up at Robin.
“Show me how you climbed it.”
“Again? I only just—”
“I wasn’t watching properly. Show me again,” Scamp demanded bluntly. Robin turned to face him, looking amused.
“Stubborn lad, aren’t we?”
“So I’ve been told.”
“Whatchu gonna do with the info?”
Scamp shrugged. “Climb trees?”
“He’s mad Angel can climb a tree to sneak into his room, but he can’t—”
“DANIELLE! Shut. Up.”
“Ohohoho!” Robin chortled, grinning wide. “I see! My young friend, I must say I’m rather in accord with your aspirations.”
The siblings stared at him blankly. “Huh?”
“Don’t worry about it,” Robin waved a hand, already sliding down the tree. “Now, to successfully maneuver the art of the tree trunk—”
The rustling of a bush interrupted him. Scamp turned around at once, still holding the wooden arrow while Danielle’s eyes went wide. Robin, however, only leaned against the trunk. From the corner of his eye, Scamp thought he caught the guy fixing a stray bit of hair.
A young woman emerged from the bush, red locks cascading down her shoulders. A rosy pink dress that reminded Danielle of fairy tales was draped around her waist. It was long enough to flow into the grass, but the woman didn’t seem to mind. She seemed right at home among the trees.
She stopped short for a second to take in the scene, then spoke in a kind, quiet voice.
“Oh! Well, hello!” she said warmly. “Where did you come from?”
“Hi!” Danielle piped up, taking the visitor in. “Gee, you’re very beautiful!”
“Why, thank you,” the woman smiled. She looked at Robin, still against the tree trunk. He immediately tipped his hat.
“M’lady.”
“Robin.”
“A helping of the stew, perhaps?” Robin pointed at the pot Danielle was standing by. The woman shook her head.
“Oh, Robin, I’ve had enough of that stuff you call stew,” she said with a light scoff. “Do introduce me to your charming young friends. I hope you aren’t lost, dears?”
“Oh, no. I hang around the woods all the time,” Scamp said at once. “Just never came to this part before, I guess.”
“Yeah! If we had, we would’ve found Robin Hood wayyy before today,” Danielle said excitedly, pointing at Robin. “See? He’s just like Robin Hood, isn’t he?”
“You think so?” said the woman, leaning down with a grin. She held out a dainty hand, nails painted lavender.
“My name is Marian. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“I’m Danny! And this is my big brother, Scamp.”
“Marian?” Scamp said immediately. “Like, Maid Marian?”
“Oh dear, certainly not!” Marian said with a laugh. “I’m not royalty. I’m a girl from the city.”
“She’s also the mayor’s niece. Loves leavin’ that little tidbit out,” Robin chimed in. He was suddenly in a tree again. A different one, thinner and with paler leaves. Scamp was sure the branch he was dangling around would snap any second.
“The mayor? John what’s-his-face?” Scamp scratched his head. “You’re his niece??”
“Wow! Does that mean you can like, rule over Wagford? Can you tell him to ban homework?” Danielle hopped up and down excitedly, spilling a spoonful of broth on the grass.
Marian giggled in amusement. “I’m afraid not, sweetheart. I don’t even have access to his office!” She leaned down again, eyes twinkling. “But I’ll keep your suggestion in mind when I speak to him again.”
“How is old John doing, anyway?” Robin said airily. “He miss me?”
“He misses those dollar bills he left on his desk, if that’s what you mean,” Marian said with an eye roll. “And a fountain pen? Really, Robin? Why on earth would you need that?”
“Hey, you never know,” Robin grinned. “Writing down my stories of yonder, signing the occasional autograph—”
“I’d like to see these autographs,” Marian said smugly. Robin clicked his tongue.
“Well, I don’t have any on me, do I? Usually the fans like to keep ‘em! They’re priceless, y’know?”
Marian shook her head, but Scamp could tell she was fighting a grin. “Close the window next time. Made the office all drafty and cold, really!”
Scamp and Danielle had retreated to the side, watching the two adults with fascination. The former turned to Marian questioningly.
“Hold up. So he steals shit from your uncle-the-mayor’s house, and you’re totally fine with this? Is this a regular thing?”
“Well, being family doesn’t mean somebody automatically has my support, dear,” Marian explained. “My uncle has made questionable leadership decisions. I don’t think he deserves all his money at all.”
She gestured at Robin. “Besides, he doesn’t even keep it! He throws it all at food banks and hospitals and such. I find it…charming.”
“Careful,” Robin said wickedly. “Might make these kids think you like me or something.”
“Well, that certainly can’t be true, can it?”
“‘Course not.”
“Yes, in what world could I possibly—”
“But she does like you,” Danielle piped up, confused. “She didn’t tell on you to her uncle! And he’s the mayor! She must like you a LOT.”
Her brother groaned. “It’s sarcasm, Danny. They’re flirting.”
Marian’s cheeks flushed while Robin snickered.
“Uncalled for, young man,” she said, though there was no real anger in it. Scamp shrugged.
“My parents talk like this all the time. I’ve seen it all.”
“Angel talks like that to you,” Danielle pointed out, only to get a grimy hand clapped over her mouth. She threw out a few muffled protests before biting his palm, making Scamp yelp.
“Ow!”
“That’s what you GET!” Danielle quipped. “Robby—can I call you Robby?”
“Sure, kid.”
“Are you guys going to get married? You and Marian?” she said bluntly. “What would your uncle say? Would he like it?”
“I do not think this is my preferred topic of conversation.” Marian sat herself on a rock, brushing away some weeds. A branch snapped from above. Robin seemed to be building something out of little twigs. He made no response to Danielle’s question either.
“Funny, these branches,” he began. “Strong enough to climb on, but so easy to snap.” He cracked another twig and made a viewfinder with the pieces, looking down through them.
“It’s all about knowing where to snap, you know?”
“Is there a life lesson there somewhere?” Marian asked. Robin shrugged.
“You tell me, love.”
“Aw! He called you love!” Danielle yelped. “He called you—”
“Good lordy. She’s one heck of a little bugger, eh?” Robin chuckled, looking at Scamp.
“You have NO idea.”
“I do like bugs,” Danielle said, chasing one on the ground. It was a beetle of some sort, brown and with small horns. From the tree, Robin held up a little twig frame, squinting through it at Marian like he was composing a portrait.
“Hold still, love. Capturing this for the socials.”
“And what’s the caption?” Marian lifted her chin, playing along.
“Local mayor’s niece, last seen fraternizing with a known… outlaw.”
“Scandalous.”
“Preposterous.” Robin agreed. He lowered the twigs, grinning. “Bloody hell, you’d never live it down.”
“Worth the fall.”
Marian said it lightly, but something in it landed heavier than intended. She seemed to hear it, because she busied herself smoothing her skirt over the rock. Robin, for once, didn’t have a quip ready.
Scamp, from his spot by a tree trunk, had folded his arms and was squinting between the two of them. He must’ve been making an odd sort of expression because Robin pointed it out.
“Well, don’t go bottling up all them thoughts! Something bugging you?”
“No,” Scamp said thoughtfully. “The universe is just funny.
He grinned all of a sudden, crooked at the edges. “You guys are laying on some thick déjà vu.”
“Déjà vu! That’s a choice phrase,” Robin tossed his twigs into a bush. “Seen this story before, have you?”
“I haven’t seen it,” Scamp explained. “I just… happen to be the product of a similar story.”
There was a brief pause, during which Danielle stepped on some mud and tried to mimic the squelching noise. She had gone to explore behind some bushes, the top of her head peeking through leaves every now and then.
Robin cleared his throat, leaning on a boulder. “And did that story go anywhere, if I may ask?”
Scamp gestured to himself and his sister.
“You tell me, Robby,” he said with an impish smirk. “There’s two more of us back home, by the way.”
Marian snorted at this, exchanging an amused expression with Robin. The latter shook his head and chuckled.
“Startin’ to see why they call you Scamp.”
“I live up to the name.”
Another squelch sounded from behind the bush. Danielle’s head was visible but she didn’t look up from whatever she was doing to the mud. Then she emerged from a bush triumphantly, holding something wriggling.
“I found a FROG!” she yelled. “His name is Fountain Pen. After the one Robby Hood stole.”
Marian burst out laughing, looking at Danielle’s muddy condition. “Oh, how lucky to have run into you two! You’ve practically enchanted my day.”
“And I didn’t?” Robin said at once, looking offended.
“You’ve been satisfactory, darling,” said Marian primly. Danielle giggled, the frog suddenly leaping out of her hand. She didn’t mind; frogs belonged in their natural habitat. She merely went to stand next to Scamp as Marian checked her watch.
“Oh dear. I should be going,” she said hastily, getting up. “My uncle’s hosting some gala and they want me there—god knows why—”
“Are they boring?” asked Scamp.
“They’re simply dreadful! There’s about a million other things I’d rather be doing.”
Robin had perked up at the mention of a gala. Marian caught the all-too-familiar look in his eyes and frowned.
“Robin! Do be careful. There’s going to be security everywhere.”
“I didn’t say anything, love.”
Marian began to say something and decided against it. She gave him a playful shove, smiled, and disappeared through the foliage. The moment she was gone, Danielle turned to Robin.
“I’m telling our sisters we met Robin Hood and his girlfriend.”
“She’s not my—” Robin started. Then he dropped down onto the grass, grinning like a fool. “Yeah. Alright. Tell ‘em that.”