Page 74 of Kings of Sherwood

“I’vebeenthe most wanted man in Sherwood,” Rob roars. “Practically my whole adult fuckin’ life! How is this any different?”

“Because there is aprice on your head,” Will says, slapping one hand against the other. “Don’t you get it? It’s not just idiots like Wheatley or psychos like Gisbourne drooling over locking you up and letting the law have its way with you anymore. It isdesperate fucking peoplewho will shoot you dead for a couple of bucks.” He sweeps an arm at Nick. “You said it yourself! And now you just want to take the risk because you feel like it? Walkdirectlyinto the lion’s den?”

“Yeah, I am, ifthat’s what it takes,” Rob cries. “What’s the alternative?”

“There. Are. Plenty.” Will points at Tuck. “Listen to any of the options he’s pulled. Figure out a way to go steal all that drywall down by the lake development. Doanything, and I cannot stress enough,anythingthat will scare up some cash.”

“Scare up some cash?” Rob repeats, incredulous. Will squints at him.

“Yes?” He looks at all of us again. “Did I fucking stutter? Is that notwhat we do?”

“Fuckingidiots,” Rob whispers. “All of you.”

“Excuse me?” Now even Tuck sounds annoyed.

“You heard me,” Rob fires back. “There are two sides to every equation, or did y’all happen to forget that? Stealingfromand givingto.The former matters just as much as the latter.”

“And?” LJ says.

“And we’re not letting them get away with that shit!” Rob’s voice breaks a little on the last words.

“Rob. Robin,” Will says, spread his hands in the air. “I don’t know how much clearer I can make this to you. No. Not this one. Not now.”

“And I don’t know how much clearer I can make this,William Scarlet III, but some things ought to be respected,” Rob growls. “This might come as a surprise to you, but not everyone can afford to treat conflict like a damn spectator sport.”

Will stands, inches from Rob, silent, tense.

Then he breaks. Runs a hand through his silver hair. “This is absolute suicide,” he mutters, flopping onto the couch. “Even for you.”

There is genuine fire in Rob’s eyes. He balls up a hand, slams the table with his fist. “We’re doing it, and that’s fuckingfinal.”

His footsteps sound like gunshots as he stalks away.

Silence.

Until...

Until I burst into tears.

“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” I say, even as a sob wracks through me, more surprised than anyone that I’m crying. “What the hell?” I swipe at my eyes, fruitlessly. “What the...”

“Maren,” Tuck says gently. “You’re shaking.” He throws an arm around my shoulder, and I collapse into him, shaking harder, sobbing harder, like a dam has broken and I’m drowning underneath myself.

“Take it easy,” Will murmurs. “Just—”

Crack.

A bolt of energy snaps out from me, so sudden and sharp that it startles me out of crying.

“Ow.” Tuck presses a hand to his chest. “That...jeez, Maren, that hurt.”

“Are you okay?” I sniff, suddenly worried.

“No, no, I’m fine.” He rotates his shoulder tentatively. “Just...kinda like you punched me, almost. Eesh.” He winces, but stops when he sees my face. “I’m fine, seriously.” He hesitates. “But I...am going to get an ice pack.”

LJ jolts to his feet, muttering about needing to punch something, and strides off, rolling his own shoulders. Nick, for however long he stuck around, seems to have run for the hills.

I blow out a long, shaky breath.

---