Hatters shop had not been open since the day after the war when Alice had left. He had sat wallowing for a week, spiking his tea with a special brew from March's personal collection before he boarded up the windows and pulled his red velvet drapes shut. The door, which he left un boarded so that he could have access to his shop turned hermit hole, now was so warped by weathering and miscare that it was jammed, covered in cobwebs and soot.
The hat shop walls had not changed over the years. Hats still hung from pegs from floor to ceiling, fabrics, decorations, and fake flowers displayed on racks. But now, after years of being left un touched, spotted spider-cows and million legged lady bugs called the crevices home. Cob webs and a blanket of dust covered the entire shop except for the corner that Alice and Hatter had landed in.
His working desk had remained in the same location, though it was no longer covered in bright fabric and sewing needles. Concoctions of various colors, floating animal parts, mechanical contraptions, and various tools of the hat trade lay strewn about, filling up the large mahogany desk till it was a wonder it was even standing.
They landed on an old circular rub a few feet from his desk and Hatter released Alice just as she wretched herself away from him. Hatter picked up his hat from the floor below them and took a step towards his desk, keeping his back to her so that he did not have to see her face- a face he knew was filled with hatred and anger.
"It wasn't supposed to be like this, Hatter," He heard her whisper to him, and he lowered his head to start at the grim filled floor boards, "Why couldn't you just let good enough be... I just wanted to help them! And then... th-then I could have come back.... I could have been happy,"
Hatter turned his vision upwards, his concentration caught by a single bat-fly flapping its tiny, see through wings frantically as it tried to reach the single light bulb that hung above Hatters desk. The bat-fly was old, probably nearing a day in age, and already he could see the signs of death about the little creature. But it continued to try and reach the light, even though its tiny wings were giving up on it.
"Who's word do I have that you would come back?" He spoke, turning around to face her has he placed the hate on his head, tipping it low to cast a shadow over his saddened eyes, "Yours? I no longer trust you, nor anyone. I've learned that if you want something done, you must do it yourself. Which is what I am doing-", Hatter gestured around himself, "-this is all for you. To keep you safe and bring you home"
He knew she would be angry, just as he knew that her tears would sadden him and her words would pierce him. As she ranted, Hatter stared with clouded eyes, pulling within himself so that he words would not pierce him like she wanted. And old hater would have cried, released her and begged for her forgiveness. But it was the old hater that had lost her twice- the new hater would never loose her again. Hatter had played the hero her entire life; he had protected her, released her, made her remember, gone along with her games, sacrificed himself, and loved her- but he also was forced to loose her every time her story was over.
As much as he hated to admit it, playing the villain got him what he wanted.
"I'm sorry I did this to you," she spat out under her breath, "But I want to know you're sorry you did this to me,"
Hatter shook his head and tilted the hat back so she could see his face. He smiled at her, a grim sort of smile that only meant something bad, "I will not apologize, not now or not ever. I know you know I am not a lying man, and I was taught that to say sorry meant you would never do it again. As much as you say that you belong in the other place, I know that you are lying to yourself. You were a creature of Wonderland the first time you visited us". Hater paused and turned his back to her, stepping closer to the hanging light and the frantic bat-fly. He blew, giving the membrane wings the gust of air they needed to reach their destination. He watched the little bug hit the burning hot bulb and zap its life away, falling lifeless to the desk wooden desk, "The windows are boarded up and the door was warped itself shut. There is the chimney, but I doubt you have learned to fly since we last met. The only escape is here-" Hater tapped his hat, casting a glance over his shoulder at her, "and I will only teach you to use it if you promise to never leave Wonderland"