Disclaimer: I do not own Alice in Wonderland in any way, shape, or form.

Author's Note: I recently felt the need to get a little back to the core of what exactly makes Stayne, Stayne, which was brought on by finding this little one-shot I wrote a while back, based off a prompt from an old community. Enjoy!

Prompt: A onesided story in which Alice has romantic feelings for Stayne while all he feels is lust, nothing more.

Quote: "Betrayal can only happen if you love." John Le Carre

"You're leaving?"

Stayne looked at her peculiarly. "I believe you heard correctly."

"I love you."

"I've no need for your love."

"Did this mean nothing to you?"

Stayne turned to look at her without a hint of remorse. "You were a curiosity I'd yet to discover. I've satisfied myself of you, and now, there's nothing else to stay for."

"Did I mean nothing to you?"

He never skipped a beat, saying the words that made sure the pain in her heart became unbearable. "It was purely physical, nothing more."

Then he left; now he's gone.

And I still can't let him go…