Theme 50: Hesitation
Title: Still She Haunts Me...
Universe: DCAU
Genre: Crime/Angst
Rating: G
Characters/Pairings: Mad Hatter, Alice Pleasance, Batman
Word Count: 329
Warnings: (if applicable): None
Summary: A simple heist gets complicated by an unexpected witness...
The Mad Hatter was off on another crime spree. This time he was stealing
a display of Victorian-era jewelry “fit for the Queen of Hearts herself!”, as
he declared. Mind-control cards slipped into the guards’ hats ensured
they’d open the security systems for him. All he had to do now was go
into the museum with his henchmen, and collect his prizes!
Well, not quite yet... There was one unexpected witness still present; a
charwoman who’d picked the wrong night to report in. It was nothing
personal, but the Mad Hatter didn’t want anyone who could call the
police - or the Batman - around. She tried to run, but his lion-clad
henchman seized her first. His unicorn-clad partner clapped a hand over
her mouth and further secured her, turning the hostage toward his view…
Alice?!
The Mad Hatter’s eyes widened in shock; what was she doing here? His
gaze met her tear-filled eyes. His hand, still holding the mind-control card,
hesitated… then dropped to his side, the card slipping loose and falling to
the floor. “Alice… I can’t hurt you, I could never hurt you…” he reassured
her, then his attention turned to his henchmen. “Let her go - unharmed!
We’re leaving now.”
“But the jewels?!” the Unicorn protested.
“Aren’t worth it!” Hatter snapped back. “Be off, or I’ll kick you downstairs!”
“You’re not going anywhere…” Batman announced, having sneaked up on
the criminals while they argued.
“I’m the one with the hostage,” the Lion grinned, “so I can do anythin-“
One swift throw of a Batarang silenced the Lion, and the Mad Hatter caught
Alice in his arms as the Lion fell. The Unicorn had already raised his hands
in surrender.
Reluctantly, the Mad Hatter let her go. “I am so sorry about this, my dear.
Truly, I am…” He allowed himself to be handcuffed by Batman, murmuring
to himself as he was taken away:
“Still she haunts me, phantomwise,
Alice moving under skies
Never seen by waking eyes.”
(End)