So here's another story of mine, I hope you like it :)
Disclaimer: I do not own Black Cat...
"Hazel Vel-a-corpse?" The tall man asked me from where he sat at his ornate desk. His eyes screamed arrogance and his face, with its nicely cut jawline and slightly deepened cheeks, made me want to crawl the walls.
"Pronounced, Vay-la-core," I scowled at his mispronunciation, but he merely waved me off with a flick of his hand.
"Tom-ay-toe, Tomato," His utter lack of interest in what was going on was annoying to the extent of insanity.
I stared into the face of Tyrant's assistant and tried not to hit him. He simply brushed a strand of his ochre hair out of his eyes and continued looking at my résumé.
"So, Hazel, why are you knocking at Mr. Tyrant's door?" He smirked at me and I sighed.
"Call me Haze and, believe it or not, there isn't much work out there,"
"Ah yes, Haze Velacorps, I haveheard of you, plenty of good reviews," I mentally thanked whatever deity was out there for finally getting through to this man, "But why not become a Sweeper?"
"Not my line of work," I looked away and he put his elbows on the desk.
"So you can't use a gun or a sword?" He clicked his tongue in disapproval.
"I never said that,"
"So you could be an assassin and trying to elim-" He began, but I cut him off abruptly.
"Look, Mr. Tyrant needs entertainment for his ball and I'm willing to provide for a decent fee," I stared past his face and at his office curtains that were a sickly green colour.
His entire office was just as repulsive as he was, cheap wallpaper, tatty curtains, stained carpets and sleazy statues. Yes, this was the office of some big shot gangbanger thug.
"You didn't deny my claim that you're a Chronos Number," He suddenly held a small pistol in his right hand. I snickered at the sight.
"If I was a Number, you and Mr. Tyrant would be dead..." I cocked my head and smirked. He scoffed, but obviously found truth in my words, "Plus, the ballroom will be heavily guarded. There's no way I could get close enough for a kill and if I do I wouldn't be able to find an escape route," He nodded at my statement and continued with the interview.
"And you're a dancer?" He rested his chin on his hands and looked very interested all of a sudden.
"Among other things, but mostly a dancer," I answered him, lounging on the couch that I was told to sit on. If he can be arrogant, I can be pushy, "So are you interested or not?" I asked him blankly, really, if he wasn't I was wasting my time.
"Yes, you will dance at the ball," He replied and leant back against his big leather chair, "We shall arrange back up dancers and music for you,"
I stood and shook his hand which was covered in expensive rings. "Probably cost a fortune to steal it," I thought smugly. I exited his office and strode down the halls of the Governor's house. "Too big, must be lonely,"
As I exited through the doors of the mansion I thought back to what Tyrant's assistant said. Assassin. Never, I would never be a Chronos dog. A Sweeper though...perhaps...but not now, not when things are so tense...
I walked into a small cafe to escape the roar of the Governor's parade. I scanned the room quickly in case of there were any unsavorypeople lurking about. I noticed a lot of thugs around the bar and a guy in a white suit with oddly green coloured hair sitting by himself.
"We get all types here, but the thugs have been pouring in since Tyrant was elected," A waitress with longish hair and a nice slender build commented.
I smiled and sat down a t a table not from the guy with green hair. I noticed he was wearing an eye patch and smoking.
"Hey Mister, you gonna order something?" The waitress asked him impatiently. A blush crept over the man's cheeks. He began rubbing the back of his head nervously. "He's broke!" I had to cover my mouth not to laugh.
Surely a man in his thirties, or I assumed thirties, would have a stable job. Didn't he have a family or a wife? Responsibilities...?
"What do you actually do for a living?" The waitress asked him with a sort of disapproving look.
"I'm a Sweeper," He said blankly and the girl nodded.
"We don't get many of those in here," The waitress said before one again asking him if he was going to order anything at all.
Him, a Sweeper? Go figure. I beckoned the waitress over. She stepped quickly to my table and I sat back in my chair.
"Wow, your eyes are really purple, like an intense amethyst colour," She was observant and I suddenly felt like I was being watched by God himself. I ran my hand through my slightly long jet black hair in response to the sudden feeling, "Oh hey, sorry, I didn't mean to make you feel awkward," She apologised and I shook my head.
"It's fine, get me a coffee please and get that guy whatever he wants, I'll pay," I pointed to the Sweeper and she stared at me.
"Generous of you," I laughed as she said it and I simply looked outside the window. I wonder if he's hunting Tyrant...
"Mind if I join you?" I yelped as I noticed he was standing right next to me. I clutched my heart and glared at him.
"Don't do that to me!" I hissed, "You'll give me a heart attack!"
He laughed and sat down. His laugh was deep, but it held softness to it, "You didn't have to pay for my food, you know?" He lit a cigarette and offered me one. I refused his offer and he shrugged.
"It's not a big deal," I once again relaxed into my seat. He took a long puff of the cancer stick in his mouth.
"Sven Vollfied," He extended his hand and I shook it firmly. Dad always said a man had to have a firm handshake. Sven's handshake was sort of relaxed, but still held a certain firm grasp.
"Haze Velacorps," I replied and he sort of ogled me for a while making me uncomfortable yet again.
"The dancer?" He asked and I nodded. Seems I was getting a reputation. I had only been dancing for a few years. I remember I once hit a guy for calling me a stripper. I was a dancer, as in, hip-hop, not a private dancer!
"So, Sven, are you going to Tyrant's party?" I asked him and Sven nodded, but grinned when his food came. Stacks and stacks of food were placed on the table.
Let's just say for a gentleman he ate like a savage. I barely managed to avoid all the food particles flying from the other end of the table. I slowly sipped my coffee.
A few hours from now I would have to go to that party. Tyrant has probably got himself into trouble with Chronos. Maybe I should give S- No, I won't call Her, I don't need Her. The thought of her made my skin crawl and I suddenly just wanted to be alone, away from everyone and everything.
"It was nice meeting you, Sven," I stood up and left a wad of cash on the table, "There's a little extra just in case,"
"Hey, wait!" He called after me, but I was already walking down the street towards the new house of Lib Tyrant...
Seconds turned to minutes, minutes to hours and eventually I was sitting in a large dressing room getting ready to perform. I laced up my purple Converse boots and tightened my violet hoodie. The time before a performance was always nerve racking, more so now that I'm performing for some gangsters, but I need their money and the addition to my reputation.
I stepped out of the room and padded silently down the corridor towards the hall. I pushed the doors open and was greeted by applause. It seems my imminent performance had been announced beforehand. I networked and greeted a few people before making my way onto a platform. Three nicely dressed girls were standing waiting for me and I took each of their hands and greeted them.
I surveyed the hall with all its decorations and impressive lighting. Food tables were scattered around the room and I spotted Sven lurking like vulture at the back no doubt eyeing the food. I smiled and readied myself. Just a few minutes of dancing and I can leave
I wiped my hands on my black jeans and stood waiting for the music. I noticed a window on the top floor was open. Strange, Tyrant's guards wouldn't be that careless. Someone must've snuck in. It couldn't have been a gatecrasher, they would've made too much noise. That means the intruder is a professional.
"Chronos," I whispered and leaped off the platform much to the disappointment of the crowd. I was making my way to Sven when a black blur rushed past me. Holy crap! I stepped back in surprise and let out a small yelp.
That's when Sven came bolting past me and knocked me backwards. I fell to the floor, but rolled and was on my feet before anyone could notice that I was even pushed in the first place.
It was so quick that it was irritating. Nobody, but Sven and me, noticed the assassin before the bullet went through Tyrant's body...
I stood there for a while before running out of the mansion to follow the assassin. I knew without a doubt that it was Black Cat. Nobody else moved that fast and that quietly. Not even Her. What was stupid was that I was following a deadly assassin just to see his face. Damn, I'm stupid...
Yet, I kept running after him for some reason. Over the years I'd come to loathe Chronos to the point of obsessive hatred. So, I tried to distance myself from everything Chronos related and to suddenly have Number XIII show up was all it took to send me over the edge.
Now I wouldn't be paid, but it meant something else. It meant that She was watching me. Why? It's not like I was a threat...maybe this was just a coincidence.
"Black Cat!" I yelled after him, but naturally there was no response. He did however stop. I caught up quickly and stood facing his back. He was just about my height, probably my age as well, about 23 years old. His long, thick brown hair looked so soft.
"Black Cat," I breathed and winced when he turned his revolver on me. It was a sharp looking gun, made out of orichalcum, like all Chronos weapons. It was cold, the barrel touching my forehead.
"So do it, death doesn't scare me," I looked deep into his yellow cat-like eyes and saw something other than bloodlust. He looked lonely. Did he even have friends? But his face, it was so...there weren't words to describe him.
"Why not?" He asked me, his voice was smooth and soft, enticing almost. He was just and arm's length apart. I could try and disarm him, but he's a quick shot. Nope, I was stuck at his mercy.
"I've been running from it for a while," I said calmly. He looked past me for a second. I made no attempt to move. His eyes captivated me. Like I said, obsession.
"Duck," He said calmly and I hit the dirt, the blade of a boomerang just missing me.
"Shit!" I hissed and moved to flank Black Cat. I'm helping him?
I lunged at the guard wearing a strange visor and nailed him in his neck before he threw me off of him. Black Cat took care of the rest as he moved lightning fast and pinned the guy against a tree with his own weapon. It was unnatural how quickly he moved. The fight as over before it began.
"Hey, thanks," I thanked him, but he ignored me and leapt onto the fence that surrounded the mansion's grounds. His movements were so neat, he was so lithe.
"Forget you ever saw me, are we clear?" He asked me, but it was more like an order.
"Not a chance," I smiled at him as he jumped off the fence and ran away into the night.
"So that's who my sister works with..." I sighed. Sven bounded up to me and fixed his hat. He sat down and lit a cigarette.
"Who was he?" He asked me and I shook my head while adjusting my boots.
"Black Cat," I answered and stared the way he left...
I hope you liked it. Please give me some feedback :)