"You know you're not breathing." Hatter almost jumped out of her skin, she had thought that she was alone. She made a mental note to tell her security not to let Jack into her room.
"Why are you here?" She asked turning to face him. Her tone gave away no emotion.
"Is it true that you're trying to over throw The Queen Of Hearts?" Hatter pushed the papers that she had been holding into a drawer, not knowing if she should try to lock it or not.
"Why?" She wished that she had come up witty retort, but she was tired and wasn't in the mood to have to deal with Jack.
"Is it true?" He repeated.
"Yes. Do have any other questions, or will you leave me alone for once?" Jack chucked and Hatter wondered if he would listen to her if she tried to kick him out.
"Why do you need so much power? Isn't ruling the land beyond the looking glass enough?"
"This isn't about power-"
"Then what is it about?"
"Ending the life and reign a tyrant", Hatter gritted her teeth as she spoke. Jack gave a small laugh, but then shut his mouth, knowing that this was not a laughing matter.
"Then either that isn't going so well, or something else is bothering you."
"You don't know what you're talking about."
"Yes I do. I know you, Hatter." He smiled as he spoke her name, and Hatter fought to keep a strait face.
"Jack, what are you doing here?" She sounded more irritated than she had intended.
"I wanted to see you", he tried to take her hand, but she pulled it away. "What's wrong?" The concern in his voice made Hatter angry with herself for being so cols to him. "You can tell me."
Hatter laughed, although she was holding back tears. "What's wrong?" She repeated before inhaling sharply. "I'm lost, that's what's wrong. I think I'm loosing myself to..." Her voice trailed off, not sure how to explain her situation. Jack nodded, and Hatter knew she didn't have to explain anything. He was right when he said that he knew her, he was probably the only one in all of Wonderland who really knew her.
"You don't need this, this life." Jack said softly.
"But I do", she met his gaze. "And it's the only life I have. It's the only thing keeping me my own person. If I left it I'd be nothing, I'd have nothing."
"You'd have me." She gave him a sad smile.
"You don't mean that. Jack, we can't be together." Hatter turned her face away from his, fearing that meeting his eyes would cause tears to spill over hers.
"Why? Because of Alice?" Hatter's fists tightened at the sound of that name, she hated how just the mention of her other half could have such an effect on her. "How many times do I have to tell you I don't care about that!" She could tell that Jack was trying hard to keep from shouting. "If you're lost I can help you find your way, if you'll just give me the chance."
"Jack, you need to leave." She said calmly. "I can't handle this right now."
"Can't you just-"
"I said, you need to leave!" She nearly shouted, no longer caring what he had to say. "Now."
Her eyes were planted to the ground, and she didn't look up until she had heard the door open and close. That was when the tears came, that was when she let herself look back at what could have been if she'd had the courage to take such a risk. Jack was gone, and she hoped he coming back, for she wouldn't be able to bear having to see him again.
It was now that she realized that her quest to become queen of Wonderland wasn't the thing that kept her real, it was Jack. Now that he was gone, she had nothing, she truly was only Alice's alter ego. The part of Alice that she didn't need. She was nothing but a shadow of a tale not yet told.
